Adsorption and degradation of chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron-methyl in soils from different depths

Adsorption and degradation rates of chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron-methyl were measured in soil taken from depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm at eight sites. Adsorption of both herbicides was negatively correlated with soil pH, and positively correlated with soil organic matter content. When two soils with very high organic matter were excluded from the calculations, the correlations with organic matter content were no longer statistically significant but those with soil pH were affected only slightly. Degradation rates of both herbicides generally decreased with increasing depth in the soil and were positively correlated with microbial biomass and negatively correlated with soil pH. The possible significance of the results to persistence of the herbicides in the field is discussed.     

δ13C-δ15N values as indicators of trophic position and competitive overlap for Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.)

Analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotope values for five species of Pacific salmon indicate that they form a trophic hierarchy on the high seas. On the basis of an analysis of these stable isotope ratios, chinook salmon feed at the upper end of the food chain and pink salmon at the lower end, in the sequence pink → sockeye → coho → chinook, with chinook and pink salmon separated by ca. 0.8 of a trophic level. Chum salmon occupy a peculiar position, with low δ¹³C values and high δ¹⁵N values, possibly reflecting an unusual diet that includes large amounts of gelatinous zooplankton (salps, ctenophoi;s, and medusae). Chum appear to occupy a unique trophic position, at a trophic level nearly as high as that of chinook but at the end of a different branch of the food chain. If true, the potential for trophodynamic competition with other salmon species is small. Our results suggest that the greatest potential for trophodynamic competition occurs within the pink-sockeye-coho grouping. A similar analysis, restricted to five stocks of North American sockeye, shows that four widely separated stocks have similar heavy isotope compositions but that the separation between these stocks is still statistically significant. The Chilko stock is strikingly different, however, suggesting that it is located in the central Gulf of Alaska, a region of intense upwelling. Circumstantial evidence supporting the possibility that the Chilko and other sockeye stocks are geographically separated within the Gulf of Alaska is reviewed.     

The relative movement and persistence in soil of chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl and triasulfuron

Summary. Adsorption and degradation rates of triasulfuron in 8 different soils were negatively correlated with soil pH and were generally lower in subsoils than in soils from the plough layer. The half-life at 20°C varied from 33 days in a top soil at pH 5·8 to 120 days in a subsoil at pH 7·4. Adsorption distribution coefficients in these two soils were 0·55 and 0·19, respectively. Movement and persistence of residues of chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron and metsulfuron-methyl were compared in a field experiment prepared in spring 1987. Triasulfuron was less mobile in the soil than the other two compounds. Residues of all three herbicides were largely confined to the upper 40–50 cm soil 148 days after application. With an initial dose of 32 g ha⁻¹, residues in the surface soil layers were sufficient to affect growth of lettuce and sugar-beet sown approximately one year after application. Laboratory adsorption and degradation data were used with appropriate weather data in a computer model of herbicide transport in soil. The model gave good predictions of total soil residues during the first five months following application, and also predicted successfully the maximum depth of penetration of the herbicides into the soil during this period. However, more herbicide was retained close to the soil surface than was predicted by the model. The model predicted extensive movement of the herbicides in the soil during winter but did not predict that residues sufficient to affect crop growth could be present in the upper 15–20 cm soil after one year.     

Fibrin–alginate hydrogel supports steroidogenesis,in vitro maturation of oocytes and parthenotes production from caprine preantral follicles cultured in group

