Cytochrome oxidase gene sequencing reveals channel catfish ovary cell line is contaminated with brown bullhead cells

The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque) ovary (CCO) cell line is the standard cell line used for channel catfish diagnostics. Next‐gen sequencing studies of a virus cultured in the CCO cells revealed mitochondrial sequences matching those of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus, Lesueur). Therefore, we systematically performed partial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene sequencing of several sources of the CCO cell line and all matched the brown bullhead and not the channel catfish.     

White-tailed deer herbivory and timber harvesting rates: Implications for regeneration success

Herbivory by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can affect forest regeneration. Typical measures to ensure forest regeneration have included physical barriers or direct manipulation of deer densities. However, altering silvicultural practices to provide abundant deer forage has not been tested thoroughly. We examined browse species preferences and changes in herbivory rates in 1–6 year old regeneration areas from 2001 to 2004 in the central Appalachians on the MeadWestvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in West Virginia. Woody vegetation reached the maximum plot coverage by the 4th growing season. However, the establishment of less abundant woody species, such as northern red oak (Quercus rubra), may be inhibited when browsed greater than or proportionally to occurrence. Herbivory rates declined precipitously as the amount of early successional habitat increased on our study site. We conclude that providing approximately 14% of an area in well-distributed, even-aged managed forests can have substantial impacts on reducing herbivory rates. However, management practices also should consider harvesting effects on hard mast production, habitat requirements of other species, and hardwood lumber marketability.     

Genotypic diversity and migration of clonal lineages of Botrytis cinerea from chickpea fields of Bangladesh inferred by microsatellite markers

An analysis of allelic diversity at nine microsatellite loci provided an insight into the population structure of Botrytis cinerea from four fields (sampled in 2003 and 2004) that represented important regional locations for chickpea production in Bangladesh. Although three populations were limited by sample size after clone‐correction, a total of 51 alleles were amplified among 146 B. cinerea isolates from Bangladesh, which revealed a high amount of within‐population and overall genetic diversity (H_S = 0·48 and H_T = 0·54, respectively). The percentage of maximal genotypic diversity (G) ranged between populations (G = 23–40), with a total of 69 haplotypes detected (G = 25). Bayesian cluster analysis depicted two major clusters distributed among the four Bangladesh populations, indicating population admixture from two origins that have spread throughout these regions. Genotype flow between regions was detected and indicated the spread of clonal lineages, consistent with relatively low differentiation among the four populations (mean G_ST = 0·1, P < 0·05). These results highlighted the potential threat of host resistance breakdown as a result of considerable genetic diversity, genotype flow and the evolutionary potential of B. cinerea.     

Cardiopulmonary effects of reverse Trendelenburg position at 5° and 10° in sevoflurane-anesthetized steers

Objective

To assess the cardiopulmonary effects caused by reverse Trendelenburg position (RTP) at 5° and 10° in sevoflurane-anesthetized yearling steers.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a dog

A 2-year-old male intact Belgian Malinois was presented for exercise intolerance. A grade III/VI left basilar systolic murmur was detected. Echocardiography revealed moderate right atrial and ventricular dilation and increased pulmonic outflow velocity. Thoracic radiographs showed right heart enlargement and a dilated caudal vena cava. In addition, on the left lateral projection, an enlarged aberrant right cranial pulmonary lobar vein was suspected to be diverging ventrally from the course of the right cranial lobar bronchus and inserting more ventrally than normal in the region of the right atrium. A left-to-right pulmonary vascular shunt was suspected, and the patient underwent further diagnostics under general anesthesia. An agitated saline study was positive, suggestive of a concurrent right to left shunt. A right heart catheterization was performed. Angiography was inconclusive. Oximetry testing revealed an increase in oxygen saturation within the right atrium at the level of the caudal cava supportive of a left-to-right shunt in this region. Computed tomography angiography revealed a large single pulmonary vein that anomalously entered into the caudolateral aspect of the right atrium (left-to-right shunt) and was suspicious for a small arteriovenous malformation between the right caudal pulmonary artery and the right pulmonary vein returning to the left atrium (right to left shunt). The patient was diagnosed with a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection and a possible arteriovenous malformation.     

Raptor Gastroenterology

Birds of prey have developed talons, a hooked beak, and a tongue and oral cavity replete with pronounced hooks and papillae for prehending large boluses of food. The size of the proventriculus in relation to the ventriculus and weak musculature of the ventriculus, combined with an extremely acidic luminal pH, are consistent with a gastric digestive physiology maximized for protein digestion. The pyloric sphincter retains indigestible matter in the stomach, which is later compressed into a pellet and egested. The ventriculus, pylorus, pancreas, and an elongated duodenum coordinate to maximize neutralization of acidic peptic juices and increase the efficiency of digestion and absorption. Raptors are susceptible to a variety of infectious and noninfectious diseases that affect the digestive tract. Diagnostic testing and treatment recommendations for raptor intestinal disease conditions are discussed in this article.     

