Prevalence of strongyle nematodes in naturally infected ponies of different ages and during different seasons of the year in Louisiana

One hundred and seventeen ponies were surveyed for the seasonal prevalence of strongyloid parasites, particularly cyathostomes, and for host- and age-related differences in these infections. For 56 ponies, all stages of the cyathostome life cycle, both mucosal and luminal, were enumerated. Total numbers of cyathostomes and percentage of developing larvae (DL) encysted in the mucosa remained constant in all 4 seasons of the year, whereas a significant increase in the percentage of adults in the cyathostome population occurred in fall. In yearling ponies, encysted early third-stage larvae constituted a significantly lower percentage of the cyathostome population, and DL and adults formed a significantly higher percentage, compared with those stages in older ponies, 2-5 yr of age. More species of cyathostomes were present in yearling ponies than in older ponies. Significant differences occurred in fecal egg counts at different seasons of the year, even though adult cyathostome and large strongyle numbers remained constant. Twenty-four species of cyathostomes were found year-round, and 2 rare species were found in only 2 or 3 seasons of the year. Prevalences for these 24 species were not significantly different during any season, although 5 species had significant differences in intensity levels of infection in certain seasons of the year. Three species of large strongyle (strongylinae) adults had significant seasonal variations in intensities. These were Strongylus edentatus and S. vulgaris, which occurred in significantly higher numbers in summer and fall, and Triodontophorus brevicauda, which was more numerous in spring and summer. Fourth- and fifth-stage larvae of S. vulgaris recovered from the mesenteric vasculature were significantly more numerous in winter and spring than in other seasons.     

Resource partitioning by ungulates on the Isle of Rhum

Summary This paper describes the seasonal changes in vegetation community use by red deer, cattle, goats and ponies on the Isle of Rhum, Scotland. During the winter, when food resources were of low abundance and digestibility, the ungulates showed extensive resource partitioning. During the summer, when resource availability and digestibility was high, the grazing species, red deer, cattle and ponies congregated on the vegetation communities which contained high biomasses of a high quality resource, mesotrophic graminoids and forbs. Goats, with a digestive system adapted to dealing with browse, foraged primarily on the communities dominated by dwarf shrubs. The patterns of resource use in this group of ungulates are discussed in relation to competition; species had relatively exclusive esource use during periods of low food availability during tye winter and had a high degree of resource use overlap when food was abundant during the summer. This suggests that there was little competition for food during the summer and that exploitative competition for the high quality foods led to resource partitioning during the winter. Senarios are described which predict the pattern of resource use between two species (one competitively superior to the other on the preferred resource) utilizing mutually or exclusively preferred resources. A model developed by Illius and Gordon (1987), based on the allometry of metabolic requirements and bite size, is used to provide a mechanistic explanation for the observation that the red deer were able to exploit the high quality plant communities during the winter, whereas the cattle moved off to feed on poorer quality communities at this time.     

Feeding of an Iberian stream cyprinid assemblage: seasonality of resource use in a highly variable environment

Food resource use by seven cyprinids from an Iberian stream was analysed over 9 months. Differences in food resource use were found both between species and within species between seasons. Plant material was a more important food for carp, nase, goldfish and barbel than for gudgeon, roach and chub, irrespective of the season. Chironomid larvae were the staple animal food for the former five species throughout the year. Roach and chub, especially the latter, displayed large seasonal variations in prey use, with chironomid larvae only being important during autumn. Ephemerellid nymphs and ephemeropteran imagos dominated the animal diet of chub during spring and summer, respectively. Dipteran adults and Formicidae were the most important prey for roach during spring and summer, with other common prey being ephemerellid nymphs and hydropsychid larvae. Food resource overlap among the three dominant species (roach, barbel and chub) displayed a large seasonal variation. High overlaps were observed during autumn when these species used the same resources. During summer overlaps were much lower with each species specialising on different prey. The remaining less abundant species had large diet overlaps amongst themselves and with barbel, over all seasons. It is suggested that morphological constraints, habitat partitioning and temporal changes in food resource limitation may be involved in producing these patterns of food resource use.     

