Zebrafish: Housing and husbandry recommendations

This article provides recommendations for the care of laboratory zebrafish ( Danio rerio) as part of the further implementation of Annex A to the European Convention on the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, EU Commission Recommendation 2007/526/EC and the fulfilment of Article 33 of EU Directive 2010/63, both concerning the housing and care of experimental animals. The recommendations provide guidance on best practices and ranges of husbandry parameters within which zebrafish welfare, as well as reproducibility of experimental procedures, are assured. Husbandry procedures found today in zebrafish facilities are numerous. While the vast majority of these practices are perfectly acceptable in terms of zebrafish physiology and welfare, the reproducibility of experimental results could be improved by further standardisation of husbandry procedures and exchange of husbandry information between laboratories. Standardisation protocols providing ranges of husbandry parameters are likely to be more successful and appropriate than the implementation of a set of fixed guidance values neglecting the empirically successful daily routines of many facilities and will better reflect the wide range of environmental parameters that characterise the natural habitats occupied by zebrafish. A joint working group on zebrafish housing and husbandry recommendations, with members of the European Society for Fish Models in Biology and Medicine (EUFishBioMed) and of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) has been given a mandate to provide guidelines based on a FELASA list of parameters, ‘Terms of Reference’.

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Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations recommendations of best practices for the health management of ruminants and pigs used for scientific and educational purposes

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1177/0023677220944461 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002367722094446 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

FELASA Working Group on Farm Animals: Corina Mihaela Berset (Convenor) ◽

Maria Emiliana Caristo ◽

Fabienne Ferrara ◽

Patrick Hardy ◽

Marianne Oropeza-Moe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Animal ◽

Management Practices ◽

Health Management ◽

Specific Information ◽

Animal Science ◽

Scientific Publications ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Wide Range ◽

European Laboratory ◽

Laboratory Animal Science

Most ruminants and pigs used for scientific and educational aims are bred not for these purposes but in a farm environment. Given the wide range of diseases that these species might have, ensuring that the animals’ health status is appropriate can be complex and challenging. The Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations has previously published recommendations for the health monitoring of experimental colonies of pigs (1998) and, respectively, calves, sheep and goats (2000). Unfortunately, the uptake of those recommendations was poor and insufficiently reported in scientific publications. These new recommendations for best practice focus on the main species of ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) and pigs. They provide general and specific information helpful for designing a health management programme for the suppliers and for the user establishments, as well as guidance on animal procurement. Critical thinking based on the fields of use of the animals is promoted, aiming to help in taking informed decisions rather than establishing an exhaustive exclusion list for pathogens. Implementing the best health and welfare management practices should be done under the guidance of a competent attending veterinarian, with expertise and sufficient authority to take the appropriate action, doubled by excellent communication skills. It is strongly recommended that the user establishment’s veterinarian works in close collaboration with the supplier’s veterinarian.

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FELASA accreditation of education and training courses in laboratory animal science according to the Directive 2010/63/EU

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1177/0023677218788105 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 137-147

Author(s):

Marcel Gyger ◽

Manuel Berdoy ◽

Ismene Dontas ◽

Martine Kolf-Clauw ◽

Ana Isabel Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Animal ◽

Accreditation Process ◽

Guidance Document ◽

Successful Completion ◽

Animal Science ◽

Eu Directive ◽

European Laboratory ◽

Training Courses ◽

And Training ◽

Laboratory Animal Science

This document describes how the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) accreditation addresses both the Directive 2010/63/EU and the related European Commission guidance document. The four EU Functions and beyond: FELASA accredits courses that fulfil the requirements of Functions A, B, C and D as defined by EU Directive, Article 23, as well as for designated veterinarians and specialists in laboratory animal science. Modularity and mobility: Cohesive courses for Functions and for very specific topics are accredited, but flexibility and mobility are possible: a researcher can start his/her training with one FELASA accredited course and complete other modules with another. A course organizer will deliver a FELASA certificate relating to the successfully completed modules. Accreditation process: The process consists of two major steps: (1) a review of full course documentation provided by the applicant will lead, if successful, to FELASA accreditation. The course is posted on the FELASA website as ‘FELASA accredited’ and the course provider can deliver FELASA certificates upon successful completion of the course; (2) successful accreditation is followed by an on-site course audit. In the case of a negative outcome of the audit, FELASA accreditation is withdrawn, the course is deleted from the list of FELASA accredited courses and FELASA certificates cannot be issued. To ensure that quality is maintained, continuation of accreditation requires regular revalidation.

