The loss of genetic diversity in Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus,Dumeril) as revealed by DNA fingerprinting

• 1. Dabry's sturgeon, a large, long‐lived migratory fish is endemic to the Yangtze River. Over‐fishing and habitat destruction have caused large‐scale declines in natural stocks in the last two decades.
• 2. Examining patterns of genetic diversity has become an integral component of many management plans for endangered species. DNA fingerprinting was applied to detect genetic diversity in Dabry's sturgeon collected in 1958–1959, 1980–1981 and 1998–1999.
• 3. Studies on direct genetic parameters (genetic variability, hypervariable loci and heterozygosity) and indirect parameters (band‐sharing coefficient and allelic frequency) showed that the continuous decline in wild populations has caused the loss of genetic diversity in present‐day sturgeon.
• 4. The present‐day populations have the lowest genetic variability; thus, effective management is needed to preserve genetic diversity.
• 5. A conservation strategy is urgently required, comprising artificial rearing facilities coupled with breeding management plans.

Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermography and ultrasonography in back pain diagnosis of equine athletes

The object of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of thermography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar lesions in Quarter Horse athletes and associate the different types of lesions found with the athletic modality practiced. Twenty-four horses were admitted to the Surgery Service for Large Animals of the Veterinary and Animal Science Faculty, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil, with complaints of back problems. All the horses were submitted for physical examinations to confirm the existence of thoracolumbar alterations and then for thermography and ultrasonography. Thermography was used to map the lesioned areas of this region and ultrasonography for lesion characterization. The lesions found were supraspinous desmitis, interspinous desmitis, dorsal intervertebral osteoarthritis, and impingement of the spinous processes or kissing spines. The existence of a relation between the type of event practiced by the horse and the type of lesion found was determined. In horses that competed in the barrel race, a predominance of lesions in the thoracic caudal, thoracolumbar, and cranial lumbar regions occurred, with intervertebral osteoarthritis and interspinous desmitis being the most common. In cutting horses, most of the lesions were observed in the caudal lumbar region, whereas horses competing in reining showed a preferential location for lesions in the middle lumbar, with a predominance of supraspinous desmitis and myositis. Thermography associated with ultrasonography was shown to be efficient in the diagnosis of the thoracolumbar lesions of these horses.     

Nutrient-flow wick culture system for potted plant production: System characteristics and plant growth

To compliment the current subirrigation systems used for production of potted plants, a nutrient-flow wick culture (NFW) system was developed and compared with other subirrigation systems, such as an ebb and flow culture (EBB) system and a nutrient-stagnant wick culture (NSW) system in relation to their system characteristics and plant growth. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cv. New Alter) was cultivated in a 6 cm pot for 10 weeks in each subirrigation system. The water-absorption pattern of the medium, water content of the medium, water loss, algal growth, salt-buildup and plant growth under various culture systems were observed. The water contents of medium under the NFW and EBB systems showed fluctuations from 30 to 40% and from 50 to 60% (by volume), respectively, whereas the water content under the NSW system gradually increased to over 40% without fluctuation. Relative to other systems, the water loss in the NFW system was 50–70% due to the reduction in the evaporation from the surfaces of the trough and medium. Algae appeared in the NSW system because the nutrient solution was always stagnant in the trough, while it was not observed under the NFW system. The dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution was the highest during the irrigation period and the salinity in the medium was the lowest in the NFW system. With regard to system characteristics, the NFW system was simple, water-saving and efficient. In addition, the growth of kalanchoes in the NFW system was similar to those in the NSW and EBB systems at an irrigation frequency of five times a day.     

Are hedgerows effective corridors between fragments of woodland habitat? An evidence-based approach

Anthropogenic modification of the countryside has resulted in much of the landscape consisting of fragments of once continuous habitat. Increasing habitat connectivity at the landscape-scale has a vital role to play in the conservation of species restricted to such remnant patches, especially as species may attempt to track zones of habitat that satisfy their niche requirements as the climate changes. Conservation policies and management strategies frequently advocate corridor creation as one approach to restore connectivity and to facilitate species movements through the landscape. Here we examine the utility of hedgerows as corridors between woodland habitat patches using rigorous systematic review methodology. Systematic searching yielded 26 studies which satisfied the review inclusion criteria. The empirical evidence currently available is insufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of hedgerow corridors as a conservation tool to promote the population viability of woodland fauna. However, the studies did provide anecdotal evidence of positive local population effects and indicated that some species use hedgerows as movement conduits. More replicated and controlled field investigations or long-term monitoring are required in order to allow practitioners and policy makers to make better informed decisions about hedgerow corridor creation and preservation. The benefits of such corridors in regard to increasing habitat connectivity remain equivocal, and the role of corridors in mitigating the effects of climate change at the landscape-scale is even less well understood.     

