Reproductive and productivity traits of goats grazing Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. with and without daily PEG supplementation

A grazing experiment, conducted for 90 days compared the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) supplementation on postpartum reproductive traits and productivity of suckling goats grazing Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. A total of 54 native adult goats (34.4 ± 5.49 kg) were randomly allocated, 24 h after kidding, to 2 treatment groups balanced for age and the number of reared kids. Goats in both treatment groups designed C and PEG grazed in acacia for approximately 5 h every day and received each on daily basis 0.3 and 0.4 kg of hay and concentrate respectively. In addition, goats in treatment PEG were initially supplemented with 10 g/day of PEG and this supplement was then increased to 20 g /goat/day over the last 60 days of the trial. Goats receiving PEG tended (P > 0.05) to spend more time browsing acacia than those in treatment C. There were no treatment effects on live weight change of the goats, growth of their kids until 90 days of age or composition of their milk in terms of fat, protein and urea contents. Similar proportions of 74.1 and 77.8% of goats resumed postpartum ovulation with a mean ovulation rate of 1.50 ± 0.61 and 1.67 ± 0.47 (P > 0.05) in respectively the PEG and C treatments. PEG supplementation was associated with an increase (P < 0.05) in ovulation rate at the second postpartum ovulation occurring approximately 27 days after the application of the nutritional treatments (1.76 ± 0.60 versus 1.25 ± 0.45); 9 of the 13 goats ovulating in the PEG treatment were bearing more than one corpus lutuem in comparison to only 3 out of 12 females in the C group (P < 0.05). The likely increased availability of proteins in the PEG receiving goats could explain their higher ovulation rate.     

不同细胞因子对水牛原始生殖细胞传代培养的影响

为探讨不同细胞因子对水牛原始生殖细胞（PGCs）传代培养的影响，将PGCs分别采用A、B、C、D、E、F和G共7种培养基进行培养，即A组：基础液＋10ng／mL白血病抑制因子（LIF）＋10ng／mL碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）；B组：基础液＋20ng／mL LIF＋20ng／mL bFGF；C组：基础液＋20ng／mL LIF＋10ng／mL bFGF；D组：基础液＋20ng／mL LIF；E组：基础液＋20ng／mL LIF＋20ng／mL bFGF＋20ng／mL干细胞因子（SCF）；F组：基础液＋20ng／mL LIF＋40ng／mL bFGF＋40ng／mL SCF；G组（对照组）：基础液。将机械法分离的PGCs小集落接种到水牛胎儿成纤维细胞（BEF）饲养层上进行传代培养。结果，原代时，A、B、C、D、E和F组的克隆数目都显著高于对照组（P％0．05），其中E和F组的克隆数目显著高于A组（P〈0．05），而与B、C、D组差异均不显著（P〉0．05）；1～8代时，B、C、D、E、F组的克隆数目显著高于A组（P〈0．05）；对照组传代数仅为2代，A组为5代，而B、C、D、E和F组均为8代以上。结果表明，在传代过程中，LIF起主要作用，20ng／mL的LIF浓度可以满足水牛PGCs传代培养的需要。     

Oral eosinophilic granulomas in tigers (Panthera tigris)--a collection of 16 cases.

Oral eosinophilic granulomas were diagnosed in 16 tigers (Panthera tigris). All lesions were located on the hard or soft palate and typically consisted of flat or slightly raised circular ulcers. Histologic features of these lesions were essentially identical to those seen in oral eosinophilic granulomas of domestic cats and dogs. No clinical signs were noted in eight cases, though various degrees of inappetence, excessive salivation, and dysphagia were noted in the other eight tigers. Six cases were not treated. Treatment for the remaining 10 cases centered on corticosteroids and additional treatments included surgical removal, cryotherapy, antibiotics, and chlorpheniramine. Treatment with corticosteroids did appear to be effective in some cases, though lesions would worsen after cessation of therapy and no cases were cured. In addition, three cases developed complications possibly related to this corticosteroid therapy. The etiology of these lesions remains unknown, though an underlying allergic condition is likely.     

有关我国农业、山区建设和自然资源问题的研究

本文对农业、耕地经营、山区建设和自然资源四个限制我国农业和农村发展的重大问题进行了理论剖析和战略运作的设想，以求取在上述四大领域内对我国的经济建设和环境保护有所建树。     

不同退化程度高寒草甸植物物种多样性与生态系统多功能性关系

为探究高寒草甸不同退化程度生态系统多功能性的变化,本研究综合考虑了植物物种多样性和多种生态系统功能如生产力、养分循环和固存能力、土壤涵养水分能力等,运用降维因子分析的方法计算了生态系统多功能性,综合分析了植物物种多样性与生态系统功能和多功能性间的关系。结果表明：高寒草甸退化显著降低了Margalef指数、Shannon-weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数(P<0.05),各生态系统功能趋于恶化。高寒草甸退化导致生态系统多功能性的下降,综合统计量结果为轻度退化(21.9955)＞中度退化(8.7295)＞重度退化(—30.7245)。植物物种多样性与生态系统多功能性之间均存在正相关关系,其中Simpson指数与生态系统多功能性指数拟合的结果最好,说明高寒草甸生态系统多功能性受植物物种多样性的制约。本研究可为青藏高原草地退化及恢复的过程和机理研究提供理论依据。     

