西藏原始林芝云杉林空间结构参数分布特征

以藏东南波密岗乡自然保护区原始林芝云杉林为研究对象,应用空间结构参数角尺度、混交度和大小比数,建立空间结构参数的三元分布,揭示林分的空间结构特征。结果表明,从一元分布看,林木整体属于随机分布,林分强度混交,树种的优劣程度参差不齐,整体处于中庸状态;在混交度和角尺度分布中,以随机分布和强度混交林木株数最多,大小比-角尺度组合中,均以随机分布轴线和中庸轴线两侧基本对称;三元结构参数组合为强度混交、随机分布、亚优势状态林木分布较多。主要树种的混交程度较高,呈现强度和极强度混交状态;其中林芝云杉和华山松为该群落的优势树种随机分布,其他主要树种都为轻度聚集分布;树种间大小比数差异明显,其中林芝云杉最低,<0.252,处于亚优势状态。全面分析原始林芝云杉林的空间结构,为林芝云杉林结构优化调整提供重要参考,为藏东南天然林可持续发展提供科学依据。     

浅析阿拉善左旗林业有害生物防治现状及应对措施

文章对阿拉善左旗林业有害生物防治现状进行了调查,分析了林业有害生物监测防治工作存在的问题,提出做好林业有害生物防治社会化服务工作应对的措施,对于建立起适应当前林业改革和发展形势需要的林业有害生物防治公共服务保障体系提供了理论依据。     

Inter-observer agreement between two observers for bovine digital dermatitis identification in New Zealand using digital photographs

Aims: To assess the inter-observer agreement for detecting bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) lesions in digital colour photographs of the hind feet of cows, which had been taken while the animals were standing to be milked, between two trained observers.

Methods: Thirty-six photographs were selected from a total of 184 photographs held by the first author (R1), who had classified them as negative (n=11) or positive (n=25) for BDD. They were delivered to a technician (R2) who had previously visually inspected cattle for BDD lesions, and who then recorded the photographs as being either BDD-positive or BDD-negative. The percentage agreement between R1 and R2, and two other inter-observer agreement statistics, Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s first-order chance correction agreement coefficient (AC1), were calculated. The cumulative membership probabilities of Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1 were then calculated for different benchmark ranges of κ.

Results: The percentage agreement between R1 and R2 was 33/36 (92%), Cohen’s κ was 0.80 (95% CI=0.57–1.0) and Gwet’s AC1 was 0.86 (95% CI=0.69–1.0). Based on the cumulative membership probabilities for Gwet’s AC1, there was 75% probability that the two observers had almost perfect agreement (κ≥0.81). For both Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1, there was >95% probability that the two observers had at least substantial agreement (κ≥0.61).

Conclusions: The two trained observers had at least substantial agreement in identifying from a digital photograph as to whether BDD lesions were present or absent. Therefore results from the two could be used interchangeably.

Clinical Relevance: Visual assessment for BDD lesions in the milking parlour can be subjective. However a high agreement between these two trained BDD inspectors means BDD prevalence reported from different regions in New Zealand by these two can be directly compared.     

Detection of enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) in a sheep flock in southern Brazil

Enzootic nasal tumor (ENT) is a contagious neoplasm associated with enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV), which may induce disease in sheep (ENTV-1) and goats (ENTV-2). This study aimed to describe the occurrence of ENT in two Texel sheep (Ovis aries) from a 75-sheep flock, located in the city of Gravataí, southern Brazil. Animals used to be purchased from different origins, and no specific tests for disease monitoring or quarantine procedure were performed. Affected animals presented respiratory distress, anorexia with severe weight loss, and mucopurulent unilateral nasal discharge. Necropsy was performed in both animals and nasal cavity masses were observed. Histopathological analysis demonstrated an epithelial neoplasm compatible with nasal adenocarcinoma. PCR using a protocol that amplifies a 591 bp sequence of 5’LTR-gag region of ENTV1 was performed followed by DNA sequencing. Both samples were positive, and the sequences obtained presented highest identity (97%) with ENTV strain TN28 (GenBank accession number MH899613) detected in a Texel sheep from Scotland. This is the first report of ENTV-1 leading to enzootic nasal tumor in sheep in Latin America, which confirms the presence of the retrovirus in sheep flocks in the Brazilian territory.

     

Agarose gel electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid proteins of dogs after sample concentration using a membrane microconcentrator technique

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the cerebral ventricles through ultrafiltration of plasma and active transport mechanisms. Evaluation of proteins in CSF may provide important information about the production of immunoglobulins within the central nervous system as well as possible disturbances in the blood-brain barrier. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the concentration and fractions of protein in CSF samples using a membrane microconcentrator technique followed by electrophoresis, and to compare the protein fractions obtained with those in serum. METHODS: CSF samples from 3 healthy dogs and 3 dogs with canine distemper virus infection were concentrated using a membrane microconcentrator having a 0.5 to 30,000 d nominal molecular weight limit (Ultrafree, Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). Protein concentration was determined before and after concentration. Agarose gel electrophoresis was done on concentrated CSF samples, serum, and serial dilutions of one of the CSF samples. RESULTS: Electrophoretic bands were clearly identified in densitometer tracings in CSF samples with protein concentrations as low as 1.3 g/dL. The higher CSF protein concentration in dogs with distemper was mainly the result of increased albumin concentration. CONCLUSION: The microconcentrating method used in this study enables characterization of the main protein fractions in CSF by routine electrophoresis and may be useful for interpreting the underlying cause of changes in CSF protein concentrations.     

