Effects of wind-driven rainfall on stemflow generation between codominant tree species with differing crown characteristics

Meteorological influences on the variability of stemflow generation can affect the hydrology, ecology and soil chemistry of wooded ecosystems, yet the effects of directional wind-driven rainfall on differential stemflow production remain relatively un-researched. This study examines the correspondence of directional wind-driven inclined rainfall with stemflow generation in individual tree crowns utilizing multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and intrastorm observations at 5 min monitoring intervals. In general, preferential stemflow generation at Fair Hill was observed during episodes of inclined rainfall driven by wind from the east to north-northeast (33.76-101.25°). This was supported by MCAs which produced significant correspondences between stemflow production and periods of inclined wind-driven rainfall for nearly all monitored storm events. Intrastorm plots of stemflow production from dominant and subcanopy trees of each codominant species (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech) and Liriodendron tulipifera L. (yellow poplar)) also verified this correspondence. Interspecific canopy characteristics of L. tulipifera and F. grandifolia affected crown position, canopy structural characteristics, and, thus, the canopy's response to inclined precipitation. The greater vertical canopy depth observed for F. grandifolia trees enabled them to more efficiently capture inclined rainfall for enhanced stemflow production; whereas, the greater horizontal surface area of L. tulipifera canopies enhanced their droplet capture efficiency and subsequent stemflow generation for periods of un-inclined rainfall. As inclined wind-driven rainfall occurred within a majority of rain events at this site, preferential stemflow production may be a significant process to consider when examining the spatial distribution of canopy-derived water fluxes to the forest floor of wooded catchments under similar meteorological conditions.     

Induced Ovulation of Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma Using Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogue Implants

Implanted pellets that provide a sustained release of [D-Ala⁶ Des-Gly¹⁰] LHRH-ethylamide (GnRHa) were used to induce maturation and ovulation of Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma . Of the 12 females whose ovaries contained follicles with a maximum diameter ≥500 μm, 11 ovulated for the first time within 90 h of hormone implantation. Only 1 fish with a maximum follicle diameter less than 500 μm ovulated within 2 wk after implantation. Ovulated eggs were manually stripped from the females and mixed with sperm from several males. Most females were spawned 1 to 3 times on consecutive days with variable fertility. One female was spawned 11 times producing 668,000 eggs. Fertility was evaluated by examining the incubated eggs for early stages of embryonic cleavage. The percentage of fertile eggs in subsamples of incubated eggs ranged from 7–95%. The results indicate that GnRHa implants can be used to induce repeated ovulation in this species. The variability in fertility is discussed in relation to egg quality.     

ACCURACY OF LOW‐FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING VERSUS RADIOGRAPHY FOR GUIDING INJECTION OF EQUINE DISTAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT COLLATERAL LIGAMENTS

Desmopathy of the distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligament is a common cause of lameness in the horse and carries a variable prognosis for soundness. Intralesional treatment has been proposed for improving outcome; however, limited reports describe methods for injecting this ligament. The purpose of this study was to compare accuracy of low‐field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) vs. radiography for injecting the collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint. Equine cadaver digit pairs (n = 10) were divided by random assignment to injection of the ligament by either technique. An observer unaware of injection technique determined injection success based on postinjection MRI and/or gross sections acquired from the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the ligament. McNemar's test was performed to determine statistical difference between injection techniques, the number of injection attempts, and injection of the medial or lateral collateral ligament. Magnetic resonance imaging guided injection was successful more frequently than radiographic‐guided injection based on postinjection MRI (24 of 30 vs. 9 of 30; P = 0.0006) and gross sections (26 of 30 vs. 13 of 30; P = 0.0008). At each level of the ligament (proximal, middle, and distal), MRI‐guided injection resulted in more successful injections than radiographic guidance. Statistical significance occurred at the proximal aspect of the collateral ligament based on postinjection MRI (P = 0.0143) and the middle portion of the ligament based on gross sections (P = 0.0253). Findings supported future testing of standing, low‐field MRI as a technique for delivering intralesional regenerative therapy in live horses with desmopathy of these collateral ligaments.     

Cultivar differences in the expression of potato leaf spotting disorder in Maine

Summary Ten potato cultivars were rated for a leaf spotting disorder at three locations in Maine in each of two years; there were consistent differences between cultivars and between locations. Cultivar Seminole had no symptoms but cultivar Plymouth had severe symptoms in both years. A comparison of preliminary data of soil analyses and leaf spotting scores for the three locations showed that higher levels of the disorder were associated with higher levels of phosphorous and lower levels of aluminum and iron. The effects of nitrogen and other elements on leaf spotting could not be discounted.