Establishment and early growth characteristics of six Paulownia genotypes for goat browse in Raleigh, NC, USA

Meat goat production in the eastern USA is increasing as a result of growing demand from various ethnic groups. Because goats naturally prefer a high proportion of browse in their diets, research was initiated to investigate various silvopastoral production systems. The genus Paulownia contains several species which exhibit rapid juvenile growth and other characteristics that justify research into their potential use in meat goat feeding systems. In May 1997, six Paulownia genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block experiment with six replications. Trees were between 6 and 12 cm in height at planting. Genotypes included: P. fortunei seedlings, P. tomentosa seedlings, P. elongata seedlings and three P. elongata clones. Each 4-m wide plot contained a single row of 12 trees with an intra-row spacing of 1 m. Plant measurements included height, root collar diameter (RCD) at 3 cm above soil surface, and the number of main branches. Leaf samples were collected from all six replications for estimates of herbage quality. During 1998, trees were browsed with goats on two occasions to assess palatability of the herbage and to determine any preference for specific genotypes by the animals. Compared with seedling trees of all three species, the three P. elongata clones were taller (clones: 79.7 cm, seedlings: 55.9 cm; P < 0.01), had larger RCDs (clones: 18.4 mm, seedlings: 13.9 mm; P < 0.01) and had a higher branching frequency (clones: 4.9, seedlings: 1.5; P < 0.01) by the end of the first growing season. Mortality averaged 4.8% across all treatments and ranged between 0 and 8%. Early in the 1998 growing season before trees were browsed, P. elongata clones grew more rapidly than seedlings (clones: 116.4 cm, seedlings: 84.1 cm; P < 0.01). Estimates of herbage quality indicated favorable concentrations of energy and protein for lamina. In vitro true dry matter disappearance ranged from 85.4 (blades) to 71.5% (petioles) and crude protein from 25.1 (blades) to 4.9% (petioles). Animals readily browsed the lamina during two separate sessions, but no clear preference trends were observed among the different Paulownia genotypes.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

桉树人工林木材生长应变研究

以我国南方生长较好的4种人工林桉树为研究对象，测试并比较了4种桉树立木的纵向生长应变及其相关性,结果表明：不同桉树种间生长应变差异显著；相同树龄的尾园桉的生长应变与胸径成直线相关。以上结果可为桉树实体木材的加工利用提供借鉴。     

Reimplementation of the Biome-BGC model to simulate successional change

Biogeochemical process models are increasingly employed to simulate current and future forest dynamics, but most simulate only a single canopy type. This limitation means that mixed stands, canopy succession and understory dynamics cannot be modeled, severe handicaps in many forests. The goals of this study were to develop a version of Biome-BGC that supported multiple, interacting vegetation types, and to assess its performance and limitations by comparing modeled results to published data from a 150-year boreal black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) chronosequence in northern Manitoba, Canada. Model data structures and logic were modified to support an arbitrary number of interacting vegetation types; an explicit height calculation was necessary to prioritize radiation and precipitation interception. Two vegetation types, evergreen needle-leaf and deciduous broadleaf, were modeled based on site-specific meteorological and physiological data. The new version of Biome-BGC reliably simulated observed changes in leaf area, net primary production and carbon stocks, and should be useful for modeling the dynamics of mixed-species stands and ecological succession. We discuss the strengths and limitations of Biome-BGC for this application, and note areas in which further work is necessary for reliable simulation of boreal biogeochemical cycling at a landscape scale.     

Growth and water potential of j-rooted loblolly and eastern white pine seedlings over three growing seasons

The effects of j-rooting on water stress and growth of loblolly (Pious taeda L.) and eastern white pine (Pious strobus L.) were examined over three growing seasons in the field. Seedlings were planted in an area with severe herbaceous competition with either their roots planted straight or bent into a j shape. All seedlings were planted with their root collars placed at the soil surface. During the first year j-rooted seedlings consistently had lower water potentials but never statistically significant. Since both treatments were planted with the root collar at the soil surface, this trend was likely due to an initial shallower root system in j-rooted seedlings. In year three no differences in water potential were significant and no trends were evident. Growth did not differ significantly by treatment at any time but, by year three, j-rooted plants were consistently larger for both species.     

Contribution of root respiration to soil surface CO2 flux in a boreal black spruce chronosequence

We quantified the contributions of root respiration (RC) and heterotrophic respiration to soil surface CO2 flux (RS) by comparing trenched and untrenched plots in well-drained and poorly drained stands of a black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) fire chronosequence in northern Manitoba, Canada. Our objectives were to: (1) test different equations for modeling RS as a function of soil temperature; and (2) model annual RS and RC for the chronosequence from continuous soil temperature measurements. The choice of equation to model RS strongly affected annual RS and RC, with an Arrhenius-based model giving the best fit to the data, especially at low temperatures. Modeled values of annual RS were positively correlated with soil temperature at 2-cm depth and were affected by year of burn and trenching, but not by soil drainage. During the growing season, measured RC was low in May, peaked in late July and declined to low values by the end of the growing season. Annual RC was < 5% of RS in the recently burned stands, approximately 40% in the 21-year-old stands and 5-15% in the oldest (152-year-old) stands. Evidence suggests that RC may have been underestimated in the oldest stands, with residual root decay from trenching accounting for 5-10% of trenched plot RS at most sites.