Gastrointestinal parasites in goat farms from Bergamo province (Lombardy, north Italy)

A survey on gastrointestinal parasites in goat farms in Bergamo province was carried out from May 2005 to January 2006. Thirty-one dairy goat farms and 836 adult female goats were examined. Faecal sampling was carried out before the antihelminthic treatments, and the sampling times were grouped in three seasonal periods (June-August, September-October and November-March). Faecal exams were carried out by a McMaster method and eggs per gram (EPG) were calculated for each gastrointestinal parasite. Differences in prevalence of Strongylida, Trichuris and Nematodirus were found between farms with goats on pasture and those where animals were permanently housed indoor. Strongyloides spp. showed higher values of prevalence in goats housed indoor. With regard to the sampling seasons, Strongylida eggs were more prevalent in summer while Nematodirus in winter in goats at pasture. Strongyloides occurred more frequently in autumn in stabled goats.     

Composition and intra-annual variation of the macroinfauna in the estuarine zone of the Pando Stream (Uruguay).

We studied the temporal patterns of macroinfaunal distribution in the estuarine portion of Pando Stream, Uruguay. We found a very low number of species and a high dominance of the polychaete Heteromastus similis. There were clear seasonal patterns in abundance with almost all species peaking in autumn, coinciding with the periods of higher salinity. Minimal values were found in winter and spring when salinity was at a minimum. We suggest that the seasonal pattern is a consequence of the combined effects of recruitment, and of high osmotic stress and disturbance during the periods of freshwater discharge that are common in winter and spring.     

Secretion of progesterone during long and short days of the estrous cycle in goats that are continuous breeders

This study was conducted 1) to determine if the secretion of progesterone, as an index of ovarian activity, during the estrous cycle of nonseasonal Shiba goats is affected by seasonal changes, and 2) to learn if the pulsatile secretion of ovarian progesterone can be estimated from samples obtained by cannulation into the caudal vena cava via the femoral vein. Progesterone concentrations in jugular venous plasma during the estrous cycle in spring (May) were similar to those in autumn (November). Plasma progesterone concentrations in the jugular vein and caudal vena cava monitored for 10 h on Day 12 of the estrous cycle in spring were similar to those in autumn. The mean concentration (21.9 to 28.9 ng/ml) and the pulse frequency (6.2 to 7.4 pulses/10 h) of plasma progesterone in the caudal vena cava during both seasons were 3.1- to 4.7-fold and 1.7- to 2.4-fold those in the jugular vein, respectively. The degree of change in the peak magnitude and the base-line concentration of progesterone were higher in the caudal vena cava than in the jugular vein. These results indicate that progesterone secretion during the estrous cycle in nonseasonal goats is not affected by seasonal changes, and suggest that the pulsatile secretion of ovarian progesterone can be evaluated better from samples obtained from the caudal vena cava, near where progesterone is released, than from those obtained from the jugular vein.     

Brain aromatase, 5 alpha-reductase,and 5 beta-reductase change seasonally in wild male song sparrows: relationship to aggressive and sexual behavior

In many species, territoriality is expressed only during the breeding season, when plasma testosterone (T) is elevated. In contrast, in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia morphna), males are highly territorial during the breeding (spring) and nonbreeding (autumn) seasons, but not during molt (late summer). In autumn, plasma sex steroids are basal, and castration has no effect on aggression. However, inhibition of aromatase reduces nonbreeding aggression, suggesting that neural steroid metabolism may regulate aggressive behavior. In wild male song sparrows, we examined the neural distribution of aromatase mRNA and seasonal changes in the activities of aromatase, 5 alpha-, and 5 beta-reductase, enzymes that convert T to 17 beta-estradiol, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT, a potent androgen), or 5 beta-DHT (an inactive metabolite), respectively. Enzyme activities were measured in the diencephalon, ventromedial telencephalon (vmTEL, which includes avian amygdala), caudomedial neostriatum (NCM), and the hippocampus of birds captured during spring, molt, or autumn. Aromatase and 5 beta-reductase changed seasonally in a region-specific manner. Aromatase in the diencephalon was higher in spring than in molt and autumn, similar to seasonal changes in male sexual behavior. Aromatase activity in the vmTEL was high in both spring and autumn but significantly reduced at molt, similar to seasonal changes in aggression. 5 beta-Reductase was not elevated during molt, suggesting that low aggression during molt is not a result of increased inactivation of androgens. These data highlight the relevance of neural steroid metabolism to the expression of natural behaviors by free-living animals.     

