Pocono mesic till barrens in retreat: topography,fire and forest contagion effects

The Pocono mesic till barrens (PMTB) are a unique assemblage of fire-maintained shrub communities that support numerous rare species. Historically these barrens covered a large area in the vicinity of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA. However, due largely to regional fire suppression instituted in the early 1960s, over 70% of the area covered by barrens succeeded to fire-intolerant forest that does not support the rare species. We investigated the influence of forest proximity on barrens succession across three geomorphic types during periods of high fire frequency and fire suppression, testing the hypothesis that forest processes such as seed rain, shading, and detrital enrichment of soils enhances barrens succession through a contagion effect. Evidence of a forest contagion effect should be shown by increased rates of barrens succession with increasing proximity to the nearest forest edge. In order to detect a forest contagion effect, barrens persistence and barrens succession were modeled in proximity zones of 0-50 m, 50-100 m, 100-200 m, and greater than 200 m from the nearest forest edge. We used existing GIS data layers for fire, geomorphology, and vegetation distribution in 1938, 1963, and 1992. The layers were modified and overlain using ArcView software to determine persistence and succession rates for each unique combination of layers in each proximity zone from 1938 to 1963 (pre-fire suppression) and 1963 to 1992 (post-fire suppression). ANCOVA results indicate that proximity to the nearest forest edge significantly affected barrens persistence rates in both time periods, but succession rates were significantly affected in 1938 to 1963 only. Twenty-eight percent of the 1938 barrens succeeded to forest by 1963; 56% of the 1963 barrens became forest by 1992. Results support previous findings that barrens persistence is enhanced by increased fire frequency, and that barrens persist longer where they overlie flat glacial till than on other geomorphology types.     

蛋鸡血浆VLDL浓度二世代双向选择对体脂沉积的影响

以雅发褐壳蛋鸡为素材,在零世代和一世代双向选择的基础上,应用血浆极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL)浓度对体腹脂性状继续进行双向选择,比较了高低脂系间体组成的差异,并研究了中后期血浆VLDL浓度与上述性状的相关程度,进一步探讨了血浆VLDL浓度的选择效应。结果表明:二世代母鸡中后期高脂系体重较高(P<0.05),血浆VLDL浓度与体重呈极显著的表型相关(P<0.01)和中等程度的正遗传相关。62周龄高脂系的腹脂率显著高于低脂系(P<0.05),说明运用血浆VLDL浓度经过二个世代的双向选择,使产蛋鸡中后期体重降低,且对腹脂沉积产生了一定的影响。     

捕食线虫性真菌18S rDNA基因序列与种系发生关系研究

对捕食线虫性真菌——少孢节丛孢菌A1分离株(Arthrobotrys oligospora A1)的18S rDNA基因序列进行了研究。结果表明：其18S rDNA全基因序列为1769bp，在进化树上与同种国外分离株A．oligospora var oligospora 1最为接近，同源性为94．7％。这与二者都具有捕食性结构—菌网的特点相一致。证实捕食线虫性真菌的捕食性结构与捕食线虫性真菌种系发生有关。从少孢节丛孢菌3个分离菌株(Arthrobotrys oligospora A1、A．oligospora 1、A．oligospora2)的进化树及同源性来看。不同国家地区的丛孢菌属(Arthrobotrys)分离株确实存在差异。     

Critical periods for weed control in cotton in Turkey

Field studies were conducted over 4 years in south‐eastern Turkey in 1999–2002 to establish the critical period for weed control (CPWC). This is the period in the crop growth cycle during which weeds must be controlled to prevent unacceptable yield losses. A quantitative series of treatments of both increasing duration of weed interference and of the weed‐free period were applied. The beginning and end of CPWC were based on 5% acceptable yield loss levels which were determined by fitting logistic and Gompertz equations to relative yield data representing increasing duration of weed interference and weed‐free period, estimated as growing degree days (GDD). Total weed dry weight increased with increasing time prior to weed removal. Cotton heights were reduced by prolonged delays in weed removal in all treatments in all 4 years. The beginning of CPWC ranged from 100 to 159 GDD, and the end from 1006 to 1174 GDD, depending on the weed species present and their densities. Practical implications of this study are that herbicides (pre‐emergence residual or post‐emergence), or other weed control methods should be used in Turkey to eliminate weeds from 1–2 weeks post‐crop emergence up to 11–12 weeks. Such an approach would keep yield loss levels below 5%.     

