Mitigating climate-driven animal mass mortality events with resilient native scavenger guilds.

Climate-driven animal mass mortality events (MMEs) will increase as the magnitude and frequency of extreme weather and climate events worsens due to climate change. Besides resulting in demographic catastrophes for affected species, MMEs adds further pressure to vulnerable ecosystems in several ways. We suggest the protection and restoration of resilient native scavenging guilds are key strategies to build climate-resilient ecosystems. Incorporating this nature-based solution into biodiversity conservation policies will ensure the efficient breakdown and recycling of carcasses back into the environment, and minimise risks of disease spillover to human and wildlife. Policy makers are urged to recognise scavengers as allies in mitigating the negative impacts of climate-driven MMEs on our ecosystems.

Ammonia Emissions from Differing Manure Storage Facilities at Two Midwestern Free-Stall Dairies

Dairies contribute a major portion of agricultural ammonia emissions in the United States. Emissions were monitored over two years from an anaerobic lagoon receiving manure from cows in the milking parlor and holding area in Indiana (IN), USA and a storage basin receiving manure from cows in barns as well as the milking parlor and holding area in Wisconsin (WI), USA. Emissions were monitored using open-path tunable diode lasers, sonic anemometers, and two emission models. The mean annual daily emissions at the WI storage basins (30 µg m−2 s−1) was nearly equal to that at the IN lagoon (27 µg m−2 s−1). The mean annual daily ammonia (NH3) emissions on a per animal basis were greater at the WI basins (33 g NH3 hd−1 d−1; 26 g NH3 AU−1 d−1) (hd = animal; AU = 500 kg animal mass) than at the IN lagoon (9 g NH3 hd−1 d−1; 7 g NH3 AU−1 d−1). Emissions from both storage systems were highest in the summer, lowest in the winter, and similar during the spring and fall. Emissions were strongly correlated with air temperature and weakly correlated with wind conditions. Greater emissions at the WI basins appeared to be related primarily to the characteristics of the stored manure.

Immobilisation of bifidobacteria in biodegradable food-grade microparticles

The present research features a natural polymer that can be used for immobilisation of bifidobacteria as well as a method of immobilisation. We described a modified method of microencapsulation of probiotics using sodi- um alginate. The experiment studied the effect of encapsulation on probiotic stability and involved an in vitro model of human digestive tract. The test sample of microencapsulated Bifi obacterium bifi um 791 showed a decrease in the activity from 3.0×107 to 2.2×105 CFU/ml in a mouse model with pH 1.2. By contrast, the control sample, unprotected by biodegradable polymer microcapsules, demonstrated a higher death rate of bifidobacteria: from 2.6×108 CFU/ml to 5.0×103 CFU/ml. The control sample demonstrated the same downward trend in in vitro gastrointestinal models with pH values of 4.5, 6.8, 7.2, and 5.8. Because the total plate count fell down to 4.0l g CFU/ml in acidity gradients, the titres of the initial microencapsulated biomass had to be increased up to > 109 CFU/ml. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy, the new type of microcapsules obtained by using a resistant starch had a closed sur- face. Prebiotics increased the resistance of bacteria to low pH and bile salts. Bifidobacteria encapsulated with natural biodegradable polymers proved to be well-tolerated and harmless for mice. The experiment revealed that biodegrad- able polymer microcapsules did not cause any chronic or acute toxicity when administered orally at 2×107 CFU per 1 gram of animal mass. The microcapsules demonstrated neither dermonecrotic properties nor any irritant effect on the ocular mucosa and, thus, can be used for food enforcement.

The influence of probiotic fodder additives on the morphofunctional state of duodenum pigs

The article is dedicated to the study of the effect of a class of microorganisms and substances of microbial and other origin that are used in feeding pigs to achieve maximum growth in animal mass, as well as therapeutic purposes. Study of the effect of biologically active additives on the state of the pig's digestive system. The article considers the rational nutrition that increase the productivity and reproductive capacity of animals, and also prevent the emergence of profound disturbances of all metabolic processes which leads to a decrease in resistance to productivity, a clinically pronounced disease of adult animals and young animals. The authors pay attention to the morphometric parameters, ultrastructure and content of nucleic acids in the wall of the duodenum of pigs by forage feeding with the addition of probiotic fodder additive «Probion-forte» in dose of 1 g/kg of fodder. Research were conducted on 28 day pigs, breed «Large White». It was formed two groups of piglets per 30 heads; piglets were fed with standard mixed fodders; piglets from the first group were received standard mixed fodder with the addition of probiotic fodder additive «Probion-forte» in dose 1 g/kg of fodder for 42 days. After the slaughter of piglets, pieces of duodenum for histological, histochemical and ultrastructural studies were selected. Statistical significance of differences was determined by Student's t test , assuming 5% estimate error. It was shown that feeding with forage within 42 days from the addition of probiotic fodder additive «Probion-forte» at a dose of 1 g/kg, villus height is increase, crypt depth and a number of plasma cells in the lamina propria of mucosa of the duodenum, which helps the digestive process and increase the area of nutrient absorption in the intestines. The number of plasma cells are increased in the lamina propria of mucosa and testify immunomodulatory effect of fodder additives. Ultra structural alteration of microvilli and changes in the nuclei of duodenal enterocytes of piglets of the first group indicates a more pronounced acfunctional activity of enterocytes and thereby increases the activity of parietal digestion in the intestine. As a conclusion, the task by definition performed of the effective dose of probiotic in feed for pig it can be considered completed and we can state the probiotics can be incorporated, as a alternative to antibiotics and increase the weight gain of animals and also to increase the level of immune resistance of the organism.

