Surveys on Coxiella burnetii infections in Swedish cattle,sheep, goats and moose

Background

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Prevalence data in ruminant species are important to support risk assessments regarding public and animal health. The aim was to investigate the presence of or exposure to C. burnetii in cattle, sheep, goats and moose, and to compare two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). National surveys of antibodies against C. burnetii were performed for dairy cattle (n=1537), dairy goats (n=58) and sheep (n=518). Bovine samples consisted of bulk milk, caprine of pooled milk, and ovine of pooled serum. Antibodies were investigated in moose samples (n=99) from three regions. A one-year regional cattle bulk milk survey was performed on the Isle of Gotland (n=119, four occasions). Cattle, sheep and goat samples were analysed with indirect ELISA and moose samples with complement fixation test. For the sheep, goat, and parts of the cattle survey, samples were run in parallel by ELISAs based on antigens from infected ruminants and ticks. Bulk milk samples from the regional cattle survey and vaginal swabs from a subset of the sheep herds (n=80) were analysed for the agent by polymerase chain reaction. Spatial clustering was investigated in the national cattle survey.

Results

The prevalence of antibodies in dairy herds was 8.2% with large regional differences. High risk clusters were identified in the southern regions. The prevalence among dairy herds on the Isle of Gotland varied from 55.9% to 64.6% and 46.4% to 58.9.0% for antibodies and agent, respectively, overall agreement between agent and antibodies was 85.2%. The prevalence of antibodies in sheep was 0.6%, the agent was not detected the vaginal swabs. Antibodies were not detected in goats or moose, although parts of the moose samples were collected in an area with high prevalence in cattle. The overall agreement between the two ELISAs was 90.4%.

Conclusions

The prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii in dairy cattle in Sweden shows large regional differences. The results suggest that C. burnetii is a rare pathogen among Swedish moose, dairy goat and sheep. ELISAs based on ruminant and tick antigen performed in a similar manner under Swedish conditions.     

Reproductive characteristics in female Swedish moose (Alces alces), with emphasis on puberty,timing of oestrus,and mating

Background

The moose (Alces alces) is an intensively managed keystone species in Fennoscandia. Several aspects of reproduction in moose have not been fully elucidated, including puberty, timing of mating and oestrus, and the length of the oestrus period. These aspects are relevant for an adaptive management of moose with respect to harvest, population size, demography and environmental conditions. Therefore, an investigation of female moose reproduction was conducted during the moose-hunting period in southern Sweden from 2008 to 2011.

Results

A total of 250 reproductive organs and information on carcass weight and age was collected from four different hunting areas (provinces of Öland, Småland, Södermanland, and Västergötland) in southern Sweden. The results showed that puberty in female moose varied with carcass weight, age, and time of season. The period for oestrous/mating lasted from about mid September to the beginning of November.

Conclusions

The oestrus period (predominantly for heifers) is longer than previously reported and was not finished when the hunting period started. Sampling the uterine cervix to detect spermatozoa was a useful method to determine if mating had occurred. To avoid hunting of moose during oestrus, we suggest that the hunting period should be postponed by at least 14 days in southern Sweden.     

Winter Browsing by Large Herbivores on Planted Deciduous Seedlings in Southern Sweden

Deciduous seedlings are valuable for the forest industry and, at the same time, often palatable for large herbivores. Therefore, browsing on seedlings of seven deciduous tree species and on Picea abies(L.) Karst., as a reference species, was tested in a field experiment with the species presented at feeding stations. Twenty stations, each with one seedling per species, were established in each of 15 clear-cuts in southern Sweden. The planting took place in October. Depending on species, between 16 and 85% of the seedlings were browsed after one winter. The descending order, based on number of browsed seedlings, was Quercus robur L . > Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.> Fagus silvatica L.> Tilia cordata Mill.> Prunus avium L.> Betula pendula Roth> Picea abies (L.) Karst. > Fraxinus excelsior L. On 83% (range 45-100%) of the browsed seedlings the leader was damaged. On average, browsing reduced seedling hight by 32% (range 12-47%). Within species, initially taller seedlings were more often selected than shorter ones.     

