Heavy grazing effects on stem elongation and internode allometry: Insights from a natural pasture grass

Limited plant stem elongation is hypothesized to be the primary cause of decreased plant growth in response to long‐term heavy grazing (LHG). However, it remains largely unknown how LHG‐induced changes in stem elongation are mediated by internode traits. Accordingly, we experimentally investigated the effects of LHG (defined as twice the stocking rate recommended by the local government) on plant stem elongation and internode allometry in Leymus chinensis in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Plant size and internode traits, including internode length (IL), internode diameter (ID), and internode number (IN), from plant individuals were measured according to their phytomer position from base to apex. The results revealed that IN and their distributions were changed in response to LHG. Although LHG negatively affected IL and ID of each L. chinensis internode from base to apex and eventually stem length, the plasticity index of IL and ID increased initially and then decreased from the lowermost to the uppermost internode in response to LHG. These contrasting responses of internode traits were result of allometry between internode traits determined by both LHG and internode position. Ultimately, IL and IN were identified to be key traits influencing stem length reduction under LHG conditions and explaining 52.51% and 47.49% of variation in stem length, respectively. Overall, our findings suggest that the limitation of L. chinensis stem elongation induced by LHG is mediated by the plasticity and allometry of internode traits. This result emphasizes the sensitivity of individual plants to LHG and is potentially valuable for optimal grassland management.     

Habitat fragmentation reduces plant fitness by disturbing pollination and modifying response to herbivory

In fragmented landscapes plant species are often confined to remnants of formerly more widespread habitats, with many of their populations being small and isolated. This study experimentally examined the effects of population size and isolation on pollination, herbivory and reproductive success in the forest herb Phyteuma spicatum (Campanulaceae). In an experiment in which population size and isolation were manipulated using plants from the same origin, population size positively affected pollinator visitation, but did not alter the generally high levels of herbivory. As a result, seed production was higher in large populations. Conversely, plants originating from 14 natural populations of varying size and degree of isolation did not differ in reproductive success when grown in the same environment, suggesting similar attractiveness to pollinators and reproductive potential. The intensity of herbivory, however, was higher in progeny of small populations, at least in terms of the proportion of biomass removed. In both experiments, there were no effects of population isolation. The results suggest (1) that small population size decreases reproductive success via direct negative effects on plant-pollinator interactions, (2) that this pattern is not offset by herbivory, but (3) that herbivory enforces fragmentation effects on pollination by further reducing the number of flowering individuals and (4) that habitat fragmentation may influence plant fitness by affecting plant response to herbivory. The effects of habitat fragmentation on plant populations in present-day landscapes are thus complex, illustrating the need for more integrated studies in conservation biology that take into account both mutualistic and antagonistic plant-animal interactions.     

Population impacts of endangered short-tailed albatross bycatch in the Alaskan trawl fishery

We conduct a decision analysis that explores the effects of trawl-related fishery mortality on achieving the population recovery goals for the US federally-endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus), proposed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A population model is constructed and its parameters estimated using data on counts of the numbers of albatross chicks and eggs at Torishima Island, Japan, where 83% of the world’s population of this species is found. Bayesian inference is used to assign probabilities to alternative plausible rates of fishing mortality and as the basis for population projections with different levels of trawl mortality to determine their effects on achieving the population recovery goals. The analyses of the impact of trawl mortality on the Torishima short-tailed albatross population suggests that exceeding the current expected incidental take in the Alaskan groundfish trawl fishery, two in any 5-year period, by as much as a factor of 10 would have little impact on when the proposed recovery goals for the species are achieved. A quantitative approach that addresses uncertainty, such as that outlined in this study, could aid the process to evaluate allowable limits in light of species recovery goals by addressing both take limits and recovery goals within the same framework.     