This study aimed to establish a culture system that improves the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles. In a first experiment, follicles were encapsulated as a single unit per bead and cultured singly or in groups or with five follicles in the same alginate (ALG) bead for 18 days. In a subsequent experiment, the “five follicles per bead” design was chosen to culture in ALG, fibrin–alginate (FA) or hyaluronate (HA) for 18 days. In a third experiment, we chose the five follicles per bead in FA to culture for 30 days. The culture set‐up of five follicles per ALG bead increased antrum formation and follicle diameter compared to the other culture designs (p < .05). Moreover, under this condition, 44.44% of the oocytes from in vitro cultured preantral follicles reached meiotic resumption. A significant increase of follicle diameter occurred in attachment system and FA (p < .05), but the ALG condition reached the highest among all groups on day 18 (p < .05). Follicles encapsulated in matrix produced more estradiol and progesterone than attachment system (p < .05). The expression of MMP‐9 mRNA was higher in FA than in other groups (p < .05) and similar to antral follicles from in vivo control (p > .05). Only FA group resulted in oocytes matured. After 30 days, oocytes from preantral follicles in vitro grown in FA developed to eight‐cell parthenotes. In conclusion, a culture system using FA supported the development of caprine preantral follicles cultured in group and included in the same bead of hydrogel, improving the oocyte maturation and producing parthenotes.     

Leader Browsing by Red and Roe Deer on Young Sitka Spruce Trees in Western Scotland I. Damage Rates and the Influence of Habitat Factors

Leader browsing was monitored for several years on some 2000trees at 14 sites in Glenbranter Forest, Argyll. We recordedtrees individually to obtain cumulative totals for browsingand other damage, and to relate incidence to height and state(i.e. whether the trees had single or multiple leaders, oldor new leaders). Rates of leader browsing peaked in late winter and also fora few weeks during the spring flush of growth; they were leastfrom mid June to September. Incidence was closely related toheight, trees from 30 to 50 cm tall suffering the most damage,while trees taller than 80 cm rarely incurred leader browsing. Annual rates of leader browsing were greatest in the secondand third year after planting but varied considerably amongsites. Newly established crops were no more damaged than second-rotationrestocked crops. Multiple regression showed that the incidenceof leader browsing was significantly negatively related to thedensity of trees <60 cm tall and to percentage cover of ericoidplants, and significantly positively related to deer presence,as measured by the accumulation of pellet groups of both deerspecies. Individual trees were browsed two to three times on averagebefore reaching a safe height, but a few trees experienced upto eight leader browsings. In recovery from browsing, treesoften produced several leaders; we found that trees with multipleleaders or new leaders were more susceptible to leader browsingthan trees with single or old leaders. So once a tree has beenbrowsed the likelihood of future browsing is increased. Received 5 December 1989.     

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System for a Bull Semen Production Centre

Bull semen production centres (SPC) generally present satisfactory quality control for sperm processing, but non‐standardized hygiene procedures. This study describes a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system developed for bull SPC and subsequently implemented in a commercial SPC. After the identification of hazards at each step of semen processing and the determination of their risk and severity, monitoring and corrective procedures were designed to assess the system's efficiency. The HACCP system identified six microbiological hazards, 10 physical hazards, four chemical hazards and three critical control points. After the establishment of Good Processing Practices, Standard Operating Procedures and Standard Sanitizing Operating Procedures, the system was validated through an audit, to identify eventual failures and to define measures to correct them.     

Evaluation of three pesticide leaching models with experimental data for alachlor, atrazine and metribuzin

The persistence and movement of residues of alachlor, alrazine and metribuzin were measured in a mini-lysimeter system in the field. This comprised a number of soil columns (11 cm diametert; 30 cm long), and permitted the vertical distribution of residues to be determined at. intervals alter application and the collection and analysis of leaehale water. Laboratory experiments were also performed to determine the degradation rates of the three herbicides and their strengths of adsorption by the test soil. The results showed an order of degradation rate of metribuzin> alachlor>atrazine and an order of adsorption of alacblor>atrazine>melribuzin. Movement of residues in the soil columns and concentrations in the leachate were inversely related to the strength of adsorption. Parameters derived from the laboratory data were used in conjunction with weather data for the period of the field experiment in three mathematical models of pesticide leaching: VARLEACH, LEACHP and PRZM2. In most instances, the models gave acceptable predictions of the distribution of residues in soil. This was particularly so for the less mobile compound alachlor. With the most mobile compound, metribuzin, residues were not well predicted at the later sampling dates. All three models gave accurate predictions of the volumes of drainage water, but none of them predicted the concentrations of herbicide in the leachate, presumably because they do not take account of preferential flow pathways of water and solute in the soil.     