胶州湾潮下带大型底栖动物群落的季节变化

胶州湾位于山东半岛南岸, 是黄海深入内陆的半封闭天然海湾, 底栖动物种类丰富。本文根据2014年2、5、8和11月4个航次(冬、春、夏、秋)的调查资料, 采用优势度指数, 物种多样性指数、丰富度指数、均匀度指数, Bray-Curtis相似性聚类和非参数多维标度排序(NMDS)方法, 分析了胶州湾大型底栖动物群落的季节变化特点。各航次共采集大型底栖动物199种, 其中多毛类79种, 甲壳动物47种, 软体动物40种, 棘皮动物17种, 其他类群16种。各季度优势种有变化亦有重叠, 以多毛类为主。2014年度胶州湾大型底栖动物的年平均丰度为209.85 ind./m², 最高丰度出现在秋季, 最低出现在春季; 年平均生物量为79.22 g/m², 最高生物量出现在夏季, 最低出现在春季。物种多样性指数(H')变化范围为2.16-2.86, 物种丰富度指数(D)变化范围为2.79-3.72, 物种均匀度指数(J)变化范围为0.58-0.82。聚类分析结果显示, 4个航次的群落相似性系数均较低, 分布格局存在季节性变化。近年来, 伴随海岸带开发及人类活动的持续影响, 胶州湾底栖生境的稳定性受到一定的威胁, 建议继续开展长期连续的监测, 探索有效的综合治理措施, 使胶州湾海洋生态系统能够持续健康的发展。     

Diet and nutrition of range goats on a sarcocaulescent shrubland from Baja California Sur,Mexico

Botanical composition of diets of range goats was studied to determine seasonal preference indices of forage species and nutritional quality of selected diets on a sarcocaulescent shrubland from the Sonoran desert in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Extrusas from five esophageal cannulated adult female goats (40 kg of BW) were collected at the beginning and at the end of each season from April of 2001 to March of 2002. At the end of spring, goats selected higher amounts of browse legumes and cacti species, but during late summer, autumn and winter goats mainly preferred browse non-legumes followed by forb species. Goats selected a constant diet in truly digestible crude protein (annual mean = 11 ± 0.4% DM) and metabolizable energy (2.4 ± 0.1 Mcal kg⁻¹) throughout the year. However, during late spring and early summer, goats selected diets higher in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), truly IVDOM and truly digestible NSC. Dietary Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Fe were in substantial amounts to meet requirements of a range goat weighing 40.0 kg BW consuming 76.3 g DM kg^0.75 d⁻¹ in all seasons. It is concluded that range goats may require supplementary protein and energy to overcome pregnancy and lactation requirements throughout the year. Copper content appeared marginally deficient almost the entire year and Zn during late summer and autumn.     

短尾猴栖息地的季节变化

本文阐述了短尾猴栖息地的季节变化。春季,主要利用海拔570-1600米的常绿阔叶林、常绿、落叶阔叶混交林和落叶阔叶林;夏季,限于海拔1000米以上的落叶阔叶林。秋季的栖息地,在海拔650-1200米常绿阔叶林和常绿、落叶阔叶混交林;冬季仅利用海拔600-900米的常绿阔叶林。此外还报道了短尾猴四季的食物组成。并对栖息地的变化原因,做了初步探讨。     

Seasonal pattern of zooplankton communities and their environmental response in subtropical maritime channels systems in the Bay of Bengal,Bangladesh

