Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

A survey on the use of rugs in Australian horses

The practice of horse rugging has important implications for horse welfare and performance, but in Australia, rugging practices have not been properly documented. The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of Australian horse rugging practices. An online survey reviewed the management of 2659 Australian horses over 12 months. Of the reported horses a total of 84.8% were rugged, although most owners (69.5%) indicated that they were unsure whether horses needed to be rugged at all. Rugging was felt by 59.8% of owners to be a requirement for horses in competition. Riding and competition were significantly associated with the use of rugs. Nearly all respondents (89.0%) felt that ‘over-rugging’ was a concern. However, 4.8% of owners would use up to 4 rugs at any one time on their horse and 21.4% of horses were still rugged in temperatures above 20°C in Australia. Many Australian horse owners (42.8%) also believe that horses feel cold if they are not rugged. Anthropomorphism when it comes to rugging horses cannot be justified as the horse has a much wider thermoneutral zone (TNZ) than humans. Australian climate, owner opinions, equestrian discipline and whether a horse is used for riding influence Australian horse rugging practices. However, current practices are based on limited available research and are not necessarily to the benefit of the horse. The major limitation was that the survey likely attracted respondents who are interested in the topic creating a self-selection bias.     

Concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests

In the 1970s unexpected forest damages, called “new type of forest damage” or “forest decline”, were observed in Germany and other European countries. The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Federal States implemented a forest monitoring system in the early 1980s, in order to monitor and assess the forest condition. Due to the growing public awareness of possible adverse effects of air pollution on forests, in 1985 the ICP Forests was launched under the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE). The German experience in forest monitoring was a base for the implementation of the European monitoring system. In 2001 the interdisciplinary case study “concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests”, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, concentrated on in-depths evaluations of the German data of forest monitoring. The objectives of the study were: (a) a reliable assessment of the vitality and functioning of forest ecosystems, (b) the identification and quantification of factors influencing forest vitality, and (c) the clarification of cause-effect-relationships leading to leaf/needle loss. For these purposes additional data from external sources were acquired: climate and deposition, for selected level I plots tree growth data, as well as data on groundwater quality. The results show that in particular time series analysis (crown condition, tree growth, and tree ring analysis), in combination with climate and deposition are valuable and informative, as well as integrated evaluation of soil, tree nutrition and crown condition data. Methods to combine information from the extensive and the intensive monitoring, and to transfer process information to the large scale should be elaborated in future.

Regulation by gonadal steroids of estrogen and progesterone receptors along the reproductive tract in female lambs.

The regulation of estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) expression by estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in the oviduct, uterus and cervix of female lambs was studied. The animals received three intramuscular injections of E2, P4 or vehicle with an interval of 24 h and they were slaugthered 24 h after the third injection. Determinations of ER and PR were performed by binding assays and mRNAs of ER alpha and PR by solution hybridization. High levels of ER and PR in both cervix and oviduct were found in the female lamb, differing from other mammalian species. No significant effects by either E2 or P4 treatment on ER and PR levels in the cervix and oviduct could be observed. E2 treatment increased the mRNA levels of ERa and PR more than 3-fold in the cervix, while P4 treatment increased the mRNA levels of ERa and PR in the uterus. The results show differential effects of gonadal steroids on sex steroid receptor expression along the reproductive tract in female lambs, suggesting that steroid target tissues can modulate responses to the same circulating levels of steroid hormones.     

