Food sources of early colonising arthropods: The importance of allochthonous input

Arthropod predators and detritivores are among the first colonisers on land surfaces undergoing primary succession. In the absence of higher plants and herbivores, they may either have an allochthonous food source (i.e. of geographically distant origin) or local food source that is sustained by e.g. microorganisms. By studying spiders and collembolans on sites along chronosequences on recently emerged nunataks (ice-free land in glacial areas), we analysed whether the food source of early colonisers was of local or distant origin. Also, we measured the potential changes in trophic position with increasing site age. With stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of both spiders and collembolans, we determined that allochthonous food sources are important on the youngest sites. The allochthonous food sources may explain how arthropods can persist in the absence of local primary productivity. Also, some spider species may increase their ability to survive by shifting their trophic position as the community composition changes. The results indicate that a wolf spider species shifted towards a lower trophic level with increasing site age. By contrast, no shifts in trophic position were observed for sheet-web spiders or collembolans.     

Automatic blood sampling in dairy cows

Loose housing systems for dairy cows are becoming increasingly common, raising new questions in the area of animal health and welfare. Some of these questions can be addressed by studying the variation in blood parameters, such as glucocortistioids. However, the traditional manual blood sampling procedure can in itself affect the responses of the animal. To address this issue we have developed a device for automated collection of multiple blood samples. The device is placed on the back of the animal and allows the animal to be kept in all types of environments, either alone or in social groups. The animal can move freely: no restraints and no handling of the animal are necessary during blood sampling.Three experiments were conducted to study the performance of the system and how the blood sampling procedure affected the cortisol responses in dairy cows. In the first experiment the accuracy of sample size and timing were investigated.In the second experiment, automatic samples were collected from six cows kept in tie-stalls, with samples taken at 3-min intervals for 38 min. At 12, 24, 36 and 38 min, a manual sample was taken by vein puncture. None of the cows showed a consistently increased cortisol response to automatic sampling, while two cows showed increased cortisol concentration after vein puncture.In the third experiment automatic blood sampling was conducted with 12 cows kept in a loose housing system. In the morning, over a period of 1.5 h, 14 blood samples were taken at varying time intervals from each cow. In the afternoon, over a period of 2.5 h, a further 14 samples were taken. Cortisol concentrations in the blood samples suggest that the cows were not affected by the blood sampling procedure.On some occasions during these experiments, it was not possible to get a sample. For the manual vein puncture 3 out of 24 samples (12.5%) were not successfully taken within a time limit of 2 min. During the automatic blood sampling process, the catheter occasionally became twisted and blocked by the movement of the cow's head. This occurred in 8 out of 84 samples (9.5%). In four of the manual samples, considerable hemolysis had occurred during the sampling procedure. No hemolysis was observed in the automatic blood samples.Automated blood sampling offers the opportunity to collect a series of samples without disturbing the animal. Data suggest that automatic blood sampling is a superior alternative to manual blood sampling, even in a tie barn.     

Predacious activity of the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans against cyathostome larvae in faeces after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of horses

This study was undertaken to examine the potential of the nematode-trapping microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of horses and subsequently to destroy free-living stages of cyathostomes in faecal cultures. Three different oral dose levels were tested, two horses being used for each level. Faeces were collected twice daily and the number of parasite eggs per gram of faeces were determined. The numbers of infective third stage larvae which developed in faecal cultures were determined after the cultures had been incubated for 2 weeks at 24°C. Results showed a positive relationship between dose level and reduction in the number of infective larvae. Fungi were recovered in faeces at times which corresponded to high larval reduction.     

CEREBRAL VENTRICULAR SIZE IN DEVELOPING NORMAL KITTENS MEASURED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

To evaluate the age of fontanelle closure of normal kittens and the size of their lateral ventricles, 50 ultrasonographic examinations using the bregmatic fontanelle as an acoustic window were made. Seven kittens, laboratory animals, were included in the study. To verify the location of the lateral ventricle, two of the kittens were sacrificed as neonates. In one of them ink was injected prior to autopsy into one lateral ventricle under sonographic guidance. In a longitudinal study of five of the kittens, the skull depth and the depth of the central part of the lateral ventricle reproduced in a longitudinal view could be measured up to the age of about 5 months. During that period, the skull depth increased from a median value of 1.95 cm (1.92-1.98) in a seven-day-old cat to 2.58 cm (2.52-2.59) in a 154-day-old cat, while the afore-mentioned ventricle values increased from 0.3 mm to 1.1 mm.     

Is coppice a potential for urban forestry? The social perspective

After years of decline and neglect, low woodland types based on coppice management experience renewed interest. Substantial research has demonstrated the potentials of coppice for biomass production and for nature conservation, and coppices are increasingly being suggested for urban situations. Yet, our understanding of the more social aspects of coppice woodlands in modern urban situations is limited. Against this background, this contribution classifies coppice management systems as a basis for identification of social aspects of coppices and their potential use in contemporary urban forestry. Based on this classification, the social perspectives and potential niches for urban coppices are discussed, while lines of research are suggested which will support the development of a thorough and up-to-date knowledge base, against which the social merits of urban coppice woodlands can be critically evaluated.     

