Drivers for spatial modelling of a critically endangered seabird on a dynamic ocean area: Balearic shearwaters are non-vegetarian

1. Spatial modelling is an important research tool to improve our knowledge about the distribution of wildlife in the ocean. Using different modelling techniques (MaxEnt and a generalized linear mixed model), a predictive habitat suitability model was developed for one of the most threatened seabirds in the world: the Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus.
2. Models were developed using a 10-year dataset from the Gulf of Cádiz (on the south-western Iberian Peninsula), a key foraging area for Balearic shearwaters during migration and the non-breeding season.
3. Predictive habitat maps strongly matched the observed distribution patterns, pointing to bathymetric features as the main modelling drivers. The species was concentrated on shallow areas (up to approximately 100 m in depth) of the continental shelf, very close to the mouth of the Guadalquivir River. In contrast with previous studies, Balearic shearwater distribution in the highly dynamic Gulf of Cádiz was not correlated with areas of high chlorophyll a concentration.
4. This lack of spatial correlation probably arises from the delay between the phytoplankton bloom and the response of the zooplankton and small fish that are preyed upon by Balearic shearwaters, which may result in important displacements of this trophic chain across the Gulf of Cádiz.
5. The analysis presented contributes to a better understanding of the spatial distribution and ecology of the critically endangered top predator in the Gulf of Cádiz and offers important information to improve management plans.

     

Treatment of Hydroponics Wastewater Using Constructed Wetlands in Winter Conditions

Hydroponics culture generates large amounts of wastewater that are highly concentrated in nitrate and phosphorus but contains almost no organic carbon. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been proposed to treat this type of effluent, but little is known about the performance of these systems in treating hydroponic wastewater. In addition, obtaining satisfactory winter performances from CWs operated in cold climates remains a challenge, as biological pathways are often slowed down or inhibited. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of plant species (Typha sp., Phragmites australis, and Phalaris arundinacea) and the addition of organic carbon on nutrient removal in winter. The experimental setup consisted of 16 subsurface flow CW mesocosms (1 m², HRT of 3 days) fed with 30 L?d¹ of synthetic hydroponics wastewater, with half of the mesocosms fed with an additional source of organic carbon (sucrose). Carbon addition had a significant impact on nitrate and phosphate removal, with removal means of 4.9 g m^-2?d^-1 of NO₃-N and 0.5 g m^-2 d^-1 of PO₄-P. Planted mesocosms were generally more efficient than unplanted controls. Furthermore, we found significant differences among plant treatments for NO₃-N (highest removal with P. arundinacea) and COD (highest removal with P. australis/Typha sp.). Overall, planted wetlands with added organic carbon represent the best combination to treat hydroponics wastewater during the winter.     

First Isolation of Rotavirus Associated with Neonatal Diarrhoea in Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in the Argentinean Patagonia Region

Group A rotavirus (RV) and coronavirus (CV) are common viral pathogens associated with neonatal diarrhoea in numerous animal species. The purpose of this work was to investigate the presence of these viral agents in two farm populations of captured guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in the Argentinean Patagonia region, that developed severe diarrhoea outbreaks. Stool and serum samples were analysed for RV and bovine CV antigen and antibody by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Rotavirus was detected in faeces from two new‐born guanacos with acute diarrhoea, one in each farm. After electrophoretic analysis, each isolated strain, showed a distinctive long dsRNA electropherotype characteristic of group A rotaviruses (4:2:3:2). In addition, 95% (38 of 40) of the sampled animals were positive for RV antibodies, suggesting a high prevalence of RV infection in the populations tested. No evidence of CV circulation by antigen or antibody analysis was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection and isolation of RV associated with neonatal diarrhoea in Lama guanicoe.     

Producing progeny from endangered birds of prey: treatment of urine-contaminated semen and a novel intramagnal insemination approach.

