Monitoringergebnisse der Schnellk?fergattung Agriotes (Elateridae, Coleoptera) in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010 in Rheinland-Pfalz

During the years 2008 to 2010 beetles of the genus Agriotes were monitored by means of pheromone traps in Rhineland-Palatinate. Each trap contained the female sexual pheromone of either Agriotes obscurus, A. sordidus, A. lineatus, A. sputator, or A. ustulatus. Beetles of these species could be caught, additionally also specimens of the species A. gallicus, A. acuminatus, and A. pilosellus. Specimens of A. brevis and A. proximus could not be caught, not even in traps with pheromones according to their species. The high frequency of A. sputator in the Upper Rhine Valley and mild river valleys was surprising. This might be an explanation for the increasing damages especially in potatoes during the past seven years. Also the species A. ustulatus occurred mainly in the Rhine Valley. The species A. obscurus was found predominantly in higher altitudes, A. lineatus and A. sputator appeared in the whole area, with varying frequencies. In all, we could determine the composition of Agriotes-species in 27 fields. In two fields traps were exposed in two subsequent years, in one field in three years. The changes in the populations are shown. The beetles collected in some fields were compared with the according wireworms.     

Nitrat-Bestimmung in Mist-Sickersaft mittels UV-Absorption

Nitrate determination in leachates from farmyard manure by UV absorption A simple, sufficiently sensitive (< 1 ppm NO₃^?-N) method for nitrate determination in leachates from farmyard manure is described, suitable for routine analysis. The well known determination by UV absorption is preceded by a precipitation of organic matter with ZnSO₄BO₇. By this, average NO₃^?-N contents of 48.7 ppm were detected in leachates from cattle manure heaps (n = 54).     

Fish and their significance from the international and Swiss viewpoints

In landlocked countries, the role of fish is often poorly known and/or propagated. In many countries fish represent the biggest and qualitatively most valuable protein source (24% of the worldwide available animal protein) for human consumption. At present the economic significance of the production and trade of fish is already very high. However, according to FAO, the future demand of proteins can only be covered by a considerable expansion of the aquaculture production, in particular because of a stagnated fish catch and a continuous reduction of the agricultural production. The ideational value of ornamental fish appears obvious however pet fish keeping represents also a value worth of many millions US dollars worldwide. Finally the importance of fish will not only increase for economic, but certainly also for ecological reasons, because it is well established as an incorruptible bioindicator of our environment.     

Carbon isotope constraints on the deglacial CO₂ rise from ice cores

The stable carbon isotope ratio of atmospheric CO(2) (δ(13)C(atm)) is a key parameter in deciphering past carbon cycle changes. Here we present δ(13)C(atm) data for the past 24,000 years derived from three independent records from two Antarctic ice cores. We conclude that a pronounced 0.3 per mil decrease in δ(13)C(atm) during the early deglaciation can be best explained by upwelling of old, carbon-enriched waters in the Southern Ocean. Later in the deglaciation, regrowth of the terrestrial biosphere, changes in sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation governed the δ(13)C(atm) evolution. During the Last Glacial Maximum, δ(13)C(atm) and atmospheric CO(2) concentration were essentially constant, which suggests that the carbon cycle was in dynamic equilibrium and that the net transfer of carbon to the deep ocean had occurred before then.     

Treatment of ureteral calculus obstruction with laser lithotripsy in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

An adult female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) presented with acute anorexia secondary to progressive azotemia (blood urea nitrogen = 213 mg/dl, creatinine [Cr] = 9.5 mg/dl) and electrolyte abnormalities (K = 7.4 mEq/L). It was later diagnosed with postrenal obstruction secondary to bilaterally obstructing ureteral calculi seen on ultrasound. Treatment of the obstruction required two endoscopic procedures, cystoscopy for ureteral stent placement and ureteroscopy to perform intracorporeal lithotripsy on the obstructing calculi. Before the first procedure, the dolphin's azotemia was stabilized with aggressive fluid therapy, peritoneal dialysis, and treatment for acidosis. Diuresis subsequent to the fluid therapy enabled passage of the right obstructing urolith. For both endoscopic procedures, the dolphin was placed in left lateral recumbency due to the peritoneal dialysis catheter in the right retroperitoneal region. For the first procedure, a 12-French (Fr) flexible cystoscope was inserted retrograde into the bladder via the urethra, whereupon a calculus was seen obstructing the left ureteral orifice. A 4.8-Fr, 26-cm double-pigtail ureteral stent was placed up the left ureter to relieve the postrenal obstruction. Inadvertent proximal migration of the left ureteral stent occurred during the procedure. However, renal parameters (serum Cr = 5.8, K = 5.4) improved significantly by the next day. For the second procedure, 28 hr later, ureteroscopy was performed to treat the calculus and replace the existing stent with a longer stent. The left ureteral calculus was pulverized into tiny fragments by using a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser inserted through a 6.9-Fr semirigid ureteroscope. The migrated stent was visualized in the distal left ureter and replaced with a 90-cm single-pigtail ureteral stent that was sutured exterior to the urogenital slit and removed 3 days later. Renal function normalized over the next several days, and the dolphin recovered over the next 2 mo.