Spring snow goose hunting influences body composition of waterfowl staging in Nebraska

A spring hunt was instituted in North America to reduce abundance of snow geese (Chen caerulescens) by increasing mortality of adults directly, yet disturbance from hunting activities can indirectly influence body condition and ultimately, reproductive success. We estimated effects of hunting disturbance by comparing body composition of snow geese and non-target species, greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) and northern pintails (Anas acuta) collected in portions of south-central Nebraska that were open (eastern Rainwater Basin, ERB) and closed (western Rainwater Basin, WRB; and central Platte River Valley, CPRV) to snow goose hunting during springs 1998 and 1999. Lipid content of 170 snow geese was 25% (57 g) less in areas open to hunting compared to areas closed during hunting season but similar in all areas after hunting was concluded in the ERB. Protein content of snow geese was 3% (14 g) less in the region open to hunting. Greater white-fronted geese had 24% (76 g; n = 129) less lipids in the hunted portion of the study area during hunting season, and this difference persisted after conclusion of hunting season. We found little difference in lipid or protein content of northern pintails in relation to spring hunting. Indirect effects of spring hunting may be considered a collateral benefit regarding efforts to reduce overabundant snow goose populations. Disrupted nutrient storage observed in greater white-fronted geese represents an unintended consequence of spring hunting that has potential to adversely affect reproduction for this and other species of waterbirds staging in the region. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.     

Chemical composition of SÃo paulo atmospheric wet precipitation

Rainwater samples of the city of SÃo Paulo collected from December 1993 to April 1995 were analyzed for sulfate, nitrate, chloride, and amonium ions by ion chromatography, for Al, As, Cr, Fe, K, La, Mn, Na, Sm, and Zn by instrumental neutron activation analysis, and pH. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that H⁺ is more closely associated with nitrate than with sulfate ions. Sulfate ions are associated with ammonium, probably as (NH₄)₂SO₄ Statistical analysis suggest that Al, Fe, and Mn in precipitation are soil derivated and nitrate and sulfate ions are associated with anthropogenic sources.

     

Changes in nutrient dynamics of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during spring migration

Waterfowl and other migratory birds commonly store nutrients at traditional staging areas during spring for later use during migration and reproduction. We investigated nutrient-storage dynamics in the midcontinent population of greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons; hereafter white-fronted geese) at spring staging sites in the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska during February–April and in southern Saskatchewan during April–May, 1998 and 1999. In Nebraska, lipid content of white-fronted geese did not increase, and protein content changed little over time for most age and sex categories. In Saskatchewan, lipids increased 11.4 g/day (SE = 1.7) and protein content increased 1.6 g/day (SE = 0.6) in the sample of adult geese collected over a 3-week period. A study conducted during 1979–1980 in the Rainwater Basin reported that white-fronted geese gained 8.8–17.7 g of lipids per day during spring, differing greatly from our results 2 decades later. In addition, lipid levels were less in the 1990s compared to spring 1980 for adult geese nearing departure from staging sites in Saskatchewan. This shift in where geese acquired nutrient stores from Nebraska to more northern staging sites coincided with a decrease in availability of waste corn in Nebraska, their primary food source while staging at that stopover site, and an increase in cultivation of high-energy pulse crops in Saskatchewan. White-fronted geese exhibited flexibility in nutrient dynamics during spring migration, likely in response to landscape-level variation in food availability caused by changes in agricultural trends and practices. Maintaining a wide distribution of wetlands in the Great Plains may allow spring-staging waterfowl to disperse across the region and facilitate access to high-energy foods over a larger cropland base. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Experimental examination of the effects of atmospheric wet deposition on primary production in the Yellow Sea

The effects of atmospheric wet deposition on primary production in the coastal Yellow Sea were examined by in situ incubation experiments in August, 1997. Phytoplankton species flourished in response to nutrient additions and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) increased significantly when rainwater was added. Concentration of Chl-a increased 2.6 times with the addition of 10% (v/v) rainwater. In a coastal eutrophic region like Jiaozhou Bay, the impact of atmospheric wet deposition is negligible. However, the N/P ratio ranged from 22:1 to 80:1, indicating P limitation of photosynthesis in the Yellow Sea. During field observations, high N and low P rainwater was observed to be transported into the oligotrophic central Yellow Sea. Ammonium was used by phytoplankton in preference to nitrate, and Fe stimulated nutrient uptake by phytoplankton. Rainwater increased the Chl-a growth more than a single nutrient owing to the abundance of both plant and trace nutrients in the rainwater. A negative exponent relationship may exist between the impact of rainwater and total nutrient quality of the water in influencing phytoplankton growth.     

