Synthesis of macroporous minerals with highly ordered three-dimensional arrays of spheroidal voids

Titania, zirconia, and alumina samples with periodic three-dimensional arrays of macropores were synthesized from the corresponding metal alkoxides, using latex spheres as templates. In a fast, single-step reaction, the monomeric alkoxide precursors permeate the array of bulk polystyrene spheres and condense in air at room temperature. Close packed, open-pore structures with 320- to 360-nanometer voids are obtained after calcination of the organic component at 575 degreesC. The examples presented demonstrate the compositional diversity possible with this technique. The resulting highly structured ceramics could have applications in areas ranging from quantum electronics to photocatalysis to battery materials.     

Life history demographic parameter synthesis for exploited Florida and Caribbean coral reef fishes

Age‐ or length‐structured stock assessments require reliable life history demographic parameters (growth, mortality, reproduction) to model population dynamics, potential yields and stock sustainability. This study synthesized life history information for 84 commercially exploited tropical reef fish species from Florida and the U.S. Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). We attempted to identify a useable set of life history parameters for each species that included lifespan, length at age, weight at length and maturity at length. Key aspects of the life history synthesis were development of: (a) a database that characterized study details including sampling region, biological and statistical methods, length range of sampled individuals, sample size, capture gears and sampling time frame; (b) reproducible procedural criteria for parameter identification for a given species; and (c) a reliability metric for each parameter type. Complete life history parameter sets were available for 46 species analysed. Of these, only 16 species had parameter sets meeting the highest standards for reliability, highlighting future research needs.     

Assessing the suitability of a non-lethal biopsy punch for sampling fish muscle tissue

Samples for the analysis of stable isotopes, genetics and other tissue sampling methods of small fish are often taken via lethal techniques. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of a non-lethal sampling method for removing muscle tissue from fish under 30 cm total length (TL). A 4-mm biopsy punch was used to remove muscle tissue from two different species, Lutjanus russelli (Lutjanidae) and Lethrinus laticaudis (Lethrinidae). Several scales were removed from the sampling location, and then the biopsy punch was inserted to remove the muscle tissue. Immediately following this, a mixture of Fish Bandage? and three drops of Betadine? antiseptic solution was applied to the wound to reduce the chance of infection. The biopsy punch removes an average of 8 mg of muscle tissue from the fish, more than is required for stable isotope and genetic analyses (1 mg). The condition of fish subjected to our three treatments, biopsied fish, a handling controls and a tank control, was compared via gill beat counts at the time of biopsy and 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h after treatment. Overall, no instances of mortality were recorded across the study for all species and all treatments. This method has been found to be a suitable non-lethal method in the removal of muscle tissue from these two fish species, potentially also other species under 30 cm TL, by eliminating mortality and minimising stress responses in sampled fishes.     

Investigating patterns of straying and mixed stock exploitation of sea trout,Salmo trutta,in rivers sharing an estuary in south‐west England

For effective management, information on the stock composition of a fishery is essential. Here, the utility of a resident trout, Salmon trutta L, microsatellite baseline to determine the origins of sea trout entering the rivers Tamar, Tavy and Lynher in south‐west England is highlighted – all share a common estuary and have major runs of sea trout. There is a high degree of geographical structuring of the genetic variation in the baseline rivers. Testing with simulated and real data sets showed fish can be assigned to reporting group with a high degree of accuracy. Mixed stock analysis of >1000 sea trout showed that fish entering the Tamar and Tavy constituted mixed stocks. Significantly, in the Tamar, non‐natal origin sea trout are restricted to the lower catchment. As well as providing insight into sea trout behaviour, this study also has important implications for the management of recreational rod and line fisheries.     

Measuring Soil and Tissue Potassium with a Portable Ion-Specific Electrode in Cotton

Most laboratories make potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations based on field research calibrated with soil K from atomic absorption spectroscopy, flame emission spectroscopy, or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Information is needed to interpret readings from K⁺ meters on cotton. The objective was to compare soil and cotton plant sap potassium content from a Laqua Twin? K⁺ meter to results from standard tests. Aluminum sulfate solution was used with the meter to extract K from 10 soil samples from the North America Proficiency Testing program. A linear relationship (R² = 0.86) was found between K measured with a K⁺ meter and K measured with 138 labs using ammonium acetate or Mehlich-3. Using a factor of 1.4754 to adjust readings, fertilizer recommendations with the K⁺ meter were similar to results from atomic absorption spectroscopy. A linear relationship was found between petiole K measured in the lab and petiole sap measured with the K⁺ meter.     

