Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time using a point‐of‐care analyser (Abaxis VSpro®) in Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus)

There are few reports of coagulation times in marsupial species. Blood samples collected from 14 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) under anaesthesia during routine health assessments were analysed for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) using a point‐of‐care analyser (POC) (Abaxis VSPro®). The wallabies had an aPTT mean of 78.09 s and median of 78.1 s. The PT for all wallabies was greater than 35 s, exceeding the longest time measured on the POC. Although PT was significantly longer, aPTT was similar to the manufacturer's domestic canine reference range.     

Cryopreservation of Zona‐Free Cloned Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) Embryos: Slow Freezing vs Open‐Pulled Straw Vitrification

This study was carried out to compare the post‐thaw cryosurvival rate and the level of apoptosis in vitro produced zona‐free cloned buffalo blastocysts subjected to slow freezing or vitrification in open‐pulled straws (OPS). Zona‐free cloned embryos produced by handmade cloning were divided into two groups and were cryopreserved either by slow freezing or by vitrification in OPS. Cryosurvival of blastocysts was determined by their re‐expansion rate following post‐thaw culture for 22–24 h. The post‐thaw re‐expansion rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher following vitrification in OPS (71.2 ± 2.3%) compared with that after slow freezing (41.6 ± 4.8%). For examining embryo quality, the level of apoptosis in day 8 frozen‐thawed blastocysts was determined by TUNEL staining. The total cell number was not significantly different among the control non‐cryopreserved cloned embryos (422.6 ± 67.8) and those cryopreserved by slow freezing (376.4 ± 29.3) or vitrification in OPS (422.8 ± 36.2). However, the apoptotic index, which was similar for embryos subjected to slow freezing (14.8 ± 2.0) or OPS vitrification (13.3 ± 1.8), was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that for the control non‐cryopreserved cloned embryos (3.4 ± 0.6). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that vitrification in OPS is better than slow freezing for the cryopreservation of zona‐free cloned buffalo blastocysts because it offers a much higher cryosurvival rate.     

A review of thermal stress in cattle

Cattle control body temperature in a narrow range over varying climatic conditions. Endogenous body heat is generated by metabolism, digestion and activity. Radiation is the primary external source of heat transfer into the body of cattle. Cattle homeothermy uses behavioural and physiological controls to manage radiation, convection, conduction, and evaporative exchange of heat between the body and the environment, noting that evaporative mechanisms almost exclusively transfer body heat to the environment. Cattle control radiation by shade seeking (hot) and shelter (cold) and by huddling or standing further apart, noting there are intrinsic breed and age differences in radiative transfer potential. The temperature gradient between the skin and the external environment and wind speed (convection) determines heat transfer by these means. Cattle control these mechanisms by managing blood flow to the periphery (physiology), by shelter-seeking and standing/lying activity in the short term (behaviourally) and by modifying their coats and adjusting their metabolic rates in the longer term (acclimatisation). Evaporative heat loss in cattle is primarily from sweating, with some respiratory contribution, and is the primary mechanism for dissipating excess heat when environmental temperatures exceed skin temperature (~36°C). Cattle tend to be better adapted to cooler rather than hotter external conditions, with Bos indicus breeds more adapted to hotter conditions than Bos taurus. Management can minimise the risk of thermal stress by ensuring appropriate breeds of suitably acclimatised cattle, at appropriate stocking densities, fed appropriate diets (and water), and with access to suitable shelter and ventilation are better suited to their expected farm environment.     

Nitrogen fertiliser effects on litter fall, FH layer and mineral soil characteristics in New Zealand Pinus radiata plantations

