Comparison of measured and EF5-r-derived N2O fluxes from a spring-fed river

There is considerable uncertainty in the estimates of indirect N₂O emissions as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) methodology. Direct measurements of N₂O yields and fluxes in aquatic river environments are sparse and more data are required to determine the role that rivers play in the global N₂O budget. The objectives of this research were to measure the N₂O fluxes from a spring‐fed river, relate these fluxes to the dissolved N₂O concentrations and NO₃‐N loading of the river, and to try to define the indirect emission factor (EF5‐r) for the river. Gas bubble ebullition was observed at the river source with bubbles containing 7.9 μL N₂O L^?1. River NO₃‐N and dissolved N₂O concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 5.3 mg L^?1 and 0.4 to 1.9 μg N₂O‐N L^?1, respectively, with N₂O saturation reaching 404%. Floating headspace chambers were used to sample N₂O fluxes. N₂O‐N fluxes were significantly related to dissolved N₂O‐N concentrations (r²=0.31) but not to NO₃‐N concentrations. The N₂O‐N fluxes ranged from 38 to 501 μg m^?2 h^?1, averaging 171 μg m^?2 h^?1 (±SD 85) overall. The measured N₂O‐N fluxes equated to an EF5‐r of only 6.6% of that calculated using the IPCC methodology, and this itself was considered to be an overestimate because of the degassing of antecedent dissolved N₂O present in the groundwater that fed the river.     

Characterization of amplified esterase Estβ12 associated with organophosphate resistance in a multi-resistant population of the mosquitoCulex quinquefasciatus from Cuba

Esterase amplification is the major organophosphorus (OP) insecticide resistance mechanism in Culex mosquitoes. The amplified Estα2 ^1\ Estβ2 ¹ esterases are found in > 90% of resistant populations worldwide, whereas amplified DNAs (amplicons) containing Estβ1s are much rarer. Individuals with the Estβ1 amplicons appear to be at a selective disadvantage in competition with those carrying the Estα2 ¹\ Estβ2 ¹ amplicons. To test the hypothesis that this is because Estβ1 is less able to bind insecticide than the common amplified esterases, Estβ1² was purified from the multi-resistant Habana strain of Culex quinquefasciatus , from Cuba. In its native form Estβ1 is a monomeric enzyme of 66 kDa, with a pI of 4.8. The bimolecular rate constants for interaction of Estβ1² with several OP insecticides were similar to those for the commonly elevated esterases Estα2¹ and Estβ2¹, and much higher than for the electrophoretically identical non-elevated Estβ1³ and Estα3. Hence the apparent selective advantage of the Estα2 ¹\ Estβ2 ¹ amplicon is not due to its greater efficiency of insecticide binding, as OP insecticides are significantly better inhibitors of all the amplified esterases than of their non-amplified counterparts and therefore should be equally effective at conferring resistance.     

A Comparison of Two Modeling Approaches for Evaluating Wildlife-Habitat Relationships

ABSTRACT Studies of resource selection form the basis for much of our understanding of wildlife habitat requirements, and resource selection functions (RSFs), which predict relative probability of use, have been proposed as a unifying concept for analysis and interpretation of wildlife habitat data. Logistic regression that contrasts used and available or unused resource units is one of the most common analyses for developing RSFs. Recently, resource utilization functions (RUFs) have been developed, which also predict probability of use. Unlike RSFs, however, RUFs are based on a continuous metric of space use summarized by a utilization distribution. Although both RSFs and RUFs predict space use, a direct comparison of these 2 modeling approaches is lacking. We compared performance of RSFs and RUFs by applying both approaches to location data for 75 Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) and 39 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) collected at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon, USA. We evaluated differences in maps of predicted probability of use, relative ranking of habitat variables, and predictive power between the 2 models. For elk, 3 habitat variables were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the RSF, whereas 7 variables were significant in the RUF. Maps of predicted probability of use differed substantially between the 2 models for elk, as did the relative ranking of habitat variables. For mule deer, 4 variables were significant in the RSF, whereas 6 were significant in the RUF, and maps of predicted probability of use were similar between models. In addition, distance to water was the top-ranked variable in both models for mule deer. Although space use by both species was predicted most accurately by the RSF based on cross-validation, differences in predictive power between models were more substantial for elk than mule deer. To maximize accuracy and utility of predictive wildlife-habitat models, managers must be aware of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different modeling techniques. We conclude that although RUFs represent a substantial advance in resource selection theory, techniques available for generating RUFs remain underdeveloped and, as a result, RUFs sometimes predict less accurately than models derived using more conventional techniques.     

