Quantitative Autoradiography of Isolated Thyroid-Gland Colloid

Deparaffinized and dehydrated sections (on slides) of human, dog, pig, guinea pig and rat thyroid were coated with 1% CHCl₃ solution of Plexiglas, dried thoroughly and immersed in water at 15°C for 2-10 min. When the Plexiglas film loosened, it was stripped from the slide; the colloid remained on the slide while the rest of the gland was removed in the film. Each glandular component was then subjected to separate autoradiographic processing.     

Acute restraint device for rhesus monkeys

A practical and inexpensive alternative to the standard primate chair is described. The apparatus is designed to allow easy removal of rhesus monkeys from their home cages and to allow restraint without anesthesia. A portable Plexiglas cage, which can be adjusted to accommodate rhesus monkeys of varying sizes, is placed against an animal's home cage. The animal is then trained to avoid the squeeze mechanism of the home cage by going into the Plexiglas cage. The animal's head can then be secured by means of poles hooked to a light weight collar worn permanently. This device and procedure allows an investigator to work with a restrained animal without resorting to drugs, unnecessary force or chronic restraint. Animals can be transferred daily with this technique with minimal conditioning and cooperation.     

Experimental assessment of problem solving by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Milvago chimango </Emphasis>(Aves: Falconiformes)

We report a preliminary assessment of problem solving as an estimate of behavioural innovation and learning ability of a generalist and abundant raptor, Milvago chimango, under controlled conditions in aviaries. Experimental tests consisted in presentation of a Plexiglas box with four lids leading to isolated pieces of meat. We recorded time to first contact with the box and time from this first contact to gaining access to the pieces of meat. We recorded the number of attempts to open the box and reach the first portion of meat, and the total number of lids opened by each individual during five successive daily sessions. We found that individuals of M. chimango quickly approached and made contact with the Plexiglas box, and responded successfully to the novel feeding problem of reaching the food inside. In our study, performance of individuals was enhanced after solution of the novel task for the first time, as indicated by the progressively reduced time taken to access the food. Further, some individuals gained access to an increasing number of sections of the Plexiglas box during subsequent sessions, suggesting significant learning ability. Our results indicated M. chimango has a remarkable ability to obtain food in a novel situation, an observation that agrees with anecdotal reports of opening of receptacles to obtain food in urban environments. The results support the idea of behavioural plasticity in this species.     

围封10年对荒漠草原群落物种多样性与优势种空间分布格局的影响

围封是修复退化草原生态系统的主要措施之一,科学与优化围封方式是目前草地资源管理中急需解决的科学问题。以内蒙古围栏封育10年和未围封的荒漠草原为研究对象,分析围封和未围封对内蒙古荒漠草原群落物种多样性和优势种空间分布格局的影响,旨在为荒漠草原的恢复与重建提供科学依据。结果显示:(1)围封10年显著提高了荒漠草原的植被盖度、密度、高度和地上生物量;(2)围封10年对Margalef多样性指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数无显著影响,但围封均低于未围封样地;(3)围封10年对优势种短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)及糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)的空间分布格局有较为显著的影响,与未围封相比围封后糙隐子草的分布格局变得单一,短花针茅分布格局变得多样。总体看来,围封10年后,荒漠草原群落物种组成、物种优势度和优势种的空间分布格局均发生一定程度变化,反映出围封后草地生态系统中植物适应其生存环境的策略,围封方式应根据立地条件,科学制定围封年限以达到较好的生态恢复效果。     

围栏封育对黄河源区斑块化退化高寒草甸碳交换及其组分的影响

为明确围栏封育对斑块化退化高寒草甸净生态系统碳交换(NEE)不同组分的影响,本研究选取青藏高原黄河源区斑块化退化高寒草甸进行围封试验,设置4个围封年限(1、2、5、11 a)和1个正常放牧对照,研究NEE及组分对不同围封年限的响应。结果表明,围封5 a退化高寒草甸总初级生产力(GPP)和生态系统呼吸(ER)显著大于正常放牧、围封1 a、2 a和11 a,围封2 a和5 a退化高寒草甸NEE显著小于正常放牧、围封1 a和11 a样地(P<0.01),其他NEE组分对不同围封年限的响应情况不一致。植被自养呼吸(Ra)、根系呼吸(Rr)和土壤异养呼吸(Rh)占ER的比例在不同围封年限间差异显著(P<0.01)。此外,土壤温度与NEE呈二次曲线的关系,与ER以及除Rh以外的其他呼吸组分呈指数关系,土壤含水量与NEE、GPP、ER、土壤呼吸(Rs)、Ra、Rr呈线性关系(P<0.05)。全氮、全磷、生物量和NEE及组分存在显著的相关关系。说明围封5 a能显著提高退化草地的土壤养分和固碳功能,并能维持草地生产力,无需进行长期围封。     

