Avoidance distance test in goats: A comparison with its application in cows

The present study investigates the feasibility in goats of an avoidance distance (AD) behaviour test set-up for cattle, and compares the results in the two species to assess the suitability of the test for on-farm welfare evaluation in goat farms.The tests were performed on 324 lactating cows (170 in small farms and 154 in large farms) and 271 lactating goats (108 in small farms and 163 in large farms), housed in free stall farms (12 dairy cattle and 17 dairy goat farms) in the Province of Sondrio, Northern Italy, following a protocol validated for dairy cows in the Welfare Quality^® project.After the assessors were adequately trained, this test was relatively easy to perform and no major difficulties were faced in either species. Goats exhibited a higher level of confidence with humans, as showed by lower AD (goats: 68.60 ± 4.98 cm; cows: 71.36 ± 4.37 cm; p < 0.10) and higher frequency of contacts (AD = 0) (goats: 45.8%; cows: 31.2%; p < 0.001).Farm size significantly affected AD values (lower in small farms) and frequency of contacts (higher in small farms) in goats, but not in cows. This was probably due to the less marked management difference between large and small farms of cattle than those of goats.The AD test seems feasible in goats; however, the experimenter contacted nearly half of the goats. To improve the sensitivity, a further level – represented by the possibility of gently stroking the goat's head after the contact – may be included in the test in addition to contact.     

Saxitoxin monitoring in three species of Florida puffer fish

Beginning in April 2002, three species of Florida puffer fish from around the state of Florida, USA were monitored for the presence of saxitoxin (STX). In total, 873 southern (Sphoeroides nephelus), 171 checkered (S. testudineus), and 53 bandtail (S. spengleri) puffer fish were collected between 2002 and 2006 from eight regions: Jacksonville, the Indian River Lagoon, Tequesta, the Florida Keys, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay, Cedar Key, and Apalachicola. Emphasis was placed on collecting specimens from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), where recreational harvesting of puffer fish led to 28 cases of saxitoxin puffer fish poisoning (SPFP) between January 2002 and May 2004. Southern puffer fish from the northern IRL routinely contained the highest concentrations of STX, with average levels in the skin of 1787 μg STXequiv./100 g tissue. Elevated concentrations were also found in the muscle (1102 μg STXequiv./100 g), gut contents (539 μg STXequiv./100 g), gonads (654 μg STXequiv./100 g), and liver (214 μg STXequiv./100 g). Lower, yet significant (above the action limit of 80 μg STXequiv./100 g tissue), concentrations of STX were also detected in the skin (599 μg STXequiv./100 g), muscle (233 μg STXequiv./100 g), gut contents (197 μg STXequiv./100 g), and gonads (239 μg STXequiv./100 g) of southern puffer fish from Tequesta in the southern IRL, as well as in the gonads (122 μg STXequiv./100 g) of Jacksonville southern puffer fish and the skin (265 μg STXequiv./100 g) of Tampa Bay southern puffer fish. STX concentrations above the action limit were also found in the skin of bandtail puffer fish from the IRL (620 μg STXequiv./100 g), Tequesta (374 μg STXequiv./100 g), and the Florida Keys (230 μg STXequiv./100 g). Checkered puffer fish collected from the IRL, Tequesta, and the Florida Keys on average were nontoxic, containing STX levels below the action limit in all tissues.     

Benchmarking the environmental performance of specialized milk production systems: selection of a set of indicators

