Chemical,physical and micromorphological properties of termite mounds and adjacent soils along a toposequence in Zona da Mata,Minas Gerais State,Brazil

Little is known about the effects of neotropical mound-building termites in soil chemical and physical properties. The influence of soil termite activity on soil characteristics was studied by assessing chemical, physical and micromorphological properties of a toposequence of Latosols (Oxisols). Soil samples were collected from the walls and inner parts of termite mounds and also from adjacent soil. A high diversity of termite genera was found in the mounds along the toposequence, together with the inquiline termites and other soil-dwelling arthropods. Chemical analyses showed that pH and the contents of organic C and N, P, Ca and Mg were significantly higher in termite mounds compared with adjacent areas, with an inverse trend for Al content. Significant differences in pH and exchangeable Al were observed between soil and mound across the slopes. The mound density across the landscape was higher at the upper slope segment, followed by the hill top, middle slope and lower slope segments. Considering a lifespan of 30 years and dimensions of termite mounds found in the toposequence we conclude that the textural and chemical uniformity of Latosols may be increased, following the pedobiological turnover during mound building, with local rates varying from 2.1 to 7.5 m³ ha^− 1.     

The landscape genetics of syntopic topminnows (Fundulus notatus and F. olivaceus) in a riverine contact zone

The metapopulation dynamics of a species are influenced by the spatial arrangement of preferred habitats across a landscape. Increasing habitat patchiness can result in greater population subdivision, leading to more pronounced population genetic structure. Therefore, even subtle differences in habitat preferences among species could lead to substantial differences in genetic structure. Members of the Fundulus notatus species complex of topminnows include a headwater specialist and a large river specialist with broadly overlapping geographical distributions. Both species are often found in the same drainage systems, but partially isolated by divergent habitat preferences. The purpose of this research was to determine whether distribution along a stream continuum in a contact zone influences population genetic patterns in two species of topminnow (Fundulus olivaceus and Fundulus notatus). Fish were collected in the summers of 2010–2012, and habitat data were collected in summer 2012, within all major tributaries of the Saline River in southern Illinois. In total, 523 fish were genotyped using seven microsatellite loci to assess genetic variation. Species distributions in F. notatus and F. olivaceus were associated with habitat factors that covaried with cumulative drainage area. Populations of F. olivaceus showed a greater level of genetic structure reflected in a significant pattern of isolation by distance, while populations of F. notatus showed no such pattern. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed that at an individual level, both species became increasingly divergent with waterway distance. Overall, clear interspecific differences in habitat preferences were translated into measurable but relatively subtle differences in population genetic structure.     

Influence of environmental factors on infrared eye temperature measurements in cattle

Environmental factors were evaluated to determine potential limitations in using cattle eye temperatures obtained through infrared thermography (IRT) for early disease detection systems or in animal welfare research studies. The effects of the following factors on IRT eye temperatures in cattle and a fabricated surrogate “eye” were evaluated: camera to object distance, wind speed, camera settings (distance, emissivity, and humidity), and solar loading. Wind speed in both live animals and using a surrogate “eye” was found to decrease the IRT temperature. In the presence of ∼7 km/h wind, the mean IRT eye temperature decreased by 0.43 ± 0.13 °C and; at higher wind speeds (∼12 km/h), the temperature decreased by 0.78 ± 0.33 °C. Direct sunlight was found to increase the IRT eye temperature by 0.56 ± 0.36 °C. It was determined that environmental factors impact IRT temperature measurements significantly and therefore must be managed to ensure reproducible and accurate readings.     

Response of maize to three short-term periods of waterlogging at high and low nitrogen levels on undisturbed and repacked soil

Summary Crops grown with flood irrigation on slowly draining clay soils are subject to periods of waterlogging during and after each irrigation. The aim of this experiment was to quantify crop responses to these short-term waterlogging events and to assess the modifying effect of different agronomic practices. Maize was grown in undisturbed (U) and repacked (R) profiles of clay loam soil encased in steel cylinders (0.75 m diameter × 1.4 m deep). Two levels of N (high (HN) 300 kg N ha^–1, and low (LN) 150 kg N ha^–1) were applied as a split dressing. Three periods of flooding (F) of 72, 72 and 48 h were imposed on half the treatments beginning on days 40, 54 and 68 respectively after sowing. The other irrigation regime (C) kept the profile well watered but avoided surface inundation.     

