When fossil clades ‘compete’: local dominance, global diversification dynamics and causation

Examining the supposition that local-scale competition drives macroevolutionary patterns has become a familiar goal in fossil biodiversity studies. However, it is an elusive goal, hampered by inadequate confirmation of ecological equivalence and interactive processes between clades, patchy sampling, few comparative analyses of local species assemblages over long geological intervals, and a dearth of appropriate statistical tools. We address these concerns by reevaluating one of the classic examples of clade displacement in the fossil record, in which cheilostome bryozoans surpass the once dominant cyclostomes. Here, we analyse a newly expanded and vetted compilation of 40 190 fossil species occurrences to estimate cheilostome and cyclostome patterns of species proportions within assemblages, global genus richness and genus origination and extinction rates while accounting for sampling. Comparison of time-series models using linear stochastic differential equations suggests that inter-clade genus origination and extinction rates are causally linked to each other in a complex feedback relationship rather than by simple correlations or unidirectional relationships, and that these rates are not causally linked to changing within-assemblage proportions of cheilostome versus cyclostome species.

Effectiveness of dry cow therapy and/or internal teat sealant on existing infections in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya

Background and Aim: Dry cow therapy (DCT) can be an effective treatment of mastitis that has not responded to conventional treatment during lactation. The aim of this study was to establish the effectiveness of DCT options available in reducing intramammary infections in smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu County, Kenya. Materials and Methods: The study targeted smallholder dairy farms which were registered at the local dairy cooperatives and which had cows that were at the point of dry-off. A total of 32 cows with 121 quarters that were California Mastitis Test (CMT) positive were recruited, with the quarters randomly allocated to receive either DCT (DCT – neomycin sulfate, penethamate hydriodide, and procaine benzylpenicillin) and internal teat sealant (ITS) or ITS alone (bismuth nitrate) after aseptically collecting quarter milk samples for bacterial culture. Farm- and animal-level factors were captured through a questionnaire which was administered to the principal farmer or a person who was managing the animals. Post-calving, milk samples were also collected for bacterial culture to establish if the infection was cleared or if there was a new infection. Results: DCT with ITS significantly reduced the proportion of quarters infected with Staphylococcus aureus from 64.0% at dry-off to 44.0% post-calving (35% reduction). In the control group, ITS alone, there was a small reduction in proportions of S. aureus from 46.8% to 40.4%. Proportions of quarter infections by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in the treatment group reduced from 16.0% at dry-off to 2.0% post-calving, with a significant reduction in the control group too from 19.1% to 4.3%, which could be due to self-cure. Actinomyces species, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus species, and Pseudomonas species proportions slightly increased in the treatment group, as did E. coli and Pseudomonas species proportions in the control group. Conclusion: In smallholder dairy farms with subclinical mastitis, DCT of CMT-positive cows leads to a significant decrease of S. aureus infections at calving.

Préparations galactogènes utilisées par les agroéleveurs au Bénin : espèces végétales, proportions d’organes impliqués et production laitière chez les vaches Borgou