Dairy production across the world contributes to environmental impacts such as eutrophication, acidification, loss of biodiversity, and use of resources, such as land, fossil energy and water. Benchmarking the environmental performance of farms can help to reduce these environmental impacts and improve resource use efficiency. Indicators to quantify and benchmark environmental performances are generally derived from a nutrient balance (NB) or a life cycle assessment (LCA). An NB is relatively easy to quantify, whereas an LCA provides more detailed insight into the type of losses and associated environmental impacts. In this study, we explored correlations between NB and LCA indicators, in order to identify an effective set of indicators that can be used as a proxy for benchmarking the environmental performance of dairy farms. We selected 55 specialised dairy farms from western European countries and determined their environmental performance based on eight commonly used NB and LCA indicators from cradle-to-farm gate. Indicators included N surplus, P surplus, land use, fossil energy use, global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), freshwater eutrophication potential (FEP) and marine eutrophication potential (MEP) for 2010. All indicators are expressed per kg of fat-and-protein-corrected milk. Pearson and Spearman Rho’s correlation analyses were performed to determine the correlations between the indicators. Subsequently, multiple regression and canonical correlation analyses were performed to select the set of indicators to be used as a proxy. Results show that the set of selected indicator, including N surplus, P surplus, energy use and land use, is strongly correlated with the eliminated set of indicators, including FEP (r = 0.95), MEP (r = 0.91), GWP (r = 0. 83) and AP (r = 0.79). The canonical correlation between the two sets is high as well (r = 0.97). Therefore, N surplus, P surplus, energy use and land use can be used as a proxy to benchmark the environmental performance of dairy farms, also representing GWP, AP, FEP and MEP. The set of selected indicators can be monitored and collected in a time and cost-effective way, and can be interpreted easily by decision makers. Other important environmental impacts, such as biodiversity and water use, however, should not be overlooked.     

Higher somatic cells counted by the electronic counter method do not influence renneting properties of goat milk

Laws of different countries regarding SCC of goat milk are not in agreement with each other and sometimes they fix a threshold for the enhancement of dairy products. The aim of this study was to assess if renneting properties of goat milk are influenced by higher somatic cell count (SCC) measured by an electronic cell counter. Milk samples, taken throughout the lactation of 169 goats from three farms, were analyzed for chemical, physical, hygienic and renneting properties. Samples were divided into three levels on the basis of their SCC: L: low level, samples with SCC lower than 10⁶ cells/ml; M: medium, between 10⁶ and 2 × 10⁶ cells/ml; H: high, higher than 2 × 10⁶ cells/ml. Milk clotting time was between 12.07 and 13.31 min, curd firming time between 1.68 and 2.05 min and curd firmness between 41.66 and 48.97 mm. All the three renneting properties were not affected by the SCC level but they were highly correlated with other factors as protein content and pH. Furthermore, the microbial count showed a high positive correlation with SCC. These results showed that in goat milk, contrarily to other dairy species, higher SCC did not affect renneting properties and that counting of somatic cells by using electronic cell counters might be not suitable for the improvement of dairy products.     

Uptake of paralytic shellfish poisoning and spirolide toxins by paddle crabs (Ovalipes catharus) via a bivalve vector

The uptake of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins and spirolides by the paddle crab (Ovalipes catharus) was investigated in two laboratory feeding trials using Greenshell? mussels (Perna canaliculus), which had been fed toxic strains of either Alexandrium catenella or A. ostenfeldii, as a vector. Toxin uptake by crabs occurred in both feeding trials and was limited to the visceral tissue; no toxins were detected in the body meat or the gills. The first trial utilized a strain of A. catenella that had high total PSP toxin content, 442.3 ± 91.6 fmol/cell, that was dominated by low toxicity N-sulfocarbamoyl toxins resulting in a low cellular toxicity, 5.5 ± 1.6 pg STXequiv./cell. In this trial, toxin accumulation in the crabs was highly variable and ranged from 3.8 to 221.5 μg STXequiv./100 g, with 3/4 of the crabs exceeding the regulatory limit of 80 μg STXequiv./100 g. Eight days after feeding on toxic mussels the crabs still retained high levels of toxin suggesting that depuration rates in this species may be slow. In the second feeding trial, the A. ostenfeldii strain fed to mussels produced low levels of both PSP toxins (52.0 ± 19.5 fmol/cell; 1.4 ± 0.3 pg STXequiv./cell) and spirolides (1.8 pg/cell) and, as a result, the concentration transferred to crabs via the mussels was very low-PSP toxins ranged from 2.5 to 6.8 μg STXequiv./100 g and spirolides from 6 to 7 μg/kg. The results of our study demonstrate that paddle crabs are capable of acquiring both PSP toxins and spirolides and suggest that this may occur in the wild during a toxic shellfish event. It also highlights the need to remove the viscera before consumption.     

