Seasonal habitat requirements of Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) in coastal forest: camera-trap surveys of a reclusive species

The modification of natural habitats requires behavioural plasticity, which may be challenging for ‘specialist’ species. Quantifying habitat requirements and behavioural responses of specialists to landscape transformation is thus a priority for baseline data to inform conservation practices. Using camera-trap surveys of the forest-dependent Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata in conjunction with detailed microhabitat-scale covariates, we assessed habitat use during two periods in the year: autumn–winter and spring–summer (which largely encompassed peak breeding). We used occupancy modelling of forest-structural covariates to produce models of the probability of occupancy and detection of Lemon Doves in patches of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Forest of South Africa. The average occupancy and detection probability as indicated by the top-performing models was 0.39 ± 0.08 and 0.26 ± 0.05, respectively, during autumn–winter, and 0.37 ± 0.08 and 0.25 ± 0.04, respectively, during spring–summer. Although occupancy and probability of detection remained relatively constant between seasons, there was seasonal variation in the influence of individual covariates for both measures. The overall trend of positive influences on Lemon Dove occupancy was that of complex and diverse habitat structures and high plant species richness. The specific covariates that influenced occupancy positively during spring–summer may reflect the ecological requirements for nestling provisioning for both dietary needs and an avoidance of potential disturbance. Thus, while Lemon Doves may be less habitat-specific during autumn–winter, conservation management plans for safeguarding the breeding success of the species are advised to ensure adequate protection of large forest patches with complex and diverse interior structures and minimal disturbance.     

Genetic diversity of livestock-associated MRSA isolates obtained from piglets from farrowing until slaughter age on four farrow-to-finish farms

During a previous longitudinal study, performed on four farrow-to-finish farms (A to D), samples were taken from twelve sows, their offspring, and the environment on various occasions over six months to study the MRSA presence. During the present study, a selection of the obtained MRSA isolates were typed by multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), spa typing, and SCCmec typing to study the genetic diversity of LA-MRSA isolates and to determine possible MRSA sources for pig(let)s. PFGE, spa typing, and SCCmec typing revealed the presence of one or few dominant genotype(s) per farm. In contrast, 212 MLVA types were detected on the four farms, forming one cluster on farm A, three on farm B, four on farm C and two on farm D. The genotype, found on farm A was unique for this farm. Farms B, C and D shared one cluster. In general, MLVA types from these clusters were isolated from piglets, sows, and the environment on various sampling events. Piglets carried MLVA types both related and unrelated to their mother sows’ MLVA types at farrowing and onwards. In conclusion, molecular typing revealed that within a farm one or a few dominant strain(s) are widespread. Potential MRSA sources for piglets were mother sows, the environment and other piglets.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0089-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

合肥市董铺水库及临近区域鸟类多样性研究

2012年12月-2013年11月,采用样线调查和样点观察相结合的方法对合肥市董铺水库及其临近区域不同生境的鸟类资源进行了调查。共记录到鸟类14目31科87种,其中国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类1种、安徽省地方重点保护鸟类25种;古北界鸟类45种（占51.7%）,东洋种25种（占28.7%）,广布种17种（占19.5%）;留鸟33种（占37.9%）,夏候鸟19种（占21.8%）,冬候鸟21种（占24.1%）,旅鸟14种（占16.1%）鸟类群落多样性指数最大生境为水库周围灌丛、树林;而指数最小者为大面积水域。     

Productivity of different cow genetic groups in dual-purpose cattle production systems in south-eastern Mexico

The objective was to evaluate the effect of cow genetic group, nutritional level and their interaction on some economically important traits of dual-purpose herds managed under field conditions. Nine herds were monitored during a production cycle in Yucatan, Mexico. Herds were grouped into four nutritional levels (NL) based on the metabolizable energy (ME) apparently available on pasture, nutritional management, and milk production. Cows were classified into three genetic groups (GG): low (≤25%), middle (25–75%) and high (≥75%) graded for Bos taurus inheritance. Total milk sold (TMS), days in milk (DIM), TMS adjusted to DIM within each NL (TMSA), body condition score (BCS) at calving, changes of BCS during lactation (CBCS), calf weaning weight (WW), age at weaning (AW), kg of calf weaned per cow (KWC) and calf mortality were studied. The statistical model included the fixed effects of NL, GG, month of calving (MC), parity number (PN) and BCS at calving and GG × NL interaction. The effects of NL, GG, MC, PN and GG × NL were significant (p < 0.05) for TMS, KWC. As expected, TMS increased with NL from 562.4 ± 106 kg for NL1 to 2366.3 ± 100.1 kg for NL4. KWC was greatest for NL2 (138.6 kg) followed by NL1 (135 kg); the lowest KWC corresponded to NL4 (96.0 kg) (p < 0.05). TMS values for the middle (1727 ± 94.7 kg) and the high graded GG (1603.5 ± 83.5 kg) were twice those for the low graded GG cows (828.5 ± 95 kg) (p < 0.05). KWC was also higher for the middle graded group (152.8 kg) than for the low or (104 kg) or the high graded GG (118 kg) (p < 0.05). With better nutrition cows of all GG improved their milk performance but not the calf traits. CBCS was negative for all GG. The highest BCS lost was for cows in NL1 and NL2 and for cows in the high graded GG (p < 0.05).     

