In Vitro and In Vivo Feedstuff Digestibility for Snook,Centropomus undecimalis,Juveniles

The degree of hydrolysis (DH) of the ingredients was evaluated for Centropomus undecimalis juveniles. The in vitro experiment included wheat gluten (WG), corn gluten (CG), soybean meal (SBM) and pretreated phytase (SBM + phytase), soy protein concentrate (SPC), canola meal (CAN) and pretreated phytase (CAN + phytase), poultry byproduct meal (PBPM), chicken meal (CHKM), dried whey (DW), Pota meal (PM: mix of giant squid, fish soluble protein concentrate, crustacean meal, and fish oil), and Protiblend (PTB: aquatic and render mix). The highest acidic DH occurred with PTB (0.38 ± 0.06), CHKM (0.33 ± 0.3), and PBPM (0.25 ± 0.03). In the alkaline condition, PTB (1.6 ± 0.17 and 0.98 ± 0.05 for pyloric caeca and intestine, respectively) and CG (1.04 ± 0.4 and 0.75 ± 0.2 for caeca and intestine, respectively) provided the highest DH values. In vitro digestibility demonstrated that PTB was the highest (85.3%) followed by PBPM (51.4%), CAN + phytase (47.6%), CG (45.1%), and CHKM (46.5%). The in vivo experiment concerned the WG, CHKM, PBPM, PM, and PTB diets plus a reference diet with fishmeal (Ref diet). The total %DH was different (P < 0.05) with the lowest values for the WG diet (0.34 ± 0.09%) and Ref diet (0.34 ± 0.15). Free amino acid released during digestion was displayed for these diets and a bifactorial analysis produced no difference (P > 0.05). The apparent digestive coefficients ranged from 89.8 to 92.9% for protein and from 68 to 71.4% for energy.     

Comparative study of embryonal development in 2 oviparous and 1 ovoviviparous species (Gallus gallus, Coturnix c. japonica and Liolaemus tenuis t.)

In a study of the development of two oviparous species (domestic chicken and Japanese quail) and one ovoviviparous species (a common lizard), the relationship to alterations in egg size and weight during incubation was examined. It was observed, as reported by others that the avian egg diminishes in size during incubation, but that the lizard egg increases in size and weight. This investigation examines these relationships and suggests that the increase in the size and weight of the lizard egg is a result of an increase of liquid content. The mechanism is discussed.     

交替饲喂整粒小麦或含蛋白质及矿物质浓缩的饲料提高蛋鸡饲料的利用效率

对16～46周龄的蛋鸡生产性能的研究表明,交替饲喂或喂混合饲料的效果是不同的。一种方法是利用同等比例的整粒小麦或营养均衡的含蛋白质及矿物质浓缩的饲料交替饲喂ISA布朗母鸡,另一种方法是饲喂混合饲料。对照组喂传统的饲料。每组16笼,每笼中5只鸡。每天光照时间16h。控制饲料的饲喂量,121g·只-·1d-1,每天饲喂2次,分别为开灯后4h和11h。在交替饲喂时,仅第1次喂食小麦,第2次喂食营养的均衡饲料。喂混合饲料时,两种定量配给的饲料混合喂2次。在下一次喂食前拿走剩余的饲料。与喂混合饲料和对照组相比,交替饲喂减少总采食量,小麦减少9g·只-·1d-1,但喂均衡饲料增多1.7g·只-·1d·-1。在3种方式中,鸡蛋的生产,蛋的大小,蛋的重量均相似。交替饲喂与喂混合饲料相比,饲料利用率的提高分别为10%和5%。与喂混合饲料和对照组相比,交替饲喂ME低,CP摄取量减少。交替饲喂时蛋鸡体重轻,其肌胃、胰腺和肝脏较重,肝脏脂质类似。喂混合饲料肝糖最高。试验结论为,交替饲喂整粒小麦和营养均衡的饲料或喂混合饲料对蛋鸡生产无负面影响。因此,两种饲喂方法是可以替代传统的喂养方式。与喂混合饲料相比,交替饲喂饲料的利用效率高,因而是可行的。     

Raptor nest decorations are a reliable threat against conspecifics

Individual quality is often signaled by phenotypic flags, such as bright plumage patches in birds. Extended phenotype signals can similarly show quality, but in these cases the signals are external to the individual, often taking the form of objects scavenged from the environment. Through multiple manipulative experiments, we showed that objects used for nest decoration by a territorial raptor, the black kite (Milvus migrans), act as reliable threats to conspecifics, revealing the viability, territory quality, and conflict dominance of the signaler. Our results suggest that animal-built structures may serve as signaling devices much more frequently than currently recognized.     

Herbicidal,plant growth inhibitory,and cytotoxic activities of bismuthines containing aromatic heterocycles

This work presents the herbicidal and plant growth regulatory activities of tertiary bismuthines containing heterocyclic aromatic rings of the general formula (2-C(4)H(3)X)(3)Bi, where X = S (3), O (1), or NMe (2). Toxicity against Artemia salina and herbicidal activity on Lactuca sativa, Trifolium pratense, and Lolium multiflorum were tested. In addition to the effects on mitochondrial respiration obtained from roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, these compounds also demonstrated partial radical scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The furyl substituent is the most important structural requirement for the activity measurements observed in this study.     