山地果园集雨-壤中防渗对水分入渗、分布和利用率的影响

集雨-壤中防渗技术是在起垄覆膜垄沟覆草技术的基础上提出的一项新技术.为了探讨集雨-壤中防渗技术在陕北黄土丘陵区山地果园的应用效果,在米脂县党塔苹果科技示范基地山地红富士苹果园布设对照(CK)、黄绵土夯实防渗(L_1)、红黏土防渗(R_1)、红黏土夯实防渗(R_2)4种处理,测定了不同防渗层类型的土壤容重、稳渗率以及不同处理的土壤水分、果实品质、产量和水分利用率.结果表明:红黏土夯实防渗层防渗效果最好,其土壤容重(1.61g·cm^-3)最高,持水量最低,稳定入渗率(0.02 mm·min^-1)最小,采用Kostiakov经验公式方程能很好地模拟不同防渗处理水分入渗特征.在整个苹果生长季节,不同防渗处理均能提高集雨沟下0~60 cm土层的土壤含水量,其中,R_2的含水量始终最高,在旱季可以达到苹果树生长发育适宜的含水量标准;壤中防渗处理60 cm土层以下20~30 cm范围内存在一个明显的"低湿层",但低湿层至200 cm土层的土壤含水量变化趋势较为稳定,较CK略有增加;集雨-壤中防渗处理能够提高果实产量和水分利用率、改善品质.其中,R_2处理的产量比CK提高了19.2%,优果率提高了26.5%,水分利用效率提高了24.5%.建议陕北黄土丘陵区山地苹果生产中大力推广集雨-壤中防渗技术.     

The budget of dissolved trace metals in Lake Biwa,Japan

A comprehensive study on the dynamics of dissolved elements (Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, As, Sr, Y, W, and U) in Lake Biwa was carried out using a clean technique. Lake water samples (n = 523) were collected from six stations in the North Basin and three stations in the South Basin. River water samples (n = 178) were collected from 14 major rivers flowing into the North Basin. Rainwater samples (n = 89) were collected at Otsu. The river water was enriched with Mn, Al, Fe, P, and Zn and the rainwater was enriched with Zn, Al, Fe, and Mn compared to North Basin water during winter mixing. The residence times of dissolved species were estimated on the basis of input through the rivers and rain. The residence times for Ca, Mg, and Sr were about 8 years, the same as that for water. Mn, Al, Fe, and Zn showed the shortest residence times (0.05–0.19 year). A budget calculation suggested that more than 60% of the input of dissolved Si, P, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn was scavenged and retained in the lake sediments and/or discharged as suspended particles.     

Effects of mutations in the immunity system of bacteriophage P1.

A mutant of bacteriophage P1 that made an altered c1 repressor is described. The mutant c1 product had two configurations: in lysogens, at high temperatures, it permitted constitutive expression of the normally repressed DNA replication function ban and was insensitive to the action of ant, a product expressed by the virulent mutant P1virs and by the heteroimmune phage P7 (formerly phiamp+) and normally able to overcome c1 repression; in mutant lysogens at low temperatures, the mutant repressor was apparently normal (able to repress ban and sensitive to ant action). Genetic studies of this mutant led to the isolation of a derivative that formed unstable lysogens. These studies suggested that the ban product was normally under c1 control; they further showed that ant overcame c1 repression by inactivating c1 rather than by creating a bypass of repressor activity.     

The chemical composition of rainwater in relation to cycling of nutrients in mature eucalyptus forest

Summary The alteration of the ionic composition of rainwater by vegetation has been attributed in the literature both to foliar leaching (representing circulation of elements within an ecosystem) and to the washing from leaves of particulate matter (an addition of elements to the ecosystem). The purpose of this study was to estimate the magnitudes of these components in a matureEucalyptus obliqua forest on the Great Dividing Range, Australia.Rainwater samples collected both within the forest and from an opening devoid of trees at regular intervals during a two year period were analyzed for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The ionic composition of rainwater sampled at the open area fits an expected geographical distribution pattern, and the origin of the ions is considered to be mainly oceanic and partly terrestrial. The concentration of ions in rainwater collected both at the open area and from within the forest is related, inversely and exponentially, to the intensity of rainfall during a collection period.Ionic concentrations in rainwater collected beneath the forest canopy were greater than concentrations in rainwater collected at the open area. Considerations of ionic ratios lead to the conclusion that this increase is principally the result of foliar leaching. Furthermore the data for this mature forest conform closely to the results, reported in the literature of leaching experiments carried out under controlled conditions with small, individual plants.     

