Seasonal reproduction of male Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish) from two Florida lakes     

Thea M. Edwards  Hilary D. Miller  Gunnar Toft  Louis J. Guillette Jr. 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2013,39(5):1165-1180

Sixteen monthly collections of adult male Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish) were obtained from two lakes in central Florida, USA. Lake Woodruff and Lake Apopka are 36 miles apart, but differ in several environmental parameters. Compared with Lake Woodruff, Lake Apopka is warmer, more shallow in sampling areas (particularly during drought conditions; approximately 15–90 cm in Lake Apopka versus 60–120 cm in Lake Woodruff), more turbid, and more heavily contaminated with nutrients and industrial and agricultural chemicals. Here, we present detailed information on seasonal reproduction patterns in mosquitofish in their native range and compare patterns between fish from the two lakes. Male mosquitofish were reproductively active from spring through fall. Spermatogenesis, which is regulated in part by 11-ketotestosterone, ceased in October, and fish stored spermatozoa through the winter for immediate fertilization of offspring in the spring. Compared with Lake Woodruff, fish from Lake Apopka tended to be larger and have longer gonopodia and greater gonado- and hepato-somatic indices (GSI and HSI). High GSI in Apopka fish correlated with greater spermatid production, but fewer mature spermatozoa and either the same or lower sperm counts and sperm viability. Taken together, these observations suggest that differentiation of spermatids to spermatozoa is disrupted in Apopka fish, leading to reductions in fertility in some months. Delivery of sperm to females could also be affected in Apopka fish, which exhibit lower prevalence of efferent duct tissue in the testes during the summer.  相似文献   

The survival of discarded Sepia officinalis in the English Channel          下载免费PDF全文

A. Revill  I. S. M. Bloor  E. L. Jackson 《Fisheries Management and Ecology》2015,22(2):164-171

Cuttlefish are currently the highest yielding cephalopod group harvested in the north‐east Atlantic. English Channel cuttlefish show seasonal migrations to and from deep offshore wintering grounds, which results in a large number of smaller cuttlefish within the offshore stocks, some of which are caught by trawlers. Discarding small cuttlefish from trawls may give them the opportunity to migrate inshore and spawn, but only if they survive. This study examined survival rates of small (<15‐cm dorsal mantle length) cuttlefish caught on board a commercial beam trawler. Overall, 31% of the small cuttlefish caught remained alive by the time they reached the sorting table (immediate survival rate). This survival rate dropped to 16% after specimens were subsequently held in an on‐board aquarium system for up to 72 h (short‐term survival rate). Measures that reduce the capture of small cuttlefish in the first place and/or increase their survival could potentially benefit the stocks.  相似文献   

Oleaster (var. sylvestris) and subsp. cuspidata are suitable genetic resources for improvement of the olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea)     

Hédia Hannachi  Hilary Sommerlatte  Catherine Breton  Monji Msallem  Mohamed El Gazzah  Salem Ben El Hadj  André Bervillé 《Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution》2009,56(3):393-403

The olive belongs to Olea, a complex genus and to a species with six subspecies. Subsp. europaea includes both the cultivated olive and the oleaster, the wild ancestor of the olive. Little is known on the phenotype of fruits from subsp. cuspidata. We aimed to compare europaea and cuspidata trees for oil content and composition and to verify whether natural hybrids may exist between the two subspecies. Specimens were from Kenya and putative natural hybrids between cuspidata and europaea were from Stellenbosch (South Africa). Cultivar and oleaster trees were sampled in France (continental and Corsica), Italy (Continental and Sardinia) and Tunisia. We have examined the fruit (drupe) structure between subsp. cuspidata and europaea and extracted oil from the pulp, seed and total drupe. Comparison for oil content was made between the cultivated olive and the oleaster and some cuspidata trees from Kenya. A few of cuspidata individuals from Botanical gardens do not enable phenotyping for oil content and composition. Oil composition analyses were performed for the main fatty acids to compare the three taxa. We used microsatellite markers at 11 loci to compute genetic distances between cuspidata, oleaster and cultivar trees and to reveal eventual hybrids. The SSR polymorphisms were huge between the two subspecies and they revealed that putative hybrids were true hybrids sampled around olive orchards. The whole comparison of oil content shows that olive cultivars display higher oil content than the subsp. cuspidata and that the oleaster trees are intermediate, whereas for oil composition of the drupe, cuspidata from Kenya shows less oleic acid than europaea. However, the cuspidata trees show seed oil composition similarities with the other two taxa. The discussion deals with possible reasons to explain the differences and of the possible uses of these taxa for breeding both the olive and brown olive. H. Hannachi and H. Sommerlatte have equal contribution in the article.  相似文献   

