Attacks of Neodiprion sertifer on Pinus contorta1

Neodiprion sertifer, the European pine sawfly, has in the past attacked mainly Pinus sylvestris. Afforestation of areas in northern Scotland with P. contorta in the early 1960s and subsequently has led to widespread outbreaks of N. sertifer on this species, attacks being most severe on trees 5 to 12 years old. The most serious damage is removal of the 1-year and older needles. Complete loss of this foliage often occurs at the peak of an outbreak. Also, at high population densities, larvae may consume patches of bark, leading to weakening and stem breakage in high winds. Field studies comparing protected (undefoliated) randomized plots of P. contorta with defoliated plots in Shin Forest (Sutherland) were carried out over the 1982–1983 growing seasons. Comparison of leaf/sapwood basal areas in undefoliated and defoliated plots indicated losses of up to 27% of total leaf area, both removal of old foliage by larvae and a reduction in current-year foliage being involved. Further, there were significant reductions in sapwood basal area and height increment between control plots and some of the defoliated plots. The impact of such defoliation is to prolong the rotation by approximately 2 years.     

The role of management practices in fish kills in recreational lake fisheries in England and Wales

Abstract  In England and Wales, freshwater anglers have shifted their behaviour towards visiting catch-and-release lake fisheries that are intensively stocked, mainly of large common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., to maintain high catch rates. Of 187 fish kills investigated in these intensively stocked lake fisheries in 2004 and 2005, most occurred between April and June and were mainly caused by parasitic or bacterial infections. Bacteria were usually associated with ulcerative diseases caused by strains of the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida (Emmerich & Weibel) and secondary infections of opportunistic bacteria of the Genus Aeromonas (excluding salmonicida ) and Pseudomonas . Parasites involved in fish kills included Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Fouquet), Chilodenella sp., Ichthyobodo necator (Henneguy) and Argulus sp. Outbreaks were typically in fisheries with high extant stock densities (>1500 kg ha⁻¹) and sub-optimal habitats, for example of low habitat heterogeneity with few macrophytes in the littoral zone. Recent stocking was also a key factor when only carp was affected. Thus, certain fisheries management practices that aim to enhance fishery performance may instead trigger fish kills during spring.     

