Structure and presumptive function of the iridocorneal angle of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), and African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

The iridocorneal angles of prepared eyes from the West Indian manatee, short-finned pilot whale, hippopotamus and African elephant were examined and compared using light microscopy. The manatee and pilot whale demonstrated capacity for a large amount of aqueous outflow, probably as part of a system compensating for lack of ciliary musculature, and possibly also related to environmental changes associated with life at varying depths. The elephant angle displayed many characteristics of large herbivores, but was found to have relatively low capacity for aqueous outflow via both primary and secondary routes. The hippopotamus shared characteristics with both land- and water-dwelling mammals; uveoscleral aqueous outflow may be substantial as in the marine mammals, but the angular aqueous plexus was less extensive and a robust pectinate ligament was present. The angles varied greatly in size and composition among the four species, and most structures were found to be uniquely suited to the habitat of each animal.     

Software for pest-management science: computer models and databases from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service

We present an overview of USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) computer models and databases related to pest-management science, emphasizing current developments in environmental risk assessment and management simulation models. The ARS has a unique national interdisciplinary team of researchers in surface and sub-surface hydrology, soil and plant science, systems analysis and pesticide science, who have networked to develop empirical and mechanistic computer models describing the behavior of pests, pest responses to controls and the environmental impact of pest-control methods. Historically, much of this work has been in support of production agriculture and in support of the conservation programs of our 'action agency' sister, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service). Because we are a public agency, our software/database products are generally offered without cost, unless they are developed in cooperation with a private-sector cooperator. Because ARS is a basic and applied research organization, with development of new science as our highest priority, these products tend to be offered on an 'as-is' basis with limited user support except for cooperating R&D relationship with other scientists. However, rapid changes in the technology for information analysis and communication continually challenge our way of doing business.     

Fate of a water-soluble herbicide spray on foliage: Part I. Spray efficiency: Measurement of initial deposition and absorption

MSMA (monosodium methylarsonate) is non-volatile and degrades in the environment to arsenic species which can be determined at the nanogram level. It is thus an excellent tracer for the study of the efficiency of deposition (defined as the fraction of material sprayed that deposits on target foliage) and subsequent fate of a water-soluble pesticide applied to foliage. MSMA was applied to rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Labelle) foliage at two rates and at various stages of growth. After spraying the foliage was sampled and analysed for surface (removable by water-washing) and absorbed MSMA. Absorption of MSMA was so rapid that within the two hours between application and washing nearly one-half of the recovered MSMA became unavailable for wash-off. The total amounts of MSMA recovered were approximately proportional to plant size and application rate. When the rice foliage reached approximately 80 cm in height, the canopy closure (ground cover) was complete; nevertheless, only about 50% of the sprayed MSMA was found on and in the plants. As the rice canopy approached maturity, or approximately 130 cm high, complete interception of the spray occurred. These results indicate that canopy volume rather than ground cover was more important in determining the efficiency of spray deposition in this case, and that deposition efficiency may approach 100% with non-volatile active ingredients.     

Hydrosoil residues and Hydrilla verticillata control in a central florida lake using fluridone

Fluridone was applied to a 98-8-ha lake in Orange County, Florida, USA, in five different treatment plots between October 1982 and February 1983 to control a severe infestation of Hydrilla verticillata. Hydrosoil residues and submersed aquatic plant biomass were monitored within the lake. Fluridone did not affect the submersed vegetation during the 4-month fall-winter treatment period. As water temperatures increased during spring, Hydrilla biomass declined at an average of 0.178 kg m^?2 per month. By summer (192 days after last treatment), the target species could not be found within the lake. Fluridone residues were detected in the hydrosoil immediately following treatments and generally peaked coinciding with the decline in aquatic plant biomass. The maximum fluridone detected in the hydrosoil was only 5% of the 2.25 kg ha^?1 applied, and this amount was obtained from outside of a treatment area. Residue concentrations were highly variable between sampling sites and sampling periods and unexpectedly increased 14 months after treatment. Winter-killed marginal vegetation is a possible source of this increase. Detectable concentrations of fluridone, and vegetation control, persisted for a total of 86 weeks from the date of the last treatment and non-detectable residues may have persisted after 86 weeks. This study indicates that a lower application rate might have provided adequate control of Hydrilla and possibly decreased residue concentrations in non-target areas.     

母猪矿物质储备的损耗——如何满足高产母猪对矿物质的营养需要

高产母猪对矿物质的需要尚不是很明确.迄今为止的研究证实,随着胎次的增加,母猪体内的常量元素和微量元素储备逐渐减少,而且高繁殖力还加剧矿物质的丢失.母猪的繁殖周期中有些时期(通常是妊娠后期和哺乳阶段)对常量元素和微量元素的需要量很高,但这些元素在其它时期也同样非常重要.然而简单地增加母猪饲粮中的常量元素和微量元素的含量可能并不是理想的方法,因为这种方法可能降低母猪的繁殖性能.近期的研究表明,有机微量元素能提高母猪6胎以上的窝产仔数.已有研究表明,虽然有机硒具有提高母猪繁殖性能的功效,但其它微量元素可能也在提高母猪繁殖性能方面发挥了相应的作用.     

如何满足高产母猪对矿物质的营养需要

<正>高产母猪对矿物质的需要量尚不是很明确。迄今为止的研究证实,随着胎次的增加,母猪体内的常量和微量元素储备逐渐减少,而且高繁殖力还加剧矿物质的丢失。母猪的繁殖周期中,某些时期(通常是怀孕后期和哺乳阶段)对常量和微量元素的需要     

Larval Development and Rearing of Longtooth Grouper Epinephelus bruneus in Jeju Island, Korea

Eggs and sperm were obtained from a female (6.3 kg/BW) and a male (8.4 kg/BW) longtooth grouper Epinephelus bruneus following HCG injection in July 2003. The eggs were fertilized artMcially with the sperm and incubated in one of two 50-m³ tanks after washing the fertilized eggs. The fertilized eggs were 830–950 pn (average 900 ± 2 μm) in diameter and the respective fertilization and hatching rates were 97.7 ± 0.6% and 96.8 ± 0.5% at a water temperature of 25.0 ± 0.5 C. With this regime, the survival rate by day 93 was 7.5% in the 50-m³ tank. The elapsed time from hatching to opening the mouth was 3 d at 25 C. The initial mouth size (z) of the larvae was 0.22–0.23 mm. The newly hatched larvae were 2.02 ± 0.02 mm TL; this increased to 4.12 ± 0.09 mm TL by day 11. By day 54, the larvae had metamorphosed into juveniles and reached 41.12 ± 1.20 mm TL, and by day 93 the juveniles reached 93.78 ± 1.98 mm TL. In all, 49.5% of the larvae were malformed and the type of malformation was diverse.