Treatment of a strandling whale (Kogia breviceps)

A stranded young pygmy sperm whale was nursed for four days in a pool, fed an artificial diet via a stomach tube and injected intramuscularly with antibiotics and corticosteroids. Initially unable to maintain her balance or to swim, she showed progressive improvement and by the third day could swim and dive quite strongly. Early on the fifth day her condition rapidly worsened and she died. An autopsy revealed extensive deep bruising in the head and mid-abdominal regions consistent with injuries sustained during the stranding.     

Cytochemical demonstration of catabolism in soil micro-organisms

Electron transport was demonstrated cytochemically in soil micro-organisms. After counterstaining, enzymically active and inactive cells were distinguishable. The number of active micro-organisms detected by this method ranged from ca. 11 — > 46% of the total microscopic count in several soils. The technique was also applied successfully to algae from soil crusts, micro-colonies of microorganisms removed intact from the surface of soil crumbs and to micro-organisms associated with plant roots.     

An outbreak of botulism in gulls on the Firth of Forth,Scotland

The first recorded outbreak of type C botulism in gulls (Larus spp.) in Britain is described. Between June and October 1975, at least 2080 gulls died around the Firth of Forth. The hot dry summer favoured the proliferation of the causative organism, Clostridium botulinum. A definite source of the botulism was not found but prompt removal of the carcases and covering the pools where Cl. botulinum was growing appeared to reduce the mortality. Immunity acquired during widespread exposure to the disease in 1975 may have prevented the reappearance of botulism during the similar climatic conditions in 1976.     

Effects of Azoxystrobin on Mycotoxin Production in a Carbendazim-Resistant Strain ofFusarium sporotrichioides

Carbendazim-resistant (RS) and control (CS) strains ofFusarium sporotrichioides Sherb., previously developed in our laboratory, were exposed to graded concentrations of azoxystrob in in broth media under shake-culture conditions for 2, 3, 4 and 8 days. Azoxystrobin concentrations were 0, 1, 10 and 100 mg 1^-1 broth and cultures were incubated at a constant 25°C. Mycelial growth was significantly affected by strain (P<0.01), azoxystrobin concentration (P<0.001) and incubation time (P<0.001). Combined results for the four incubation times showed that CS yielded higher mycelial mass than RS (P<0.01) only in the absence of azoxystrobin. At fungicide additions of 1, 10 and 100 mg P^-1 mycelial growth was reduced (P<0.001) with minimal strain differences (P>0.05) at all three doses of azoxystrobin. Significant (P<0.05 or better) strain-fungicide interactions were recorded in trichothecene production following exposure to azoxystrobin. At 4 and 8 days of incubation, the 10 mg 1^-1 addition of azoxystrobin stimulated T-2 toxin synthesis (P<0.05) only in RS cultures. In contrast, T-2 toxin enhancement in CS cultures occurred only on day 8 but at a lower level of azoxystrobin (1 mg1^-1). Thus, the stimulation of T-2 toxin synthesis depended upon strain and azoxystrobin level. Production of diocetoxyscirpenol (DAS) was affected by a more complex set of interactions. Overall means showed that, in comparison with initial values (on day 2 or 3), DAS output maximized significantly(P<0.05) on day 4 in RS cultures and on day 8 in CS. Marked strain effects were observed on exposure to the 10 mg 1^-1 level of azoxystrobin. At this level, DAS production was enhanced in RS only after 4 (P<0.01 ) and 8 (P<0.05) days of incubation, while in contrast, CS reduced DAS production. As with T-2 toxin, DAS production in CS was stimulated (P<0.05 or better) only at low exposure levels of azoxystrobin. In the case of neosolaniol (NEO), however, the main effect of strain was significant (P<0.05), with CS producing consistently more of the mycotoxin than RS on day 4 of the experiment. At this point, the NEO:T-2 toxin ratio was also higher in CS (0.63) than in RS (0.12), a feature reported by us previously. In conclusion, the present investigation has shown for the first time that the development of resistance to one fungicide can affect trichothecene production inF. sporotrichioides on exposure to a second fungicide. These results have been incorporated into a new classification scheme for fungicide efficacy which is also presented in this paper. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 7,2001.     

