Comparative functional anatomy of hindlimb muscles and bones with reference to aquatic adaptation of the sea otter

Although the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a complete aquatic species, spending its entire life in the ocean, it has been considered morphologically to be a semi-aquatic animal. This study aimed to clarify the unique hindlimb morphology and functional adaptations of E. lutris in comparison to other Mustelidae species. We compared muscle mass and bone measurements of five Mustelidae species: the sea otter, Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra), American mink (Neovison vison), Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) and Siberian weasel (M. sibirica). In comparison with the other 4 species, E. lutris possessed significantly larger gluteus, popliteus and peroneus muscles, but smaller adductor and ischiopubic muscles. The popliteus muscle may act as a medial rotator of the crus, and the peroneus muscle may act as an abductor of the fifth toe and/or the pronator of the foot. The bundles of the gluteus superficialis muscle of E. lutris were fused with those of the tensor fasciae latae muscle and gluteofemoralis muscles, and they may play a role in femur abduction. These results suggest that E. lutris uses the abducted femur, medially rotated crus, eversion of the ankle and abducted fifth digit or extended interdigital web as a powerful propulsion generator. Therefore, we conclude that E. lutris is a complete aquatic animal, possessing differences in the proportions of the hindlimb muscles compared with those in other semi-aquatic and terrestrial mustelids.     

Short-term transportation in a small vehicle affects the physiological state and subsequent water consumption in goats

We investigated the physiological effects on goats of transportation for one hour in a small truck. We also investigated food and water consumption after transportation. Eight adult goats (four castrated males and four ovariectomized females) were used. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose and free fatty acids increased significantly within 15 min of the start of transportation, and these higher levels were maintained throughout transportation. These results indicate that transportation in a small truck activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. Despite activation of the sympathetic nervous system, heart rate (HR) in subjected animals during transportation did not differ from during the control animals, which were housed in their usual pen. However, after the transportation had ended and the goats started to eat fodder, HR increased significantly. There was no difference in the amount of food consumption between the control and transported goats. Water consumption in the first three hours after transportation was significantly lower in the transported goats than in the controls for the equivalent period. In the subsequent three hours, however, the transported goats consumed more water than the controls. Consequently, the total water consumption of the transported goats did not differ from that of the controls during the six hours after transportation. In conclusion, short-term transportation with a small vehicle activated the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. HR was not increased during transportation, but after the transportation had ended HR in transported goats was higher than that in control goats. After transportation, goats had consumed the same amount of food as control goats, but water consumption during three hours after the transportation was lower than that of control goats.     

沙生针茅种子萌发特性及其影响因素

利用控制试验研究了不同温度蒸馏水水分、盐分胁迫等生态因子对沙生针茅种子萌发的影响,探索了沙生针茅种子对各种生态因子的适应性。结果表明:(1)蒸馏水浸泡种子,以60℃温水浸泡、自然降温至常温12h最好;(2)低温处理与未经低温处理的种子发芽率差异不显著(P0.05),说明沙生针茅种子不存在生理后熟因素影响;(3)随着PEG-6000浓度的增加,沙生针茅种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数呈下降趋势,种子发芽率的PEG-6000浓度的临界值和极限值分别为15.9%和26.3%;(4)沙生针茅种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数随着盐分浓度的增加呈下降趋势,其中Na2CO3处理下的沙生针茅种子萌发率下降幅度明显大于NaCl,表明沙生针茅种子对相同质量浓度的Na2CO3的耐受能力显著低于对NaCl的耐受能力。     

疏勒河流域2001~2010年水足迹动态特征及评价

随着人口增长、城市化进程的发展和社会经济发展,以及全球气候变化等因素的影响,疏勒河地区生态用水不断被挤占,造成地下水位下降,天然植被也因缺水而退化,水资源供需矛盾突出,为了有效改善水资源利用效率,利用水足迹模型研究了疏勒河流域2001~2010年的水足迹动态特征。结果表明:疏勒河流域2001~2010年总水足迹呈增长趋势,人均水足迹从2001年的772.537m3增加到2010年的1 304.476m3。疏勒河流域水资源集约利用度呈增长趋势,从2001年的6.053增加到2010年的10.875,说明疏勒河流域水资源利用效率提高了。疏勒河流域水资源压力指数从2001年的0.447增加到2010年的0.747,说明疏勒河水资源利用压力虽处于水资源可承载范围内,但其水资源压力不断上升。农田灌溉用水和农田种植面积均与农畜产品虚拟水足迹呈显著正相关关系(P0.05)。未来还需从实施节水农业战略等方面提高流域水资源利用效率,以及通过虚拟水贸易方式优化产业结构,以实现疏勒河流域水资源可持续利用和经济社会可持续发展。     