Leaf non-structural carbohydrates regulated by plant functional groups and climate: Evidences from a tropical to cold-temperate forest transect

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), e.g., glucose and starch, play important roles in metabolic processes of plants and represent important functional traits in plant's adaptation to external environment. To explore the variations in leaf NSCs among species and communities at a large scale and their influencing factors, we investigated the contents of leaf NSCs among 890 plant species in nine typical forests along the north–south transect of eastern China. The results showed that the contents of leaf soluble sugars, starch, and NSCs (sugars + starch) were highly variable among different plant species on the site scale, and their mean values for the 890 plant species were 45.7 mg g⁻¹, 47.5 mg g⁻¹, and 93.2 mg g⁻¹, respectively. All three metrics varied markedly across plant functional groups in the order of trees < shrubs < herbs. Weak latitudinal patterns of leaf soluble sugars, starch, and NSCs were observed from tropical to cold-temperate forests at the levels of species and plant functional groups. The contents of leaf soluble sugars, starch, and NSCs decreased with increasing temperature and precipitation which supports the growth limitation hypothesis at a large scale. In trees, leaf soluble sugars, starch, and NSCs increased with increasing photosynthetic active radiation (PAR); and were positively correlated with specific leaf area (SLA). The spatial patterns of leaf NSCs in forests along the north–south transect of eastern China and their relationships with temperature, precipitation, PAR, and SLA illustrate an important adaptation of plant communities to environmental changes at the continental scale.     

Beef or grasshopper hamburgers: The ecological implications of choosing one over the other

Both the means by which we produce our food and our eating habits influence some of the most important environmental problems of our planet. The most exploited livestock for the past 50 years has been cattle, which are fed primarily on maize to increase production. However, this combination of maize and cattle is inefficient in ecological terms. Producing and consuming proteins from animals with more efficient biomass and energy conversions could help to solve certain environmental problems. For instance, insects that are considered pests in agricultural systems — including, specifically, the Orthoptera species — may be excellent candidates as protein sources. This work analyses the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the three types of livestock that are most widely bred worldwide: cattle, pigs, and poultry. It then compares these results with those of potential minilivestock from the Orthoptera species that are more abundant in agroecosystems. Based on the calculated FCRs (cow:pork:poultry:grasshopper pests and insects grown on farms; 10:6:2:4:1.7), we project that reducing beef production by half could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and the maize sowing hectares destined for feed (2.1–2.9 × 10⁷ ha), while simultaneously releasing maize for human consumption. Additionally, consuming insect-based protein could reduce pollution problems by decreasing insecticide use (by at least 7 × 10⁷ l). Though a comprehensive solution to current environmental problems (e.g. global warming), will require coordinated global effort (e.g. to replace fossil fuels), there is one way that everyone can contribute: eating grasshopper burgers instead of beef burgers.     

Choice of scan-sampling intervals—An example with quantifying neighbours in dairy cows

To date, only a few studies using scan-sampling intervals to record neighbours in groups of animals explain how the interval length was chosen. In this study, we investigated the effects of different scan-sampling intervals, behavioural context, and the definition of neighbours on the accuracy of data as compared to a quasi-continuous observation. The data was collected from dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems. Dairy herds of 22–43 cows on 6 farms were observed once a minute with an automatic tracking system for 6 days, and both the nearest neighbour and all neighbours within a defined distance of each cow were recorded with references to the activity, feeding and lying area and stored in neighbourship matrices. In the analysis, we used data collected at intervals of 2, 3, 4, …, 30 min, and correlated this simulated data with the data based on the 1-min interval using a specialised correlation coefficient for matrices τ_Kr. This correlation coefficient was then used as the response variable in mixed-effects models. We found that the size of the correlation coefficients generally decreased as interval length increased. This decrease was less pronounced for all neighbours than for the nearest neighbour. Moreover, the decrease was greatest with data from the activity area and lowest with data from the lying area. We concluded that, even with the relatively slow dairy cows in a barn environment, neighbour recordings should be conducted at short scan-sampling intervals in order to achieve a minimum correlation of τ_Kr = 0.8 with the quasi-continuous data. Intervals of every 2, 8 and 17 min are recommended for observation of neighbours in dairy cows for the activity, feeding and lying areas, respectively, and species that move faster may well require even shorter sampling intervals.     

