Analysis of cod catch data from Icelandic groundfish surveys using generalized linear models

Catch data from the Icelandic groundfish surveys are analyzed using generalized linear models (GLM). The main goal is to test the effects of environmental variables on the expected cod catch and to distinguish between the gamma and log-normal distributions for the error structure. Only positive catch data are included in this work, i.e. only the positive part of a delta–gamma or delta–log-normal distribution is examined. The distributions are compared via a Kolmogorov–Smirnov goodness of fit test. Polynomials are used to describe the relationship between each environmental variable and the cod catch and their effects are tested within the GLM framework (a continuous model). Finally, an attempt is made to locate temperature fronts in the ocean by estimating the temperature gradient vector at each data point. The effect of the size of this gradient vector is then tested within in the GLM framework. A stratification model with only spatial and time effects explains 80% of the variation but that comes with a high cost of degrees of freedom. Most of the tested effects are found to be significant but the continuous model only captures 45% of the total variation. The size of the temperature gradient vector is found to be statistically significant though only a small portion of the variation in the data is explained by this term.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Unfed Cod Larvae Gadus morhua L. and Cod Larvae Feeding on Natural Plankton in Large Enclosures

Three different groups of cod larvae Gadus morhua L ., feeding on natural plankton in two large enclosures, were analyzed for fatty acid composition through development. Unfed control groups and different size-fractions of plankton were also analyzed. Consistency in changes of fatty acid composition suggests three developmental periods during early larval development. The periods corresponded with dietary shifts in the larvae, but a metabolic origin for changes in certain fatty acids was also evident. In the first period, relative amounts of n-9 monounsaturates decreased, while n-3 polyunsaturates together with certain fatty acids abundant in the small-sized phytoplankton fraction increased. In the second and third periods, relative amounts of the longer n-3 PUFA decreased, while fatty acids of calanoid copepod origin occurred in one group. The consistency in changes of larval fatty acid profiles in cod suggests development in both lipid absorption and lipid metabolism during ontogenesis.     

Etiology and real-time polymerase chain reaction-based detection of gremmeniella- and phomopsis-associated disease in norway spruce seedlings

ABSTRACT In spring 2002, an unusual disease outburst was recorded on Norway spruce seedlings in southeast Norway. Extensive damage was recorded on 1- and 2-year-old Norway spruce seedlings that either had wintered in nursery cold storage or had been planted out in autumn 2001. The damage was characterized by leader shoot dieback and stem necroses on the upper or lower part of the shoot from 2001. Gremmeniella abietina and a Phomopsis sp. frequently were isolated from the diseased seedlings. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal (r)DNA sequence analysis and random amplified microsatellites profiling indicated that the G. abietina strains associated with diseased nursery seedlings belonged to the large-tree type (LTT) ecotype of the European race of G. abietina var. abietina, and inoculation tests confirmed their pathogenicity on Norway spruce. Based on ITS rDNA sequence analysis, the Phomopsis strains associated with diseased seedlings did not represent any characterized Phomopsis spp. associated with conifers. The Phomopsis sp. was not pathogenic in inoculation tests, indicating that it may be a secondary colonizer. ITS-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were developed in order to detect and quantify G. abietina and Phomopsis in the nursery stock. We describe here the G. abietina-associated shoot dieback symptoms on Norway spruce seedlings and conclude that the unusual disease outburst likely was related to the G. abietina var. abietina epidemic caused by the LTT on large Scots pines in 2001.     

Influence of nitrogen application rate and timing on grain protein composition and gluten strength in Swedish wheat cultivars

The influence of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate (0 vs. 70 vs. 140 kg N ha^–1) and timing (early = at sowing vs. late = at sowing and before heading) on the amount of protein groups, amount and size distribution of mono‐ and polymeric proteins, and gluten strength was investigated in one set of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.). Due to their genetic background, the cultivars had different protein concentrations and gluten strengths. Despite this, all of them reacted similarly on rate and timing of nitrogen application. The rate of nitrogen fertilizer increased the variation in protein concentration, gluten strength, and also the variation in most of the investigated protein components. Higher nitrogen fertilizer rate increased protein concentration, decreased gluten strength, and increased the total amount of glutenins and gliadins as well as the amounts of most mono‐ and polymeric proteins. Timing of fertilizer did not influence protein concentration. The gluten strength and the relations of proteins were changed by the timing of fertilizer. Early nitrogen feritilizer applications led to higher gluten strength and a higher percentage of total unextractable polymeric protein in the total polymeric protein and large unextractable polymeric protein in the total large polymeric protein, compared to late nitrogen fertilizer applications.     