Objectif : Au Bénin, la production de lait des vaches locales ne permet pas de couvrir les besoins nutritionnels de la population. Pour l’améliorer, les agroéleveurs font recours à des recettes galactogènes. Cette étude évalue leur efficacité sur la production laitière des vaches de race Borgou. Méthodologie et Résultats : Au Bénin, une enquête réalisée auprès de 534 éleveurs a permis de recenser 286 recettes galactogènes utilisées par les agroéleveurs. Sur la base d’une classification numérique des recettes citées par au moins 20 % des enquêtés, dix (10) recettes ont été retenues pour des enquêtes approfondies. Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Curcubita maxima sont fréquemment impliquées dans les préparations galactogènes. Les racines et les graines sont les organes les plus utilisés. Les graines de Vigna unguiculata ou d’Arachis Hypogea sont toujours associées aux préparations. La production laitière est plus élevée après administration aux vaches et peut atteindre 2,5 litres par jour. Conclusion et application des résultats : L’étude confirme l’efficacité des préparations galactogènes utilisées par les agroéleveurs pour améliorer la production laitière des vaches locales. Il est intéressant de constater que les espèces végétales (Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Curcubita maxima, Euphorbia basalmifera) fréquemment utilisées sont présentes dans la flore béninoise. Les graines de Vigna unguiculata ou d’Arachis Hypogea sont toujours associées aux préparations galactogènes. Les racines et les graines sont les organes les plus utilisés. Quelle que soit la recette utilisée, la production du lait est plus élevée après administration des préparations aux vaches (P < 0,05) et peut toutefois atteindre 2,5 litres contre 1,5 par jour relevée en élevage semi-intensif pour les races locales. Le gain laitier suite à l’administration des recettes s’étale entre 0,6 et 1,1 litre par jour. Il ne reste maintenant qu’à identifier pour les recettes la forme galénique la mieux adaptée aux conditions socio-économiques de ces éleveurs traditionnels. Mots-clés : Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Curcubita maxima, recette galactogènes, vaches Borgou, Bénin. Agani et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2021 Préparations galactogènes utilisées par les agroéleveurs au Bénin : espèces végétales, proportions d’organes impliqués et production laitière chez les vaches Borgou 16162 Galactogenic formulations used by agro-pastoralists in Benin: plant species, proportions of organs involved, and milk production in Borgou cows. ABSTRACT Objective: In Benin, the milk production of local cows does not cover the nutritional needs of the population. To improve it, agro-pastoralists use galactogenic formulations. This study evaluates their effectiveness on the milk production of Borgou cows. Methodology and Results: In Benin, a survey of 534 breeders identified 286 galactogenic formulations used by agro-breeders. Based on a numerical classification of the formulations cited by at least 20% of respondents, ten (10) formulations were retained for in-depth investigations. Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Curcubita maxima were frequently involved in these galactogenic preparations. The roots and seeds are the most used organs. The seeds of Vigna unguiculata or Arachis Hypogea were also always associated with preparations. Milk production was higher after administration to cows and could reach 2.5 litres per day. Conclusion and application of the results: The study confirms the effectiveness of galactogenic feed formulations used by agro-breeders to improve milk production in local cows. It is interesting to note that the plant species (Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Curcubita maxima, Euphorbia basalmifera) frequently used are present in the Beninese flora. The seeds of Vigna unguiculata or Arachis Hypogea are always associated with galactogenic preparations. The roots and seeds are the most used organs. Whatever the recipe used, the milk production is higher after administration of the formulas to the cows (P <0.05) and can however reach 2.5 litres against 1.5 per day observed in semi-intensive breeding for local breeds.. The milk gain from the administration of the recipes ranges from 0.6 to 1.1 litres per day. All that remains now is to identify the dosage form best suited to the socio-economic conditions of these traditional breeders for the recipes. Keywords: Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Curcubita maxima, galactogenic recipe, Borgou cows, Benin.

Volumes by tree species can be predicted using photogrammetric UAS data, Sentinel-2 images and prior field measurements

Photogrammetric point clouds obtained with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have emerged as an alternative source of remotely sensed data for small area forest management inventories (FMI). Nonetheless, it is often overlooked that small area FMI require considerable field data in addition to UAS data, to support the modelling of forest attributes. In this study, we propose a method whereby tree volumes by species are predicted with photogrammetric UAS data and Sentinel-2 images, using models fitted with airborne laser scanning data. The study area is in a managed boreal forest area in Eastern Finland. First, we predicted total volume with UAS point cloud metrics using a prior regression model fitted in another area with ALS data. Tree species proportions were then predicted by nearest neighbor (-NN) imputation based on bi-seasonal Sentinel-2 images without measuring new field plot data. Species-specific volumes were then obtained by multiplying the total volume by species proportions. The relative root mean square error (RMSE) values for total and species-specific volume predictions at the validation plot level (30 m × 30 m) were 9.0%, and 33.4–62.6%, respectively. Our approach appears promising for species-specific small area FMI in Finland and in comparable forest conditions in which suitable field plots are available.kk

The diet, and pellet residue taphonomy, of Barn Owls Tyto alba on a Greek island reveals an exceptional diversity of avian prey

Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets and loose bones on a cave floor from Amorgos (Cyclades, Greece) were examined and the birds found to have caught at least 39 species of bird, mostly identified from humeri, plus shrews Crocidura suaveolens, a few lizards and dung beetles, in addition to their principal diet of rodents (rats Rattus rattus, mice Apodemus spp. & Mus musculus). Amongst the birds, migrants appeared most vulnerable to owl predation, with some notable exceptions, while resident species were under-represented. The range of bird species found appears to be the largest recorded for any Barn Owl study of a single site. Considerable differences were found in species proportions of taxa in fresh pellets and in loose bones, probably due to differential rates of degradation. Photographs of all humeri are included to aid identification in other studies.

Are local dominance and inter-clade dynamics causally linked when one fossil clade displaces another?

