Marine fish egg hydration is aquaporin-mediated

The positive buoyancy of marine fish eggs in sea water, allowed by hydration of the oocyte, is critical for their survival and dispersion in the ocean. We isolated an aquaporin, SaAQP1o, that belongs to a unique subfamily of aquaporin-1-like channels specifically evolved in teleosts and mainly expressed in the ovary. We further show that hormone-induced fish oocyte hydration is a highly controlled process based on the interplay between protein hydrolysis and the translocation of SaAQP1o to the plasma membrane, indicating a specialized physiological role for this aquaporin.     

Global trajectories of the long-term decline of coral reef ecosystems

Degradation of coral reef ecosystems began centuries ago, but there is no global summary of the magnitude of change. We compiled records, extending back thousands of years, of the status and trends of seven major guilds of carnivores, herbivores, and architectural species from 14 regions. Large animals declined before small animals and architectural species, and Atlantic reefs declined before reefs in the Red Sea and Australia, but the trajectories of decline were markedly similar worldwide. All reefs were substantially degraded long before outbreaks of coral disease and bleaching. Regardless of these new threats, reefs will not survive without immediate protection from human exploitation over large spatial scales.     

Effect of leaves on microtubers produced from potato single-node cuttingsIn Vitro

Microtubers are used to propagate, to store, and to transport potato clones. Culturing single-node explants from potato plantletsin vitro without subtending leaves was reported to result in plantlets with lower vigor and a higher coefficient of variation. The effect on microtuber productionin vitro of leaf area and the presence or absence of leaves on potato single-node cuttings was investigated as an extension of the above study. Stock plantlets of potato cvs Atlantic, Kennebec, Russet Burbank, and Shepody were cultured under a 16-h photoperiod. Single-node cuttings were excised and grown in a high-sucrose tuberization medium in darkness. Leaf area did not affect the frequency, size, or weight of microtubers of cvs Katahdin and Russet Burbank. The absence of leaves reduced microtuber diameter for Russet Burbank; whereas Atlantic, Kennebec, and Shepody were unaffected. Mean fresh weight of microtubers was reduced when leaves were removed for all cvs except Atlantic. No effect of the removal of the leaf was observed for mean dry weights of microtubers from all cvs, although microtubers from single-node cuttings without leaves accumulated significantly more percent dry matter than those with leaves. Rapid multiplication facilities may therefore wish to consider conserving resources such as media, vessels, and growth room space by culturing explants without leaves for the production of microtubers.     

Effects of tillage and application of cattle slurry on carbon pools and aggregate distribution in temperate grassland soils

The objective was to study the effects of tillage and cattle slurry application on organic C dynamics in grassland soils. Treatments included long‐term grassland and reinstalled grassland (after tillage and winter wheat cropping) with and without cattle slurry application (240 kg N ha^–1 y^–1). A period of 4 y slurry application sufficed to increase microbial activity 1.6‐fold in surface soil (0–10 cm). Tillage affected aggregate distribution and basal respiration in the surface soil.     

Monitoring Estrogen Compounds in Wastewater Recycling Systems

We determined the concentrations and residue patterns of 20 persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), chlordane-related compounds (CHLs), mirex, dieldrin, endrin, and aldrin, in muscle of rainbow trout from Lake Mashu, Japan. Total concentrations of OCPs varied from 1.0 to 132 ng g^?1 lipid weight. α-HCH was the most prevalent OCP contaminant in the fish muscle. Using the daily fish consumption in Japan (95.2 g), the mean weight of a Japanese adult (50.0 kg), and residual pesticide concentrations, we calculated the estimated daily intakes of γ-HCH, DDTs, CHLs, and dieldrin for humans to be 0.39, 0.48, 0.68, and 0.08 ng kg^?1 day^?1, respectively. Judging from acceptable daily intakes established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, we believe that these OCP levels would not adversely affect human health.     

Genetic Introgression and the Survival of Florida Panther Kittens

Estimates of survival for the young of a species are critical for population models. These models can often be improved by determining the effects of management actions and population abundance on this demographic parameter. We used multiple sources of data collected during 1982-2008 and a live-recapture dead-recovery modeling framework to estimate and model survival of Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) kittens (age 0-1 year). Overall, annual survival of Florida panther kittens was 0.323 ± 0.071 (SE), which was lower than estimates used in previous population models. In 1995, female pumas from Texas (P. c. stanleyana) were released into occupied panther range as part of an intentional introgression program to restore genetic variability. We found that kitten survival generally increased with degree of admixture: F₁ admixed and backcrossed to Texas kittens survived better than canonical Florida panther and backcrossed to canonical kittens. Average heterozygosity positively influenced kitten and older panther survival, whereas index of panther abundance negatively influenced kitten survival. Our results provide strong evidence for the positive population-level impact of genetic introgression on Florida panthers. Our approach to integrate data from multiple sources was effective at improving robustness as well as precision of estimates of Florida panther kitten survival, and can be useful in estimating vital rates for other elusive species with sparse data.     

Aromatherapy for travel-induced excitement in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the ambient odor of lavender as a treatment for travel-induced excitement in dogs. DESIGN: Clinical trial. Animals-32 dogs with a history of travel-induced excitement in owners' cars. PROCEDURES: Each dog was studied during travel in the owner's car to a familiar walking site during 2 conditions of olfactory stimulation. The first condition was a control condition, during which dogs were exposed to no odor other than that arising naturally from the environment. The second condition was an experimental condition during which dogs were exposed to the ambient odor of lavender. Dogs' behavior was recorded during the car journey for 3 consecutive days under the control condition and for 3 consecutive days under the experimental condition. The percentage of time spent moving, standing, sitting, resting, and vocalizing in each condition of olfactory stimulation was quantified for each dog. RESULTS: Dogs spent significantly more time resting and sitting and less time moving and vocalizing during the experimental condition. There was no significant relationship between dogs' behavior and sex, castration status, day, or the order of exposure to each olfactory condition. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional treatments for travel-induced excitement in dogs may be time-consuming, expensive, or associated with adverse effects. Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species.