Reintroduction of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in northeastern Spain: trapping, handling, and medical management.

In 1993 a reintroduction project for the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) was initiated in northeastern Spain (Girona, Catalonia) to restore extirpated populations. Between 1996 and 2000, 43 otters were captured from southwestern and northern Spain and from Portugal with modified foot-hold traps and transported to Barcelona Zoo. Lesions produced by capture were classified into four categories of increasing severity. Thirty four (79%) animals had category I, three (7%) had category II, five (12%) had category III, and only one (2%) had category IV injuries. During captivity five (11%) animals died, including one from a precapture problem. Radiotransmitter devices were implanted i.p. into 36 otters to monitor postrelease movement and survival. At least three radio-implanted otters have bred successfully in Girona province, Catalonia, after release in that area.     

Treatment of an acid soil with bentonite used for wine fining: effects on soil properties and the growth of Lolium multiflorum

When used to fine wines, bentonite acquires a protein load that makes it a potentially useful fertilizer. Other properties of bentonite are also potentially useful for soil amendment. In the work described in this paper, waste bentonite from a winery was applied to an acid soil, and its effects on soil properties and on the growth of Lolium multiflorum were evaluated. Soil N, K, and P contents all increased, as did pH and cation exchange capacity. Biomass production increased as the dose of bentonite increased up to 5 g kg(-1), decreasing at larger doses (possibly as a result of falling potassium/magnesium ratio and increasing electrical conductivity). Environmental drawbacks of waste bentonite include its high soluble copper content, although its conversion in the soil to less soluble forms reduces its potential phytotoxicity. The copper, manganese, and zinc contents of the ryegrass crop were low.     

Nitrate and ammonium nutrition in chicory and rocket salad plants

To evaluate chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and rocket salad [Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.subsp. sativa (Mill.)] capability to use ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄‐N) even in the absence of nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) in the nutrient solution, and the chances they offer to reduce leaf NO₃ content, cultivated rocket and two cultivars of chicory ('Frastagliata’, whose edible parts are leaves and stems, and ‘Clio’, a leaf hybrid) were hydroponically grown in a growth chamber. Three nutrient solutions with the same nitrogen (N) level (4 mM) but a different NH₄‐N:NO₃‐N (NH₄:NO₃) ratio (100:0, 50:50, and 0:100) were used. Rocket growth was inhibited by NH₄ nutrition, while it reached the highest values with the NH₄:NO₃ ratio 50:50. Water and N‐use efficiencies increased in rocket with the increase of NO₃‐N percentage in the nutrient solution. In the best conditions of N nutrition, however, rocket accumulated NO₃ in leaves in a very high concentration (about 6,300 mg kg^‐1 fresh mass). For all the morphological and yield features analyzed, chicory resulted to be quite unresponsive to N chemical forms, despite it took more NO₃‐N than NH₄‐N when N was administered in mixed form. By increasing NO₃‐N percentage in the nutrient solution, NO₃ leaf content increased (5,466 mg kg^‐1 fresh mass with the ratio NH₄:NO₃ 0:100). On average, both chicory cultivars accumulated 213 mg NO₃ kg^‐1 fresh mass with the ratio NH₄:NO₃ 100:0 and, differently from rocket, they showed that by using NH₄ produce can be obtained very low in NO₃ content.     

Effects of 48-hour calf withdrawal on conception rates of Bos indicus cows and calf weaning weights in extensive production systems

Sixty multiparous Brahman-type cows were randomly selected in the early postpartum period and equally allocated into a calf removal group (RG) and a non-removal group (NRG). Calves from cows in the RG were removed for 48 h prior to the breeding season and returned afterwards, whereas in the NRG, calves remained with their dams until weaning. Weaning weights were corrected to 205?days. Conception rates (CRs) were 76?% for RG and 55?% for NRG but did not differ (p?>?0.05). CR was correlated with calving to breeding interval and body condition score at the onset of the breeding season. Product-limit survival curves vs breeding to conception interval differed significantly (p?相似文献   

Prevalence and potential risk factors for organophosphate and pyrethroid resistance in Boophilus microplus ticks on cattle ranches from the State of Yucatan, Mexico