The effects of nitrogenous fertilisation on litter fall, FH layer and soil characteristics were investigated in replicated trials in six second rotation New Zealand Pinus radiata plantation forests. Four trial sites also incorporated three different post-harvest organic matter removal treatments. All sites were sampled in early 2002 and 2003. Fertilisation significantly increased the nitrogen content and decreased the carbon:nitrogen ratio of the litter fall. Fertilisation significantly increased the mass of the FH layer in the treatment plots, moisture content in the FH layer, the concentration of nitrogen in the FH layer and the pool of carbon and nitrogen stored in the FH layer. Fertilisation significantly increased the nitrogen concentration of the mineral soil, and decreased the mineral soil carbon:nitrogen ratio and pH. Several significant site × fertilisation interaction terms indicated that variations in the fertilisation regimes and site characteristics substantially influenced the effects of fertilisation. Fertilisation did not significantly decrease the relative differences between the organic matter removal treatments. The significant differences in the litter fall, FH layer and mineral soil characteristics strongly suggest that nitrogenous fertilisation has the capacity to significantly alter the forest floor environment, and may be able to increase carbon storage over the life of the rotation.     

Soil quality relationships with tree growth in exotic forests in New Zealand

Quantitative information on the relationships between site quality and plantation productivity (dominated by the exotic species Pinus radiata) is required to achieve goals for sustainable forest production. Soil quality is a key component of site quality. A nationwide study of soil quality measurements is reported for 35 representative forest sites, covering a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions found throughout New Zealand's plantation forest estate, representing most of the soils used for plantation forestry in New Zealand. The objectives of the study were to find the most important soil properties that discriminated among eight New Zealand Soil Orders and determine relationships between Soil Orders and early tree growth rates for P. radiata and Cupressus lusitanica. Soil physical and chemical properties were measured to identify key soil indicators of soil quality related to tree productivity. Tree growth was measured after four years on small plots planted at very high stand density (40 000 stems ha⁻¹). A factorial design was used to examine the influence of three factors on tree productivity: two species, P. radiata D. Don (ectomycorrhizal) and C. lusitanica Miller (endomycorrhizal); with and without fertilizer; and low or high disturbance (soil compaction and/or topsoil scalping by machinery). Carbon content, Phosphorus (P) retention, and soil physical properties that index the degree of soil compactness were strongly correlated to Soil Order. These properties are similar to soil quality factors that correlated with tree growth. Discriminant analyses of soil quality parameters by Soil Order clustered soils based on P retention (phosphate absorption capacity), subsoil Carbon (C), and subsoil air capacity (volume % of voids at 10 kPa matric potential). Allophanic Soils and Podzols clustered (from plots of first versus second canonical variates) separately from the other Soil Orders, which were somewhat clustered on the second variate within a broad clustering on the first variate. Soil Orders were ranked for tree growth rates for both species: pumice Andisols > Inceptisols > tephric Andisols > Entisols > Ultisols > Spodosols (NZ classification: for P. radiata is Pumice > Brown > Pallic > Allophanic > Recent > Raw > Ultic > Podzol and for C. lusitanica Pumice > Pallic > Allophanic > Brown > Raw > Ultic > Recent > Podzol).     

Endogenous Ethane and Ethylene Of Poa pratensis Leaf Blades and Leaf Chlorosis in Response to Biologically Active Products of Bipolaris sorokiniana

Infection of Poa pratensis leaf blades and callus tissue by Bipolaris sorokiniana increases the production of ethylene and ethane. The ethylene is responsible for most of the chlorosis that occurs during pathogenesis. The nonselective toxin(s) produced by B. sorokiniana is known to disrupt membranes and to damage chlorophyll, but it is not known whether it can induce an increase in ethylene or ethane. Research was initiated to determine the effect of a biologically-active extract of B. sorokiniana on the endogenous ethylene and ethane of intact P. pratensis leaf blades and on subsequent development of chlorosis. The extract did not increase endogenous ethylene of treated leaves, but it was associated with an increase in endogenous ethane between 24 and 96h after treatment. Chlorophyll loss occurred 96h after treatment and persisted for the duration of the study (168h). The chlorophyll content of treated leaf blades ranged from 72% to 80% of control leaf blades. The observations suggest that the extract of B. sorokiniana can induce chlorophyll loss from treated leaf blades independent of an increase in endogenous ethylene by directly damaging chloroplasts with a concurrent release of ethane. The ethane is believed to be a by-product of pathogenesis.     

Evaluating the upper thermal limits of glochidia for selected freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in central and east Texas,and the implications for their conservation

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