Decreased mononuclear cell response to mitogens in artificially reared neonatal pigs.

The influence of two rearing methods for neonatal pigs on mononuclear cell responses to mitogens was studied. Littermate pigs were reared artificially or on the sow. Artificially reared pigs displayed a leukocytosis (P less than 0.05) characterized by an increase (P less than 0.05) in mature and immature neutrophils. Skin-test responses to intradermal injections of phytohemagglutinin were less (P less than 0.05) in artificially reared pigs than in sow-reared controls. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogenic stimulation were approximately 50% lower (P less than 0.05) in artificially reared pigs than in sow-reared pigs. These data suggest that artificial rearing lowers in vivo and in vitro lymphocyte responses in neonatal pigs.     

Body growth and testicular characteristics of boars fed a synthetic progestogen, altrenogest

A synthetic progestogen (altrenogest) was fed to 24 Yorkshire X Duroc boars to determine effects on body growth, serum testosterone, and testicular characteristics. Boars from six litters (blocks) were allotted randomly to one of four treatment groups at 12 wk of age. Treatment groups were: controls, altrenogest fed for 3 wk, altrenogest fed for 6 wk and altrenogest fed for 9 wk. Treatment began at 15 wk of age at a daily dose of 20 mg X boar-1. Although there were no differences among treatment groups for gain and feed intake, boars fed altrenogest for 6 and 9 wk tended to consume more feed and were less (P less than .05) efficient than boars fed altrenogest for 3 wk or controls. Boars fed altrenogest for 3, 6 and 9 wk maintained lower (P less than .05) peripheral serum testosterone concentrations than controls from 15 to 24 wk of age. However, serum testosterone increased after altrenogest withdrawal in the 3- and 6-wk treatment groups but did not reach control concentrations by 24 wk. Boars fed altrenogest for 9 wk maintained serum testosterone below 1 ng/ml during the treatment period. Despite lower concentrations of serum testosterone in altrenogest-treated boars, backfat thickness was similar to controls, perhaps suggesting a slight anabolic effect of altrenogest on nutrient partitioning. Testicular weights and volumes at 24 wk decreased (P less than .001) linearly with increased duration of altrenogest feeding. Serum testosterone and estradiol in testicular venous effluent at castration were lower (P less than .01) in altrenogest-treated boars than in controls. These data demonstrate that feeding altrenogest inhibits both testicular growth and steroidogenesis of boars without altering body growth or backfat thickness.     

Controls on spatial patterns of wildfire severity and early post-fire vegetation development in an Arizona Sky Island,USA

Landscape Ecology - Spatial patterns of vegetation change and fire severity are influenced by fire exclusion, topography and weather conditions during a fire. Since the late nineteenth century,...     

Growth, carcass traits, boar odor and testicular and endocrine functions of male pigs fed a progestogen, altrenogest

Crossbred (Chester White X Yorkshire X Duroc) boars were used to evaluate the effects of feeding a progestogen (altrenogest) on body growth, endocrine function (determined during feeding and after withdrawal of altrenogest), carcass composition, boar odor and testicular function (determined after a 30-d withdrawal from altrenogest). Boars from 18 litters were assigned at 12 wk of age to three treatments: 1) 18 control boars; 2) 18 boars fed altrenogest (20 mg/day) for 6 wk from 15 to 21 wk of age, followed by 30 d with no treatment; and 3) 18 boars castrated at 2 wk of age (barrows). Daily gains were greater (P less than .05) in boars fed altrenogest than in barrows through 21 wk of age but were lower (P less than .05) than those of control boars and barrows during the 30-d withdrawal period. Boars fed altrenogest weighed less (P less than .05) than control boars and barrows at 25 wk of age (at slaughter). Both groups of boars were similar in percentage of muscle and had less (P less than .05) backfat than barrows, whereas control boars had the largest (P less than .05) loineye areas. Based on evaluations by a trained sensory panel, intensity of boar odor in fat samples was similar for both groups of boars and was greater (P less than .05) than that for barrows. Weights of accessory reproductive glands and weight and sperm content of testes and epididymides were reduced (P less than .05) in boars fed altrenogest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Amphibian distributions in riparian and upslope areas and their habitat associations on managed forest landscapes in the Oregon Coast Range

Over the past 50 years, forested landscapes of the Pacific Northwest have become increasingly patchy, dominated by early successional forests. Several amphibian species associated with forested headwater systems have emerged as management concerns, especially after clearcutting. Given that headwater streams comprise a large portion of the length of flowing waterways in western Oregon forests, there is a need to better understand how forest management affects headwater forest taxa and their habitats. Mitigation strategies include alternatives to clearcutting, such as harvests that remove only part of the canopy and maintenance of riparian buffer strips. Our study investigates effects of upland forest thinning coupled with riparian buffer treatments on riparian and upland headwater forest amphibians, habitat attributes, and species-habitat associations. Amphibian captures and habitat variables were examined 5–6 years post-thinning within forest stands subject to streamside-retention buffers and variable-width buffers, as well as unthinned reference stands. We found no treatments effects, however, our results suggest that ground surface conditions (e.g., amount of rocky or fine substrate) play a role in determining the response of riparian and upland amphibians to forest thinning along headwater streams. Distance from stream was associated with amphibian abundance, hence retention of riparian buffers is likely important in maintaining microclimates and microhabitats needed for amphibians and other taxa. Moderate thinning and preservation of conditions in riparian and nearby upland areas by way of variable-width and streamside-retention buffers may be sufficient to maintain suitable habitat and microclimatic conditions vital to amphibian assemblages in managed headwater forests.     