Zooplankton are a primary component of aquatic food chain and play an important role in the functioning of aquatic food webs. Seasonal variation in community structures of zooplankton and potential environmental drivers were studied, during a 1-year cycle (summer 2015 – spring 2016) in subtropical maritime channels systems in the Bay of Bengal, coastal waters in Bangladesh. A total of 32 species representing 25 families, 13 orders and 15 taxonomic groups were identified. Of these species, 23 distributed in all four season of which 8 were dominant species with high contributions of the total communities. Species number was peaked in autumn and fell in summer while maximum abundance was in the winter and minimum in summer. Multivariate analyses showed that there was a clear seasonal shift in zooplankton community structures in relation with environmental conditions. Species diversity and evenness peaked in summer while the high value of species richness was found in autumn. Multivariate correlation (RELATE) and BIO-ENV analysis demonstrated that seasonal variation in community patterns was significantly correlated with temporal shift of environmental conditions and that variation mainly driven by water transparency, salinity, DO, TSS and nutrients. Thus, this finding implies that the zooplankton community represented a clear seasonal shift shaped by environmental drivers in subtropical channels systems.     

Seasonal regulation in fluctuating small mammal populations: feedback structure and climate

We studied fluctuating populations of six small mammal species in the Appalachian Plateau of Pennsylvania, USA for 20 yr. We analyzed the feedback structure of these species using statistical time series models for spring and autumn abundances. All species showed a seasonal density-dependent structure, and in five of them first-order feedbacks were dominant in winter and summer. Instead, southern red-backed voles ( Clethrionomys gapperi ) showed a different feedback structure during winter and summer. In three species ( C. gapperi , Napaeozapus insignis and Peromyscus maniculatus ), environmental factors were more important during summer, while the opposite pattern was found in Blarina brevicauda and Tamias striatus . Snowfall influenced positively the winter population growth rates of southern red-backed voles, white-footed mice, woodland jumping mice and eastern chipmunks. We found seasonal differences in the effects of the small mammals assemblage on population growth rates of the two Peromyscus species. The common feedback structure between seasons observed in most of the species, particularly among voles and mice, points to a different feedback structure from northern cyclic small mammals. We conclude that a seasonal feedback structure dominated by intra- and inter-specific competitive interactions may be at the basis of the population dynamics of these species.     

Seasonal Ichthyodiversity and Growth Patterns of Juvenile Flatfish on a Nursery Ground in the Southern Bight of the North Sea (France)

The demersal fish community on a flatfish nursery ground, of the Southern Bight of the North Sea, was sampled monthly between May 1998 and 1999. The studied coastal area is a multispecific nursery area. Although 32 fish species were caught, only nine species had a major influence on the variation in total densities through the year and can be considered as key species. Juvenile sole and plaice exhibited similar seasonal growth patterns with rapid growth during late spring and summer, a growth arrest during autumn and winter and a restart of growth in March. Comparisons of observed growth in length with predicted maximal growth under optimal food conditions suggested that during the summer, growth of 0-group sole and plaice was only determined by prevailing mean water temperature. During autumn and winter, while growth in length of sole followed model predictions, observed length of plaice was less than model predictions, suggesting growth limitation. Analyses of the factors that may be responsible for differences between observed and expected length growth indicated that autumn and winter growth arrest of plaice was not only related to low winter water temperature. It is suggested that for visual feeders such as plaice, the interaction of decreasing food availability and day length during autumn and winter can reduce the access to food resource and therefore feeding success and growth.     

Inhibition patterns and seasonal availability of nematodes for beef cattle grazing on argentina''s western pampas

The seasonal population trends of cattle nematodes in tracer calves are described from 1981 to 1987. Successive worm-free calves were grazed with growing beef cattle for 20–30 days at 6 week intervals and then slaughtered for nematode counts 2 weeks after their removal from pasture. Ostertagia, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus and Haemonchus were the main genera recovered. O.ostertagi was the most often found and acquisition of inhibition-prone larvae began in late winter and reached a peak in spring, while maximum larval availability was in autumn. The seasonal inhibition and larval availability pattern for T. axei was similar to that of Ostertagia. Cooperia showed greatest inhibition during winter with maximum larval availability in autumn and spring. Haemonchus was more prevalent during summer to early autumn and no inhibition was observed. It was concluded that infective larval availability for tracer calves was highest during autumn, and most reduced in summer. All predominant species were able to survive over summer on pasture,     

Effect of plane of nutrition on seasonality of reproduction in Spanish Payoya goats

