Inter-Cluster Competition and Resource Partitioning May Govern the Ecology of Frankia

Microbes live in a complex communal ecosystem. The structural complexity of microbial community reflects diversity, functionality as well as habitat type. Delineation of ecologically important microbial populations along with exploration of their roles in environmental adaptation or host-microbe interaction has a crucial role in modern microbiology. In this scenario, reverse ecology (the use of genomics to study ecology) plays a pivotal role. Some studies have reported the presence of other non-Frankia genus from the same root nodule from where the Frankia was isolated. Since co-existance of two different genus in one small niche should maintain a strict direct interaction, it will be interesting to utilize the concept of reverse ecology in this scenario.Here, we exploited an ‘R’ package, the RevEcoR, to resolve the issue of co-existing microbes which are proven to be a crucial tool for identifying the nature of their relationship (competition or complementation) persisting among them. Our target organism here is Frankia, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium popular for its genetic and host specificity nature. According to their plant host, Frankia has already been subdivided into four clusters CI, CII, CIII and CIV. Our results revealed a strong competing nature of CI Frankia. The competition index between CI and CIII was greater than other studied Frankia clusters. The other interesting result was the co-occurrence of C-II and C-IV groups. It was revealed that these two groups follow the theory of resource partitioning in their lifestyle. Metabolic analysis along with their differential transporter machinery validated our hypothesis of resource partitioning among C-II and C-IV group.

PSV-16 Validation of an algorithm to assess feedbunk replacement events in beef cattle using an electronic feeding system

Visual observations of social behavior and dominance relationships in cattle have been used to examine associations with productivity and well-being. This method is time consuming limiting the number of animals that can be evaluated. The objective of this study was to validate an algorithm to quantify feedbunk replacement events using data from an electronic feeding system. Crossbred beef steers (n = 20) fed a grower diet were housed in 1 of 2 pens each equipped with 3 electronic feedbunks (GrowSafe Systems) and video recorders. A trained video observer recorded all feedbunk replacement events and other agonistic activities at the feedbunk over a 4-d period (24 h/d). The electronic feeding system recorded the start and end timestamps of bunk visit (BV) events for each animal. An algorithm was developed to determine BV events deemed to be replacement events, defined as a BV event when an actor animal displaced a reactor animal from the feedbunk and occupied the same feeder within a specified period of time (replacement criterion). We calculated the recall and precision corresponding to replacement criterions from 1 to 60 s, and the optimum replacement criterion was determined to be between 18 and 20 s. The recall, precision and F-score of the algorithm using this replacement criterion were high (on average > 0.75). Furthermore, a replacement competition index was computed as a proxy for competitive feedbunk behavior, calculated as the number of actor-initiated replacement events divided by the total number of replacement events for each steer. Using Spearmans rank correlation we found high correlations (r > 0.7; P < 0.05) between the electronic and observed indices. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential of the GrowSafe system to quantify feedbunk replacement events for confined beef cattle, providing opportunities to evaluate associations between competitive feedbunk behavior and economically relevant traits.

PSX-A-26 Late-Breaking: The perch competition index of small cage laying hens

A total 72 Lohmann white laying hens at 7 weeks old were used to evaluate the relationship between social order and perch utilization. All laying hens were randomly divided into 12 cages, 6 birds in each cage. The aim of the study is to verify the hypothesis that high-ranked chickens will use perch more when there are only the perch in cage. The study researches the use of perch (including the behavior of the perch) of all hens by setting up the increasing the length of the perch. Using Clutton-Brock index by observing four behaviors (aggression, threat, replace and chase) to determine the social order of the laying hens. The data are analyzed by the generalized linear model (GLMM) in SPSS 23 software. The results showed that the higher rank laying hens used perch more times and time than other subordinate hens (P < 0.001), and the lying, preening and comforting behaviors on the perch increased accordingly (P < 0.001). Except for the highest rank of laying hens, the use of the perch was not significantly different among other subordinate ones (P > 0.05). The conclusion of this study is providing the perch for the caged laying hens can reduce their density on the floor of the cage and make the group stable more quickly. Secondly, higher-ranked hens will use more the perch, and the subordinate hens will reduce the positive conflict with the high-ranked ones. Therefore, providing perch for furnished caged laying hens is beneficial to the welfare of the laying hens in the cage.

Competition in a Mixed-Species Planting With Four Contrasting Species

Background: Mixed-species systems are well-suited to smallholder and community forestry, but reliable evidence regarding and procedures to assess species performance in such systems is scarce. This study concern a field trial with a pair of clinal plots varying spacing and species composition that offered insights into competition between four species proposed for mixed-species plantings by smallholders for landscape rehabilitation in the Philippines. Results: Use of a size-distance competition index allowed an assessment of the competitive and collaborative influences between four tree species. Within the expected general trend for growth to decline with increasing competition, there were indications that Shorea palosapis is a benign competitor that may stimulate the growth of neighbouring individuals. Paraserianthes falcataria is a strong competitor that is also strongly impacted by competition, especially through antagonistic intraspecific competition. Paraserianthes falcataria appears well suited as a solitary tree in a field or village, whereas Shorea palosapis seems ideal for plantations, in both monoculture and mixed plantings. Conclusion: Pterocarpus indicus exbibits strong intraspecific, but low inter-specific competition, so appears well-suited for polyculture plantings. Of the four species, Swietenia macrophylla appears to be best-suited as a monoculture species as it exhibits the lowest intraspecific competition.

