Risks of a late start to captive management for conservation: Phenotypic differences between wild and captive individuals of a viviparous endangered skink (Oligosoma otagense)

Maintenance of demographically and genetically self-sustaining populations in captivity can assist conservation of threatened species. Captivity can, however, lead to changes in phenotype, though to date this issue has received little attention in reptiles. We compared phenotypic differences in the now critically-endangered Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense) between wild specimens (Otago, southern New Zealand) and in captivity (North Island). Individuals of this long-lived, viviparous species have been maintained up to three generations in captivity, primarily by private herpetoculturists, but increasingly there is interest in integrating management of captive stocks with conservation in situ. For the same snout-vent length, captive skinks pooled across three colonies had a significantly heavier body mass, wider tail base, longer tail (juveniles only), faster growth rate and much slower sprint speed than in the wild. Captive skinks also lacked ectoparasitic mites and haemogregarine parasites, and experienced warmer temperatures with probably greater access to food. Our study demonstrates the importance of not treating captive management for conservation as a tool of last resort. Important questions, if captive-raised animals are to be released to the wild, are is it better for released skinks to run swiftly or to be heavy-bodied, and what role does reinfestation with native parasites have in determining this balance? We also recommend genetic analysis and studbook management of captive stocks, research to determine implications of heavy body mass for reproduction in captivity, and production of at least some offspring for release inside larger enclosures within the local climate.     

Evaluating the efficiency of sampling methods in assessing soil macrofauna communities in arable systems

The soil fauna is often a neglected group in many large-scale studies of farmland biodiversity due to difficulties in extracting organisms efficiently from the soil. This study assesses the relative efficiency of the simple and cheap sampling method of handsorting against Berlese–Tullgren funnel and Winkler apparatus extraction. Soil cores were taken from grassy arable field margins and wheat fields in Cambridgeshire, UK, and the efficiencies of the three methods in assessing the abundances and species densities of soil macroinvertebrates were compared. Handsorting in most cases was as efficient at extracting the majority of the soil macrofauna as the Berlese–Tullgren funnel and Winkler bag methods, although it underestimated the species densities of the woodlice and adult beetles. There were no obvious biases among the three methods for the particular vegetation types sampled and no significant differences in the size distributions of the earthworms and beetles. Proportionally fewer damaged earthworms were recorded in larger (25 × 25 cm) soil cores when compared with smaller ones (15 × 15 cm). Handsorting has many benefits, including targeted extraction, minimum disturbance to the habitat and shorter sampling periods and may be the most appropriate method for studies of farmland biodiversity when a high number of soil cores need to be sampled.     

Preliminary evaluation of exotic tick species and exotic pathogens imported on migratory birds into the British Isles

Field studies were carried out to determine whether ticks are being imported into the British Isles on migratory birds. During spring and autumn migration 2004, ticks were collected from ringed birds at 11 bird observatories and 3 inland Riparia riparia colonies. A total of 38 ticks of 4 species (Ixodes ricinus, I. frontalis, I. lividus, I. arboricola) were collected from 12 species of bird. Ticks were tested for viruses in the Flavivirus and Nairovirus genera, with no positives found. This data demonstrates that ticks are being imported into the British Isles on migratory birds with future work recommended to determine the quantity of ticks imported and to detect low prevalence pathogens.     

Effects of infusion of adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride on cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables, cytokine activity, and endothelin concentration in horses administered a low dose of endotoxin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate systemic effects of i.v. infusion of ATP-MgCl2 subsequent to infusion of a low dose of endotoxin in horses. ANIMALS: 12 adult horses. PROCEDURE: Horses were administered endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution i.v., during a 30-minute period. Immediately thereafter, horses in each group were infused i.v. with ATP-MgCl2 or saline solution. Two weeks later, horses were administered the opposite solution (LPS or saline solution), but it was followed by the same infusion as 2 weeks previously (ie, ATP-MgCl2 or saline solution). Cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables, cytokine activity, and endothelin (ET) concentrations were recorded. RESULTS: IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2 after administration of a low dose of endotoxin failed to attenuate the cardiopulmonary, clinicopathologic, and cytokine alterations that develop secondary to endotoxin exposure. The combination of LPS and ATP-MgCl2 potentiated pulmonary hypertension, leukopenia, and neutropenia when compared with the combination of LPS and saline solution. The combination of LPS and ATP-MgCl2 resulted in thrombocytopenia. Endothelin concentration was increased in jugular venous and pulmonary arterial plasma in horses receiving LPS and ATP-MgCl2. Similar increases were not observed with LPS and saline solution. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of ATP-MgCl2 did not protect horses from systemic effects of experimentally induced endotoxemia. Furthermore, the use of ATP-MgCl2 during endotoxemia may worsen the cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic status of affected horses. Because ATP and other adenine nucleotides are released from cells during shock, their potential role in the development of hemodynamic derangements, leukocyte adherence, and coagulopathies during endotoxemic episodes warrants further investigation.     