西双版纳地区降雨和橡胶林内雨养分含量的初步研究

雨水于1981到1982年在3个地区收集,2种橡胶林内雨于1982年1月到1983年4月在景洪收集。分析结果表明:雨水中N、P、K、S、Ca、Mg的含量分别为17.3～19.9、0.22—0.50、11.0—15.2、9.2—27.6、3.0—18.9、6.7—12.3公斤/公顷·年;橡胶林内雨上述元素的含量分别为15.2—18.1、1.23—1.44、16.6—24.9、11.0—17.4、16.6—18.6、14.0—15.8公斤/公顷·年。降雨和橡胶林内雨的养分含量随一年中降雨量的变化而呈现明显的季节变化,一般雨季初最高,雨季次之,冬、早季最低,与本区橡胶树的生长节奏相一致。     

Food-anticipatory Activity as a Cue for Local Enhancement in Golden Shiners (Pisces: Cyprinidae,Notemigonus crysoleucas)

The goal of this study was to test whether food-anticipatory activity, which is more subtle than feeding activity, can be used as a cue for local enhancement by fish. Golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas, were offered a choice between spending time near a shoal of conspecifics normally fed at that time of day or a shoal normally fed at another time. Despite the fact that no food was delivered during the tests, the shoal that was normally fed at that time had more fish moving and more fish close to the surface, where food usually appeared, than the other shoal. This is evidence of food-anticipatory activity. The choosing shiners, after being deprived of food for 24-48 h, preferred to stay near the anticipating shoal rather than near the other one. When satiated, the shiners chose both shoals at random, indicating that hunger promotes the use of food-anticipatory cues in shoal choice and local enhancement. The results also support the idea that food-anticipatory activity can attract competitors for food and may therefore be costly. Food-anticipatory activity might also attract predators, but the fact that satiated shiners did not actively avoid anticipating shoals indicates that the potential cost of predator attraction would be either low or mitigated by other factors.     

EFFECT OF PYRIDOXINE DEFICIENCY ON AROMATIC l-AMINO ACID DECARBOXYLASE IN THE DEVELOPING RAT LIVER AND BRAIN

—Maternal pyridoxine deficiency begun 2 weeks before mating and continued throughout pregnancy and the nursing period resulted in diminished wt. gains in the brain, the liver and the body in the first 16 days of life, as well as lowered levels of the aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase in both brain and liver tissue. The fetus was protected from the effect of vitamin B₆ deficiency during pregnancy, since at birth the body wt., organ weights, and decarboxylase levels in these tissues were comparable to those of control litters. The brain was affected less than the liver, both in rate of wt. increase and decarboxylase activity. The cerebellum normally developed measurable decarboxylase activity only during the second week of life. The cortex normally slowly increased its low decarboxylase activity during the first week postnatally, with a more rapid increase during the second week. This rapid increase was primarily in the holoenzyme moiety. The rest of the brain, which had well developed levels of decarboxylase activity at birth, normally showed a sharp increase during the second week of life which was also largely in the holoenzyme portion. When the increasing weights of these tissues were considered, it became obvious that the total amount of apoenzyme as well as the amount of holoenzyme were increasing in the normally developing rat, although the greatest amount of the change was in the holoenzyme form. The liver normally showed a much more rapid increase in decarboxylase activity than did the brain, and showed the increase much earlier. The holoenzyme normally increased rapidly after the first 4 days, whereas the apoenzyme concentration levelled off at this time. The effect of the pyridoxine deficiency on decarboxylase activity was almost entirely on the holoenzyme form of the decarboxylase, since the apoenzyme form generally remained the same in the control and the deficient pups during development. There appeared to be no decarboxylase inhibitor present in pyridoxine deficient tissues, nor any evidence in control tissues for an enzyme required for the activation of the decarboxylase by cofactor.     

A transient expression assay for tissue-specific gene expression of alcohol dehydrogenase in Drosophila

The regulation of expression of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene of Drosophila was examined by injecting plasmids containing the gene directly into preblastoderm embryos and subsequently staining for alcohol dehydrogenase activity in somatic cells of larvae and adults. The alcohol dehydrogenase genes introduced in this manner were expressed normally in both adults and larvae; i.e., alcohol dehydrogenase activity was found exclusively in tissues where it would normally be expressed. Activity was found in some cells in more than 90% of all surviving third instar larvae, but not all cells which would normally express the enzyme were positive, presumably due to the random distribution of the injected DNA to the cells of the embryo. Regulated expression was not dependent on the vector used: tissue-specific expression was obtained from alcohol dehydrogenase genes inserted in the P-element vector, Carnegie-4; in pBR322; in pUC18; or in bacteriophage lambda. The bulk of the injected DNA was not integrated into the chromosome and appeared to persist throughout development as supercoiled and nicked circles. Using the procedure and in vitro mutagenesis, we were able to show that the alcohol dehydrogenase gene was expressed in a normal tissue-specific manner in larvae if there were 777 nucleotides of upstream information present.     

