Distribution of and reproductive isolation among color morphs of a rock-dwelling Lake Victoria cichlid (Haplochromis nyererei)

Geographical, macro- and microhabitat distribution of and mate recognition among color morphs of a complex of Lake Victoria cichlids was studied. The distribution of most morphs was mutually exclusive but two morphs overlapped extensively and differed only in microhabitat requirements. Coloration differences between them were inherited, and wild fishes were homozygous in this respect. Positive morph assortative female mate choice was demonstrated. Over the largest part of their common geographical range intermediate phenotypes are absent and the two morphs are to be considered two biological species. However, in populations at one end of the range intermediate phenotypes with continuously varying male coloration make up the majority of the individuals. It is suggested that the status of color morphs as phenotypes of one species or as separate biological species is a function of environmental conditions that vary considerably between the localities. The data support the hypothesis that polymorphisms can be a step preceding speciation in cichlid fish.     

猪的回肠炎及其控制

猪的增生性回肠病 (回肠炎 )最早在 1 931年被发现 ,但直到约 60年后 ,本病的病原体由爱丁堡大学的 lawson等人命名为 lawsonia intracellu-laris。随后的 1 0年中由于许多特有技术的发展 ,使得人们可进一步研究这种细菌感染的流行病学和它的各种临床表现 -即地方性回肠炎 ( RI)、增生性肠病 ( PE)、坏死性肠炎 ( NE)和急性出血增生性肠病 ( AHPE)。所有疾病的控制方案都是以流行病学为基础的。有关病原体和传播方式的许多问题仍待解决。1　流行病学分子诊断技术可用于整个畜群抽查并可检测它们粪便中的 L intracellularis。西班牙对 7…     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

A method for quantifying changes in the epicuticular wax structure of Norway spruce needles

A method for quantifying changes in the epicuticular wax structure of spruce needles (Pieea abies) has been developed for the scanning electron microscope. This evaluation system, based on a five-point scale, classifies only the epistomatal waxes of current-year needles. Two criteria, the different crystal wax forms and the amount of changed wax as a percentage of the total stomatal area have been used for classification. Statistically significant results (accuracy below ± 10% at 5% error level) were obtained under the following conditions. Mixed needle samples were taken from two adjacent trees per site. These were in a dominant and predominant social position in the stand. The needles were collected from the 7^th whorl of sun crowns exposed to all wind directions. The wax quality was determined by evaluating three stomata per needle. One stoma was investigated at the needle base, one m the middle and the third at the apex of the needle. 24 needles were evaluated per site. SEM-Investigations of needle waxes of 25 Austrian forest sites with no local emission source (background sites) showed, that the mean wax quality ranged from 1.6 to 4.1, according to this classification method. Stepwise multiple regression analyses with site characteristics and element contents of the needles (nutrient elements, heavy metals) confirmed correlations between the wax quality and the manganese- and sulphur-content of the needles and also the average degree of crown defoliation.     

Development and evaluation of an endoscopic technique permitting rapid visualization of the cardiac region of the porcine stomach.

Our study was designed to ascertain whether a flexible videoscope could be used to efficiently monitor ulcers of the pars esophagea in a large group of grower-finisher swine. Gastroscopy was performed on 2 separate occasions in 32 pigs following anesthesia with intravenous pentobarbital, and ulcers of the pars esophagea were subjectively graded. The pigs were then necropsied. Grades from the second endoscopic examination were compared for agreement with grades derived from gross inspection of the pars esophagea at necropsy, and with grades derived from histopathologic examination of sections of the same region. The pars esophagea was adequately visualized in all endoscopic examinations. The average duration of each examination, from anesthetic induction, was approximately 8 min. Gastroscopy permitted appreciation of a wide range of focal and diffuse superficial and deep ulcerative lesions of the pars esophagea, but failed to unequivocally identify parakeratosis of the pars esophagea. Agreement between endoscopic and subsequent necroscopic and histopathologic gradings of ulcerations was poor. We concluded that the use of a flexible videoscope permitted rapid inspection of the pars esophagea, and was therefore a practical method of experimentally monitoring the progression of spontaneous gastric ulcers in pigs. We also postulated that the poor agreement between endoscopic and postmortem findings occurred because endoscopy was possibly more sensitive at detecting small and superficial ulcerations. However, further studies are needed to verify the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis of gastric ulcers in the live pig.     

Pulmonary lesions induced by 3-methylindole and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in calves

Our objectives were to describe the ultrastructural morphogenesis of pulmonary lesions induced by 3-methylindole in 30- to 45-day-old Holstein calves and to determine whether toxic exposure to 3-methylindole exacerbates pulmonary lesions induced by bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Administration of 3-methylindole (0.25 g/kg) to calves resulted in interstitial edema and ultrastructural swelling of type-I alveolar epithelial cells and nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells as early as 4 to 6 hours after intraruminal administration. More severe alveolar edema containing protein was associated with swelling of capillary endothelial cells at 2 days after administration. Proliferation of type-II alveolar epithelial cells was first observed at 2 days after 3-methylindole administration, and marked hyperplasia of type-II epithelial cells and nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells was evident by 4 days after administration. Pulmonary cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) by 12 hours after administration and did not increase significantly again by 8 days after administration. Calves were inoculated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus 3 days after administration of 3-methylindole, and pulmonary lesions were assessed 5 days after viral inoculation. Viral replication was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy for viral antigen or by transmission electron microscopy in ciliated and nonciliated airway epithelial cells. Viral antigen was identified infrequently in alveolar macrophages and in type-II alveolar epithelial cells. 3-Methylindole exposure in calves did not result in more widespread distribution of viral antigen in alveolar tissue of respiratory syncytial virus-inoculated calves or in significant enhancement of viral pneumonia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)