围圈养鱼对浮游动物多样性的影响

1993-1994年在保安湖主体湖区开展围圈养殖草鱼对浮游生物多样性影响的研究,包括围圈内外浮游动物种类组成、密度、生物量和多样性指数的季节变化等。分析表明,围圈内共有常见浮游动物64种,围圈外共有常见浮游动物55种。围圈内外浮游动物的年平均密度分别为3738和3196ind/L,年平均生物量分别为0.8177和0.8135mg/L,年平均多样性指数分别为3.3808和2.9717.研究结果表明:围圈养殖草食性鱼类对浮游动物现存量以及多样性指数无显着影响。       

Encoding of relative enclosure size in a dynamic three-dimensional virtual environment by humans

Human participants searched in a dynamic three-dimensional virtual-environment rectangular enclosure for a distinctly colored bin located in one of the four corners. During test trials, all bins were rendered identical in color, and the shape of the rectangular search space either remained the same or was modified to a relatively sized contracted rectangle, an expanded rectangle, or a square. Participants made one choice response during test trials. In the rectangular enclosures, more of participants’ choice responses were allocated to the geometrically correct corners than to the geometrically incorrect corners. In the square enclosure, participants’ choice responses were allocated equivalently to each of the four corners. Results replicate previous enclosure size studies demonstrating encoding of enclosure geometry with human and non-human animal subjects conducted in real environments and extend these results to include encoding of relative enclosure geometry. Results are discussed with respect to theoretical accounts of geometry learning.     

Age class differences in the feeding behavior of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscataia) in the forested and nonvegetated enclosure groups

Age class differences in feeding behavior of primates are affected by many factors, including feeding competition, foraging skills, habitat type, food abundance and distribution, body mass, and food types. Two captive groups of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), one housed in a forested enclosure and the other in a nonvegetated enclosure, were studied to examine the effect of environmental enrichment on age class differences in feeding behavior. Although there was no significant age class difference in time spent feeding on provisioned foods in either enclosure, the feeding rate (intake of unit food/minute) of adults consuming provisioned monkey chow was significantly higher than that of immatures in both enclosures, and was faster for both age groups in the nonvegetated than in the forested enclosure. Overall, feeding time was greatly extended for individuals of both age classes in the forested enclosure compared with their counterparts in the nonvegetated enclosure. Immatures in the forested enclosure utilized a significantly greater number of plant species and food items, exploiting many food items available among the terminal branches, and spent significantly more time feeding than adults. Perhaps constrained by larger body size, adults fed more often on the ground or middle height of the trees, likely reducing competition over plant food resources between adults and immatures. The natural vegetation played an important role in extending feeding time and segregating substrate use during feeding by adults and immatures. This study revealed the benefits concerning environmental enrichment of a naturally forested enclosure, which provides captive primates the opportunity to exhibit age class and species-typical feeding behaviors of importance for their dietary maintenance and general health.     

A method for the routine observation of sexual behaviour in rats

In seeking a method for the routine observation of copulatory behaviour in rats we compared the use of a standard rectangular Makrolon cage, commonly used in toxicology studies, with a Plexiglas cylinder that provided 2.5 times more floor area. The cylinder resulted in a much higher incidence of copulation, either once or for multiple series, within 30 min. This was not affected by whether oestrus was natural or induced. Using the cylinder and 4 h observation periods, we found that the dark phase of a 12-12 h inverse light cycle resulted in many more copulations than occurred during the light phase of a natural cycle. The incidence increased from the first to the second to the last 4 h of the dark phase. We found that placing a virgin receptive female and a naive male together in a Plexiglas cylinder for 1 h towards the end of the dark phase is a useful tool in reproductive toxicology studies in which it is important to know the precise time of insemination.     

The role of fish in the regulation of nutrient cycling in Lake Balaton, Hungary

SUMMARY. 1. In 1984 an enclosure experiment was carried out in order to elucidate the importance of nutrient supply from fish to phytoplankton during the critical summer period in eutrophic Lake Balaton. One enclosure was stocked with fish and the other left empty.
2. Two peaks were recorded in primary production reaching maximum values in the fish enclosure.
3. In the enclosure with fish, inorganic nitrogen concentrations increased gradually till the end of the experiment, with ammonia making up the largest component. Lower dissolved phosphorus concentrations in the fish enclosure, with its higher primary production rate, may indicate an intense cycling of this nutrient.
4. The biological and chemical changes occurring in the enclosure suggest that bream removal can be an effective tool in water quality control for Lake Balaton.     