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Genome analysis of Pseudomonas sp. OF001 and Rubrivivax sp. A210 suggests multicopper oxidases catalyze manganese oxidation required for cylindrospermopsin transformation

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-021-07766-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Erika Berenice Martínez-Ruiz ◽

Myriel Cooper ◽

Jimena Barrero-Canosa ◽

Mindia A. S. Haryono ◽

Irina Bessarab ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Calvin Cycle ◽

Multicopper Oxidase ◽

Genomic Islands ◽

Biotechnological Applications ◽

High Similarity ◽

Multicopper Oxidases ◽

Metabolic Potential ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Manganese Oxidation ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background Cylindrospermopsin is a highly persistent cyanobacterial secondary metabolite toxic to humans and other living organisms. Strain OF001 and A210 are manganese-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) able to transform cylindrospermopsin during the oxidation of Mn2+. So far, the enzymes involved in manganese oxidation in strain OF001 and A210 are unknown. Therefore, we analyze the genomes of two cylindrospermopsin-transforming MOB, Pseudomonas sp. OF001 and Rubrivivax sp. A210, to identify enzymes that could catalyze the oxidation of Mn2+. We also investigated specific metabolic features related to pollutant degradation and explored the metabolic potential of these two MOB with respect to the role they may play in biotechnological applications and/or in the environment. Results Strain OF001 encodes two multicopper oxidases and one haem peroxidase potentially involved in Mn2+ oxidation, with a high similarity to manganese-oxidizing enzymes described for Pseudomonas putida GB-1 (80, 83 and 42% respectively). Strain A210 encodes one multicopper oxidase potentially involved in Mn2+ oxidation, with a high similarity (59%) to the manganese-oxidizing multicopper oxidase in Leptothrix discophora SS-1. Strain OF001 and A210 have genes that might confer them the ability to remove aromatic compounds via the catechol meta- and ortho-cleavage pathway, respectively. Based on the genomic content, both strains may grow over a wide range of O2 concentrations, including microaerophilic conditions, fix nitrogen, and reduce nitrate and sulfate in an assimilatory fashion. Moreover, the strain A210 encodes genes which may convey the ability to reduce nitrate in a dissimilatory manner, and fix carbon via the Calvin cycle. Both MOB encode CRISPR-Cas systems, several predicted genomic islands, and phage proteins, which likely contribute to their genome plasticity. Conclusions The genomes of Pseudomonas sp. OF001 and Rubrivivax sp. A210 encode sequences with high similarity to already described MCOs which may catalyze manganese oxidation required for cylindrospermopsin transformation. Furthermore, the analysis of the general metabolism of two MOB strains may contribute to a better understanding of the niches of cylindrospermopsin-removing MOB in natural habitats and their implementation in biotechnological applications to treat water.

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BSAS Ethical Policy British Society of Animal Science Ethical guidelines for research in animal science

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200011571 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2005 ◽

pp. 247-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Jarvis ◽

J.E.L. Day ◽

B. Reed

Keyword(s):

Ethical Issues ◽

Science Research ◽

British Society ◽

Ethical Guidelines ◽

Animal Science ◽

Ethical Implications ◽

Ethical Policy ◽

Physical Environments ◽

Wide Range ◽

And Performance

Animal science research is important in relation to our understanding of animals, their function and performance, and their relationships with their social and physical environments. Animal science research covers a wide range of disciplines and so can lead to the use of a variety of experimental techniques on animals for many different purposes. This has the potential to lead to a multitude of diverse ethical issues. Members of the British Society of Animal Science and authors of papers submitted to the Society for publication come from countries around the world and therefore are subject to differences in legislative requirements and recommendations regarding animal experimentation. These legal requirements, along with the ethical implications of the research must be fully considered before any experimental work is undertaken.

