Use of state‐space modelling to identify ecological covariates associated with trends in pinniped demography

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Recessive Genes for Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei in Barley

ABSTRACT Barley genotypes Abyssinian 14, BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, PI 548708, PI 548734, PI 548747, and Stauffers Obersulzer are resistant to all races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei identified thus far in North America. Astrix, BBA 809, Bigo, Cambrinus, Emir, Heils Franken, Hiproly, I5, Mazurka, Trumpf, and Varunda have specific resistance to certain races, whereas Topper and Steptoe are susceptible to all races. Seedlings of parents and F(1), F(2), and F(3) progeny from crosses of resistant genotypes with Topper and Steptoe were tested for resistance to North American P. striiformis f. sp. hordei races PSH-1, PSH-4, PSH-10, PSH-13, and PSH-20. When tested with PSH-1, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 809, BBA 2890, Bigo, Hiproly, and Grannelose Zweizeilige; two recessive genes were detected in Emir, I5, PI 548708, PI 548734, PI 548747, Varunda, and Astrix; and one dominant gene and one recessive gene were detected in Abyssinian 14 and Stauffers Obersulzer. In tests with PSH-4, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 809, two recessive genes were detected in Trumpf, and two partially recessive genes were detected in Astrix. In tests with PSH-13, one recessive gene was detected in BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, I5, and PI 548708 and two recessive genes were detected in Abyssinian 14, Hiproly, PI 548734, and PI 548747. In tests with PSH-20, one recessive gene was detected in Bigo and a recessive gene and a dominant gene were detected in Heils Franken. A gene in Cambrinus for resistance to PSH-10 and a gene in Mazurka for resistance to PSH-20 were dominant on the basis of the response of the first seedling leaf but recessive on the basis of the response of the second leaf. Four different types of epistasis were detected. Information on the number of genes, mode of inheritance, and nonallelic gene interactions should be useful in understanding the host-pathogen interaction and in breeding barley for resistance to stripe rust.     

Short-term biological variation of clinical chemical values in Dumeril's monitors (Varanus dumerili).

Plasma biochemical values are routinely used in the medical management of ill reptiles, and for monitoring the health of clinically normal animals. Laboratory tests, including clinical biochemical values, are subject to biological and analytical variation, the magnitude of which determines the utility of population-based reference ranges for the detection of abnormal results in the individual animal. Nested analysis of variance of repeated measurements allows the variance to be broken into within-individual, between-individual, and analytical variation. When the within-individual variation is large and the interindividual variation is low, a sample may be accurately classified as normal or abnormal based on a population-based reference interval. However, if the intraindividual variation is low and the interindividual variation high, population-based reference intervals are of limited value as the ranges for an individual encompass only a part of the conventional reference interval. Between-lizard, within-lizard, and analytical components of variance were assessed by nested analysis of variance for 16 commonly measured plasma biochemical parameters in eight healthy adult Dumeril's monitors (Varanus dumerili). Albumin, cholesterol, phosphate, calcium, sodium, and total protein demonstrated levels of individuality suggesting that comparison of a single measurement to a conventional population-based reference range may be too insensitive to detect small but significant alterations in the value for that animal. Only for potassium and AST did the index of individuality suggest that the use of reference values may be warranted. Uric acid, globulin, glucose, and amylase fell in a gray zone, where population-based ranges should be used with caution. The critical difference indicates the difference between two consecutive analytical results that may be safely ascribed to natural variation. In the present study critical difference varied from 7 and 11%, respectively, for sodium and chloride to 75 and 125% for uric acid and AST.     

Effect of prepubertal versus postpubertal castration on sexual and aggressive behavior in male horses

Males horses castrated prepubertally occasionally display stallion-like sexual and aggressive behavior as adults. A retrospective survey of 140 horse owners was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of prepubertal versus postpubertal castration on objectionable sexual and aggressive behavior. Of 94 geldings that had been castrated prepubertally (before 2 years of age), 20% to 30% displayed stallion-like sexual behavior and aggression toward horses, and 5% were aggressive toward people in a stallion-like manner. This occurrence of problem behavior was not significantly different from the occurrence of these behavioral patterns in 46 geldings that had been castrated as stallions (over 3 years of age). When castration was examined as a therapeutic measure to eliminate sexual and aggressive behavior in stallions in which the behavior had become objectionable, it was found that the operation was effective on sexual behavior and aggression toward people in 60% to 70% of horses and on aggression toward horses in 40% of horses.     

The reproductive success of a Quercus petraea × Q. robur F1-hybrid in back-crossing situations

A 56 year old Quercus petraea × Q. robur F1-hybrid was back-crossed to both parental species. Pollen mixes were applied and paternity assigned to offspring based on microsatellite markers. The studied Q. petraea × Q. robur hybrid proved highly fertile and back-crossed well with both Q. robur and Q. petraea with slight but not significant preference for Q. robur. The results do not support the hypothesis about highly unidirectional gene flow between Q. robur and Q. petraea towards Q. robur as the observed back-crossing ability of the hybrid opens a route for nuclear gene flow from Q. robur to Q. petraea. However, Q. petraea × Q. robur hybrids may be rare in nature and the results do not tell us if the (probably more common) reciprocal hybrid also back-crosses easily to Q. petraea.     

