The eradication of muskrats and coypus from Britain

Introduced vertebrates can cause massive environmental damage but most attempts to remove feral populations have failed. This paper discusses the eradication campaigns against feral muskrats, Ondatra Zibethicus and coypus, Myocastor coypus in Britain. Both specks were introduced in the 1920s to be farmed for pelts and feral populations became established following escapes. The risk of environmental damage by muskrats was well known from Europe and;in eradication campaign started promptly in 1932 making use of overseas expertise and a control strategy designed by pest control specialists. The campaign was brought to a successful conclusion in 1939 when at least 4388 muskrats had been killed.
In the 1930s, few believed that coypus would cause significant environment damage and early trapping efforts were inadequate. An early campaign achieved only limited success partly because of the lack of biological information. The eradication campaign which started in 1981, was based on a long tem study of population ecology. The effect of trapping and cold weather was quantified and detailed population simulations were used to plan the numbers of trappers, the time needed for eradication arid thus the likely cost of the campaign. An incentive bonus scheme was designed to overcome the problem that trappers would be reluctant to work themselves out of a job. Trapper deployment was planned using capture/trapping effort ratios and progress was checked by Ministry of Agriculture field staff.
The muskrat campaigns succeeded because technical information to help plan the work was available and because action was taken quickly. Where an introduced population is well established, as with coypus in Britain, a closely integrated programme involving applied population ecology and a well-planned control organization may he essential for succesful removal.     

Effects of environment on grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pup mortality. Studies on the Isle of May

Breeding sites, including beach environment and topography, play a significant role in the causes of death of grey seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) pups, in particular the incidence of starvation, peritonitis/navel ill, other infectious diseases and injuries as a result of adult-pup interactions. The bacteria involved are opportunistic invaders. A wide and differing sex ratio in dead pups was found on different beaches and this has not been satisfactorily explained.     

Transitional cell carcinoma of the ovary: A rare case and review of literature

Goblet cell carcinoid of the large intestine is a rare neoplasm, usually located in ascending colon and rectum. A 60-year-old male patient underwent surgery after the diagnosis of acute abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed perforation with a diameter of 1 cm at the site of the previously performed gastroenterostomy and dilatation of the right colic flexure, secondary to a solid obstructive mass located in the mid-portion of transverse colon. Histopathological investigation of the biopsies, taken from the gastroenterostomy site and the tumor, revealed mixed carcinoid-adenocarcinoma with carcinoid component, predominantly composed of goblet cells. Three cycles of FOLFOX-4 protocol was administered. Following respiratory distress secondary to pulmonary metastasis, the patient's condition deteriorated and subsequently died in the fourth postoperative month. Our aim with this paper is to point out that more cases should be reported for more effective diagnosis, histopathological study, clinical investigation, treatment and prognosis of this specific neoplasm.     

Microhabitat selection by larval Chironomus tentans (Diptera: Chironomidae): effects of predators, food, cover and light

1. As part of a study designed to estimate the developmental costs of antipredator behaviour of larval chironomids, we used laboratory experiments to study effects of food and factors that could influence predation risk [presence of fish, cover from fish (simulated debris) and light level], on microhabitat selection by Chironomus tentans larvae in the third and fourth instar. 2. Larvae were more likely to build tubes where there was more food although their ability to move far to find food appeared limited. 3. Larvae did not avoid areas with fish and the presence of fish did not alter larval response to food. 4. Larvae avoided areas of cover (simulated debris) but cover did not alter larval response to food. 5. When provided with a choice between light and dark areas, larvae initially without tubes were found more often in the dark areas. Light level had no effect on location of larvae that had begun the experiment with tubes. 6. Results suggest the tubicolous life-style of larval Chironomus tentans limits their ability to select microhabitats that could alter their risk of predation.     

Polygalacturonase inhibiting protein in plant cell walls

Polygalacturonase inhibiting protein (PGIP) is localized in plant cell walls and plays an important role both in pectic substance metabolism and in prevention of the penetration of phytopathogenic microorganisms. Apparently, PGIP is responsible for the specificity of cell--cell interactions during pollination or inoculation by fungi nonpathogenic for the particular plant. PGIPs from different plants share a basic common structure. They are rather thermostable glycoproteins enriched with leucine and contain about 20% carbohydrates; the molecular weight varies between 37-54 kD. The synthesis of PGIP is encoded by one gene, and its expression is stimulated by injury and fungal infection. The resistance of plant tissues to infection frequently correlates with PGIP expression and with inhibiting action on fungal PG. Thus, PGIP is believed to be useful for gene engineering to obtain transgenic plants resistant to fungal infection or retaining commercial value during storage.