Just a FAD? Ecosystem impacts of tuna purse‐seine fishing associated with fish aggregating devices in the western Pacific Warm Pool Province

The western and central Pacific Ocean supports the world's largest tuna fisheries. Since the 1990s, the purse‐seine fishery has increasingly fished in association with fish aggregating devices (FADs), which has increased catches of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tunas and vulnerable bycatch species (e.g., sharks). This has raised concerns regarding the sustainability of these species’ populations and the supporting ecosystem, but may provide improved food security of Pacific Island nations through utilisation of FAD‐associated byproduct species (e.g., wahoo). An ecosystem model of the western Pacific Warm Pool Province was used to explore the potential ecological impacts of varying FAD fishing effort (±50% or 100%) over 30 years. The ecosystem has undergone a significant change in structure since 1980 from heavy exploitation of top predators (e.g., tunas) and “fishing up the food web” of high‐trophic‐level non‐target species. The ecosystem appeared resistant to simulated fishing perturbations, with only modest changes (<10%) in the biomass of most groups, although some less productive shark bycatch species decreased by up to 43%, which had a subsequent positive effect on several byproduct species, the prey of sharks. Reduction of FAD effort by at least 50% was predicted to increase the biomass of tuna species and sharks and return the ecosystem structure to a pre‐industrial‐fishing state within 10 years. Spatial disaggregation of the model and integration of economic information are recommended to better capture ecological and economic changes that may result from fishing and/or climate impacts and to develop appropriate management measures in response.     

Secondary forest floristic composition, structure, and spatial pattern in subtropical China

Secondary evergreen broadleaved forests are precious remnants for biodiversity conservation and templates for sustainable management of natural forests in subtropical China. Floristic composition, size structure, and spatial pattern of dominant tree species have been investigated for a subtropical secondary evergreen broadleaved forest in the Huitong Yingzuijie National Forest Reserve, Hunan, China. The location of all trees greater than 4 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH) were mapped within a 0.96-ha plot in which species, DBH, and total tree height were recorded. Ripley’s K(t) function was used to analyze spatial patterns and associations. The secondary forest consisted of 74 tree species and 1,596 stems per hectare. A reverse-J shaped DBH classes distribution was observed for all stems and trees of later seral species whereas trees of earlier successional species were distributed irregularly. Significant aggregated spatial patterns were observed for all trees within the forest and for conspecific trees of each dominant species. This result, and a repulsive spatial pattern for interspecific trees of Choerospondias axillaries and Cyclobalanopsis glauca against other dominant tree species, support segregation hypothesis. Contributions of seed dispersal, topographic heterogeneity, and competition to spatial patterns of conspecific trees vary depending on tree species. Attractive spatial pattern among interspecific trees of Liquidambar fortunei, Liquidambar formosana, and Pinus massoniana reflects stochastic colonization of pioneer tree species and a facilitation relationship. Although deciduous species are long-lived and persist over long successional processes, they will eventually be replaced by late seral evergreen species within the secondary forest if no disturbance events occur.     

肠炎沙门氏杆菌的出现已成为肉鸡生产的问题

鉴于肠炎沙门氏菌（Salmonella Enteritidis,SE）是通过垂直传播进行的这一事实,其预防方案必须围绕父母代种鸡。     

Using foresight to prepare animal health today for tomorrow's challenges

Foresight has been introduced in Canada in the area of animal health as a process to broaden thinking about the future and inform policy development. Its initial use and evolution through projects and studies over the past decade are described, demonstrating real action in animal health. Despite positive, continuing, and exciting results in animal health policy development, foresight's widespread acceptance and use thus far have been limited. Critical components for success, drawn from the Canadian experience, are described, and recommendations are offered for further action in animal health.     

Regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle by CaMK

Endurance exercise training promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle and enhances muscle oxidative capacity, but the signaling mechanisms involved are poorly understood. To investigate this adaptive process, we generated transgenic mice that selectively express in skeletal muscle a constitutively active form of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV*). Skeletal muscles from these mice showed augmented mitochondrial DNA replication and mitochondrial biogenesis, up-regulation of mitochondrial enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism and electron transport, and reduced susceptibility to fatigue during repetitive contractions. CaMK induced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1), a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo, and activated the PGC-1 gene promoter in cultured myocytes. Thus, a calcium-regulated signaling pathway controls mitochondrial biogenesis in mammalian cells.     

Relationship between Grain Yield and Remotely-Sensed Data in Wheat Breeding Experiments

Data from aerial infrared photographs have recently been proposed as a complementary analytical tool for evaluating genotype performance in breeders' trials. Our objective was to establish the relationships between spring wheat grain yield and remotely-sensed data in a variety experiment. Large genotype differences (P ≤ 0.05) in grain yield, red, and near infrared reflectance values occurred. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) regressions between grain yield and remoteley-sensed data were observed for two dates of flight, but these functions varied between dates of flight. A normalized difference vegetative index, as an estimate of crop productivity, indicated that spring wheats with the highest grain yields may show correspondingly high dry matter production. However, low r² values for the remotely-sensed values suggest that much of the variability is not explained by these models. Future research must develop more accurate methods of remotely-sensed analysis, including standardizing the images, identifying the correct time with respect to stage of crop development for infrared photographs, incorporating crop harvest index data into the models, and adjusting for identified spatial variation.     

Chemical cues promote settlement in larvae of the green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus

The large (70,000 tonnes) mussel aquaculture industry for the endemic New Zealand green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus Gmelin, currently relies almost entirely (80%) on wild caught seed that is often harvested attached to great quantities of floating algae. Natural vagaries in catches of wild mussel seed frequently result in shortages of mussel seed that, at times, have severely affected commercial aquaculture production. Both field and laboratory experiments were used to establish that chemical cues derived from algae significantly increase settlement of mussel larvae on artificial substrates. This is the first time an algal chemical cue has been implicated in the settlement behavior of P. canaliculus larvae. These results have potential commercial implications for improving mussel seed supply through inducing higher or more reliable levels of mussel settlement for aquaculture seed collection.     

大肠杆菌感染可造成严重损失

大肠杆菌感染对世界养禽业造成了重大损失。大肠杆菌是商品家禽肠道中的正常栖居菌 ,并且还是环境中无处不在的 ,但其产毒菌株会引起局部或全身感染 ,结果造成鸡群死亡率增高 ,使商品产蛋鸡和种鸡的产蛋率下降 ;还可使肉鸡的生长率下降 ,胴体质量下降以及加工时废弃率增高     

Seasonal patterns of carbohydrate reserves in red spruce seedlings

We studied seasonal dynamics of carbohydrate storage in red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings by measuring starch and sugar concentrations of old needles (>/= one year old), new needles (< one year old), stems, and roots in two stands in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Although the two stands differed in many site characteristics including percent slope, aspect, soil type, drainage, and 564 m in elevation, concentrations and seasonal patterns of carbohydrates were similar for the two stands. For all tissues, starch concentrations peaked in late spring, declined through summer, and reached a minimum in winter. Sugar concentrations were greater than starch concentrations in all months except May and June. Sugar concentrations peaked in winter, and old needles showed a significant increase in sugar concentration between February and March. This increase in sugar concentration occurred without any reduction in localized starch concentrations or reductions in sugar or starch concentrations in new needles, stems or roots. Because March measurements were made toward the end of a prolonged thaw, a time when increases in photosynthesis have been documented for red spruce, it is likely that the March increase in sugar concentrations resulted from photosynthesis during the thaw. Compared with stems and roots, needles generally contained the highest concentration of carbohydrates and exhibited the greatest seasonal change in carbohydrate concentration. Needles were also the largest reservoir of carbohydrates throughout the year, especially during winter. Because of the critical roles of needles in photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates, we conclude that any factors that disrupt the accumulation or availability of carbohydrates in red spruce needles will greatly alter plant carbon relations.