Moorland restoration aids the reassembly of associated phytophagous insects

A change in the vegetation of UK moorland from Calluna vulgaris-dominated heath to Molinia caerulea- or Nardus stricta-dominated grassland is frequently deemed undesirable on economic and biodiversity grounds. Moorland vegetation restoration is an increasingly practiced management option. However there has been little research on the effectiveness of such management for aiding the restoration of other aspects of moorland biodiversity such as associated insect populations.We sampled Hemiptera and Lepidoptera assemblages from restored, degraded and C. vulgaris-dominated (target) moorland at eight restoration sites in England and Scotland. Vegetation assemblages and additional environmental variables were sampled at the same locations.Vegetation restoration aided the reassembly of moorland insects to a variable extent. Hemiptera restoration success was greatest at mechanically restored sites dominated by C. vulgaris. In addition to treatment, latitude best explained variation in the Hemiptera assemblage. A range of plant species, all either dwarf shrubs or graminoids, acted as further determinants. Lepidoptera restoration success was correlated most closely with the success of restoring the full diversity of the vegetation assemblage and was highest at sites restored by grazing control.The results demonstrate that vegetation restoration brings wider biodiversity benefits and that the form these take may depend on the restoration method used and consequent characteristics of the resultant vegetation assemblage.     

FC‐39 Successful management of canine atopic dermatitis using a plant extract: a randomized,double‐blinded,placebo‐controlled trial

This study evaluated the efficacy of Phytopica^TM, a proprietary blend of standardised plant extracts, in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). One hundred twenty dogs with perennial AD were recruited on the basis of history and clinical signs, and a positive intradermal allergen test or rFcεRIα serology to perennial allergens. Other pruritic dermatoses were eliminated by antimicrobial treatment, skin scrapings, Sarcoptes serology, flea control and a 6‐week food trial. Exclusion criteria included antimicrobial therapy within 7 days, antihistamines within 14 days, oral/topical glucocorticoids or cyclosporin within 28 days, and parenteral glucocorticoids, essential fatty acids or immunotherapy within 56 days of entry into the study. Dogs [minimum Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) = 25] were randomly allocated to receive placebo, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg Phytopica^TM daily for 12 weeks. Their CADESI was assessed every 4 weeks. A modified intention‐to‐treat population was analysed. The mean reductions in CADESI scores at the end of treatment compared to baseline were 4.4% (100 mg/kg; n = 30), 23.4% (200 mg/kg; n = 29, P < 0.01), 8.5% (400 mg/kg; n = 29) and 3.9% (placebo; n = 29). For more severely affected dogs (minimum CADESI ≥ 50 at baseline), there was significant reduction in mean CADESI score (29.3%, P = 0.038) only in the 200 mg/kg treatment group (n = 14). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Phytopica^TM is an effective nonsteroidal treatment for canine AD. Funding: Phytopharm plc.     

Effects of preslaughter handling on the behaviour, blood biochemistry and carcases of farmed red deer

Eight groups of six red deer (four groups of males and four groups of females) were held overnight in an unfamiliar paddock, after which they were moved into a holding pen and slaughtered sequentially by stunning with a captive bolt pistol in a restraining pen. On entering the restraining pen, half the deer in each group were stunned immediately, but the other half were stunned after 10 minutes. Deer spent much of the initial period in the holding pen standing stationary in 'alert' postures, but became less alert over time. A significantly higher proportion of males than females were observed in alert 'head-up' postures in the restraining pen. Deer held in the restraining pen for 10 minutes had significantly higher plasma cortisol concentrations than those which were stunned immediately. Females had a significantly higher glycogen concentration postmortem in both the liver and semimembranosus muscle than males, and deer held in the restraining pen for 10 minutes had a significantly lower liver glycogen concentration than deer which were slaughtered immediately. Males had significantly higher semimembranosus muscle pHu values than females, although the differences were small, and of the 14 deer with pHu values above 6-0, 11 were males.     

Effects of l-Ascorbic Acid, α-Tocopherol and Co-culture on In Vitro Developmental Potential of Porcine Cumulus Cells Free Oocytes

The maturation and developmental potential on cumulus-cell-free oocytes is of great importance theoretically and practically. The present study was to investigate the effects of l -ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and co-culture on in vitro developmental potential of porcine denuded oocytes (DOs). Porcine DOs were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with vitamin C (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 μM) and vitamin E (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250 μ m ), respectively. And they were also co-cultured with dispersed cumulus cells (group CCscoculture), intact cumulus cells oocyte complexes (COCs) (group COCscoculture), and COCs whose oocytes were removed (group OOXcoculture), respectively. After 44 h incubation, the maturation rates, cleavage rates and blastocyst rates after parthenogenetic activation in three experiments mentioned above were collected and analysed, respectively. L -Ascorbic acid promoted porcine DOs in vitro maturation and blastocyt development after parthenogenetic activation while α-tocopherol did not increase the in vitro maturation rates, but improved the blastocyst rate. None of the three co-culture manner promoted the in vitro maturation and the cleavage of porcine DOs after parthenogenetic activation, but all the co-culture manners improved the blastocyst rates. Both Vitamin C and E enhance the in vitro developmental potential of porcine DOs. Co-culture increases the developmental potential of porcine DOs.     

Long-lasting prevention against blowfly strike using the insect growth regulator dicyclanil

OBJECTIVE: To assess a ready-to-use formulation of dicyclanil to prevent blowfly strike on Merino sheep under Australian conditions. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trials conducted in an environment house and in the field. PROCEDURE: Two environment house trials were used to measure the protection against flystrike provide by a jetting or a ready-to-use 5% spray-on formulation of dicyclanil over 22 and 31 weeks respectively. Oviposition and strikes were recorded weekly for each sheep. In two field trials the occurrence of strike in Merino sheep treated off-shears or in long wool with dicyclanil or with cyromazine was compared for up to 38 weeks after treatment. Efficacy was assessed by calculating the cumulative percentage of sheep struck. RESULTS: Under environment house conditions, sheep jetted with dicyclanil at 1.50, 0.75 and 0.30 g per sheep developed 0, 8 and 9 strikes respectively during the 22 weeks of the trial, whereas there were 358 strikes present in the placebo group. Sheep sprayed with dicyclanil at 2.25, 1.50 and 0.75 g per sheep developed 5, 11 and 29 strikes respectively between weeks 15 and 31 after treatment, whereas there were 185 strikes present in the untreated controls. In field trials the cumulative percentage of sheep struck reached 1% between weeks 12 to 13 after sheep had been treated with cyromazine. Sheep treated with dicyclanil reached the 1% limit at week 21 after treatment. CONCLUSION: Under Australian field conditions, a ready-to-use 5% spray-on formulation of dicyclanil applied off-shears or to long wool protected Merino sheep from blowfly strike for a period of at least 20 weeks.