scholarly journals Comparison of methods to estimate the size of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) scale seizures using species-specific conversion parameters

2022 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Hirusha Randimal Algewatta ◽  
Priyan Perera
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Comparison Of Methods ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Improved Methods ◽  
Morph Type

The absence of robust species-specific methods to estimate the number of animals in seizures of pangolin scales is a major barrier to effective law enforcement. Therefore, studies focused on developing methods to establish accurate conversion parameters are a priority. This study proposes improved methods to estimate the number of pangolins in the illegal trade to inform law-enforcing authorities. Based on the observations of 25 specimens, Indian pangolins were on average found to possess 511 scales. Three morph-types of scales were identified: broad rhombic (n=411), elongated kite shape (n=69), and folded scales (n=31). The mean dry weight of the three-scale morph-types was 7.5 g, 4.9 g, and 6.2 g. Based on the average frequency and mean dry weight of each scale morph type, the species-specific dry weight of scales for Indian pangolins was 3.6 kg. Accordingly, we propose new and improved methods based on scale morph-type frequencies and species-specific dry weight of scales to estimate the number of Indian pangolins from quantities of scales. Their accuracy was compared with current methods, and the improved methods were found to be more accurate.

Suppression of Weed Occurrence in a Five-year Corn-earthworm Coculture System

Weed Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Tao Li ◽  
Jiequn Fan ◽  
Zhenguan Qian ◽  
Guohui Yuan ◽  
Dandan Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Species ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Green Foxtail ◽  
Weed Diversity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Common Purslane ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Successive Experiment

Abstract The use of a corn-earthworm coculture (CE) system is an eco-agricultural technology that has been gradually extended due to its high economic output and diverse ecological benefits for urban agriculture in China. However, the effect of CE on weed occurrence has received little attention. A five-year successive experiment (2015 to 2019) was conducted to compare weed occurrence in CE and a corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture (CM). The results show that CE significantly decreased weed diversity, the dominance index, total weed density and biomass, but increased the weed evenness index. The five-year mean number of weed species per plot was 8.4 in CE and 10.7 in CM. Compared to those in CM, the five-year mean density and biomass of total weeds in CE decreased by 59.2% and 66.6%, respectively. The effect of CE on weed occurrence was species specific. The mean density of large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.], goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.], and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) in CE decreased by 94.5, 78.1, 75.0, and 45.8%, whereas the mean biomass decreased by 96.2, 80.8, 76.9, and 41.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that the use of CE could suppress weed occurrence and reduce herbicide inputs in agriculture.

scholarly journals Admixing Chaff with Straw Increased the Residues Collected without Compromising Machinery Efficiencies

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Suardi ◽  
Sergio Saia ◽  
Walter Stefanoni ◽  
Carina Gunnarsson ◽  
Martin Sundberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Production ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Unit Weight ◽  
Residual Biomass ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Field Efficiency ◽  
The One ◽  
Staple Crop

The collection of residues from staple crop may contribute to meet EU regulations in renewable energy production without harming soil quality. At a global scale, chaff may have great potential to be used as a bioenergy source. However, chaff is not usually collected, and its loss can consist of up to one-fifth of the residual biomass harvestable. In the present work, a spreader able to manage the chaff (either spreading [SPR] on the soil aside to the straw swath or admixed [ADM] with the straw) at varying threshing conditions (with either 1 or 2 threshing rotors [1R and 2R, respectively] in the combine, which affects the mean length of the straw pieces). The fractions of the biomass available in field (grain, chaff, straw, and stubble) were measured, along with the performances of both grain harvesting and baling operations. Admixing chaff allowed for a slightly higher amount of straw fresh weight baled compared to SPR (+336 kg straw ha−1), but such result was not evident on a dry weight basis. At the one time, admixing chaff reduced the material capacity of the combine by 12.9%. Using 2R compared to 1R strongly reduced the length of the straw pieces, and increased the bale unit weight; however, it reduced the field efficiency of the grain harvesting operations by 11.9%. On average, the straw loss did not vary by the treatments applied and was 44% of the total residues available (computed excluding the stubble). In conclusion, admixing of chaff with straw is an option to increase the residues collected without compromising grain harvesting and straw baling efficiencies; in addition, it can reduce the energy needs for the bale logistics. According to the present data, improving the chaff collection can allow halving the loss of residues. However, further studies are needed to optimise both the chaff and the straw recoveries.

