Submitting canine blood for prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time determinations

Practitioners commonly submit samples from dogs for partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time determinations. Controversy exists as to the necessity for rapid separation of plasma and cells, and submission of the plasma on ice (or frozen). The purpose of this study was to address three questions. First, is it better to submit plasma or is whole blood satisfactory? Second, is it necessary to refrigerate the sample or is maintenance at room temperature (20° C) adequate? Third, does the sample have to arrive at the laboratory within a few hours of collection or can reliable partial thromboplastin time/prothrombin time determinations be made on samples up to 48 hours old?It has been shown by this study that reliable partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time determinations can be carried out on canine plasma for up to 48 hours after collection regardless of whether or not the plasma is separated immediately; however the samples must be kept at 4°C. If the samples are maintained at room temperature, reliable prothrombin time determinations can be obtained for up to six hours after collection regardless of whether or not the plasma is separated immediately. Reliable partial thromboplastin time determinations can be made on plasma stored at 20°C for up to 24 hours after collection and possibly longer (up to 48 hours) if the plasma has been separated immediately.     

Lymphoid leukaemia in a cow

An 18-month old Friesian heifer which had lost condition and had diarrhoea for several weeks was diagnosed by haematological and pathological examinations as having lymphocytic leukaemia. True lymphatic leukaemia has not previously been described in cattle and does not readily fit into presently accepted classifications of bovine leukosis.     

Actinobacillosis in an alpaca (Lama pacos)

The death of a 6-week-old alpaca being treated for acute polyarthritis is described. Post-mortem and histological findings included fibrinous mural endocarditis, lung abscessation, acute passive congestion of the liver, embolic suppurative nephritis and chronic nonsuppurative polyarthritis. Actinobacillus suis was isolated from the heart lesion and in pharyngeal swabs from four of six clinically normal alpacas in the same flock.     

The re-emergence of indigenous forest in an urban environment, Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch, the second largest city in New Zealand is a planned city on a coastal plain on the east coast of the South Island. The birth of the city and the subsequent century of development was characterised by colonial values and tree and garden planting with familiar European species along with those from Australia, North America, and eventually all other continents. The image of an “English garden city” with classical parks of oaks and willow-lined rivers became the accepted norm and the way in which the city has been promoted to potential tourists. Gardening is one of the top two recreational activities and exotic species greatly outnumber native species in the flora and in gardens. This has had serious consequences for the highly fragmented and degraded indigenous vegetation and its co-adapted wildlife. A few hardy indigenous species continued to regenerate through this period, but since the 1970s, there has been a progressive change of attitude and interest in reclaiming the natural heritage of the city, manifest in widespread private and public planting of indigenous species and active habitat restoration. In this article we examine the indigenous and exotic shrub and tree components of the Christchurch flora as planted street trees, in domestic gardens, and in parks. We also present data on shrub and tree regeneration in parks and domestic gardens in the city. Indications are that the more sensitive, less intrusive management of urban environments, combined with the greater density of indigenous seed sources, has allowed regeneration of a wide range of indigenous species across a broad spectrum of habitats – from neglected gardens to pavement cracks to exotic plantations. This is despite the competition from the prodigious seed banks and density of exotic trees, shrubs, and ground covers and albeit minimal impacts of introduced browsing and seed eating mammals. If the present trends continue through appropriate management and facilitation, these tentative signs of native forest regeneration should eventually proliferate into a sustainable mixed origin urban forest that resurrects and preserves the natural character of the region.     

Effect of strains of Rhizobium trifolii on the establishment of oversown white clover (Trifolium repens)

Strains of Rhizobium trifolii incorporated into commercial peat inoculants were compared for their effect on the establishment and growth of oversown white clover (Trifolium repens) on soils devoid of infective rhizobia.There were marked differences in numbers of seedlings establishing and clover dry matter production per hectare with the various strains. However, when adjusted to a constant number of established seedlings, dry matter production from all strains, apart from one strain at one site, were similar indicating that the strains did not appear to influence the growth of individual clover plants.The marked differences in establishment of clover inoculated with the various strains could not be accounted for by differences in the number of rhizobia in the peat inoculant.Selecting strains of rhizobia for ability to increase establishment is considered important where clover is oversown onto soils devoid of rhizobia.     

Experiments to determine the fate of dead birds at sea

This paper describes three experiments aimed at determining the proportion of dead birds at sea which come ashore and are found by members of the public, and discusses the results in relation to wind velocities. From 11% to 58% of the ringed (Larus spp.) corpses thrown into the Irish Sea between Liverpool and the Isle of Man on three occassions in 1973 and early 1974 were recovered. There were large differences between experiments in the timing of the recoveries, although half usually occurred within 11–14 days of dropping. The resultant wind velocities during the time the first bodies recovered from each experiment were at sea were calculated. Comparison of the observed and expected tracks of these bodies confirmed that the wind was the main factor influencing the direction of drift. Gull corpses drifted at a minimum of 2·55±0·93% of the wind speed, although there was much variation and some travelled at over 4% windspeed. With a few exceptions, the observed distribution of recoveries could be broadley predicted by wind vector analysis. The amount of onshore wind when the bodies had reached coastal waters was not related to the subsequent recovery rates. Further experiments are necessary if some of our findings are to be explained and examination of the effect of tidal cycles on the beaching of corpses would also be of value.     

Threatened deer of the world: Research programmes for conservation

This paper is the sequel to an earlier publication (see Biological Conservation, Vol. 5, No. 4 pp. 243–250, October 1973) on the conservation status of deer and describes an IUCN programme for the conservation of world-threatened deer. Research requirements for conservation of deer that are currently threatened with extinction are discussed. The immediate conservation objective is to ensure the species' or subspecies' survival, and the long-term objective is to restore their productive status in the wild. A framework for research to provide data to guide conservation practices is outlined. It comprises a set of research questions, to aid the planning of studies, and statements of the conservation action potential of the results of these investigations. The proposed organization of the IUCN programme and its current status is described. University and other research institutions that would be interested in participating or co-operating in the programme are invited to write to IUCN.     

The long-term effects of fire regime on primary production of montane grasslands in South Africa

Natural grasslands deliver essential ecosystem services through plant production, which enhances water supply, nutrient cycling, soil retention and greenhouse gas mitigation. Although the condition of montane grasslands for provision of ecosystem services is maintained by regular annual or biennial burning, controversy exists over the impact of different frequencies and seasons of burning on grassland productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term effects of different burning regimes on primary production and quality of the montane grasslands of the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. There were no significant differences in the mean standing live mass between 30 years of annual winter and biennial spring burning. However, in unburnt areas productivity was 20% lower (118.2?g m?2) than in regularly burnt grassland (144.7–154.5?g m?2). Crude protein did not vary between the annual winter and biennial spring treatments (95–113?kg ha?1), but was significantly lower in unburned areas (45?kg ha^?1). However, an infrequent fire in a protected area caused a temporary spike in crude protein (16%) compared with regular burning (5–10%), which can benefit wildlife. We conclude that montane grasslands can be burnt annually or biennially in the dormant season to promote long-term productivity.