The effects of acid rain and ozone on biomass and leaf area parameters of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.)

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) seedlings in 24 open-top chambers were exposed to combinations of ozone (carbon-filtered (control), ambient, 1.7 x ambient, and 2.5 x ambient) and acidic precipitation (pH 5.3, 4.3 and 3.3) for 16 months (1989 harvest) or 28 months (1990 harvest). Although the effects of acid rain were generally not significant, there was a trend toward increased aboveground biomass and leaf area in seedlings subjected to the low pH treatments. Because N concentrations in the soils generally increased with decreasing pH, we concluded that the effects of acid rain on aboveground biomass and leaf area were a consequence of an increasing concentration of soil N. In the 1989 harvest, seedlings in the 2.5 x ambient ozone treatment had significantly less biomass in all aboveground plant components and significantly less total leaf area than seedlings in the 1.7 x ambient ozone treatment. In the 1990 harvest, there were no significant effects of ozone on total aboveground biomass, although there was a trend toward reduced biomass in seedlings in the 2.5 x ambient ozone treatment. Both total leaf area and leaf biomass were significantly less in seedlings exposed to 2.5 x ambient ozone for 28 months than in both control seedlings and seedlings in the 1.7 x ambient ozone treatment. The greater, but not always significant, aboveground biomass and leaf area of seedlings in the 1.7 x ambient ozone treatment compared with control seedlings may be associated with the observed increase in soil nitrate concentration as a result of increased rates of leaf senescence and litterfall.     

Mechanics of standing in birds: Functional explanation of lameness problems in giant Turkeys

1. The parameters used for the mechanics of standing in birds are defined and compared for two strains of turkeys, a giant, broad‐breasted strain (up to 40 kg), the result of artificial selection, and a traditional, smaller bird (9 kg), in order to show whether the mechanics of standing are modified by selection.

2. Using a geometrical similarity hypothesis, it was found that, although the locomotor apparatus of both strains are similar, the stresses on the pelvic muscles of broad‐breasted turkeys are increased. This is induced by the anterior position of the centres of gravity of their trunks, the result of selected pectoral hypertrophy.

3. The modification to the mechanics of standing may be related to the increase in locomotor disease in strains of giant turkeys.