Effect of differently post-treated dewatered sewage sludge on β-glucosidase activity,microbial biomass carbon,basal respiration and carbohydrates contents of soils from limestone quarries

This work has evaluated the effects of thermally dried (TDS) or composted (CDS) dewatered sewage sludge on β-glucosidase activity, total (TCH) and extractable (ECH) carbohydrate content, microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration of soils from limestone quarries under laboratory conditions. Two doses (low and high) of the dewatered sludge (DS) or of the respective TDS or CDS were applied to a clayey and a sandy soil, both coming from working quarries. The soil mixtures and the controls (soils with no added sludge) were incubated for 9 months at 25°C and 30% of field capacity. The addition of sludge increased all the studied soil parameters, and the increase depended on the amount of sludge. Except in the case of TCH and ECH, the enhancing effect decreased with time, but at the end of incubation, parameters of the treated soils were higher than those of the control. The rank order of the initial stimulating effect was soil–TDS ≥ soil–DS ≥ soil–CDS, and probably, this order depended on the proportion of stable organic matter, which was the lowest in the TDS. Values of metabolic quotient (qCO₂) were higher at the lower dose, and they did not change during incubation in the CDS-treated soils. Both TCH and ECH were the parameters with the greatest significant sludge and dose effects. Basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon and β-glucosidase activity were the best measured parameters in distinguishing the long-term effects of the three sludge types over the soils.     

Evaluation of shrimp polyculture system in Thailand based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios

ABSTRACT: To quantify the contribution by cocultured animals to waste assimilation in an intensive shrimp farm in Thailand, the food web structures of the macrobenthos in a reservoir pond, a shrimp culture pond and water treatment ponds were examined using the stable C and N isotope ratio technique. Seawater for aquaculture was drawn from a creek, and stored in a reservoir pond, used for farming the banana prawn Fenneropenaeus merguiensis in culture ponds, and then recycled through treatment ponds where the green mussel Perna viridis was cultured to remove organic wastes discharged from the farming. The clam worm Nereididae sp. and the mud creeper Cerithideopsilla cingulata in the culture pond had δ ¹³C values of −21.0‰ and −18.4‰, respectively, suggesting that shrimp feed (mean δ ¹³C = −20.7‰) was the main food source for these species. The δ ¹³C analysis also suggested that sediments (−23.7‰) in the reservoir pond and particulate organic matter (POM) (−24.0‰) and/or sediments (−25.0‰) in the treatment pond supplied carbon for most macrobenthic animals. However, green mussels in the treatment pond had a mean δ ¹³C value of −20.5‰, suggesting that shrimp feed was the main food source for this species.     

Growth,Feed Utilization,and Glycemic Response in European Sea Bass,Dicentrarchus labrax,Juveniles Fed Carbohydrate of Different Complexities

The effect of dietary carbohydrate complexity on growth, feed utilization, and glycemia was studied in European sea bass juveniles. Four isonitrogenous (50% crude protein) and isolipidic (15% crude lipids) diets were formulated to contain 20% pregelatinized maize starch (PGS diet), dextrin (DEX diet), maltose (MAL diet), or glucose (GLU diet). No effect of dietary carbohydrate complexity on growth was noticed. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were lower in fish fed the GLU diet than in the other groups, whereas the opposite was observed for feed intake. Plasma glucose peaked 3–4 h after feeding in fish fed the MAL and GLU diets, whereas in fish fed the PGS and DEX diets the peak was reached 5–6 h after feeding. Peak plasma glucose concentration (13 mmol/L) was higher in fish fed the GLU diet than the other diets (9 mmol/L). Shorter hyperglycemia duration was observed in fish fed the MALT and GLU diets (6 h) than the PGS and DEX diets (10 h). Complex carbohydrates delayed plasma glucose concentration peak compared with simple sugars, whereas the opposite was observed for hyperglycemia duration. Overall, dietary maltose, dextrin, and starch were apparently better utilized as energy source than glucose by European sea bass juveniles.     

