Why implantation of bio‐loggers may improve our understanding of how animals cope within their natural environment

Bio‐loggers are miniaturized autonomous devices that record quantitative data on the state of free‐ranging animals (e.g. behavior, position and physiology) and their natural environment. This is especially relevant for species where direct visual observation is difficult or impossible. Today, ongoing technical development allows the monitoring of numerous parameters in an increasing range of species over extended periods. However, the external attachment of devices might affect various aspects of animal performance (energetics, thermoregulation, foraging as well as social and reproductive behavior), which ultimately affect fitness. External attachment might also increase entanglement risk and the conspicuousness of animals, leaving them more vulnerable to predation. By contrast, implantation of devices can mitigate many of these undesirable effects and might be preferable, especially for long‐term studies, provided that the many challenges associated with surgical procedures can be mastered. Implantation may then allow us to gather data that would be impossible to obtain otherwise and thereby may provide new and ecologically relevant insights into the life of wild animals. Here, we: (i) discuss the pros and cons of attachment methods; (ii) highlight recent field studies that used implanted bio‐loggers to address eco‐physiological questions in a wide range of species; and (iii) discuss logger implantation in light of ethical considerations.     

Growth behavior of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis （Bambusoideae） in Central China

In the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve of Central China, the vegetative growth behavior of henon bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var.henonis (Mitford) Stapf. ex Rendle) was studied from shoot recruitment to culm establishment. In May, bamboo shoots emerging from the ground achieved an average density of 2.7 shoots m⁻² during the sprouting phase of 16 days. However, about 32% of the new shoots died back before maturity. Insect damage, withering death and rodent predation were responsible for 57%, 29% and 14% of the total shoot mortality, respectively. From May to June, the shoots attained 400±23 cm during the height growth phase of 34 days, with a daily rate varying from 1 to 56 cm. All branches and leaves unfolded during the branch spreading phase from June to August. Shoot production was positively related to the density of standing culms, but negatively to both coverage and height of herb layers. Foundation item: This research was financed by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn, Germany (P. 52015), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30470284) and the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars (No. 2004-527). Biography: Li Zhao-hua (1964-), male, Doctoral of Natural Science (Bonn University), Professor of Ecology (Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, P. R. China). Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

Effects of Bamboo Fargesia murielae on Plant Diversity in Fir Forest on Mountain Shennongjia

Simultaneous flowering caused a gregarious dieback of umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murielae) all over the world in 1993-2000. Mountain Shennongjia in Central China‘s Hubei Province is the only native home of umbrella bamboo, where it dominates the understorey of the farges fir (Abiesfargesii) forest between 2 400 and 3 100 m, covering the ground for more than one century before a periodically flowering death. Data from 20 quadrats along a vegetation sequence revealed that the density, coverage,and height of umbrella bamboo negatively affected the species richness, diversity, and evenness of vascular plants in the forest. Local climax community of fir-bamboo was the poorest in species diversity, while the bamboo-free communities (i.e. shrubs and meadows)were bearing a higher species diversity. The simultaneous dieback of umbrella bamboo is an ecological relcase, which can pcriodically promote the plant diversity in the fir forest.     

Penetration studies of propoxur and phoxim from eggshell into whole egg after experimental exposure and application in henhouses

The penetration of propoxur and phoxim from eggshell into whole egg was investigated in vitro by spraying eggs directly and in vivo after application of the compounds in henhouses. Although mean concentrations of the compounds on eggshells were up to 23000 microg kg(-1), mean residue concentrations in whole eggs were far below the current maximum residue levels (50 microg kg(-1) for propoxur and 60 microg kg(-1) for phoxim). These results provide the first evidence that propoxur and phoxim do not penetrate from eggshell into whole egg under experimental and field conditions. Subsequently, residue carry-over after egg cracking in households and during a worst-case situation in an egg-cracking plant was investigated. However, when eggs were cracked manually, a negligible contamination of whole egg values occurred. If, in an automated process, eggshells accidentally come into close contact with whole egg, very high residue levels of propoxur and phoxim may be generated time dependently. These results suggest that eggshell contact with whole egg during egg cracking must be avoided to prevent pesticide carry-over.     