Sampling Duration and Frequency for Determining Emission Rates from Naturally Ventilated Dairy Barns

The ideal practice for determining gas emission rates from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is continuous measurement throughout the year to capture diurnal and seasonal variations. However, data that meet this criterion are scarce because this approach is costly and technically challenging. A practical approach with reduced sampling time and frequency without compromising integrity is thus necessary. In this study, we examined five reduced sampling protocols for determining emission rates from naturally ventilated dairy barns: (1) six sampling events, during even months, each event running continuously for 24 h (144 hourly data points); (2) six sampling events, during odd months, each event running continuously for 24 h (144 hourly data points); (3) six sampling events, during even months, each event running continuously for 7 d (1,008 hourly data points); (4) six sampling events, during odd months, each event running continuously for 7 d (1,008 hourly data points); and (5) 12 sampling events, one event every month, each event running continuously for 24 h (288 hourly data points). These five reduced sampling protocols were evaluated against baseline emission rates obtained from a protocol consisting of 12 sampling events, one event every month, each event running continuously for 7 d (2,016 hourly data points). The average baseline emission rates for carbon dioxide (CO2), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) ranged from 7.0 to 10.8 g d-1 AU-1, from 16.9 to 24.3 g d-1 AU-1, and from 0.40 to 0.63 g d-1 AU-1, respectively. Emission rates for CO2 and NH3 obtained from all five reduced sampling protocols had relative biases of less than 20% from the respective baseline emission rates. This implied that even the most reduced sampling protocol (six sampling events per year, each event running continuously for 24 h) would be adequate for determining CO2 and NH3 emission rates. However, for H2S, relative biases of the reduced sampling protocols ranged from 2% to 45%, with a 50% chance of emission rates falling outside ±20% of the baseline emission rates. These protocols, however, are only applicable for quantifying emission rates from barns with steady-state live animal mass. Keywords: Air quality, Emission rates, Air sampling protocol, CAFO, Emission inventories.

Osteocyte size, shape, orientation, and population density

SummaryDespite being encased in lacunae, osteocytes are extensively interconnected and have several mechanisms that enable them to physically and chemically appraise their environment and adjust to it. In the perspective that cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions mediate these functions and are critically important during the formation of a mechanically competent bone organ, we focus on several considerations: (1) osteocyte lacunae are not always occupied by living cells and the percent lacuna vacancy can increase with aging, some diseases, and experimental perturbations, (2) the potential for the population density and/or sizes and shapes of osteocytes (or of their lacunae) and of their cell processes (typically seen as the canaliculi in which they reside) in helping investigators interpret the load history of a bone or bone region, and (3) scaling relationships between osteocyte density and various parameters, including animal mass and metabolism. We also point out that all of these considerations are being impacted by high-resolution three-dimensional imaging technologies that allow increased accuracy when quantifying details of lacunar-canalicular geometries.

Allometry of the Tendon Enthesis: Mechanisms of Load Transfer Between Tendon and Bone

Several features of the tendon-to-bone attachment were examined allometrically to determine load transfer mechanisms. The humeral head diameter increased geometrically with animal mass. Area of the attachment site exhibited a near isometric increase with muscle physiological cross section. In contrast, the interfacial roughness as well as the mineral gradient width demonstrated a hypoallometric relationship with physiologic cross-sectional area (PCSA). The isometric increase in attachment area indicates that as muscle forces increase, the attachment area increases accordingly, thus maintaining a constant interfacial stress. Due to the presence of constant stresses at the attachment, the micrometer-scale features may not need to vary with increasing load.

Mass enhances speed but diminishes turn capacity in terrestrial pursuit predators

The dynamics of predator-prey pursuit appears complex, making the development of a framework explaining predator and prey strategies problematic. We develop a model for terrestrial, cursorial predators to examine how animal mass modulates predator and prey trajectories and affects best strategies for both parties. We incorporated the maximum speed-mass relationship with an explanation of why larger animals should have greater turn radii; the forces needed to turn scale linearly with mass whereas the maximum forces an animal can exert scale to a 2/3 power law. This clarifies why in a meta-analysis, we found a preponderance of predator/prey mass ratios that minimized the turn radii of predators compared to their prey. It also explained why acceleration data from wild cheetahs pursuing different prey showed different cornering behaviour with prey type. The outcome of predator prey pursuits thus depends critically on mass effects and the ability of animals to time turns precisely.