Presence of Mycoplasma species and somatic cell counts in bulk-tank goat milk

This cross-sectional study performed on dairy goat herds was designed to establish the relationship between the presence of Mycoplasma species in bulk-tank milk samples from different farms and the bulk-tank milk somatic cell count (BTMSCC) in an area where contagious agalactia (CA) is endemic. Three BTMSCC thresholds, used in payment schemes or as legal requirements for milk quality in Europe and the USA, were considered: (1) 2,000,000 cells/ml; (2) 1,500,000 cells/ml and (3) 1,000,000 cells/ml. Of the 1068 milk samples tested, 7.9% (n = 84) showed the presence of Mycoplasma spp. (Mycoplasma agalactiae 82% and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony 17%). Somatic cell counts for bulk-tank samples containing mycoplasmas were higher than those recorded for negative samples (1,176,000 cells/ml vs. 875,000 cells/ml; P < 0.001). Two-by-two table analyses revealed that the presence of mycoplasmas in bulk-tank milk increased the risk of surpassing all SCC thresholds considered, with the highest risk for Mycoplasma positive bulk-tank milk samples exceeding the threshold of 1500 × 10³ cells/ml (odds ratio = 2.42 (1.49 < OR < 3.91). Our results indicate that the presence of mycoplasmas in goat milk had yet another economic consequence and a further incentive to encourage the implementation of specific programs for disease control.     

Feeding soybean meal increases the blood level of isoflavones and reduces the steroidogenic capacity in bovine corpora lutea,without affecting peripheral progesterone concentrations

Thirty-three Holstein-Friesian cows were followed from 14 days pre partum until the fourth ovulation post partum. Housing conditions and basic ration were identical for all animals. Concentrates were individually supplemented according to the daily milk production level, using two different types of protein rich concentrates: soybean meal and rapeseed meal. Soybean and rapeseed meal are known to be respectively high and low in isoflavones. Cows were randomly divided into three groups and blocked for parity. Group I (n = 11) was supplemented with soybean meal and acted as control group. Groups II (n = 11) and III (n = 11) were respectively supplemented with soybean and rapeseed meal and were subjected to a biopsy sampling of the corpus luteum at day 9 of the first three postpartal estrous cycles.Soybean meal supplementation to lactating dairy cows (1.72 kg on average) induced an increase in the blood concentration of equol, dihydrodaidzein, o-desmethylangolensin in both soy groups and resulted in a reduced area occupied by steroidogenic (P = 0.012) and endothelial cells (P = 0.0007) in the luteal biopsies. Blood concentrations of equol and glycitein were negatively correlated with the areas occupied by steroidogenic (r = −0.410 with P = 0.0002, respectively r = −0.351 with P = 0.008) and endothelial cells (r = −0.337 with P = 0.01, respectively r = −0.233 with P = 0.085) in the 3 first estrous cycles. The latter however did not affect the diestrous peripheral blood progesterone concentration.     

Evaluating the dendroclimatological potential of Taxus baccata (yew) in southwest Ireland

Tree-ring research in Ireland has typically been dominated by Quercus species, particularly Quercus petraea and Quercus robur. Recent years have seen a greater focus on multi-species reconstructions in Ireland but, due to difficulties with the hardness of the wood, missing/pinched rings and fused stems, Taxus baccata has not been included in these investigations. Despite these difficulties, a 31-tree, 204-year T. baccata chronology was successfully constructed from Killarney National Park, southwest Ireland. The chronology exhibits promising dendroclimatological potential, with climatic responsiveness equivalent to that of the other major Irish tree taxa, including Quercus. The chronology shows the strongest relationship with May–June precipitation from Muckross House synoptic station (1970–2007; r = 0.521, p < 0.01) and Valentia Observatory (1941–2007; r = 0.545, p < 0.01). November–April temperatures also exhibited a strong relationship with the chronology post-1970 (r = 0.605, p < 0.01 for Muckross House, r = 0.567, p < 0.01 for Valentia Observatory), but this relationship is not time stable and breaks down for the pre-1970 Valentia Observatory record. The long-lived nature of T. baccata, the exceptional preservation of wood and rings in this hard softwood species, as well as its prominence in Irish archaeology, all point to the potential to expand this chronology both spatially and temporally, and demonstrate T. baccata's potential in multi-site and multi-species tree-ring studies in the region.     