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Improving Habitat Quality at the Local and Landscape Scales Increases Wild Bee Assemblages and Associated Pollination Services in Apple Orchards in China

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.621469 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Panlong Wu ◽

Piaopiao Dai ◽

Meina Wang ◽

Sijie Feng ◽

Aruhan Olhnuud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bee Diversity ◽

Landscape Scales

Bees provide key pollination services for a wide range of crops. Accumulating evidence shows the effect of semi-natural habitats at the landscape level and local management practices on bee diversity in fields. However, most of the evidence is derived from studies in North America and Europe. Whether this paradigm is applicable in China, which is characterized by smallholder-dominated agricultural landscapes, has rarely been studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate how bee diversity affected apple production, and how landscape and local variables affected bee diversity and species composition on the Northern China Plain. The results showed that bees significantly increased apple fruit set compared to bagged controls. Wild bee diversity was positively related to apple seed numbers. Higher seed numbers reduced the proportion of deformed apples and thus increased fruit quality. Wild bee abundance was positively correlated with flowering ground cover, and both the abundance and species richness of wild bees were positively affected by the percentage of semi-natural habitats. We conclude that apple quality can benefit from ecological intensification comprising the augmentation of wild bees by semi-natural habitats and flowering ground cover. Future pollination management should therefore reduce the intensification level of management at both the local and landscape scales.

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Planners between the Chairs: How Planners (Do Not) Adapt to Transformative Practices

Urban Planning ◽

10.17645/up.v4i4.2237 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 111-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Frank Othengrafen ◽

Meike Levin-Keitel

Keyword(s):

Land Use Planning ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sustainable Urban Development ◽

Daily Routines ◽

Strategic Coordination ◽

Wide Range ◽

Social Innovations ◽

Value Sets ◽

German Cities ◽

The Chairs

Even though the turn to practice is widely accepted in the field of urban planning, the practices of planners are empirically largely unexplored. Looking at the daily routines and practices of urban planners thus allows a deeper insight into what planning is, and how planning practices are related to innovation and transformation. To do so, we start from the assumption that behaviour is a constellation of practices, including certain activities, a set of choices and actions, patterns of behaviour or forms of interaction that is organised in a certain space or context by common understandings and rules. By conducting an online survey among planners in medium-sized German cities, we first identified a wide range of planning practices and activities in general. In a second step, we conducted a statistical cluster analysis resulting in six types of planners: (1) the ‘local-specific analysts,’ (2) the ‘experienced generalists,’ (3) the ‘reactive pragmatists,’ (4) the ‘project-oriented planners,’ (5) the ‘compensatory moderators,’ and (6) the ‘innovative designers.’ Each cluster has specific practices and activities, linked to characteristic value-sets, role interpretations and self-perceptions that might help explain the differences with regard to innovation and transformation. From the identified six groups or clusters of planners, only two clusters more or less consequently aim at innovation, experimentation and new approaches. One cluster is dedicated to collaborative practices whereas traditional practices predominate in three clusters at least, mainly because of legal requirements. This is the result of an increasing ‘formalisation’ of land-use planning, making planners focus on technical and formal practices, and, at the same time, lead to the reduced ‘attention’ to and implementation of conceptual approaches or ‘necessary’ transformative practices, including proactive approaches and strategic coordination with regard to sustainable urban development, but also comprising experiments, real labs or social innovations.

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Embryonic and larval development of the caridean shrimp Palaemon argentinus (Decapoda, Caridea): effects of salinity and diet

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-bja10041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 45-62

Author(s):

Carolina Tropea ◽

Liane Stumpf ◽

Laura S. López Greco

Keyword(s):

Larval Development ◽

Artemia Salina ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Nutritional Requirements ◽

Larval Performance ◽

Larval Rearing ◽

Caridean Shrimp ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Wide Range

Abstract The caridean shrimp Palaemon argentinus is a species of commercial and ecological interest. Its numerous larval stages, the lack of knowledge on their nutritional requirements, and their ability to survive in a wide range of salinities raise questions on the optimum conditions for larval rearing in captivity. The present study was aimed at evaluating embryonic development under different salinities and larval development under different combinations of salinities and diet regimes, in order to define alternative, cheaper culture conditions. We tested salinities usually encountered by the species in natural habitats (0.1, 1 and 5 ppt) and a highly protein-inert diet (Tetracolor®) as a potential replacement for live food (nauplii of Artemia salina). The incubation period and fecundity were similar among salinity treatments. Overall, the number of survival days and percentage of zoeae that moulted two, three and four times were higher when embryogenesis occurred at 5 ppt and when larvae were exposed to 5 ppt. These results suggest that the conditions experienced by embryos affect the performance of the first larval stages, and probably reflect the lower energetic requirements of zoeae to osmoregulate as water and haemolymph osmolarity become closer. On the other hand, larval performance was better when fed A. salina nauplii than Tetracolor®. The latter may not cover the nutritional requirements of zoeae or may have low digestibility due to insufficient enzymes in the undeveloped larval digestive system. Based on the present results, we conclude that a salinity of 5 ppt combined with a diet consisting of Artemia sp. nauplii is optimal for larval culture at early stages.