Alteration of efferent system functions in noise-induced hearing loss patients

AIM:To investigate the changes of efferent system functions in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) patients and find out a method of clinic diagnosis for NIHL.METHODS:The amplitudes of distortion product otoacoustic emission were measured with and without contralateral broad-band noise using Celesta-503 otoacoustic emission analyzer. The efferent system functions were evaluated by the amplitudes of contralateral suppression.RESULTS:The contralateral suppressions in NIHL patients were significant lower than those in control group in low frequency (0.75 kHz and 1 kHz) of DP-gram and low level primary tone in 2 kHz input/output function. There were no significant differences in contralateral suppressions of 4 kHz and 6 kHz input/output function between NIHL patients and control group.CONCLUSION:The contralateral suppressions in NIHL patients are lower than those in normal hearing subjects and the measurements of efferent system functions could be used in early detection and clinic diagnosis for NIHL.     

采后操作对荔枝果实品质、失水与呼吸的影响

探讨了98℃热水处理、熏硫及结合酸浸等技术、包装方式与贮藏条件对‘黑叶’荔枝果实品质、失重与呼吸作用的影响。结果表明：热浸、熏硫结合酸浸处理可提高果皮酸度,对果肉可溶性固形物含量与酸度无影响;无包装自然放置与有孔或无孔塑料盒包装相比,无孔塑料盒包装的果实失重显著减缓;贮藏于4℃的热处理果实与对照果实有相似的失重曲线;无论包装方式与贮藏环境的温湿度如何,果实均不存在呼吸高峰;呼吸速率在贮藏初期随着果实失重的增加而下降,后期变化趋于平稳。     

坡长对径流及侵蚀的影响

张家口市水保试验站坡长小区五年观测资料表明,降雨强度影响径流量、侵蚀量随坡长的变化。降雨强度较小时,径流量不能用坡长与降雨强度的乘积代替,侵蚀量随坡长增加较慢。降雨强度较大时,径流量可用坡长与降雨强度的乘积代替,侵蚀量方程中坡长指数较大。     

褐飞虱不同为害状损失率测定研究

本研究旨在为褐飞虱为害损失的调查提供直观、准确的参考依据。研究表明,褐飞虱各种田间受害状都有产量损失,各症状的产量损失率为２５．８％～９４．０％。以百穗实粒干重为统计标准,Ｆ＝１８８．７０４＊＊,达极显著差异水平。ＳＳＲ多重比较,不同水稻被害状之间损失梯度明显。产量因素剖析表明,褐飞虱的为害主要是导致结实率和千粒重显著降低。文中举例说明了研究结果的应用方法。     

帽儿山天然次生林融雪径流可溶性有机碳时间动态及垂直分布

融雪期是北方地区可溶性有机碳(DOC)通过融雪径流从陆地生态系统向河流输出的关键时期,因此观测融雪径流DOC动态对分析流域碳流失至关重要。在帽儿山生态站选取东北东部典型天然次生林建立25 m×25 m的水量平衡场,测定分析2014年融雪期不同土层(5、35、65和95 cm)融雪径流DOC含量和通量的时间动态和垂直分布规律。结果表明: 1) 该融雪期土壤水量输入和输出分别为74.2和15.6 mm,径流率高达21%;融雪期DOC输出量与冬季大气输入量基本持平,分别为0.25和0.22 g/m2。2)高峰期DOC含量与其瞬时流量的相关性随土层而变。5和35 cm土层DOC含量与瞬时流量之间均无显著关系(P0.05);65 cm土层则表现出弱负对数关系(R2=0.29,P0.05),而95 cm土层呈现显著线性正相关(R2=0.43,P0.05)。不同土层DOC瞬时通量与瞬时流量之间均极显著正相关(R20.9,P0.001),且产流量越大的土层,其正相关回归方程的斜率也越大,表明水文驱动土壤DOC流失。3)融雪径流产流量和输出DOC通量大小均表现出35 cm5 cm95 cm65 cm土层趋势,其中5和35 cm土层是DOC的主要输出层,占总输出量的70%,而在融雪高峰期可高达90%。由于土壤的滞留作用,DOC含量波动范围随土层加深而向低浓度收敛。