RESEARCH PAPER: Comparison of an implantable telemetry device and an oscillometric monitor for measurement of blood pressure in anaesthetized and unrestrained green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

Objective The objective of this study was to compare an implanted direct blood pressure monitor and a non‐invasive oscillometric unit for use in anesthetized and awake green iguanas. Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Four male and four female adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana) weighing 1833 ± 534 g. Methods For each animal, the carotid artery was surgically exposed and the catheter tip of the pressure transducer was placed in the aortic arch. Non‐invasive blood pressure was measured using a cuff over the left femoral region. Pulse rate, respiratory rate and arterial blood pressure (ABP) measurements were taken every 5 minutes. Direct ABP measurements consisted of recording numerical values and graphic output. Simultaneous direct and indirect measurements were repeated in awake animals. Results The oscillometric device failed to provide a reading in over 80% of attempts, and failed to provide readings that correlated with direct measurements. The implanted direct transducer was capable of detecting blood pressures throughout all ABP ranges examined. Conclusions The implantable transducer was a reliable means of determining blood pressure in this study, while the oscillometric device was unreliable and often failed to provide any reading. Clinical relevance We do not recommend using the oscillometric device as described in a research or clinical setting for green iguanas. The advantages of an implantable device include the ability to monitor awake and anesthetized subjects remotely and continuously. These monitors are small, biocompatible and function across a wide range of ABP.     

Resistance to polyoxin AL and other fungicides in Botrytis cinerea collected from sweet basil crops in Israel

A total of 568 B. cinerea isolates were collected from diseased sweet basil plants and the air in 10 sweet basil greenhouses. Mycelial growth tests were used to evaluate the sensitivity of these isolates to benomyl, fenhexamid, iprodione, polyoxin AL and pyrimethanil. EC₅₀ values for polyoxin, the main botryticide on sweet basil in Israel, ranged from 0.4 to 6.5 μg ml^?1 and had a bimodal distribution; the EC₅₀ values for sensitive isolates ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 μg ml^?1 and the EC₅₀ values for low-level resistant isolates ranged from 4 to 6.5 μg ml^?1. Among populations that had not been exposed to polyoxin treatments, 20 to 35 % of the collected isolates were low-level resistant for polyoxin. Polyoxin treatments in an experimental greenhouse shifted the equilibrium in favour of low-level resistant isolates, and the change occurred rapidly: from a frequency of 20 % low-level resistant isolates in the population that had never been treated with polyoxin to a frequency of 72 % after a few treatments over two seasons. Prolonged use of polyoxin in Israeli basil crops (in some sites for more than 10 years) does not appear to have led to the development of high-level resistance, but low-level resistant isolates were found in commercial greenhouses with the frequency of up to 73 %. High-level resistance to benzimidazoles was common (60 to 80 % of isolates) in greenhouses with a history of benzimidazole treatments; whereas 15–25 % of the isolates from greenhouses in which fungicides were not used were resistant. Low-level resistance to dicarboximides was fairly widespread (frequency of 30 to 80 % depending on the greenhouse) and a few cases of moderate resistance to dicarboximides were also noted (frequency of 0 to 9 %). Neither high- nor low-level resistance to anilinopyrimidines was common in sweet basil commercial greenhouses (0 to 7 %). However, 34 % of the isolates were strongly resistant in the experimental greenhouse, following a few treatments with anilinopyrimidine fungicides during the previous season. Before those treatments, the proportion of anilinopyrimidines resistant isolates had been 1 %. About 3 % of the isolates exhibited low-level resistance to fenhexamid and no isolates were found to be strongly resistant to fenhexamid. Low-level resistance to one fungicide was often associated with low-level resistances to other fungicides. Thirty-two phenotypes exhibiting resistance to one or more of the tested fungicides were noted among B. cinerea isolates. Resistant isolates showed similar or reduced fitness parameters in comparison to wild-type isolates.     

