Comparative effectiveness of the powders of some underutilized botanicals for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Biological activities of eight plant powders including Pipta-deniastrum africanum (rootbark), Piptadeniastrum africa-num (leaf), Piper guineense,...     

Anesthesia for geriatric patients.

Choosing the best anesthetic agents for each geriatric animal does not in itself ensure a successful outcome. Aggressive, careful, vigilant monitoring during the anesthetic and recovery periods is required to detect and correct alterations in homeostasis that may develop during the perianesthetic period. With appropriate preoperative screening, informed choice and judicious dosing of anesthetics, and careful monitoring and supportive care, the risk of anesthesia in geriatric animals can be greatly reduced.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS — UNILATERAL TRIGEMINAL NEURITIS MIMICKING PERIPHERAL NERVE SHEATH TUMOR IN A HORSE

A 16‐year old Warmblood gelding presented with a nonhealing corneal ulcer and absent corneal sensation in the left eye. A lesion affecting the maxillary and ophthalmic branches of the left trigeminal nerve was suspected. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging identified marked thickening of the ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the left trigeminal nerve. The nerve was iso‐ to hypointense on T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted images with heterogeneous enhancement. A peripheral nerve sheath tumor was suspected, however granulomatous neuritis was histopathologically confirmed. These inflammatory changes can result in severe nerve enlargement and should be considered with MR findings suggestive of peripheral nerve sheath tumor.     

Time lags in provision of habitat resources through revegetation

Broadscale land use changes are occurring rapidly in rural landscapes worldwide, within which revegetation with native plant species to increase the area of suitable habitat is a key activity. Current models for planning revegetation are based solely on the spatial arrangement of new and remnant vegetation. Making wise decisions about revegetation requires projective models of ecological responses to revegetation, but there are few appropriate data. Substantial time lags are expected in the availability of many habitat resources because different resources are realised at different stages of vegetation maturation. Here we present results of surveys of 72 revegetation sites established over a range from 5 to more than 130 yr from the slopes and plains of central Victoria, Australia. We surveyed vegetation provision of habitat resources essential for many birds and arboreal and scansorial mammals (e.g. canopy, large boughs, tree hollows and fallen timber). Predictive models were developed for habitat resource provision as functions of time since planting, planting density and other covariates. Different habitat resources developed at different rates. While dense canopy and various forms of bark resources developed in about 10 yr, large boughs, tree hollows and fallen timber loads required at least 100 yr to develop. The development of these key habitat resources was delayed in revegetated sites with high stem densities. Habitat resources that are essential for many birds and arboreal and scansorial mammals have long time lags that models for planning offsets or landscape reconstruction should account for. Management has substantial effects: planting at high densities greatly reduces tree girth growth rates and delays the occurrence of large boughs, tree hollows and fallen timber by decades.     

Estimation of light interception properties of conifer shoots by an improved photographic method and a 3D model of shoot structure

The spherical mean of the shoot silhouette-to-total leaf area ratio (STAR) and the shoot transmission coefficient (c) are two key structural parameters in radiative transfer models for calculating canopy photosynthesis and leaf area index. The standard optical method for estimating these parameters might introduce errors in the estimates for species with flexible shoots and needles by changing shoot inclination relative to its inclination in situ. We devised and tested two methods to address this problem. First, we modified the standard optical method by designing an apparatus that allows shoots to be photographed in their original orientation. Second, we developed a faster, model-based approach to replace photography and tested the results against the established approach. We used shoots of three pine species, Pinus echinata Mill. (needle length ~50 mm), P. taeda L. (~150 mm) and P. palustris Mill. (~300 mm). Values of the parameters simulated by the model were similar to those measured from the photographs. In our data, STAR varied about twofold among the pine species and was ~40% higher in shade shoots than in sun shoots of P. taeda. The transmission coefficient for P. taeda shade shoots was also ~40% higher than that of sun shoots of all three species. We tested the versatility of the model by employing it on shoots of two other pine species (P. strobus L. and P. thumbergiana Parl.) as well as on shoots of Tsuga canadensis L. Carr. and Picea pungens Engelm. Regardless of shoot characteristics, the model generated values of shoot structural parameters similar to those estimated with the optical method. Although species-specific and vertical gradients in parameter values are best for modeling radiative transfer in conifer canopies, our results suggest that, in the absence of adequate data, STAR can be approximated as 0.16 for a wide range of shoot structures. For applications requiring angle-dependent parameterization, our new model facilitates rapid generation of these radiative transfer parameters.     

Agronomic and forage nutritive responses of Kentucky bluegrass dominated pastures in the northern Great Plains

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) has become dominant in many portions of the northern Great Plains. During hot and/or dry periods, pastures consisting of mostly cool-season grasses will most likely lack the productivity and diversity needed to provide sufficient forage for livestock. Determining the impact of weather conditions on the variation of forage production and nutritive response of Kentucky bluegrass is becoming increasingly important to agricultural producers. Sampling occurred at the USDA Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory near Mandan, North Dakota, USA. Kentucky bluegrass samples were clipped every 2–3 weeks in mowed and unmowed unfertilized rangeland plots during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018. Samples were dried, weighed, ground to pass a 1-mm sieve, and analysed for nutritive value. There are differences between the modelled supply of metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein and the requirements for cow-calf pairs for all years and most months. Early defoliation of Kentucky bluegrass decreases productivity and nutritive value as the grazing season progresses. Adjusting management to allow an adequate growth interval and plant canopy cover throughout the year can ensure a more consistent supply of Kentucky bluegrass. Our data and models provide a glimpse into future scenarios, which allow producers to be more proactive in dealing with Kentucky bluegrass and projected changes in climate.     

Characterizing seabird bycatch in the eastern Australian tuna and billfish pelagic longline fishery in relation to temporal,spatial and biological influences

• 1. Seabirds killed incidentally in Australia's eastern tuna and billfish (ETBF) longline fishery between September 2001 and June 2006 were examined to evaluate species composition and to relate, where possible, capture events to operational and environmental factors.
• 2. During this period 2.129 million hooks on 2202 shots were observed, and 369 birds were reported killed. The majority (78%) of these were flesh‐footed shearwaters (Puffinus carniepes), 53% of which were male and 44% female. Smaller numbers of medium to large sized albatrosses (Diomedeidae, predominantly female) and other shearwaters (Puffinus spp.) and petrels (Pterodroma spp.) dominated the remainder of the bycatch.
• 3. Of the 369 birds reported taken as bycatch, 280 were available for necropsy, and species identifications performed in situ by observers were assessed. While observer identifications were generally correct for common species, performance was poor for less common ones.
• 4. The geographical location (latitude) of shots, season, time of day at which shots were set, and bait type and life status (dead or alive) influenced the seabird bycatch rate. The majority of captures (87% overall) occurred between 30 and 35°S, with bycatch being lowest in winter, and remaining at similar levels across the other seasons.
• 5. The use of live fish bait was generally associated with increased captures of both seabirds overall, and flesh‐footed shearwaters in particular. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.