Bats adjust temporal parameters of echolocation pulses but not those of communication calls in response to traffic noise

Many studies based on acute short‐term noise exposure have demonstrated that animals can adjust their vocalizations in response to ambient noise. However, the effects of chronic noise over a relatively long time scale of multiple days remain largely unclear. Bats rely mainly on acoustic signals for perception of environmental and social communication. Nearly all previous studies on noise‐induced vocal adjustments have focused on echolocation pulse sounds. Relatively little is known regarding the effects of noise on social communication calls. Here, we examined the dynamic changes in the temporal parameters of echolocation and communication vocalizations of Vespertilio sinensis when exposed to traffic noise over multiple days. We found that the bats started to modify their echolocation vocalizations on the fourth day of noise exposure, with an increase of 42–91% in the total number of pulse sequences per day. Under noisy conditions, the number of pulses within a pulse sequence decreased by an average of 17.2%, resulting in a significantly slower number of pulses/sequence (P < 0.001). However, there was little change in the duration of a pulse sequence. These parameters were not significantly adjusted in most communication vocalizations under the noise condition (all P > 0.05), except that the duration decreased and the number of syllables/sequences increased in 1 type of communicative vocalization (P < 0.05). This study suggests that bats routinely adjust temporal parameters of echolocation but rarely of communication vocalizations in response to noise condition.     

Genetic parameters for abnormal sucking traits in Austrian Fleckvieh heifers

Cross‐sucking and intersucking are considered abnormal behaviours in cattle and constitute a common problem in dairy farming. Cross‐sucking in calves is defined as sucking any body parts of another calf whereas intersucking in heifers and cows is defined as sucking the udder or udder area. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variability for abnormal sucking behaviour by estimating genetic parameters and examining individual differences between sires with large progeny groups. By means of a questionnaire, cattle breeders in the federal state Lower Austria were requested to identify all currently kept animals which are known of either inter‐ or cross‐sucking (both defined as the same binary trait ‘sucking’ with 0 and 1 referring to the absence and presence of this abnormal behaviour) or allowing sucking (also treated as a binary trait, scored as 1 if an animal was known of allowing herd mates to suck and 0 otherwise). Records of 1222 farms and 13 332 dual purpose Simmental females aged between 21 and 700 days were investigated applying a linear animal model with fixed herd × year × season and random genetic animal effect and a threshold sire model with the herd × year × season effect being treated as random. In total, 8.6% and 4.1% of all calves/heifers were observed sucking and allowing sucking, respectively. Heritabilities of 0.040 ± 0.014 and 0.007 ± 0.006 (linear animal model) and 0.116 ± 0.041 and 0.026 ± 0.024 (threshold model) were found for the traits sucking and allowing sucking, respectively. Breeding values were estimated applying the same models for the trait sucking. Taking all 254 sires into account, the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients between breeding values estimated by linear animal and sire threshold model were 0.86 and 0.80. Thus, little difference was observed between the two methods.     

月季种质资源花色基础研究

运用测色仪对227个月季种质资源花色表型进行分类,并运用紫外分光光度计测定总类黄酮,探讨二者之间的相关性。结果表明:在a~*和b~*二维象限图上,7类色系主要集中分布在Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅳ象限,在第Ⅲ象限(蓝色)没有分布,花瓣正面颜色分布较为集中、部分橙红色和深红色品种的反面花色分布较为离散;7个色系的明度均为L~(*B)L~(*F),绝大多数色系的颜色参数a~(*F)/b~(*F)/C~(*F)a~(*B)/b~(*B)/C~(*B),并且玫红色、紫红色、橙红色和深红色的正反面花色a~*、b~*、C~*差异显著;各个色系TA之间差异显著(P0.05),深红色TA含量最高。而TF含量,除了深红色和紫红色差异显著外,其他色系之间差异不显著(P0.05);TA与L~*呈负相关关系(P0.01),与花瓣L~(*B)相关性更大;TA与h°负相关(P0.01)。TA与a~*/C~*呈正相关关系(P0.01),与正面颜色参数值相关性更强,而TF与L~*/h°也呈负相关关系(P0.05)。说明TA和TF共同影响花色的呈现,并且花青苷含量的高低是影响花色深浅的主要因素。     

宁夏中部半干旱带不同灌溉量下的禾豆混播效果

以紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)和沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens)两种豆科牧草与无芒雀麦(Bromus inermis)、披碱草(Elymus dahuricus)、扁穗冰草(Agropyron cristatum)3种禾本科牧草为材料,在宁夏中部半干旱地区开展禾本科和豆科牧草单播及禾豆混播试验,设置3种水分梯度处理,即低灌溉量(484 mm)、中灌溉量(707 mm)、高灌溉量(1 160mm),对不同水分处理条件下单混播组合的产量、整株的碳同位素分辨率(Δ~(13)C)及光合作用参数等生理指标进行测定分析。结果表明,在宁夏中部干旱带有灌溉条件下进行禾豆牧草混播可以提高群体的产量和水分利用效率,其中沙打旺+披碱草混播组合产量及水分利用效率表现最好且Δ~(13)C值最高。不同水分处理对禾、豆牧草的株高、光合生理参数、产量及Δ~(13)C等有显著影响(P0.05)。牧草混播组合在高灌溉量时的产量、水分利用效率(WUE)及Δ~(13)C最高,低灌溉量条件下最低。在高灌溉量时Δ~(13)C、气孔导度(Gs)、叶温、株高等与产量和WUE的关系最为密切。因此,在高灌溉量时可将高Δ~(13)C作为筛选高产组合的标准,在低灌溉量时可将低Δ~(13)C作为筛选抗旱节水组合的理想指标。     

