Limnological perspectives on conservation of floodplain lakes in the Amazon basin

1. Limnological aspects of Amazon floodplain lakes are examined in the context of aquatic conservation.
2. A prerequisite to detecting and evaluating changes that could threaten the ecological health and organisms in floodplain lakes is understanding variation under present conditions. Based on one of the few studies with regular measurements over 2 years, chlorophyll, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, transparency, and total suspended solids in Lake Janauacá indicate that the lake is naturally quite variable with a mesotrophic to eutrophic status.
3. Direct threats to ecological health of floodplain lakes include mining operations that can increase turbidity and trace metals and reduce nutritional quality of sediments. Mercury contamination and methylation leads to bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.
4. Deforestation in uplands increases nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to floodplain lakes and can alter trophic status. Deforestation in floodable forests alters the habitat and food of the fish that inhabit these forests.
5. Cumulative limnological responses as catchments are altered by urban, agricultural, and industrial developments, and as inundation is altered by changes in climate and construction of dams, have major implications for the ecology of floodplain lakes.
6. To improve understanding and management of threats to the conservation of aquatic Amazon biota and ecosystems requires considerably expanded and coordinated research and community-based management that includes the spectrum of floodplain lakes throughout the basin.

     

Ammonia excretion rates from post-smolt Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in land-based farms

Empirical data on ammonia excretion rates were compiled from several published and unpublished growth studies on post-smolt Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Fish in all studies were fed to satiation with commercially produced high-energy diets (ME = 18–19 MJ kg^-1) with a protein content of 40–45%. About 35 ± 3% (mean SE) of the nitrogen supplied to fish was excreted as total ammonia (TAN = NH₃-N + NH₄⁺-N). The results of a linear regression analysis of N intake to N excretion demonstrated, however, that TAN excretion rates could be divided into two components: TAN_excretion [g N kg fish^-1 day^-1] = 0.036 + 0.26 N_intake [g N kg fish^-1 day^-1]. The intercept of the regression equation indicates that the endogenous TAN excretion rates in post-smolts could be estimated as 36 mg TAN kg fish^-1 day^-1, and about 26% of the nitrogen supplied to the fish was excreted postprandially. This postprandial TAN excretion was lower than that from other salmonid species fed low-energy diets. The daily maximum TAN excretion rate was about 43% higher than daily mean values, which agree with several studies. The ammonia quotient (A.Q.) measured was independent of the nitrogen supplied, and was calculated as 0.112. The outputs from the present model were compared to those from other ammonia excretion models.     

Effect of evening primrose oil as food supplement on reproduction in the blue fox.

Addition of evening primrose oil (EPO) to a blue fox diet in the reproduction period was evaluated in an experiment with 2 groups, each of 12 male and 25 female blue foxes, regarding the effects on reproductive performance. The experiment was carried out as a field trial and the experimental period lasted from March 10 until the end of the mating season (males) or early July (females). During this period the control group was fed the standard diet of the farm and the experimental group was fed the same diet supplemented with 4.5 g EPO and 2.5 mg zinc sulphate per animal and day. An addition of 10 mg vitamin E per 500 mg EPO was made. The results were evaluated regarding male and female treatment effects. There was an increased rate of abortions in the EPO-group, but simultaneously a non-significant decrease in the frequency of barren females, resulting in a similar level of females without litters in both groups. A tendency for increased litter size in the EPO group was found, mainly as an effect of male treatment, which might indicate an effect on semen quality.     

Potential for manipulation of the rumen fermentation through the use of recombinant DNA techniques

Recombinant DNA techniques offer a new approach to the study and eventual genetic manipulation of rumen bacteria to modify the rate and extent of nutrient digestion within the rumen. The foreign genes cloned into a rumen bacterium undoubtedly will have to enhance its ability to compete; otherwise, the new trait will be lost from the highly competitive environment within the rumen. As a general rule, the types of metabolic activities amenable to gene cloning may be those that enhance substrate versatility or eliminate a dependence of a specific rumen bacteria on cross-feeding by other rumen microorganisms. Enhanced substrate diversity and bypassing cross-feeding probably will become more important as the use of highly refined feeds and waste materials from the food and other industries are used in greater quantities to meet the dietary needs of ruminants.     

Effects of Calf Removal at Parturition on Postpartum Ovarian Activity in Zebu (Bos indicus) Cows in the Humid Tropics

To assess endocrine and morphological responses of ovaries to total weaning at parturition, 6 Zebu (Bos indicus) cows 5 years or older were investigated. Following parturition, blood samples were collected daily during the first month and twice weekly thereafter until day 60 to determine concentrations of progesterone (P₄) and prostaglandin F_2α metabolite.It took between 25 to 32 days to complete uterine involution.The prostaglandin metabolite remained elevated for a mean period of 14.2 days (range, 4-21) postpartum. Five of the animals resumed cyclicity with a short estrous cycle starting between days 7 to 34 and lasting between 7 and 14 days. No estrous behavior was recorded prior to the short estrous cycles, but subsequent normal-length estrous cycles were all preceded by signs of estrus. In the 1 animal that resumed cyclicity with an estrous cycle of normal length on day 37 (length 20 days), the cycle was preceded by estrous behavior.Progesterone concentrations reached a mean maximum of 4.8 nmol liter⁻¹ during the short estrous cycles, and prostaglandin metabolite concentrations peaked while P₄ concentrations were decreasing. P₄ concentrations reached a mean maximum of 12.2 nmol liter⁻¹ during the estrous cycles of normal length. The interval from parturition to the first estrous cycle of normal length varied between 16 and 48 days, and the length of the cycle was 18 to 22 days.Starting 2 days postpartum, ovaries from 5 of the cows were scanned by ultrasonography every second day until day 30 postpartum. Medium-sized follicles were detected between days 4 to 7 postpartum in 4 of the scanned cows that later had short estrous cycles. The time between parturition and the appearance of the first dominant follicle was 7.6 days (range 6-10 days). The interval between parturition and the appearance of the first ovulatory-sized follicle was 10.2 days (range 8-13 days). In 3 of the scanned cows this ovulatory-sized follicle ovulated.We conclude that cyclic ovarian activity in Zebu cows can start early in the postpartum period in the absence of offspring, and that short luteal phases, not preceded by estrous behavior, may play an important role in establishing normal postpartum ovarian activity.     

