Aboveground stand-level biomass estimation: a comparison of two methods for major forest species in northwest Spain

Context

The scaling-up approach (which requires the use of individual tree biomass equations and data) is one of the most commonly used methods for estimating stand biomass at a local scale. However, biomass prediction over large management areas requires more efficient methods.

Aims

Two methods of estimating aboveground stand biomass were developed and compared: stand biomass equations (SBE) including observed stand variables, and SBE including biomass expansion factors (BEF) and stand volume.

Methods

Two types of systems of additive equations were fitted simultaneously for components and total aboveground stand biomass, to ensure additivity. Inherent correlations among biomass components were also taken into account in the fitting process.

Results

The systems explained a high percentage of the observed variability. The SBE systems that included observed stand variables provided more accurate estimates than those that included BEF and stand volume. However, the latter were found to be more precise for stem wood and total aboveground biomass prediction.

Conclusions

Both approaches provide a direct link between forest inventory data, outputs from whole-stand growth models, and biomass estimates at stand level. Taking into account that the inventory effort is similar for both alternatives, the choice of which to use will depend on the data available and on the relative importance of the biomass components for the end-users.     

The importance of vertical transmission of Neospora sp. in naturally infected horses

Neospora spp. is a intracellular protozoan phylogenetically closely related to Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona, and it can infect horses leading to the development of reproductive or neurological diseases. We determined the presence of antibodies to Neospora sp. in mares at their parturition time and determine the frequency of vertical transmission in healthy foals to verify the importance of transplacental transmission. The samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, showing that seroprevalence in mares is higher than in foals and seropositive mares are likely to transmit the neosporosis to their offspring. This shows that endogenous challenge occurs in horses, and it suggests that this protozoan can be disseminated by means of transplacental transmission in horse species.     

Spatial patterns of soil attributes and components in a mangrove system in Southeast Brazil (São Paulo)

Purpose

Among environmental factors governing innumerous processes that are active in estuarine environments, those of edaphic character have received special attention in recent studies. With the objectives of determining the spatial patterns of soil attributes and components across different mangrove forest landscapes and obtaining additional information on the cause–effect relationships between these variables and position within the estuary, we analyzed several soil attributes in 31 mangrove soil profiles from the state of São Paulo (Guarujá, Brazil).

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected at low tide along two transects within the Crumahú mangrove forest. Samples were analyzed to determine pH, Eh, salinity, and the percentages of sand, silt, clay, total organic carbon (TOC), and total S. Mineralogy of the clay fraction (<2 mm) was also studied by X-ray diffraction analysis, and partitioning of solid-phase Fe was performed by sequential extraction.

Results and discussion

The results obtained indicate important differences in soil composition at different depths and landscape positions, causing variations in physicochemical parameters, clay mineralogy, TOC contents, and iron geochemistry. The results also indicate that physicochemical conditions may vary in terms of different local microtopographies. Soil salinity was determined by relative position in relation to flood tide and transition areas with highlands. The proportions of TOC and total S are conditioned by the sedimentation of organic matter derived from vegetation and by the prevailing redox conditions, which clearly favored intense sulfate reduction in the soils (～80% of the total Fe is Fe-pyrite). Particle-size distribution is conditioned by erosive/deposition processes (present and past) and probably by the positioning of ancient and reworked sandy ridges. The existing physicochemical conditions appear to contribute to the synthesis (smectite) and transformation (kaolinite) of clay minerals.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that the position of soils in the estuary greatly affects soil attributes. Differences occur even at small scales (meters), indicating that both edaphic (soil classification, soil mineralogy, and soil genesis) and environmental (contamination and carbon stock) studies should take such variability into account.

     

Effects of gemcitabine and gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin on five canine transitional cell carcinoma cell lines

Objective-To evaluate in vitro effects of gemcitabine alone and in combination with carboplatin on canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines. Sample-In vitro cultures of 5 canine TCC cell lines. Procedures-Cells were treated with gemcitabine, carboplatin, or a combination of both at various concentrations. Cell proliferation was assessed via a fluorescence-based microplate cell proliferation assay. Cell cycle was evaluated via propidium iodide staining, and apoptosis was assessed by measurement of caspase 3 and 7 enzymatic activity. Synergy between gemcitabine and carboplatin was quantified via combination index analyses. Results-Treatment of 5 canine TCC cell lines with gemcitabine or carboplatin decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were markedly increased when cell lines were treated with both gemcitabine and carboplatin simultaneously or sequentially. Order of administration during sequential treatment did not consistently affect cell proliferation results in TCC cell lines. When TCC cell lines were treated with gemcitabine and carboplatin in combination at therapeutically relevant concentrations (gemcitabine concentration, < 10μM; carboplatin concentration, < 250μM), a significant decrease in cell proliferation was observed, compared with cell proliferation following treatment with gemcitabine or carboplatin alone. In combination, the effects of gemcitabine and carboplatin were synergistic in 3 of 5 cell lines and additive in the other 2. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Gemcitabine had antitumor effects on canine TCC cells in vitro, and the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin had synergistic activity at biologically achievable concentrations.     