Bottom-up down from the top: Honeydew as a carbon source for soil organisms

Honeydew produced by aphids is a well-studied food source for mutualistic ants. Although considerable amounts drop onto the soil surface there are hardly any studies dealing with the potential effects of this additional C source for soil organisms, particularly those living at the soil surface. We studied this question by simulating honeydew and investigating plots under Populus canescens formerly infested with aphids on two ruderal sites differing in soil organic matter content and vegetation cover. The simulated honeydew input increased microbial biomass with some delay in week 10. Both natural and simulated honeydew raised the activity densities of an epigeic Collembola taxon, the Bourletiellidae, but not of the dominant Hemisotoma thermophila. The honeydew effect varied over time and with the site, and was more pronounced at the nutrient-poor site for Collembola, but not for microbial biomass. Ant consumption reduced the amount of honeydew reaching the soil surface by 50%. The activity density of H. thermophila was negatively related to ants and spiders, hinting at a top-down control. Honeydew clearly acts as a bottom-up force for soil organisms, which is however only part of the complex network connecting the food webs of primary producers and decomposers.     

Computer simulation of a selection strategy to accommodate genotype environment interactions in a wheat recurrent selection programme

Multi-environment trials (METs) are used in plant breeding programmes to evaluate genotypes (lines/families) as a basis for selection on expected performance (yield and/or quality) in a target population of environments (TPE). When a large component of the genotype environment (G × E) interactions results from crossover interactions, samples of environments in METs that deviate from the TPE provide a suboptimal basis for selection of genotypes on performance expected in the TPE. To adjust for the negative effects of these deviations, a selection strategy that weights the data from the MET according to their expected frequency of occurrence in the TPE (i.e. a weighted selection strategy) was investigated. Computer simulation methodology was used to obtain preliminary information on the weighted selection strategy and compare it to the traditional unweighted selection strategy for a range of MET scenarios and G × E interaction models. The evaluation of the weighted selection strategy was conducted in context with the germplasm enhancement programme (GEP) of the Northern Wheat Improvement Programme in Australia. The results indicated that when the environments sampled in the MET matched those expected in the TPE, the unweighted and weighted selection strategies achieved a similar response to selection in the TPE. However, when the environments sampled in the MET did not match the expectations in the TPE and a large component of the G × E interactions resulted from crossover interactions, the weighted selection strategy achieved a greater response to selection in the TPE. The advantage of the weighted strategy increased as the amount of crossover G × E interaction increased or fewer environments were sampled in the METs.     

Combining ability for yield and plant phenology in plantain-derived populations

Genetic enhancement of Musa spp. has aimed at producing hybrids with high yield, short stature, fast crop cycling, and disease resistance through interspecific and interploidy crosses. Progeny testing for parental selection has seldom been carried out in Musa and little is known on combining ability and heterosis in this species. A 5 × 5 factorial mating design was used to estimate components of phenotypic variance in 4 x-2 x hybrid populations and to determine the combining ability of their progenitors for yield and associated traits. General combining ability was much greater than specific combining ability for these traits, and, therefore, only little recombinative heterosis could be expected upon crossing. Thus, the 4 x-2 x breeding scheme should aim to accumulate favourable alleles in 4 x and 2 x clones through recurrent selection. Such clones could be used per se or in crosses aimed at restoring the seedlessness character in the progeny due to female sterility in a triploid background. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interspecific interactions of ungulates in European forests: an overview

Mammalian herbivores vary in the degree to which they browse, graze and cause physical disturbance, and so vary in the effects they have on the structure and composition of forest ecosystems. To create predictive models of the interactions of forest ecosystems with herbivore communities, an appreciation of the interactions between the species of herbivore themselves is necessary. This paper reviews interspecific interactions of ungulates, methods used in studying them, and seeks to identify areas to which future research should be directed in the context of European forest systems. Methods that have been used to provide information on interactions include: comparative resource studies, niche theory, physiological and anatomical analyses, modeling and foraging theory, and population studies. The most commonly reported types of interactions appear to be competition and facilitation. Behavioural and social interactions between species are potentially important, but evidence for these is scarce and often anecdotal. It is suggested that there may be considerable potential for ungulates to interact in European forests which are often significantly altered from their natural state. Future research should aim at refining the theoretical understanding of interspecific interactions, particularly between ungulates with different feeding ecologies. The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) has a major impact on forest ecosystems and is increasing its range throughout Europe. However, there is evidence that it may be displaced or out-competed by a number of ungulate species, and it is suggested as being research priority to quantify these effects.     