Pronucleus formation, DNA synthesis and metaphase entry in porcine oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection of murine spermatozoa

Zygote ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bong-Ki Kim ◽  
Sun Hong Cheon ◽  
Youn Jeong Lee ◽  
Sun Ho Choi ◽  
Xiang Shun Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Normal Cell ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Normal Male ◽  
Ultrastructural Observation ◽  
Intracytoplasmic Injection ◽  
Paternal Factors ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Mean Time

The onset of pronucleus formation and DNA synthesis in porcine oocytes following the injection of porcine or murine sperm was determined in order to obtain insights into species-specific paternal factors that contribute to fertilisation. Similar frequencies of oocytes with female pronuclei were observed after injection with porcine sperm or with murine sperm. In contrast, male pronuclei formed 8-9 h following the injection of porcine sperm, and 6-8 h following the injection of murine sperm. After pronucleus formation maternally derived microtubules were assembled and appeared to move both male and female pronuclei to the oocyte centre. A few porcine oocytes entered metaphase 22 h after the injection of murine sperm, but normal cell division was not observed. The mean time of onset of S-phase in male pronuclei was 9.7 h following porcine sperm injection and 7.4 h following mouse sperm injection. Ultrastructural observation revealed that male pronuclei derived from murine sperm in porcine oocytes are morphologically similar to normal male pronuclei in porcine zygotes. These results suggest that species-specific paternal factors influence the onset of pronucleus formation and DNA synthesis. However, normal nuclear cytoplasmic interactions were observed in porcine S-phase oocytes following murine sperm injection.

scholarly journals Polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers for forensic individual identification and parentage analyses of seven threatened species of parrots (family Psittacidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Jan ◽  
Luca Fumagalli
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dna Microsatellite ◽  
Dna Microsatellite Markers

The parrot family represents one of the bird group with the largest number of endangered species, as a result of habitat destruction and illegal trade. This illicit traffic involves the smuggling of eggs and animals, and the laundering through captive breeding facilities of wild-caught animals. Despite the huge potential of wildlife DNA forensics to determine with conclusive evidence illegal trade, current usage of DNA profiling approaches in parrots has been limited by the lack of suitable molecular markers specifically developed for the focal species and by low cross-species polymorphism. In this study, we isolated DNA microsatellite markers in seven parrot species threatened with extinction (Amazona brasiliensis,A. oratrix,A. pretrei,A. rhodocorytha,Anodorhynchus leari,Ara rubrogenysandPrimolius couloni). From an enriched genomic library followed by 454 pyrosequencing, we characterized a total of 106 polymorphic microsatellite markers (mostly tetranucleotides) in the seven species and tested them across an average number of 19 individuals per species. The mean number of alleles per species and across loci varied from 6.4 to 8.3, with the mean observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.65 to 0.84. Identity and parentage exclusion probabilities were highly discriminatory. The high variability displayed by these microsatellite loci demonstrates their potential utility to perform individual genotyping and parentage analyses, in order to develop a DNA testing framework to determine illegal traffic in these threatened species.

THE EFFECT OF INGESTED CHLORTETRACYCLINE ON SOME HYDROLASES AND ORGANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIGESTIVE PROCESS IN GROWING PIGS: II. PROTEASE, AMYLASE, AND GELLULASE ACTIVITY OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE AND OF THE CECUM; WEIGHTS OF SMALL INTESTINE AND MUCOSA

1957 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. A. Vonk ◽  
L. W. McElroy ◽  
R. T. Berg
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cellulase Activity ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Weanling Pigs ◽  
Intestinal Contents ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Four treatments, involving differences in method of feeding and interval between last feed and slaughter, were employed in a study of the effect of dietary chlortetracycline on protease, amylase, and cellulase activity in the intestinal and cecal contents of 16 pairs of weanling pigs. Most consistent results were obtained with six pairs which were limited pair-fed except for the final feeding during which feed was available ad libitum for a 4-hour period ending 18 hours before slaughter. The mean total activities of all three hydrolases in the contents of the small intestines and of the ceca of the antibiotic-fed animals of these six pairs were significantly greater than in those of the control animals. Expressed as activity per gram dry matter of intestinal contents, significantly higher values for protease and amylase, but not for cellulase, were observed in the pigs that had received chlortetracycline. When the combined results obtained from all 16 pairs of the experimental animals were analyzed, the results showed that on a basis of activity per gram dry matter of intestinal contents, ingested chlortetracycline was associated with significant increases in amylase and cellulase but not in protease activity. Protease, amylase, and cellulase activities per gram dry matter of cecal contents were higher for pigs fed the antibiotic than for their controls. The mean wet weight of the empty small intestine and the mean dry weight of the mucosa scraped from the anterior 3-meter section of the small intestine were lower for the chlortetracycline-fed animals, but the differences were not statistically significant.

