Modeling soil water dynamics in a drip-irrigated intercropping field under plastic mulch

Intercropping, drip irrigation, and the use of plastic mulch are important management practices, which can, when utilized simultaneously, increase crop production and save irrigation water. Investigating soil water dynamics in the root zone of the intercropping field under such conditions is essential in order to understand the combined effects of these practices and to promote their wider use. However, not much work has been done to investigate soil water dynamics in the root zone of drip-irrigated, strip intercropping fields under plastic mulch. Three field experiments with different irrigation treatments (high T1, moderate T2, and low T3) were conducted to evaluate soil water contents (SWC) at different locations, for different irrigation treatments, and with respect to dripper lines and plants (corn and tomatoes). Experimental data were then used to calibrate the HYDRUS (2D/3D) model. Comparison between experimental data and model simulations showed that HYDRUS (2D/3D) described different irrigation events and SWC in the root zone well, with average relative errors of 10.8, 9.5, and 11.6 % for irrigation treatments T1, T2, and T3, respectively, and with corresponding root mean square errors of 0.043, 0.035, and 0.040 cm³ cm^?3, respectively. The results showed that the SWC in the shallow root zone (0–40 cm) was lower under non-mulched locations than under mulched locations, irrespective of the irrigation treatment, while no significant differences in the SWC were observed in the deeper root zone (40–100 cm). The SWC in the shallow root zone was significantly higher for the high irrigation treatment (T1) than for the low irrigation treatment, while, again, no differences were observed in the deeper root zone. Simulations of two-dimensional SWC distributions revealed that the low irrigation treatment (T3) produced serious severe water stress (with SWCs near the wilting point) in the 30–40 cm part of the root zone, and that using separate drip emitter lines for each crop is well suited for producing the optimal soil water distribution pattern in the root zone of the intercropping field. The results of this study can be very useful in designing an optimal irrigation plan for intercropped fields.     

Modification of essential fatty acid composition in broodstock of cultured European eel Anguilla anguilla L

Farmed eels had lower levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 n‐6) (ARA) and higher ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n‐3) (EPA):ARA compared to wild European eels collected from the Baltic Sea and southern Norwegian coast. Eels fed a formulated feed (JD) with a distribution of essential fatty acids (EFA) resembling wild European eel were sampled after 0, 5, 10, 14 and 44 weeks of feeding to examine changes in fatty acid composition (FAC) in ovaries, visceral fat and muscle. The results showed a slow but steady incorporation of EFA. Lipids are incorporated in the oocytes early in oogenesis, and the leading cohort of oocytes is rich in lipid droplets before the onset of vitellogenesis. This indicates that feeding with optimized broodstock feeds should start early to allow the incorporation of EFA in the first cohort of oocytes. At least 14 weeks of feeding is required to change lipid EFA in broodstock eel to resemble EFA in the diet or in wild fish. After 44 weeks of feeding, ARA was significantly higher in the neutral lipids of ovaries (1.9%) compared to visceral fat (1.2%) or muscle (1.0%). EPA:ARA ratios decreased two‐ to threefold in all tissues examined during that time. ARA and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n‐3) (DHA) had accumulated in ovarian polar lipids.     

Effect of air exposure on scallop behaviour, and the implications for subsequent survival in culture

Scallop spat produced for continued culture normally requiretransportation between sites, and the associated stresses may causemortalities. In the present experiment, scallops of 40–55 mm shell heightwere emersed in air for time intervals up to 24 h and their behaviourexamined once re-immersed. Scallops were placed upside-down and thenumber of movements and the cumulative numbers righting in 5 min timeblocks were recorded. The greatest frequency for all behaviouralresponses was found at 15–17 °C in August. Responses were reducedin November and June (9–11 °C) and least at 5 °C in January.All effects of treatment, temperatures and season, and increases in airexposure were significantly different. Following the treatments, mortalitiesafter 10 days in culture was about 10–30% for scallops emersed for 18 and24 h in August and June. Scallops did not show significantly differentbehaviour whether they were emersed upright or inverted. However,scallops emersed at 15 °C had fewer responses than scallops held at <10 °C, so chilling during transport may prolong scallop vitality. Theresults suggest that air exposure >12 h should be avoided. At temperatures>9 °C, behavioural responses may be a simple and effective method toassess vitality which can assist in the management of scallop culture.     

The effects of temporal differences between map and ground data on map-assisted estimates of forest area and biomass

Key message

When areas of interest experience little change, remote sensing-based maps whose dates deviate from ground data can still substantially enhance precision. However, when change is substantial, deviations in dates reduce the utility of such maps for this purpose.

Context

Remote sensing-based maps are well-established as means of increasing the precision of estimates of forest inventory parameters. The general practice is to use maps whose dates correspond closely to the dates of ground data. However, as national forest inventories move to continuous inventories, deviations between map and ground data dates increase.

Aims

The aim was to assess the degree to which remote sensing-based maps can be used to increase the precision of estimates despite differences between map and ground data dates.