Influence of the Color,Shape, and Size of the Clay Model on Arthropod Interactions in Turfgrass

Many predatory arthropods occur naturally in turfgrass, and they provide adequate control of lepidopteran pests, such as fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Recording predation is challenging under field conditions because predators rarely leave any evidence. Clay models were successfully employed for studying predation, and this technique is underutilized in turfgrass. Little is known about whether the characteristics of clay models, such as color, shape, and size, influence arthropod interactions in turfgrass. To improve the utility of clay models in turfgrass, the influence of the color, shape, and size of clay models on arthropod interactions was studied by exposing clay models during daytime and nighttime in a turfgrass field. The results showed that arthropods interacted with clay models, and various types of impressions were recorded, including paired marks, scratches, cuts, and pricks. Although the color of the clay model had no significant effects on arthropod interactions during the night, significantly greater numbers of impressions were noticed on the blue and green models than on the yellow models during the daytime. The caterpillar-shaped models captured significantly greater densities of impressions than the beetle-shaped models. Additionally, the number of impressions significantly increased with an increase in the size of the model regardless of shape.     

The contribution of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) breeding to whole pasture productivity under dairy cattle grazing in New Zealand. 1. Variation in yield,nutritive value and persistence-related traits

Perennial ryegrass (PRG, Lolium perenne L.) breeding effort in New Zealand (NZ) has increased since c. 1990, resulting in greater functional trait diversity (e.g. heading date, ploidy, and associated Epichloë endophyte strain) in commercial products. This study quantified the variation, associations and interactions in dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value and persistence-related traits among commercial cultivar-endophyte combinations released between 1973 and 2012, as a basis for assessing gains in value being delivered to the pasture-based livestock industries. Twenty-four or 28 combinations were compared over 3 years in two trials in each of two regions: Waikato in northern NZ (dryland), and Canterbury in central eastern South Island (irrigated). Cultivar-endophyte combinations were sown in mixtures with white clover, and pastures were intensively grazed 8–11 times per year by dairy cows. Principal Component Analysis identified 4 distinct clusters for the DM yield variables and for metabolisable energy (ME) content in each of the four trials. A broadly-adapted group of three late-season flowering, AR37-infected diploids with NZ and Spanish breeding backgrounds dominated the highest-yielding clusters. Tetraploids dominated the high ME content clusters. Interactions with region were observed throughout the data set: the strongest of these was driven by endophyte strain effects in Waikato. High-yielding cultivar-endophyte combinations in these trials were also generally high-yielding in the standard cultivar merit testing system operated in New Zealand, as interpreted via the DairyNZ Forage Value Index. However, alignment was poorer for medium- and lower-yielding cultivar-endophyte combinations. Several implications for forage evaluation methods and end-user industries are identified.     

The nature and consequences of co-infections in tilapia: A review

Co-infections commonly arise when two or multiple different pathogens infect the same host, either as simultaneous or as secondary concurrent infection. This potentiates their pathogenic effects and leads to serious negative consequences on the exposed host. Numerous studies on the occurrence of the bacterial, parasitic, fungal and viral co-infections were conducted in various tilapia species. Co-infections have been associated with serious negative impacts on susceptible fish because they increase the fish susceptibility to diseases and the likelihood of outbreaks in the affected fish. Co-infections can alter the disease course and increase the severity of disease through synergistic and, more rarely, antagonistic interactions. In this review, reports on the synergistic co-infections and their impacts on the affected tilapia species are highlighted. Additionally, their pathogenic mechanisms are briefly discussed. Tilapia producers should be aware of the possible occurrence of co-infections and their effects on the affected tilapia species and in particular of the clinical signs and course of the disease. To date, there is still limited information regarding the pathogenicity mechanisms and pathogen interactions during these co-infections. This is generally due to low awareness regarding co-infections, and in many cases, a dominant pathogen is perceived to be of vital importance and hence becomes the target of treatment while the treatment of the co-infectious agents is neglected. This review article aimed at raising awareness regarding co-infections and helping researchers and fish health specialists pay greater attention to these natural cases, leading to increased research and more consistent diagnosis of co-infectious outbreaks in order to improve control strategies to protect tilapia when infected with multiple pathogens.