A technique for obtaining early life history data in pouched marsupials

Early developmental and demographic events in many marsupials occur in the mother's pouch out of animal managers' sight. Because pouch examination is perceived as being stressful both to animal and handler, the pouch has proven to be a formidable physical and psychological barrier to the study of early life history events in marsupials in zoos. Demographic and developmental data such as litter size at birth, secondary sex ratios, infant mortality rates, and early rates of growth and development, normally considered essential information for the development of breeding programs, are therefore essentially unavailable for most zoo populations of marsupials. Here we describe a technique for the safe and non-stressful examination of the pouches of small (< 2 kg) marsupials that enables the capture of such data. The technique, involving the use of transparent plastic tubes of slightly different diameters for restraining the animals and an otoscope for examining the pouch and its contents, has been very successfully applied to life history studies of four species at the National Zoological Park: Pseudocheirus peregrinus, Petaurus breviceps, Philander opossum, and Chironectes minimus.     

Successful captive breeding of Mitchell's water monitor,Varanus mitchelli (Mertens 1958), at Perth Zoo

Mitchell's water monitors (Varanus mitchelli) have been maintained on display at Perth Zoo since 1997. They are generally a timid species but have been maintained and bred in a mixed species water feature exhibit. In this article we describe their captive management and behavior with an insight into their reproductive biology. Between 2002 and 2005, 11 clutches were laid ranging from 13 to 27 (X? = 20) eggs from one female. Egg size ranged between 3.00 and 6.08 g (X? = 4.77 g) in weight, 22.8 and 31.9 mm (X? = 28.3 mm) in length, and 11.1 and 19.3 mm (X? = 17.1 mm) in width. Oviposition included double and triple clutches ranging between 41 and 60 days apart (X? = 48 days), events n = 6. Four clutches were incubated at three different temperatures and hatchlings emerged after 157–289 days. The weight of the hatchlings ranged between 2.60 and 4.52 g (X? = 4.34 g). Total length ranged between 140.1 and 178.0 mm (X? = 165.9 mm) and snout–vent length ranged from 53.8 to 70.0 (X? = 64.4 mm). Juvenile growth and development information is presented from hatching through to approximately 3 years of age. Zoo Biol 29:615–625, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Strategies for farmers and policy makers to control nitro-gen losses whilst maintaining crop production

The nitrogen (N) cycle is essentially 'leaky'. The losses of small amounts of nitrate to waters and of ammonia and nitrous oxide to the atmosphere are a part of the global biogeo-chemical N cycle. However, intensive agricultural production, industry and vehicle use have more than doubled the amount of 'reactive' N in the environment, resulting in eutrophication, ecosystem change and health concerns. Research has identified agricultural practices that cause large losses of N and, in some cases, developed solutions. This paper discusses the problems of maintaining productivity while reducing N losses, compares conventional with low input (integrated) and organic farming systems, and discusses wider options. It also looks at the need to integrate studies on N with other environmental impacts, set in the context of the whole farm system, to provide truly sustainable agricultural systems.     

Information and Communication Technology‐Enabled Low Carbon Technologies

This article outlines the subsector of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry concerned with reducing the economy's environmental impact, dubbed ICT‐enabled low carbon technologies (ICTeLCTs). The article is based on a study funded by United Kingdom (UK) Trade and Investment, a division of the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. ICTeLCTs can be segmented into specialist and generalist operators. Specialists focus on one or two ICT applications to monitor or reduce environmental issues, while generalists supply products and services enabling a firm or a private household to reduce the environmental impact of its activities. The subsector can be further segmented into green ICT, energy management, building management, carbon accounting, waste management, intelligent transport systems (ITSs), and water management. The main factors driving ICTeLCTs include legislation, voluntary environmental standards, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, customer demand, and competitive market factors. Policy makers should continue to drive the growth of ICTeLCTs with the introduction and refinement of environmental legislation regulating energy use and markets.     

Screening of plant extracts for organic management of downy mildew of sorghum

Antipathogenic potential of 38 plants was evaluated in the form of aqueous extracts against Peronoclerospora sorghi, causing downy mildew of sorghum. Conidial suspension and plant extracts were mixed individually and allowed to stand for 5 min and then used to inoculate the host by sprout-dip method. The sprouts thus inoculated were grown in pots, and the disease incidence was observed. Eight plant extracts (Cicer areatinum, Datura metel, Croton sparsiflorus, Parthenium hysterophorus, Nerium oleander, Chromolaena odorata, Duranta repens and Oxalis latifolia) at 20% concentration performed at par with chemical fungicide (Mancozeb 75%) by exhibiting total suppression of disease incidence to 0%, when compared with 64.1% of negative control. Organic management of air-borne inoculum of downy mildew of sorghum is feasible and preferable when compared with chemical control methods, considering human and environmental health concerns. The use of water extract keeps the technology simple so that it can be directly prepared and used by the farmers. Short-listing of eight most effective water extracts would help in self-reliance of farmers, reducing their dependence on commercial products.