Vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue using open or closed systems and different intracellular cryoprotectants

This study aimed to evaluate different vitrification methods using distinct cryoprotectants (CPAs) for the preservation of collared peccary ovarian preantral follicles (PFs). Ovarian pairs from six females were fragmented and three fragments (fresh control group) were immediately evaluated for morphology, viability, cell proliferation capacity (assessed by quantifying the number of argyrophilic nucleolus organizer regions – NORs), and apoptosis (by the identification of activated caspase-3 expression). The remaining 18 fragments were vitrified using the solid surface vitrification (SSV) method or the ovarian tissue cryosystem (OTC) with 3 M ethylene glycol (EG), 3 M dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or a combination of the two (1.5 M EG/1.5 M DMSO). After two weeks, samples were rewarmed and evaluated as described previously. The OTC with any of the CPAs provided a similar conservation of morphologically normal PFs as the fresh control group (75.6 ± 8.6%); however, the SSV was only efficient with DMSO alone (63.9 ± 7.6%). Regarding the viability or cell proliferation, all tested groups provided post rewarming values similar to those observed for the fresh control group, 84.0 ± 2.9% viable cells with 2.0 ± 0.2 NORs. Related to apoptosis analysis, only the OTC with EG (46.7%) and the SSV method with EG (43.4%) or the combination of EG and DMSO (33.4%) provided similar values to those found for the fresh control group (36.7%). Our findings indicate the utilization of a closed system, the OTC, with 3 M EG as the CPA for the vitrification of collared peccary ovarian tissue.     

Coffee production in southern Saudi Arabian highlands: Current status and water conservation

Work aimed at assessing status and introducing water conservation regimes for coffee production in southern Saudi Arabian highlands. Data on farm locations, altitudes, areas, practices, irrigation, tree density, and annual coffee production were analyzed. Field experiment using chlorophyll fluorescence and different irrigation regimes was conducted to examine effects of reducing irrigation frequency on photosynthesis. Results indicated that Coffea arabica L. is commonly grown at altitudes of 1300–1400 m. Plants grown at 4–6 Trees m^?2 using 100 kg ha^?1 mineral fertilizer produce an average of 3 t ha^?1. High frequency 2-day-intervals irrigation regime practiced by farmers during the dry season presents ecological challenge to limited local artesian water resources. Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence under 14-day-intervals irrigation regime initiated water stress that markedly inhibited Photosystem II efficiency and quantum yield and increased non-photochemical energy dissipation. Applying a 7-day-intervals irrigation regime induced less inhibitory effects on Photosystem II. Results also indicated that shifting from 2-day-intervals irrigation regime to 7-day-intervals regime improves coffee agroecology and directs coffee production towards sustainability.     

The use of digital video recorders in pollination biology

1. Digital video recording (DVR) devices, such as the GoPro Hero, have the potential to greatly benefit pollination ecology, but the advantages of digitally recording pollinator activity over direct human observation have not been formally assessed. 2. Two plant taxa, Lavandula angustifolia and Canna ‘sp.’, with differing floral morphology, were used to compare the value of DVR and direct observations in estimating honeybee (Apis mellifera) visitation, flower density and number of flowers visited per foraging bout. 3. The two methods yielded identical results when observing the structurally simple L. angustifolia at both high (10.54 ± 0.52 per plant) and low honeybee density (2.24 ± 0.20 per plant). However, DVR underestimated the number of flowers scored in the field of view (28.7 ± 1.8 direct vs. 22.7 ± 0.9 DVR), the number of honeybees observed (5.3 ± 0.8 direct vs. 3.7 ± 0.7 DVR) and the number of flowers visited during foraging bouts (8.3 ± 1.2 direct vs. 5.5 ± 1.0 DVR) on the more complex Canna ‘sp.’ 4. It is concluded that portable weatherproof DVR devices such as the GoPro Hero are valuable tools for pollination biologists, allowing a single researcher to make simultaneous observations of multiple plants in one or more sites, whilst also allowing the footage to be reviewed. However, DVR devices are limited by their depth and field of view when target plants are large or structurally complex.     