Space Planting, Competition, and Productivity of a Seven-Year-Old Clonal Teak Plantation in the East Java Monsoon Forest Area

Tree breeding of teak results in selected clones with high growth. Intensive silviculture is required to support a large-scale clonal teak plantation. Appropriate spacing is one of the methods to increase forest plantation productivity. Research of teak clone spacing was conducted on a seven-year-old clonal teak plantation with randomized completely block design. The treatments tested in this study were four plant spacing distances, namely, 3 m × 3 m, 6 m × 2 m, 8 m × 2 m, and 10 m × 2 m. Results show that spacing had significantly different effects on diameter, height, bole height, branch angle, crown area, crown projections, volume, and competition index. However, the height growth did not exhibit any significant differences. The 10 m × 2 m spacing produced the best diameter growth, crown area, and competition index, but has a low volume per hectare and the lowest height of free branch and branch angle. Meanwhile, the 3 m × 3 m spacing will increase bole height and stand volume per hectare. This result suggests that spacing could improve the growth of teak clone but must be followed by intensification of proper maintenance to reduce branch angle and increase bole height.

The Moderating Effect of Democracy on Climate-Induced Social Conflict: Evidence from Indian Districts

Do political institutions moderate the effect of environmental stress on social conflict? We posit that while the frequency of social conflict in developing agrarian states can increase during drought, democratic competition reduces conflict and can facilitate cooperation, reversing this effect. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of all districts in India over a period from 2001 to 2014. The dependent variable captures the number of crimes perpetrated against scheduled castes—so-called “untouchables”—and scheduled tribes—India’s Indigenous groups—during a given district-year. When the effect of drought is moderated using a local electoral competition index, findings show that although droughts increase the frequency of social conflicts where political institutions are weak, they reduce it where political institutions are strong. The results are robust to alternative operationalization choices. Our findings, thus, have relevance both to scholars of the climate–conflict nexus and to policymakers working to address climate change’s effects.

Caractérisation de la compétition et de la croissance de Pericopsis elata (Harms) Van Meeuven dans les plantations de la Réserve Forestière de Deng-Deng (Est, Cameroun)

Pericopsis elata est une espèce ligneuse à grande valeur commerciale menacée d’extinction. Les plantations d’Assamela installées dans la Réserve Forestière de Deng-Deng en 1974 ont été abandonnées après leur mise en place. Dès lors, très peu de connaissances relatives au développement de ces peuplements sont disponibles. L’objectif de la présente étude est de contribuer à la compréhension des conditions de croissance de Pericopsis elata dans la réserve et induire un aménagement efficace. Trois inventaires exhaustifs ont été conduits, au cours desquels les données dendrométriques et structurales ont été collectées. Les indices de compétition de Hegyi, les semi-variogrammes et la distribution spatiale des tiges ont été analysés et interprétés. Les densités actuelles sont sans effet limitant pour la croissance des tiges. Les effets du milieu se révèlent comme étant le facteur qui a plus d’impact sur la croissance des tiges de Pericopsis elata. La plantation de recrû (33,21 cm), moins sensible à l’effet de la densité en termes de croissance comparée aux plantations des grands layons (26,91 cm et 26,89 cm), enregistre les meilleures performances de croissance en diamètre. Ainsi, des travaux d’entretien et des éclaircies portées vers une réduction considérable des compétitions interspécifique et intra spécifique sont nécessaires.Mots clés : Indice de Hegyi, méthodes sylvicoles, modes de compétition, plantations équiennes, semi-variogramme, Cameroun. English Title: Characterization of the competition and growth of Pericopsis elata (Harms) Van Meeuven in the plantations of the Deng-Deng Forest Reserve (East, Cameroon)Pericopsis elata is a valuable woody species threatened with extinction. The Assamela plantations established in the Deng-Deng Forest Reserve in 1974 were abandoned after their establishment. As a result, very little knowledge about the development of these stands is available. The objective of the present study is to contribute to the understanding of the growing conditions of Pericopsis elata in the Reserve and to induce proper management. Three exhaustive inventories were conducted, during which dendrometric data were collected. Hegyi’s competition indices, variograms and spatial distribution of stems were developed. Current densities have no limiting effect on stem growth. Environmental effects were found to be the factor that had the greatest impact on the growth of Pericopsis elata stems. The recruiting plantation (33.21 cm), which is less sensitive to the effect of density in terms of growth compared to the large layon method (26.91 cm and 16.89 cm), has the best growth in diameter performance. Thus, maintenance work and thinning leading to a considerable reduction in interspecific and intraspecific competition is necessary.Keywords: Regular plantations, Hegyi’s competition index, mode of competition, Silvicultural methods, semi-variogram, Cameroon.

Exploring the Potential to Improve the Estimation of Boreal Tree Structural Attributes with Simple Height- and Distance-Based Competition Index

In many cases, the traditional ground-based estimates of competition between trees are not directly applicable with modern aerial inventories, due to incompatible measurements. Moreover, many former studies of competition consider extreme stand densities, hence the effect of competition under the density range in managed stands remains less explored. Here we explored the utility of a simple tree height- and distance-based competition index that provides compatibility with data produced by modern inventory methods. The index was used for the prediction of structural tree attributes in three boreal tree species growing in low to moderate densities within mixed stands. In silver birch, allometric models predicting tree diameter, crown height, and branch length all showed improvement when the effect of between-tree competition was included. A similar but non-significant trend was also present in a proxy for branch biomass. In Siberian larch, only the prediction of branch length was affected. In Scots pine, there was no improvement. The results suggest that quantification of competitive interactions based on individual tree heights and locations alone has potential to improve the prediction of tree attributes, although the outcomes can be species-specific.