Selection of a sterilization method for the study of cereal grain digestion

Experiments were initiated to select a sterilization method(s) that minimizes alterations in the digestive properties of cereal grains and, thus, would be suitable for the study of cereal grain digestion by pure cultures of ruminal bacteria. The following five treatments were examined: unsterilized (U), autoclaving with buffer (AB), autoclaving without buffer (AD), ethylene oxide (E), and gamma irradiation (I). Solubility of DM, starch, and CP was determined by soaking grain in buffer for 1 h followed by filtration through Whatman #54 filter paper. Ground corn and wheat from each treatment were placed in vials with a 1:1 mixture of Bryant's medium and ruminal inoculum. Vials were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h and analyzed for starch content. Bacterial growth was not evident in sterilized, uninoculated samples. The AD treatment decreased the disappearance of CP in wheat and corn, whereas AB caused an increase in the disappearance of DM, CP, and starch in wheat (P less than .001) compared with U. Rates of microbial starch digestion for corn were 1.3, 1.5, 3.3, 14.7, and 3.5%/h and for wheat were 1.3, 3.4, 4.6, 17.1, and 4.6%/h for AD, E, I, AB, and U, respectively. Contrasts indicated that AD and AB differed (P less than .001) from U for both corn and wheat. It is likely that gelatinization of cereal starch enhanced microbial starch digestion in AB and the formation of Maillard products reduced starch digestion in AD. Corn and wheat sterilized with E or I had digestive properties that closely resembled those of U grain, and either sterilization method was suitable for studying cereal grain digestion.     

Evaluation of a Burdizzo Castrator for Neutering of Dogs

A Burdizzo castrator was evaluated for the neutering of dogs. Histological and morphological changes of spermatic cells and peripheral serum testosterone after challenge with a GnRH-analogue (gonadorelin) were assessed. There was a control group (G1), a surgically castrated group (G2) and a Burdizzo group (G3) divided in two, G3a receiving two crunches in each spermatic cord and G3b receiving one crunch in each spermatic cord. Sixteen days after application of the Burdizzo blood samples were taken from the dogs at 30 min interval during 2 h; after the second sample the dogs were treated with 1 mug/kg body weight of gonadorelin i.v. The same protocol of gonadorelin challenge was performed in G1 and G2 dogs. The G2 dogs were surgically castrated after the second blood sample, before the gonadorelin treatment, and the G1 dogs after the last blood sample. The excised gonads were examined histologically, and sperm smears were prepared from the caudae epididymidis. The testes and plexus pampiniformis of the G1 and G2 dogs had a normal histological appearance, and they had morphologically normal epididymal sperm cells. In all G3 dogs, there was an acute fibrosis with an inflammatory reaction in the plexus pampiniformis. The testes from the G3a dogs showed diffuse areas of infarction and degeneration of the parenchyma. Similar but less diffuse lesions were seen in group 3b dogs. The deferent ducts from all G3 dogs showed vasitis and/or sperm granulomas. Azoospermia or sperm malformations were observed in the epididymal smears from the G3 dogs. Testosterone concentration in the G1 dogs increased after gonadorelin application (p < 0.0001). The G2 dogs had basal testosterone levels after castration (p < 0.001) and did not respond to gonadorelin. Groups 3a and b showed a slight but non-significant increase in testosterone concentration after gonadorelin challenge, supposedly due to the reduction of testicular blood flow and loss of testicular interstitial tissue.     

The effect of repeated follicular puncture on ovarian function in dairy heifers

Three dairy heifers were examined during three consecutive oestrous cycles (control period, CP). Subsequently, the animals were subjected to 4 and then 5 weeks of twice-weekly ovum pick-up (OPU) (FPP1 and FPP2, respectively) with a recovery period (RP) of two consecutive oestrous cycles between FPP1 and FPP2. After FPP2, the animals were slaughtered and the ovaries were macroscopically examined. Throughout, ovarian activity was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography and concentrations of plasma progesterone. During CP, all the heifers showed normal cyclicity. During FPPs, the heifers occasionally presented oestrous activity. Corpus luteum (CL)-like structures developed from punctured follicles with diameters and life-spans varying from smaller and shorter than those in the CP (P > 0.05) to equal to those in the CP. There was a tendency for a lower number of emerging and punctured follicles in the presence of a CL-like structure. Subsequently to FPP1, all heifers regained normal cyclicity. A thickening of the ovarian tunica albuginea and a slight hardening of the ovaries were found postmortem. In conclusion, dairy heifers can occasionally show cyclic activity and form CL-like structures during twice-weekly OPU. Further, OPU did not seem to cause any major negative effects on ovarian structure and subsequent ovarian function.