Effects of carrion decomposition on litter arthropod assemblages

1. Many organisms contribute to the decomposition of carrion. For arthropods, many studies focus on the necrophagous community, those directly consuming carrion.
2. Necrophagous arthropods use carrion as a shelter or food source. Therefore, carrion generally increases the abundance and biodiversity of necrophagous species. However, it is unclear if carrion has similar effects on detrital communities.
3. This study examines changes in community structure and composition of necrophilous and detrital communities over the course of decomposition.
4. Five pig head carrion were placed at least 7 m apart under cages in temperate mixed forest. Leaf litter was sampled 0 m, 1.5 m, and 3 m from each carrion weekly during summer, and monthly during autumn, until the first frost. Arthropods were extracted from leaf litter by using Berlese funnels.
5. At the carrion site, necrophagous insects increased in abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity during decomposition, and all decreased after dry decay.
6. Detritus arthropods displayed a sharp increase in abundance during advanced decay, decreasing during dry decay, and a general increase over time for species richness and diversity.
7. In conclusion, carrion can influence the surrounding, non-necrophagous arthropod community, highlighting the need to investigate carrion effects beyond typical necrophagous species to have a more holistic understanding of carrion ecology.

     

Function2Form Bridge—Toward synthetic protein holistic performance prediction

Protein engineering and synthetic biology stand to benefit immensely from recent advances in silico tools for structural and functional analyses of proteins. In the context of designing novel proteins, current in silico tools inform the user on individual parameters of a query protein, with output scores/metrics unique to each parameter. In reality, proteins feature multiple “parts”/functions and modification of a protein aimed at altering a given part, typically has collateral impact on other protein parts. A system for prediction of the combined effect of design parameters on the overall performance of the final protein does not exist. Function2Form Bridge (F2F-Bridge) attempts to address this by combining the scores of different design parameters pertaining to the protein being analyzed into a single easily interpreted output describing overall performance. The strategy comprises of (a) a mathematical strategy combining data from a myriad of in silico tools into an OP-score (a singular score informing on a user-defined overall performance) and (b) the F2F Plot, a graphical means of informing the wetlab biologist holistically on designed construct suitability in the context of multiple parameters, highlighting scope for improvement. F2F predictive output was compared with wetlab data from a range of synthetic proteins designed, built, and tested for this study. Statistical/machine learning approaches for predicting overall performance, for use alongside the F2F plot, were also examined. Comparisons between wetlab performance and F2F predictions demonstrated close and reliable correlations. This user-friendly strategy represents a pivotal enabler in increasing the accessibility of synthetic protein building and de novo protein design.     

Conservation and reservation of non-vascular plants in Tasmania,with special reference to lichens

Conservation management of the Tasmanian flora is now focusing on non-vascular plants. Major problems include the low level of information on the composition of the flora and the low number of competent specialists available to deal with the plants. Collation of information from literature and from collections in herbaria is required to establish exactly which data are available and their reliability. An environmental domain analysis covering all ecosystems would indicate which environments were under-represented or absent from current reserves and where needs for conservation lie. Within practical time-frames, this process is probably the best method of capturing unknown components of the flora whilst also catering for widespread species and those closely associated with particular environments. It also incorporates regional variability. Minor habitats, which are often floristically rich, and very rare species are best dealt with on an individual basis. Basic research into taxonomy and ecology is paramount. Reservation and conservation management must be based on well-established and maintained databases which are in turn based on a coherent taxonomy and sound biogoographical information. It is only by pursuing an active research programme that the necessary accurate information can be obtained and the success of the management procedures can be gauged.     

Assessment of the conservation status of partridges and pheasants in South East Asia

The recent compilation of IUCN Action Plans for partridges and pheasants has highlighted the need for locality data to be used in conservation evaluation. Here we used locality data to measure changes in the proportion of localities from which each of 25 South East Asian species has been recorded, changes in their geographic extent and the amount of habitat that is potentially available to them. These are measures that use the data which are most readily available. Single landmass endemics from both montane and lowland forests appear to have fared badly with peacock pheasants Polyplectron and hill-partridges Arborophila suffering particularly large declines, although for montane forest species, these apparent declines are probably the result of relatively less survey effort in highland areas. Species previously widespread that give cause for concern include the green peafowl, Pavo muticus, and the blue-breasted quail, Coturnix chinensis. Conservation priorities include action on behalf of lowland forest specialists, some of which have suffered substantial reductions in the area of habitat that is potentially available. Surveys are required on the hills and mountains of Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, and in the Lesser Sundas. Increased resolution of vegetation data would permit more accurate prediction of species ranges.     

Bats in National Trust properties: a preliminary review

A preliminary analysis of the use by bats of National Trust properties revealed that all 14 resident species have been recorded. Comparison with a national database of records for Britain managed by English Nature (NCC Bat database) showed that the scarcer species are better represented roosting in buildings on Trust properties than in other buildings. In addition, survey of Trust properties has shown that a high proportion of buildings are used by bats. Bats provide unusual wildlife links between buildings, gardens and countryside through which the Trust can promote nature conservation, and resolve conflicts between building or landscape restoration and the bat habitat requirements. The role of the County Bat Groups in survey and promotion of bats on Trust properties is becoming increasingly important, especially if we are able to identify key properties for bats.