The effect of waterlogging on nitrogen fixation and nodule morphology in soil-grown white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Nodulated, pot-grown plants of white clover (Trifolium repenscv. Katrina) were subjected to different soil moisture regimesand the effect of these treatments on dry matter production,nitrogenase activity, aerenchyma formation, and bacteroid distributionwas determined. In the first experiment, after 9 weeks growthshoots were significantly (P<0.01) heavier for clover plantswhich were flooded from germination compared with those subjectedto normal watering, indicating that clover can adapt to long-termwaterlogging. In the second experiment, time-courses of acetylenereduction showed a lag phase of only 10 min for waterloggedplants, suggesting that gas exchange was occurring through aerationpathways rather than the water. Flooded plants that were drained24 h prior to acetylene reduction assays had substantially greaternitrogenase activity than normally watered or continually floodedplants. However, there was a marked decrease in nitrogenaseactivity when plants which had been watered normally were flooded,suggesting a sensitivity of white clover to sudden changes inmoisture conditions. Morphological studies of nodules from plantsgrown in normally watered and continually flooded soil showedincreased aerenchyma production around roots and nodules ofwaterlogged plants. In addition, the infected cells of submergednodules were larger and had larger vacuoles than those fromnodules of normally watered plants. This increase in vacuolevolume to protoplast volume in infected cells may play a rolein the tolerance of white clover nodules to waterlogging. Key words: White clover, waterlogging, hypoxia, nitrogen fixation, root nodule morphology.     

Release of 70 S ribosomes from polysomes in Escherichia coli

In order to determine whether ribosomes are released from messenger RNA as intact particles or as subunits, polysomes of Escherichia coli labeled with heavy isotopes were allowed to run off together with “light” polysomes. The normally rapid post-run-off exchange of subunits by free ribosomes was virtually eliminated by two means: the use of purified polysomes (relatively free of initiation factors), and incubation at a lower temperature (25 °C), or at a somewhat higher Mg²⁺ concentration (12 to 14 mm), than is conventional. Under these conditions ribosomes released by run-off or by puromycin accumulated without subunit exchange. Hence, even though the ribosome normally initiates via subunits, it is released from RNA by a conformational change in the intact 70 S particle, rather than by dissociation.     

Simulating an invasion: unsealed water storage (rainwater tanks) and urban block design facilitate the spread of the dengue fever mosquito,Aedes aegypti,in Brisbane,Australia

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) was once highly prevalent across eastern Australia, resulting in epidemics of dengue fever. Drought conditions have led to a rapid rise in semi-permanent, urban water storage containers called rainwater tanks known to be critical larval habitat for the species. The presence of these larval habitats has increased the risk of establishment of highly urbanised, invasive mosquito vectors such as Ae. aegypti. Here we use a spatially explicit network model to examine the role that unsealed rainwater tanks may play in population connectivity of an Ae. aegypti invasion in suburbs of Brisbane, a major Australian city. We characterise movement between rainwater tanks as a diffusion-like process, limited by a maximum distance of movement, average life expectancy, and a probability that Ae. aegypti will cross wide open spaces such as roads. The simulation model was run against a number of scenarios that examined population spread through the rainwater tank network based on non-compliance rates of tanks (unsealed or sealed) and road grids. We show that Ae. aegypti tank infestation and population spread was greatest in areas of high tank density and road lengths were shortest e.g. cul-de-sacs. Rainwater tank non-compliance rates of over 30% show increased connectivity when compared to less than 10%, suggesting rainwater tanks non-compliance should be maintained under this level to minimize the spread of an invading Ae. aegypti population. These results presented as risk maps of Ae. aegypti spread across Brisbane, can assist health and government authorities on where to optimally target rainwater tank surveillance and educational activities.

