Seasonal use of a macrotidal estuary by the endangered dwarf sawfish,Pristis clavata

1. Sawfishes (Family: Pristidae) are one of the most imperilled fish families worldwide. There is an increasingly urgent need to better understand the biology, ecology, and population status of the five sawfish species to develop more effective conservation measures. The dwarf sawfish, Pristis clavata, is one of the least researched members of the pristids, with literature limited to analysing disparate datasets or collations of rare encounters in northern Australia.
2. This study examined the spatial ecology of dwarf sawfish using targeted surveys and acoustic telemetry to determine its habitat use in a macrotidal estuary in northern Australia. Seventeen dwarf sawfish were tagged with acoustic transmitters and monitored in the Fitzroy River estuary and adjacent King Sound (Kimberley, Western Australia) between August 2015 and November 2017.
3. Dwarf sawfish observed within the Fitzroy River estuary and King Sound were juveniles, ranging between 740 and 2,540 mm in total length. Catch per unit effort of dwarf sawfish in the late dry season was relatively high in the estuary, with the catch rate in 2015 being one of the highest reported for any sawfish species.
4. Acoustic detections revealed a distinct seasonal pattern in the use of different parts of the estuary and King Sound, which was found to be driven by salinity. Dwarf sawfish predominately occupied a single large pool near the terminus of the tidal limit in the late dry season (August–November), before transitioning to regions in closer proximity to the river mouth or in King Sound in the wet and early dry seasons (December–July).
5. Given the high abundance and residency of dwarf sawfish in the Fitzroy River estuary, this area is an important nursery for the species during the late dry season and should be formally recognized as a habitat protection area for the species.

     

Semiochemicals of the common bed bug,Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), and their potential for use in monitoring and control

The recent resurgence of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., has driven an increase in research into the biology and behaviour of this pest. Current control is reliant on the application of insecticides, but, owing to the development of insecticide resistance, there is a need for new tools and techniques. Semiochemicals (behaviour‐ and physiology‐modifying chemicals) could be exploited for management of bed bugs. The aim of this review was to evaluate studies undertaken in bed bug chemical ecology to date, with particular reference to how the research could be exploited for monitoring and control. Bed bugs, like many other insects, have a complex olfactory system. Recent studies have characterised the olfactory sensilla, located on the terminal segment of the antennae, to functional classes by electrophysiological screening. Behavioural studies have revealed the presence of an alarm pheromone and potential airborne aggregation semiochemicals, but it is not yet understood if bed bugs use a sex pheromone during mating. Host location cues have been investigated, and carbon dioxide has been found to be highly attractive both in laboratory and in field studies. Recent field trials have tested blends of other potential kairomones, which have been shown to have an additive effect when used in a heated bed bug trap with carbon dioxide. The trap, which combines heat and kairomones, is the only trap currently available with proven efficacy in the field. In order for semiochemicals to be useful for bed bug management, an increased knowledge and understanding of the biology, behaviour and chemical ecology of this insect is essential. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phospholipid fatty acid composition of a 2,4,6-trinitrotolune contaminated soil and an uncontaminated soil as affected by a humification remediation process

Analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) was performed to investigate effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination and soil remediation on microbial biomass and community structure. A TNT-contaminated and an uncontaminated soil from a former ammunition plant were analysed before and after a humification/remediation process. TNT contamination reduced microbial biomass but indicated only minor differences in PLFA composition between the contaminated and uncontaminated soils. The humification process increased microbial biomass and altered soil PLFA patterns to a larger degree than did TNT contamination.     

Selenitadsorption an Waldhumusformen

Adsorption of selenite on different types of forest humus In the present investigation the adsorption of selenite selenium on L-, O-, and A-horizons of the humus forms mull, moder, and mor was studied. Selenite adsorption decreased in the order mull > moder > mor. The organic layers adsorbed nearly the same amount of selenium as the underlying A-horizons. Among the L- and O-layers selenadsorption increased with increasing pH. Amounts of organic carbon, “free” oxides did not influence the adsorption capacity. The Freundlich equation was valid to describe selenite adsorption of all layers under investigation. Additionally the Langmuir equation fitted the adsorption curves of the mull soil and the moder L-horizon. Adsorption experiments using perfusion apparatuses showed microorganismus to incorporate high amounts of selenite under natural conditions.     

Dependence of bryophyte species on young, mature and old growth wet eucalypt forest

Maintenance of old growth forest has been argued to be important for the future of many bryophyte species, but there has been no empirical test of this proposition. Bryophytes constitute much of the plant biodiversity in Tasmanian tall open-forests dominated by Eucalyptus regnans and Eucalyptus obliqua. These forests have a low level of protection in their old growth stage. We ask whether if there is a concentration of bryophyte species in particular forest age classes and assess its significance for biological conservation. The bryophyte species at 99 forest sites were recorded and related to young, mature and old growth age classes using ANOVA. Only two bryophyte taxa were confined, with statistical confidence, to one of these classes. Succession in bryophyte assemblages takes the relay floristics form, with a few highly frequent species in the young forest, most of which do not persist in later stages, a large number of species establishing in middle-aged forests, some dying out with their short-lived hosts by the time of the old growth forest stage, and liverworts becoming more prominent with age. Species concentrated in the old growth phase of these eucalypt forests have all been recorded from secure reserves in this and other vegetation types. If present patterns of land use continue, and no extensive wild fires occur in the reserved old growth forest, almost all bryophyte species of E. regnans and E. obliqua mixed forest are likely to survive. This may not be the case in other regions of the world, where reservation may be poorer than in Tasmania.     

Two cases of paraprostatic cysts in castrated male dogs

Two castrated male dogs presented for evaluation of tenesmus. Presurgical evaluations included complete physical examinations, serum biochemistry, abdominal ultrasonography, and MRI (case 2 only). Paraprostatic cysts were diagnosed in both cases based on the results of abdominal ultrasonography, MRI, and histopathology of tissue samples obtained during exploratory laparotomy. To the authors' knowledge, the two cases presented herein are the first documented cases of paraprostatic cysts that developed after castration in male dogs. Paraprostatic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnoses for castrated male dogs with prostatic disease.     

Renal functional relationships in dogs with glomerulopathies

Glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, and filtration fraction were determined by measuring plasma disappearance of [14C] inulin and [3H]tetraethylammonium bromide after a single IV bolus injection was given to 8 dogs with membranous nephropathy, renal glomerulosclerosis, or renal amyloidosis. Glomerular filtration rate was decreased in the 8 dogs. Effective renal plasma flow was within reference values in 1 dog, increased in 1 dog, and decreased in 6 dogs. Filtration fraction was within reference values in 2 dogs and decreased in 6 dogs. The glomerular filtration rate also was estimated by the endogenous creatinine clearance technique and was decreased in the 8 dogs with glomerulopathies.