生物结皮对高寒退化草地植物群落的影响

生物结皮在各类生态系统中扮演着重要的角色,具有调控土壤水分,养分含量与侵蚀敏感性等作用,并可直接或间接地影响地上植物群落,但对植物群落发展存在促进还是抑制作用尚不清楚。本研究于2017年在青海贵南县森多镇高寒草原,设置大样方,对生物结皮种类和分布格局进行调查。结果表明：在青藏高原高寒退化草地生态系统中,生物结皮的存在显著影响了植物的群落结构,降低了杂草的比例;苔藓生物结皮的盖度与草本植物盖度在初级发育阶段的生物结皮（地衣和苔藓共存）的样方中呈显著正相关关系（P<0.05）,在高级发育阶段的生物结皮（仅有苔藓结皮存在）的样方中正相关关系极显著（P<0.01）。由此可见,生物结皮是高寒草地生态系统的重要组成部分,有调节高寒退化植物群落的结构和功能的作用。     

Pregnancy-related diabetes mellitus in two dogs

CASE SUMMARIES: Two cases of diabetes mellitus occurring in bitches in association with pregnancy are reported. In the first case, a bitch with suspected acromegaly developed diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks of the due date. Despite insulin therapy, euglycaemia was not achieved. Tw o live, small pups were delivered by elective Caesarean section but died within 2 days. Signs consistent with acromegaly resolved but diabetes mellitus was permanent in the bitch. In the second case, diabetic ketosis with severe gastrointestinal disease was diagnosed 2 days after Caesarean section was performed due to dystocia. The pups delivered all died within 5 days. The bitch recovered fully from diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks and has remained euglycaemic without insulin for a period of at least 18 months.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These two cases demonstrate that diabetes mellitus can occur in association with pregnancy in dogs, that diabetic ketosis can occur during transient diabetes mellitus in dogs, and suggest that acromegaly may occur during pregnancy-related dioestrus in dogs. The scarcity of previous reports of this nature, however, suggests that such cases are unusual.

Lack of prompt resolution of hyperglycaemia may result in secondary diabetes mellitus becoming permanent. Management should focus on immediate insulin therapy or ovariohysterectomy to minimise this risk. Even mild hyperglycaemia should not be ignored during pregnancy. The insulin antagonistic effects of pregnancy, stressful illness, surgery and dystocia can be enough to result in diabetic ketosis in the absence of permanent insulin deficiency. Maternal hyperglycaemia may contribute to adverse fetal outcomes in dogs but further study is required regarding the nature of the risk.     

Comparison on left ventricular contractility between Tibetan antelope and Tibetan sheep

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of adaptation of the heart to high altitude in Tibetan antelope.METHODS: Both Tibetan antelope and Tibetan sheep were captured at altitude of 4 300 m and then transported to Gurmud (2,800 m), where the study was conducted immediately after arrival. The heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the maximum rate of change in left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt) were measured directly by cardiac catheterization. After the baselines of the parameters were obtained, the animals were inhaled hypoxic gas of 14.6% O₂ or 12.5% O₂, which was simulated to the altitudes of 5,300 m and 6,300 m, and then those measurements were repeated within 15 min. The ratios of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) and right to left ventricular plus septum weights were determined.The Ultra-structural changes of the cardiac muscle were also observed under electron microscope.RESULTS: The HW/BW of Tibetan antelope was significantly greater than that of Tibetan sheep (P<0.01), and no difference of RV/(LV+IVS) was observed between both animals. At baselines, HR and SBP of Tibetan antelope were significantly lower than those of Tibetan sheep . The value of +dp/dt in Tibetan antelope was similar to that of Tibetan sheep . However, after inhaled 14.6% or 12.5% hypoxic-gas for simulating the altitudes of 5,300 m and 6,300 m, the +dp/dt of Tibetan antelope was significantly increased to 145.1% and 148.1% respectively, while the Tibetan sheep was decreased to 68.4% and 70.5% of those in normoxia condition, respectively. Ultra-structural changes of the cardiac muscle indicated that there were more abundant mitochondria in the myocardium of the Tibetan antelope than those in the Tibetan sheep.CONCLUSION: The heart functions of Tibetan antelope are well adapted to hypoxic environment in the high altitude by increasing myocardial weight and mitochondria. On the other hand, the cardiac contractility of Tibetan antelope is normal in the rest, but obviously increases under stress conditions.     

Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in north-east Victoria

Objective To evaluate the reproductive efficiency of horse farms in north-east Victoria and identify aspects of management to be targeted for improving reproductive efficiency. Design Retrospective study. Procedure Records from seven Thoroughbred (TB) and four Standardbred (STB) studs in north-east Victoria from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed; 8813 cycles in 4455 mares were analysed. TB mares were inseminated by natural mating, whereas STB mares (89%) were artificially inseminated. Results The overall early pregnancy rate per cycle was 68.8% for TB mares and for STB mares, 68.3%. Multiple pregnancy per cycle was more frequent in TB (8.3%) than in STB (4.6%) mares (P < 0.001). Early embryonic death occurred in 7.1% of TB and 7.5% of STB pregnancies. TB mares had fewer inseminations per cycle (1.03) than STB mares (1.43) (P < 0.001). There was a significantly lower proportion of barren reproductive status within the TB than the STB mares. Pregnancy rate per cycle among stallions ranged from 48% to 79%. Conclusions On-farm pregnancy rates in both breeds were higher than previously reported and likely reflect improvements in reproductive management. The disparity between breeds in the inseminations per cycle and proportion of barren mares exposed the differing structures of the two industries, and presents a target for improving the reproductive efficiency in STBs. The difference between breeds in the multiple pregnancy rate per cycle likely reflects the higher ovulation rate of TB mares. The variability in pregnancy rate per cycle between the 22 stallions was associated with differences in individual inherent fertility and the quality of stallion management.     

平菇津平90特性及栽培技术

介绍了平菇菌种津平 90的特征特性、生长条件及其高产栽培技术。