Risks of a late start to captive management for conservation: Phenotypic differences between wild and captive individuals of a viviparous endangered skink (Oligosoma otagense)     

Joanne D. Connolly  Alison Cree 《Biological conservation》2008,141(5):1283-1292

Maintenance of demographically and genetically self-sustaining populations in captivity can assist conservation of threatened species. Captivity can, however, lead to changes in phenotype, though to date this issue has received little attention in reptiles. We compared phenotypic differences in the now critically-endangered Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense) between wild specimens (Otago, southern New Zealand) and in captivity (North Island). Individuals of this long-lived, viviparous species have been maintained up to three generations in captivity, primarily by private herpetoculturists, but increasingly there is interest in integrating management of captive stocks with conservation in situ. For the same snout-vent length, captive skinks pooled across three colonies had a significantly heavier body mass, wider tail base, longer tail (juveniles only), faster growth rate and much slower sprint speed than in the wild. Captive skinks also lacked ectoparasitic mites and haemogregarine parasites, and experienced warmer temperatures with probably greater access to food. Our study demonstrates the importance of not treating captive management for conservation as a tool of last resort. Important questions, if captive-raised animals are to be released to the wild, are is it better for released skinks to run swiftly or to be heavy-bodied, and what role does reinfestation with native parasites have in determining this balance? We also recommend genetic analysis and studbook management of captive stocks, research to determine implications of heavy body mass for reproduction in captivity, and production of at least some offspring for release inside larger enclosures within the local climate.  相似文献   

Evaluating the efficiency of sampling methods in assessing soil macrofauna communities in arable systems   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Joanne Smith  Simon Potts  Paul Eggleton 《European Journal of Soil Biology》2008,44(3):271-276

The soil fauna is often a neglected group in many large-scale studies of farmland biodiversity due to difficulties in extracting organisms efficiently from the soil. This study assesses the relative efficiency of the simple and cheap sampling method of handsorting against Berlese–Tullgren funnel and Winkler apparatus extraction. Soil cores were taken from grassy arable field margins and wheat fields in Cambridgeshire, UK, and the efficiencies of the three methods in assessing the abundances and species densities of soil macroinvertebrates were compared. Handsorting in most cases was as efficient at extracting the majority of the soil macrofauna as the Berlese–Tullgren funnel and Winkler bag methods, although it underestimated the species densities of the woodlice and adult beetles. There were no obvious biases among the three methods for the particular vegetation types sampled and no significant differences in the size distributions of the earthworms and beetles. Proportionally fewer damaged earthworms were recorded in larger (25 × 25 cm) soil cores when compared with smaller ones (15 × 15 cm). Handsorting has many benefits, including targeted extraction, minimum disturbance to the habitat and shorter sampling periods and may be the most appropriate method for studies of farmland biodiversity when a high number of soil cores need to be sampled.  相似文献   

A novel herpesvirus associated with chronic superficial keratitis and proliferative conjunctivitis in a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)     

Molly D. Gleeson  Bret A. Moore  Sydney G. Edwards  Sarah Stevens  April L. Childress  James F.X. Wellehan  Jessica Robertson  Christopher J. Murphy  Michelle G. Hawkins  Joanne Paul‐Murphy 《Veterinary ophthalmology》2019,22(1):67-75

An adult great‐horned owl (Bubo virginianus; GHOW) presented with a history of recurrent corneal ulceration of the right eye (OD). Findings included ulcerative superficial keratitis, proliferative conjunctivitis, and iris pigmentary changes. The ulcer was initially nonresponsive to medical therapy, but showed rapid and appropriate healing following diamond burr debridement. Proliferative conjunctivitis markedly improved following topical antiviral therapy with cidofovir 1%, interferon alpha 2B ophthalmic solutions, and oral l ‐lysine. Histopathologic evaluation of a conjunctival biopsy revealed epithelial features suspicious for viral cytopathic changes and intranuclear structures suspicious for viral inclusions, suggestive of a possible viral‐induced papillomatous conjunctivitis. A novel alphaherpesvirus, referred to as Strigid Herpesvirus 1 (StrHV1), was identified using PCR and gene sequencing. This case represents a new clinical manifestation of a previously unreported herpesvirus in the GHOW. Identification of the herpes virus was critical to administration of appropriate therapy and resolution of the conjunctivitis, and corneal epithelial debridement promoted resolution of the chronic corneal epithelial defect.  相似文献   

