Throughfall,stemflow and interception loss in a mixed white oak forest (Quercus serrata Thunb.)

Throughfall and stemflow measurements in a 60-year-old white oak stand (Quercus serrata Thunb.) were carried out during two periods totalling eleven months, from August to November 1993 and from May to November 1994, in order to clarify the rainfall partitioning of this forest. Troughs and spiral-type stemflow gauges connected to tipping bucket-gauges were used for throughfall and stemflow measurements. Seventy-five storms were analyzed individually. Coefficients of variation for throughfall and stemflow ranged between 5–25% and 20–70% respectively. Partitioning of net rainfall in throughfall and stemflow represent 72% and 10% of the gross rainfall respectively. Multiple regression analyses were carried out to determine the stemflow variability. In was determined that maximum rain intensity was highly correlated with stemflow and this variable explained a further 5.5% of the stemflow variation. Estimates of averaged lag time and drainage after rain cease for stemflow were 290 and 164 min, while estimates for throughfall were 60 and 104 min. respectively. The canopy saturation was estimated from continuous storms and showed a value of 0.6 mm. The trunk storage capacity was estimated at a value of 0.2 mm. The interception loss from the forest canopy was estimated in 18%. Interception loss was heighly correlated with rainfall characteristics such as duration and intensity.     

水分逆境下杨树光合作用的气孔与非气孔调控

对杨树无性系：Ｉ－２１４（Ｐｏｐｕｌｕｓｅｕｒａｍｅｒｉｃａｎａｃｖ．Ｉ－２１４〕，健杨（Ｐ．ｅｕｒａｍｅｒｉｃａｎａＧｕｉｎｉｒｃｖ．Ｒｏｂｕｓｔａ），中东杨（Ｐ．ｂｅｒｏｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）和群众杨（Ｐ．Ｐｏｐｕｌａｒｉｓ３５－４４）一年生盆栽插条苗进行干旱处理，研究了水分胁迫对四种苗木光合作用和叶绿素ａ荧光的影响．结果发现，苗木受旱后可变荧光提高２０－５０％，而恒定荧光未受水分胁迫的影响。鉴于光抑制是以可变荧光的降低为特征，因此得出光系统ＩＩ光反应中心未受伤害的结论。对土壤干旱敏感的Ｉ－２１４和健杨受旱后净光合作用（Ｐｎ）剧烈下降，主要是由于非气孔因素的影响：即ＲＵＢＰ羧化酶（Ｒｕｂｉｓｃｏ）的活性降低．耐旱性强的群众杨和中东杨，Ｐｎ下降的幅度较小，气孔因素和非气孔因素都是影响光合作用的因子。通过干旱或ＡＢＡ处理的叶片叶温升高，抑制了Ｒｕｂｉｓｃｏ的活性，也使叶绿素ａ荧光诱导曲线上的Ｍ峰消失，从而证实了Ｍ峰与光合作用暗反应的相关性。     

Feather Loss and Feather Destructive Behavior in Pet Birds

Feather loss in psittacine birds is an extremely common and extremely frustrating clinical presentation. Causes include medical and non-medical causes of feather loss both with and without overt feather destructive behavior. Underlying causes are myriad and include inappropriate husbandry and housing; parasitic, viral and bacterial infections; metabolic and allergic diseases; and behavioral disorders. Prior to a diagnosis of a behavioral disorder, medical causes of feather loss must be excluded through a complete medical work-up including a comprehensive history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing as indicated by the history, signalment and clinical signs. This article focuses on some of the more common medical and non-medical causes of feather loss and feather destructive behavior as well as approaches to diagnosis and treatment.     

Digestive enzymatic activity on Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae fed different diets

Digestive enzymatic activity and growth performance on tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae fed Artemia nauplii (LF), frozen adult Artemia (AB), an artificial diet (AF) with 46% protein and 16% lipids and a starvation group (SG) from first feeding (5?days after hatching-5 DAH) to 34 DAH were studied. All larvae under starvation (SG) died at 15 DAH. By the end of the experimental period, morphological variables (total length, wet weight and specific growth rate) were significant in larvae fed AF compared to LF and AB. All enzymes studied in the experiment were present since the start of exogenous feeding (including pepsin) and the enzymatic activity varied with the diets. Low levels of enzymatic activity were observed until the 29 DAH; however, after this moment, there was a significant increase (eightfold), particularly for the AF treatment. In vitro protein digestibility tests performed with enzymatic extracts showed that artificial diets with 52% protein and 14% lipids were better digested by larvae before 30 DAH, while diets with 45% protein and 11% lipids were better digested after this age. Taking into account the better growth performance, higher enzymatic activity and better protein digestibility obtained, artificial diets can be used since the start of exogenous feeding on tropical gar larvae, as in other lepisosteids.     

A herd level analysis of a Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis outbreak in a dairy cattle herd

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in an Israeli dairy cattle herd is described. The disease was characterized by ulcerative granulomatous lesions, which occurred in an epidemic form. Thirty-two cows and two heifers were affected, the ratio of the number affected to number at risk being 17.5 : 1 and 9.5 : 1, respectively. The culling rate was 50% of the affected animals. Most of the affected animals were cows (91.2%), with one first-calving cow (2.9%) and two heifers (5.9%) also affected. The infection occurred during the summer to autumn months (August-December), and lasted 118 days. The incubation period is about 2 months. The disease appeared in two clinical forms - cutaneous and mastitic - or as a mixed form. C. pseudotuberculosis organisms that were isolated from the ulcerative granulomatous lesions and from milk samples failed to reduce nitrate. A decrease in milk production (4%) and an increase in the bulk-milk somatic cell count from a herd mean of 240 x 10(3) mL(-1) to 460 x 10(3) mL(-1) were noted during the morbidity period. The organism was isolated from milk samples of eight animals (25%). Clinical, epizootiological and microbiological aspects of the infection are described.