A two-step dilution tris-egg yolk extender containing Equex STM significantly improves sperm cryopreservation in the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

Conservation management of endangered African wild dogs (AWD; Lycaon pictus) can benefit greatly from development of sperm freezing and artificial insemination. Previous freezing attempts yielded nearly 0% motile sperm within 2 h of thawing. In this study, two canine freezing protocols were tested: Protocol 1: a one-step dilution in TRIS-20% egg yolk containing 8% glycerol; and Protocol 2: a two-step dilution in TRIS-20% egg yolk containing a final extender concentration of 5% glycerol and 0.5% Equex STM, coupled with a TRIS-citrate-fructose thawing solution. Semen was collected by electroejaculation from n = 24 AWDs, of which eight ejaculates of sufficient quality (four good quality with initial sperm motility of 75.0 ± 4.4% and four poor quality; showing rapid decrease in sperm motility to 3.3 ± 3.3% prior to freezing) were frozen. For good quality samples, motility and sperm motility index persisted for up to 8 h for Protocol 2, and was higher between 2 and 6 h after thawing with a decrease from 4 h of incubation. Motility dropped to nearly 0% after 2 h incubation for Protocol 1. Viability was higher for Protocol 2 throughout the 8 h of incubation, with a decrease after 6 h, compared to 4 h for Protocol 1. Acrosome integrity was higher for Protocol 2 throughout post-thaw incubation, with a decrease after 2 h for both protocols. Protocols did not differ in normal sperm morphology or DNA integrity. Poor quality samples yielded similar results, except for acrosome integrity, which declined for Protocol 2. In conclusion, a two-step dilution in TRIS-egg yolk-glycerol extender containing Equex STM yields significantly improved post-thaw quality and longevity of AWD spermatozoa, making it suitable for sperm banking and artificial insemination initiatives.     

Feeding behaviour of reared and wild cod and the effect of learning: two strategies of feeding on the two-spotted goby

This study investigates possible differences in the feeding behaviour of reared and wild cod Gadus morhua and the effect of learning in connection with sea-ranching experiments. In two laboratory experiments, single individuals, reared or wild, were allowed to prey upon 15 two-spotted gobies Gobiusculus flavescens in trials of 30 min duration. Reared and wild cod seldom attacked stationary gobies and generally attacked moving gobies, and reaction times were similar (c. 0·25 s). Reared and wild cod ingested similar numbers of gobies per trial. Reared cod, however, caught more gobies in pursuits, while wild cod took more gobies in lunges. Reared cod had higher costs as measured by a higher index of energy expenditure and a higher opercular beat frequency, and wild cod were thus more efficient (benefit divided by cost). The efficiency of both groups tended to increase as they gained experience. The results indicate that reared cod more often used a pursuit strategy and wild cod more often a lunge strategy. Differences in previous experience may have initiated the strategies, and the success of each strategy in the experimental situation, in addition to the potential cost of changing strategy, may have maintained them. For cod released into a natural habitat, a pursuit strategy may lead to low efficiency vis-à-vis mobile prey and could also involve a high risk of predation, forcing reared Cod to change strategy.     

Morpho-colorimetric characterization by image analysis to identify diaspores of wild plant species

Digital images of ex situ germplasm stored in the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR) were used for the application of image analysis techniques at the Stazione Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia. The analysed accessions refer to 148 taxonomic units belonging to 102 genera and 47 families, typical of the Sardinian flora, and of the Mediterranean basin in general.The images of diaspores were acquired by a flatbed scanner and elaborated with a macro specially developed for the morphometric and colorimetric measurements. This method allowed carrying out a database for the characterization of autochthonous germplasm in entry to the bank and the realization of statistic classifiers for the discrimination of genera and species within the following families: Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cistaceae, Fabaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Such classifiers, based on the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) technique and checked by cross-validation, showed a performance included between 74.3% and 96.4%.In addition, for the genus Astragalus, it was possible to elaborate a classifier able to identify very similar taxa of a species complex, obtaining a performance between 83.7% and 100%. Such analysis proved the validity of the methodology also from the taxonomic point of view.Suggestions for subsequent methodological progress, which could offer applications in other research issues, such as ecological analysis, soil seed bank and archaeological botany are proposed.     