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Zusammenfassung Zehn Kartoffelsorten wurden an drei Standorten in Maine in jeweils zwei Jahren hinsichtlich der H?he des Schadens durch Blattflecken untersucht. Zwischen den Sorten (Tabellen 1 und 2) und den Standorten (Tabellen 2, 3 und 4) wurden gleichbleibende Unterschiede bei der Blattfleckung gefunden. Die Unterschiede drückten sich von ‘frei von Blattflecken’ bei der Sorte ‘Seminole’ bis zu 80% Flecken bei der Sorte ‘Plymouth’ aus (Tabelle 1). Diese Blattfleckung unterscheidet sich von der Sch?digung durch Luftverschmutzung durch die Entwicklung von Symptomen zuerst auf der Blattoberfl?che (Hooker et al., 1973). Bodenanalysen bei den drei verschiedenen Standorten zeigten, dass der Standort mit der h?chsten Blattfleckung den h?chsten Gehalt an Phosphor und den niedrigsten Gehalt an Eisen und Aluminium aufwies (Tabellen 3 und 4). Obwohl die Einflüsse anderer Elemente nicht ausgeschlossen werden konnten, ist anzunehmen, dass die Einflüsse von Eisen-, Aluminium-und Phosphorgehalten auf die ?tiologie dieser Krankheit die aussichtsreichsten Gebiete für weitere Untersuchungen sind.

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Résumé Dix variétés de pommes de terre sont classées quant à l'expression d'anomalies foliaires en taches, dans trois localités pendant deux années, dans le Maine. Des différences conséquentes sont observées entre les variétés (tableaux 1 et 2) et entre les localités (tableaux 2, 3, et 4). Les différences varient de: aucune tache pour la variété ‘Seminole’ à 80% de taches pour ‘Plymouth’ (tableau 1). Les anomalies foliaires en taches sont distinguées des lésions dues à la pollution atmosphérique par l'apparition primaire des sympt?mes sur la face inférieure des feuilles (Hooker et al., 1973). Les analyses de sol des trois localités montrent que les sympt?mes les plus marqués sont observés dans la localité ayant les plus hauts niveaux de phosphore et les plus faibles de fer et d'aluminium (tableaux 3 et 4). Bien que les effets des autres éléments ne puissent pas être écartés, il semble que les meilleures voies de recherches futures soient les effets des niveaux d'aluminium, de fer et de phosphore sur l'étiologie de cette anomalie.

     

Morphological and Genomic Differences Between Cutting and Racing Lines of Quarter Horses

To investigate morphological and genomic differences between cutting and racing lines of Quarter Horses, 120 racing and 68 cutting animals of both sexes, registered at the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders, were used. Blood samples were collected, and the following physical traits were measured: weight; height at withers; body length; length of the shank, pastern, rump, head, and neck; and chest, shank, and hoof circumference. For analysis of genomic differences, 54,602 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using the Equine SNP50 BeadChip, and the quality of individual and SNP genotype data were evaluated. The fixation index, F_ST, was used to identify genome regions that were altered in the lines by selection. The results showed significant differences between the lines in all physical traits. Quality control led to the exclusion of four cutting animals with a call rate of <0.95. After filtering, 12,544, 13,815, and 13,370 SNPs were excluded for the whole population (n = 184), the 120 racing animals, and the 64 cutting animals, respectively. The number of informative polymorphisms detected in each line and in the whole population indicated that the Equine SNP50 BeadChip can be used in genetic studies of Quarter Horses. The fixation index, F_ST, identified 2,558 genome regions that may have been modified by divergent selection.     

Spurious hypercreatininemia: 28 neonatal foals (2000–2008)

Objectives – To (1) determine the occurrence of spurious hypercreatininemia in a population of hospitalized foals <2 days old, (2) assess the resolution of the hypercreatininemia, and (3) determine its association with survival in these foals. Design – Retrospective case series. Setting – 2 Referral hospitals. Animals – Foals <2 days old with an admission creatinine >442 μmol/L (>5.0 mg/dL) from 2 referral hospitals. Interventions – None. Measurements and Main Results – The medical records of 33 foals were reviewed. Twenty‐eight had spurious hypercreatininemia and 5 had acute renal failure. Admission creatinine was not significantly different between the 2 groups (mean [standard deviation]). The creatinine was 1,202 μmol/L (663 μmol/L) (13.6 mg/dL [7.5 mg/dL]) versus 1,185 μmol/L (787 μmol/L) (13.4 mg/dL [8.9 mg/d]) (P=0.96) in each group, respectively, though BUN at the time of hospital admission was significantly higher for acute renal failure foals (P=0.009). In the spurious group, serum creatinine at admission decreased to 504 μmol/L (380 μmol/L) (5.7 mg/dL [4.3 mg/dL]) by 24 hours, and to 159 μmol/L (80 μmol/L) (1.8 mg/dL [0.9 mg/dL]) at 48 hours, and to 115 μmol/L (44 μmol/L) (1.3 mg/dL [0.5 mg/dL]) at 72 hours. Twenty‐three of 28 foals with spurious hypercreatininemia survived to hospital discharge and there was no difference in mean admission creatinine between survivors (1176 μmol/L [628 μmol/L]) (13.3 mg/dL [7.1 mg/dL]) and nonsurvivors (1308 μmol/L [857 μmol/L]) (14.8 mg/dL [9.7 mg/dL]) (P=0.67). Twenty of 28 foals had clinical signs suggestive of neonatal encephalopathy. Conclusion – Creatinine decreased by >50% within the initial 24 hours of standard neonatal therapy and was within the reference interval in all but 1 foal within 72 hours of hospitalization. The diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy was common in these foals.