Mineral contents of the muscle tissue and the digestive gland of Octopus vulgaris during short‐term starvation

We used spectrometry to study variation in the contents of minor (B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) and major essential elements (Ca, K, Mg, Na and P) in the muscle tissue and digestive glands of Octopus vulgaris after 1, 2, 4 or 8 days of starvation and in fed controls. The contents of the major essential elements remained constant during 8 days of starvation. Na was the principal element found in both tissues, followed by K, P and Mg. The contents of the minor essential elements were higher in the digestive gland than in the muscle tissue, with increased contents of Fe, Mn and Zn (p < .05) during starvation, confirming the high capacity of this organ to accumulate trace minerals. In muscle tissues, B, Fe and Mn contents were lower and Cu and Zn contents higher, in starved animals than in fed animals (p < .05). Significant negative correlations between the digestive gland index and the contents of Cu, Fe and Zn suggested that the loss of weight of the digestive gland during starvation is responsible for this increase in mineral concentration. This and further information on variation in mineral content will help to optimize performance of diets formulated for the octopus.     

Comparative haematology and blood chemistry of endangered lizards (Gallotia species) in the Canary Islands

Blood samples were taken from the ventral coccygeal vein of 15 El Hierro giant lizards (Gallotia simonyi) (seven females and eight males), six La Gomera giant lizards (Gallotia bravoana) (four males and two females) and four Tenerife giant lizards (Gallotia intermedia) (two males and two females), and 31 blood parameters were measured. Among the haematological parameters there were significant differences between the three species in heterophils, azurophils and lymphocytes, but no significant differences in red blood cell count, white blood cell count, haemoglobin, packed-cell volume, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. In terms of blood chemistry there were significant differences between the three species in cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, sodium, chloride, urea, uric acid, total proteins, prealbumin, albumin and gamma globulins, but no significant differences in calcium, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, bile acids, alpha-1 and alpha-2 globulins and beta globulins.     

Biplot analysis of trait relations of white lupin in Spain

A 2-year study of autumn-sown white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was conducted under rainfed Mediterranean conditions in southern Spain. 108 landraces were evaluated for yield and major phonological and plant structural characteristics. Path coefficient and Genotype-Trait (GT) biplot analysis were used. Applying both types of analyses to the multiple trait data revealed that GT biplot graphically displayed the interrelationships among traits and facilitated visual comparison of accessions and selection. Wide variation was observed for trait phenology (dates of flowering and maturity), plant structure (plant and first order inflorescence height) and yield characters (first order branches, first order inflorescence and total yield). It was found that the accessions with the highest yields were the tallest and the latest to flower, both on the mainstem and on the lowest first order branch, and also were the latest to mature. GT biplots also had suggested as the accessions have been displayed according to their origins. The results showed that foreign germplasm may be an important material for improving some yield components such as number of pods and seeds per plant of locally adapted lupins in Spain. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after intravenous,intramuscular and oral administration of a single dose to African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug commonly used in avian species. In this study, the pharmacokinetic parameters for meloxicam were determined following single intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral (p.o.) administrations of the drug (1 mg/kg·b.w.) in adult African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus; n = 6). Serial plasma samples were collected and meloxicam concentrations were determined using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography assay. A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. No undesirable side effects were observed during the study. After i.v. administration, the volume of distribution, clearance and elimination half‐life were 90.6 ± 4.1 mL/kg, 2.18 ± 0.25 mL/h/kg and 31.4 ± 4.6 h, respectively. The peak mean ± SD plasma concentration was 8.32 ± 0.95 μg/mL at 30 min after i.m. administration. Oral administration resulted in a slower absorption (t_max = 13.2 ± 3.5 h; C_max = 4.69 ± 0.75 μg/mL) and a lower bioavailability (38.1 ± 3.6%) than for i.m. (78.4 ± 5.5%) route. At 24 h, concentrations were 5.90 ± 0.28 μg/mL for i.v., 4.59 ± 0.36 μg/mL for i.m. and 3.21 ± 0.34 μg/mL for p.o. administrations and were higher than those published for Hispaniolan Amazon parrots at 12 h with predicted analgesic effects.     

Mini‐cutting technique application in Corymbia and Eucalyptus: effects of mini‐tunnel use across seasons of the year

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