Dampened behavioral and physiological responses mediate birds’ association with humans

The study of the mechanisms involved in phenotypic adaptations or plasticity to environmental stressors may serve to evaluate contemporary ecological and evolutionary dynamics in threatened or growing wildlife populations. By addressing human disturbance as a main stressor agent, we investigated antipredator response (flushing distance), social behavior (degree of gregarism), health (fecal pathogens), and endocrine status (fecal corticosterone levels) as potential mechanisms that permit birds to cope with anthropogenic impact in tourist areas. Our study models were species that are neither urbanized nor invasive, and that are typical of the high mountains of the Palearctic: the Alpine and the Red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus and P. pyrrhocorax), and the surrounding alpine bird community. Both chough species showed habituation, reduced flushing distances, fewer parasites and lower corticosterone levels in tourist than in non-tourist sites, and a significant variation in gregarious behavior. Behavioral and physiological adjustments permitted these corvids to optimize resource exploitation depending on habitat quality and in conditions of continuous disturbance. Human-induced changes in chough social behavior had no effect on local avian species richness, a surrogate measure for community diversity. Irrespectively of chough aggregations, bird diversity decreased significantly in recreational areas, thus not all community members tolerated human impact as choughs did. Our findings suggest that species that manage to coexist with humans primarily adjust traits that influence ecological interactions (social, foraging or antipredatory responses) and that vary rapidly (learned behaviors and physiological mechanisms that promote homeostasis).     

A histological study of gametogenesis in captive red snapper Lutjanus campechanus

Gametogenesis was monitored histologically in wild‐caught red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus, Poey) maintained in captivity under simulated natural photothermal conditions. Gonads were collected every 2–3 weeks (average n = 14) for histology during the pre‐spawning season (February to May, temperature increasing from 16°C to 24°C). Primary vitellogenic oocytes were first observed in one female when temperature reached 20°C. Subsequent samples revealed females in pre‐vitellogenesis or at early stages of vitellogenesis, although one female had tertiary vitellogenic (Vtg3) oocytes. The first histological signs of spermatogenesis were observed when temperature reached 17°C. Spermatozoa were observed in testicular lobules of all males sampled on 14 May (24°C) but little or no sperm was released during manual stripping. Ten males and 10 females were left in tanks and monitored for spawning. No egg release was observed during the monitoring period that encompassed the natural spawning season of wild red snapper. Ovarian biopsies taken during the late spawning season (16 July) revealed that four of eight sampled females had Vtg3 oocytes. Males were manually stripped but released no sperm. These results indicate that captive red snapper can complete gametogenesis in photothermal controlled systems. Additional research is needed to develop procedures that will achieve reliable maturation and spawning.     

Alterations of domains in the plasmatic membrane due to damages of the perinuclear theca of pig preserved spermatozoa

Samples of semen from 12 pigs, three from Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc and Mexican Hairless each where obtained to study cryopreservation methods. Three stages of boar semen cryopreservation were evaluated: none (fresh stage), cooling at 5 degrees C and freezing at -196 degrees C then thawing to 56 degrees C for 12 sec. Perinuclear theca damage and domain alterations were selected as indices of seminal quality, as measured by electronic and fluorescence microcopy, respectively according to two lineal models considering by separately the effect of semen preservation and breed. Integrity and absence of perinuclear theca significantly (p < 0.001) decreased and increased, respectively according to a decrease in temperature of cryopreservation, from 87.4 to 58.8% and from 0.8 to 26.2%, respectively. This same significant (p < 0.001) effect was found for acrosomal and post-acrosomal membrane distribution of domains, from 92.1 to 76.8% and from 3.1 to 13.1% in this same order. Slight but highly significant (p < 0.001) differences were observed when theca integrity was evaluated as affected by breed, with highest and lowest values for Yorkshire and Pel6n Mexicano pigs, respectively. No breed effect was encountered for presence of acrosomal domains. A strong interdependence was found between perinuclear theca damage and domain distribution. In this connection, a highly significant (p < 0.001) positive, interdependence was observed between the theca damage and acrosomal domain (r = 0.87), while this same relationship was although highly significant (p < 0.001), negative in nature for equatorial and post-acrosonal domains (r = -0.77 and -0.85, respectively). This experiment confirmed that cryopreservation methods may severely affect semen quality of pigs and that genotype may further influence these same indices. More research is needed for improving methods of preservation of pig semen quality, from the point of view of perinuclear theca and domain characteristics of spermatozoa.     

Evaluation of different starch sources in extruded feed for Atlantic salmon

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of partial or total substitution of wheat flour with oat meal and tapioca starch in extruded salmon feed. A mixture design (simplex centroid mixture design) was used to analyse the effect of starch source on physical quality of extruded feed. Physical quality of the extruded feed was evaluated as cohesiveness, pellet density, axial and radial expansion, durability, hardness, strain at rupture and elastic modulus. Starch sources affected behaviour of the diet formulations during extrusion and caused changes in the physical properties of the extruded products. Significant correlations (P < 0.05) between physical properties and weight fraction of the starch sources allowed the establishment of predictive models. The inclusion of oat meal and tapioca starch in the diet gave extruded feed with a higher porosity and lower oil absorption capacity. The mechanical properties of the extruded feeds were significantly different from each other, most likely due to the complex nature of texture formation with respect to process parameters and properties of ingredients.     

Involución de Germenes Dentarios en la Oveja (Ovis aries)

In this study we examined some histologic and histochemical characteristics of the embryonic sheep dental epithelium in early odontogenesis. During the first trimester of development, a short-lived dental lamina was observed. Apparently in the sheep, the interactions between epithelial and ectomesenchymal cells required for tooth normal morphogenesis are altered.