The dynamism fish-plant association: Ontogenetic variations in assemblage attributes in neotropical floodplain lakes

Structural habitat complexity provided by macrophytes is expected to increase richness and abundance of fish species. However, this topic is rarely investigated simultaneously at different periods of fish development. We sampled fish within macrophyte stands and in non-vegetated areas at floodplain lakes and tested the hypothesis that the presence of macrophytes increases abundance and species richness of fish, in addition to changes in species composition, at different periods of fish development. Our findings demonstrated that, in different period of fish development, the highest values of fish species richness and abundance were found at sites colonised by macrophytes. Similarly, changes in fish species composition were observed between habitats colonised by macrophytes and non-vegetated areas. Therefore, the results demonstrate that macrophyte presence plays an important role in regulating fish community structure at different periods of fish development.     

The effect of compost and Bacillus licheniformis on the phytoextraction of Cr,Cu, Pb and Zn by three brassicaceae species from contaminated soils in the Apulia region,Southern Italy

The selection of appropriate plant species is critical in the successful application of phytoremediation techniques. The present study is an attempt to assess the capability of three brassicaceae, Brassica alba (L.) Rabenh, Brassica carinata A. Braun and Brassica nigra (L.) Koch, for the phytoextraction of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn from an unpolluted and polluted silty loamy soil added with either Bacillus licheniformis BLMB1 or compost or both. Experiments were conducted in a greenhouse in pots filled with the soils. In all experiments metals were shown to accumulate in shoots and roots of plants grown on polluted soils, and both compost and B. licheniformis BLMB1 strain were able to enhance the accumulation of metals, especially Cr. In particular, Cr accumulation in B. alba resulted higher than the Cr threshold for hyperaccumulator plants (1000 mg kg^? 1). This result provides a new plant resource that may have a potential use for phytoextraction of Cr from contaminated soil. However, because of the low bioconcentration factors (< 1) for all studied metals, these species cannot be regarded as suitable for the phytoextraction of excessive Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn from polluted soils. Thus, these species may be used with success only for low metal polluted soils.     

First report in Italy of the dusky sap beetle, Carpophilus lugubris, a new potential pest for Europe

Following a report submitted by a beekeeper to Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, in Padua province (Borgoricco, Veneto, NE Italy), the authors discovered in April 2011 several specimens of the dusky sap beetle Carpophilus lugubris Murray 1864 (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae) on the bottom board of some beehives. At a later time (May 2012), an isolated specimen was also collected within a Natural Reserve in Belluno province (Feltre, Veneto, NE Italy). These specimens represent the first known records of this species in Italy or Europe as a whole. This is also the first record of the species associated with beehives. This discovery led us to review the available bionomical and faunistic data for this widespread Nearctic and Neotropical species. C. lugubris is a recognized pest of corn, therefore is very important monitoring its possible dispersal into cornfields, beehives, and other agricultural regions of NE Italy and southern Europe over the next few years.     

Ultrasonographic cervical evaluation: A tool to select ewes for non-surgical embryo recovery

This study assessed the cervical ultrasonography mapping as a tool to select donor ewes for non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER). Lacaune ewes had their cervix evaluated by ultrasonography 12 hr after induced oestrus onset (Trial 1, n = 24) or 30 min before NSER (Trial 2, n = 17). Cervical rings were longitudinally evaluated and classified by their degree of misalignment on ultrasonography (DMUS) into: DMUS-1—cervix rectilinear, DMUS-2—intermediate and DMUS-3—highly asymmetrical. For predicting cervical transposing, only DMUS-1 and DMUS-2 were considered suitable. Similar ranking was attributed to degree of misalignment on the cervical map (DMCM 1–3), established immediately before NSER, which was performed at days 6 to 7 after oestrus. In Trial 1, cervical retraction for NSER was not possible only in three ewes classified as DMUS-3 (3/14, 21.4%). No difference (p > .05) was observed in the cervical transposing rates between ewes with different DMUS (ranged from 80% to 100%). In Trial 2, DMUS-1 and DMUS-2 reached 100% of transposing, and the only DMUS-3 ewe has not been transposed. In Trial 1, the prediction performance for successful cervical transposing showed low sensitivity (45%) and no specificity due to a high incidence of false negatives (52%). However, in Trial 2, sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. The DMCM and DMUS were uncorrelated, probably due to cervical stretching required to perform NSER. In conclusion, cervical ultrasound assessment immediately before NSER was more efficient to predict the cervical transposing than at induced oestrus, allowing the classification and selection of ewes eligible for NSER.     

Water balance of apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Búlida) under drip irrigation

The water balance of drip irrigated apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Búlida grafted onto “Realfino” apricot rootstock) was determined during a 30-month-period. Two irrigation regimes based on the reduction coefficients of Class A pan evaporation (1 and 0.5) were used to determine the water consumed. The water balance parameters for these treatments are shown and discussed in detail. Overall, the trees receiving less water showed 35% less evapotranspiration. Crop coefficients calculated on the basis of the water balance over a 30-month-period led to a saving of almost 14% water, since the coefficients were slightly below those used in other apricot orchards in the same area.     