Extinction thresholds and negative responses of Afrotropical ant-following birds to forest cover loss in oil palm and agroforestry landscapes

Afrotropical ant-following birds are vulnerable to forest loss and disturbance, but critical habitat thresholds regarding their abundance and species richness in human-dominated landscapes, including industrial oil palm plantations, have never been assessed. We measured forest cover through Landsat imagery and recorded species richness and relative abundance of 20 ant-following birds in 48 plots of 1-km², covering three landscapes of Southwest Cameroon: Korup National Park, smallholder agroforestry areas (with farms embedded in forest), and an industrial oil palm plantation. We evaluated differences in encounter frequency and species richness among landscapes, and the presence of critical thresholds through enhanced adaptive regression through hinges. All species were detected in Korup National Park and the agroforestry landscape, which had similar forest cover (>85%). Only nine species were found in the oil palm plantation (forest cover = 10.3 ± 3.3%). At the 1-km² scale, the number of species and bird encounters were comparable in agroforests and the protected area: mean species richness ranged from 12.2 ± 0.6 in the park and 12.2 ± 0.6 in the agroforestry matrix to 1.0 ± 0.4 in the industrial oil palm plantation; whereas encounters decreased from 34.4 ± 3.2 to 26.1 ± 2.9 and 1.3 ± 0.4, respectively. Bird encounters decreased linearly with decreasing forest cover, down to an extinction threshold identified at 24% forest cover. Species richness declined linearly by ca. one species per 7.4% forest cover lost. We identified an extinction threshold at 52% forest cover for the most sensitive species (Criniger chloronotus, Dicrurus atripennis, and Neocossyphus poensis). Our results show that substantial proportions of forests are required to sustain complete ant-following bird assemblages in Afrotropical landscapes and confirm the high sensitivity of this bird guild to deforestation after industrial oil palm development. Securing both forest biodiversity and food production in an Afrotropical production landscape may be best attained through a combination of protected areas and wildlife-friendly agroforestry.     

At-sea abundance and spatial distribution of South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) in Chilean Northern Patagonia: How many are there?

The South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) (SSL) is a widespread opportunistic predator that inhabits waters ranging from Southern Ecuador to Southern Chile in the Pacific Ocean and from Southern Brazil to Southern Argentina in the Atlantic. SSL abundance estimates, as for many pinniped species, have relied on shore censuses, with the uncertainty that an indeterminate number of individuals at sea might remain uncounted. The proportion of the population that remains at sea during censuses and their distribution patterns are not clear and has been scarcely assessed. We used line transect sampling to gather information about at-sea abundance, density and spatial distribution of SSL in coastal waters off the Chilean Northern Patagonia. A total of 123 groups were sighted while on-effort, with an estimated density of 0.393 ind./km² (95%CI = 0.262–0.591) and a total abundance, for the surveyed area, of 13,721 individuals (95%CI = 9127–20,627). Even when our survey was rather restricted in spatial range, generalized additive model results showed that depth, distance to SSL rockeries, coastline complexity and geographical coordinates had a significant influence on SSL spatial distribution. The results on abundance and spatial distribution of SSL at sea are discussed in terms of current population estimates. Our substantial at-sea abundance estimate suggests that shore censuses might have been historically biased. Several aspects should be taken into account in further research on SSL abundance, such as including pelagic waters and undertaking simultaneously on-rockery and marine SSL abundance estimates. The results presented here provide valuable insights for revisiting and possibly improve population estimates of SSL and other pinnipeds species worldwide. This is particularly relevant when management and conservation actions need to be taken on those species that have strong interactions with fisheries and aquaculture.     