Marine migrations in anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta). Fjord residency as a possible alternative in the continuum of migration to the open sea

Partial migration is a common phenomenon in many fish species. Trout (Salmo trutta) is a partially migratory species where some part of the population migrate to the marine environment, while another remains in freshwater. In the years 2008 and 2009, a total of 159 wild sea trout smolts were tagged with acoustic and PIT‐tags in the river Villestrup (Denmark) to study the initial postsmolt marine behaviour within a fjord system. We found that the strategies of the sea migrants vary: some stay in the fjord, while others migrate to the sea, suggesting that partial migration occurs even in the marine environments. Overall, a total of 53% of the tagged smolts migrated from the fjord to the sea, and 47% stayed (or potentially died) in the fjord. The ratios of fjord‐resident versus sea‐migrating postsmolts were consistent at the study times, and no differences between the early and late migration periods of the smolts were observed. The individual's size or body condition at the time of tagging did not affect survival or the migratory decisions in the fjord. High overall initial survival (74%) was found 30 days after the fjord entry. We suggest that within a continuum of migration to sea, there is a migratory decision point when sea trout postsmolts encounter a fjord system. At this point, postsmolts will assess the possibility of migration versus the alternative of fjord residency.     

Migration of eels tagged in the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren—in the context of the stocking question

Eels (Anguilla spp.) are in decline worldwide, and the signs of reduced recruitment have been observed in continental Europe since the early 1970s. To aid recovery of the European eel, stocking is used by many European countries as a management option. In this study, tagging experiments were conducted to follow eel migration from Lake Mälaren and four sites along the Swedish east coast in the Baltic Sea. The recaptured tagged eels were retrieved from fishermen, allowing for the opportunity to investigate their origin (brackish water, stocked in freshwater or a mix in between) by otolith microchemistry and to assess for morphological differences after tagging. Several changes took place; for example, eye index increased while weight and condition decreased with migrated distance and time until recapture. In Lake Mälaren, the majority of tagged eels did not migrate out of the outlets, irrespective of their origin. Most of them were caught in the opposite direction and continued to be caught in the lake 1–3 years after tagging, with significant weight losses. Overall, overwintering is suggested to be an inferior option, but it is uncertain whether this is a natural behaviour or a result of translocation and restocking. For coastal eels, origin had no effect on migratory behaviour; a majority of the tagged eels migrated towards the outlet of the Baltic Sea. Interestingly, a minority of the recaptured eels originated from stocked fish. Instead, recaptures were dominated by natural immigrants that had spent most of their lives in brackish waters.     

Farm-related Factors Influencing the Adoption of Short-rotation Willow Coppice Production Among Swedish Farmers

The area of short-rotation willow coppice energy plantations on Swedish farmland increased quickly in the early 1990s because of subsidies for energy crop production, an increased CO₂ tax on fossil fuel and an already existing biofuel market in the country. In this study farm-related determinants for the adoption of short-rotation willow coppice production among Swedish farmers are identified and estimated. A Tobit model is applied to cross-sectional data on Swedish farmers in 1995. The results show that the decision to plant willow and the areas planted depend positively on arable land area, forest land area, the area of other land types, leasing out of arable land and tractor ownership. Negative factors are pasture area, tenancy and animal production. Differences in willow growing between ownership types, age groups and geographical regions are also important. The policy implications of the results are discussed.     

Effect of intermittent drought on grain yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in Rwanda

The climate change will contribute drought and temperature extremes to rice growing systems, especially when cultivated in equatorial regions. To evaluate opportunities to cultivate and breed drought-tolerant rice, seven rice cultivars were evaluated in Rwanda for recurring morphological drought scores, grain yield and components, and quality characteristics. The cultivation conditions, that is site and drought treatment, impacted morphological drought scores, growth and yield attributes, while cultivar affected quality attributes. Thus, site showed a higher impact on grain yield and components than drought and cultivar, with generally a reduced grain yield at the low-temperature site, as a result of low spikelet fertility. Morphological drought scores were generally increased by drought, while drought at the reproductive stage at the high-temperature site was negative for yield and its components. The cultivars “Intsindagirabigega” and “Jyambere” were adapted to high-temperature site conditions. The cultivar “Intsindagirabigega” had the highest amylose content, and “Mpembuke,” the highest antioxidant capacity. Thus, climate change with increased temperature and drought extremes may increase rice productivity in cool areas, while especially drought at reproductive stage will be detrimental in low altitude areas with high temperature. Cultivar variation indicated opportunities for selection and breeding of climate change tolerant rice cultivars which should be of immediate priority.