Scrotal circumference,bodyweight and semen characteristics in growing dairy-breed natural-service bulls in Tasmania,Australia     

RK Waite  CJ Dwyer  DS Beggs  PD Mansell  MA Stevenson  MF Pyman 《New Zealand veterinary journal》2019,67(3):109-116

Aims: To provide herd managers with a set of decision rules allowing them to predict the likelihood that a juvenile bull is ready for Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE), or breeding, if bodyweight and scrotal circumference are known.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study following two groups of young pasture-fed Holstein and Jersey bulls from northwest Tasmania, Australia. Individual scrotal circumference, bodyweight and semen characteristics were recorded at 6–8 weekly intervals, from 6–18 months of age. Classification and regression tree analyses were used to predict the probability that a bull had ≥70% normal sperm morphology based on scrotal circumference and bodyweight measurements.

Results: Overall 1,661 scrotal circumference and bodyweight measurements were obtained, and 518 semen samples from 356 bulls were assessed for sperm morphology, from 16 examination sessions that took place between 29 May 2015 and 17 August 2016. Classification and regression tree analyses generated a decision tree for Holstein bulls with four node endpoints, and for Jersey bulls with three node endpoints. Diagnostic test performance showed that for Holstein bulls, using the node endpoints of scrotal circumference ≥27?cm and bodyweight ≥349?kg, 98% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 10.4; 95% CI?=?2.7–41), and using the node endpoints of scrotal circumference ≥27?cm and bodyweight between 282–349?kg, 89% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 1.6; 95% CI?=?0.9–2.6). For Jersey bulls, using the node endpoints of bodyweight ≥259?kg and scrotal circumference ≥29?cm, 88% had ≥70% normal sperm (positive likelihood ratio 3.4; 95% CI?=?1.6–7.0).

Conclusions: This study provides a set of relatively simple decision rules based on bodyweight and scrotal circumference measurements that allows herd managers to assess the likelihood that juvenile bulls are ready for BBSE or breeding.

Abbreviations: BBSE: Bull breeding soundness evaluation; BRT: Boosted regression tree  相似文献   

Bilateral caudal maxillectomy for resection of tumors crossing palatal midline and use of the angularis oris axial pattern flap for primary closure or dehiscence repair in two dogs     

Joanne L. Tuohy  Deanna R. Worley  Brandan G. Wustefeld‐Janssens  Megan A. Mickelson  Nicole P. Ehrhart  Bernard Seguin 《Veterinary surgery : VS》2019,48(8):1490-1499

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Seroepidemiology and genotyping of hepatitis E virus in Singapore reveal rise in number of cases and similarity of human strains to those detected in pig livers     

Chui Ching Wong  Su Ming Thean  Youming Ng  Joanne Su Lin Kang  Tong Yong Ng  Man Ling Chau  Tse Hsien Koh  Kwai Peng Chan 《Zoonoses and public health》2019,66(7):773-782

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes 20 million infections worldwide yearly, of which only about 3.3 million are symptomatic. In developed Asian countries, HEV strains detected in human sera and in food sources were genetically similar, suggesting that indigenous HEV infections may be largely food‐borne. To assess the burden of hepatitis E in Singapore, we performed a seroepidemiologic study of the infection. Additionally, we carried out HEV genotyping on archived, residual HEV IgM‐positive serum samples collected between 2014 and 2016 (n = 449), and on pig liver samples (n = 36) purchased from wet markets and supermarkets. Our study shows a rise in hepatitis E incidence (IgM) from 1.7 to 4.1 cases per 100,000 resident population from 2012 to 2016 and an increase in hepatitis E IgG positivity rate among residents from 14% in 2007 to 35% in 2016. Other findings also suggest the epidemiology of hepatitis E in Singapore has shifted, from it being mainly a disease imported from the Indian subcontinent, to one that is now increasingly prevalent in our resident population. Genotypes obtained from 143 human samples identified the majority to be genotype 3 (n = 121), 21 to be genotype 1 and one to be genotype 4. Further phylogenetic analyses suggest genotype 3a to be the cause of indigenous infections in residents, which showed genetic similarity to the genotype 3a strains detected in pig livers. This link between the strains in the majority of human samples and those in pig livers consumed by the public suggests a possible food‐borne route of HEV infection in Singapore.  相似文献   