Distinctive fungal and bacterial communities are associated with mats formed by ectomycorrhizal fungi

The distinct rhizomorphic mats formed by ectomycorrhizal Piloderma fungi are common features of the organic soil horizons of coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. These mats have been found to cover 25-40% of the forest floor in some Douglas-fir stands, and are associated with physical and biochemical properties that distinguish them from the surrounding non-mat soils. In this study, we examined the fungal and bacterial communities associated with Piloderma mat and non-mat soils. Each mat and non-mat area was repeatedly sampled at four times throughout the year. Characterization of the mat activity and community was achieved using a combination of N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase) enzyme assays, and molecular analysis of fungal and bacterial communities using T-RFLP profiles, clone libraries, and quantitative PCR. Piloderma mats had consistently greater NAGase activity across all dates, although the magnitude of the difference varied by season. Furthermore, we found distinct fungal and bacterial communities associated with the Piloderma mats, yet the size of the microbial populations differed little between the mat and non-mat soils. Significant temporal variation was seen in the NAGase activity and in the sizes of the fungal and bacterial populations, but the community composition remained stable through time. Our results demonstrate the presence of two distinct microbial communities occupying the forest floor of Douglas-fir stands, whose populations and activities fluctuate seasonally but with little change in composition, which appears to be related to the physiochemical nature of mat and non-mat habitats.     

Isoprinosine and levamisole immunomodulation in artificially reared neonatal pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the capability of isoprinosine (ISO) and levamisole (LEV) to augment delayed-type hypersensitivity and lymphocyte blastogenic reactions in artificially reared pigs. Sow-reared pigs (n = 15) were kept with their dams; artificially reared pigs (n = 15) were removed from sows within 2 days after parturition and reared artificially for 21 days. Isoprinosine was administered orally (75 mg/kg/day) from days 0 to 10. Levamisole (2 mg) was injected subcutaneously on days 5 and 10. Control pigs were given distilled water orally from days 0 to 10 and injected subcutaneously with 0.15M NaCl on days 5 and 10. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen were evaluated at week 2. The phytohemagglutinin skin-test responses were evaluated in all pigs at weeks 1 and 3 of the trial. Hematologic values, body weight, and mortality were evaluated each week. The skin-test responses and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses were lower (P less than 0.05) in artificially reared controls when compared with responses in sow-reared pigs. However, ISO and LEV enhanced (P less than 0.05) the responses in the artificially reared pigs to values comparable with those of the sow-reared controls. Body weight was greater (P less than 0.01) in sow-reared pigs than in artificially reared pigs; drug treatment did not influence weight gain. These data indicated that immunopotentiation of the cellular immune responsiveness of artificially reared pigs may be possible with ISO or LEV.     

Ectomycorrhizal mats alter forest soil biogeochemistry

Dense hyphal mats formed by ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi are prominent features in Douglas-fir forest ecosystems, and have been estimated to cover up to 40% of the soil surface in some forest stands. Two morphotypes of EcM mats have been previously described: rhizomorphic mats, which have thick hyphal rhizomorphs and are found primarily in the organic horizon, and hydrophobic mats, which occur in the mineral horizon and have an ashy appearance. This study surveyed EcM mat and non-mat soils from eight early and late seral conifer forest stands at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in western Oregon. EcM mats were classified by morphology and taxonomic identities were determined by DNA sequencing. A variety of chemical and biochemical properties, including enzymes involved in C, N, and P cycling were measured. Analysis was confined to a comparison of rhizomorphic mats colonizing the organic horizon with non-mat organic soils, and hydrophobic mats with non-mat mineral soils. Both the organic and mineral horizons showed differences between mat and non-mat enzyme profiles when compared on a dry weight basis. In the organic horizon, rhizomorphic mats had greater chitinase activity than non-mat soils; and in the mineral horizon, hydrophobic mats had increased chitinase, phosphatase, and phenoloxidase activity compared to the non-mat soil. The rhizomorphic mats had 2.7 times more oxalate than the non-mats and significantly lower pH. In the mineral horizon, hydrophobic mats had 40 times more oxalate and significantly lower pH than non-mat mineral soils. Microbial biomass C was not significantly different between the rhizomorphic mat and non-mat organic soils. In the mineral horizon, however, the hydrophobic mats had greater microbial biomass C than the non-mat soils. These data demonstrate that soils densely colonized by EcM fungi create a unique soil environment with distinct microbial activities when compared to non-mat forest soils.