Further studies on the evolution of land and freshwater nemerteans: generic relationships among the paramonostiliferous taxa

The costs and benefits of fighting in bovids are high in terms of injury and reproductive success, respectively. The breakage of a horn would curtail reproductive success permanently. Therefore, the horns of bovids should include sufficient material so that they are strong enough to be unlikely to break in fighting but without being too heavy to carry around. The forces developed during fighting were measured in a computerized analysis of film of blackbuck and bighorn sheep. All possible modes of failure were investigated using a mechanical analysis to see how the horns are most likely to fail.
The maximum possible force developed during fighting is 3400 N for the bighorn sheep and 456 N for the blackbuck. Bending stress, shear stress, deflection, strain energy and critical crack lengths were calculated for the horns of these two bovids. Horns are most likely to fail in bending as indicated by safety factors. Most of the force is taken in compression due to the curvature of horns. Shear stresses are insignificant and deflections are negligible during the most forceful encounters.
The safety factor in bending of the horn of the bighorn sheep is greater (10) than that of the horn of the blackbuck (3.4) because the forces are probably more variable and unpredictable in the fighting of the former.
All of the energy of fighting is absorbed by the body musculature because horns store less than 1% of the energy produced in fighting as strain energy when they bend. Cracks and scratches mustbe more than 60% of the transverse basal dimensions of horns in order for there to be catastrophic failure at the maximum stresses developed during fighting.
The horns of the blackbuck and the bighorn sheep appear to be minimum weight structures given the variability of the forces acting on them and are unlikely to break in fighting given the forces calculated from the analyses of films.     

Observations on the control of potato cyst-nematodes, Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida in 35 English potato soils in pots by oxamyl and resistant potatoes

The increase of 35 English field populations of potato cyst-nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis and/or G. pallida) was measured on Désirée, Maris Piper, Caxton (A25/11), Cromwell (A27/20) and clone 11233 ab 22 in pots of sandy, silty or peaty loam soil. Désirée was susceptible to all populations tested and, as in field soils, the final population (Pf) was inversely related to the initial population of potato cyst-nematode eggs (Pi) in the soil. Maris Piper and Cromwell were resistant to all G. rostochiensis populations, with one possible exception. Maris Piper was susceptible to all G. pallida populations. Caxton was susceptible to some and fairly resistant to other populations of G. rostochiensis, indicating the existence either of two biotypes within the one pathotype (Rol) as yet encountered in Britain, or the existence of an additional pathotype. Caxton and Cromwell were fairly resistant to G. pallida. Clone 11233 ab 22 was only moderately resistant to both species. Resistance to potato cyst-nematode increase varied considerably, especially in Caxton (to G. rostochiensis) and in 11233 ab 22 (to both species). Oxamyl greatly reduced the increase of G. rostochiensis populations on Désirée potatoes, with the notable exception of one population but it generally had much less effect on G. pallida populations, regardless of soil type. The difference in effect on the two species may be due to a longer period of hatching in G. pallida than in G. rostochiensis and also perhaps to a second generation in G. pallida.     

