Effects of capture on biological parameters in free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis): evaluation of normal, stressed and mortality outcomes and documentation of postcapture survival

Blood samples and physiological data were collected from 634 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) captured by four different methods between 1980 and 1986 in the western United States. These parameters were evaluated for selected physiological, biochemical and hematological values. Postcapture biological parameters were compared among bighorn sheep according to four different outcomes; normal, stressed or compromised, capture myopathy (CM) mortality, and accidental mortality. Significant differences (P less than 0.05) were noted between outcome groups relative to certain parameters: temperature, respiration, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, white blood cell count (WBC) and plasma pH. Such differences between groups may help in evaluating the clinical status of bighorn sheep at capture, enabling one to predict those animals that might develop CM at a later date, indicate candidates for preventive medical treatment prior to release, and/or which should be followed closely to determine long-term survival. Evaluation of follow-up data (n = 77) related to outcome status and long-term survival of bighorn sheep indicated that less than 4% (3 of 77) were dead within 1 mo of capture (one of these had been classified as normal and two as stressed or compromised at capture); less than 3% (3 of 77) were dead greater than 1 mo, and less than 6 mo after capture two were classified in the stressed outcome and one as diseased. Eighty-eight percent (68 of 77) were alive from 1 mo to 5 yr after capture (53 were classified as normal, 12 as stressed or compromised and 3 as diseased), and 2% (1 of 77) had chronic CM but was still alive (this animal had been classified as normal). Of 77 sheep in the follow-up group, less than 3% (2 of 77) were not observed following capture (one was classified as normal and one as stressed and diseased). Of the fatalities, less than 3% (2 of 40) had been captured by the net-gun and less than 4% (1 of 27) by drive-net. Those two unobserved in the follow-up group also had been caught with the net-gun, 5% (2 of 40). The single surviving CM case had been captured by the net-gun. Although the net-gun appears to be one of the safest methods of capturing individual bighorn sheep, based on evaluation of capture data and biological parameters, it may not be associated with the best long-term survival in some bighorn sheep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Nomenclatural remarks on the association names ofNardus stricta-rich communities in Central Europe

The present paper gives comments on the nomenclature of associations ofNardetalia andNardo-Caricion rigidae from Central Europe. A brief list of important homonyms and ambiguous names is added.     

Effects of short-term and prolonged aerogenic hypoxia on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the brain,liver, and biological fluids of young rats

Posthypoxic fluctuations in the levels of two excitatory amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, may be related to changes in mechanisms(s) which are responsible for their reuptake. As gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) plays a role in mediating the uptake of glutamate and aspartate into various compartments of the brain, we studied changes in the activity of this enzyme in main regions of the brain in young and adult rats. We found a posthypoxic increase in bound GGT activity in some brain regions of 18-day-old animals after acute exposure, but no changes were observed after prolonged altitude hypoxia, with the exception of a decrease in cortical GGT activity. In contrast, acute hypoxia decreased GGT activity in the cortical capillaries to 59%, but prolonged hypoxic exposure was ineffective. However, the activity of soluble GGT in the cerebrospinal fluid of both groups of rats was several-times elevated in comparison with controls. At the same time, bound GGT activity was increased in the liver after acute or prolonged altitude hypoxia. The soluble GGT activity in plasma was only increased after prolonged exposure. Ninety days after prolonged hypoxic exposure the bound GGT activity was reduced in all brain regions to about 60–70% of controls (significantly higher in females than in males) as long-term developmental sequel from early postnatal hypoxia.     

Untersuchungen Über faktoren,die sich bei folgekultivierung der pflanzen geltend machen

V práci byla sledována mo?nost allelopatického ovlivňování následných rostlin p?edplodinami p?i kultivaoi v odstupňovaných ?asových intervalech po sobě v té?e zemině u tě chto kombinací: mák — cukrovka, ho??ice — je?men, konopí — ?ito, cibule — ?epka. Pokusy byly prováděny v kvítiná?ích s kompostovou zeminou, umístěných během pokusu na zahradě a zapu? těných do p?dy. Byl sledován r?st p?edplodin a následných rostlin v po?áte?ních fá zích r?stu. P?ed vysetím následných rostlin byla stanovena u odebraných vzork? zemin intensita respirace, okam?itá vlhkost a obsah fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku, fosforu a draslíku. Ve v?ech zkou?ených kombinacích byly následné rostliny ovlivněny kultivací p?edplodiny a následným ulo?ením zeminy. Změny r?stu následných rostlin ?áste? ně korelovaly s obsahem fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku v zemině. Podle jejich charakteru v?ak bylo té? patrno, ?e se na nich podílely i allelopatické faktory. Zna?ně inhibi?ně p?sobil mák na cukrovku, mé ně inhibi?ně p?sobila ho??ice na je?men a cibule na ?epku. ??inek konopí na ?ito byl promě nný s dobou ulo?ení zeminy. Změny v obsahu fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku, fosforu a draslíku v pokusné zemině neodpovídaly . mno?ství narostlé p?edplodiny, co? bylo podmíněno pou?itou kultiva?ní metodikou. Poměrně rychlé doplňování p?edplodinou vy?erpaných dusi?nan? v pokusné zemině s dobou jejího ulo?ení bylo pravděpodobně podmíněno nitrifikacními procesy. Podle stanovených změn intensity respirace pokusné zeminy se na allelopatickém ovlivnění mohla podílet i pudní mikroflora.     

Planktic coccal and trichal green algae of Lake Volvi,Greece

In the course of three years' investigations (1983–1986) of Lake Volvi, N Greece, 62 species and varieties of chlorococcal algae and 6 species of ulotrichal algae (Chlorophyceae) were found. Although chlorophytes form the largest group of the phytoplankton assemblages of the lake, their biomass is relatively small or even negligeable in some periods of the year in comparison with domination cyanophytes, diatoms and cryptophytes. Morphological variation of diagnostic features is described and documented by original drawings in 53 taxa.