中国实验用小型猪血液指标正常参考值分析

本试验旨在建立中国农业大学教授专家团队培育的小型猪(命名为"中国实验用小型猪")血液生理和生化指标的正常参考值范围,为小型猪作为人类疾病模型提供参考依据。用全自动化生化仪测定1、3、6和12月龄中国实验用小型猪血液的9项生理指标和22项生化指标,对同一月龄不同性别的血液测定值进行单因素独立样本t检验。试验结果显示,中国实验用小型猪绝大多数血液生理生化指标同一月龄不同性别间差异不显著(P>0.05),仅红细胞体积分布宽度和肌酐等指标存在显著差异(P<0.05)。中国实验用小型猪血液指标与巴马小型猪、贵州小型猪和五指山小型猪相比,大多数血液测定值接近。试验结果表明,中国实验用小型血液生理生化指标稳定,与人类正常参考值相比,小型猪9项血液生理指标中有4项和人类相接近,22项血液生化指标中有15项和人类相接近。     

Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions

Genetic parameters of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated on the first generation data of a selection experiment aimed at improving piglet survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 5293 piglets for survival at birth, at day one after birth and during the entire nursing period, as well as individual birth weight and litter size, were recorded in an outdoor production system. Genetic effects of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included as fixed effects selection group, parity, gender, fostering, gestation length and month of farrowing and, alternatively, an adjustment for litter size. Direct genetic effects (i.e. the piglet's genetic potential) for piglet survival and birth weight were estimated separately, whereas maternal genetic and environmental effects could only be estimated for the given data structure in a combined litter effect. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth, at first day after birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.08, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.20, respectively. Genetic correlations among survival traits were in the range of 0.29 to 0.40 and indicate that these traits were mainly attributable to different genetic effects. Genetic correlations between direct effects of survival traits and birth weight ranged between 0.18 and 0.23 and were reduced when weights of stillborn piglets were omitted in the analysis or the traits were adjusted for litter size. The magnitudes of direct genetic effects of survival traits are substantially higher than estimates in the literature, which may indicate that these traits have a higher genetic influence under outdoor conditions. The use of birth weight in the multiple trait estimation provided important information for the estimation of survival traits due to its favourable genetic correlations with survival, its high heritability and its high information content as a continuously measured trait.     

选择产蛋量七个世代蛋壳及蛋品质的相关反应

以北京白鸡Ⅲ系七世代选择群和基础群为材料,估计选择产蛋量七个世代对蛋壳及蛋品质产生的相关反应.结果表明,经七个世代选择,产蛋量、蛋重、蛋白高度和哈夫单位都有所提高,而蛋壳厚度和蛋比重有一定程度下降.估计蛋壳厚度、蛋白高度和哈夫单位的遗传力分别是0.159 5、0.017 8和0.099 4.产蛋量与蛋白高度、哈夫单位和蛋壳厚度呈负遗传相关.选择产蛋量使蛋壳品质发生负向相关反应.     

Influence of lamb presence on daily rhythm in lactating ewes

Abstract

To determine the influence of lamb presence on the dairy ewes circadian system we monitored simultaneously 16 different parameters (insulin, glucose, total protein, urea, cholesterol, triglycerides, total bilirubine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate). Sixteen clinically healthy Sarda breed dairy ewes, divided into two groups, group A with their lambs and group B without their lambs, were used. Data collection was done at 3 hourly intervals over a 24-h period. Our results indicate that lamb presence influences ewes metabolism, inducing modifications of the acrophase and robustness of the rhythm of some physiological variables. Most variables lost the rhythmicity that they show in not pregnant and not lactating ewes. Lamb presence also influenced urea circadian rhythm: the time of urea peak was shifted from 16:00 to 12:24±00:35 when ewes were housed with lambs, and on triglycerides circadian rhythm.     

Development of a composite orthopaedic pain scale in horses

This study addresses development and validation of a composite multifactorial pain scale (CPS) in an experimental equine model of acute orthopaedic pain. Eighteen horses were allocated to control (sedation with/without epidural analgesia - mixture of morphine, ropivacaine, detomidine and ketamine) and experimental groups: amphotericin-B injection in the tarsocrural joint induced pain and analgesia was either i.v. phenylbutazone administered post-induction of synovitis, or pre-emptive epidural mixture, or a pre-emptive combination of the 2. Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was good (0.8相似文献   

Impact of cold-season grazing and supplementary feeding on rumen metabolic parameters and micro-organisms in the ewes of Gansu Alpine Fine Wool Sheep北大核心CSCD

An experiment was conducted to scientifically identify the appropriate feed for Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes in order to change the animals' breeding mode, which currently can only be mated at the age of 2.5 years due to insufficient nutritional supply. The experiment selected 48 12-month-old ewes and randomly divided them into group a (Diet 1), group b (Diet 2), group c (Diet 3), and a control group with no supplementary feeding. The feed test was run for 90 days. The rumen pH of groups a and b were very significantly higher (P<0.01) or group c significantly lower (P<0.05) than control group. The rumen ammonia nitrogen, protein nitrogen and total nitrogen of groups a, b and c were all higher than control group (P<0.01). The total volatile fatty acids of group a and b were all higher than the control group (P<0.01), group b significantly higher than group c (P<0.05). The molar ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group a was very significantly higher than control group (P<0.01), group b and c were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The molar ratio of butyric acid in group a was very significantly higher than group c (P<0.01). The ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group b was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The number of several rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and protozoa in groups a, b and c were very significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, this study shows that supplementary feeding can positively affect the rumen metabolic parameters and the number of several rumen microorganisms in Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes. In general, the effects of Diet 1 were the strongest, while Diet 2 also produced notable improvements. © 2018, Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.