Effects of potato genotype, oxamyl and the numbers of potato cyst-nematodes, Globodera rostochiensis or G. pallida on tuber yields and nematode increase

A new technique is described for establishing different numbers of the potato cyst-nematode Globodera rostochiensis in field soil, which leaves the soil homogeneous in nutrient status. Field plots established in this way were used to compare yield losses in four potato cultivars (Maris Piper, Pentland Crown, Pentland Dell and Désirée) associated with different numbers of G. rostochiensis. Over the range of 7.4 to 148.4 eggs g^-1 soil at planting, yield losses were 18.7% (Maris Piper), 53.2% (Désirée), 55.7% (Pentland Crown) and 63.5% (Pentland Dell). Similar results were obtained in another experiment on the same field in a different year using only lightly and heavily infested plots. Treating the seedbed soil with oxamyl before planting prevented significant injury to potatoes by G. rostochiensis but increased the yield of Pentland Dell and perhaps Désirée (but not Maris Piper or Pentland Crown) more than expected from nematode control alone. Treating heavily infested soil with such a nematicide cannot therefore be recommended as part of a valid procedure for establishing lightly and heavily infested plots for comparing tolerances of attack by potato cyst-nematodes in a range of potato genotypes. In peaty loam soils moderately or heavily infested with G. pallida, oxamyl at 5.6 kg a.i. ha^-1 incorporated into the seedbed before potatoes were planted generally increased tuber yields, though the effects varied considerably with the cultivar grown. Increase of G. pallida in these soils was controlled better by growing potatoes bred for resistance to it (ZB 35 – 29, Caxton, Santé, Morag, 11233 ab 22, Fingal, A27/23, Cromwell). Increase of G. pallida on susceptible cultivars varied greatly and Romano increased G. pallida no more than the resistant Morag. G. pallida is probably controlled best in peaty loam by growing a resistant cultivar in soil treated with a granular (non-fumigant) nematicide.     

Control of potato cyst-nematode, Heterodera rostochiensis, in sandy, peaty and silt loam soils by dazomet and Telone applied in different ways

Dazomet applied in the ridges in autumn or in spring, before potatoes were planted in them, controlled potato cyst-nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis), British pathotype A, better in sandy loam and peaty loam than Telone (1,3-dichloropropene mixture). In sandy loam dazomet controlled potato cyst-nematode as well when applied in spring as when applied in autumn and as well when the soil was ridged after treatment as when it was not. Telone was as effective when applied to ridges in autumn as when applied to ridges in spring. In peaty loam potato cyst-nematodes were least abundant after a crop of Maris Piper potatoes. The yields of King Edward potatoes were greatly increased and nematode multiplication was greatly reduced by dazomet incorporated in the ridges in autumn. Two equal doses of dazomet, one incorporated in the topsoil before, the other after ploughing, controlled potato cyst-nematode as well and increased the yield of King Edward potatoes more than an equivalent amount of dazomet applied after ploughing. Dazomet applied to silt loam soil in two dressings, one before, the other after, ploughing, controlled potato cyst-nematode better than an equal amount applied as a single dressing after ploughing. The nematode was controlled best by two large dressings of dazomet or by a combined treatment of dazomet and Telone.     

Resistance to halo-blight in the Cambridge accessions V4604 and V4058 of Phaseolus beans

V4604, a Cambridge University accession of Phaseolus vulgaris, had a high degree of leaf resistance to race 1 of Pseudomonas phaseolicola and partial resistance to race 2. Genetic control of resistance to race 1 was by a major dominant gene which is also present in the cv. Red Mexican. The partial resistance of V4604 to race 2 was under polygenic control, as was the low level resistance to race 2 in V4058.     

The Effect of Sugars and Polyols on the Heat Resistance and Morphology of Osmophilic Yeasts

Heat resistance at 65· of Saccharomyces rouxii and Schizosaccharomyces pombe was enhanced in solutions of sugars and polyols, containing 0·1 M-phosphate buffer, pH 6·5, at a water activity of 0·95. Resistance was maximum in solutions of sucrose, less in sorbitol and least in solutions of glucose, fructose and glycerol. Examination of the yeast cells by phase contrast microscopy showed shrinkage of cells in all solutions. Electron microscopy of freeze-etched preparations of Sacch. rouxii indicated plasmolysis of cells in sucrose and sorbitol solutions only.