Towards bioremediation of toxic unresolved complex mixtures of hydrocarbons: identification of bacteria capable of rapid degradation of alkyltetralins     

Max Frenzel  Philip James  Sara K. Burton  Steven J. Rowland  Hilary M. Lappin-Scott 《Journal of Soils and Sediments》2009,9(2):129-136

Background, aim and scope  Unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of aromatic hydrocarbons are widespread, but often overlooked, environmental contaminants. Since UCMs are generally rather resistant to bacterial degradation, bioremediation of UCM-contaminated sites by bacteria is a challenging goal. Branched chain alkyltetralins are amongst the individual classes of components of aromatic UCMs which have been identified in hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments and a number of synthetic alkyltetralins have proved toxic in laboratory studies. Thus, alkyltetralins should perhaps be amongst the targets for UCM bioremediation strategies. The slow degradation of several alkyltetralins by a microbial consortium has been reported previously; however, the bacteria involved remain unidentified and no single strain capable of alkyltetralin biodegradation has been isolated. The present project therefore aimed to enrich and identify bacterial consortia and single strains of bacteria from a naturally hydrocarbon-contaminated site (Whitley Bay, UK), which were capable of the degradation of two synthetic alkyltetralins (6-cyclohexyltetralin (CHT) and 1-(3’-methylbutyl)-7-cyclohexyltetralin (MBCHT)). Materials and methods  Bacteria were enriched from sediment collected from Whitley Bay, UK by culturing with CHT and MBCHT for a period of 4 months. Biodegradation experiments were then established and degradation of model compounds monitored by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Internal standards allowed the generation of quantitative data. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed from individual enrichments to allow assessment of microbial community structure. Selective media containing MBCHT were used to isolate single bacterial strains. These strains were then tested in liquid culture for their ability to degrade MBCHT. Results  The consortia obtained through enrichment culture were able to degrade 87% of CHT and 76% of MBCHT after only 46 days compared with abiotic controls. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries of these bacteria were dominated by sequences of Rhodococcus spp. Using selective media, a strain of Rhodococcus was then isolated that was also able to biodegrade 63% of MBCHT in only 21 days. Discussion  The present report describes the isolation of a single bacterial strain able to degrade the resistant MBCHT. Although significant losses of MBCHT were observed, putative metabolites were not detectable. Rhodococcus sp. have been reported previously to be able to biodegrade a range of hydrocarbon compounds. Recommendations and perspectives  Due to their environmental persistence and toxicity, aromatic UCMs require bioremediation. The culturing and identification of such bacteria capable of rapid degradation of alkyltetralins may be an important step toward the development of bioremediation strategies for sites contaminated with toxic UCMs.  相似文献   

Assessment of the reliability of a technique to measure postural sway in horses     

Clayton HM  Bialski DE  Lanovaz JL  Mullineaux DR 《American journal of veterinary research》2003,64(11):1354-1359

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of the center-of-pressure (COP) values obtained from a force platform for analysis of postural sway in horses. ANIMALS: Six 2-year-old horses that were free from lameness and neurologic disease. PROCEDURE: Horses stood stationary with all 4 hooves on a force platform; COP data were collected at 1,000 Hz and 3-dimensional kinematics collected at 60 Hz for 10 seconds. Five trials were recorded at each of 3 time periods (15-minute intervals) or at 1 time period on 3 separate days. Mean values for each set of 5 trials and actual, normalized, and relative COP variables were calculated. The reliability was quantified by use of agreement boundary. RESULTS: The COP results within and across days were similar and provided small agreement boundary limits (eg, across days, in order of least relative reliability: area, +/- 62 mm2; mediolateral range, +/- 8 mm; radius, +/- 2 mm; craniocaudal range, +/- 4 mm; and velocity, +/- 3 mm/s). Head height possessed the greatest relative intraday reliability (12%) but a high agreement boundary limit (+/- 0.15 m). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE; The use of a force platform to analyze postural sway in a group of young healthy horses was found to produce reliable results and may provide a simple and sensitive measure for assessing balance deficiencies in horses. Agreement boundaries provide 95% confidence intervals for use as limits of error and variability in measurements that, if exceeded, may signify meaningful effects.  相似文献   

Cyclosporine decreases skin lesions and pruritus in dogs with atopic dermatitis: a blinded randomized prednisolone-controlled trial     