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a seasonal pattern of sexual activity in female Payoya goats and if this seasonality could be modulated by nutrition. During the experimental period of 20 months, 43 non-pregnant adults goats were penned under natural photoperiod at latitude 37 degrees 15'N. At the onset of the experiment, the animals were allocated to three experimental groups differing in the level of nutrition and whether the animals were entire or ovariectomized does. The high nutrition group (H, n = 16 entire does) receiving 1.5 times maintenance requirements. The low nutrition group (L, n = 16 entire does) and an ovariectomized and oestradiol treated group (OVX, n = 11 ovariectomized does) received a diet supporting their maintenance requirements. The groups were balanced for live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) at the beginning of the study. In entire goats, oestrus was tested daily using aproned males, ovulation rate was assessed by laparoscopy 7 days after identification of oestrus and plasma samples were obtained twice per week for progesterone assay. OVX goats were isolated from the other groups and bucks, plasma samples were assayed twice per week for LH and there were four intensive sampling periods during the year to determine LH pulsatility. LW and BCS were recorded for all animals once a week. A clear circannual cycle in live weight change was observed in all experimental groups, being relatively stable or slightly decreasing in summer and autumn and increasing during winter and spring. The effect of exposure to high (H) rather than low (L) nutrition was to cause earlier onset of ovarian activity (5 versus 17 August; P < 0.05), and expression of oestrous (16 August versus 2 September; P < 0.01) and later cessation of reproductive activity (ovulation 11 February versus 17 January; P < 0.01). Consequently, seasonal anoestrus was 32 days shorter in does on the higher plane of nutrition (P < 0.01). The seasonality of reproductive activity was confirmed in the OVX does, with reduced LH concentrations during spring and summer, and increased LH concentrations in autumn and winter. There was no effect of nutrition on ovulation rate. These results demonstrate that the female Payoya goat exhibits marked reproductive seasonality which is modulated by nutrition but possibly not ovulation rate.     

太白山北坡夏秋季鸟类物种多样性

2006年5月～7月(夏季),9月～10月(秋季)在秦岭主峰太白山的北坡根据海拔和典型植被划分生境类型,在6种生境中选择典型样区划定样线并采用样线法对鸟类进行调查,根据鸟类的绝对数量和估算面积计算鸟类的绝对密度,并根据密度等级划分各生境类型中优势物种和常见物种。共观察到鸟类144种,其中留鸟102种,夏候鸟41种,冬候鸟1种。不同的海拔和不同生境类型中的鸟类物种丰富度和多度有较大差异,而且同一生境中鸟类多样性的季节性变化也很明显。无论是夏季还是秋季,低海拔农田带生境中鸟类的总密度最高,而高山灌丛草甸生境中的鸟类总密度最低。优势物种和常见物种在不同的生境类型组成也不相同,而且在不同季节也有变化。夏秋季的鸟类食性组成在农田带有显著差异,而其它生境类型中的鸟类食性夏秋季无明显差异,但是秋季植食性鸟类在各个生境类型中都有增多的趋势。物种丰富度和海拔梯度的关系显示在中海拔地区的鸟类丰富度最高。总体上,和20世纪80年代相比,太白山北坡的鸟类已经发生了明显的变化。     

海州湾鱼类群落功能多样性的时空变化

功能多样性是联系物种、生态环境和生态系统功能的基础.从功能多样性的角度研究群落结构,有助于更好地理解生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系.本研究根据2011—2017年(除2012年外)春、秋季海州湾渔业资源底拖网调查数据,选取反映鱼类摄食、运动、生态适应性、繁殖行为和种群动态特征的13个功能性状,利用功能丰富度指数、功能均匀度指数、功能离散度指数和群落特征加权平均数指数(CWM),研究了海州湾鱼类群落功能多样性的季节、年际和空间的变化.结果表明: 海州湾鱼类群落功能多样性指数具有显著的季节差异,其中秋季功能丰富度指数显著高于春季,春季功能离散度指数显著高于秋季,鱼类洄游是造成功能多样性指数季节变化的主要原因;CWM分析表明,春季鱼类群落优势种为营养级较高、运动能力较强、生长系数、恢复力和脆弱性较高的冷/暖温性鱼类,秋季则相反,春、秋季鱼类群落均以产浮性卵鱼类为主;鱼类群落功能多样性指数呈现一定的年际变化,其中春、秋季各功能多样性指数在不同年际均呈波动趋势,表明海州湾鱼类群落稳定性较低;鱼类群落功能多样性指数呈现显著的空间差异,其中20 m以深远岸水域功能离散度指数较高.海州湾鱼类群落功能多样性具有明显的时空变化特征,鱼类生态位与其对资源的利用均随季节、年际和空间而变化.     