Inhibition of photophosphorylation and electron transport chain in thylakoids by lasiodiplodin, a natural product from Botryosphaeria rhodina

Four natural products were isolated from the fungus Botryosphaeria rhodina, and their effects on photosynthesis were tested. Only lasiodiplodin (1) inhibited ATP synthesis and electron flow from water to methylviologen; therefore, it acts as a Hill reaction inhibitor in freshly lysed spinach thylakoids. Photosystem I and II and partial reactions as well as ATPase were measured in the presence of 1. Three new different sites of 1 interaction and inhibition were found: one at CF1, the second in the water-splitting enzyme, and the third at the electron-transfer path between P680 and QA; these targets are different from that of the synthetic herbicides present. Electron transport chain inhibition by 1 was corroborated by fluorescence induction kinetics studies.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the quality of cloudy apple juice

Apple juice from eight different varieties of apples was heated at high-temperature (60-90 degrees C) and short-time (20-100 s) (HTST) combinations. To determine the effect of heating conditions on enzymatic browning and cloud stability in apple juices, the activity of polyphenol oxidase and pectinesterase was analyzed and correlated with the thermal treatment conditions and the quality of the juice. Additional investigations included the measurement of pH value, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, color, and turbidity after 3 and 6 months. The results showed that HTST treatment at 80 degrees C already inactivated polyphenol oxidase, whereas pectinesterase activity was reduced to half and could even at 90 degrees C not be inactivated completely. In fact, highest residual pectinesterase activity was found at 60 degrees C. Heating at 70 degrees C caused stable pectinesterase activity and even a slight increase for 50 and 100 s heating times. Turbidity and lightness increased after HTST treatment. In particular, differences in cloud stability between the varieties were measured. HTST parameters did not correlate with the residual cloud stability after 6 months. The sensory evaluation revealed that only a few combinations were distinguishable. The best stability of cloud and color in relation to heat impact was achieved by HTST treatment between 70 degrees C/100 s and 80 degrees C/20 s.     

Impacts of chemical crop protection applications on related CO2 emissions and CO2 assimilation of crops

BACKGROUND: A major global challenge is to provide agricultural production systems that are able to sustain growing demands for food, feed, fibre and renewable raw materials without exacerbating climate change. Detailed and reliable data on the CO₂ balance of different agricultural management activities and inputs as a basis to quantify carbon footprints of agriculture are still lacking. This study aims to fill this gap further by quantifying the net balance of emitted and assimilated CO₂ due to the application of crop protection treatments on the farm, and by assessing their partial contribution to GHG emissions and mitigation in agriculture. The study focuses on key agricultural crops including wheat, corn, oilseeds and sugar crops. RESULTS: The final CO₂ balance, considering GHG emissions due to on‐farm CPP treatment in comparison with CO₂ storage in additional biomass, CO₂ protected with respect to agrotechnical inputs and land inputs and CO₂ saved with respect to associated global land use changes, is positive and may reach multiples of up to nearly 2000. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of the positive yield effects of the CPP programme applications on the farm, resulting in additional assimilated biomass at the farm level and less land use changes at the global level, and thus lower pressure on environmentally important indicators of overall agricultural sustainability. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of feeding increasing quantities of starch on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in healthy horses

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing the intake of starch on the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses of horses. A cross-over study design was used in which four horses were fed increasing amounts of a compound feed (0.5–3.5 kg) to provide 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 1.1, 1.4 and 2 g starch/kg bodyweight (BW)/meal. The glycaemic response increased with starch intake (P < 0.05), while feeding <1.1 g starch/kg BW resulted in a lowered response, compared to when 1.1–2 g starch/kg BW was fed (P < 0.01). The results suggested that insulin responses may be more appropriate to define the effect of feeding different starch levels than glycaemic responses. A starch intake of <1.1 g/kg BW/meal produced only moderate glucose and insulin responses, even though highly processed cereals were used. It is therefore recommended that a starch intake of <1.1 g/kg BW/meal or a meal size of 0.3 kg/100 kg BW (starch content of 30–40%) is used for horses.