Direct and maternal additive effects are not the main determinants of Iberian piglet perinatal mortality

Data of 127,800 Iberian piglets were used to study genetic parameters of mortality at birth at the piglet level. These records proceed from three data sets: 4,987 litter of 2,156 sows of a dam line, 2,768 litter of 817 sows of a complete diallel cross between four Iberian strains and 7,153 litter of 2,113 sows of the Torbiscal composite line. Perinatal mortality was considered as a binary trait, and Bayesian threshold animal models were fitted to separately analyse the three data sets. The posterior means of direct heritability were 0.010, 0.004 and 0.003, and those of maternal heritability were 0.034, 0.011 and 0.014 for dam line, diallel cross and Torbiscal line, respectively. Important effects of litter size and parity order were inferred in the three data sets, of within‐breed cross‐breeding parameters in the diallel cross and of sex and sow handling in the Torbiscal line Therefore, the inclusion of perinatal mortality in the objective of selection is questionable in this breed and strategies for reducing piglet mortality successful in other breeds should be considered.     

A General Approach to Model Movement in (Highly) Fragmented Patch Networks

Landscape heterogeneity can often be represented as a series of discrete habitat or resource patches surrounded by a matrix of non-habitat. Understanding how animals move in such networks of patches is important for many theoretical and applied questions. The probability of going from one patch to another is affected in a non-trivial way by the characteristics and location of other patches in the network. Nearby patches can compete as possible destinations, and a particular patch can be shadowed by neighboring patches. We present a way to account for the effects of the spatial configuration of patches in models of space use where individuals alternate between spending time in a patch and moving to other patches in the network. The approach is based on the original derivation of Ovaskainen and Cornell (J Appl Probab 40:557–580, 2003) for a diffusion model that considered all possible ways in which an individual leaving a particular patch can eventually reach another patch before dying or leaving the patch network. By replacing the theoretical results of Ovaskainen and Cornell by other appropriate functions, we provide generality and thus make their approach useful in contexts where diffusion is not a good approximation of movement. Furthermore, we provide ways to estimate time spent in the non-habitat matrix when going from patch to patch and implement a method to incorporate the effect of the history of previous visits on future patch use. We present an MCMC way to fit these models to data and illustrate the approach with both simulated data and data from sheep moving among seasonally flooded meadows in northern Patagonia.Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.     

Effects of Vermicompost and Vermiwash on Plant,Phenolic Content,and Anti-oxidant Activity of Mexican Pepperleaf (Piper auritum Kunth) Cultivated in Phosphate Rock Potting Media

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock on plant, total phenols, flavonoids, and anti-oxidant activity in Piper auritum Kunth leaves. P. auritum plants were obtained from cuttings and were planted according to the Box-Behnken experimental design with three repetitions at the central point. The factors and levels were vermicompost (10, 20, and 30 g plant^?1), vermiwash (5, 10, and 15 mL plant^?1), and phosphate rock (1, 2, and 3 g plant^?1). Plant growth parameters (plant height, stem diameter, leaves number) and chlorophyll content were measured 1 month after treatment applications. Total phenols, total flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity was measured after 4 months. Vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock had no statistically significant effect on plant growth. Plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, chlorophyll, innermost number, fresh weight stem, fresh weight leaves, fresh weight root, dry weight stem, dry weight leaves, and dry weight root were not different among treatments. Total phenolic compounds were statistically affected for both vermiwash and phosphoric rock (p < 0.05) and the anti-oxidant activity decreased by vermicompost addition. The application of 15 mL plant^?1 vermiwash, 1 g phosphate rock, and 20 g vermicompost plant^?1 increased the total phenol content.     

Influence of redox processes on clay mineral transformation in Retisols in the Carpathian Foothills in Poland. Is a ferrolysis process present?

Purpose

Ferrolysis is a soil-forming process, which involves destruction of clay minerals due to cyclic reduction and oxidation in acidic and periodically wet soils. The main objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to determine the influence of redox processes on clay mineral transformation in Retisols (Albeluvisols) in the Carpathian Foothills in Poland and (2) to verify the occurrence of ferrolysis in Retisols showing various degrees of bleaching.

Materials and methods

Twelve representative soil profiles were selected for analysis. All were formed entirely from loess except for two profiles, in which the lowermost horizons (2C) had developed from weathered flysch rocks residuum. Soil mineral analysis was done using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS).

Results and discussion

The obtained results indicate that the qualitative and quantitative mineral compositions of the clay fraction in the E and Eg horizons obtained from Retisols in the Carpathian Foothills exhibiting marked differences in bleaching (strong, moderate, weak, and lack of bleaching) caused by periodic stagnation of water above a slowly permeable fragipan and cyclic redox processes are the same. The E and Eg horizons are characterized by the presence of 2:1 clay minerals with likely organic interlayer fillings, dioctahedral mica, kaolinite, and chlorite.

Conclusions

The results indicate that (1) redox processes occurring in the soils do not affect clay mineral transformation in Retisols of the Carpathian Foothills in Poland and (2) ferrolysis is not the main soil-forming process operating in these soils. This is most likely because iron-bearing minerals are not abundant in the Retisols and/or undergo eluviation to the lower part of the soil profiles. The lower content of the clay fraction in the E and Eg horizons versus that in the lower soil horizons of the Retisols is related to clay illuviation (lessivage), and not to clay decomposition due to ferrolysis.