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of dairy cattle in the Macalister Irrigation District of Victoria          下载免费PDF全文

SL Bullen  DS Beggs  PD Mansell  DJ Runciman  J Malmo  MC Playford  MF Pyman 《Australian veterinary journal》2016,94(1-2):35-41

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Quantifying subjective human dimensions of recreational fishing: does good health come to those who bait?          下载免费PDF全文

Shane P Griffiths  Joanne Bryant  Henry F Raymond  Peter A Newcombe 《Fish and Fisheries》2017,18(1):171-184

Recreational fishing is a popular sport and leisure activity in many countries worldwide. There has been growing interest by recreational fishing groups and researchers in the perceived physical and psychological health and social (or ‘biopsychosocial’) benefits of recreational fishing. However, quantifying the key subjective ‘human dimensions’ of fishing that satisfy both the needs of recreational fishing groups and fishery managers is a major obstacle. We propose the use of psychometrically valid health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measures widely used in the medical and health sciences – namely the Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) – as rapid, reliable and cost‐effective instruments for quantifying HRQOL of recreational fishers. The widespread use of SF‐36 and availability of population normative data allows comparisons of the HRQOL of recreational fishers across multiple temporal and spatial scales, with participants of other activities, and the general population. The use of such measures in periodic surveys allows the biopsychosocial status of a recreational fishery's participants to be assessed using a modified Kobe plot, a graphical format that is easily interpretable and consistent with existing reporting formats used in fisheries stock assessment. Future biopsychosocial research in recreational fisheries can further benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration to develop a suite of standardized psychometrically valid and reliable instruments for assessing specific issues that commonly affect recreational fisheries from regional to international scales, such as drivers of fisher motivation, behaviour and satisfaction.  相似文献   

The “soil microbial loop” is not always needed to explain protozoan stimulation of plants     

Flemming Ekelund  Stephane Saj  Mette Vestergrd  Joanne Bertaux  Juha Mikola 《Soil biology & biochemistry》2009,41(11):2336-2342

Protozoa stimulate plant growth, but we do not completely understand the underlying mechanisms, and different hypotheses seek to explain this phenomenon. To test these hypotheses, we grew the grass Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus) in pots with soil, which contained either (1) no organisms but bacteria – or (2) bacteria and protozoa. Half of the pots received a glucose treatment so as to mimic an additional root exudation. We measured plant growth and plant nitrogen uptake, along with various microbial pools and processes that support plant growth. Protozoan presence significantly enhanced soil nitrogen mineralization, plant nitrogen uptake from organic nitrogen sources, plant nitrogen content, and plant growth. By contrast, we found no evidence that glucose addition, mimicking root exudation, increased soil nitrogen availability and plant nitrogen uptake. Moreover, although protozoan presence affected bacterial community structure, it did not affect the proportion of IAA-producing bacteria in the community or plant root morphology. These results refute the “soil microbial loop” hypotheses, which suggest that protozoan stimulation of plant growth results from complex interactions between plant roots, bacteria and protozoa. Our experiment thus favours the simple explanation that increased nitrogen availability is the key factor behind the positive protozoan effect on plant growth. To exploit natural resources in an efficient and environmentally friendly way, we need to understand in detail the functioning of ecosystems. This study stresses that to achieve this, it is still urgent, besides investigating intricate food-web and signal compound interactions, also to focus on the basic stoichiometric and energetic aspects of organisms.  相似文献   

Analysis of an Extended Batch Marking Experiment Using Estimating Equations     

Richard Huggins  Yan Wang  Joanne Kearns 《Journal of Agricultural, Biological & Environmental Statistics》2010,15(3):279-289

Estimating equations give a flexible method of inference when the likelihood is either intractable or is not fully specified. Here we consider a batch marking experiment where the full likelihood is complex and without resorting to devices such as the computationally intensive expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is intractable. However, a pseudo-likelihood that yields tractable estimating equations may be easily constructed and its effectiveness is demonstrated via simulation studies. The methodology was applied to study the abundance of Oriental weatherloach in a waterbody in South-Eastern Australia. The programs and data set used in this article are available in the online supplements.  相似文献