Along or across the visual axis: a comparison of two ultrasound screen,needle and transducer orientation techniques

ObjectiveTo evaluate two transducer and needle handling methods, along the visual axis (AL) and across the visual axis (AC), in non-skilled and skilled clinicians.Study designProspective randomized crossover study.MethodA total of 26 students with no ultrasound locoregional anaesthesia experience (non-skilled group) and six clinicians experienced and familiar with ultrasound locoregional anaesthesia (skilled group) were enrolled. The non-skilled group was asked to perform two tasks: the first on a phantom and the second on canine cadavers, whilst the skilled group performed only the second task. The tasks consisted of guiding the tip of the needle to a target point (simulated nerve on the jelly phantom and sciatic nerve on the cadavers) using two different methods of needle handling—AL or AC. All operators performed each task three times for each method. The time to drive the needle to the target for the two methods was analysed with a paired Student t test, and the number of times the needle was not visualized on the screen between the groups was compared using an unpaired Student t test. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe AL method, compared with the AC method, resulted in shorter performance time in both skilled (9 ± 5 versus 20 ± 8 seconds for the second task) and non-skilled groups (9 ± 8 versus 17 ± 15 seconds for the first task and 18 ± 11 versus 32 ± 26 seconds for the second task).Conclusion and clinical relevanceIn both groups, the AL method significantly reduced the time to complete the task. Results from this study indicate that the AL method should be the preferred method for learning/teaching ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia.     

Apparent digestibility,fecal particle size,and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses

Reduced lignin alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has the potential to provide a higher-quality forage source for livestock by improving forage digestibility. This study was conducted to evaluate apparent digestibility when feeding reduced lignin and nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay to adult horses, and to examine mean fecal particle size (MFPS) and mean retention time (MRT) between alfalfa forage types. In 2017, reduced lignin (“54HVX41”) and nonreduced lignin (“WL355.RR”) alfalfa hay was harvested in Minnesota at the late-bud stage. Alfalfa hays were similar in crude protein (CP; 199 g/kg), neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 433 g/kg), and digestible energy (2.4 Mcal/kg). Acid detergent lignin concentrations were lower for reduced lignin alfalfa hay (74 g/kg) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay (81 g/kg). Dietary treatments were fed to six adult, stock-type horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-d total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual boxstalls and manure was removed on a continuous 24-h basis. At 12-h intervals, feces were thoroughly mixed, subsampled in duplicate, and used for apparent digestibility and MFPS analysis. On day 2 of the fecal collection phase, horses were fed two indigestible markers, cobalt (Co) and ytterbium (Yb), which were fed as Co-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and Yb-labeled NDF residue, respectively. Additional fecal samples were taken at 2-h intervals following marker dosing until 96-h post-dosing to evaluate digesta MRT. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with statistical significance set at P ≤0.05. Dietary treatment (i.e., alfalfa hay type) was included as a fixed effect, while experimental period and horse were considered random effects. Dietary treatments were similar in dry matter intake (1.6% bodyweight) and time to consumption (7.6 h). Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) was greater for reduced lignin alfalfa (64.4%) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa (61.7%). Apparent CP and NDF digestibility did not differ between dietary treatments, averaging 78% and 45%, respectively. Dietary treatments were similar in MFPS (0.89 mm) and MRT for both liquid (23.7 h) and solid (27.4 h) phase material. These results indicate an improvement in DMD for reduced lignin alfalfa hay when fed to adult horses, with no change in forage consumption, fecal particle size, or digesta retention time.     

Río de la Plata voyagers: Deciphering the migration ecology of a vulnerable marine catfish (Genidens barbus) in a large subtropical river (lower Uruguay River)

1. Genidens barbus is a vulnerable marine migrant catfish with low fecundity, a complex life cycle (i.e. mouth breeding), and is the target of industrial and artisanal fisheries of several countries. This species regularly migrates from marine to freshwater environments of the south-western Atlantic.
2. The aim of this work was to delve deeper into the migration ecology of G. barbus, characterizing both its timing and potential environmental drivers. Furthermore, aspects of the population structure and reproduction of migrants in the lower Uruguay River were studied and the presence of juveniles in the adjacent estuarine recruitment area was evaluated.
3. Data from 11 years (2008–2018) of records of adult G. barbus captured by artisanal fisheries were used alongside relevant environmental variables that were recorded monthly. Reproductive biology (i.e. sex ratio, gonadosomatic index, fecundity, and oocyte size) was analysed for a period of 3 years (2016–2018). The juvenile abundance in the Río de la Plata estuary was evaluated seasonally.
4. A total of 935 adult individuals of G. barbus were captured, representing a total biomass of 3,123 kg. The migration timing was from early spring to early summer. The abundance of migrants strongly increased with river discharge, suggesting that this variable regulates the upriver migration. Furthermore, pre- and post-spawn females and males displaying mouth breeding were recorded during the study period, confirming G. barbus reproduction in the lower Uruguay River.
5. The results obtained suggest that G. barbus ascend to spawn in the freshwater environments upstream from the mouth of the Uruguay River. Then, adult males incubate and carry the embryos downstream, releasing juveniles in the Río de la Plata estuary.
6. This relevant information will help with the implementation of effective management polices (e.g. fishing restrictions during the reproductive period) for the presently unregulated fishery of this vulnerable species in the lower Uruguay River.

     

Enlightened Mannhemia haemolytica lung inflammation in bovinized mice

Polymorphonuclear cells diapedesis has an important contribution to the induced Mannhemia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) infection lung inflammation and IL-8 is the primary polymorphonuclear chemoattractant. Using a bovine IL-8/luciferase transiently transgenized mouse model, the orchestration among M. haemolytica, IL-8 promoter activation and neutrophilia was followed in real time by in vivo image analysis.