Assessing the influence of mechanical ventilation on blood gases and blood pressure in rattlesnakes

ObjectiveTo characterize the impact of mechanical positive pressure ventilation on heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure, blood gases, lactate, glucose, sodium, potassium and calcium concentrations in rattlesnakes during anesthesia and the subsequent recovery period.Study designProspective, randomized trial.AnimalsTwenty one fasted adult South American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus).MethodsSnakes were anesthetized with propofol (15 mg kg⁻¹) intravenously, endotracheally intubated and assigned to one of four ventilation regimens: Spontaneous ventilation, or mechanical ventilation at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ at 1 breath every 90 seconds, 5 breaths minute⁻¹, or 15 breaths minute⁻¹. Arterial blood was collected from indwelling catheters at 30, 40, and 60 minutes and 2, 6, and 24 hours following induction of anesthesia and analyzed for pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, and selected variables. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HR were recorded at 30, 40, 60 minutes and 24 hours.ResultsSpontaneous ventilation and 1 breath every 90 seconds resulted in a mild hypercapnia (PaCO₂ 22.4 ± 4.3 mmHg [3.0 ± 0.6 kPa] and 24.5 ± 1.6 mmHg [3.3 ± 0.2 kPa], respectively), 5 breaths minute⁻¹ resulted in normocapnia (14.2 ± 2.7 mmHg [1.9 ± 0.4 kPa]), while 15 breaths minute⁻¹ caused marked hypocapnia (8.2 ± 2.5 mmHg [1.1 ± 0.3 kPa]). Following recovery, blood gases of the four groups were similar from 2 hours. Anesthesia, independent of ventilation was associated with significantly elevated glucose, lactate and potassium concentrations compared to values at 24 hours (p < 0.0001). MAP increased significantly with increasing ventilation frequency (p < 0.001). HR did not vary among regimens.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMechanical ventilation had a profound impact on blood gases and blood pressure. The results support the use of mechanical ventilation with a frequency of 1–2 breaths minute⁻¹ at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ during anesthesia in fasted snakes.     

Ash and biochar amendment of coarse sandy soil for growing crops under drought conditions

Appropriate soil amendments may increase plant available water and crop yields on coarse sandy soils under drought conditions. In this study, we applied straw ash or straw biochar from gasification to a Danish coarse sandy subsoil to assess the effects on soil water retention, evapotranspiration and crop yields. Spring barley (2016, 2017) and winter wheat (2018) were grown over three years in columns containing 25cm of organic matter-rich topsoil, 80 cm of amended coarse sandy soil (1.5%, 3%, 6% wt. ash or 1% wt. biochar or control soil) and 45 cm of un-amended subsoil. Precipitation, evaporative demands and soil moisture were recorded across the growth seasons, with 2018 having severe drought conditions. This year evapotranspiration levels increased with increasing ash and biochar content (by 54% and 33% for the 6% ash- and 1% biochar-amended soils, respectively), and plant dry matter increased by 18% in both the 1% biochar- and 6% ash-treated soils compared to the untreated control. A linear relationship was established between in situ field capacity and ash dosage (R² = .96), showing an increase of 2.2% per percentage (wt.) of ash added, while the 1% biochar treatment increased the capacity by 3.5%, indicating a higher efficiency than for ash. However, we did not find significant positive effects on grain yields. The results show that ash and biochar have the potential to significantly increase soil water retention, evapotranspiration and total dry matter yield in drought conditions, but that this may not correspond to an increase in grain yield.     

Resorptive tooth root lesions in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Facial abscessation and osteomyelitis due to dental disease is commonly seen in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), but little is known about the prevalence or etiology of these lesions. To determine the prevalence of dental ailments, 56 skulls and mandibles of deceased Malayan tapirs were visually and radiographically evaluated. Dental lesions were scored according to severity, and individuals were classified according to their age (juvenile/ young adult/adult) and origin (captive/free ranging). All of the lesions identified were of a resorptive nature. seemingly originating at the cementoenamel junction and burrowing towards the center of the tooth. Overall, 27% of the investigated skulls presented radiolucent dental lesions. The prevalence among captive animals was 52% (13/25), while only 6% (2/31) of the free-ranging tapirs had dental lesions. The second, third, and fourth premolars and first molar were the teeth most commonly affected, and the mandibular teeth were more often involved than the maxillary dentition. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of resorptive dental lesions in captive Malayan tapirs and provides a strong indication that age and captivity are significant risk factors in the development of these lesions. Dental disease, Malayan tapir, radiology, resorptive lesions, Tapirus indicus.