Dispersal behaviour in fragmented landscapes: Deriving a practical formula for patch accessibility

Dispersal has been shown to be a key determinant of spatially structured populations. One crucial aspect is predicting patch accessibility: the probability r_ij of a certain patch j being reached by individuals starting at another patch i. Patch accessibility r_ij depends on both the landscape structure and the individuals’ dispersal behaviour. To investigate the effects of these factors on r_ij, we developed a simulation model focusing on animal dispersal. Our model analyses show that there is an important intrinsic effect of the interplay between landscape structure and dispersal behaviour on patch accessibility: the competition between patches for migrants. We derive a formula for patch accessibility. This formula is very simple because it just takes distances into account: not only the distance between start patch and target patch, but also between the start patch and all the other patches in the landscape. Despite its simplicity, the formula is able to cover effects such as the competition for migrants. The formula was found to have high predictive power for a variety of movement behaviours (random walk with various degrees of correlation, Archimedean spirals and loops) in any given landscape. The formula can be interpreted as a generic function for patch accessibility for further population dynamics analyses. It also delivers insights into the consequences of dispersal in fragmented landscapes.     

Agronomic and molecular characterization of gamma ray induced banana (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> sp.) mutants using a multivariate statistical algorithm

Bananas are tropical fruits grown worldwide playing a key role in market trade and especially used as main food source for low income populations. In Brazil, bananas are mainly consumed in natura, occupying the second largest internal market. Nevertheless, this crop presents low availability of productive commercial varieties with good agronomic characteristics. A strategy undertaken to solve this problem is the development of new cultivars through conventional genetic breeding methods. However, this strategy presents some obstacles such as female sterility and low number of seeds. In order to overcome these shortcomings, use of mutation induction aiming the selection of mutants with desirable agronomic characteristics seems to have great potential for developing new cultivars. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the genetic variability in putative banana ‘Pacovan’ (AAB genome, subgroup Prata Type) mutants submitted to gamma ray irradiation, using a set of agronomical and molecular data (ISSR markers). The distance between the putative ‘Pacovan’ mutants varied from 0.26 to 0.64 with cophenetic correlation coefficient of 0.7669. Four mutants were selected based on best agronomical characteristics and height. This data also shows that there is variability that can be explored after the irradiation of ‘Pacovan’ banana mutants, which can be used in the genetic breeding program of banana aiming to develop short new varieties that also present good agronomic characteristics. This is the first attempt to use combined data in order to evaluate the genetic variability in putative banana mutants.     

Structure and genetic diversity of macauba [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] approached by SNP markers to assist breeding strategies

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Macauba palm [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] is a perennial oil, it stands out for having several characteristics of commercial interest, mainly...     

Multi-trait stability index: A tool for simultaneous selection of soya bean genotypes in drought and saline stress

Drought and salinity are the main limiting environmental factors that restrict the establishment of soya bean plants. In order to recommend genotypes for cultivation under adverse drought and saline stress conditions, multi-environment trials (MET) are needed. However, MET analysis is usually performed considering a single trait, which provides lower reliability in recommending genotypes when compared to multi-trait analysis. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the stability of multi-trait stability index (MTSI) in 46 soya bean cultivars under the effects of drought and saline stress on seed germination and initial seedling growth. Drought and saline stresses were imposed by seed exposure to −0.20 MPa iso-osmotic solutions with polyethylene glycol—PEG 6000 (119.6 g/L) or NaCl (2.36 g/L) for 12 days at 25°C. The germination rate, seedling length and seedling dry matter were measured. We showed here how genotypic stability can be quantified by MTSI when comparing drought and salinity conditions in relation to non-stressful environment (control) and how this index can be employed under different conditions. When considering the index for multiple environments, we can select as the most stable genotypes TMG 716 RR, FPS Antares RR, AS 3610 IPRO, NS 7300 IPRO and FPS Solar IPRO among the 46 tested genotypes. Owing to high stability and gains with selection verified for these genotypes under salinity and drought conditions, they can be used as genitors in breeding programs aimed at obtaining offspring with higher resistance to antibiotic stresses.     