Distribution of fenvalerate and permethrin residues on cattle hair following variable application rates of impregnated ear tags

Fenvalerate and permethrin residues on hair of groups of cattle that received either two tags per adult animal or one tag for every other adult animal were determined using gas chromatography over a three-month period in 1987 and 1988. Cattle with two tags had consistently higher residues than cattle with one tag. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the first month for residues on the head and in the first two weeks for residues from the body in 1987. Residues on cattle with one tag and without a tag in the same herd were similar (P > 0.05) on each sampling day on all regions. Residues on the hair from the head of cattle with two tags were greater than on the body and rump (P < 0.05) during the first 28 days. Residues found on hair on days 14 and 84 following tag application declined by 80–86% on the head, 73–78% on the body, and 36–86% on the rump. Isomeric compositions of fenvalerate (range 51–61% SR, RS: 39–49% SS, RR) and permethrin (range 61–67% trans: 33–39% cis) were consistent during the study. Rainfall reduced residues on hair.     

Understory plant communities of boreal mixedwood forests in western Canada: Natural patterns and response to variable-retention harvesting

We examined patterns of variation in richness, diversity, and composition of understory vascular plant communities in mixedwood boreal forests of varying composition (broadleaf, mixedwood, conifer) in Alberta, Canada, before and for 2 years following variable-retention harvesting (clearcut, 20 and 75% dispersed green tree retention, control). Broadleaf-dominated forests differed from mixedwood or conifer-dominated forests in that they had greater canopy cover, litter depth, soil nitrogen, warmer soils, as well as greater shrub cover, herb and shrub richness and diversity (plot scale). In contrast, conifer, and to a lesser extent mixedwood, forest had greater β diversity than broadleaf forest. Overall, mixedwood and conifer forests were similar to one another, both differed from broadleaf forest. Several species were found to be significant indicators of broadleaf forest but most of these also occurred in the other forest types. Understory composition was related to canopy composition and edaphic conditions. Variable-retention harvesting had little effect on understory cover, richness, or diversity but resulted in reduced richness and β diversity at a larger scale. The clearcut and 20% treatments affected composition in all forest types. Early successional species and those common in disturbed sites were indicators of harvesting while evergreen, shade-tolerant understory herbs were indicators of the control forest and 75% retention harvest. We conclude that it is important to maintain a range of variation in canopy composition of mixedwood forests in order to conserve the associated understory communities. The presence of conifers in these forests has a particularly important influence on understory communities. The threshold for a lifeboat effect of variable-retention harvesting is between 20 and 75% retention. Examination of richness and β diversity at a variety of scales can provide interesting information on effects of harvesting on spatial reorganization and homogenization of understory plant communities.     

Evaluation of a compensation scheme to bring about pastoralist tolerance of lions

Lions (Panthera leo) are in decline throughout most of their range due to human persecution, largely provoked by depredation on livestock, and there is debate as to the usefulness of financial instruments to mitigate this conflict. Intending to reduce local lion-killing, the Mbirikani Predator Compensation Fund compensates members of Mbirikani Group Ranch for livestock depredation at a flat rate (close to average market value), after the kill has been verified and with penalties imposed for poor husbandry. Despite penalizing claimants, 55% of claims arose because livestock were lost in the bush. Between 1st April 2003 and 31st December 2006, 754 cattle, 80 donkeys and 1844 sheep/goats were killed (2.31% of the total livestock herd each year). Forty-three percent of kills were ascribed to spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta); leopards (Panthera pardus) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) were blamed for 37% of cases, lions 7%, jackals (Canis mesomelas) 7% and buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and elephants (Loxodonta africana) together 6%. Significantly more attacks took place during months of lower rainfall but the rate of attacks was not related to the density of livestock on the ranch, or the ratio of wild herbivores to domestic stock. There was no correlation between local market prices and the number of claims per month. Despite compensation, at least one lion per year was killed in 2004, 2005 and 2006. We describe some features of large carnivore depredation in the study area and suggest that regional recovery of the lion population may require compensation on a wider scale.