Biochemical and histological effects of gibberellic acid on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), a plant growth regulator, on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae. Newly emerged larvae were exposed to various concentrations of GA₃ administered by topical application or by forced ingestion. Results showed that treated insects exhibited toxic symptoms with a dose-dependent mortality. GA₃ toxicity was also demonstrated by perturbation of the moult processes. In fact, we noted that treated insects present exuviations difficulties due to the impossibility to reject the old integuments causing mortality in the 5th instar larvae. Histological study of proventriculus revealed alterations in the epithelial cells and absence of apolysis phenomenon. Data also showed that GA₃ induced significant quantitative variation of haemolymph metabolites. These changes result in a significant decrease in the total concentration of proteins and carbohydrates and an increase in the total concentration of haemolymph lipids.     

Spatial Distribution and Temporal Trends of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediments from Lake Maryut, Alexandria, Egypt

Surface and core sediments from Lake Maryut, Egypt, one of the most polluted lakes in Egypt, were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography?Cmass spectrometry. This investigation represents the first extensive study of the distribution and sources of PAHs in sediments from Lake Maryut. The total PAHs concentrations (sum of 39 PAH compounds) in surface sediments varied greatly depending on the sampling location and ranged from 106 to 57,800 ng/g dry weight with a mean concentration of 6,950 ng/g. The most polluted areas are distributed in areas which are mainly influenced by municipal sewage and industrial effluent discharges, suggesting a direct influence of these sources on the pollutant distribution patterns. PAH concentrations were one to two orders of magnitude higher in comparison with those reported for riverine/estuaries systems around the world. Molecular indices, such as pyrogenic index (PI), methylphenanthrenes to phenanthrene ratio, HMW_PAH/LMW_PAH, A-PAHs/P-PAHs, FL/FL?+?PY, BaP/BaP?+?C, IP/IP?+?BgP, and Per/??(penta-aromatics) were calculated to evaluate different hydrocarbon origins and their relative importance. In general, sediments from the main basin and northwest basin of Lake Maryut showed the highest PAH concentrations with petrogenic signatures, indicating major sources of petrogenic PAHs in the city. On the other hand, lower levels of PAHs with a pyrogenic signature were widely recorded in areas that are distant from anthropogenic sources. At other locations, both petrogenic and pyrogenic inputs were significant. The concentrations of perylene relative to the penta-aromatic isomers are dominant especially in locations associated with terrestrial inputs and in the deepest core sediments, indicating diagenetic origin for the presence of perylene. Temporal trends of PAH concentrations in both cores sediments were influenced by input pathways and followed the economic development and the environmental policies of the Egyptian Government in the last 15 years. Finally, PAH levels in sediments were compared with Sediments Quality Guidelines (effects range median?Ceffects range low) for evaluation probable toxic effects on organism. Results suggest an ecotoxicological risk for benthic organisms mainly in the main basin area, where high concentrations of PAHs were found in sediments influenced by anthropogenic activities.     

Chitosan induces delayed grapevine defense mechanisms and protects grapevine against Botrytis cinerea

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In the present study, a commercial chitosan soluble in acid solution and obtained from shrimp shell waste, with a molecular weight of 173 kDa and...     

Distribution and diversity of leaf-cutting ants in Northeastern Argentina: species most associated with forest plantations

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants (LCA) are considered one of the main herbivores and one of the most destructive pest insects of the Neotropics. Northeastern Argentina harbors the greatest species richness of these ants and in turn comprises the highest surface with forest plantations. Our aim was to establish which species of leaf-cutting ants are most commonly associated with forest plantations by analyzing their geographic distribution using published and unpublished species occurrence data. Also, estimate their potential areas of distribution along a latitudinal gradient that entirely encompasses northeastern Argentina using Ecological Niche Modeling. Only seven of the 20 species recorded were strongly associated with productive systems along the gradient, but only 2–3 species in each region could be considered high-risk species for forest plantations. High-risk species composition shows a turnover between regions. Our models show the potential distribution areas where LCA could become more abundant and dominant, and possibly causing a detrimental effect on the forest plantations in the studied region. We find that ecological niche models are useful tools to assess the environmental suitability of important LCA.     

