SLUG DAMAGE AND NUMBER OF SLUGS (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA) IN WINTER WHEAT IN FIELDS WITH SOWN WILDFLOWER STRIPS

Previous observations have shown that slugs found favourableconditions for reproduction in wildflower strips and that theycaused high damage to oilseed rape adjacent to the strips. Inthe current study slug numbers and damage were estimated inwildflower strips and at different distances from the stripsinto winter wheat crops, from 1994 to 1996. Slug damage wasestimated using an index of defoliation and slug numbers andactivity were measured using wheat bran traps. Investigationsbegan when winter wheat seedlings emerged and lasted for fiveweeks. Slug damage was never severe in any of the fields studied.In most fields, slug damage was higher close to the wildflowerstrips than at greater distances from the strips. The decliningslug damage with increasing distances from the wildflowers stripswas related to the distribution pattern of juvenile Arion lusitanicus,suggesting that this species was responsible for the higherdamage near the strips. Other slug species (Deroceras reticulatum,Arion fasciatus, Deroceras laeve) were more or less evenly distributedover the field or were almost entirely confined to the wildflowerstrips. Results showed that winter wheat was not at risk fromslug feeding in spite of the establishment of wildflower stripsand that therefore the application of molluscicide along thestrips is unnecessary. (Received 23 June 1997; accepted 17 October 1997)     

DNA fingerprinting in horses using a simple (TG)n probe and its application to population comparisons

A synthetic polynucleotide (TG)_n was hybridized to equine DNA digested with HinfI and hypervariable hybridization patterns were obtained. Mendelian inheritance of these DNA fingerprinting patterns was confirmed by pedigree analysis. Estimates of the probabilities of identical band patterns in unrelated individuals of different breeds (Swedish Trotters, North Swedish Trotters, Thoroughbreds and Arabians) were in the range 1 times 10-⁴-7 times 10-⁶ The variability derived with the (TG)_n, probe in horses was higher than what we obtained with several other commmonly used probes for DNA fingerprinting. Individuals within breeds tended to be more similar to each other with regard to DNA fingerprint pattern than to individuals of other breeds. Moreover, a parsimony analysis made on the basis of the hybridization patterns gave clustering of individuals within breeds. The possibility of using hypervariable probes for the identification of breed-specific characters is discussed.     

Comparison of Methods for Estimating Bird Abundance and Trends From Historical Count Data

Abstract: The use of bird counts as indices has come under increasing scrutiny because assumptions concerning detection probabilities may not be met, but there also seems to be some resistance to use of model-based approaches to estimating abundance. We used data from the United States Forest Service, Southern Region bird monitoring program to compare several common approaches for estimating annual abundance or indices and population trends from point-count data. We compared indices of abundance estimated as annual means of counts and from a mixed-Poisson model to abundance estimates from a count-removal model with 3 time intervals and a distance model with 3 distance bands. We compared trend estimates calculated from an autoregressive, exponential model fit to annual abundance estimates from the above methods and also by estimating trend directly by treating year as a continuous covariate in the mixed-Poisson model. We produced estimates for 6 forest songbirds based on an average of 621 and 459 points in 2 physiographic areas from 1997 to 2004. There was strong evidence that detection probabilities varied among species and years. Nevertheless, there was good overall agreement across trend estimates from the 5 methods for 9 of 12 comparisons. In 3 of 12 comparisons, however, patterns in detection probabilities potentially confounded interpretation of uncorrected counts. Estimates of detection probabilities differed greatly between removal and distance models, likely because the methods estimated different components of detection probability and the data collection was not optimally designed for either method. Given that detection probabilities often vary among species, years, and observers investigators should address detection probability in their surveys, whether it be by estimation of probability of detection and abundance, estimation of effects of key covariates when modeling count as an index of abundance, or through design-based methods to standardize these effects.     

Diurnal Habitat Use by Lower Keys Marsh Rabbits

Abstract: We used radiotelemetry to locate daytime forms of endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbits (LKMRs; Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) throughout their range so we could determine habitat characteristics of diurnal cover. We typically found forms (n = 1,298) of 36 rabbits in brackish wetlands in patches of saltmarsh or buttonwoods. In freshwater wetlands, forms (n = 54) were located most often in patches of freshwater hardwoods embedded in or adjacent to freshwater marshes. Forms (n = 942) in brackish wetlands were characterized by thick groundcover (>75%), whereas those (n = 42) in freshwater wetlands had both thick groundcover and canopy vegetation. The mean minimum convex polygon around forms of 15 rabbits was 1.4 ha (SD = 1.7), with smaller ranges characterized by thick bunchgrasses or clump-forming sedges. To increase the amount of annual space usable by LKMRs, managers should provide more saltmarsh habitat interspersed with buttonwoods and enhance ground cover in existing habitat.     

Hormonal factors controlling the initiation and development of lateral roots

As the first part of a comprehensive study of the hormonal control of lateral root initiation and development, the effect of surgical treatments such as removal of the root tip, one or more cotyledons, the young epicotyl, or combination of these treatments, on the induction and emergence of lateral roots on the primary root of pea seedlings has been examined. Results show that removal of the root tip leads to a rapid but transitory increase in the number of lateral primordia, the largest number arising in the most apical segment of decapitated roots suggesting the accumulation of acropetally moving promoter substances in this region. The cotyledons appear to be the main source of promoter substances for both the induction and emergence of lateral roots, although one or more promoters also appear to be produced in the epicotyl. The data further indicate that the root tip is possibly the source of a substance which moves basipetally and interacts with acropetally moving promoters to regulate the zone for lateral primordia initiation; the root tip also appears to be the source of a powerful inhibitor of lateral root emergence.     

Secondary Productivity in Terrestrial Communities

Secondary productivity is one portion of energy flow in a community,which includes the ingestion and assimilation of energy, andthe expenditure of energy in metabolism by consumer organisms.The purpose of this paper is to describe the ecological significanceof energy flow in consumers and to discuss methods of measuringits components. Data pertaining to 20 terrestrial animal populationsare presented. About 20% of the energy assimilated by invertebratesis manifested as net production, while only about 2% of theassimilated energy is represented by net production in populationsof birds and mammals. The relationship between production andmetabolism appears to depend on the capacity for homeothermy.For a given amount of assimilated energy, homeotherms produceless than heterotherms.