     

烟草毛状根诱导及其茄尼醇含量初探

茄尼醇是合成泛醌类药物的重要中间体。以发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)W.T15834感染烟草叶片诱导产生毛状根, 探讨其茄尼醇含量变化。结果显示, 获得的毛状根能在无外源生长调节剂的MS固体和液体培养基上自主生长, 但在液体培养基中培养的毛状根生长更迅速, 也不会形成愈伤组织。甘露碱检测及PCR结果证实, 发根农杆菌Ri质粒的rolB基因已在烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)毛状根基因组中整合并得到表达。用改进的HPLC法测定烟草毛状根中的茄尼醇含量, 其结果为对照根(种子萌发产生的幼苗根)的1.12倍, 但仍比废弃烟叶中茄尼醇含量低43.2％。     

Long-range transport of heavy metals from the Asian continent contributes to surface sediments in Lakes Shinji and Nakaumi in western Japan

To evaluate the contribution of the long-range transport of heavy metals from the Asian continent to the enrichment of surface sediments in western Japan, heavy-metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn) concentrations were measured in sediment cores collected at three sites each in Lakes Shinji and Nakaumi. Sedimentation fluxes of these metals were calculated on the basis of their concentrations in excess of their background concentrations. Pb showed similar sedimentation fluxes in the sites, suggesting a predominant contribution of atmospheric deposition of Pb transported from the Asian continent to the input to the lakes. In contrast, the sedimentation fluxes of heavy metals other than Pb in the surface sediments were markedly high near the estuary of a principal river flowing into Lake Nakaumi. A highly positive correlation was observed between the Cd and Zn concentrations in the cores at each site (r ² = 0.84–0.97). The Cd/Zn ratios in the surface sediments (1990–2007) indicated that Lake Shinji sediments have ratios of 0.0067–0.0074, higher than those of Tokyo Bay sediments (0.0054 on average in 1990–2003), which have been polluted primarily by effluent discharges. In contrast, the ratios in Lake Nakaumi sediments (0.0053–0.0060) were close to those in Tokyo Bay sediments. Rainwater and aerosols, which were strongly affected by air pollutants from the Asian continent, have much higher Cd/Zn ratios of 0.014–0.016. This suggests that the Lake Shinji sediments with higher Cd/Zn ratios are less affected by effluent discharges. Hence, Lake Shinji sediments may be suitable for assessing the environmental impact of the long-range transport of heavy metals from the Asian continent.     

烟草毛状根诱导及其茄尼醇含量初探

茄尼醇是合成泛醌类药物的重要中间体.以发根农杆菌（Agrobacterium rhizogenes）W.T15834感染烟草叶片诱导产生毛状根,探讨其茄尼醇含量变化.结果显示,获得的毛状根能在无外源生长调节剂的MS固体和液体培养基上自主生长,但在液体培养基中培养的毛状根生长更迅速,也不会形成愈伤组织.甘露碱检测及PCR结果证实,发根农杆菌Ri质粒的rolB基因已在烟草（Nicotiana tabacum）毛状根基因组中整合并得到表达.用改进的HPLC法测定烟草毛状根中的茄尼醇含量,其结果为对照根（种子萌发产生的幼苗根）的1.12倍,但仍比废弃烟叶中茄尼醇含量低43.2%.     

Characterization of polysaccharidase activity optima in the anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste

Summary Cellulolytic enzymes from a laboratory anaerobic digester fed municipal solid waste were examined with respect to pH and temperature. The pH optimum was pH 6.6, considerably lower than the pH range in which digesters are normally operated (pH 7.2–7.6). The optimum temperature was between 50 and 60°C, rather than the 35–37°C range in which most digesters are controlled.     

Critical Periods of Sensitivity of Sexually Dimorphic Spinal Nuclei to Prenatal Testosterone Exposure in Female Rats

Male rats normally have more neurons than do females in two nuclei of the lumbar spinal cord, the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) and the dorsolateral nucleus (DLN). Female rats exposed to testosterone propionate (TP) on the 2 days of gestation (Days 18 and 19) when males normally experience a surge in plasma testosterone showed a maximal increase in both SNB and DLN neuronal number. TP exposure just prior to, or following, Days 18 and 19 led to smaller increments. Administration of a small (5 μg) dose of TP after birth, while having no effect by itself, synergized with prenatal TP to enhance the number of SNB neurons. DLN neurons were less responsive to postnatal TP. The somal and nuclear size of SNB, but not DLN, neurons was increased by perinatal TP. Paradoxically, the number of DLN neurons with large somas (1358 μm²or larger) was reduced by perinatal TP, a finding congruent with a previous report that females and feminized males have more of these large DLN neurons than control males. Our data suggest an exquisite sensitivity of the developing spinal nuclei to the timing of hormonal surges normally found in fetal males. Exposure to androgens during a brief prenatal period is needed to assure responsiveness to the low amounts of androgen circulating during neonatal ontogeny, when the process of sexual differentiation is completed.