Short-term changes in nitrogen availability, gas fluxes (CO2, NO, N2O) and microbial biomass after tillage during pasture re-establishment in Rondônia, Brazil

Anthropogenic conversion of primary forest to pasture for cattle production is still frequent in the Amazon Basin. Practices adopted by ranchers to restore productivity to degraded pasture have the potential to alter soil N availability and N gas losses from soils. We examined short-term (35 days) effects of tillage prior to pasture re-establishment on soil N availability, CO₂, NO and N₂O fluxes and microbial biomass C and N under degraded pasture at Nova Vida ranch, Rondônia, Brazilian Amazon. We collected soil samples and measured gas fluxes in tilled and control (non tilled pasture) 12 times at equally spaced intervals during October 2001 to quantify the effect of tillage. Maximum soil NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ pools were 13.2 and 6.3 kg N ha⁻¹ respectively after tillage compared to 0.24 and 6.3 kg N ha⁻¹ in the control. Carbon dioxide flux ranged from 118 to 181 mg C–CO₂ m² h⁻¹ in the control (non-tilled) and from 110 to 235 mg C–CO₂ m² h⁻¹ when tilled. Microbial biomass C varied from 365 to 461 μg g⁻¹ in the control and from 248 to 535 μg g⁻¹ when tilled. The values for N₂O fluxes ranged from 1.22 to 96.9 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ in the tilled plots with a maximum 3 days after the second tilling. Variability in NO flux in the control and when tilled was consistent with previous measures of NO emissions from pasture at Nova Vida. When tilled, the NO/N₂O ratio remained <1 after the first tilling suggesting that denitrification dominated N cycling. The effects of tilling on microbial parameters were less clear, except for a decrease in qCO₂ and an increase in microbial biomass C/N immediately after tilling. Our results suggest that restoration of degraded pastures with tillage will lead to less C matter, at least initially. Further long-term research is needed.     

First molecular detection of canine herpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1) in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon

BackgroundCanine herpesvirus type 1 (CaHV-1) infects dogs and is associated with neonatal deaths and reproductive, ocular, neurological, and respiratory problems. In Brazil, reports of CaHV-1 have been restricted to the southeast and south regions, particularly in municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.ObjectivesTo assess the presence and variability of CaHV-1 in canine populations in the state of Pará, North Brazil.MethodsBiological samples from 159 dogs from 4 municipalities in the State of Pará were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analyses, with the target being the viral enzyme, thymidine kinase.ResultsCaHV-1 was detected in 13 dogs (8.2%), with 2 animals being from the municipality of Santa Bárbara do Pará, 8 from Algodoal Island, 2 from Salinópolis, and one from Capanema. The study sequences revealed 100% identity among themselves and 64% to 100% identity with the other nucleotide sequences from Australia, Brazil, United Kingdom, and United States, including 100% identity with the 2002 isolate from Australia. The 1996 isolate from France was grouped in a branch that was different from the sequence of this study.ConclusionsThis study presents the first molecular detection of CaHV-1 in dogs from the Amazon region in northern Brazil. The nucleotide identity between the strains and cytosine insertion in the sequences isolated in this study suggests at least 2 strains of CaHV-1 circulating in Brazil (Pará and BTU-1).     

牛膝多糖对血鹦鹉部分非特异性免疫与脂类代谢指标的影响

为研究牛膝多糖对血鹦鹉部分非特异性免疫与脂类代谢指标的影响,以初始体质量为(48.0±3.5)g的血鹦鹉Cichlasoma citrinellum♂×C.synspilum♀为试验对象,配制脂肪水平分别为8%、14%的基础饲料和高脂饲料,并在高脂饲料中添加质量分数分别为0(对照)、0.05%、0.10%、0.20%、0.40%的牛膝多糖作为饲料添加剂,试验共分为6个处理组(基础饲料组、对照组和A~D试验组),每个处理组设3个平行,每个平行放25尾血鹦鹉,用基础饲料及5种试验饲料分别投喂6组试验鱼,养殖周期为28 d,分别于试验开始后第7、14、21、28天取样测定并进行分析。结果表明:随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血鹦鹉肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、溶菌酶(LZM)活力显著提高(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低(P0.05);随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活力呈降低趋势,且在添加量为0.20%时与对照组有显著性差异(P0.05),而谷草转氨酶(AST)活力则无显著性变化(P0.05);随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血糖(Glu)含量显著降低(P0.05),而甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(CHOL)含量变化不明显(P0.05),肝脏脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)和脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)活力也未出现显著变化(P0.05)。研究表明,饲料中使用牛膝多糖作为添加剂,可提高血鹦鹉肝脏抗氧化能力与LZM活力,同时起到降血糖的作用,建议牛膝多糖添加量为0.40%,并连续投喂14 d。     