Molecular Identification of a New Member of the Clover Proliferation Phytoplasma Group (16SrVI) Associated with Centaurea Solstitialis Virescence in Italy

In the United States, yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an annual invasive weed with Mediterranean origins. Malformed plants displaying witches' broom, fasciations, abortion of buds and flower virescence symptoms were observed in central Italy. Attempts to transmit the causal agent from the natural yellow starthistle host to periwinkle by grafting, resulted in typical symptoms of a phytoplasma, i.e. yellowing and shortening of internodes. The detection of phytoplasmas was obtained from both symptomatic yellow starthistle and periwinkle by the specific amplification of their 16S-23S rRNA genes. PCR amplification of extracted DNA from symptomatic plant samples gave a product of expected size. Asymptomatic plants did not give positive results. An amplicon obtained by direct PCR with universal primers P1/P7 was cloned and sequenced. The homology search using CLUSTALW program showed more than 99% similarity with Illinois elm yellows (ILEY) phytoplasma from Illinois (United States) and 97% with Brinjal little leaf (BLL) phytoplasma from India. Digestion of the nested-PCR products with restriction enzymes led to restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns referable to those described for phytoplasmas belonging to the clover proliferation (16S-VI) group. Since this is a previously undescribed disease, the name Centaurea solstitialis virescence has been tentatively assigned to it. This is a new phytoplasma with closest relationships to ILEY and BLL, but distinguishable from them on the basis of 16S rDNA homology, the different associated plant hosts and their geographical origin.     

复方中草药"毒菌杀"对禽大肠杆菌及鸡白痢沙门氏菌的体外抑菌试验

观察了复方中草药“毒菌杀”的安全性及其对禽大肠杆菌及鸡白痢沙门氏菌的体外抑菌情况。结果发现“毒菌杀”安全性高，组成“毒菌杀”的各单味中药及其合剂对大肠杆菌的最低抑菌浓度MIC(g/mL)分别为板蓝根0．05、穿心莲0．05、黄芪0．025、黄柏0．05、柴胡0．05、生地0．05、甘草0．05、当归0．025，“毒菌杀”方剂为0．05；对沙门氏菌的MIC分别为板蓝根0．05、穿心莲0．025、黄芪0．025、黄柏0．05、柴胡0．025、生地0．05、甘草0．025、当归0．05，“毒菌杀”方剂为0．025；而牛胆汁对这两种致病菌的最低抑菌浓度分别为2％和1％。说明“毒菌杀”方剂对大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌具有明显的抑制作用。     

添加不同酵母培养物对瘤胃纤维分解菌群和纤维素酶活的影响

用3种酵母培养物(YC- 1、YC 2和YC- 3)分别饲喂4头带有永久性瘤胃瘘管的肉牛,研究培养物对瘤胃发酵、纤维分解酶活性和3种纤维分解菌数量的影响,结果表明:YC 2处理的乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和总 VFA浓度显著高于对照组(P<0 .05),YC 1和YC 3处理的乙酸/丙酸比例显著降低(P<0 .01);各处理均能显著提高瘤胃内羧甲基纤维素酶、水杨苷酶和木聚糖酶的活性(P<0 .01);各处理都显著提高黄化瘤胃球菌的相对比例(P<0 .01),16SrRNA特异性寡聚核苷酸探针杂交法分析测定结果表明 3 种纤维分解菌在瘤胃细菌中所占比例为 3. 80%±0 .2%。     

Ranking cows’ methane emissions under commercial conditions with sniffers versus respiration chambers

This study assessed the ranking of dairy cows using individual-level correlations for methane (CH₄) emission on-farm using sniffers and in respiration chambers. In total 20 lactating dairy cows, ten Holstein and ten Jerseys were recorded using sniffers installed in milking robots for three weeks of lactation and subsequently in respiration chambers (RC) where they were each recorded on three occasions within the RC. Bivariate linear mixed models were used to determine the individual-level correlations (r_I) between sniffer and RC phenotypes as proxies for genetic correlations. Despite differences in feeding and management, the predicted CH₄ production from sniffers correlated highly with RC CH₄ production r_I?=?0.77?±?0.18 and CH₄ breath concentration correlated nearly as well with RC CH₄ production r_I?=?0.75?±?0.20. These correlations between sniffers on-farm and RC demonstrate the potential of sniffers measurements as large-scale indicator traits for CH₄ emissions in dairy cattle.     

Evaluation of β‐carotene assimilation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Although leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are commonly kept under human care, their vitamin requirements are largely unknown. Many invertebrate preys display a low vitamin A concentration; thus, gut‐loading insects with vitamin A or carotenoids is a common practice. The objective of this prospective experimental study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with β‐carotene, including prey gut‐loading, leads to sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage and prevents epithelial squamous metaplasia development in leopard geckos. Ten clinically healthy female leopard geckos were randomly divided in two groups with various supplementations: a group receiving vitamin A supplementation and a group receiving β‐carotene. Insects were gut‐loaded continuously with a supplement containing vitamin A or β‐carotene, depending on the group. Oral supplementation with cod liver oil or carrot juice was administered weekly to each lizard from “vitamin A group” and “carotenoid group” respectively. After 10 weeks of supplementation, surgical hepatic biopsies were obtained in three geckos of each group while the two remaining geckos were euthanized to undergo complete necropsy. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was determined for each lizard (n = 10) by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography. Histopathology revealed hepatocellular vacuolization and vitellogenic follicles in five females. Epithelial squamous metaplasia was not observed in any of the geckos. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was significantly higher in the carotenoid‐supplemented group than in the vitamin A‐supplemented group (p = 0.03). Our results suggest that in leopard geckos, dietary supplementation with β‐carotene allows sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage.