Unraveling the life history of successful invaders

Despite considerable current interest in biological invasions, the common life-history characteristics of successful invaders remain elusive. The widely held hypothesis that successful invaders have high reproductive rates has received little empirical support; however, alternative possibilities are seldom considered. Combining a global comparative analysis of avian introductions (>2700 events) with demographic models and phylogenetic comparative methods, we show that although rapid population growth may be advantageous during invasions under certain circumstances, more generally successful invaders are characterized by life-history strategies in which they give priority to future rather than current reproduction. High future breeding expectations reduce the costs of reproductive failure under uncertain conditions and increase opportunities to explore the environment and respond to novel ecological pressures.     

野菜新品种桂特一号大叶菊花菜的种植

【目的】明确桂特一号大叶菊花菜的替代优势,以更新品种,筛选出更适合广西南宁市及周边地区种植的食苗菊优良品种。【方法】以大叶菊花脑为对照品种,通过栽培试验,对桂特一号大叶菊花菜和大叶菊花脑的形态指标、产量性状等进行比较。【结果】桂特一号大叶菊花菜的单枝商品嫩茎重平均为4.48 g,比对照重1.20 g,达极显著水平;其年产量为64245.5 kg/ha,比对照增产89.3%,达极显著水平;桂特一号大叶菊花菜的蛋白质、维生素、黄酮类物质含量均高于对照,而纤维素含量比对照低2.31%。【结论】桂特一号大叶菊花菜具有采收时间长、产量高、品质好等特点,是值得推广种植的保健蔬菜新品种。     

杂交紫长茄瑞丰3号优化栽培模式研究

【目的】研究不同施肥措施及栽培密度对茄子新品种瑞丰3号产量的影响,为瑞丰3号紫长茄高产栽培提供科学参考。【方法】采用“416-B”最优混合设计,探讨种植密度和氮、钾、磷肥施用量与瑞丰3号紫长茄产量、利润及产投比的关系,并建立三元二次回归模型,分析各因子对产量形成的影响及相互作用效应。【结果】4个因素对茄子产量影响的顺序依次为氮肥>钾肥>种植密度>磷肥,说明氮肥和钾肥施用量是制约紫长茄产量的主导因素。【结论】在该试验条件下,其最佳栽培措施是：施氮量297.33 kg/ha, 施钾量371.44 kg/ha,施磷量95.68 kg/ha,种植密度36908株/ha,紫长茄最优产量为100937.7±13239.5 kg/ha。     

杧果短截结果母枝玉米素核苷含量的动态变化

【目的】测定杧果花芽分化期间结果母枝各器官内玉米素核苷（ZR）含量,探索ZR在杧果花芽分化中的作用。【方法】利用杧果花枝短截后剪口芽在当年还能再次花芽分化并开花结果的现象,应用酶联免疫吸附分析方法（ELISA）定期测定剪口叶、附近韧皮部及芽内ZR含量。【结果】短截结果母枝后,剪口叶、附近韧皮部和剪口芽内ZR含量分别于2月25、20日和3月2日降至最低,为1.73、1.52、2.0 μg·g-1FW;叶片、韧皮部及剪口芽于3月12日达最大值,为6.39、8.47、10.32 μg·g-1FW。2月25日剪口芽芽眼中心颜色逐渐呈蜡黄,并向芽体四周扩散;3月2～7日,芽体逐渐膨大,蜡黄色加深,芽眼呈半透明状;3月7日后绿色逐渐增加,半透明状消失。【结论】ZR在杧果花芽分化的不同阶段具有不同作用。花芽分化临界期前,ZR含量低,生长点细胞活性下降,有利于杧果植株从叶芽生理状态转化为花芽生理状态;花芽临界期后,相对高的ZR含量有利于杧果植株生长点进行花芽分化。     

5种生物农药对稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果

【目的】明确乙基多杀霉素SC、苏云金杆菌SC、阿维菌素WDG、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐EW、球孢白僵菌WDG 5种生物杀虫剂对稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果,筛选出可替代化学农药防治稻纵卷叶螟的生物农药。【方法】供试药剂设高、中、低3个剂量,与常用化学农药推荐剂量及空白处理进行比较。【结果】药后12 d,6%乙基多杀霉素对稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果为97.45%~98.89%,8000 IU/μL苏云金杆菌的防治效果为81.31%~91.68%,10%阿维菌素的防治效果为77.27%~90.61%,2%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐的防治效果为79.62%~89.21%,400亿孢子/g球孢白僵菌的防治效果为75.62%~86.54%。【结论】乙基多杀霉素等5种生物农药对稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果与化学农药相当,甚至更高,可替代化学农药用于防治稻纵卷叶螟,建议在生产上推广应用。     

High seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in the Common raven (Corvus corax) in the Northeast of Spain

In recent years, multiple cases of aggressive behavior of Common ravens (Corvus corax) have been reported by farmers in Catalonia (NE Spain), including attacking of newborn animals and consumption of dead foetuses. In the present study, seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum was determined from 113 legally trapped and released Common ravens. T. gondii antibodies were found in 91 (80.5%; CI 95%:72-87) of 113 sera tested by the modified agglutination test. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 24 (35.8%; IC 95%: 24.5-48.5) of 67 Common ravens tested by an indirect fluorescence antibody test with titers ranging from 1:50 (n=18) to ≥1:100 (n=6). To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies in C. corax. The seroprevalence detected is one of the highest reported worldwide in wild birds, suggesting an important role for this species in the epidemiology of both parasites.     

