Drilling to gabbro in intact ocean crust

Sampling an intact sequence of oceanic crust through lavas, dikes, and gabbros is necessary to advance the understanding of the formation and evolution of crust formed at mid-ocean ridges, but it has been an elusive goal of scientific ocean drilling for decades. Recent drilling in the eastern Pacific Ocean in Hole 1256D reached gabbro within seismic layer 2, 1157 meters into crust formed at a superfast spreading rate. The gabbros are the crystallized melt lenses that formed beneath a mid-ocean ridge. The depth at which gabbro was reached confirms predictions extrapolated from seismic experiments at modern mid-ocean ridges: Melt lenses occur at shallower depths at faster spreading rates. The gabbros intrude metamorphosed sheeted dikes and have compositions similar to the overlying lavas, precluding formation of the cumulate lower oceanic crust from melt lenses so far penetrated by Hole 1256D.     

Effects of plant protection chemicals on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas

The effects of eight plant protection chemicals on the development of vesiculararbuscular mycorrhizas were influenced by the identity of the host plant and fungal endophyte, the soil type, and the composition and concentration of the biocide. These effects ranged from stimulatory (as with the fungicide chloroneb, applied to inocula of Glomus microcarpus used with pot-grown lettuce), through negligible (aldicarb on G. mosseae in pot-grown onions and field grown barley with indigenous mycorrhizal fungi) to short-term inhibition (drazoxolon on G. mosseae in onion) and longer term inhibition (the fungicides benomyl and triadimefon on G. mosseae in onion).     

Uncovering the fruit bat bushmeat commodity chain and the true extent of fruit bat hunting in Ghana, West Africa

Harvesting, consumption and trade of bushmeat are important causes of both biodiversity loss and potential zoonotic disease emergence. In order to identify possible ways to mitigate these threats, it is essential to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which bushmeat gets from the site of capture to the consumer’s table. In this paper we highlight the previously unrecognized scale of hunting of the African straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, a species which is important in both ecological and public health contexts, and describe the commodity chain in southern Ghana for its trade. Based on interviews with 551 Ghanaians, including bat hunters, vendors and consumers, we estimate that a minimum of 128,000 E. helvum bats are sold each year through a commodity chain stretching up to 400 km and involving multiple vendors. Unlike the general bushmeat trade in Ghana, where animals are sold in both specialized bushmeat markets and in restaurants, E. helvum is sold primarily in marketplaces; many bats are also kept by hunters for personal consumption. The offtake estimated in this paper raises serious conservation concerns, while the commodity chain identified in this study may offer possible points for management intervention. The separation of the E. helvum commodity chain from that of other bushmeat highlights the need for species-specific research in this area, particularly for bats, whose status as bushmeat is largely unknown.     

Localised Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a cat in Australia

A 10-year-old castrated male domestic cat domiciled in eastern Victoria (Australia) was presented for a subcutaneous mass on its nasal bridge in November 2006. Cytological examination of an aspirate demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation. At surgery, the lesion consisted of an encapsulated mass containing viscid fluid. Histological examination of the resected lesion revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation surrounding a central zone of necrosis. Sections stained with the Ziehl-Neelsen method revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli, intracellularly within macrophages and extracellularly. Molecular studies established the infection was caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. As histology demonstrated that the infection extended to the margin of the excised tissues, the cat was treated subsequently with clarithromycin (62.5mg orally once daily for 7 days, then twice daily for 3 months). The surgical wound healed unremarkably. The infection has not recurred at the time of writing, 1 year following discontinuation of treatment. Although M ulcerans infections have been recorded in variety of mammals, this is the first known case in a cat.     

Who Complains About Alligators? Cognitive and Situational Factors Influence Behavior Toward Wildlife

Understanding perceptual and situational factors underlying nuisance complaints can help managers maintain carnivore populations while mitigating conflicts with people. Our study uses data from a mail survey (n = 467 complainants about nuisance alligators, and n = 669 random Florida residents) and a three-step binary logistic regression analysis to examine how general attitudes, specific beliefs, and situational factors influence the behavior of reporting nuisance alligators. Residence adjacent to fresh water, the presence of outdoor pets, higher risk belief scores, higher nuisance belief scores, higher education, and older age were all related to complaining about an alligator, whereas general attitude toward alligators was not. Results are consistent with the “specificity principle” for attitude–behavior correspondence and emphasize the importance of situational factors as behavioral determinants. Targeted harvest areas can help to manage complaints in marginal habitats where risk from alligators is persistent. Information about protective behaviors and benefits of alligators can motivate residents to avoid dangerous encounters.     

Development of a semi-nested PCR for the improved detection of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine milk and mucosal samples

A new forward primer, Mb-F, was designed to improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of the Mycoplasma bovis-specific PCR developed by Ghadersohi et al. [Vet. Microbiol. 56 (1997) 87] for testing clinical samples. A semi-nested (SN) PCR configuration was developed and this provided enhanced sensitivity and reproducibility. The detection limit of the SN PCR was in the range of 10-100cfu/ml and the correct amplicon was amplified from 9.15pg/microliter of total extracted DNA (mixture of M. bovis and bovine cellular DNA). A dot blot assay was also developed and compared with the SN PCR on a number of randomly selected milk and mucosal samples. The dot blot had the same level of detection as the SN PCR. The specificity of the SN configuration was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and automated sequencing of the PCR product. The results from the tests on the samples from cattle, together with those from sheep, provided evidence that M. bovis is host-specific and that most cattle are colonised. The assay was shown to be specific, sensitive and reproducible and could be used successfully to detect M. bovis directly from clinical material without pre-enrichment.     

Effect of Pepino mosaic virus on the yield and quality of glasshouse-grown tomatoes in the UK

Two fully replicated trials were conducted with glasshouse-grown tomatoes, under conditions similar to commercial production, to define the impact of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV). PepMV was not found to reduce bulk yields in these trials, but the quality of tomato fruits harvested was reduced significantly. Compared with uninoculated, PepMV-free control plants, 6·5% of fruits of PepMV-affected cv. Espero were downgraded from class 1 in trial 1. In trial 2, an average 38% of class 1 fruits from PepMV-affected cvs Espero and Encore were lost as a result of downgrading. Loss of quality was mainly a result of blotchy ripening, gold marbling, gold spot, and symptoms directly attributed to PepMV infection. PepMV infection also affected fruit size. The results are discussed in relation to the demands of multiple retailers in the UK for class 1 tomatoes only.     

Agreement between invasive blood pressure measured centrally and peripherally in anaesthetized horses

Objective

To determine the agreement of invasive blood pressure measured in the facial, metatarsal and carotid arteries, and evaluate the effects of two haemodynamic conditions on agreement.

Utilization of rock phosphate in alkaline soils by plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria

Interactions between vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were studied in a low-phosphate alkaline soil amended with 0, 0.1% and 0.5% rock phosphate. Endogone (E3 and yellow vacuolate spore types) and two bacteria able to solubilize rock phosphate in vitro and produce plant growth regulating substances were used as inocula. Lavender (Lavandula spica var. vera L.) plants with mycorrhiza plus bacteria (either E3 plus bacteria or “yellow vacuolate” plus bacteria treatments) took up more total P than plants with either Endogone or bacteria separately at each concentration of rock phosphate. Plants not inoculated with bacteria or Endogone derived no benefit from the rock phosphate.