Farm-level factors associated with above-average production on pig farms in Evia, Greece

The aim of this study was to identify farm-level factors associated with above-average production of pig farms in Evia, Greece. Cross-sectional data on pig farm characteristics and management, farmer characteristics, worming practices, anthelmintics used, and the parasite loads of 10 randomly selected boars, sows, weaners, and fatteners were collected from 28 pig enterprises in the Evian region of Greece (74% of the total number of pig enterprises in this region). Above-average productivity was defined as weaning 18 or more piglets per sow per year. A multivariate logistic regression model found that employing immigrant workers reduced the odds of a farm being an above-average producer (OR 0.016, 95% CI 0.001–0.27), while having a veterinarian select the anthelmintic strategy significantly increased the odds of a farm being an above-average producer (OR 10.24, 95% CI 0.78–135.13). None of the gastrointestinal parasites under investigation were significantly associated with above-average productivity. It is concluded that despite the fact that endoparasite load was not significantly associated with above-average production, a quantification of the impact of intestinal worms on pig productivity is needed to know how much control can be envisaged for gastrointestinal worms before reaching the threshold at which it is no longer physically or financially reasonable to continue pursuing control.     

Influence of imidacloprid seed treatments on rice germination and early seedling growth

BACKGROUND: Seed treatments with the chloronicotinyl insecticide imidacloprid (Gaucho 600 FS) were evaluated to determine whether differences in concentration and exposure regime influence the germination and early growth of rice. RESULTS: Continuous exposure to imidacloprid (4 days at 2000 mg AI L(-1)) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced normal germination by an average of 18% across the 15 cultivars examined. Nine days after sowing, plants showed no adverse effects from continuous imidacloprid treatment during germination, with shoot lengths and root system dry weights equalling, or occasionally exceeding (P < 0.05), those of untreated plants. Short-term imidacloprid exposure (2 h at 2000 mg L(-1)) at initial seed wetting did not affect germination (P > 0.05), and short-term (1 h) exposure of 48 h pregerminated seed to imidacloprid (2000 mg L(-1)) similarly had no significant effect on early subsequent growth. Plants arising from 48 h pregerminated seed exposed to imidacloprid (1 h) at concentrations up to 4000 mg L(-1) immediately before sowing were not significantly different from control plants at either 9 or 25 days post-sowing. CONCLUSION: Results show that imidacloprid will have no adverse effects on plant growth if applied to pregerminated rice shortly before sowing. Continuous exposure of seed during germination had more pronounced effects, and the initial response of different cultivars was highly variable. Cultivars with high levels of sensitivity (such as IR72) require further testing before continuous exposure to imidacloprid during germination can be recommended.     

IUCN Red List of freshwater fishes and lampreys in Flanders (north Belgium)

Red Lists are used to assess the extinction risk of species. Regional IUCN criteria were applied to categorise 42 indigenous freshwater fish species in Flanders into Red List categories. As such, three species are assessed as Regionally Extinct, eight as Critically Endangered, two as Endangered and eight as Vulnerable. A further five species are considered Near Threatened, 15 species as Least Concern and one species is Data Deficient. Five species disappeared from the Regionally Extinct category compared with the previous Red List (1988) as a consequence of improved water quality of estuaries and reintroduction programmes. In total, 62% of the freshwater fish species in Flanders was considered extinct or threatened. This is higher than neighbouring regions and Europe as a whole (44%). This new Red List of freshwater fishes in Flanders can be used to inform conservation actions.     

Soil Testing Bray-1 Phosphorus with Non-Reagent Grade Hydrochloric and Sulfuric Acids

Portable instruments have reduced on-site testing costs for soil pH and potassium in isolated locations. Acids could not be shipped to a remote Africa field laboratory. Bray-1 phosphorus (P) testing is difficult because hydrochloric (HCl) is required in the extraction solution and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is used in color development stock solutions. Muriatic HCl acid and battery H₂SO₄ were available in a local stores. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of P soil testing using diluted, non-reagent HCl for making modified Bray1-P extractant and non-reagent H₂SO₄ for color development. Experiment 1 was conducted with soil samples from fields using Sunnyside? and Klean Strip? HCl muriatic acids. Soil samples extracted with diluted reagent HCl were closely related to P results using diluted Klean Strip (R² = 0.96) and Sunnyside (R² = 0.84) HCl. In Experiment 2, two commercial brands of H₂SO₄ acid used to refill car battery cells were evaluated. Test results suggested that the battery H₂SO₄ acids are not suitable for making color development solution. In Experiment 3, a small battery powered spectrometer for P testing aquarium water was calibrated for soils. Samples from the Soil Science Society of America –North American Proficiency Testing program (NAPT) were tested with the meter and non-reagent HCl. Fiske-Subbarrow reducing agent and HCl were used in a variation procedure which does not require H₂SO₄ for color development. Eight of 10 samples tested proficient based on NAPT limits (2.5 x Median Absolute Deviation).