Olivry T  Rivierre C  Jackson HA  Murphy KM  Davidson G  Sousa CA 《Veterinary dermatology》2002,13(2):77-87

During the last decade, oral cyclosporin (CsA) has proven to be effective, in randomized controlled trials, for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in human patients. The purpose of this blinded randomized controlled trial was to test the hypothesis that CsA was successful in reducing the gravity of clinical signs of AD in dogs. Thirty dogs with nonseasonal AD were randomly allocated to receive an oral solution of either NEORAL CsA (5 mg kg-1) or prednisolone (0.5 mg kg-1) once daily for 6 weeks. Before, and 3 and 6 weeks after therapy, skin lesions were graded by clinicians using the Canine AD Extent and Severity Index (CADESI). Pruritus was assessed by the owners using a visual analog scale (PVAS). In both groups, CADESI and PVAS values were significantly lower at 6 weeks post treatment than before the initiation of therapy (Friedman test, P < 0.0004). The percentage reductions in CADESI and PVAS values from baseline were not statistically different between groups (Mann-Whitney test, P > 0.3). In this experiment, the tolerability and safety of oral CsA and prednisolone appeared similar. One-fifth of dogs given oral CsA occasionally developed diarrhoea or soft stools. One dog that was given CsA developed a generalized papillomatous skin eruption during the second half of the trial. Our study provides randomized controlled trial evidence that CsA reduces the severity of clinical signs in dogs with nonseasonal AD. Moreover, the anti-allergic efficacy of CsA appears comparable with that of prednisolone. We propose that oral CsA should be considered as a valuable alternative to glucocorticoid therapy in dogs with AD.  相似文献   

Passive surveillance for ticks on horses in Saskatchewan     

Gili Schvartz  Tasha Epp  Hilary J. Burgess  Neil B. Chilton  James S. Armstrong  Katharina L. Lohmann 《The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue veterinaire canadienne》2015,56(5):486-489

Passive surveillance of ticks on horses in Saskatchewan revealed that the horses were parasitized by 3 species, Dermacentor albipictus, D. andersoni, and D. variabilis. The nymphs and adults of D. albipictus occurred on horses earlier in the year than did adults of the 2 other species.  相似文献   

Constructing indices to detect temporal trends in discarding     

T.L. Catchpole  R. Enever  D.L. Maxwell  M.J. Armstrong  A. Reese  A.S. Revill 《Fisheries Research》2011,107(1-3):94-99

Discards refer to the part of the catch not retained on board during commercial fishing operations, and returned to the sea. With numerous legislation, policies, and resolutions in place that seek to minimize or eliminate discards, performance indicators are required to measure progress towards this objective. Indices of discards were developed for the purpose of illustrating changes in overall discard patterns over time. A discard quantity index provides annual changes in total discard quantity, a discard rate index and discard proportion indices demonstrate how discarding behaviour during fishing operations changes with time. Knowledge of the consistency in the reporting of fishing effort and landings as well as in the sampling programme is important in identifying genuine trends. The indices examined show their potential as useful tools as indicators of changing discard patterns and were most powerful when used in combination. By utilizing data from the observer programme for England and Wales, a reduction of 61% between 2002 and 2008 in the weight of discards could be demonstrated. In this case study, the reduction in discard weight could be attributed to reducing levels of fishing effort and diminishing catch weights.  相似文献   

Species-specific PCR assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei     

Hilary J. Burgess  Betty P. Lockerbie  Lisanework E. Ayalew  Antonia Dibernardo  Kristýna Hrazdilov  David Modry  Trent K. Bollinger 《Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation》2021,33(6):1188

We developed a PCR assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei based on the 18S rRNA gene. Multiple specimens of B. odocoilei were examined, and the assay consistently produced a small specific PCR product of 306 bp. The PCR assay was also challenged with DNA from 13 other Babesia species and 2 Theileria species, originating from 10 different host species; however, nonspecific DNA amplification and multiple banding patterns were observed, and the amplicon banding patterns varied between different isolates of the same species. Sensitivity was determined to be 6.4 pg of DNA, and an estimated 0.0001% parasitism. This assay can be utilized for species-specific differential detection of B. odocoilei.  相似文献   

Identifying landscape predictors of ocelot road mortality     

Schmidt  Greta M.  Lewison  Rebecca L.  Swarts  Hilary M. 《Landscape Ecology》2020,35(7):1651-1666

Landscape Ecology - For depleted wildlife populations, understanding and effectively mitigating the direct and indirect impacts of roads can be a key component of recovery efforts. The ocelot is a...  相似文献