中国假俭草种质资源主要性状变异及其形态类型

对中国59份假俭草的11个重要经济性状进行统计分析,并对其形态类型加以聚类分析。结果表明:1花序密度变异系数高达76.9%,是所测性状中变异范围最大者,叶长次之,变异系数为31.3%,结实率、草层高度以及生殖枝高度变异系数分别为23.0%、18.0%及22.1%,变异范围为25.0%～74.8%、14.3～33.2cm及5.8～17.0cm;百粒重、叶宽、花序长、花序小花数以及节间长度变异幅度相对较小,分别为15.1%、14.6%、12.5%、12.5%及11.4%,其中以节间直径最小,仅为4.7%;2生殖枝高度和花序密度随着纬度的增加,呈显著增高和极显著增加趋势,而其它性状未出现显著变异规律;3节间直径与叶宽呈极显著正相关;草层越高,生殖枝愈高,节间愈长愈粗,而生殖枝愈高,花序愈长,节间愈长,花序密度也愈大,结实率愈高;4在欧氏距离11.2处,可将供试草种分为营养繁殖型和种子繁殖型两大类型,前者花序密度低,结实率低,叶片较长,而后者花序密度高,结实率较高,叶片则较短。     

Genetic Structure of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Carrier Horses in Morocco Inferred by Microsatellite Data

A total of 17 microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid loci used routinely for horse parentage control were used to evaluate genetic diversity among normal Arabian horses and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) carrier Arabian horses (ArS) and normal Arab-Barb horses and SCID carrier Arab-Barb horses (ArbeS). On the basis of the genotype of 186 horses, mean allelic diversity was estimated as 6.82, 5.53, and 6.7059 in normal Arabian horses, ArS, and for both groups of Arab-Barb horses, respectively. Five specific alleles were observed in ArS and ArbeS, with one common with ArS at HMS6, whereas five alleles common between ArS and ArbeS had a high frequency. Expected and observed heterozygosity showed great heterogeneity in the population studied and were similar or higher when compared with other studies on Arabian horses. Coefficient of gene differentiation G_st of Nei associated with Nei’s genetic distance and multivariate correspondence analysis indicated a possible differentiation between the studied populations when analyzed separately according to breed. Probability of assignment of a horse to a specific group was assessed using a full and partial Bayesian approach. In all, 80.6% of Arab horses and 78.2% of Arab-Barb horses were assigned properly with a partial Bayesian test, which provided better results than the full one. These findings will be useful for identification of SCID carrier horses by using the microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid loci used routinely for horse parentage control in our laboratory.     

饲料资源量概念及其判断

首先提出并讨论了饲料资源量的主体部分就是饲料能量总量及饲料蛋白质总量的问题。然后,用相关及回归方法筛选出了牛代谢能及粗蛋白质指标。在此基础上,建立了对饲料资源的品质和数量进行判断的蛋能结构指数及蛋能丰度指数体系。     

基于SSR标记分析四川省桑树种质资源的群体结构和遗传多样性

利用14对SSR引物对四川省89份桑树种质资源的基因组DNA进行PCR,分析种质资源间的群体结构和遗传多样性。共扩增出迁移率不同的条带65条,多态性条带65条,多态性条带比率达100%;Structure群体结构分析将89份桑树种质资源划分为4个群体,4个群体的多态性信息含量在0.552 0~0.599 8之间,总体为0.657 7;基因多样度在0.554 8~0.600 3之间,总体为0.579 0;等位基因数目在66~76个之间,总体为134个;等位基因丰富度在3.327 2~3.549 1之间,总体为3.983 1;遗传多样性主要来源于品种内,属中等偏高水平;14对SSR引物位点的总基因多样度Ht在0.291~0.931之间,整体为0.699;Nei’s种群内基因多样度Hs为0.287~0.910,整体为0.662;种群间基因多样度为0.003~0.098,整体为0.037;种群间基因分化系数为0.008~0.047,整体为0.053;基因流为2.901~62.000,整体为8.934,遗传变异主要发生在群体内,群体间分化程度低,基因流大。UPGMA聚类分析与群体结构分析结果大致相同,2种分析结果都显示分群无地理迁移规律。     

热加工方式对牛乳过敏原αs1-酪蛋白二级结构和抗原性的影响

为探究热加工方式对牛乳过敏原αs1-酪蛋白构象和抗原性的影响,利用间接竞争酶联免疫吸附测定方法、 免疫印迹方法分析不同加热条件下αs1-酪蛋白免疫原性的变化,进而通过8-苯胺-1-萘磺酸荧光探针和圆二色谱分 析其二级结构变化,初步揭示热处理调控过敏原αs1-酪蛋白抗原性的机制。结果表明：在80 ℃、60 min,90 ℃、 10 min,90 ℃、60 min条件下热处理后,αs1-酪蛋白中α-螺旋结构含量显著低于未加热αs1-酪蛋白,在70 ℃、 20 min,80 ℃、20 min,90 ℃、20 min条件下热处理后,αs1-酪蛋白中无规卷曲含量显著增加,70～100 ℃加热 20 min条件下表面荧光强度最强,其他温度-时间条件下二级结构含量变化不显著;αs1-酪蛋白构象的变化导致αs1-酪 蛋白的抗原性显著降低,间接竞争酶联免疫吸附测定显示,在70～100 ℃加热20 min条件下,αs1-酪蛋白的抗原残留 量均较高,而免疫印迹方法显示不同温度-时间条件下αs1-酪蛋白仍具有免疫反应特性,建议进一步通过动物实验揭 示热处理调控αs1-酪蛋白抗原性的机制。