Impact of a catastrophic hurricane on island populations

Lizard and spider populations were censused immediately before and after Hurricane Lili on islands differentially affected by the storm surge. The results support three general propositions. First, the larger organisms, lizards, are more resistant to the immediate impact of moderate disturbance, whereas the more prolific spiders recover faster. Second, extinction risk is related to population size when disturbance is moderate but not when it is catastrophic. Third, after catastrophic disturbance, the recovery rate among different types of organisms is related to dispersal ability. The absence of the poorer dispersers, lizards, from many suitable islands is probably the result of long-lasting effects of catastrophes.     

Amplification of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Introduced into an In Vitro Embryo Production System Via Oocytes from Persistently Infected Cattle

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not embryos derived from in vitro fertilization of oocytes from persistently infected (PI) cattle would contain infectious virus. Three in vitro embryo production treatment groups were assessed: 1) oocytes and uterine tubal cells (UTC) free of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) (negative control), 2) oocytes free of BVDV fertilized and cultured in media containing UTC obtained from PI heifers, and 3) oocytes from PI heifers fertilized and cultured in media containing UTC free of BVDV. The developmental media, UTC and embryos (individual or groups of five) were assayed for virus. Virus was not isolated from any samples in treatment group 1. As shown in previous studies, a proportion of embryo samples were positive for BVDV in treatment group 2. In treatment group 3, the virus associated with the oocytes contaminated the developmental media and infected susceptible co-culture cells used during fertilization and culture. In addition, 65% (11/17) of the degenerated ova from treatment group 3 had infectious virus associated with them. While none of the ova developed into transferable embryos, the study did confirm that use of oocytes from PI cows could lead to amplification of BVDV and cross contamination during in vitro embryo production.     

Treatment of a Periarticular Tibial Fracture in a Foal with a Hybrid External Fixator

Objective— To report repair of a right proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a foal with a hybrid external fixator (HEF).
Study Design— Case report.
Animals— A 5-month-old male foal.
Methods— After open surgical reduction, an HEF built with wires, 2 half-rings, 3 half-threaded connecting rods, and Schanz pins was used to stabilize the fracture.
Results— Immediately after surgery, the foal had relatively good weight bearing. The HEF was removed at 60 days after radiographic confirmation of healing.
Conclusions— HEF can be used to stabilize a proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a 5-month-old foal.
Clinical Relevance— HEF should be considered as another option for repair of proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fractures in foals.     

旱泉沟流域次生林演替过程中种群格局动态

对旱泉沟流域的植被种类组成、物种多样性和物种重要值进行调查分析,采用TWINSPAN对旱泉沟流域次生植物群落进行数量分类,从植物群系组成、植物群落之间的生态关系方面,研究旱泉沟流域封山禁牧区植被群落的分布格局,初步探讨乔木树种的演替趋势。研究结果表明：1）采用TWINSPAN数量分类方法,将植被划分为7个群落类型;2）从群落Ⅰ到群落Ⅶ, 乔木、灌木、草本的Simpson优势度指数基本持平,Shannon Wiener多样性指数为乔木<灌木<草本,Pielou均匀度指数为乔木>草本>灌木,物种丰富度逐渐升高。群落的物种组成和空间结构逐渐复杂化,并趋于稳定;3）次生林的演替序列为山杨树Populus davidiana→桦树Betula platyphylla→青海云杉Pica crassifolia,其自然演替顶级为青海云杉。     

经营强度对毛竹林植物多样性的影响

对由天然针阔混交林或天然阔叶林经过人为改造和抚育转变成的4类毛竹林(即成林原因相同的4种林型—强度干扰下的毛竹纯林,较强干扰下的竹杉混交林,较弱干扰下的竹阔混交林,弱度干扰下的竹杉阔混交林)的层次结构、物种组成、物种丰富度、α多样性及群落相似性经营强度对毛竹林植物多样性的影响进行了对比分析。结果表明:这4种人工毛竹林随着经营强度的加大,层次结构逐渐简单化,乔木层、灌木层和草本层的物种丰富度迅速下降,且物种组成发生显著变化。乔木层、灌木层和草本层的生物多样性总体也呈下降趋势,但灌木层和草本层的生物多样性竹阔混交林类型反倒略高于经营强度最弱的竹杉阔混交林类型。而且不同经营强度下所形成的这4种类型毛竹林的群落相似性也随着经营强度的增加而降低,其中毛竹纯林与其他3类的相似性最低。