Protozoans and Meiofauna Inhabiting a Bead Filter: A Preliminary Investigation of Their Role as Potential Bioindicators of Shrimp Production System Health

Abstract.— Protozoans are used as bioindicators of system health in wastewater treatment plants. The objective of this study was to determine if protozoans or meiofauna could be useful bioindicators of shrimp production system health. Specifically, we noted the relative abundance of protozoans and meiofauna inhabiting a propeller-washed bead filter (PBF) used in a recirculating aquaculture system for intensive shrimp production during a 12-wk grow-out trial. Based on microscopic analysis of PBF backwash, results indicate that (1) the presence of nematodes and rotifers may reflect the age and/or organic loading of the filter; (2) feed quantity affects protozoan biomass, whereas feed quality impacts the nutritional group of protozoans that survive; (3) free-living amoeba typically are surface associated in their active feeding state and were present in most PBF samples; and (4) ciliates likely play an important ecological role in PBF used in intensive shrimp culture.     

Observations on a lesser-known monogenean, Udonella myliobati, from a copepod parasite, Lepeophtheirus natalensis, parasitizing the spotted ragged-tooth shark, Carcharias taurus, from South African waters

The phylogeny of the genus Udonella has been disputed for quite some time, but recent phylogenetic analysis of molecular data confirms that the genus is a monopisthocotylean monogenean. Specimens of Udonella myliobati parasitizing the copepod Lepeophtheirus natalensis, an ectoparasite of the spotted ragged-tooth shark, (Carcharias taurus), were collected and studied. A total of 771 monogenean specimens were recovered from 54 infected copepods examined, with a mean intensity of 14,3 worms per copepod. Most of the monogeneans were found attached to the dorsal surface of the lateral and frontal marginal membranes of the copepod carapace. Eggs, with filaments and adhesive discs, were found ventrally on the host, mainly attached to the maxillae and maxillipeds, in clusters of 12-14. Observations on the morphology, distribution and behaviour of this monogenean are presented with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy.     

Growing American ginseng in maple forests as an alternative land-use system in Québec, Canada

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is a medicinal crop which provides tens of millions of dollars in income every year for Canadian farmers. Most of the ginseng roots are produced in open fields under expensive shade structures. Farmers need to plant ginseng at a very high density to achieve profitability. Since high planting densities are related to high disease levels, field-cultivated ginseng requires frequent applications of pesticide. Growing ginseng in forests eliminates the need of a shade structure and may reduce the need for pesticides. Thus, an experiment was performed in a maple (Acer rubrum) forest in Québec to evaluate the effects of nutrient inputs such as lime or compost on ginseng development. Ginseng emergence and survival rates, leaf area and foliar and root weight were evaluated for each treatment. Soil samples were taken in each plot to determine the concentration of various soil nutrients. During the first two years of the experiment, it was noted that the application of lime had a significative positive effect on ginseng growth. This effect could be related to higher calcium concentration and/or lower aluminium toxicity. Liming would be an efficient way to improve the early development of ginseng in maple forests. This practice is also known to improve the health of maple stands. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A general framework for the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services of tree-based intercropping systems

This study provides the first complete framework for the valuation of ecosystem services of agroforestry and uses a tree-based intercropping (TBI) system in southern Québec, Canada, as a case study. Ten ecosystem services were estimated, all of which were of interest and directly applicable to most agricultural systems worldwide: nutrient mineralization, water quality, soil quality, pollination, biological control, air quality, windbreak, timber provisioning, agriculture provisioning, and climate regulation. A mix of mathematical models for the quantification and economic valuation of various ecosystem services were used. The results revealed a total annual margin of $2,645 ha^?1 y^?1 (averaged over 40 years). The economic value of combined non-market services was $1,634 ha^?1 y^?1, which was higher than the value of marketable products (i.e. timber and agricultural products). An analysis of the present value suggested that agricultural products ranked highest among the ecosystem services taken singularly, followed by water quality, air quality, climate regulation, and soil quality maintenance. Total economic value of all ecosystem services for the rotation period was $54,782 ha^?1, only one third of which was contributed by agricultural products. Although the total value of the ecosystem services provided by TBI was high, farmers only benefited from agricultural and timber products. Thus, government incentives are needed to interest farmers in adopting practices that benefit society as a whole.     