Farm and socio-economic characteristics of smallholder milk producers and their influence on technology adoption in Central Mexico

In order to identify the factors influencing adoption of technologies promoted by government to small-scale dairy farmers in the highlands of central Mexico, a field survey was conducted. A total of 115 farmers were grouped through cluster analysis (CA) and divided into three wealth status categories (high, medium and low) using wealth ranking. Chi-square analysis was used to examine the association of wealth status with technology adoption. Four groups of farms were differentiated in terms of farms' dimensions, farmers' education, sources of incomes, wealth status, management of herd, monetary support by government and technological availability. Statistical differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the milk yield per herd per year among groups. Government organizations (GO) participated little in the promotion of the 17 technologies identified, six of which focused on crop or forage production and 11 of which were related to animal husbandry. Relatives and other farmers played an important role in knowledge diffusion and technology adoption. Although wealth status had a significant association (p < 0.05) with adoption, other factors including importance of the technology to farmers, usefulness and productive benefits of innovations together with farmers' knowledge of them, were important. It is concluded that the analysis of the information per group and wealth status was useful to identify suitable crop or forage related and animal husbandry technologies per group and wealth status of farmers. Therefore the characterizations of farmers could provide a useful starting point for the design and delivery of more appropriate and effective extension.     

Presence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum DNA in the brain of wild birds

Toxoplasma gondii infections are prevalent in many avian species and can cause mortality in some bird hosts. Although T. gondii has been isolated from various species of birds, the role of many different species of wild birds in the epidemiology of T. gondii remains unknown. Neospora caninum, a closely related parasite to T. gondii, has been recently confirmed to infect domestic chickens and wild birds such as house sparrows (Passer domesticus). The present study reports the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum DNA by PCR in brain tissues of 14 species of wild birds from Spain. From a total of 200 samples analyzed, 12 samples (6%) were positive for T. gondii [5 Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius), 5 magpies (Pica pica), 1 black kite (Milvus migrans) and 1 Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)], while 3 samples (1.5%) were positive for N. caninum [2 magpies and 1 common buzzard (Buteo buteo)]. This is the first report of detection of T. gondii in magpies, griffon vulture and black kite and of N. caninum in common buzzard and magpies, extending the list of natural intermediate hosts for T. gondii and N. caninum infections to these species.     

The Neospora caninum-Spain 7 isolate induces placental damage, fetal death and abortion in cattle when inoculated in early gestation

The Nc-Spain 7 isolate of Neospora caninum, which was newly obtained from an asymptomatic congenitally infected calf, demonstrated a similar virulence as Nc-1 strain in mouse models. The aim of this study was to characterize the pathogenesis of Nc-Spain 7 isolate in cattle after experimental infection at 65 days of gestation. For this purpose, thirteen pregnant heifers were divided into three groups as follows: group A: 7 heifers inoculated with 1×10(8) tachyzoites of Nc-Spain 7 isolate; group B: 4 heifers inoculated with 1×10(8) tachyzoites of Nc 1 strain; and group C: 2 heifers received PBS. Serum samples were collected weekly and heparinized blood samples were collected three times (0, 28 and 42 days after inoculation) by jugular venipuncture. Placenta and fetal tissue samples were collected at time of necropsy. Specific antibody response in the dams was tested by IFAT, indirect ELISA, and rNcGRA7 and rNcSAG4 based-ELISA. Specific antibody response in fetal fluids was tested by IFAT. IFN-γ production was measured after in vitro culture of PBMC and the supernatant was assessed using a commercial kit (BOVIGAM). A significant increase in N. caninum antibody responses was detected in groups A and B by IFAT and by i-ELISA from day 14 after inoculation onwards. Besides, antibody response against rNCGra7 protein was also detected in all inoculated heifers by rNcGra7-based ELISA. Four fetuses from group A and one from group B were aborted between 3 and 5 weeks after infection. In the recovered fetuses, only 3 out of 4 fetal fluids from fetuses of group A and 1 out of 3 of group B were seropositive by IFAT, but all of them were positive by PCR. Transplacental transmission could be determined in all fetuses from groups A and B by PCR and/or IHC. Heifers of group C and their fetuses remained negative by all techniques. The results of this study demonstrate that the NC-Spain 7 isolate could be transmitted transplacentally, and produced fetal death and abortion in cattle.     

Subtilase cytotoxin encoding genes are present in human, sheep and deer intimin-negative, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O128:H2

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O128:H2 is recognised worldwide to be an important non-O157 STEC associated with human illness and in particular with causing haemolytic uraemic syndrome. This serotype is commonly isolated from sheep and is being increasingly isolated from deer. We determined the virulence profile and genetic relationships of one human, six sheep and five deer intimin-negative STEC O128:H2 strains isolated in Spain over a 7-year period. Our goals were to establish the presence of other virulence-associated factors, such as SubAB, in intimin-negative STEC O128:H2 strains involved in human disease and in that case, to determine if sheep and/or deer represent a reservoir of SubAB-positive STEC O128:H2. All the strains lacked the eae gene and carried subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) encoding genes (subAB) and tia genes, but not saa gene, suggesting the presence of the recently identified new variant of SubAB, encoded on a putative pathogenicity island together with tia. We report for the first time the presence of subtilase cytotoxin encoding genes in intimin-negative STEC O128:H2 strains pathogenic for humans and how this finding might explain their clinical relevance despite neither carrying eae nor stx subtypes associated with severe clinical outcomes, but only stx1c and stx2b. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that STEC O128:H2 strains from sheep and deer belong to the clonal lineage of STEC O128:H2 strains involved in diarrhoeal and haemorrhagic diseases in humans. Our results indicate that sheep and deer represent a reservoir of SubAB-positive STEC O128:H2 strains and thus a potential source of human infection.