Seasonal reproduction of male Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish) from two Florida lakes

Sixteen monthly collections of adult male Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish) were obtained from two lakes in central Florida, USA. Lake Woodruff and Lake Apopka are 36 miles apart, but differ in several environmental parameters. Compared with Lake Woodruff, Lake Apopka is warmer, more shallow in sampling areas (particularly during drought conditions; approximately 15–90 cm in Lake Apopka versus 60–120 cm in Lake Woodruff), more turbid, and more heavily contaminated with nutrients and industrial and agricultural chemicals. Here, we present detailed information on seasonal reproduction patterns in mosquitofish in their native range and compare patterns between fish from the two lakes. Male mosquitofish were reproductively active from spring through fall. Spermatogenesis, which is regulated in part by 11-ketotestosterone, ceased in October, and fish stored spermatozoa through the winter for immediate fertilization of offspring in the spring. Compared with Lake Woodruff, fish from Lake Apopka tended to be larger and have longer gonopodia and greater gonado- and hepato-somatic indices (GSI and HSI). High GSI in Apopka fish correlated with greater spermatid production, but fewer mature spermatozoa and either the same or lower sperm counts and sperm viability. Taken together, these observations suggest that differentiation of spermatids to spermatozoa is disrupted in Apopka fish, leading to reductions in fertility in some months. Delivery of sperm to females could also be affected in Apopka fish, which exhibit lower prevalence of efferent duct tissue in the testes during the summer.     

Quantitative PCR shows propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodiophora brassicae</Emphasis> in Swedish long term field trials

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a serious soil-borne disease in brassica crops world-wide. We report on a time series of soil samples from Swedish long-term fertility trials started in 1957, 1963 and 1966, which were analyzed for the amount of P. brassicae DNA. The crop rotations included a brassica crop every 4 or 6 years. All experimental sites with a 4-year rotation of oilseed rape, except one with calcium carbonate in the soil profile, showed high (>1000 fg DNA g^?1 soil) levels of P. brassicae DNA after 9, 11 and 12 rotations. In contrast, detectable levels (>5 fg DNA g^?1 soil) of P. brassicae were found only at one of five sites with a 6-year rotation of spring oilseed rape. In years with high levels of P. brassicae DNA, low yield was reported and a subsequent decline in P. brassicae DNA in soil was observed. Different NPK (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium) fertiliser regimes resulted in similar P. brassicae DNA levels. The robustness and reliability of the method applied was verified by analyses of soil from individual plots compared with a mixture of plots and by repeated analyses of selected samples, which showed that P. brassicae DNA remained stable during dry storage.     

Drainage in Sweden -the past and new developments

Land drainage in Sweden has been regulated in various laws since the Middle Ages. The lowering of lake surfaces and the ditching of wetlands has been considered a valuable task to gain cultivable land, and more recently, to promote forest growth. However, in recent years the debate surrounding drainage in forests has been a matter of considerable discussion. The dry and hot summer of 2018 has awakened new views on the subject. Monitoring has shown an exceptionally low groundwater levels countrywide. Especially the islands of Öland and Gotland have faced groundwater shortages and the groundwater levels are still low in both small and large aquifers. Drainage within forest land has lacked any scientific basis until rather recently. Still, it has been a supported activity during the twentieth century. However, this has gradually as knowledge on the activity has increased and the ecology of downstream water bodies has been considered. Today, only the rinsing of existing drainage is actively practised, and it is surrounded by a number of recommendations which are still under discussion.     

Excretion of Methoxychlor in Cow Milk Following Dermal Application

The concentrations of methoxychlor in cow milk and plasma were determined following a cutaneous application of a non-commercial emulsion and an intravenous injection of a solution containing 5 and 1 g methoxychlor, respectively. Furthermore, some pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated and the results were evaluated toxicologically by comparison with the acceptable daily intake.Maximum concentration of methoxychlor in milk, found 2 days after dermal administration, was 0.062 ppm, decreasing to around 0.005 ppm 30 days later.From the results, a distribution volume greater than 200 times the body volume, a dermal absorption of around 1/5 of the topically applicated dose, and a half-life of 8–10 days were estimated.It was concluded that the levels in cow milk, following dermal application with an emulsion of methoxychlor did not represent any threat to human health and methoxychlor was recommended as a pesticide of choice for use on dairy cows.     

Concentration of Selenium in Liver in Relation to Copper Level in Normal and Copper-Poisoned Sheep

Copper absorption, liver accumulation and development of copper toxicosis in sheep are influenced by a variety of other elements, in particular molybdenum, sulphur and zinc (Underwood 1977). In a previous study on liver concentrations of copper, molybdenum and zinc in normal and copper-poisoned sheep, no direct correlation was found between the concentrations of the three metals, but molybdenum was significantly lower in the livers from sheep dead from chronic copper poisoning than in normal animals (Frøslie & Norheim 1976).     