scholarly journals Use of the copepod Oithona hebes as a bioencapsulator of essential fatty acids

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia Vanacor Barroso ◽  
Breno Barroso Boos ◽  
Rosemar Antoniassi ◽  
Luiz Fernando Loureiro Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Subsurface Layer ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Estuarine System ◽  
Chaetoceros Gracilis ◽  
Final Population ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Conical Tanks ◽  
Made In

AbstractThe advantages of using copepods in aquaculture include nutritional superiority, high digestibility and broad spectrum of sizes, with the possibility of bioencapsulation of nutrients, probiotics and medicines. This study aimed to compare the effects of feeding copepods with a microalgae diet and two commercial inert diets on the copepod culture performance and their fatty acid profile. Wild copepods were collected in the estuarine system of Piraquê-açu River, Aracruz, Espírito Santo, Brazil, with a conical net of 60 cm in diameter and 200 μm mesh with a blind cup end, towed through the subsurface layer at a speed of 1 knot for 5 minutes. Once collected, the material was sieved in order to select only Oithona hebes. The experiment was conducted in nine cylindrical-conical tanks with a 60 L capacity, salinity of 25.8 ± 1.3, temperature of 25.5 ± 0.5 ºC and weak aeration, stocked with a density of 1.5 copepod/mL. Treatments were made in triplicate and consisted of: Treatment 1 (Control) fed with microalgae Chaetoceros gracilis and Nannochloropsis oculata (1:1) with 50,000 cells.mL-1each; Treatment 2 with S.Parkle® INVE (1g.million-1); and Treatment 3 with freeze-dried spirulina (1g.million-1). The mean final population was compared by a Tukey test (p < 0.05). Results showed higher population growth for copepods treated with S.parkle, which was the only treatment that presented copepodites. S.parkle was a good source of total lipids (9.54 g.100g-1 dry weight), high availability of DHA, EPA and had a good DHA:EPA:ARA ratio of 12.4:3.4:1.0. Copepods that were fed S.parkle had the highest DHA levels and a DHA:EPA:ARA ratio of 15.4:2.2:1.0. This study showed that S.parkle is a good inert food for rearing the copepod O. hebes, demonstrating the ability of copepods to bioencapsulate nutrients, allowing their transfer in the food chain.

scholarly journals A COMPARISON OF METABOLITES IN WOOD-FORMING TISSUES FROM EIGHT COMMERCIAL TIMBER TREE SPECIES OF HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE IN CHINA

Wood Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 746-761
Author(s):  
JIANGTAO SHI ◽  
JUNYI PENG ◽  
CHONGYANG XIA ◽  
JIAN LI
Keyword(s):  
Malic Acid ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Glucose Content ◽  
Coniferous Trees ◽  
Timber Tree ◽  
Neutral Sugars ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Specific

Four coniferous and four deciduous commercial tree species from Northeastern ofChina were selected to investigate the differences ofmetabolites in wood-forming tissues bygas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the identified metabolites mainly consisted of neutral sugars, lipids, and organic acids. The mean contents of both arabinofuranose and 1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid were higher in coniferous trees thanin deciduous ones. Similarly, the D-fructose and D-glucose content was significantly higherin coniferous trees than deciduous trees, but the total contents of these two sugars was roughly equal among most tree species. The mean content of lactic acid, glycerol and malic acid was lowerin coniferous trees than deciduous trees. The malic acid content decreased in later-stages of wood formation than in early-stagefor all tree species. The content of L-proline and myo-inositol was greater in later-stage of wood formation than early-stage.The contentof octadecanoic acid, D-fructose and D-glucose decreased in later-stage of wood formationfor most tree species. All of thissuggested that the metabolites in wood-forming tissues showed the significance of species-specific and seasonal dynamic differences among the eight tree species.

scholarly journals Determination of trace elements in the plants of Mt. Bozdag, Izmir, Turkey

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Yildiz ◽  
I. Kula ◽  
G. Ay ◽  
S. Baslar ◽  
Y. Dogan
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Current Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Herbaceous And Woody Plants ◽  
Made In