优化后最大熵模型在模拟驼鹿适宜栖息地分布中的应用

以大兴安岭根河地区驼鹿分布数据为例,综合考虑样本选择偏差、独立训练集与验证集划分、模型复杂度,模拟了冬季驼鹿适宜栖息地分布。结果表明:最大熵模型默认设置下模型存在严重的过拟合,通过小样本赤池信息准则(AICc)选择的最优特征类型与正则化乘数组合,训练集受试者操作曲线下面积(AUC)虽有下降,但测试集AUC显著提高,模型过拟合情况得到显著改善;使用AICc最小模型拟合驼鹿分布发现,冬季驼鹿主要分布在远离人为干扰(城镇)、坡度低、靠近河流、林间道路、沼泽灌丛的地方;根河林业局驼鹿冬季适宜栖息地面积为1371hm2,真实统计技能(TSS)值为0.54。最大熵模型的应用,应根据不同的物种出现数据特点及研究目的,选择合适的参数设置。     

Broadleaf competition interferes with balsam fir regeneration following experimental removal of moose

Changes to ecosystems caused by introduced herbivores can be predictable, stepwise transitions or unpredictable and even irreversible state changes. This study's objectives were to explore effects on forest succession and soil development 5 years after moose (Alces alces L.) were fenced out of areas within and adjacent to a national park in Newfoundland, Canada. Study plots spanned a range of understorey broadleaf plant associations with regenerating balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), an important winter forage plant for moose and a dominant canopy tree throughout Newfoundland. After 5 years, height–diameter ratios were significantly larger for larger basal diameters of understorey balsam fir in unfenced, but not in fenced subplots, suggesting that growth of the conifer is compromised within the exclosure. In contrast, for most broadleaf trees and shrubs, moose removal by fencing results in greater heights and basal diameters than in control subplots. The competitive advantage of broadleaf trees and shrubs over balsam fir in the short-term may be a result of past sustained heavy moose browsing benefiting plants that are better at investing resources into below-ground growth or benefiting plants that have broader leaf canopies. It is not clear how long the broadleaf transition state we document will continue. Restorative actions intended to mimic usual patterns of forest regeneration in this region of Newfoundland might best consider moose removal with site preparation and/or planting to historic densities.     

ESTIMATION OF ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOOSE POPULATION IN CHINA

The geographical distribution and the abundance of Moose(Alces alces)popula-tion were studied in Northeastern China between 1985 and 1987,309 trails on the snow crossingthe 2,446km sampling lines were counted.The Moose range had been shrunked to northwest for100-200 km since 1976,and at present they covered an area about 190,000 km~2.The densitiesvaried from 0.0187 Mooses/km~2 to 0.1226 Mooses/km~2 and the average was 0.0519Mooses/km~2.The Moose population size was 9,955±397 Mooses(α=0.2,P=84.5%),about7000 of them was distributed in Daxinganling Mountains and the others were in XiaoxinganlingMountains.The present population had decreased to 53.4%in 1976,and the annual decreaserate was 6.27%.At present,Moose population is likely rare in China and should be strictly pro-tected.     

Influences of gap position, vegetation management and herbivore control on survival and growth of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings

The boreal mixedwood forest type of the Canadian interior boreal is largely comprised of two dominant tree species: white spruce and trembling aspen (Picea glauca and Populus tremuloides). This forest type is expansive, providing important ecosystem services and economic production, yet such mixtures are difficult to establish after harvests. While aspen resprouts and grows vigorously following disturbance, spruce growth is relatively slow and is often limited by intense competition from associated vegetation, including aspen. To improve management, it is important to understand how environmental and vegetative conditions vary in relation to the competitive-facilitative relationship of spruce-aspen mixtures. In this study white spruce was planted across large canopy openings to determine whether survival and height growth is influenced by position within gap and by differing levels of competing vegetation control of aspen and understory plants. In addition, we addressed the issue of herbivory, which can pose a significant threat to planted spruce seedlings. Within each of four sites, linear gaps were created and five gap positions were recognized spanning the southern and northern forest understories, and southern, center and northern positions within each opening. Three different levels of vegetation management were implemented: a brush saw treatment in which all vegetation was cut to ground level, a mixing treatment in which all vegetation and rootstock was ground up, and a control with no vegetation management. The three herbivory treatments excluded large ungulates, small herbivores (rabbits, hares) or had no herbivore exclusion. Growth and survival of white spruce seedlings were measured for four years (1997-2000). Understory survival was significantly lower than within the gap, with the sheltered southern edge position providing the best initial environmental conditions and or ameliorative cover for spruce establishment. However, after four years the shelter effect starts to be inhibitive relative to center and northern gap positions, suggesting the removal of the canopy is necessary before spruce productivity declines. The optimal vegetation management treatment also changed over the study period. The most intensive treatment (mixing) initially showed a negative influence on survival and growth, but by year four, survival converged to approximately 75% for all treatments, and the mixing treatment produced the best height growth. The growth advantage became most evident in the center gap positions, which initially lagged the brushsaw and control treatments. Lastly, some growth losses from herbivory must be expected in boreal mixedwoods, although not enough to merit control. Results have implications for the timing and intensity of silvicultural treatments for harvesting and planting.     