Modelling approaches to compare sorption and degradation of metsulfuron-methyl in laboratory micro-lysimeter and batch experiments

Results of laboratory batch studies often differ from those of outdoor lysimeter or field plot experiments--with respect to degradation as well as sorption. Laboratory micro-lysimeters are a useful device for closing the gap between laboratory and field by both including relevant transport processes in undisturbed soil columns and allowing controlled boundary conditions. In this study, sorption and degradation of the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl in a loamy silt soil were investigated by applying inverse modelling techniques to data sets from different experimental approaches under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 10 degrees C: first, batch-degradation studies and, second, column experiments with undisturbed soil cores (28 cm length x 21 cm diameter). The column experiments included leachate and soil profile analysis at two different run times. A sequential extraction method was applied in both study parts in order to determine different binding states of the test item within the soil. Data were modelled using ModelMaker and Hydrus-1D/2D. Metsulfuron-methyl half-life in the batch-experiments (t1/2 = 66 days) was shown to be about four times higher than in the micro-lysimeter studies (t1/2 about 17 days). Kinetic sorption was found to be a significant process both in batch and column experiments. Applying the one-rate-two-site kinetic sorption model to the sequential extraction data, it was possible to associate the stronger bonded fraction of metsulfuron-methyl with its kinetically sorbed fraction in the model. Although the columns exhibited strong significance of multi-domain flow (soil heterogeneity), the comparison between bromide and metsulfuron-methyl leaching and profile data showed clear evidence for kinetic sorption effects. The use of soil profile data had significant impact on parameter estimates concerning sorption and degradation. The simulated leaching of metsulfuron-methyl as it resulted from parameter estimation was shown to decrease when soil profile data were considered in the parameter estimation procedure. Moreover, it was shown that the significance of kinetic sorption can only be demonstrated by the additional use of soil profile data in parameter estimation. Thus, the exclusive use of efflux data from leaching experiments at any scale can lead to fundamental misunderstandings of the underlying processes.     

Fine Structure and Peroxidase Activity of the Bovine Mandibular Gland Cells

The acini of the bovine mandibular gland consist of mucous and demilunar seromucous cells. The mucous cells contain electron-lucid mucigen droplets or mucoid masses, only rarely delimited by membranes. The cisternae of the RER communicate freely. Mitochondria are scarce. The seromucous demilunar cells contain considerably more granules, and perigranular membranes are far more common. Many granules have characteristic alternating electron opaque and less electron dense areas. The prominent RER appears to be associated with a peculiar labyrinth of interconnecting tubules. Mitochondria are numerous. Numerous myoepithelial cells are observed. The cuboidal cells of the intercalated ducts lack signs of secretory activity. The columnar cells of the striated ducts have extensive infoldings of the basal plasma membrane, associated with mitochondria. The cell apex contains many granulated vesicles. Endogenous lactoperoxidase activity could be demonstrated only in the demilunar cells, within the secretory granules, the RER, including the perinuclear cisternae, as well as the labyrinth mentioned above. A positive reaction could be observed over acinar lumina and in intercellular canaliculi. The possible role of peroxidase as a component of a bactericidal system of the bovine saliva is discussed.     

Agarose gel electrophoretic separation of blood serum proteins in cattle.

The agarose gel electrophoresis described by Johansson (1972) was modified so that a buffer of pH 7.9 was used in the gel, whereas the buffer in the electrode vessels had a pH of 8.6.The cattle blood serum protein picture is described in detail. The β₁-globulin zone shows a very distinct picture of the genetically polymorphic bovine transferrins. The region between the α- and β-globulins shows a number of faint and often very distinct bands. A faint background staining over the whole electrophoretogram may partly be caused by a rather strong lipoprotein in the α₁-region, lipids thus having migrated all over the electrophoretogram.The modified method described is well suited as a “screen electrophoresis” for cattle serum and is also useful e.g. in studying bovine transferrin polymorphism.     

Genetic parameters for grain angle in 28-year-old Norway spruce progeny trials and their parent seed orchard

? Sawn wood which acquires twist during drying is a substantial problem for the sawmill industry and is to a large extent caused by spiralled grain in the tree.

? In this study, the feasibility of using spiral grain angles as a selection trait in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) tree breeding and the extent of grain angle and its breeding values were investigated. Grain angles under bark and diameter were measured at breast height in three 28-year-old Norway spruce progeny trials and in their parent seed orchard.

? The mean grain angle value was 1.76° in the progeny trials and 1.84° in the seed orchard. Estimated genetic standard deviations for grain angle were almost 1°. Progeny trial heritabilities (H ² > 0.3) were larger than the seed orchard heritability (H ² = 0.24). Genotype by environment interaction among the progeny trials was negligible for grain angle. Progeny trial grain angles exhibited genetic correlation with seed orchard grain angles in the range 0.66 to 0.84.

? Thus, mature wood grain angles are also under considerable genetic control, raising the opportunity to reduce the occurence of left-grained trees, which are prone to producing twisted wood.