CHEK2 gene alterations in the forkhead-associated domain, 1100delC and del5395 do not modify the risk of sporadic pancreatic cancer

Checkpoint kinase 2 gene (CHEK2) alterations increase risk of several cancer types. We analyzed selected CHEK2 alterations in 270 Czech pancreatic cancer patients and in 683 healthy controls. The pancreatic cancer risk was higher in individuals who inherited rare alterations in CHEK2 region involving forkhead-associated domain other than I157T (OR = 5.14; 95% CI = 0.94–28.23) but the observed association was non-significant (p = 0.057). The most frequent I157T mutation did not alter the pancreatic cancer risk and neither the followed deletion of 5395 bp nor c.1100delC were found in any of pancreatic cases. We conclude that the I157T, other alterations in its proximity, del5395 and c.1100delC in CHEK2 do not predispose to pancreatic cancer risk in the Czech population.     

Survivability of indigenous microflora and a Salmonella typhimurium marker strain in poultry mash treated with buffered propionic acid

Buffered propionic acid (BPA) was evaluated as a potential treatment for the elimination of Salmonella spp. in poultry mash. A primary poultry isolate marker strain of Salmonella typhimurium was added as either a broth or in a dry chalk carrier form to poultry mash containing soybean meal as a protein supplement. The mash was supplemented with buffered propionic acid at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 g kg⁻¹ diet and samples were enumerated for indigenous aerobic bacteria, fungi and the S. typhimurium marker strain. Total indigenous aerobic bacteria and fungal populations were generally decreased by addition of more than 20 g BPA kg⁻¹, but an addition of 100 g BPA kg⁻¹ mash was usually required to achieve reductions of approximately 90% of indigenous aerobic bacteria and 99% of indigenous fungi. After 7 days of storage, 8 g BPA kg⁻¹ mash also reduced S. typhimurium populations by more than 90% in mash inoculated via chalk, while at least 50 g BPA kg⁻¹ mash was required to provide the same level of reduction in mash inoculated with a liquid culture of S. typhimurium. Although BPA does not appear to be an overly effective antimicrobial agent with respect to indigenous aerobic bacterial populations in animal feed, higher concentrations may have the potential for reducing fungal and Salmonella spp. contamination in poultry mash.     

Carbon footprints of rice production in five typical rice districts in China

Five provinces located in the five main rice-growing regions in China were selected as study areas, which were Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Guangdong and Hunan province respectively in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northern, southwest, southern and central rice districts. Carbon footprints of rice production in these five provinces were calculated through the life cycle assessment method using governmental statistical data, industrial standards and relevant technical data separately. Material and energy consumptions were estimated, key stages of energy consumptions and carbon emissions were identified as well. Moreover, improving measurements had been suggested correspondingly. The results indicated that: the energy consumptions of rice production in these five provinces ranked as following (high to low): Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Hunan, Sichuan and Jiangsu. The carbon footprints of rice production were 2504.20 kg carbon dioxide equation per ton rice (kgCO₂-eq./t) (Guangdong province), 2326.47 kgCO₂-eq./t (Hunan province), 1889.97 kgCO₂-eq./t (Heilongjiang province), 1538.90 kgCO₂-eq./t (Sichuan province) and 1344.92 kgCO₂-eq./t (Jiangsu province) respectively. Reducing the quantities of urea and using the intermittent irrigation method could decrease energy consumption as well as carbon footprint.     

An avifaunal survey of mesic manmade ecosystems “Oases” in algerian hot-hyperarid lands

Man made ecosystems of dry lands are key habitats due to their ecological characteristics to survey biodiversity. This study investigated bird diversity in three oases of the Northern Algerian Sahara (i.e., Biskra in 2006, Oued Souf in 2008 and Ouargla in 2009), by using the spot-mapping method. Bird density “D” (pairs/10 ha), species richness “S” (number species), diversity (Shannon index) “H′” (in bits), and evenness “E” varied from one oasis to another (Biskra: D = 98.5, S = 47, H′ = 4.49, E = 0.81; Oued Souf: D = 96, S = 33, H′ = 3.9, E = 0.77; Ouargla: D = 91.5, S = 44, H′ = 4.39, E = 0.80). Differences in bird diversity between the monitored palm groves are due to the ecological characteristics of each environment. Documented literature outlined close taxonomic similarities between bird assemblages of the study area with many Northern Saharan oases. The Hybrid Sparrow Passer domesticus x Passer. hispaniolensis and some Columbidae species including Columba livia, Streptopelia turtur, Streptopelia senegalensis, and Streptopelia decaocto were the abundant species throughout surveyed oases in which they represented more than half (55.6%) of the sum of species densities (D = 286 pairs/10 ha). These synthropic species have known a huge expansion of their distribution range throughout Algerian oases. The correspondence analysis allowed the aggregation of both families and species into oasis they belong to. One-way ANOVA was tested to analyse variations of both family and species densities between studied oases. The ANOVA revealed there was no significant variation either in family densities (p = 0.937) or in bird densities (p = 0.622) between the surveyed oases because of the small size of bird populations.     

