An evaluation of the pesera soil erosion model and its application to a case study in Zakynthos, Greece

Abstract. The Pan‐European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (pesera ) model was evaluated using existing soil erosion data collected under various types of climate, vegetation, landscape and soil conditions. The data used represent a variety of typical Mediterranean land uses such as winter wheat, vines, olives and bare, stony land prevailing in hilly areas. Using this data, the model was calibrated for sediment transport by overland flow and results compared to measured soil erosion values from runoff plots and a watershed on a monthly basis. The performance of the model was assessed statistically, showing that it can be satisfactorily used for predicting soil erosion rates under the conditions included in the study. The overall model estimate including all the available experimental data was 0.69 t ha^?1 yr^?1 with a maximum error of 1.49 t ha^?1 yr^?1. After validation, the model was applied to a small watershed (60 ha) of great ecological importance for the sea turtle Caretta caretta. For this purpose, soil and vegetation maps were compiled from all the necessary data for applying the model. The model was run for three years using daily data from an existing nearby meteorological station. The predicted and measured soil erosion rates for a 7‐month period were 0.31 t and 0.18 t, respectively. Application of the model to each mapping unit showed the over‐riding importance of land use for sediment generation under the given climatic conditions. Bare land, occupying 5.5% of the watershed area, generated up to 69% of the total sediments estimated for the watershed. It is concluded that the pesera model can be used as a regional diagnostic tool under a range of soil, topographic and climatic conditions for identifying the best land use type and vegetation cover to protect hilly areas from soil erosion. The calculated overall root mean square error for the model is 0.06 t ha^?1 yr^?1, compared to a soil erosion rate of 0.04 t ha^?1 yr^?1, which can be tolerated for protecting the area for the sea turtle.     

Feeding Frequency Affects Growth, Not Fillet Composition, of Juvenile Sunshine Bass Morone chrysops×M. saxatilis Grown in Cages

Abstract.— In an effort to feed sunshine bass Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis efficiently, promote optimal growth, and reduce labor costs associated with feeding, sunshine bass were grown in cages and fed one of four feeding frequencies: once/d, twice/d, once every other day (I X/EOD), and twice every other day (2X/EOD) for 21 wk. Juvenile sunshine bass were fed a commercial floating diet containing 40% protein and 11.5% lipid. One hundred fish were hand-counted and stocked into each of 12 3.5-m³ cages with three replications per treatment. At the conclusion of the study, percentage weight gain of sunshine bass fed twice/d was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (1,850%) compared to fish fed all other feeding frequencies. Specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (2.1%/d) compared to fish fed all other feeding regimes, while fish fed once/d had a higher SGR (2.0%/d) compared to fish fed I X/EOD (1.6%/d) and 2X/EOD (1.8%/d). Percentage survival was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all treatments and averaged 70.4%r. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (2.40) compared to fish fed all other feeding regimes. Percentage fillet weight of fish fed twice/d was significantly higher (27.8%) compared to all other treatments. Percentage moisture, protein, lipid, and ash in fillet were not significantly different among all treatments and averaged 75.7%, 19.4%, 3.5%, and 1.2%n, respectively (wet-weight basis). Based upon data from the present study, it appears that producers growing juvenile sunshine bass in cages may want to feed fish twice daily. This feeding regimen allows for higher growth rates, without adverse effects on body or fillet compositions. However, economic analysis needs to be conducted to determine if feeding twice/d is profitable.     

Growth and production of a Cortaderia ptlosa (Gramineae) community in the Falkland Islands

Above ground production of a typical Cortaderia pilosa dominant sward in the Falkland Islands was estimated over one growing season by summing significant positive increments in DM production of various sward components and by sequential cutting to ground level. The standing crop was characterized by a high proportion of standing dead matter at all times of the year. Net herbage production was estimated as 2200 kg ha^-1 and 1440 kg ha^-1 by the 'difference' and "sequential culling" techniques, respectively. The pattern of leaf growth was determined on another site by regular linear measurements of a population of physiologically similar C. pilosa leaves. There was very little early season growth and most of the DM was produced in a short period in the middle part of the growing season. The poor early season growth was attributed to adverse climatic conditions. A significant increase in green matter digestibility in October and November was masked by the low digestibility and high contribution to the overall DM by the standing dead component of the herbage.
The implications of these findings are briefly discussed in relation to the increased utilization of C. pilosa by improved pasture management, including burning and possibly reseeding areas with improved species. Tissue turnover studies combined with more knowledge of sheep nutrition cycles would enable grazing systems to be developed on a sounder basis than previously.     

Canine distal renal tubular acidosis and urolithiasis

Distal RTA is characterized by decreased distal renal tubular hydrogen ion secretion, decreased ability to acidify urine, hypercalciuria, hyperphosphaturia, hypocitraturia, and metabolic acidosis. Because of the resulting alterations in urine composition and pH, patients with distal RTA are predisposed to urolithiasis and renal calcification. Diagnosis of distal RTA is important because it is a potentially reversible disorder that, left untreated, may cause nephrocalcinosis, recurrent urolith formation, moderate to severe metabolic acidosis, and renal failure.     

Effects of low and high calcium intake prepartum on calcium mobilization rate around parturition in dairy cows

Forty-one dairy cows were fed a low (LCa-13 g/d) and a high (HCa-83.5 g/d) calcium ration in the 8 weeks prior to parturition and the effect on the Ca mobilization rate around parturition was studied. Plasma Ca values were stable in the LCa group around parturition. In the older cows of the HCa group a very slight decrease in the mean plasma Ca was observed: 2.58 mmol/l at 12-36 h ante partum decreased to 2.38 mmol/l at parturition. Hypocalcaemia, which commonly occurs around parturition, did not occur in 40 of the cows. A subclinical hypocalcaemia (1.8 mmol/l) occurred in one cow (parity 10) from the HCa group. To assess the efficiency of Ca mobilization, a severe hypocalcaemia (1.0 mmol/l) with clinical signs was induced by means of Na2EDTA infusion (0.90 mmol/min), starting at 10 h post-partum. The older cows in the LCa group required more Na2EDTA than those in the HCa group. Higher urinary hydroxyproline excretion in the week before parturition in the LCa than in the HCa group suggested a higher bone turnover. Plasma PTH levels around parturition were not significantly different between the groups. The amount of colostrum milked out in the first 10 h post-partum did not influence Ca homeostasis around parturition. The results contradict those of many other experiments in which hypocalcaemia was observed in cows ingesting high levels of Ca. It is concluded that the restricted feed intake prepartum possibly had a favourable effect on Ca homeostasis.     

Periodontal disease. Therapy and prevention

Success in veterinary dentistry lies in good home care and regular, thorough dental prophylaxis. The removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus must be accomplished before periodontal disease can be controlled. When gingival sulcus depths exceed 4 or 5 mm, the gingivae must be excised or reflected to allow proper treatment of the pocket area. Antibiotic therapy should be instituted in the extensively involved veterinary dental patient.