Über Schäden in Fichtenbeständen durch abgeschwemmte Auftausalze

Zusammenfassung Im Frühjahr 1971 wurden in 50–70j?hrigen Fichtenbest?nden entlang der Bundesautobahn Stuttgart-Karlsruhe im Streckenabschnitt Heimsheim umfangreichere Sch?den durch Auftausalze festgestellt. Nadelverf?rbungen und Ausf?lle ergaben sich nicht nur im Spritzwasserbereich entlang der Bestandesr?nder, sondern auch bis zu 100 m ins Bestandesinnere, wenn salz-(NaCl-) haltige Schmelzw?sser über natürliche oder künstlich angelegte Abflu\systeme in die Best?nde gelangten. Die gesch?digten Fichten wiesen über 3‰ bis rund 7‰ Chlorid in den Nadeln auf. Bei den 70–100 m im Bestandesinnern stehenden B?umen konnten ebenfalls hohe Cl-Konzentrationen in den Nadeln festgestellt werden, was darauf hinweist, da? die Sch?digung über den Wurzelbereich erfolgt sein mu?te. Auch im Boden waren stark erh?hte NaCl-Konzentrationen festzustellen. Gef?hrdet durch abflie?endes, salzhaltiges Schmelzwasser sind besonders Fichtenbest?nde auf feinlehmreichen und tonigen B?den in Mulden-und leichten Hanglagen, auch an Hangfü?en steilerer Lagen. Die Bedrohung w?chst in submontanen und montanen Gebieten.

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Summary In spring of 1971, rather extensive injuries were noted in 50–70 year old Norway spruce stands along the Stuttgart-Karlsruhe-Autobahn near Heimsheim. These damages are attributed to the infiltration of rock salt. Discolouring of needles and destruction of the trees not only occured along the border of the stands within spraying range, but was also observed up to 100 meters inside the stands where melted snow and ice containing salt had reached the stands through natural or artifical drainage systems. Needles of the damaged spruces contained from over 3‰ to approximately 7‰ of chlorine. Since needles of trees at 70 to 100 meters inside the stands also contained high concentrations of chlorine it must be concluded that the damage has been inflicted through the root system. High concentrations of NaCl were also found in the soil. Melted snow and ice containing salt is particularly dangerous when draining into spruce stands on loamy or clayey soil in hollows or on slight slopes, as well as at the bottom of steeper slopes. Danger increases in mountains and submountains areas.

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Aus der Baden-Württembergischen Forstlichen Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt, Sektion Pflanzenern?hrung und Düngung     

Wasserhaushalt,Stoffeintrag, Stoffaustrag und biologische Studien im Naturpark Schönbuch bei Tübingen

Ohne Zusammenfassung (Prof. Agerer seit 1982 am Institut für Systematische Botanik, München). (Weilimdorf) (zuvor t?tig bei der FVA Stuttgart, siehe oben) (Hohenheim)     

Spatial variability of surface peat properties and carbon emissions in a tropical peatland oil palm monoculture during a dry season

The expansion of oil palm monocultures into globally important Southeast Asian tropical peatlands has caused severe environmental damage. Despite much of the current focus of environmental impacts being directed at industrial scale plantations, over half of oil palm land-use cover in Southeast Asia is from smallholder plantations. We differentiated a first generation smallholder oil palm monoculture into 8 different sampling zones, and further divided the 8 sampling zones into oil palm root influenced (Proximal) and reduced root influence (Distal) areas, to assess how peat properties regulate in situ carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes. We found that all the physico-chemical properties and nutrient concentrations except sulphur varied significantly among sampling zones. All physico-chemical properties except electrical conductivity, and all nutrient content except nitrogen and potassium varied significantly between Proximal and Distal areas. Mean CO₂ fluxes (ranged between 382 and 1191 mg m⁻² h⁻¹) varied significantly among sampling zones, and between Proximal and Distal areas, with notably high emissions in Dead Wood and Path zones, and consistently higher emissions in Proximal areas compared to Distal areas within almost all the zones. CH₄ fluxes (ranged between −32 and 243 µg m⁻² h⁻¹) did not significantly vary between Proximal and Distal areas, however significantly varied amongst sampling zones. CH₄ flux was notably high in Canal Edge and Understorey Ferns zones, and negative in Dead Wood zone. The results demonstrate the high heterogeneity of peat properties within oil palm monoculture, strengthening the need for intensive sampling to characterize a land use in the tropical peatlands.