基于SEPLS模型的GIAHS恢复力评估框架及其在保护成效评估中的应用

由联合国粮农组织认定的全球重要农业文化遗产(GIAHS)是一类典型的社会生态生产景观(SEPLS),在传统知识传承保护、粮食与食物安全保障、农业生物多样性保护、气候变化应对等诸多方面具有重要意义。为了更好、更有效地开展GIAHS保护及管理工作,本文在分析GIAHS评估重要性和恢复力概念的基础上,以联合国大学(UNU)等团队开发的社会生态生产景观恢复力评估框架(SEPLS模型)为基础,构建了GIAHS恢复力评估框架(GIAHS-RAF),明确了其评估及计算过程。并以中国第1个GIAHS项目——浙江青田稻鱼共生系统(Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System in Zhejiang Province, RFC)为例,通过对核心保护区——龙现村在2004年(GIAHS项目授牌前)和2016年(GIAHS授牌11年)的恢复力状况进行评估,探讨模型在GIAHS保护成效评估中的适用性。研究结果显示:1)2016年龙现村恢复力整体状况相对较弱,各项资本评估得分为:物质资本(0.75)经济资本(0.63)人类资本(0.61)社会资本(0.57)自然资本(0.38);2)虽然农户收入来源多样且社会经济基础设施能较好地满足社区需求,但是遗产地内部农业物种较少,农户对于系统提供的粮食多样性尚不是非常满意; 3)相较于2004年,经过11年的保护工作,研究区恢复力有所提高,说明GIAHS项目的实施对该遗产的恢复力有积极影响,尤其是物质资本和经济资本两方面。评估结果与该区域相关研究结果及实地调查情况一致,说明所构建的GIAHS恢复力评估框架可以很好地应用于对GIAHS项目及其他相关农业文化遗产的保护成效评估工作。     

Fruit and seed diversity of domesticated carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Morocco

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an important economic resource for Morocco's rural populations. This species is used in reforestation actions and its cultivation in modern orchards is being undertaken to valorize marginal lands and substitute for drought sensitive species. However, little data is available on its intra-specific variability and its adaptability. Morphological characters of pods and seeds from 13 ecoregions of private-domesticated carob were used to assess phenotypic variation of this species. These stands extend from south-west to north-east and cover a wide range of Morocco's ecoregions. Pods length, width, thickness, seeds number, pulp weight, seeds yield and seeds length, width, thickness and weight were measured for 390 trees (30 trees per ecoregion). Statistically significant differences were found between ecoregions for all characters which were examined, what indicates a high phenotypic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster of all ecoregions lead to identify two major and opposite groups (the northern ecoregions; and the central and south-western ecoregions). Ecoregions of the north of Morocco exhibited the largest and the thickest pods with the highest pulp weight while other ecoregions have relatively short pods but largest proportion of seed yield. Similarly, the northern ecoregions are characterized by the heaviest seeds. A correlation matrix between morphological characters, geographic parameters and precipitation exhibits a positive and a negative correlation of pods thickness and pulp weight with the latitude and the altitude, respectively. Seed yield and weight are negatively and positively correlated to pod width, pod thickness and pulp weight, respectively. In addition, seed weight is positively correlated with the latitude. The geographic pattern of the carob tree and its variability are discussed in this paper.     

Diflubenzuron and oogenesis in the codling moth,Cydia pomonella (L.)

Diflubenzuron, topically applied (0·5 μg insect^?-1) to Cydia pomonella (L.) at pupal ecdysis disturbed growth and development of oocytes. It delayed the adult ecdysis and caused a decrease in both thickness of the follicular epithelium and the size of the basal oocyte during the pupal development. On the other hand, the size of basal oocytes, the protein content per ovary and the number of oocytes per ovary recorded in newly emerged adults were significantly reduced after diflubenzuron treatment. These results, together with observations in several other species, indicate that the reduction in fecundity and egg viability is probably due to interference of diflubenzuron with the vitellogenesis process.