The aim of this study was to determine the current level of atmospheric heavy metal content on the Bozdag Mountain of the Aegean Region, Turkey. Twenty nine different plants were selected to study their potential as biomonitors of trace elements such as Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb, Mn and Cd (?g g-1, dry weight). The samples were collected from two different altitudes of Mt. Bozdag. The concentrations of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations determined at 1000 m altitude ranged from 0.025 to 1.609, 0.232 to 0.731, 0.578 to 5.983, 0.287 to 0.565 and 0.176 to 2.659 (?g g-1, dry weight), for Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb and Mn, respectively. At the altitude of 1600 m, the values ranged from 0.023 to 0.939, 0.258 to 1.254, 0.839 to 5.176, 0.301 to 1.341 and 0.405 to 3.351 (?g g-1, dry weight) for Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb and Mn, respectively. No Cd was detected at either altitude. Statistical significance was determined by the independent sample t-test and comparisons were made in order to determine if there were any differences between the averages of herbaceous and woody plants. .

scholarly journals In Situ Estimation of Carbon Balance of In Vitro Sweetpotato and Tomato Plantlets Cultured with Varying Initial Sucrose Concentrations in the Medium

2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 963-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chieri Kubota ◽  
Makiko Ezawa ◽  
Toyoki Kozai ◽  
Sandra B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Balance ◽  
Ipomoea Batatas ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Sugar Uptake ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Carbon Balances ◽  
Species Specific

The effects of initial sucrose (suc) concentrations in the medium (S0) on the carbon balance and growth of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. `Beniazuma'] and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. `HanaQueen') plantlets were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Plantlets were cultured with 0, 7.5, 15, or 30 g·L-1 of S0 under high photosynthetic photon flux (160 to 200 μmol·m-2·s-1) and CO2 enriched (1400 to 2050 μmol·mol-1) conditions. Net photosynthetic rate per leaf area (Pl) decreased and dry weight per plantlet (Wd) increased with increasing S0, but did not differ significantly between S0 of 7.5 to 30 g·L-1 for sweetpotato or 15 to 30 g·L-1 for tomato. Carbon influxes and effluxes of the plantlets by metabolism of medium suc and/or photosynthesis, and respiration were estimated based on measurements of in situ and steady state CO2 exchange rates and sugar uptake during culture. At S0 from 7.5 to 30 g·L-1, photosynthesis was responsible for 82% to 92% and 60% to 67% of carbohydrate assimilation for sweetpotato and tomato, respectively. Estimated carbon balances of plantlets based on the estimated and actual increases of moles of carbon in plant tissue demonstrated that in situ estimation of carbon balance was reasonably accurate for sweetpotato at S0 of 0 to 15 g·L-1 and for tomato at S0 of 0 g·L-1 and that the actual contribution of photosynthesis for tomato at high S0 might be lower than the values estimated in the present experiment. Results showed that initial suc concentration affected the relative contribution of photosynthesis on their carbon balances and that the responses were species specific. The failure of validation at S0 in a range specific to each species suggested the need for further study on carbon metabolism of in vitro plantlets cultured with sugar in the medium.

scholarly journals Distribution Of Some Heavy Metals In Water,Sediment & Fish Cyprinus carpio in Euphrates River Near Al- Nassiriya City Center South Iraq .

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 552-560
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Cyprinus Carpio ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Particulate Phase ◽  
City Center ◽  
Euphrates River ◽  
The Mean ◽  
South Of Iraq

The heavy metals Cd, Cu, Fe, pb, and Zn were determined in dissolved and particulate phases of the water,in addition to exchangeable and residual phases of the sediment and in the selected organs of the fish Cyprinus carpio collected from the Euphrates River near Al-Nassiriya city center south of Iraq during the summer period / 2009 .Also sediment texture and total organic carbon(TOC) were measured. Analysis emploing a flam Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers . The mean regional concentrations of the heavy metals in dissolved (µg/l) and particulate phases (µg/gm) dry weight were Cd (0.15,16.13) ,Cu (0.59,24.48) ,Fe (726,909.4) ,Pb (0.20, 49.95) and Zn (2.5,35.62) respectively,and those for exchangeable and residual phases of the Sediment were Cd (0.2,0.1) ,Cu (13.75,16.65) ,Fe (683 , 1351 ) ,Pb (10.1,1.07) and Zn (7.3,16.75)µg/gm dry weight respectively. The heavy metals concentrations in C. carpio organs followed the trend gill > liver > kidney> muscles . The mean concentration in the muscles were Cd (ND) , Cu (0.07) , Fe (4.7) , pb (0.06) and Zn (6.4) (µg/gm) dry weight . The statistical analysis proved a significant correlation between metal concentration in the sediment and total organic carbon, also a positive correlation was proved between its concentrations in the liver organ and the water (particulate phase) . In conclusion the trace metals concentration in particulate phase were higher than its concentration in the dissolved phase . The fish organs showed variations in the metals concentration and the muscle organs showed less concentration than the other organs .

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