留茎高度对红芪经济性状、品质和耗水规律的影响

采用单因素随机区组法,在甘南高原地区研究红芪留茎高度对其产量、品质和土壤水分的影响。结果表明,红芪在7月上旬现蕾前剪茎,且留茎50 cm水分利用效率最高,主根长、根径、单株根鲜重等经济性状和产量最高,且产量比CK提高了30.86%,差异极显著,多糖含量、总黄酮含量也最高,药材品质最优。红芪留茎高度约50 cm较为理想,既可以节水,又能达到增产和改善药材品质的效果。     

复方磷霉素钙水溶性粉处方优化实验

为了优选磷霉素钙复方制剂,采用体外药物最小抑菌浓度测定法,测定了磷霉素钙与甲氧啶(TMP)、丁胺卡那霉素、恩诺沙星、庆大霉素、头孢噻肟钠、多西环素、氟甲砜霉素联合使用对大肠杆菌作用的协同指数.结果表明磷霉素钙与TMP的协同关系最好,协同指数为0.281,制剂中磷霉素钙与TMP的含量分别为5%和1%为最佳.     

保水剂对江河源区退化草地土壤水分和植物生长发育的影响

通过不同浓度保水剂种子包衣和保水剂大田示范试验,结果表明:在江河源区退化草地恢复与重建中应用高吸水树脂(SAP保水剂),对提高土壤含水量和保墒具有良好的效果;它不仅能促进幼苗生长发育,而且对植物地上部分的分蘖枝和根系分枝有明显的促进作用;同时对提高牧草个体生物量和产草量有明显的效果.试验结果还表明,使用1%～1.5%浓度的种子包衣处理效果最佳.     

高温条件下湿度对肉仔鸡耗料量,耗水量及生产性能的影响

本研究分２个试验,研究了高温条件下不同湿度对肉仔鸡耗鸡料量、耗水量及生产性能的影响。试验１用４－５周龄肉鸡２１６只,温度控制为３２℃;试验２用６－７周龄肉仔鸡１８０只,温度控制为３０℃。试验１和２均设３０％、６０％、９０％三个湿度组,每组设６个重复,试验期均为２周。结果表明,在高温条件下９０％相对温度组鸡单位体重耗水量同于３０％相对湿度组;随着鸡周龄从４－５周龄增至６－７周龄,高温地本重耗料量、单     

不同水源距离对胡杨林群落特征的影响

2009年在塔里木河下游从河岸500 m处开始不等间距设置12块标准地对胡杨林群落进行植物种类、高度、冠幅、株数、盖度等因子的调查,分析了水源的远近对胡杨林群落特征的影响。结果表明:离水源不同距离的胡杨林群落存在明显差异,随着离水源距离的增加土壤含水率及胡杨密度越来越低;近熟林和中龄林中胡杨的优势地位低于成熟林,中龄林的胡杨林群落稳定性高于成熟林和近熟林;成熟林和中龄林中,胡杨林群落的郁闭度、盖度等都随着离河床距离的增加而急剧降低。     

Improved management of mango fruit though orchard and packinghouse treatments to reduce lenticel discoloration and prevent decay

Mango fruit are exposed to complex postharvest handling management, intended to improve postharvest quality retention during export shipment. Susceptibility to lenticel discoloration and to Alternaria side rots and Phomopsis stem-end rot under current handling conditions led us to re-evaluate and modify the chain of postharvest treatments, from the orchard to the packinghouse. The previously developed hot-water brushing (HWB) treatment was found effective in reducing incidence of Alternaria and stem-end rots, but it significantly induced development of red lenticels. Two factors were key to improving fruit quality, by simultaneously reducing lenticel discoloration and decay development: (a) postharvest water and/or NaOH washes in the orchard, and (b) hot-water spray (HWS) applied over rollers without brushes in the packinghouse. The present results indicate that optimal management involves combinations of water washes in the orchard with packinghouse HWS treatment; this significantly reduced the severity of lenticel discoloration by 50–60%, and the incidence and extent of postharvest side rots caused by Alternaria by 60% or more. These results indicate that appropriate handling of fruit can appreciably improve their quality during prolonged storage and shipment.