Effect of specimen size on work-of-fracture measurements

It has been suggested that work-of-fracture, which quantifies the ability of a material to resist fracture, is dependent on specimen size. This experiment compared work-of-fracture, calculated as energy per unit area, for different specimen sizes of Plexiglas, bovine tibial bone and aluminum. Three different geometrically similar cross sections were tested for each material for a total of 54 specimens. Work-of-fracture was measured by loading a notched beam (triangular cross section) in three-point bending at a constant deformation rate. The energy necessary to cause fracture was measured from a load-deformation curve. Specimen fracture area was determined using macrophotography. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine weight percent calcium of bone specimens and quantitative light microscopy was used to determine fractional void area. Analysis of variance showed no effect of specimen size on work-of-fracture for aluminum or Plexiglas specimens (p greater than 0.05). A significant difference was found, however, between the large (area = 11.7 +/- 1.9 mm2) and small (area = 3.48 +/- 0.68 mm2) bone specimens and between the medium (area = 5.89 +/- 0.69 mm2) and small (area = 3.48 +/- 0.68 mm2) bone specimens. No correlation was found between work-of-fracture and either calcium content (r2 = 0.128) or fractional void area (r2 = 0.0713). The mean work-of-fracture values found are as follows: aluminum, 59.8 +/- 13.7 kJ m-2; Plexiglas, 0.620 +/- 0.074 kJ m-2; bone (area 5.89 +/- 0.69 mm2-11.7 +/- 1.9 mm2), 9.72 +/- 1.93 kJ m-2 and bone (area 3.48 +/- 0.68 mm2), 5.48 +/- 1.79 kJ m-2.     

Die neue Flamingo-Anlage im NaturZoo Rheine

In spring 2006 NaturZoo Rheine opened a new enclosure for a colony of currently some 88 Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis). The zoo keeps flamingos for 40 years. First successful breeding happened in 1981 and from this time on regularly. So in this way the old enclosure proved to be succesful. However it has lost of appeal and there was also need for technical improvement.The new enclosure incorporates features which give the flamingos a wide variety of behavioural stimulations with such of design which tear the visitors` attention much more than in the past.For the first time a kind of fencing made of 6 m high street-lamp poles with a soft netting tightened in between was used in order to keep also full-flighted flamingos in an open-topped exhibit.The article describes in detail the new enclosure. Comprehensive experiences made over the first year in function - some parts of the enclosure are working even longer - are added.     

Attachment ability of sawfly larvae to smooth surfaces

Larvae of the sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans adhere properly to the anti-adhesive surface of their host plant Iris pseudacorus by using three pairs of thoracic legs, seven pairs of abdominal prolegs, and pygopodia, all provided with various smooth adhesive pads. Their attachment performance to smooth flat hydrophilic and hydrophobic glass and Plexiglas surfaces was studied in centrifugal force experiments. Obtained safety factors on Plexiglas were up to 25 in friction, and 8 in adhesion. Although larvae attached significantly stronger to the hydrophilic glass, they attached well also to the hydrophobic one. Pygopodia are suggested to dominate attachment force generation in the centrifugal force experiment. Transverse body position on the centrifuge drum was significantly advantageous for friction force generation than was longitudinal body position. Results are discussed in the context of the sawfly biology and provide a profound base for further detailed studies on biomechanics of sawfly larvae–plant interactions.     

Shoaling behaviour in a surface-dwelling and a cave-dwelling population of a barb <Emphasis Type="Italic">Garra barreimiae</Emphasis> (Cyprinidae,Teleostei)

We studied shoaling behaviour in a species of fish (Garra barreimiae) from Oman. We compared two populations (a surface-dwelling and a cave-dwelling population) with different theoretical costs and benefits of shoaling. We measured the tendency to associate with a shoal of conspecifics. The stimulus shoal was confined to (1) clear Plexiglas cylinders in light, (2) wire-mesh cylinders in light, or (3) wire-mesh cylinders in darkness. The surface form exhibited a strong preference for the stimulus shoal during the experiments in light, but also in darkness, when only non-visual cues from the shoal could be perceived. The cave form did not show a preference when solely visual cues were available (Plexiglas cylinder). When non-visual cues from the shoal could be perceived (wire-mesh), the cave form did show a preference to associate with the shoal, but the shoaling tendency was considerably weaker than in the surface form. The shoaling tendency has probably been genetically reduced in the cave form.     