加丽素红混合物对血鹦鹉鱼体色和生理指标的影响

试验研究了在基础饲料中添加加丽素红、维生素E、磷脂的混合物对血鹦鹉鱼(Cichlasoma synspilum×Cichlasoma citrinellum)体色和生理指标的影响。试验设3个处理,分别为对照组(处理A),0.7%加丽素红与0.3%维生素E组(处理B),0.7%加丽素红与0.3%磷脂组(处理C),养殖30 d,测定血鹦鹉鱼体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、类胡萝卜素、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)及谷草转氨酶(GOT)等指标。结果表明,处理B血鹦鹉鱼亮度和红度显著高于其他组(P0.05);处理B终体重、增重率、特定生长率显著高于其他组(P0.05)。3个处理间血鹦鹉鱼肝胰脏、肌肉和皮肤中类胡萝卜素含量差异不显著。血鹦鹉鱼肝胰脏中,处理B SOD、CAT活性显著高于其他组(P0.05),处理B MDA活性显著低于其他组(P0.05)。3个处理血清中GOT和GPT含量差异不显著(P0.05)。在基础饲料中添加0.7%加丽素红与0.3%维生素E对鹦鹉鱼的体色、生长和抗氧化系统效果较好。     

Acute pancreatitis in parrots

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in three parrots. Antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis in the avian patient is rarely documented, and should be suspected in birds showing clinical signs attributable to abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal dysfunction. However, not all birds with confirmed pancreatitis display these signs. A serum amylase level greater than 1,500 U/L is suggestive of pancreatitis and pancreatic biopsy can be used to confirm a diagnosis. The aetiology of acute pancreatitis in parrots is discussed and a suggested treatment protocol is described.     

Explaining variation in Brazil nut fruit production

Brazil nut is widely recognized as the cornerstone of the Amazonian extractive economy. Tight linkages between Brazil nut production, regional income, and intact mature forests have thrust this species into focus as a key component of Amazonian conservation and income generation strategies. Nonetheless, a comprehensive synthesis of factors explaining Brazil nut fruit production variation is lacking. We aimed to address this knowledge gap, asking: (1) What are the rates and annual variation of Bertholletia excelsa fruit production at individual and population levels? (2) What factors explain B. excelsa production variation, focusing on spatial and temporal variables, diameter at breast height (dbh), crown attributes, liana loads, and soil attributes? and (3) Does liana cutting affect fruit production?     

Growth and nutrient accumulation of Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) in agroforestry at different fertilizer levels

The Brazil nut tree(Bertholletia excelsa) is a frequent component of agroforestry systems in the Amazon because of its adaptation to nutrient-poor upland soils and multiple uses.We investigated the aboveground biomass production(kg dry weight),nutrient uptake and requirements(N,P,Ca,Mg,K) of Brazil nut trees of different sizes grown under agroforestry conditions and fertilized at different levels.Eight of 70 experimental trees with different size were harvested and stem,branches and leaves were separated.Nutrient contents were determined for three trees of varying size.Average tree growth was fast,but variability was high,suggesting considerable potential for the improvement of this economically important species.The trees responded to increased levels of fertilizer and lime with significantly increased foliar nutrient contents and growth,probably because of the improved availability of Mg and Ca for which the species seems to have a relatively high demand.In contrast to Brazil nut trees grown in forest or dense plantations,the agroforestry trees invested a substantial part of their biomass and nutrients in large branches and developed spreading crowns.To improve stem form,reduce competition with associated crops for light and recycle nutrients,regular pruning of lower branches or planting arrangements that favor self-pruning are recommended.These measures would also increase the recycling of Ca and Mg,large quantities of which are contained in the branches.     

Uptake and translocation of non-ionised pesticides in the emergent aquatic plant parrot feather Myriophyllum aquaticum

The uptake of four (14)C-labelled non-ionised compounds, the methyl carbamoyloxime insecticide/nematicide oxamyl and three model phenylureas, from solution by rooted stems of the aquatic plant parrot feather [Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc], together with translocation to the emergent shoots, was measured over periods of 24 and 48 h. Uptake into the submerged tissues of roots and stem base could be ascribed to two processes: movement into the aqueous phase of cells and then partitioning onto the plant solids. This latter process was related to lipophilicity (as measured by the l-octanol/water partition coefficient, K(ow)) and gave rise to high uptake rates of the most lipophilic compounds. Translocation to shoots was passive and was optimal at log K(ow) approximately 1.8, at which the efficiency of translocation of compound was about 40% of that of water. This optimum log K(ow) was identical to that observed previously in barley, although the translocation efficiency was somewhat less in parrot feather. Solvation parameters were applied to model uptake and translocation of a set of ten compounds by barley with the particular objective of understanding why translocation efficiency is lower at log K(ow) > 1.8.