A cross-sectional study was carried out in order to investigate the association between management risk factors and the prevalence of organophosphate (OP) and synthetic pyrethroid (SP) resistance in Boophilus microplus ticks in Yucatan State, Mexico. Ninety-eight cattle ranches were randomly selected and a sample of 20-30 engorged female B. microplus ticks was collected at each. The modified larvae packet test was used to detect OP and SP tick resistance. A questionnaire was administered on each ranch. For risk factors, four reference types of response were used: Tuxpan (resistant to coumaphos, chlorfenvinphos and diazinon), Parkhurst (resistant to flumethrin, deltamethrin and cypermethrin), Lamington (resistant to flumethrin in absence of deltamethrin and cypermethrin) and Marmor (resistant to flumethrin and cypermethrin in absence of flumethrin). A primary screening was performed using 2 x 2 contingency tables of exposure variables. All variables with p < or = 0.20 were analyzed by a logistic regression. The prevalence of B. microplus resistance to OP and SP groups were 83.70% and 66.32%, respectively. The prevalence for a single chemical compound was: diazinon (80.60%), coumaphos (45.90%), chlorfenvinphos (35.70%), flumethrin (63.28%), deltamethrin (61.22%), and cypermethrin (59.18%). The prevalence type of response was: Tuxpan (34.16%), Parkhurst (58.16%), Lamington (4.08%), and Marmor (4.08%). The use of a different tick control program was the risk management factor associated with the Parkhurst type of response. It is concluded that the prevalence of cattle ranches with B. microplus resistant to OPs and SPs in Yucatan, Mexico, is a current problem, and a treatment interval of > or =6 times/year and use of a tick control program (macrocyclic lactones and pasture burn) different from standard recommended programs are risk factors associated with the Parkhurst type of response.     

Detachment of sprayed colloidal copper oxychloride–metalaxyl fungicides by a shallow water flow

BACKGROUND: Flow shear stress induced by rainfall promotes the loss of the pesticides sprayed on crops. Some of the factors influencing the losses of colloidal‐size particulate fungicides are quantified by using a rotating shear system model. With this device it was possible to analyse the flow shear influencing washoff of a commercial fungicide formulation based on a copper oxychloride–metalaxyl mixture that was sprayed on a polypropylene surface. A factor plan with four variables, i.e. water speed and volume (both variables determining flow boundary stress in the shear device), formulation dosage and drying temperature, was set up to monitor colloid detachment. RESULTS: This experimental design, together with sorption experiments of metalaxyl on copper oxychloride, and the study of the dynamics of metalaxyl and copper oxychloride washoff, made it possible to prove that metalaxyl washoff from a polypropylene surface is controlled by transport in solution, whereas that of copper oxychloride occurs by particle detachment and transport of particles. Average losses for metalaxyl and copper oxychloride were, respectively, 29 and 50% of the quantity applied at the usual recommended dosage for crops. CONCLUSION: The key factors affecting losses were flow shear and the applied dosage. Empirical models using these factors provided good estimates of the percentage of fungicide loss. From the factor analysis, the main mechanism for metalaxyl loss induced by a shallow water flow is solubilisation, whereas copper loss is controlled by erosion of copper oxychloride particles. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Epidemiology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oestrus ovis</Emphasis> infection of sheep in northeast Spain (mid-Ebro Valley)

Slaughterhouse surveys to determine the prevalence and intensity of larval Oestrus ovis Linnaeus (Diptera: Oestridae) in sheep, were conducted monthly for 1 year in northeastern Spain. The prevalence of O. ovis in 120 sheep in northeast Spain was 84.2%. The monthly prevalence ranged from 62.5% in January to 100% in June and October. Of the 3,831 larvae collected, 3,005 were first instar larvae (78.4%), 744 second instar larvae (19.4%), and 82 third instar larvae (2.1%). The mean larval burden per infected sheep was 37.9, throughout the year although infection was higher in October. The high number of first stage larvae in winter (especially October, November, and December) may be due to a period of slower larval maturation. Third-stage larvae were always present but sometimes in very low numbers compared to the total. According to the results, oestrosis appears to be a serious problem in the region.     

Liver melanomacrophage centres as indicators of Atlantic bluefin tuna,Thunnus thynnus L. well‐being

Melanomacrophage centres (MMCs), located in different organs of non‐mammalian vertebrates, play a role in the destruction, detoxification or recycling of endogenous and exogenous materials. Cytochrome P450 monoxygenase 1A (CYP1A) is involved in xenobiotics biotransformation, and its liver expression is considered as a biomarker for detecting exposure to environmental pollutants. Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), Thunnus thynnus L., liver samples were collected from: wild animals caught in the eastern Atlantic; juveniles reared in the central Adriatic; juveniles reared in the northern Adriatic; adults reared in the western Mediterranean. The samples were processed for basic histology, histochemistry and for CYP1A immunodetection. An unexpected high density of MMCs, containing ferric iron and lipofuscin–ceroids, was detected in the juveniles sampled in the northern Adriatic Sea. These individuals showed also a strong anti‐CYP1A immunopositivity in hepatocytes and in the epithelium of bile ducts. This study supports the utility of MMCs as biomarkers of fish ‘health status’ and gives concern for a potential contaminant accumulation in ABFT.