Hexosamines in the organic layer of two beech forest soils: effects of mesofauna exclusion

Summary In December 1988, litter bags (mesh size: 45 and 1000 m) were exposed in the organic layer of unlimed and limed moder soil under beech forest in the Solling area of Germany. Bags were retrieved on three sampling dates (May, September, and November 1989) and amounts (g m^-2) of glucosamine and galactosamine were determined. Horizon-specific differences generally explained by far the largest part of the treatment variance. In the substrate sampled in December 1988 from the unlimed area glucosamine increased by a factor of 11.8 from the L 1 layer to the H layer and galactosamine by a factor of 15.9. With the exception of the F2 layer, the hexosamine amounts found in the limed substrate sampled in December 1988 were higher in all horizons than in the corresponding horizons sampled from the unlimed area. Exclusion of mesofauna from the 45-m litter bags generally reduced the level of amino sugars at both sites. The difference between the two mesh sizes was most pronounced in the lowermost horizons (F2 and H) and quite small in the upper horizons. The exclusion of mesofauna significantly increased the glucosamine: galactosamine ratio in the two L layers of the unlimed soil on all sampling dates. Seasonal fluctuations suggested that the actual amino sugar content of the organic layer was essentially the function of two components, the first reflecting long-term accumulation of microbial metabo-lites, and the second reflecting short term fluctuations in the microbial colonization of various C sources together with spatial and temporal differences in the ability of the microflora to produce and to decompose hexosamines. The results of this study show that the mesofauna in the beech forest soils investigated significantly affected both the amino sugar components measured, and thus stimulated the accumulation of one of the most important N pools in forest soils.     

Hydroelectric development and the disruption of migration in caribou

We investigated the effects of hydroelectric development on the movements and space-use of caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in west-central Newfoundland, Canada. We compared patterns of range use, site fidelity, and timing of migration before, during, and after project construction. Coincidental with the first year of project construction, caribou were less likely to be found within 3 km of the site; this persisted at least 2 years after construction was completed. Relative timing of migration was individual-specific; the rank order of spring arrival on, and autumn departure from, the calving and summer grounds tended to be consistent year-to-year. This is the first report of such individual-specific consistency in migration for a non-avian species. This predictability disappeared during development: the year-to-year consistency of fall and spring migration among individuals was apparent before and after construction, but not during construction. Variation in calving site fidelity was correlated to year-to-year differences in snowfall. We conclude that the development caused a disruption of migrational timing during construction and longer-term diminished use of the range surrounding the project site. Long-term studies of individually marked animals can aid in environmental assessments for migratory animals.     

Decomposition of beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce needles (Picea abies) in pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce

The decomposition of spruce needles and beech leaves was investigated in a 30- and 120-yr-old beech, spruce and mixed (beech/spruce) forest using 1 mm mesh litterbags. The mass loss, content of C, N and water and microbial biomass, basal respiration and specific respiration of the litter materials were analyzed after exposure for 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months in the field. Decomposition of both types of litter was faster in beech than in spruce stands and after 24 months loss of C from litter materials was at a maximum in beech stands (>60%) and considerably less in the spruce and mixed stands (ca. 40%). Generally, spruce needles decomposed more rapidly than beech leaves, but the faster decay was not associated with higher N concentrations. Rather, N was accumulated more rapidly in beech leaves. Concomitantly, in beech stands microbial biomass of beech leaves exceeded that of spruce needles indicating that beech leaves consist of more favorable resources for microorganisms than spruce needles. Differences in decomposition between beech leaves and spruce needles were most pronounced in beech stands, intermediate in mixed stands and least pronounced in spruce stands. Decomposition, N content and microbial biomass in litter materials exposed in the 120-yr-old stand consistently exceeded that in the 30-yr-old stand indicating adverse conditions for litter decay in regrowing stands. Generally, mixed stands ranked intermediate between spruce and beech monocultures for most of the variables measured indicating that the adverse conditions for litter decay and microorganisms in spruce forest are effectively counteracted by admixture of beech to spruce monocultures. It is concluded that the accumulation of litter materials in spruce forests is not due to the recalcitrance of spruce needles to decay. Rather, adverse environmental conditions such as high polyphenol contents in the litter layer of spruce stands retard decomposition processes; spruce needles appear to be more sensitive to this retardation than beech leaves.