退化柞蚕林封育对枯落物和表层土壤持水效能的影响

柞蚕林是辽东山区退化最严重的森林类型之一,因多年反复刈割导致生长逐渐衰退、更新能力下降,局部出现空地甚至土壤开始砂化,涵养水源和保持水土等生态功能明显降低。以辽东山区的退化柞蚕林为研究对象,分析了在封育9、12、21a后森林的枯落物及表层土壤持水效能。结果表明:退化柞蚕林经过封育恢复后,封育恢复时间越长,林地枯落物累积量增加的越显著,枯落物持水能力和有效拦蓄降雨能力提高也越明显。对照(未封育)、封育9、12、21a柞蚕林枯落物储量分别为3.69、7.92、8.41 t/hm~2和8.74 t/hm~2;最大持水量分别为6.23、14.71、15.81 t/hm~2和17.18 t/hm~2,有效拦蓄量分别为4.78、10.87、11.70、12.78 t/hm~2。枯落物持水量与浸水时间存在显著的相关关系(P0.001),自然对数模型模拟拟合效果最好(R~20.9)。退化柞蚕林经过封育恢复后,表层土壤水文物理性质的改善随着封育恢复时间的增加而越来越明显,封育9、12和21年柞蚕林表层土壤容重分别比对照退化柞蚕林降低了5.51%、12.60%、17.32%,毛管持水量分别增加了7.01%、28.98%、54.83%,非毛管持水量分别增加了46.14%、126.19%、187.19%。本研究结果说明退化柞蚕林封育能够通过提高其林地枯落物和改善土壤物理性质,增加表层土壤持水效能,对恢复和改善退化柞蚕林地的生态环境、恢复森林生产力具有重要作用。     

无根萍、酵母菌和红螺菌的水质净化和抑藻作用

从2005年9月到2005年10月,利用莲花湖中的3个49m²,深度为1.5m的围隔进行生物水质净化和除藻研究。1#围隔为对照,2#围隔水体中加入无根萍,3#围隔水体中喷洒酵母菌和光合细菌。与1#围隔比较,2#围隔水面的无根萍的数目在300L×5×10³L^-1,3#围隔的喷洒复合菌数目酵母菌(300L×4×10⁵L^-1)和红螺菌(300 L×8×10⁸L^-1)。本实验结果表明:在30d内,2#和3#围隔中的TP分别下降40%、25%;TN分别下降43%、16%;叶绿素含量分别下降51%、31%。透明度增加了87cm、55cm;pH值降低了1.09、0.69。本研究表明无根萍与酵母菌和红螺菌对水体理化性质有明显的改善,对藻类生长有明显的抑制作用。     

Die neue Gibbon-Anlage im NaturZoo Rheine

A new enclosure for White-handed Gibbons was opened at NaturZoo Rheine, Germany, on 6. May 2007. The exhibit design follows the island enclosure type. The enclosure is remarkable by its size of 1.200 m². The room above this surface is richly structured by poles, stems and ropes up to 8 m high. Additionally there is a lush vegetation of bamboo, bushes, vines and also some living trees. The islands are connected to a house with two indoor-rooms and an off-exhibit outdoor cage. The whole enclosure and the surrounding landscape fit in very well in the natural layout of the zoo-landscape.Some observations on use of the enclosure by the gibbons as well as maintenance experiences are given. Also the responses of the visitors to the new exhibit are commented.A summary on the maintenance of gibbons in zoos in general and in NaturZoo Rheine is added.     

A head enclosure for exposing monkeys to selected gas mixtures.

An acrylic head enclosure, permitting rapid exchanges of atmospheric gases, was developed for investigations of physiologic and performance responses of small nonhuman primates to graded hypoxic hypoxia and hypercapnia. The total system included a neck yoke plate which served both as a physical barrier to arm and hand movements in the head area and as a base on which to rest the head enclosure. The transparent, airtight, head enclosure permitted rapid exchanges of controlled gas mixtures and the execution of performance tasks in an apparently comfortable experimental environment.     

Rearing of Germfree and Monocontaminated Chicks in Rigid Plastic Isolators

A Plexiglas isolator for rearing germfree vertebrates is described. Plastic components were precut and finished by a Plexiglas supplier. This equipment is relatively inexpensive; moreover, neither special facilities nor skills are required in their construction. Advantages of this type of isolator are: readily dismantled for cleaning, durable, excellent visibility of the interior, and minimal maintenance. In 30 separate groups of animals, 27 of these yielded germfree chicks. Many of these chicks were reared germfree for 4 weeks; and several were maintained for about 2 months, without microbial contamination. Pure cultures of Candida albicans, Streptococcus faecalis, and Clostridium perfringens were established as monocontaminations in the intestinal tracts of chickens. In contrast, Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 9220 failed to grow in the gut of chicks, following peroral administration of this organism. All chicks described were employed on other experiments, and were killed for various assays at times specified.