The transient response of vegetation to climate change: A potential source of CO2 to the atmosphere

Global climate change as currently simulated could result in the broad-scale redistribution of vegetation across the planet. Vegetation change could occur through drought-induced dieback and fire. The direct combustion of vegetation and the decay of dead biomass could result in a release of carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere over a 50- to 150-year time frame. A simple model that tracks dieback and regrowth of extra-tropical forests is used to estimate the possible magnitude of this carbon pulse to the atmosphere. Depending on the climate scenario and model assumptions, the carbon pulse could range from 0 to 3 Gt of C yr^?1. The wide range of pulse estimates is a function of uncertainties in the rate of future vegetation change and in the values of key model parameters.     

Evaluation of the importance of centrifugation as a component of zinc sulfate fecal flotation examinations

Fifty canine fecal samples were evaluated by five flotation procedures to compare the sensitivity of the zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) centrifugation flotation test with ZnSO4 flotation tests using benchtop incubation during the flotation period. One or more parasite species were detected in 40 samples. Results showed that centrifugation with ZnSO4 solution was significantly more likely to detect a positive sample than benchtop procedures. The difference in procedures was due primarily to increased detection of Trichuris eggs and Giardia cysts by centrifugal flotation. No significant difference was seen in the ability of benchtop procedures to detect positive samples when tests sat either for 5 or 10 minutes before examination.     

Transmutation and functional representation of heterogeneous landscapes

Models of local small-scale ecological processes can be used to describe related processes at larger spatial scales if the influences of increased scale and heterogeneity are carefully considered. In this paper we consider the changes in the functional representation of an ecological process that can occur as one moves from a local small-scale model to a model of the aggregate expression of that process for a larger spatial extent. We call these changes spatial transmutation. We specifically examine landscape heterogeneity as a cause of transmutation. Spatial transmutation as a consequence of landscape heterogeneity is a source of error in the prediction of aggregate landscape behavior from smaller scale models. However, we also demonstrate a procedure for taking advantage of spatial transmutation to develop appropriately scaled landscape functions. First a mathematical function describing the process of interest as a local function of local variables is defined. The spatial heterogeneity of the local variables is described by their statistical distribution in the landscape. The aggregate landscape expression of the local process is then predicted by calculating the expected value of the local function, explicitly integrating landscape heterogeneity. Monte Carlo simulation is used to repeat the local-to-landscape extrapolation for a variety of landscape patterns. Finally, the extrapolated landscape results are regressed on landscape variables to define response functions that explain a useful fraction of the total variation in landscape behavior. The response functions are hypotheses about the functional representation of the local process at the larger spatial scale.     

Effects of dbcAMP on steroidogenesis in isolated ovarian follicles of Atlantic salmon

In vitro estradiol-17β (E₂) and testosterone (T) production were measured in vitellogenic follicles of Atlantic salmon in response to treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and 2-0-dibutyryladenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP). DbcAMP stimulated T production but had no effect on E₂, whereas hCG treatment stimulated E₂ production but T production was low. Elevated intracellular [cAMP] may be part of the normal mechanism for inhibition of aromatase activity at the end of vitellogenesis.     

Impact of Great Blue Heron Depredations on Channel Catfish Farms

With the growth of channel caffish Ictalurus punetatus production in the Delta Region of Mississippi over the last 30 years have come concurrent depredation problems caused by great blue herons Ardea herodias . Biomass in stomachs from herons collected at catfish farms averaged 41% catfish, 38% sunfish Lepomis sp ., 17% shad Dorosoma cepedianum , and 4% gambusia Gambusia sp.; whereas observations of herons foraging indicated that 45% of the prey taken were gambusia. Our observational data indicate that herons take an average of 12 10-cm catfish fingerlings daily. The diurnal density of foraging herons on catfish ponds averaged 0.17 herons/ha in 1990, which means that the average 127-ha farm supports approximately 22 herons. Nocturnal foraging, especially on dark nights, appears to be minimal. If our data are approximately correct, the average catfish farm could be losing $30/ha per yr to herons, assuming that this catfish fingerling mortality can be attributed solely to heron depredation.     

Thyroid Hormone Concentrations In Critically III Canine Intensive Care Patients

Alterations in thyroid indices in critically ill dogs were studied retrospectively to determine the incidence of the euthyroid sick syndrome and to assess its prognostic relevance to survival. Sixty-seven dogs were classified as euthyroid bases on a TSH stimulation test. Forty-one of 67 (61%) of the euthyroid dogs had low baseline serum T₄ concentrations (<1.5 ug/dl) and 38 of 67 (56%) of the euthyroid dogs had low baseline serum T₃ concentrations (<75 ng/dl). There was no significant difference between either the baseline or the post-stimulation serum T₄ concentrations when values of dogs that survived were compared with those that died. There was, however, a significant difference (P<0.05) between both the baseline and the post-stimulation values for T3 when survivors (100.3± 81 ng/dl, 143± 66 ng/dl) and non-survivors (64.2 ± 17.1 ng/dl, 96.6 ± 38.3 ng/dl) were compared. The euthyroid sick syndrome occurs commonly in critically ill dogs. Further, the extent of depression of serum concentrations of T₃ may be correlated to mortality.     

The action of low dose endotoxin on equine bowel motility

Post operative ileus (POI) is a common and serious complication of colic surgery in the horse. There is a high correlation between the incidence of POI and the presence of ischaemic bowel, suggesting a role for endotoxin. 0.1 micrograms/kg endotoxin was administered intravenously to six ponies with chronically implanted gastrointestinal electromechanical recording devices. It produced profound disruption of normal fasting bowel motility patterns, with an inhibition of gastric contraction amplitude and rate, left dorsal colon contraction product and small colon spike rate. In the small intestine an increase in abnormally arranged regular activity and a decrease in irregular activity was observed. There was no significant prolongation in stomach to anus transit time as assessed by the passage of plastic spheres. The bowel motility patterns induced by endotoxin could be mimicked by the intravenous infusion of PGE2 and less potently by PGI2 (prostacyclin), but not by PGF2 alpha. This study provides evidence that systematic endotoxin present in clinical cases of colic may play a role in the pathogenesis of equine ileus. The acute effects of endotoxin on bowel motility appear to be mediated indirectly by prostaglandins, and the inhibitory effects may be mediated mainly by PGE2.     

Human-mediated vegetation switches as processes in landscape ecology

Switches are processes in which there is positive feedback between vegetation and environment. Landscape features can be created and modified by switches. The concept has previously been used with physical factors and non-human animals as the switch mediator, i.e. the factor which the vegetation modifies and which in turn affects the vegetation. Here, the switch concept is extended to include some types of human behaviour as possible switch mediators. With this extension, the switch concept can explain the impact on the landscape of some types of human behaviour. Examples are given of the behaviour of mower drivers, mowing up to a boundary which they create and/or maintain, and of walkers trampling tracks which they create and/or maintain. Other possibilities are discussed briefly. It is concluded that the concept of a human-mediated switch can unify the study of human behaviour, vegetation processes and landscape ecology.