Variation of Color and Ray Pattern in Juvenile Shells in Hatchery‐produced Freshwater Triangle Pearl Mussels,Hyriopsis cumingii,in China

The variation and inheritance of juvenile shell color and pigmentation pattern in the freshwater mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii, were reported in 1‐yr‐old progeny of eight families. There were three distinctive phenotypes of shell color and pigmentation patterns observed, including a greenish‐brown shell with radial rays, yellowish‐brown shell with radial rays, and yellowish‐brown shell without radial rays. There were no greenish‐brown individuals without radial rays. The shell color phenotypes showed variation with the growth in juvenile Stage I (1–3 cm in shell length), and the percentage of individuals with radial rays increased once they reached a shell length of 11 mm and then stabilized after reaching 20 mm in shell length. Shell color differentiation became more apparent at a shell length of 26 mm. Results of chi‐square tests of the segregation ratio of shell color or ray phenotypes obtained from eight families at juvenile Stage II (6–9 cm in shell length) suggested that greenish‐brown is controlled by a dominant allele (G) and yellowish‐brown‐shell phenotype is by a recessive allele (y); the ray pattern phenotype is controlled by a recessive (r) and a dominant allele (R) at a single locus. Shell color phenotypes may be a useful genetic marker for future selective breeding of triangle pearl mussels.     

Origin and distribution of facial nerve anatomy in van cats

This study aims to reveal the morphological properties of facial nerve and the middle ear in Van cats. Study material was composed of 6 female Van cats. Dissections were performed under a Zoom Stereo Microscope. There was no plexus buccalis in Van cats. The chorda tympani was observed to pass through an opening in the tympanic cavity, emerge through a small opening just behind the retroarticular process, and join the lingual nerve. A rounded anatomical formation with a size of 2.75 ± 0.3 mm was found to be located within the mastoid process of the temporal bone between the facial nerve and the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The stapes nerve was not present. The geniculate ganglion was very prominent and about 1.00 mm high. The deep petrosal nerve was observed to emerge from the plexus tympanicus. The bulla tympanica was 18.96 ± 0.10 mm long, 13.03 ± 0.20 mm wide and 13.16 ± 0.20 mm high. After leaving the mandibular nerve, the n.tensoris tympani coursed caudally around the a.maxillaris, formed an ansa, entered the tympanic cavity through the canalis musculotubarius and reached an end in the m. tensor tympani. Due to the scarcity of studies on the middle ears of Van cats, it is thought that this study will fill a gap in the field of veterinary anatomy.     

益生菌发酵红薯渣对肉牛生长性能、养分表观消化率的影响

为研究益生菌发酵红薯渣对肉牛生长性能、养分表观消化率的影响,采用单因素随机设计试验,选择体重相近、健康的育肥肉牛40头随机分成4组,每组10个重复,每个重复1头,试验1组饲喂基础日粮,试验2、3、4组分别用10%、15%、20%益生菌发酵红薯渣替代饲粮中的玉米,预试验10 d,试验期60 d。结果表明:(1)试验3、4组的平均日增重较1组比分别提高16.9、14.1%(P<0.05),试验2、3、4组的平均采食量均高于1组(P>0.05);试验3、4组的料重比较1组比分别降低14.9%、12.4%(P<0.05);(2)试验2、3、4组干物质、蛋白质、钙、磷的表观消化率均高于1组(P 0.05);试验3、4组的中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率较1组比分别提高12.7%、11.0%、18.9%、16.4%(P<0.05)。综上,益生菌发酵红薯渣替代饲料中15%玉米,可以提高肉牛的生长性能和养分表观消化率。     

拷贝数变异在畜禽中的研究进展

拷贝数变异（copy number variation,CNV）具有多种形式的变异结构,在品种多样性、生物进化和疾病相关性等研究中起着重要作用,并具有片段长度大、覆盖范围广等特点。随着分子生物学的发展及DNA测序技术的日渐成熟,人们对遗传变异的研究不断向DNA分子水平深入,多态性标记在畜禽育种中已逐渐成为动物育种研究的趋势和主流。由于CNV对基因的调控和表达所造成的影响更为显著,因此,CNV在重要畜禽中的研究越来越多。目前,已检测出大量有关畜禽重要经济性状的基因序列变异,并有许多研究均表明CNV与动物的重要经济特征及疾病的发生有关。笔者主要通过参考国内外相关的研究报道,简述了CNV的相关研究背景、概念、突变机制,归纳总结了CNV对牛、羊、猪、鸡的经济性状、繁殖性状和疾病调控的影响,以期通过对这些重要畜禽的基因组学研究揭示其适应性遗传机理和表型性状差异的遗传基础,开发相应的分子遗传标记,为畜禽的标记辅助选育提供理论基础。     

Screening of Probiotics Inhibiting E. coli K88 in vitro

The probiotics tested in the experiment were isolated from the intestinal of weaning piglets.The isolated probiotics and E.coli K88 were inoculated into the culture of intestinal porcine epithelial cell-1 (IPEC-1).The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was measured after incubating for 2.5 h.At the same time, the probiotics and E.coli K88 were co-cultured in vitro, the number of E.coli K88 was counted and the probiotics which could be resistant to the E.coli K88 were selected 2.5 h later.The results showed that the Lactobacillus casei and Bacillus coagulans could significantly reduce LDH activity (P<0.05), decrease the damage of E.coli K88; Bacillus coagulans could inhibit the growth of E.coli K88.At the same time, Bacillus coagulans could resist high temperature, acid and bile salt.The results showed that Bacillus coagulans strains had great potential as the application of probiotics strains.The methods could be used as a model of screen probiotics which could inhibit the growth of E.coli K88 in vitro.     

Informing Community Engagement in Sea Turtle Conservation by Examining Non-Conservation-Related Participation in Northeast Brazil

Participation in conservation programs is often viewed as a necessity, but understanding of this participation is limited. This research takes a different approach by also examining participation in non-conservation-related activities. Questionnaires (N = 339) were administered in four Brazilian coastal communities where the national sea turtle conservation project conducts monitoring and outreach. Employing social capital as a conceptual framework, measurements included participation in civic, community, and social activities along with group participation and collective action. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for validating measures of social capital and conservation perceptions. Structural equation modeling indicated that social capital has a positive relationship with participation in sea turtle conservation, suggesting that general levels of participation and community norms of participation could be just as influential as conservation perceptions to engage communities in conservation. Information gained by deconstructing participation may be used to design and target conservation programs, improving overall participation.     

Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.