Disputing the supposition that ecological competition drives macroevolutionary patterns is now a familiar goal in many fossil biodiversity studies. But it is an elusive goal, hampered by patchy sampling, few assemblage-level comparative analyses, unverified ecological equivalence of clades and a dearth of appropriate statistical tools. We address these concerns with a fortified and vetted compilation of 40190 fossil species occurrences of cyclostome and cheilostome bryozoans, a canonical example of one taxonomically dominant clade being displaced by another. Dramatic increases in Cretaceous cheilostome genus diversification rates begin millions of years before cheilostomes overtake cyclostomes in local species proportions. Moreover, analyses of origination and extinction rates over 150 Myr suggest that inter-clade dynamics are causally linked to each other, but not to changing assemblage-level proportions.One Sentence SummaryGlobal fossil diversification rates and local taxonomic dominance are not causally linked.

Population Dynamics in Mixed Canopies Composed of Kikuyu-Grass and Tall Fescue

The current work was based on the central hypothesis that grazing management strategies modulate tillering dynamics of mixed canopies composed of kikuyu-grass (C4 perennial grass) and tall fescue (C3 perennial grass). Among the five grazing management conditions evaluated, three (7, 12, and 17 cm) represented the heights up to which the grasses were kept by mimicking a continuous stocking method throughout the experimental period (from May 2016 to October 2017), and the other two consisted of the heights 12 and 17 cm with a single grazing to 7 cm in mid-autumn. Nitrogen fertilization was applied only during winter–spring. The results showed that under severe grazing (7 cm), kikuyu-grass predominated in the area and that tall fescue population predominated in the moderately lenient (12 cm) and lenient (17 cm) grazed pastures, regardless of an occasional autumn grazing to 7 cm. After two years of evaluation, kikuyu-grass tillers were reduced to 6% of the total population in those pastures managed at the heights of 12 and 17 cm. Grazing management strategies modulate species proportions in a mixed canopy composed of kikuyu and tall fescue. Moreover, our data also suggest that it seems unlikely that there is a stable association of tall fescue and kikuyu-grass when no nitrogen fertilization is applied during summer.

Sustainability of High-Value Timber Species in Mixed Conifer–Broadleaf Forest Managed under Selection System in Northern Japan

Understanding the sustainability of high-value timber species in managed forests provides useful information for the management of these species in the long-run. Using nearly 50 years of census data in long-term permanent plots, we investigated the sustainability of three high-value timber species—monarch birch (Betula maximowicziana Regel), castor aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz), and Japanese oak (Quercus crispula Blume)—in cool-temperate mixed forest under a selection system in northern Japan. We used stocking, demographic parameters, and species proportions of these species as measures of sustainability. Results showed that the tree density and basal area of the three high-value timber species increased during the study period. Moreover, the basal area increment of these species showed an increasing trend across census periods. However, while no significant differences in the tree mortality of these species were observed, the numbers of in-growth fluctuated across census periods. Increasing trends in species proportions of monarch birch and Japanese oak were observed. Even though there were some fluctuations across census periods, especially in smaller diameter classes, diameter distribution curves of high-value timber species followed a reversed J-shaped pattern. The results revealed that the sustainability measures of high-value timber species can be achieved in forest stands managed under single-tree selection system. In addition, the results also indicated the changing structure and composition of the forest stand. The stocking and basal area increment of conifers decreased while those of broadleaves increased. The proportion of conifers decreased to 33.01% in 2008–2016 from 48.35% in 1968–1978. The results of this study would be useful for adapting silvicultural practices and harvesting practices as well as for simulating various silvicultural and management options for high-value timber species.

Economic losses caused by tree species proportions and site type errors in forest management planning

The aim of this study was to estimate economic losses, which are caused by forest inventory errors of tree species proportions and site types. Our study data consisted of ground truth data and four sets of erroneous tree species proportions. They reflect the accuracy of tree species proportions in four remote sensing data sets, namely 1) airborne laser scanning (ALS) with 2D aerial image, 2) 2D aerial image, 3) 3D and 2D aerial image data together and 4) satellite data. Furthermore, our study data consisted of one simulated site type data set. We used the erroneous tree species proportions to optimise the timing of forest harvests and compared that to the true optimum obtained with ground truth data. According to the results, the mean losses of Net Present Value (NPV) because of erroneous tree species proportions at an interest rate of 3% varied from 124.4 € ha to 167.7 € ha. The smallest losses were observed using tree species proportions predicted using ALS data and largest using satellite data. In those stands, respectively, in which tree species proportion errors actually caused economic losses, they were 468 € ha on average with tree species proportions based on ALS data. In turn, site type errors caused only small losses. Based on this study, accurate tree species identification seems to be very important with respect to operational forest inventory.–1–1–1