The Concentrations of Molybdenum and Zinc in Liver in Relation to Copper Accumulation in Normal and Copper Poisoned Sheep

The concentrations of copper, molybdenum and zinc were measured in the liver of normal grazing sheep and lambs from Eastern Norway, and in sheep dead of chronic copper poisoning. The following mean values were found: Normal sheep: 173 ± 130 μg Gu/g wet weight, 1.0 ±0.3 μg Mo/g, and 49 ± 10 μg Zn/g; lambs: 129 ± 59 μg Gu/g, 0.9 ± 0.3 μg Mo/g, and 46 ±9 μg Zn/g; sheep dead of copper poisoning: 429 ± 249 μg Gu/g, 0.4 ± 0.1 μg Mo/g, and 43 ± 2d μg Zn/g. Sheep with low liver copper (Gu < 10 μg/g) were also analyzed for molybdenum and zinc, with the following results: 1.0 ± 0.2 μg Mo/g, and 45 ± 8 μg Zn/g wet weight. The differences in liver copper between all the groups, and the differences in molybdenum concentrations between the normal sheep and the lambs and between the normal sheep and the poisoned sheep were significant (P < 0.001). No significant correlations between liver copper/liver molybdenum or liver copper/liver zinc were detected.     

Nutrient balance in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest. 5. Tree growth in a field plot experiment

A field plot experiment on fertilization with N, Mg and P in Scots pine forest was established. The experiment had a factorial design with three levels of N (0, 30 and 90 kg ha^?1), two levels of Mg (0 and 1.5 kg ha^?1) and two levels of P (0 and 5.3 kg ha^?1). The application was done annually. There was a significant growth increase for the two N treatments. During a period of 5-years the mean increase in volume increment was 2.3 and 4.5 m³ ha^?1 for the 30 N and 90 N kg ha^?1 yr^?1 treatments, respectively. This represents a percentage increase in volume increment of 53 and 102% compared to the untreated control plots. No significant growth effect of P and Mg application was detected, either alone or in combination with N. The needle nutrient concentrations have been followed along with the annual measurements. An increase in N-concentration was detected after the first growing season in the N treated trees. After five years the Mg concentrations in the needles are lower in these treatments. The one year old needles have concentrations as low as 0.05% Mg. No visible deficiency symptoms have been observed. The field experiment effects demonstrates that N is still the most limiting nutrient under these conditions and that there is a relative large potential for N accumulation in these forest types without negative effects.     

Some chemical and biological properties of a protein concentrate from nigerseed (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

A protein concentrate has been prepared from nigerseed (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) by a method involving extraction of the protein with NaCl-solution.The protein concentrate contains about 65% of protein (N×5.5) calculated from the dry weight, and the amino acid pattern is fairly well balanced. The chemical score is 82 calculated from the A/E values.The nutritional value of the product has been tested on young rats. These tests revealed the presence of antinutritional factors in the protein concentrate. The PER was only 1.5.It was also found that the rate of digestion by pancreatin was much slower for the protein concentrate than for casein, possibly due to enzyme resistent linkages.The protein concentrate seems to be devoid of hemagglutinin activity. Antibodies against the nug extracts could not be found.

---

Zusammenfassung Ein Proteinkonzentrat wurde aus Nug-Samen (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) durch eine Methode gewonnen, die eine Extraktion des Proteins mit NaCl-Lösung einschließt.Das Proteinkonzentrat enthalt etwa 65% Protein (N x 5,5), berechnet auf das Trockengewicht. Das Aminosäuregleichgewicht ist relativ gut balanziert. Die chemical score nach den A/E Werten berechnet, beträgt 82.Der Nährwert des Produktes ist an jungen Ratten getestet worden. Diese Tests zeigten das Vorhandensein von Antinähr-Faktoren im Proteinkonzentrat. Die PER (protein efficiency ratio) betrug nur 1,5.Es wurde außerdem festgestellt, daß die Geschwindigkeit der enzymatischen Verdauung (mit Pankreatin) für das Proteinkonzentrat viel langsamer abläuft als für Casein. Dieses ist vielleicht bedingt durch Enzymresistente Bindungen.Das Proteinkonzentrat scheint von Hämagglutininaktivität frei zu sein. Es wurden keine Antikörper gegen Nug-Extrakte gefunden.

---

Résumé Une solution concentrée de protéine a été préparée de grains de nug (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) par une méthode contenant l'extraction de la protéine avec la solution NaCl.La solution concentrée contient environ 65% de protéine (N X 5,5) calculée du poids sec, et le modèle des aminoacides est assez bien balancé. Le chemical score est 82 calculé des valeurs A/E. La valeur nutritive du produit a été éprouvé à de jeunes rats. Ces épreuves ont révélé la présence d'éléments antinutritives dans la solution concentrée de protéine. La PER (protein efficiency ratio) était seulement 1,5.On a aussi trouvé que la rapidité de digestion enzymatique (avec la pancréatine) pour la solution concentrée de protéine était beaucoup plus lente que pour le casein. Ceci est peut-être du à des liaisons qui résistent aux enzymes.Il semble que la solution concentrée de protéine manque d'activité hemagglutinine. On n'a pas pu trouver des anticorps dirigés contre les extraits de nug.

---

---

CNU Report No. 34.