Wild raptors brought into an ex situ environment often have poor semen quality that is further compromised by urine contamination. Generally, it is believed that in birds, artificial insemination into the cloaca or caudal vagina of females requires large doses of high-quality spermatozoa to maximize fertility. In an effort to define and overcome some of the challenges associated with reproduction in wild raptors, the objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the frequency, impact, and remediation of urine contamination in fresh ejaculates for the purpose of maintaining sperm motility and viability in vitro, and 2) develop a deep insemination method that allows low numbers of washed sperm to be placed directly into the magnum to increase the probability of producing fertilized eggs. The species evaluated include golden eagle (Aquila chrysoetos), imperial eagle (A. adalberti), Bonelli's eagle (Hiernaetus fasciatus), and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Semen samples were collected and pooled by species, and a minimum of 25 pooled ejaculates per species were evaluated for urine contamination, pH, sperm viability, and sperm motility; the samples were either unwashed or washed in neutral (pH 7.0) or alkaline (pH 8.0) modified Lake's diluent. Female golden eagles and peregrine falcons were inseminated via transjunctional, intramagnal insemination with washed spermatozoa from urine-contaminated samples. Urine contamination occurred in 36.8 +/- 12.8% (mean +/- SEM) golden eagle, 43.1 +/- 9.1% imperial eagle. 28.7 +/- 16.1% Bonelli's eagle, and 48.2 +/- 17.3% peregrine falcon ejaculates. The pH in urine-contaminated semen samples ranged from 6.48 +/- 0.3 to 6.86 +/- 0.2, and in noncontaminated samples it ranged from from 7.17 +/- 0.1 to 7.56 +/- 0.1. Sperm viability and motility were reduced (P < 0.05) in all species for unwashed vs. washed sperm after 30 min incubation at room temperature. Two peregrine falcon chicks and one golden eagle chick hatched after intramagnal insemination. This study demonstrates that urine contamination, a common and lethal acidifier in manually collected raptor ejaculates, can be circumvented by immediate, gentle seminal washing. Furthermore, these processed sperm, when deposited by transjunctional intramagnal insemination, can produce live young.     

Animal performance, plasma hormones and metabolites in Holstein and Belgian Blue growing-fattening bulls

Six Holstein (light-muscled type) and six Belgian Blue bulls (double-muscled type) were fed a finishing diet. Average daily gain was 1.36 kg for the Holstein bulls vs 1.24 kg for the Belgian Blue bulls (P less than .05). Holstein bulls consumed more feed (2.3 vs 1.8 kg/100 kg body weight, P less than .001) than the Belgian Blue bulls. The dressing percentage (55.4 vs 65.8%, P less than .001) and the proportion of muscle (56.1 vs 71.3%, P less than .001) in the carcass were less, whereas the proportions of adipose tissue (28.3 vs 15.4%, P less than .001) and bone (15.7 vs 13.4%, P less than .05) were higher in the Holstein bulls. Plasma creatinine determined in samples obtained once a week was lower (11.0 vs 20.3 mg/liter, P less than .001) in the Holstein bulls. In contrast, Holstein bulls tended to produce more triiodothyronine (2.3 vs 1.8 nM, P less than .10), tetraiodothyronine (71.9 vs 54.7 nM, P less than .10) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; 340 vs 205 ng/ml, P less than .20) than the Belgian Blue bulls. Growth hormone, insulin, IGF-I and testosterone were measured at 20-min intervals during two 24-h periods. In wk 6, Holstein bulls tended to produce more growth hormone than the Belgian Blues, as indicated by higher total peak area (3,185 vs 2,431 ng), peak amplitude (34.1 vs 22.6 ng/ml, P less than .10) and baseline (4.6 vs 3.3 ng/ml, P less than .20). In wk 27, the trends were opposite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Risk assessment and surveillance for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Argentina

An assessment was made of the risks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) occurring in Argentina. Most of the factors associated with the origin and development of the BSE epidemic in the UK are essentially absent. For example, Argentina's large sheep and cattle industries are based on low-cost production systems using grass. Concentrated feeds are not used for sheep, rarely for beef cattle and to a comparatively modest extent for dairy cows. Particularly important are the facts that scrapie (and BSE) has never been reported in Argentina—very small amounts of waste tissues from sheep are rendered to produce meat and bone meal (MBM)—and MBM is not used in concentrated feeds for cattle. We conclude that Argentina has an exceptionally low risk of BSE due to scrapie. There is a very small risk of BSE having been introduced via live animals imported from countries with BSE, but this could only give rise to isolated cases because MBM is not fed to cattle.

A surveillance programme has been carried out based largely on a histological examination of brains from three categories of old dairy cows: animals reported on the suspicion of having neurological disease; animals in poor condition at slaughter; healthy animals randomly selected in the abattoir. No evidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy was seen in several sections from each of a total of 1019 brains. We conclude that, for most practical purposes, Argentina may be considered to be free from BSE.     