     

Woody leguminous trees: New uses for sustainable development of drylands

Woody leguminous species are valuable crops because of their nutritional, economic, and ecological characteristics. Such crops have aided in the recovery of marginal lands for agricultural development due to their ability to fix nitrogen, control erosion, and act as a refuge for other species, in addition to their capacity to improve soil mineral composition and microbial biodiversity. Nevertheless, some leguminous trees are recognized to be one of the worst invasive species that affect negatively biodiversity and the entire ecosystem balance. In this study, we review new global uses for some woody leguminous crops, highlighting new nutraceutical and pharmacological properties, their uses as bioenergy sources, and their ecological uses for bioremediation opening new possibilities of management. We aim to bring knowledge on the multiple benefits that these woody plants continue to provide to humans from economic, social, and environmental standpoints.     

Chronic cork oak decline and water status: new insights

Chronic decline and Sudden death are two syndromes of cork oak (Quercus suber) dieback. Mortality is associated with water stress, but underlying physiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the physiological performance of declining trees during the summer drought. Leaf water potential, gas-exchange, fluorescence of photosystem II and leaf and root starch concentration were compared in healthy (asymptomatic) and declining trees. Low annual cork increment in declining trees indicated tree decline for several years. All trees showed similar water status in spring. In summer, declining trees showed lower predawn leaf water potential (?2.0 vs. ?0.8 MPa), but unexpectedly higher midday leaf water potential than healthy trees (?2.8 vs. ?3.3 MPa). The higher midday water potential was linked to by means of strongly reduced stomatal conductance and, consequently, transpiration. This study is pioneer showing that declining trees had high midday water potential. A tendency for lower sap flow driving force (the difference between predawn and midday water potential) in declining trees was also associated with reduced photosynthesis, suggesting that chronic dieback may be associated with low carbon uptake. However, starch in roots and leaves was very low and not correlated to the health status of trees. Declining trees showed lower water-use efficiency and non-photochemical quenching in summer, indicating less resistance to drought. Contrarily to chronic decline, one tree that underwent sudden death presented predawn leaf water potential below the cavitation threshold.     

Reproductive investment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pseudostrobus</Emphasis> along an altitudinal gradient in Western Mexico: implications of climate change

Climate varies along altitudinal gradients and species performance may be affected in response to these variations. Climate change can modify these gradients and, at the lower limit of species distributions, individuals may become stressed and their general health and reproductive performance may decrease. Study and prediction of the effects of climate change on the distribution of species along these gradients is therefore necessary. Our model study species, Pinus pseudostrobus, is a widely distributed pine in Mexico, ranging from 1600 to 3200 masl in altitude. In order to explore changes in health condition and reproductive investment along an altitudinal gradient, ten reproductive trees were selected in each of four populations (at 2300, 2400, 2700 and 2900 masl). As a proxy of individual health, we conducted a rapid visual assessment for each tree, based on crown defoliation, dead branches and foliage discoloration. This stress condition index (SCI) ranges from zero to fifteen, and lower values indicate low stress and therefore better health conditions. We also evaluated reproductive (cone weight, number/weight of seeds) and progeny (germination/seedling growth) traits. In addition, the relationships between SCI and the reproductive/progeny traits were assessed. The lowest altitude population presented poor health, with higher values of SCI (mean ± SE = 6.3 ± 0.9) that reduced up to 4.8-fold in higher-altitude populations. Cone weight also differed among altitudes, with lighter cones in the lower population (mean ± SE = 38.2 ± 4.3 g), and 1.5-fold heavier cones found in the higher populations. In general, all of the reproductive/progeny traits differed among altitudes. The population of intermediate altitude (2700 masl) presented the highest values for all traits evaluated, indicating higher performance at this altitude. Finally, a negative relationship was found between stress condition and cone weight. Based on our results and climate change models and their predictions, an increase in physiological stress can be expected in individuals of low altitude populations. Furthermore, possible increases in pests and pathogens are likely to contribute to the decline of this population. It is therefore necessary to maintain efforts of stress condition assessment and population dynamics, as well as to permanently monitor the climate along altitudinal gradients.     

Effects of thermal-time artificial scarification on the germination dynamics of black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> L.) seeds

The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of methods for the artificial scarification of black locust seeds based on the influence of the air and liquid nitrogen temperatures. Three populations were selected for the analyses: a managed tree stand, a selected seed stand and a seed orchard. Samples of 200 seeds (4 × 50) were randomly selected. Before scarification, the seeds were stored at ?70 °C for 24 h. Nine different scarification treatments were evaluated. To calculate the germination capacity and the dynamics of germination, observations were made on days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 after treatment. For statistical analyses, we used repeated measures analysis of variance. The obtained results indicated that the highest scarification efficiency for black locust seeds occurred in the treatment in liquid nitrogen and in an air temperature range of 85–90 °C. The provenance of seeds had a significant effect on the dynamics of germination. Thermal methods and the use of liquid nitrogen can be alternatives to the labour intensive methods of cutting the seeds or using measures that require specialised equipment.     

Effects of Serpentinite Fertilization with N,P, and K Fertilizers on Soil Properties and Needle Chemistry

The aim of the present research was to study the long-term effect of serpentinite fertilization with additional nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizers on some physicochemical properties and the enzyme activity of acidic soils and needle chemistry in stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Experimental plots were located in spruce stands in the middle forest zone (900–950 m) on two nappes of the Carpathian flysch: Magura and Silesian. Serpentinite was introduced in autumn 2008 on all plots while the other fertilizers in spring 2009. The effect of fertilization was visible mainly in the humus horizon. No significant changes were found in the deeper mineral soil. The acidity and Al toxicity in the surface horizon were ameliorated through serpentinite fertilization. Five years after fertilization, no significant difference in the fertilization treatments was noted in the chemistry of the spruce needles.