Morphological and morphometric characterization of domestic cat epididymal sperm

Sperm morphometry is the tool that confers objectivity to the morphological evaluation by accurately measuring the dimensions of the gamete and its structures. Thus, the aim of the study was to perform a morphometric characterization of the domestic cat sperm. Therefore, sperm samples were collected from twenty pairs of epididymis in a TRIS extender at 37ºC. An aliquot of the sample was used to make a smear with Rose Bengal solution, and afterwards, the morphology and morphometry were analysed. In the morphology, were quantified the percentage of normal sperm cells, morphological changes of head, midpiece and tail. In morphometry, each normal sperm cell was measured for length, width, area and perimeter of head and midpiece, tail length and total length. The parameters ellipticity, elongation, regularity and rugosity were also determined. The percentage of normal sperm was 67.21%. Of the abnormalities, the curled/folded tail, followed by the curved midpiece, abnormal shaped head and detached head were the most quantified. The sperm head presented 5.56 ± 0.01 μm and 3.10 ± 0.01 μm of length and width, respectively. The head area was 16.94 ± 0.05 μm², while the perimeter was 16.16 ± 0.03 μm. In the derived parameters, the values were as follows: ellipticity of 1.81 ± 0.00; elongation of 21.39 ± 0.12; regularity of 0.81 ± 0.00; and rugosity of 0.14 ± 0.00. The midpiece presented length and width of 7.96 ± 0.01 μm and 0.76 ± 0.01 μm, respectively. The mean length of the sperm tail was 45.12 ± 0.06 μm, and the total cell size was 58.67 ± 0.06 μm. Thus, it was concluded that the cat sperm is an elongated cell, with high rugosity and regularity. The spermatic tail represents more than ¾ of the total length of the cell and the midpiece exceeds the length of the head.     

Structural remodelling of the heart valves extracellular matrix during embryo development

Alterations in heart valve development represent more than 20% of congenital cardiovascular malformations. Most of the functional properties of heart valves depend on extracellular matrix. Despite its relevance, little is known about fibrillar components on developing stages. Our objective is to define histological changes on valves fibrillar components in late embryonic development of Mus musculus. We found type III collagen as the predominant fibre type in the ECM in prenatal stages followed by a switch to a type I predominance for postnatal ages. The change in fibrillar components is necessary to support the normal mechanical function of adult heart valves.     

Feeding of juvenile cobia,Rachycentron canadum: Evaluation of practical feeds,comparison of commercial fishmeal replacers,and estimation of essential amino acid requirements

Three studies were conducted with juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum: (Study 1) a 10‐week feeding trial within floating net cages to test the nutritional efficacy of different dietary feeding regimes (trash‐fish control diet, a semimoist diet, an in‐house dry formulated diet, and a commercial cobia feed); (Study 2) a 10‐week feeding trial within an indoor water‐recirculating tank‐based system to test the nutritional efficiency of different potential dietary fishmeal replacers (poultry byproduct meal, soy protein concentrate, feather meal), a diet without taurine supplementation, and a commercial cobia feed; and (Study 3) estimation of the essential amino acid (EAA) requirements of cobia based on EAA whole‐body composition in fast‐growing cobia fed a trash‐fish‐based diet. Fish performance in terms of growth and feed efficiency was the greatest within the outdoor net‐cage feeding trial, with fish fed the control trash‐fish‐based diet exhibiting the best performance. Although fish growth was poorer within the indoor feeding trials, fish performance was similar for most diets, with apparent crude protein digestibility coefficients of over 75% being obtained in all experimental diets in both feeding trials. The estimated EAA requirements of cobia obtained during this study were similar to those reported for other similar marine carnivorous fish species.     

Weak connectivity and population cohesiveness in rudderfish Kyphosus sandwicensis (Teleostei: Kyphosidae) inhabiting remote oceanic islands

1. Population connectivity has a fundamental role in metapopulation dynamics, with important implications in conservation. Easter Island (EI) and Salas y Gómez Island (SG) in the Pacific Ocean are ideal for the study of population connectivity because they are separated by 415 km and isolated from other islands in the Pacific Ocean by >2,000 km.
2. Considering that dispersal processes could play a critical role in the persistence of its populations, the connectivity pattern of the rudderfish Kyphosus sandwicensis was evaluated between EI and SG using both a population genetics and a biophysical modelling approach.
3. The variability in the control region of the mitochondrial DNA did not show a significant phylogeographical pattern, and the variability in 16 microsatellite loci suggested that individuals of K. sandwicensis located at EI and SG belong to the same genetic population. However, historical migration showed that 0.2% of the recruits at EI come from SG and that 0.15% at SG come from EI per year.
4. Using simulated larval release during September and a larval development of 30 days in the plankton, biophysical modelling did not detect migration between the islands. Furthermore, self-recruitment shows interannual variation ranging from 5 to 10% of the total released larvae.
5. Whereas the genetic data showed a lack of population genetic structure but low connectivity of K. sandwicensis between EI and SG, the biophysical modelling showed null movement of particles between the islands. Stochastic movement of larvae or adults could explain the pattern observed, with rafting as an example. These low-frequency and stochastic movements may be important in maintaining the cohesiveness between EI and SG.