Spatial analysis of the exposure of dogs in rural north-coastal California to vectorborne pathogens

Between 0 and 50 per cent of the dogs in eight rural villages in far northern California with a high risk of tickborne diseases were seropositive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii, and between 0 and 10 per cent were seropositive for Borrelia burgdorferi. The odds ratio for the co-exposure of individual dogs to B vinsonii berkhoffii and A phagocytophilum was 18.2. None of the diseases was associated with the sex of the dogs, whether they slept out of doors, or whether tick-preventive measures were taken. When the villages were assessed for landscape risk factors, a particularly high seroprevalence for B vinsonii berkhoffii and A phagocytophilum was observed in a village at a relatively high altitude and greater distance from the Pacific coast, and montane hardwood conifer woodland was most associated with a high seroprevalence for these two pathogens.     

Cytology and Fertility of Hybrids and Amphiploids between Aegilops caudata L. ×Triticum turgidum (L.) Thell

Interspecific hybrids and amphiploids between Aegilops caudata L. (2n = 2x = 14, CC) and Triticum turgidum (L.) Thell. conv. durum Desf M. K. (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) were produced. Such hybrids can be used to introduce desirable traits such as disease resistance into cultivated durum wheats. One of the durum parents was a ph I mutation of the cv. ‘Cappelli’ used for testing the possibility of direct introduction of alien variation into cultivated species. The amphiploids were obtained both through colchicine chromosome doubling and as natural non-reductional mciosis products. In both hybrids and amphiploids, meiotic pairing and fertility were studied. Hybrids showed varying degrees of pairing and, in addition to the one involving the ph 1 mutant, one high pairing hybrid was found (Ae. caudata× cv. ‘Capinera’). Cytological examination of microsporogenesis in amphiploids revealed a high frequency of bivalent formation. Fertility proved to be a very variable character since some of the amphiploids were almost completely sterile. The use of amphiploids in breeding programmes is discussed in relation to meiotic and fertility data.     

Characterization of dinucleotide and trinucleotide EST-derived microsatellites in the wheat genome

Over the past decade microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have attracted a considerable amount of attention from researchers. The aim of the present paper was to analyse expressed sequence tag-derived SSR (EST-SSR) marker variability in wheat and to investigate the relationships between the number and type of repeat units and the level of microsatellite polymorphism. Two hundred and forty-one new EST-SSR markers available in a public database () were characterized in eight durum wheat cultivars (Svevo, Ciccio, Primadur, Duilio, Meridiano, Claudio, Latino, Messapia), two accessions of Triticum turgidum var. dicoccoides (MG4343, MG29896), one accession of T. turgidum var. dicoccum (MG5323) and in the common wheat cv. Chinese Spring. Of these, 201 primer pairs (83.4%) amplified PCR products successfully, while the remaining 40 (16.6%) failed to amplify any product. Of the EST-SSRs analysed, 45.2% of the primer pairs amplified one or two PCR products. Multiple discrete PCR products were observed among both di- and trinucleotide EST-SSR markers (31.2 and 40.5%, respectively). Markers based on dinucleotide microsatellites were more polymorphic than those based on trinucleotide SSRs in the 12 wheat genotypes tested (68.9 and 52.7%, respectively). An average of 2.5 alleles for dinucleotide and 2.0 alleles for trinucleotide SSRs was observed. The data reported in the present work indicate the presence of a significant relationship between motif sequence types and polymorphism. The primer set based on the AG repeat motif showed the lowest percentage of polymorphism (55.0%), while the primer set based on the AC repeat motif showed t he highest percentage (85.0%). Among trinucleotide SSRs, the AGG microsatellite markers showed the highest percentage of polymorphism (70.0%), and the ACG motif the lowest value (25.0%). The characterization of these new EST-SSR markers and the results of our studyon the effect of repeat number and type of motifs could have important applications in the genetic analysis of agronomically important traits, quantitative trait locus discovery and marker-assisted selection.     

Lipid composition of lees from Sherry wine

In this paper, we describe the study and characterization of the lipids from lees of Sherry wine, one of the main byproducts from the wine-making industry in the Jerez/Xeres/Sherry denomination of the origin zone in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The lipid content, extractability, classification, fatty acid composition, and its main chemical characteristics have been determined in order to evaluate their potential use as a food or food additive.