Unraveling the morphological patterns of a subantarctic eelpout: a geometric morphometric approach

Phenotypic variation in organisms depends on the genotype and the environmental constraints of the habitat that they exploit. Therefore, for marine species inhabiting contrasting aquatic conditions, it is expected to find covariation between the shape and its spatial distribution. We studied the morphology of the head and cephalic sensory canals of the eelpout Austrolycus depressiceps (4.5–22.5 cm TL) across its latitudinal distribution in South Pacific (45°S–55°S). Geometric morphometric analyses show that the shape varied from individuals with larger snout and an extended suborbital canal to individuals with shorter snouts and frontally compressed suborbital canal. There was size variation across the sampled populations, but that size does not have a clear latitudinal gradient. Only 8% of the shape variation relates to this size variation (allometry), represented by a decrease in the relative size of the eye, and a depression of the posterior margin of the head. There were spatial differences in the shape of the head, but these differences were probably caused by allometric effects. Additionally, 2 of the canals of the cephalic lateralis pores and the head shape showed modularity in its development. This study shows that the morphology of marine fish with a shallow distribution varies across distances of hundreds of kilometers (i.e., phenotypic modulation).     

Movement patterns of an avian generalist predator indicate functional heterogeneity in agricultural landscape

Landscape Ecology - Biodiversity is closely related to landscape heterogeneity, but both are difficult to evaluate directly. Apex predators, such as raptors, are potential surrogate indicators of...     

Groundwater Quality Degradation in the Buyuk Menderes River Coastal Wetland

A baseline hydrogeochemical investigation was carried out as a contribution to the inventory of wetlands in Büyük Menderes River (BMR) coastal wetland which is the most important wetland in Turkey that is protected as “Natural Park” by government. In addition to the wetland values, agricultural activities are also important at this delta. From inland to coastal zone, the groundwater type is changed from Ca–HCO₃ to Na–Cl. Perfect correlation of Cl with Na and SO₄ indicated the mixing process between saline and fresh water. The seawater intrusion and “winter-leaching” is the main causes of salinization. Minor ions as B, Br, and Li versus Cl relationship also showed the marine influence at the BMR coastal wetland. The δ¹⁸O and δD composition of the waters are range between −8.11‰ and −1.65‰ and −49.2‰ and 8.1‰, respectively. Isotope values show the seawater mixing line and also dissolution of salts in the BMR coastal wetland. Weathering of aluminosilicates in the Paleozoic schist and clays resulted in the release of silica to the water. Due to the organic activity, iron concentrations reached to the tolerance limits. On the other hand, the use of phosphate fertilizers increases the phosphorus content in the water. The high value of As (from 0.6 to 134 μg/l) can be resulted as an evaporation process in the study area.     

基于掩模及亮度校正算法的脐橙表面缺陷分割

【目的】 本研究旨在有效解决果皮有缺陷的水果图像在去除背景时部分缺陷被误分割为背景,以及水果表面缺陷难以有效分割提取的问题。【方法】 以I分量图来构建掩模模板,根据其灰度直方图信息,通过双峰法选择单一阈值（T=75）分以纽荷尔脐橙为研究对象,提出基于HSI颜色空间模型法去除背景割背景并填充孔洞得到掩模模板I_mask,然后掩模模板I_mask与I分量图通过点乘运算得到去除背景的I分量图;提出基于多尺度高斯函数图像亮度校正算法对去除背景后的I分量图像进行亮度校正,通过构建多尺度高斯函数滤波器,将去除背景后的I分量图与构建的多尺度高斯函数进行卷积运算即得到去除背景后的I分量图像表面光照分量图,最后将去除背景后的I分量图与得到的光照分量图进行点除运算即得到去除背景后的I分量图像亮度校正图;然后采用单一全局阈值法对脐橙表面缺陷进行提取。【结果】 基于HSI颜色空间模型法去除背景,可在有效去除背景的同时完好保留脐橙的表面信息,有利于后续操作;基于多尺度高斯函数的图像亮度校正算法分别对6种常见脐橙缺陷进行图像亮度校正后采用单阈值法提取缺陷,使不同灰度等级的脐橙表面缺陷一次性分割成功,其中分割率最高为100%,最低为88.5%,整体达92.7%。通过试验分析后发现造成部分误分割或漏分割的原因主要在于部分缺陷果缺陷处颜色较轻,与正常区域灰度差较小,从而造成漏分割;还有部分缺陷果由于缺陷面积小,在图像形态学处理过程被误认为是噪声而被去除;同时发现正常果的误判率也达到了10.8%,经分析发现误判的正常果表皮组织区域的褶皱位于图像的边缘区域,从而被误认为是边缘区域的缺陷,导致误判。【结论】 基于HSI颜色空间模型法去除背景及基于多尺度高斯函数的图像亮度不均校正算法对纽荷尔脐橙图像背景分割和去除背景后的I分量图像表面亮度校正均取得了较好的效果,能有效识别脐橙缺陷区域,为脐橙精确分级提供了技术支持,也为其他果品表面缺陷快速检测提供了一种新思路。     