Results of Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy in 52 Dogs With Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism

Objective —To evaluate microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). Study Design —Prospective study to evaluate the results (survival and disease-free interval, remission, recurrence) and complications of microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy by clinical follow-up, computed tomography (CT), and urinary corticoid-to-creatinine (C/C) ratios in dogs with PDH. The effect of surgical experience was investigated by comparing results of hypophysectomy cases 1 through 26 and 27 through 52. Animals or Sample Population—52 dogs with PDH. Results —Preoperative CT enabled accurate assessment of pituitary size (24 nonenlarged and 28 enlarged) and localization relative to intraoperative anatomic landmarks. Treatment failures included procedure-related mortalities (five dogs) and incomplete hypophysectomies (four dogs). The 1-year estimated survival rate was 84% (95% confidence interval [CI], 71% to 92%). The 2-year estimated survival rate was 80% (95% CI, 65% to 90%). In 43 dogs, the hyperadrenocorticism went into remission. Hyperadrenocorticism recurred in five dogs. The 1-year estimated relapse-free fraction was 92% (95% CI, 76% to 97%). The main complications were transient, mild, postoperative hypernatremia; transient reduction or cessation of tear production (25 eyes in 18 dogs); permanent (five dogs) or prolonged (nine dogs) diabetes insipidus; and secondary hypothyroidism. Normal tear production had resumed in all but one case after a median period of 10 weeks. In the second case series (27 through 52), the hospitalization period was shorter, the number of dry eyes fewer, the survival fraction greater, and the postoperative mortality lower than in the first series. In 15 dogs in which remission was obtained, postoperative CT images suggested the presence of small pituitary remnants; in 1 of these, hyperadrenocorticism recurred. In 46 dogs, the histological diagnosis was pituitary adenoma. Conclusions —Microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in dogs with PDH is an effective method of treatment in specialized veterinary institutions having access to advanced pituitary imaging techniques. Postoperative CT findings do not correlate well with remission or subsequent recurrence of hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical Relevance —The neurosurgeon performing hypophysectomies must master a learning curve and must be familiar with the most frequent complications of the operation to recognize them as early as possible and to treat them immediately and effectively. Urinary C/C ratios are sensitive indicators for the assessment of remission and recurrence of hyperadrenocorticism.     

Fixed‐time post‐cervical artificial insemination in weaned sows following buserelin use combined with/without eCG

Fixed‐time post‐cervical artificial insemination (FTAI) drastically reduces labour requirements and increases the use of boars with higher genetic merit. This study evaluated the efficiency of eCG administration combined with/without the GnRH agonist buserelin for the induction and synchronization of ovulation in weaned sows submitted to FTAI. The sows were allocated into three groups. In the control group, the first artificial insemination was performed at the onset of oestrus and repeated every 24 hr. In the eCG+GnRH group, sows received 600 IU eCG at weaning and buserelin (10 μg) after 86–89 hr of eCG, and in the GnRH group, sows received only buserelin after 86–89 hr of weaning. The hormone‐treated sows received a single FTAI after 30–33 hr of buserelin application. All the sows were inseminated with homospermic doses (1.5 × 10⁹ sperm cells/50 ml). The interval between weaning and ovulation was shorter (p < .05) in the eCG+GnRH (133.3 hr) and GnRH (135.9 hr) groups than the control (141.5 hr) group. In the eCG+GnRH group, the sows ovulated earlier (p < .05) than those in the GnRH group (44.5 vs. 48.2 hr after buserelin administration). The reproductive performance of GnRH sows was not compromised when only sows exhibiting oestrus at the time of insemination were considered, but lower farrowing rate and smaller litter size were observed in eCG+GnRH sows. The reproductive performance of eCG+GnRH sows was primarily compromised because the insemination was performed outside the optimal time relative to ovulation; therefore, it is advisable to inseminate them before 116–122 hr after weaning.