Bloom or bust: synchrony in jellyfish abundance,fish consumption,benthic scavenger abundance,and environmental drivers across a continental shelf

Increases in gelatinous zooplankton (GZ) populations, their dominance of some ecosystems, their impacts to other taxa, and their questionable trophic value remain global concerns, but they are difficult to quantify. We compared trends in GZ abundance from direct sampling for the northeast U.S. continental shelf and tested their association with GZ consumption by spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias); the abundance of two benthic scavengers: Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) and grenadiers (Family: Macrouridae); and four environmental indices: Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and sea surface and bottom temperatures. Defined as scyphozoans, siphonophores, ctenophores, and salps, the abundance of GZ on the shelf has oscillated with blooms approximately every 10–15 yr. Conservative estimates of annual removal of GZ by spiny dogfish ranged from approximately 0.3–298 g individual^?1 with spiny dogfish being the primary GZ feeder sampled on the shelf. The examination of three abundance series for GZ identified one shelf‐wide trend and strong relationships with 2‐yr lagged consumption and scavenger abundance (namely hagfish), and sea surface temperature. With multimodel inference, these covariates led to an optimal model of GZ abundance. Blooms of GZ abundance on this shelf were influenced by environmental change, provide surges of food for spiny dogfish, and may offer ‘food falls’ for scavenging fishes. The bioenergetic tradeoffs of consuming greater amounts of GZ compared to other major prey (e.g., fishes) remain unknown; however, these surges of food in the northwest Atlantic appear to be important for fishes, including support for benthic scavenger productivity.     

Plenary contribution to International Conference on Boar Semen Preservation 2011. Genetic selection for freezability and its controversy with selection for performance

Little data are available in the literature regarding freezability of boar sperm or its relationship with other traits. Existing data suggest the trait would respond favourably to selection, and information is available from other species suggesting components that might have changed. Genetic parameters are estimated for boar sperm freezability including heritability and correlations with other production traits. Sperm freezability is an ideal candidate for marker assisted-selection or selection for favourable alleles.     

A global meta-analysis shows soil nitrogen pool increases after revegetation of riparian zones

Purpose

Sustainable management of riparian zone soils is required to ensure the health of natural ecosystems and maintenance of soil nitrogen (N) pools and soil N cycling. However, the effect of revegetation type and age on soil N pools remains poorly understood.

Materials and methods

This study compiled data from published articles to understand the effects of revegetation types and age on soil total N (TN) and soil inorganic N (NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃^?-N) using a meta-analysis. We extracted 645 observations from 52 published scientific articles.

Results and discussion

The revegetation of riparian zones led to a significant increase of soil TN (mean effect size: 11.5%; 95% CI: 3.1% and 20.6%). Woodland increased soil TN significantly by 14.0%, which was associated with the presence of N fixing species and high litter inputs. Soil NH₄⁺-N concentration significantly increased (mean effect size: 20.1%; 95% CI: 15.1% and 25.4%), whereas a significant decrease in soil NO₃^?-N (mean effect size: ? 21.5%; 95% CI: ? 15.0% and ? 27.5%) was observed. Of the revegetation types considered in this paper, NO₃^?-N concentration in soil followed the order: grassland < shrubland < woodland, suggesting that woodland might be more efficient in soil NO₃^?-N retention than grassland. The high plant N uptake and accelerated NO₃^?-N leaching in grassland could be related to the decreased soil NO₃^?-N in grassland compared with other revegetation types. Revegetation significantly decreased soil moisture by (mean effect size: ? 7.9%; 95% CI: ? 3.3% and ? 12.2%) compared with the control, which might be associated with the selection of exotic species as dominant vegetation in the riparian zone. Soil TN increased in revegetation ages between 10 and 40 years following revegetation and was related to increased soil organic carbon inputs within those ages following the establishment.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into influence of different vegetation types and age on soil N pools and soil moisture. This study also highlights the importance of revegetation in riparian zones to increase soil TN.

     

Soil DIC uptake and fixation in Pinus taeda seedlings and its C contribution to plant tissues and ectomycorrhizal fungi

Plants can acquire carbon from sources other than atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)), including soil-dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Although the net flux of CO(2) is out of the root, soil DIC can be taken up by the root, transported within the plant, and fixed either photosynthetically or anaplerotically by plant tissues. We tested the ability of Pinus taeda L. seedlings exposed to (13)C-labeled soil DIC and two NH(4)(+) availability regimes to take up and fix soil DIC. We also measured the concentration and distribution of the fixed soil DIC within the plant and mycorrhizal tissues, and quantified the contribution of soil DIC to whole-plant carbon (C) gain. Seedlings exposed to labeled DIC were significantly enriched in (13)C compared with seedlings exposed to unlabeled DIC (6.7 versus -31.7 per thousand). Fixed soil DIC was almost evenly distributed between above- and belowground biomass (55 and 45%, respectively), but was unevenly distributed among tissues. Aboveground, stem tissue contained 65% of the fixed soil DIC but represented only 27% of the aboveground biomass, suggesting either corticular photosynthesis or preferential stem allocation. Belowground, soil DIC had the greatest effect (measured as (13)C enrichment) on the C pool of rapidly growing nonmycorrhizal roots. Soil DIC contributed approximately 0.8% to whole-plant C gain, and approximately 1.6% to belowground C gain. We observed a slight but nonsignificant increase in both relative C gain and the contribution of soil DIC to C gain in NH(4)(+)-fertilized seedlings. Increased NH(4)(+) availability significantly altered the distribution of fixed soil DIC among tissue types and increased the amount of fixed soil DIC in ectomycorrhizal roots by 130% compared with unfertilized seedlings. Increased NH(4)(+) availability did not increase fixation of soil DIC in nonmycorrhizal roots, suggesting that NH(4)(+) assimilation may be concentrated in ectomycorrhizal fungal tissues, reflecting greater anaplerotic demands. Soil DIC is likely to contribute only a small amount of C to forest trees, but it may be important in C fixation processes of specific tissues, such as newly formed stems and fine roots, and ectomycorrhizal roots assimilating NH(4)(+).