Care and Raising of Newborn Baboons

Abstract— -Twenty-one newborn baboons have been successfully isolated from their mothers at birth and raked in SFRE's nursery. Two species of baboons are included in this study, P. papio and P. cynocephalus. Since 1958, 105 births have occurred in all months of the year with a peaking in August, September, and October. Ten P. papio infants had a birth weight range of 539–737 g and a crown-rump length of 18–21 cm, while 11 P. cynocephalus infants had a birth weight range of 539–1077 g and crown-rump length of 19–25 cm. The twenty-one infants studied had a mean heart rateof 189±31 beats min and a respiratory rate of 885±27 per min. This study demonstrates that the infant baboon has a higher caloric requirement than the standard 13 ca1/30 cm3 Similac formula affords and that better results were obtained from a 26 cal/ 30 cm3 concentration of Similac. Analysis of baboon breast milk during the first 20 days following parturition found a high butter fat content of 7.2–18.4%. Better results were obtained when the incubator and/or environmental temperature were maintained between 88°-92° F than between 80°-85° F. Rectal body temperature averaged 97-8â°F at this temperature whereas it averaged 95.1 O F when the environmental temperature was maintained at 80°-85°F. The increasing interest in the baboon as a research primate has emphasised the urgent need for baseline information on the animal. While limited information is not available on the care and maintenance of the adult animal, very little has been reported concerning the care and raising of newborn baboons. This investigation was undertaken in March 1963, in order to gain experience regarding management of newborn baboons, collect necessary baseline data, and establish a colony of laboratory-raised baboons for research purposes. Initially, it was considered that a protocol based on information developed to cover post-natal care and raising of infant Rhesus monkeys would prove to be effective for the infant baboon as well: however, experience as reported in this study has shown a number of differences. Résumé— —Vingt-et-un babouins, séparés de leurs mères dés leur naissance, ont étéélevés aux laboratoires SFRE. L'étude porte sur dew espèces de babouins: P. Papio et P. Cynocephalus. Les 105 naissances enregistrées depuis 1958 ont été réparties sur tous les mois de l'année, avec un taux accru en août, septembre et octobre. Le poids des nouveaux-nés et leur taille (sommet du crâne—fesses) ont été relevés comme suit: P. Papio (dix sujets): 539 à 737 gr/18 à 21 cm; P. Cynocephalus (onze sujets): 539 à 1.077 gr/19 à 25 cm. L'expérience acquise démontre que les besoins caloriques du babouin nouveau-né dépassent la ration fournie par la formule Similac recommandée (13 cal/30 cc); une concentration de Similac 26 cal/30 cc a donné des résultats supérieurs. L'analyse du lait de babouine, effectué pendant 20 jours à partir de la date de parturition, a permis de constater une forte teneur en corps gras, soit 7, 2 à 18, 4 pour cent. Les résultats obtenus ont permis d'établir en outre qu'une température d'incubateur ou d'ambiance située entre 31 et 33°C est préférable à une température d'entre 26 et 29°C. La température rectale moyenne des animaux était d'env. 36°C à la température ambiante plus élevée, contre 35°C à la température ambiante plus basse. Etant donné l'intérêt croissant du babouin en tant que primate utilisé aux fins de la recherche, il importe de réunir d'urgence des renseignements de base sur cet animal. Si les besoins de l'animal adulte sont maintenant connus dans une certaine mesure, on ne possède guère encore de renseignements sur les soins et les conditions d'élevage qu'exige le babouin nouveauné. Les travaux décrits par l'auteur ont été effectués en mars 1963, en vue d'étudier le traitement du babouin nouveau-né, de réunir les renseignements de base nécessaires et de créer une colonie de babouins élevés en laboratoire aux fins de la recherche. Il avoit été prévu initialement qu'un protocole de traitement du babouin nouveau-né pourrait être établi sur la base des connaissances acquises en matière de traitement post-natal et d'élevage du rhésus. Les travaux exposés ont toutefois démontré que le traitement recomrnandé pour l'une et l'autre espèce diffère à divers égards. Zusammenfassung— —21 neugeborene Paviane wurden nach der Geburt erfolgreich von den Muttertieren isoliert und in der SFRE-Tierklinik aufgezogen. Zwei Pavianspezies waren bei dieser Untersuchung vertreten, P. Papio und P. Cynocephalus. Seit 1958 kam es zu 105 Geburten über alle Monate des Jahres verteilt mit Häufung in den Monaten August, September und Oktober. Zehn junge P. Papio hatten bei der Geburt ein Gewicht im Bereich 539–737 g und eine Scheitel-Rumpf-Länge von 18–21 cm, während 11 junge P. Cynocephalus bei der Geburt ein Gewicht im Bereich 539–1077 g und eine Scheitel-Rumpf-Länge von 19–25 cm hatten. Diese Untersuchung zeigt, dass die Pavianjungen einen höheren Kalorienbedarf haben, als ihn die Standard-Similacformel mit 13 cal/30 cm³ bietet, und dass bessere Ergebnisse mit einer Konzentration von 26 cal/30 cm³ erzielt werden. Die Analyse der Pavianmilch während der ersten 20 Tage nach der Geburt ergab den hohen Butterfettgehalt von 7, 2–18, 4%. Bessere Ergebnisse wurden erzielt, wenn die Inkubator- und bzw. oder Umgebungstemperatur statt zwischen 26,7 und 29,4°G im Bereich 31, 1–33,3°C gehalten wurde. Bei dieser Temperatur betrug die rektal gernessene Körpertemperatur durchschnittlich 36,6°C, während sie bei einer Umgebungstemperatur im Bereich 26,7–29,4°C durchschnittlich 35,1°C betrug. Das zunehmende Interesse am Pavian als einem für Forschungszwecke geeigneten Primaten hat den dringenden Bedarf an grundlegenden Informationen über dieses Tier duetlich werden lassen. Während über Haltung und Pflege des envachsenen Tiers nicht genügend Informationen vorliegen, ist über die Pflege und Aufzucht neugeborener Paviane sehr wenig bekannt. Diese Untersuchung wurde im März 1963 durchgeführt, um Erfahrungen über die Aufzucht neugeborener Paviane zu erhalten, notwendige grundlegende Daten zu sammeln und eine Kolonie von Pavianen für Forschungszwecke im Laboratorium aufzuziehen. Anfangs wurde angenommen, die Erfahrungen bei der Versorgung neugeborener und der Aufzucht junger Rhesusaffen könnten sich auch auf junge Paviane anwenden lassen; die beschriebene Untersuchung zeigte jedoch eine Anzahl Unterschiede.     

Eradicating the invasive topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva, from a recreational fishery in northern England

Abstract  An established population of the invasive topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel), was discovered in a recreational fishery in Northwest England in 2002. As the lake was seasonally connected to a river catchment, providing potential for dispersal, a containment and eradication programme was initiated. Containment involved screening of outfalls and preventing fish movements off site. Eradication involved the fishery being treated twice with a rotenone-based piscicide, in March and April 2005. The mean P. parva density prior to rotenone application was 6.1 m⁻²; following the application, none were recorded. Non-target species in the fishery were removed prior to the application; following rotenone degradation, they were re-introduced and subsequently spawned, with recording of young-of-the-year. This contrasts with 2004 when only young-of-the-year of P. parva were recorded. As the eradication appeared to be successful, the method is considered suitable for use on other populations posing a similar threat of dispersal of the species into rivers and on other invasive fish populations in undesirable locations.