Live fences in Ségou, Mali : an evaluation by their early users

Market-oriented production of gardening crops and cassava (Manihot utilissima) in the dry season is an increasingly frequent practice in Ségou, Mali. Traditionally, these crops are protected from roaming livestock with the help of dead fences. In order to provide a sustainable alternative to dead fences, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) began promoting the use of live fences, living trees planted closely together around a field plot. This study was conducted with the first farmers to use these live fences. These farmers expressed satisfaction with the protection offered by the trees and their ability to provide a variety of medicinal, economic, and food products. The form of land tenure, the social status of farmers within their families, and the availability of labour seem to be important factors in the decision to test the live fence. This raises questions about the accessibility of this technique and its possible contribution to the social and economic differentiation of its users. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Vegetative propagation of twelve fodder tree species indigenous to the Sahel,West Africa

In the Sahel region, many woody species are used as fodder because of their high nitrogen content, especially during the dry season, in contrast to grasses and crop residues. Unfortunately, this resource is being threatened by regular pruning, increasing livestock browsing and impeding their natural regeneration. Therefore, there is a need to find appropriate regeneration options to sustain fodder production. Thus, a series of vegetative propagation experiments were conducted to identify the most appropriate multiplication methods of some of the species used as fodder. This series included testing the effects of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole butyric acid (IBA) on rooting ability of stem cuttings of 12 species: Afzelia africana, Balanites aegyptiaca, Bauhinia rufescens, Commiphora africana, Faidherbia albida, Ficus gnaphalocarpa, Guiera senegalensis, Kigelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Pterocarpus lucens, Pterocarpus santalinoides and Terminalia avicennioides. The series also evaluated the impacts of the size (C. africana) and the age (P. erinaceus) of the cuttings on their rooting success. Pterocarpus santalinoides was revealed to be an easy-to-root species, showing a high percentage of rooted cuttings (up to 88±3%), followed by P. erinaceus, P. lucens and B. aegyptiaca (up to 37±4%, 31±5% and 26±6%, respectively), in contrast to A. africana, cuttings of which did not root at all. The application of NAA and IBA enhanced the number of roots and secondary roots per rooted cutting. Large-diameter cuttings (15–20?mm) of deeply planted C. africana gave the highest percentage of rooted cuttings (78.3±4.4%). Tree pruning improved the rooting capacity of cuttings collected from P. erinaceus with one-month resprouts giving the highest percentage of rooted cuttings (50.0±6.7%). These results indicate that P. santalinoides, C. africana, P. erinaceus, P. lucens and B. aegyptiaca are amenable to vegetative propagation as an alternative to sexual propagation.     

Retrospective analysis of tree architecture in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.): ontogenetic trends and responses to environmental variability

Context

Understanding the effects of exogenous factors on tree development is of major importance in the current context of global change. Assessing the structure development of trees is difficult given that they are large and complex organisms with lifespan of several decades.

Aims

We used a retrospective analysis to derive the ontogenetic trends in silver fir development and assess the effects of climate or light environment on tree architecture.

Methods

Thanks to the identification of relevant growth markers (bud cataphylls and pseudo-whorl branches), a retrospective analysis allowed to record annual shoot extension and to date them on silver firs of various sizes under different environmental conditions.

Results

The length of successive annual shoots located on different axes clearly show gradual trends related to the physiological age of meristems. Within- and between-tree variations are noted due to the plasticity of development and growth induced by light environment and climate.

Conclusion

Retrospective analysis is an efficient method for getting information on the history of trees architecture and subsequently to relate it to environmental factors.