16alpha-Bromo-epiandrosterone therapy modulates experimental feline immunodeficiency virus viremia: initial enhancement leading to long-term suppression

16alpha-Bromo-epiandrosterone (epiBr), a synthetic derivative of the natural hormone dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA), was evaluated for its effects on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in experimental cats. The rationale for this study was based on the ability of DHEA to significantly reduce the mortality to viral infections in mice. DHEA and epiBr also have demonstrable in vitro anti-viral activity for both HIV-1 and FIV. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies in cats demonstrated that subcutaneously injected epiBr was rapidly absorbed, completely metabolized, and nontoxic. Metabolites were excreted in both urine and feces, with the latter having the most complex pattern of breakdown products. Cats were then divided into four groups; two groups were infected with FIV and two uninfected. Two groups, one infected and one uninfected were treated on 5 consecutive days of weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 with epiBr. The remaining two groups were mock treated with the drug vehicle alone. Treatment started 1 week prior to infection and extended for 4 weeks after infection. Cats were observed for 20 weeks post-FIV infection. Infected cats had identical decreases in blood neutrophil and lymphocyte counts following, regardless of whether they were treated with epiBr or vehicle alone. The CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio was decreased following FIV exposure, but was significantly more decreased for the epiBr treated animals from week 2 post-infection onward. CD4+ T cells were decreased in FIV-infected cats treated with epiBr compared to their untreated cohort, while CD8+ T cells tended to be higher in treated animals. FIV infected cats that were treated with epiBr had over one-log higher virus loads at week 2 post-infection than non-epiBr treated cohorts. In spite of this enhanced initial viremia, the subsequent levels of virus in the blood were significantly lower in epiBr treated versus untreated animals. EpiBr treated cats had significantly higher FIV-p24 antibody responses than control cats receiving vehicle alone, although primary and secondary antibody responses to a T-cell dependent non-FIV antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), were unaffected. EpiBr treatment significantly decreased the expected FIV-induced suppression of IL-12 p40 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) observed at weeks 4, 5, 8, 9 and 16 post-infection, but had no influence on FIV-induced changes in IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, MIP-1alpha and RANTES.     

Quantifying subjective human dimensions of recreational fishing: does good health come to those who bait?

Recreational fishing is a popular sport and leisure activity in many countries worldwide. There has been growing interest by recreational fishing groups and researchers in the perceived physical and psychological health and social (or ‘biopsychosocial’) benefits of recreational fishing. However, quantifying the key subjective ‘human dimensions’ of fishing that satisfy both the needs of recreational fishing groups and fishery managers is a major obstacle. We propose the use of psychometrically valid health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measures widely used in the medical and health sciences – namely the Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) – as rapid, reliable and cost‐effective instruments for quantifying HRQOL of recreational fishers. The widespread use of SF‐36 and availability of population normative data allows comparisons of the HRQOL of recreational fishers across multiple temporal and spatial scales, with participants of other activities, and the general population. The use of such measures in periodic surveys allows the biopsychosocial status of a recreational fishery's participants to be assessed using a modified Kobe plot, a graphical format that is easily interpretable and consistent with existing reporting formats used in fisheries stock assessment. Future biopsychosocial research in recreational fisheries can further benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration to develop a suite of standardized psychometrically valid and reliable instruments for assessing specific issues that commonly affect recreational fisheries from regional to international scales, such as drivers of fisher motivation, behaviour and satisfaction.