Methods

For study areas in the USA and Norway, maps were constructed for each of two dates, and model-assisted regression estimators were used to estimate inventory parameters using ground data whose dates differed by as much as 11 years from the map dates.

Results

For the Minnesota study area that had little change, 7-year differences in dates had little effect on the precision of estimates of proportion forest area. For the Norwegian study area that experienced considerable change, 11-year differences in dates had a detrimental effect on the precision of estimates of mean biomass per unit area.

Conclusions

The effects of differences in map and ground data dates were less important than temporal change in the study area.

     

Comparison of the effects of propofol or alfaxalone for anaesthesia induction and maintenance on respiration in cats

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of propofol and alfaxalone on respiration in cats.Study designRandomized, ‘blinded’, prospective clinical trial.AnimalsTwenty cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.MethodsAfter premedication with medetomidine 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ intramuscularly and meloxicam 0.3 mg kg⁻¹ subcutaneously, the cats were assigned randomly into two groups: group A (n = 10) were administered alfaxalone 5 mg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ followed by 10 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹ intravenously (IV) and group P (n = 10) were administered propofol 6 mg kg⁻¹ minute⁻¹ followed by 12 mg kg⁻¹hour⁻¹ IV for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, respectively. After endotracheal intubation, the tube was connected to a non-rebreathing system delivering 100% oxygen. The anaesthetic maintenance drug rate was adjusted (± 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹) every 5 minutes according to a scoring sheet based on physiologic variables and clinical signs. If apnoea > 30 seconds, end-tidal carbon dioxide (Pe′CO₂) > 7.3 kPa (55 mmHg) or arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO₂) < 90% occurred, manual ventilation was provided. Methadone was administered postoperatively. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests, Fisher's exact test, linear mixed-effects models and binomial test.ResultsManual ventilation was required in two and eight of the cats in group A and P, respectively (p = 0.02). Two cats in both groups showed apnoea. Pe′CO₂ > 7.3 kPa was recorded in zero versus four and SpO₂ < 90% in zero versus six cats in groups A and P respectively. Induction and maintenance dose rates (mean ± SD) were 11.6 ± 0.3 mg kg⁻¹ and 10.7 ± 0.8 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹ for alfaxalone and 11.7 ± 2.7 mg kg⁻¹ and 12.4 ± 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹ for propofol.Conclusion and clinical relevanceAlfaxalone had less adverse influence on respiration than propofol in cats premedicated with medetomidine. Alfaxalone might be better than propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia when artificial ventilation cannot be provided.     

Genetic variation in dieback resistance in Fraxinus excelsior confirmed by progeny inoculation assay

Ash dieback caused by the pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus [previously known as H. pseudoalbidus (sexual stage) and Chalara fraxinea (asexual stage)] is a widespread problem in Europe. Here, we assess crown damage from natural infection and necrosis development following artificial controlled inoculations on full‐sib and half‐sib progeny from Danish Fraxinus excelsior clones with contrasting and well‐characterized levels of susceptibility to the disease. The inoculation assay was performed on a total of 123 offspring, and necrosis development monitored over two years. The offspring from low susceptible mother clones developed smaller necroses when compared to offspring from susceptible clones. Their crown damage due to natural infections was also significantly less. The correlation coefficient between average crown damages of mother clones and the average of their progeny was 0.85 (natural infections), while the correlation between crown damage of mother clones and the average necrosis development in their progeny after controlled inoculation was 0.73. The correlation between resistance of parent trees and crown damage/necrosis development on their offspring confirms the presence of heritable resistance and indicates that a bioassay based on controlled inoculations has the potential of becoming a fast and cost‐effective tool for estimation of dieback susceptibility in breeding programmes for resistance in ash trees.     

The high biodiversity and vulnerability of two Mediterranean bathyal seamounts support the need for creating offshore protected areas

1. Seamounts host some of the most important deep-sea ecosystems. The unique environmental characteristics of seamounts sustain rich biological hot spots, which, in recent times, have suffered the effects of intense fishing pressure.
2. Biodiversity and vulnerability data are extremely scarce for Mediterranean seamounts, and this, in addition to the complex socio-economic and juridical status of offshore sites, results in difficulty in identifying the best management strategies.
3. An extensive remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey was used to characterize the megabenthic assemblages of the summits of two upper bathyal seamounts, Ulisse and Penelope (Ligurian Sea, north-west Mediterranean Sea). The biogeographic implications of these findings and the possible environmental factors favouring the occurrence of these communities are discussed.
4. High densities of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (mainly longlines) and a reduction in the average size of the fragile and slow-growing habitat-forming gorgonian Callogorgia verticillata indicate the occurrence of high levels of anthropogenic impacts on the summit regions, which are fishing grounds for artisanal and recreational fishers.
5. The recovery of fishing data describing the first catches in the 1970s proved to be useful in inferring the short- and long-term effects of fishing practices in these previously unexploited offshore areas. In particular, the local extinction of demersal top predators, subjected to exceptional catches nearly 50 years ago, highlights the slow recovery rate of such species.
6. Criteria defining vulnerability are discussed for the two study areas, and specific conservation actions, including the creation of regulated protected areas, are proposed.