Influence of post-harvest silviculture on understory vegetation: Implications for forage in a multi-ungulate system

Natural disturbance emulation has emerged as a key management approach to maintaining biodiversity in logged boreal forests. Forest managers’ success in emulating understory forest ecosystem functions, e.g., for the provision of habitat even for large mammals, has not been tested due, in many cases, to incomplete records of silviculture. We examined regenerating areas of previously conifer-dominated forests in northwestern Ontario, Canada, 10 and 30 years after logging and 10 and 30 years after fire to test if understory development and moose (Alces alces) forage abundance differed between the two disturbance types and artificial or natural regeneration approaches. In addition, we counted moose pellet groups as a measure of moose use of the region. Specific treatments included: (1) naturally regenerating, fire-origin forests, (2) post-harvest, regenerating forests with natural establishment of trees, and (3) post-harvest, regenerating forests with mechanical or chemical site preparation and planting and/or herbicide spraying. We hypothesized that the understory in post-harvest stands would support higher forage availability for moose compared to similarly-aged, fire-origin stands. Abundance of hardwoods, shrubs, and herbaceous plants was greater in naturally-regenerated post-harvest stands than in fire-origin and artificially regenerated post-harvest stands at both 10 and 30 years post-disturbance. However, post-harvest, naturally regenerating stands were not significantly associated with higher moose use, rather evidence of moose use increased as a function of the amount of naturally regenerating logged forest in the surrounding landscape. This study suggests that, relative to fire, the intensity of post-harvest silviculture influences habitat suitability for moose. The effect likely cascades to other ungulates, such as woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), and vegetation management needs to be considered at scales greater than the stand level in order to achieve habitat management for large mammals.     

基于MAXENT生态位模型对内蒙古根河地区驼鹿生境适宜性评价

2013～2015年冬季,综合运用动物生态调查、种群生态学和行为生态学等技术,在内蒙古根河林业局共布设71条长约2～4 km样线、调查313个10 m×10 m样方、1 489个2 m×2 m样方、共收集117份粪便,373个驼鹿出现点数据。利用驼鹿出现数据作为分布点数据,选取地形、植被类型等22种因子作为生境变量,利用MAXENT生态位模型分析了深冬时期根河地区驼鹿冬季生境适宜性分布特征和主要生境因子对驼鹿分布的影响。结果表明:模型预测结果准确性较高,平均AUC(area under the curve,受试工作者曲线下面值)值为0.92,Jackknife检验结果显示:驼鹿生境选择的主要影响因子为距道路距离、距火烧迹地距离、距农田距离、海拔、柳、距沼泽距离、距人为活动点距离、距灌丛距离。驼鹿的适宜生境在根河地区呈现连续性分布,主要分布在东部和东北部,从植被类型上看,适宜生境大部分分布于针叶林,且适宜生境的面积为1 155.8 km^2,约占根河研究区总面积的25.6%。     

内蒙古根河地区驼鹿冬季采食生境、卧息生境选择研究

2013年至2015年冬季,综合运用动物生态调查技术、种群生态学、行为生态学等研究技术,研究了内蒙古根河地区驼鹿(Alces alces)冬季采食生境选择和卧息生境选择。研究结果:内蒙古根河地区冬季驼鹿采食生境选择与距针叶林距离、距道路距离、隐蔽级、距工矿距离呈负相关;与距农田距离、桦丰富度呈正相关;驼鹿冬季采食生境选择的概率模型为:P=e^z/(1+e^z),其中z=-0. 401-0. 423×距针叶林距离-0. 513×距道路距离-0. 564×距工矿距离+1. 405×距农田距离-0. 420×隐蔽级+0. 553×桦,e为自然数。内蒙古根河地区驼鹿卧息地选择与距河流距离、郁闭度呈负相关,而距阔叶林距离、距农田距离呈正相关。驼鹿冬季卧息生境选择概率模型为:P=e^z/(1+e^z),其中z=-2. 068-0. 757×距河流距离+0. 929×距阔叶林距离+0. 731×距农田距离-0. 574×郁闭度,e为自然数。由于影响驼鹿冬季采食行为和卧息行为的驱动因子及其表达空间分布上的差异,导致其采食生境与卧息生境选择的因子具有显著差异。