Practical aspects of genetic management of small populations – The Olkuska sheep example

Abstract

The study aimed to identify important factors threatening genetic diversity within small sheep populations, and to propose sustainable management strategies. Demographic evolution, genetic diversity and current genetic management practices were analyzed in a population of Polish Olkuska sheep. Unbalanced contributions of individual rams to the next generation were observed due to differences in the period of their utilization, the number of progeny and the number of daughters used in reproduction. Matings between closely related animals were common. Pedigree completeness was satisfactory and inbreeding coefficient was high, 11.71% for lambs born in 2012. Relatively high values of potential and realized coancestries within flocks showed the importance of keeping more than one ram. The genetic conservation index and average relatedness coefficient, and their comparison between regions was helpful in considering management options. The information on genetic relationships and genetic conservation parameters of rams should be provided to breeders with simple interpretations.     

Impact of climate change on the small mammal community of the Yukon boreal forest

Long‐term monitoring is critical to determine the stability and sustainability of wildlife populations, and if change has occurred, why. We have followed population density changes in the small mammal community in the boreal forest of the southern Yukon for 46 years with density estimates by live trapping on 3–5 unmanipulated grids in spring and autumn. This community consists of 10 species and was responsible for 9% of the energy flow in the herbivore component of this ecosystem from 1986 to 1996, but this increased to 38% from 2003 to 2014. Small mammals, although small in size, are large in the transfer of energy from plants to predators and decomposers. Four species form the bulk of the biomass. There was a shift in the dominant species from the 1970s to the 2000s, with Myodes rutilus increasing in relative abundance by 22% and Peromyscus maniculatus decreasing by 22%. From 2007 to 2018, Myodes comprised 63% of the catch, Peromyscus 20%, and Microtus species 17%. Possible causes of these changes involve climate change, which is increasing primary production in this boreal forest, and an associated increase in the abundance of 3 rodent predators, marten (Martes americana), ermine (Mustela ermine) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Following and understanding these and potential future changes will require long‐term monitoring studies on a large scale to measure metapopulation dynamics. The small mammal community in northern Canada is being affected by climate change and cannot remain stable. Changes will be critically dependent on food–web interactions that are species‐specific.     

黄河源区黑土滩垂穗披碱草人工草地土壤水分动态研究

对黄河源区不同龄垂穗披碱草人工草地及黑土滩退化草地土壤水分动态进行了研究。结果表明：各样地0～20cm土层土壤含水量具有明显的季节变化规律,变化趋势总体上为先增高,后降低。人工草地7月下旬土壤含水量达到最高,黑土滩退化草地8月下旬土壤含水量达到最高。各个时期0～20cm土层土壤含水量总体上为黑土滩退化草地〉2龄人工草地〉6龄人工草地。各时期0～20cm土层土壤水分垂直变化为人工草地随土层深度的增加而减小,黑土滩退化草地总体上随土层深度的增加而增大。     

Populational dynamics of Stomoxys calcitrans (Linneaus) (Diptera: Muscidae) in three biocenosis, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Populational flux of the adult phase of Stomoxys calcitrans was observed in the municipal district of Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three biocenoses were selected for the study: stable agrobiocenosis, pastural agrobiocenosis and eubiocenosis. The occurrence and the populational flux of the insects, using the Magoon trap for their capture, were established. For each trap located in different biocenoses, a crossbred calf (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) approximately 6-month-old was used as “live bait,” exposed weekly for 48 h in the traps. Of the three agrobiocenoses studied, the stable agrobiocenosis contributed the greatest number of specimens of. S. calcitrans captured, corresponding to 96.9% of the total flies of this species collected. S. calcitrans shows seasonal behavior for approximately 6 months (spring and summer being the rainiest months of the year). The population peaked during the months of November and December. During the months of July and August, there was no capture of flies.     

辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群构件生物量相关模型及形成规律

按生物构件的理论,分析了辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群叶片、叶鞘、分株、匍匐茎各构件生物量以及总生物量间的相关模型和构件生物量的分配、形成规律,探讨了其不同生物量基于种群大小(密度)的形成规律。结果表明,辽东半岛结缕草无性系种群的总生物量及各构件生物量均随着种群密度的增大而以线性函数增加,各构件生物量与总生物量以及各构件生物量间亦均以线性函数增加,生物量增加比率均表现为:分株>匍匐茎,叶鞘>叶片,总生物量增量的27.2%分配给叶片,29.2%分配给叶鞘,43.6%分配给匍匐茎,叶片,叶鞘和匍匐茎构件生物量的积累是按1∶1.1∶1.6比例形成。     

C肉毒杀鼠素在高寒草甸地区灭鼠技术中的应用

综述C肉毒杀鼠素草原灭鼠应用技术,充分肯定了C肉毒杀鼠素毒力强、适口性好、对非靶动物毒性低、作用缓慢、无二次中毒、易降解和适合规模灭鼠的特点,为鼠害防治提供了新的思路。     

An insight into population structure and gene flow within pure‐bred cats

Investigation of genetic structure on the basis of pedigree information requires indicators adapted to the specific context of the populations studied. On the basis of pedigree‐based estimates of diversity, we analysed genetic diversity, mating practices and gene flow among eight cat populations raised in France, five of them being single breeds and three consisting of breed groups with varieties that may interbreed. When computed on the basis of coancestry rate, effective population sizes ranged from 127 to 1406, while the contribution of founders from other breeds ranged from 0.7 to 16.4%. In the five breeds, F_IS ranged between 0.96 and 1.83%, with this result being related to mating practices such as close inbreeding (on average 5% of individuals being inbred within two generations). Within the three groups of varieties studied, F_IT ranged from 1.59 to 3%, while values were estimated between 0.04 and 0.91%, which was linked to various amounts of gene exchanges between subpopulations at the parental level. The results indicate that cat breeds constitute populations submitted to low selection intensity, contrasting with relatively high individual inbreeding level caused by close inbreeding practices.     

三江源区人工草地中小型土壤动物群落特征及季节变化

为了解三江源区不同建植年限人工草地的中小型土壤动物群落特征及其变化动态,于2012年4-10月以极度退化草地“黑土滩”为对照,利用定位观测方法对其进行了7次调查。结果表明：共捕获各类中小型土壤动物标本4552只,隶属3门、8纲、23目、55科、65属;大类群中蜱螨目（Acarina）占41.39%,线虫类（Nemata）占26.24%,弹尾目（Collembola）占23.77%,其他类群仅占8.60%;中小型土壤动物群落组成与数量均有明显的季节变化,在4-10月均是先上升后下降,在7-8月均达到最高;其Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson优势度指数和均匀度指数均随着建植年限的增加有显著增加趋势,土壤动物群落结构随着人工草地建植年限的增加愈加稳定,群落稳定性以2000年人工草地最为稳定。     

猪细小病毒在PK15细胞中增殖规律的研究

猪细小病毒毒株在不同细胞系上的生长情况不尽相同,如不能掌握其规律,将难以生产出优质的疫苗。对PPV（长春株）在PK15和ST细胞上生长情况进行了研究,在PK15细胞系中重点比较了不同的病毒接种方法、病毒接种量和病毒收获时间等因素对病毒产量的影响。研究结果显示：本毒株在PK15和ST两种细胞系上的病变特征不同,但生长规模相似。在PK15细胞上按2％接种量、分步接种、80h时收获病毒,最终得到的病毒滴度（TCID50）最高。提示这是一种比较好的生产方案。然而,进一步的大规模培养试验是有必要的。     

松嫩草甸水淹恢复演替过程中羊草和寸草苔无性系种群的相互动态

羊草和寸草苔均是典型的无性系植物.在松嫩平原水淹恢复演替过程中,从5个大小不同的羊草无性系斑块的中心至外围,羊草分蘖株的数量和生物量均逐圈层减少,寸草苔则逐圈层增加.羊草平均单株生产力有逐圈层减弱,寸草苔则逐圈层增强的趋势.从半径0.5～5.0 m无性系斑块中心的羊草分蘖株数量逐渐增加,寸草苔则逐渐减少,呈现出羊草定居时间越长,斑块中心羊草分蘖株的数量越多,寸草苔则越少的趋势.随着水淹恢复演替的进程,羊草正在并将最终取代寸草苔而成为草甸群落的优势种.