Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

Acclimation abilities of three tropical rainforest seedlings to an increase in light intensity

Current practices in many nurseries involve the germination of tropical rainforest seedlings in shaded conditions and transferral, at a later date, to environments with greater light intensities. Determination of the ability of these seedlings to acclimate to increased light intensities will allow seedling stock to be processed with maximum efficiency within the nursery. The acclimation abilities of three species, Agyrodendron actinophyllum, Cardwellia sublimis, and Flindersia brayleyana, commonly found in north Queensland's rainforests were investigated in this study. These particular species are highly valued for their cabinet timber qualities and are being reared in nurseries for use in reforestation trials and programs in north Queensland. Seedlings were initially raised in greenhouse conditions under two layers of shade cloth (16% of full sunlight) and then transferred into full sunlight at three different ages (3 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks). Upon transfer, organ ratios and the direction of dry matter distribution was determined for each species and age group. Approximately 3 months after the seedlings were transferred, the acclimation ability of each species and age group was then determined. Dry matter distribution was found to change with age, irrespective of light environment. Individuals within a species with larger root systems and thicker or more dense leaves had a greater acclimation ability than those with smaller root systems and thinner or less dense leaves. Furthermore, individuals within a species whose dry matter distribution upon transfer was directed towards developing a large root system, and a small photosynthetic area and mass, had a greater acclimation ability than those whose dry matter distribution was directed away from such morphologies. Awareness of these relationships allows a better understanding of seedling response to gap formation in natural forests, and also allows plant nursery operators to make a more informed decision about when to move seedlings to environments with a higher light intensity.     

永城县土壤养分变化动态与培肥措施

对永城县1982年至1987年土壤养分变化动态进行了定点分析研究.共分析了三十个乡的257个土样。土壤有机质和氮素含量1987年比1982年相应提高25%和41.4%;而速效磷和钾则相应降低36.1%和89.9%;微量元素有效锌、硼、钼含量均属中低级水平。据此提出了相应的培肥措施.     

Correlated Responses in Two Traits when Selection is Practised on their Ratio

In many fields of application in plant breeding and crop science, ratios of two component traits X and Y are of interest (harvest index in cereals, leaf-to-stem ratio in forage legumes, height-to-diameter ratio in forest trees etc.). When selection is practised on the ratio X/Y of two traits X and Y, the experimenter may be interested in the resulting changes of both trait means. Based on improved approximations for the covariances between X and X/Y and between Y and X/Y and for the variance of X/Y the changes in the means of X and Y can be predicted by applying the regression approach from conventional selection theory. Explicit expressions for these correlated responses in X and Y when selection is practised on their ratio X/Y are derived and discussed. The different outcomes (decrease, zero change or increase) for the selection pressures on X and Y are characterized by phenotypic coefficients of variation of X and Y, phenotypic and genotypic correlations between X and Y and heritabilities of X and Y.     

赖氨酸占蛋白质及饲粮的比例对杜洛克猪生长肥育性能及胴体品质的影响

杜洛克猪48头,体重27kg左右,分6组。试验前期(27～60kg)日粮的消化能均为13.67MJ)/kg,后期(60～90kg)均为13.44MJ/kg。粗蛋白1、2、3组前期均为18％,后期均为16％;4、5、6组前期均为16％,后期均为14％。同时配合3种赖蛋比水平6.6～6.9％,6.1～6.25％及5％。试验结果表明:4、5、6组平均日增重、饲料利用率及胴体瘦肉率都略高于1、2、3组,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。在前期,以第5组平均日增重最高(达782克),极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01);饲料利用率2.41,极显著好于其他各组(P<0.01)。后期以第5组平均日增重最高(875克)。试验前期,第5组获得最佳的日增重(822克),极显著高于其他各组(P<0.01),饲料利用率2.98,胴体瘦肉率65.79％,与其他各组差异不显著(P>0.05)。在两种粗蛋白水平组内,均以赖蛋比6.1～6.25％的第5组和第2组生长速度最快(822克和778克)。说明在相同的能量水平下,赖蛋比是影响生长速度的主要因素。     

乳酸菌与中药合生元对肉鸡生长性能及饲料利用率的影响

本试验分别向肉仔鸡日粮中添加等量的抗生素和乳酸菌与中药合生元制剂,通过测定肉仔鸡的各项生长指标和饲料利用率指标,探讨乳酸菌与中药合生元在肉鸡生长和饲料利用率方面替代抗生素的优势.结果表明,试验组与对照组在生长性能和饲料利用率上各指标均差异不显著（P〉0.05）,说明乳酸菌与中药合生元可以替代抗生素饲喂给肉仔鸡.     

基于果实相关性状的桃品种初级核心种质取样策略研究

以国家种质资源圃(北京)编目的558份桃品种的18个形态学和农艺学性状为基本数据,研究了桃品种初级核心种质构建的取样策略,包括总体取样比例的确定及取样方案的选择,以获得最佳的初级核心种质。本试验共设10%～90%9个总体取样比例;取样方案研究包括分组原则和组内取样比例的确定。结果表明,桃初级核心种质的适宜总体取样比例为10%;按品种类群分组结合多样性比例取样为构建桃初级核心种质的最佳取样方案;利用此取样策略从558份桃品种中提取56份作为核心样本,对其代表性进行检测表明所构建的初级核心种质能够很好地代表桃原始种质的遗传多样性。     

干旱区20个紫花苜蓿品种抗旱性研究

该试验测定了20个苜蓿品种的水势、总含水量、自由水量、束缚水量、束/自比以及渗透调节物质.从植物水分生理与生化方面,测试各品种的抗旱性,并结合产草量、品质进行综合评价.从中选出5～6个抗旱性较强、产草量高、品质较好的苜蓿品种,为干旱区选择适宜的苜蓿品种提供具有实用价值的基础资料.     

Patterns of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) sex ratio in a catchment

Abstract –  Changes in the numbers and size-class structure of European silver eels, Anguilla anguilla , in the River Frémur (France) were examined over a 9-year period after installation of downstream eel passes. The number of silver eels migrating downstream peaked in 1999, then decreased strongly and steadily after 2000, reaching relatively low levels. At the same time, a gradual shift in the silver eel sex ratio from a dominance of males (size from 270 to 442 mm, age from 3 to 6 years) to females (size from 366 to 1112 mm, age from 4 to 9 years) was recorded. Possible explanations for the escapement patterns observed are environmental sex determination and the installation of eel passes on the main hydraulic engineering structures in 1992 and 1996.