Occupational exposure to isoflurane during anaesthesia induction with standard and scavenging double masks in dogs, pigs and ponies

Induction of anaesthesia using a face mask may cause workplace pollution with anaesthetics. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the use of a standard versus a scavenging double face mask on isoflurane pollution during induction of anaesthesia in experimental animals: six dogs, 12 pigs and five ponies. Pigs were anaesthetized only once using either mask type randomly (n = 6). Dogs and ponies were anaesthetized twice, using different mask types for each occasion in a random order with at least 14 days between experiments. The masks were attached to a Bain breathing system (dogs and pigs) or to a circle system (ponies) using a fresh gas flow of 300 or 50 mL/kg/min, respectively, with 5% vaporizer dial setting. Isoflurane concentrations were measured in the anaesthetist's breathing zone using an infrared photoacoustic spectrometer. The peak isoflurane concentrations (pollution) during baseline and induction periods were compared with Wilcoxon test in all species, and values between the mask types were compared with either Wilcoxon (ponies and dogs) or Mann-Whitney tests (pigs) (P < 0.05). Pollution was higher during induction when compared with baseline regardless of the mask type used but it was only statistically significant in dogs and pigs. Pollution was lower during induction with double versus single masks but it was only significant in pigs. Despite the lack of statistical significance, large and consistent differences were noted in all species, hence using scavenging masks is recommended to reduce isoflurane workplace pollution.     

Mobbing behaviour in a passerine community increases with prevalence in predator diet

Mobbing behaviour against predators is well documented but less is known about the factors influencing variation in behavioural response between prey species. We conducted a series of playback experiments to examine how the mobbing responses of prey species differed according to their relative risk of predation by the Eurasian Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum, a predator of passerines. We found that mobbing among 22 passerine prey species was positively correlated with their prevalence in the Pygmy Owl diet. To compare mobbing behaviour between two seasons, we conducted playback experiments during spring (breeding season) and autumn (non‐breeding season). Contrary to previous studies, we found that mobbing intensity was greater during autumn than in spring. Our study shows a differential mobbing response of 22 species to the calls from one predator species and underscores the importance of considering seasonal variation in mobbing behaviour. Mobbing response differences observed among bird species strongly suggest different cooperation behaviour at the community level.     

澳门生态一区和二区水鸟谱系多样性的季节变化

季节变化是鸟类群落的重要特征之一,其引起的环境变化决定着鸟类群落构建过程中不同驱动因子的作用力。因此,了解鸟类群落结构的季节变化,对于全面认识生物群落结构具有重要意义,尤其利用谱系多样性来探讨鸟类的季节性变化和推断群落聚集规律越来越受到关注。2018年1—12月,采用样线法对澳门生态一区和二区2块湿地进行逐月调查,记录水鸟的物种丰富度和多度,并分析水鸟谱系多样性的季节动态。结果显示,1)共记录水鸟37种,隶属于6目9科,目、科、种中数量最多的依次为:鸻形目Charadriiformes物种数为15种,鹭科Ardeidae物种数为11种,白鹭Egretta garzetta多度为540只。2)生态一区和二区水鸟的物种丰富度在冬季最高,其次为秋季;生态一区和二区的物种多度分别在秋季和冬季最高;谱系多样性和平均成对谱系距离的季节变化规律与物种丰富度的相似。3)生态一区和二区的鸟类群落分别在春、秋、冬季和秋季趋向于谱系发散,而在其他时间大多呈现出谱系聚集。谱系发散可能表明了种间竞争在群落构建中作用更大,而谱系聚集则表明了环境过滤对繁殖季水鸟群落构建具有重要作用。结果表明,湿地水鸟群落的驱动因子存在季节变化,考虑这些变化是全面认识群落结构的前提。