Effects of cerium oxide supplementation to laying hen diets on performance,egg quality,some antioxidant enzymes in serum and lipid oxidation in egg yolk

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary cerium oxide levels (0, 100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg) on the laying performance, egg quality, some blood serum parameters and egg lipid peroxidation of laying hen. In total, one hundred and twenty 22‐week‐old brown Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to five groups equally (n = 24). Each treatment was replicated six times. Dietary supplementation of cerium oxide had no significant effect on feed intake and egg weight. The addition of cerium oxide to the laying hens' feed improved feed conversion ratio and increased (p < 0.05) egg production. Quality criteria of egg for except shell breaking strength were not affected by supplementing cerium oxide. In particular, supplementation of 200 and 300 mg/kg cerium oxide to the laying hens feed led to a significant (p < 0. 01) increase in egg shell breaking strength. Calcium and phosphorus concentration of serum increased significantly (p < 0.05) with supplementation of 100 mg/kg cerium oxide to laying hen diets. It was also observed that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly with supplementation of cerium oxide in diets. Inclusion of cerium oxide resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values in egg yolk in this study. It can be concluded that the addition of cerium oxide had positive effects on egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg shelf life. Based on the results of this study, it could be advised to supplement laying hens feed with cerium oxide as feed additives.     

牦牛源正呼肠孤病毒2型的检测和分离鉴定

旨在调查川西北牦牛哺乳动物正呼肠孤病毒(MRV)的感染情况并分离病毒.采用RT PCR方法,对采自川西北15个牧场的72份牦牛腹泻粪便样本和其中5个牧场的15份腹泻牦牛血清样本进行MRV检测,阳性样本进一步用分型PCR确定其血清型.结果 显示,粪便样本中MRV检出率为20.83％(15/72),血清2型的比例为60％(...     

Thermal biology and locomotor performance in Phymaturus calcogaster: are Patagonian lizards vulnerable to climate change?

Behavioral and physiological traits of ectotherms are especially sensitive to fluctuations of environmental temperature. In particular, niche-specialist lizards are dependent on their physiological plasticity to adjust to changing environmental conditions. Lizards of the genus Phymaturus are viviparous, mainly herbivorous, and inhabit only rock promontories in the steppe environments of Patagonia and the Andes. Herein, we examine the vulnerability of the southernmost Phymaturus species to global warming: the endemic Phymaturus calcogaster, which lives in a mesic environment in eastern Patagonia. We studied body temperatures in the field (T_b), preferred body temperatures in a thermogradient (T_pref), the operative (T_e) and environmental temperatures, and the dependence of running performance on body temperature. P. calcogaster had a mean T_b (27.04°C) and a mean T_e (31.15°C) both lower than their preferred temperature (T_pref = 36.61°C) and the optimal temperature for running performance (T_o = 37.13°C). Lizard activity seems to be restraint during the early afternoon due high environmental temperatures. However, both, the high safety margin and warming tolerance suggest that the expected increase in environmental temperatures due to global warming (IPCC report in 2018) would not threaten, but indeed enhance locomotor performance in this population.     

不同灌溉定额对膜下滴灌水稻耗水特征及水分生产效率的影响

【目的】研究膜下滴灌水稻不同水分处理对耗水特征和水分生产效率的影响。【方法】2017年设置5个灌溉定额,对比分析不同水分处理下水稻产量、各生育期耗水量。【结果】W₅处理(灌溉定额910.00 mm)的水稻产量比其他处理分别增加21.95%~458.43%。膜下滴灌水稻全生育期5个水分处理的耗水强度分别为3.75~7.14 mm/d。随着灌水量减少叶面积衰减指数逐渐增大,叶片表现出早衰特征,株高受到灌水量抑制。W₅处理与其他处理水分生产率相比分别提高7.61%~193.06%。生育阶段耗水强度变化规律为拔节孕穗期＞抽穗扬花期＞灌浆期＞分蘖期＞成熟期＞苗期。【结论】水稻全生育期适宜灌溉定额910.00 mm,在拔节孕穗期、分蘖期2个关键需水期,满足水稻水分需求。