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18. Procedural Impropriety

Complete Public Law ◽

10.1093/he/9780198798064.003.0018 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa Webley ◽

Harriet Samuels

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

European Convention ◽

Natural Justice ◽

Legitimate Expectation ◽

Legal Power ◽

Wide Range ◽

Complete Series ◽

Explanatory Text ◽

The Right ◽

Primary Materials

Titles in the Complete series combine extracts from a wide range of primary materials with clear explanatory text to provide readers with a complete introductory resource. A public authority must have the legal power to act; if that power is conferred by statute, it may also specify the procedure that must be used prior to an action or a decision being taken. This is what is known as a ‘statutory procedure’, because it is specified in a statute. The statute may, for example, require the authority to give notice of its intention to take action in a certain way, to consult interested groups, or to tell individuals that they have the right to appeal from an adverse decision. If the authority does not comply, then this is a breach of the statutory procedure and may be reviewed as a procedural impropriety. This chapter discusses the judicial review of procedural impropriety. It covers the rules of natural justice; the right to be heard; legitimate expectation; the detailed requirements of natural justice; the rule against bias; and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Is the Asian house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, really a threat to Australia’s biodiversity?

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo12077 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 361 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

E. P. Vanderduys ◽

A. S. Kutt

Keyword(s):

Current Evidence ◽

Human Influence ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Wide Range ◽

Hemidactylus Frenatus

Invasive animals can have a wide range of impacts in natural systems. The introduced Asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus has invaded widely in Australia, but is largely restricted to human-altered landscapes. Hoskin (2011) has argued that H. frenatus has the potential to negatively impact Australian ecosystems by invading natural habitats. We examine this contention by reviewing an extensive standardised fauna survey dataset collected in northern and central Queensland during the key period of H. frenatus expansion from the 1990s to 2012. In light of these data we also re-examine data from other areas that suggest H. frenatus is a benign threat and is unlikely to become an environmental pest within Australia. On current evidence, we conclude that H. frenatus is unlikely to spread much beyond areas of human influence.

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Plastics recycling: challenges and opportunities

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2008.0311 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 364 (1526) ◽

pp. 2115-2126 ◽

Cited By ~ 814

Author(s):

Jefferson Hopewell ◽

Robert Dvorak ◽

Edward Kosior

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Renewable Resource ◽

Gas Production ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Oil And Gas Production ◽

Wide Range ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Product Reuse

Plastics are inexpensive, lightweight and durable materials, which can readily be moulded into a variety of products that find use in a wide range of applications. As a consequence, the production of plastics has increased markedly over the last 60 years. However, current levels of their usage and disposal generate several environmental problems. Around 4 per cent of world oil and gas production, a non-renewable resource, is used as feedstock for plastics and a further 3–4% is expended to provide energy for their manufacture. A major portion of plastic produced each year is used to make disposable items of packaging or other short-lived products that are discarded within a year of manufacture. These two observations alone indicate that our current use of plastics is not sustainable. In addition, because of the durability of the polymers involved, substantial quantities of discarded end-of-life plastics are accumulating as debris in landfills and in natural habitats worldwide. Recycling is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce these impacts and represents one of the most dynamic areas in the plastics industry today. Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions and the quantities of waste requiring disposal. Here, we briefly set recycling into context against other waste-reduction strategies, namely reduction in material use through downgauging or product reuse, the use of alternative biodegradable materials and energy recovery as fuel. While plastics have been recycled since the 1970s, the quantities that are recycled vary geographically, according to plastic type and application. Recycling of packaging materials has seen rapid expansion over the last decades in a number of countries. Advances in technologies and systems for the collection, sorting and reprocessing of recyclable plastics are creating new opportunities for recycling, and with the combined actions of the public, industry and governments it may be possible to divert the majority of plastic waste from landfills to recycling over the next decades.

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