Climate effects of black carbon aerosols in China and India

In recent decades, there has been a tendency toward increased summer floods in south China, increased drought in north China, and moderate cooling in China and India while most of the world has been warming. We used a global climate model to investigate possible aerosol contributions to these trends. We found precipitation and temperature changes in the model that were comparable to those observed if the aerosols included a large proportion of absorbing black carbon ("soot"), similar to observed amounts. Absorbing aerosols heat the air, alter regional atmospheric stability and vertical motions, and affect the large-scale circulation and hydrologic cycle with significant regional climate effects.     

Effects of protein sources and inclusion levels on nitrogen metabolism and urea kinetics of Nellore feedlot steers fed concentrate-based diets

Urea recycling occurs in all mammalian species and represents an important source of ruminal nitrogen (N) for ruminants fed protein-restricted diets. However, its importance for cattle fed adequate amounts of protein and energy remains unclear. Six Nellore feedlot steers fed concentrate-based diets were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate ruminal fermentation, urea kinetics, and N excretion. Treatments consisted of 3 protein sources (PS: soybean meal plus urea [SU], corn gluten meal [CGM], and dry distillers grains [DDG]) and 2 inclusion levels (PL; 11% and 14%). Steers were adapted to the diets for 14 d followed by 8 d of sample collection. Feed intake, fecal output, and urine production were measured from day 18 to day 22 of each period. Blood samples were collected every 6 h on day 18. [¹⁵N-¹⁵N]-urea was infused into the jugular vein for 82 h over day 19 to day 22, and measurement of ¹⁵N in background (day 18) and enriched feces and urine (day 21) were used to evaluate urea kinetics. To evaluate the incorporation of recycled urea N into microbial protein (MICP), ruminal and duodenal fluid were collected on day 22. Steers fed SU diets had lower (P < 0.05) nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), greater (P < 0.05) urea-N entry rate (UER), and tended (P < 0.10) to have greater gastrointestinal entry rate of urea-N (GER) compared with those fed CGM or DDG. In addition, steers fed SU had greater (P < 0.05) urea-N returned to ornithine cycle (ROC) compared with those fed CGM or DDG. Increasing PL tended (P < 0.10) to increase UER. The proportion of total microbial N from recycled urea-N was greater (P < 0.05) for steers fed CGM compared with those fed SU and also greater for steers fed diets with 11% CP than for those fed with 14% CP. Diets with 11% CP can be used for Nellore feedlot cattle fed concentrate-based diets without negatively affecting intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation. Moreover, diets containing rumen undegradable protein (RUP) feed sources (CGM or DDG) compared with diets with SU markedly increased NUE, while maintaining microbial protein (MICP) synthesis. Results from this study suggest that the equation adopted by NASEM (NASEM. 2016. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle. 8th revised ed. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press) was not accurate in estimating the urea-N used for anabolism (UUA) in Nellore feedlot cattle fed concentrate-based diets.     

Polymorphisms in the MTRN1A gene and their effects on the productive and reproductive traits in buffaloes

The main environmental factor that affects the regulation of reproductive seasonality is photoperiod through its effects on melatonin secretion. The melatonin receptor MTRN1A appears to be involved in regulating the reproductive seasonality and milk production in the period. The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms in the MTRN1A gene and their possible associations with milk, fat and protein productions, fat and protein percentages, age at first calving, and first calving interval in buffaloes. Three genotypes (CC, CT, and TT) were identified by PCR-RFLP, and there was a significant association with protein percentage (P?<?0.0001). Further studies are necessary to better understand the influence of melatonin gene and their receptors in the productive functions of buffaloes.     

Soybean response to copper applied to two soils with different levels of organic matter and clay

Abstract

Increasing the amount of soil organic matter (OM) alters the availability of copper (Cu) for plants under tropical and subtropical conditions. With the aim of evaluating the effects of the OM/Cu interaction on the soybean crop, a trial was conducted with a fully randomized 2?×?5 factorial design and four replicates. The treatments consisted of five Cu rates (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8?mg kg^?1) and two soil types: Typic Oxisol and Typic Ultisol. The soybean responded to fertilization with Cu, producing the highest estimated grain yield at a rate of 4.1?mg kg^?1. Similarly were also observed for shoot dry weight, number of pods and root length. The soil chemical properties and nutrient levels in the leaves and grain were influenced only by the soil type, whereas physiological components were affected in terms of photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO₂ concentration.