Recovery of ciliate communities from an oligotrophic mountain stream after a catastrophic wind damage

We studied the recovery of ciliate taxoceonoses in a mountain stream after a catastrophic windstorm that strongly affected mountainous regions of Slovakia in 2004. To this end, we analyzed changes in the community structure of ciliate assemblages from the Zubrovica stream in the Low Tatra Mts during the time frame between 2003 and 2008 by various statistical methods, including diversity and similarity indices, hierarchical clustering, multidimensional scaling, and PCA. The climax ciliate communities were characteristic for oligotrophic running waters, i.e., they were equitable (E_H = 0.75–1.00) and harbored a comparatively low number of species (2–9) with typically low abundances (10–125 ind./ml). However, the community structure changed dramatically after the devastating windstorm. There was a significant increase of species number (10–30) and abundance (260–1480 ind./ml), concomitant with a decrease of the equitability (E_H = 0.43–0.83). These changed quantitative and qualitative community parameters wore off comparatively quickly, i.e., about six months after the catastrophic windstorm, the ciliate taxocoenoses had reached a community structure similar to that before the wind damage. The present observations and those from terrestrial habitats indicate that ciliate communities have a good capability to comparatively quickly reach a climax even after a strong disturbance.     

Drivers of reptile and amphibian assemblages outside the protected areas of Western Ghats,India

Biodiversity conservation in forested landscapes outside protected areas is important to sustain populations of species with restricted ranges. However, such habitats face many anthropogenic threats, including logging, extraction of firewood and leaf-litter for mulch in plantations. In this study, we determined the effects of forest degradation on amphibians and reptiles in forests outside protected areas by measuring their species richness and community composition across a disturbance gradient from near pristine to highly degraded forests in Agumbe, Western Ghats, India. Twenty-one strip 15 m × 150 m transects were laid across the disturbance gradient and diurnal visual encounter surveys were conducted. Sampling was repeated three times per transect covering the dry, intermediate and wet seasons. Amphibian and reptile communities were affected by the decrease in canopy cover and leaf litter volume, respectively. Our results indicate that the collection of firewood and leaf-litter can severely affect amphibian and reptile populations. Structured conservation planning outside of protected areas is therefore imperative.     

Lying patterns of high producing healthy dairy cows after calving in commercial herds as affected by age,environmental conditions and production

An animal expresses its physiological and well-being status by its behaviour. Changes in behaviour can be associated with health, production or well-being problems and therefore with the profitability of the farm. The objectives of the present study were to analyse lying patterns of healthy cows, collected with a commercial behaviour sensor, in early lactation in relation to environmental conditions, age of the cow and production performance. In future, these results may be used as a ‘baseline’ for detection of alterations in behaviour that indicate health problems. The study involved 210 healthy multiparous Israeli Holstein cows in three commercial dairy farms. Only healthy cows during the first 28 days after calving were included in this study. Data were analysed in relation to calving season, age of cows and correlation between milk production and lying time.The results show that lying time increased significantly with age and is significantly (P < 0.05) higher in winter than in summer (summer lactation 2: 491 ± 17 min/day (mean ± SD), summer lactation 3 and more: 520 ± 25 min/day, winter lactation 2: 531 ± 25 min/day, winter lactation 3 and more: 579 ± 38 min/day).The proportion of positively and negatively milk production and lying time correlated cows is affected by calving season.This study indicates that behaviour variables in early lactation are affected by calving season, lactation number and type of correlation between milk production and lying time.