The 24-h time budget of a takh harem stallion (Equus ferus przewalskii) pre- and post-reintroduction

Focal animal sampling was used to determine the 24-h time budget of a takh harem stallion (Equus ferus przewalskii) during the 2 weeks prior to, and the two weeks following, reintroduction into the Hustain Nuruu Steppe Reserve, Mongolia. Both before and after release, the stallion spent approximately 47% of his time grazing, 6% standing, and 5% in recumbent rest. The biggest changes to the time budget after release were a 4-fold increase in the amount of time spent moving, and a 50% decrease in the amount of time spent resting in a standing position. During the middle of the day when the temperatures were hottest, the stallion exhibited less grazing and more standing resting behaviour than in the morning or evening hours. Recumbent rest invariably occurred in the hours before dawn.     

Distribution of chloroplast DNA diversity within and among populations in gynodioecious Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (Chenopodiaceae)

With the recent technical advances in molecular biology, chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) has become a marker used for the study of cytoplasmic differentiation of natural populations of plants. As chloroplasts are maternally inherited in most plant species, the seed component of gene flow is thus made accessible. We present here a study of cpDNA polymorphism within the maritima subspecies of the gynodioecious Beta vulgaris in which we try to assess the impact of such a reproductive system on seed flow. One hundred and eighty-eight wild beets were sampled from 20 hermaphroditic and 20 gynodioecious (i.e. containing both hermaphroditic and female plants) populations from the Atlantic coast of Europe. cpDNA variability in these populations was characterized with a rapid restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Eight cpDNA haplotypes were found. Strong differentiation among populations was observed ( F _ST = 0.43) and was consistent with isolation by distance, although most of the cpDNA haplotypes were ubiquitous. Gynodioecy seems to affect the distribution of cpDNA diversity: gynodioecious populations of Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima contained a greater number of cpDNA types but were less differentiated among themselves than hermaphroditic ones.     

森林生态系统健康与野生动植物资源的可持续利用

研究了森林生态系统健康与野生动植物资源之间的关系,以及人类活动对森林生态系统健康的影响,提出了以下三个论点：(1)野生动植物资源是构成森林生态系统的基本物质内容。野生动植物资源对森林生态系统具有不可估量的影响和作用。(2)野生动植物资源的减少是森林生态系统健康状况下降的“显示器”。森林生态系统健康状况的下降或衰退,会导致野生动植物资源数量或种类的减少甚至种群灭绝。(3)森林生态系统是野生动植物资源与人类活动关系的集合体和反映体。人类与野生动植物资源是对立又统一的矛盾综合体,而森林生态系统健康与否就取决于这二者的关系。如果人类对野生动植物资源在保护的基础上进行合理的利用,就能保证森林生态系统的结构的完整和功能的良好,因此森林生态系统处于健康的状态;但若人类对野生动植物资源过度利用而不加保护,那么随着野生动植物资源的逐渐衰竭,森林生态系统将逐渐失去某些功能且变得支离破碎,也就无法保持健康的状态。提出了维持森林生态系统健康并实现野生动植物资源可持续利用的解决途径：(1)实行森林的可持续经营。森林可持续经营是指长期保持森林的生产力和可再生性,以及森林生态系统的物种和生物多样性。(2)发展“接近自然的林业”。近自然林业是在服从自然规律的前提下为人类的木材及林产品利用目的而设计的容许有一点偏离自然的森林模式,以森林生态健康为目标的建设方法。     

野生植物甜菜树嫩茎叶的营养成分分析

甜菜树[Yunnanopilia longistaminea(W.Z.Li)C.Y.Wuet D.Z.Li]为山柚子科(Opiliaceae)甜菜树属(YunnanopiliaC.Y.Wu et D.Z.Li)植物,小乔木,主要分布于云南红河谷地区海拔1 000～1 400 m的河谷密林中,邻近的云南东南部和广西西南部也有分布[1].每年3-8月间当地民众主要采食其嫩茎叶,炒食、做汤或腌制都鲜甜爽口,一直是当地非常受欢迎的特色野菜,鲜菜市场价格远高于一般栽培蔬菜和野生蔬菜的价格,且供不应求,具有广阔的市场开发前景.本文对甜菜树可食部分嫩茎叶的水分、灰分、总酸、总糖、碳水化合物、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、Vc、氨基酸及矿物质含量进行了分析,为甜菜树的开发利用提供科学依据.