Waratah theft in Brisbane Water National Park - an analysis of the blue paint poaching reduction program

The flowers of Waratahs, Telopea speciosissima (family Proteaceae) are regularly harvested illegally from natural bushland, particularly close to urban areas such as the New South Wales Central Coast. The removal of Waratah blooms from the wild may have implications for the long-term survival of local populations because of the interaction between wildfire events, subsequent flowering and limited seedling recruitment opportunities. To reduce the incidence of theft, blue acrylic paint was applied to blooms to reduce their commercial value. The painting of blooms in 2004 did not significantly reduce the incidence of wildflower theft when compared to unpainted blooms, but overall losses were lower (27%) than in 2003 (33%). However, painting of blooms had a deleterious affect on fruit production on plants with multiple heads with painted blooms having significantly reduced fruit set compared to unpainted blooms. Painting of blooms had no significant effect on seed quality (seed production per fruit, seed germination or seedling vigour) when compared to unpainted blooms. The painting of Waratah blooms to reduce theft was relatively ineffective and decreased fruit production. Alternative strategies should be considered to reduce wildflower theft in the area

Parasitoid complex of fall armyworm, spodoptera frugiperda, in Ghana and Benin

Open Access Journal; Published online: 21 Jan 2020The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a moth originating from the American continent, has recently invaded most African countries, where it is seriously threatening food security as a pest of cereals. The current management methods rely heavily on the use of synthetic insecticides but there is a need for more sustainable control methods, including biological control. Surveys were conducted in two West African countries, Ghana and Benin, to determine the native parasitoid complex and assess parasitism rates of S. frugiperda. Samples of S. frugiperda eggs and larvae were collected in maize fields located in 56 and 90 localities of Ghana and Benin, respectively, from July 2018 to July 2019. Ten species were found parasitizing the pest, including two egg parasitoids, one egg–larval, five larval and two larval–pupal parasitoids. The two most abundant parasitoids in both countries were two Braconidae: the egg‐larval parasitoid Chelonus bifoveolatus and the larval parasitoid Coccygidum luteum. Parasitism rates were determined in three Ghanaian regions and averages varied from 0% to 75% between sites and from 5% to 38% between regions. These data provide an important baseline for the development of various biological control options. The two egg parasitoids, Telenomus remus and Trichogramma sp. can be used in augmentative biological control and investigations should be conducted to assess how cultural practices can enhance the action of the main parasitoids, C. luteum and Ch. bifoveolatus, in the field. Understanding the parasitoid complex of S. frugiperda in Africa is also necessary before any development of classical biological controls involving the introduction of parasitoids from the Americas

Current practice in the diagnosis and management of sarcopenia and frailty – results from a UK-wide survey

Objectives: Despite a rising clinical and research profile, there is limited information about how frailty and sarcopenia are diagnosed and managed in clinical practice. Our objective was to build a picture of current practice by conducting a survey of UK healthcare professionals. Methods: We surveyed healthcare professionals in NHS organisations, using a series of four questionnaires. These focussed on the diagnosis and management of sarcopenia, and the diagnosis and management of frailty in acute medical units, community settings and surgical units. Results: Response rates ranged from 49/177 (28%) organisations for the sarcopenia questionnaire to 104/177 (59%) for the surgical unit questionnaire. Less than half of responding organisations identified sarcopenia; few made the diagnosis using a recognised algorithm or offered resistance training. The commonest tools used to identify frailty were the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale or presence of a frailty syndrome. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment was offered by the majority of organisations, but this included exercise therapy in less than half of cases, and medication review in only one-third to two-thirds of cases. Conclusions: Opportunities exist to improve consistency of diagnosis and delivery of evidence-based interventions for both sarcopenia and frailty

Ancient Egypt 1916 Part 1

Part 1 of the 1916 Ancient Egypt books. Contents include Egypt in the Grail Romance, French and Italian Egyptology, the Grenfell scarabs, and the end of the Hittites.https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/kweeks_coll/1005/thumbnail.jp

The impact of distance and a shifting temperature gradient on genetic connectivity across a heterogeneous landscape

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inter-population distance and differences in breeding times are barriers to reproduction that can contribute to genotypic differentiation between populations. Temporal changes in environmental conditions and local selective processes can further contribute to the establishment of reproductive barriers. <it>Telopea speciosissima </it>(Proteaceae) is an excellent subject for studying the effect of geographic, edaphic and phenological heterogeneity on genotypic differentiation because previous studies show that these factors are correlated with morphological variation. Molecular, morphological and environmental datasets were combined to characterise the relative influence of these factors on inter-population differentiation, and Bayesian analyses were used to investigate current levels of admixture between differentiated genomes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A landscape genetic approach involving molecular and morphological analyses identified three endpoints of differentiated population groups: coastal, upland and southern. The southern populations, isolated from the other populations by an edaphic barrier, show low migration and no evidence of admixture with other populations. Amongst the northern populations, coastal and upland populations are connected along a skewed altitudinal gradient by genetically intermediate populations. The strong association between temperature and flowering time in <it>Telopea speciosissima </it>was shown to maintain a temporally unstable reproductive barrier between coastal and upland populations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Substrate-mediated allopatry appears to be responsible for long-term genetic isolation of the southern populations. However, the temperature-dependent reproductive barrier between upland and coastal populations bears the genetic signature of temporal adjustments. The extreme climatic events of the last glacial maximum are likely to have caused more complete allochronic isolation between upland and coastal populations, as well as exerting increased selective pressure upon local genomes. However, at intermediate altitudes, current climatic conditions allow for the incorporation of alleles from previously distinct genomes, generating new, intermediate genomic assemblages and possibly increasing overall adaptive potential.</p

Content of exercise programmes targeting older people with sarcopenia or frailty – findings from a UK survey

Objectives: To establish whether existing exercise programmes offered to people with sarcopenia or frailty adhere to the current evidence base. Methods: We conducted a national survey of practitioners delivering exercise programmes to older people with sarcopenia or frailty in the UK. The link to the online survey was distributed through email lists of professional societies, practice networks and social media. Questions covered target population and programme aims, type, duration and frequency of exercise, progress assessment and outcome measures. Results: One hundred and thirty-six responses were received. 94% of respondents reported prescribing or delivering exercise programmes to people with sarcopenia or frailty. Most programmes (81/135 [60%]) were primarily designed to prevent or reduce falls. Resistance training was the main focus in only 11/123 (9%), balance training in 61/123 (50%) and functional exercise in 28/123 (23%). Exercise was offered once a week or less by 81/124 (65%) of respondents. Outcome measures suitable for assessing the effect of resistance training programmes were reported by fewer than half of respondents (hand grip: 13/119 [11%]; chair stands: 55/119 [46%]). Conclusions: Current UK exercise programmes offered to older people with sarcopenia or frailty lack the specificity, frequency or duration of exercise likely to improve outcomes for this patient group

Understanding seed dormancy and germination aids conservation of rainforest species from tropical montane cloud forest: a case study confirming morphophysiological dormancy in the genus Tasmannia

Context: Seed dormancy is one issue hindering implementation of conservation actions for rainforest species. Aims: We studied dormancy and germination in Tasmannia sp. Mt Bellenden Ker and Tasmannia membranea, two tropical montane rainforest species threatened by climate change, to develop a better understanding of dormancy in the species and the genus. Methods: Dormancy was classified for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker on the basis of an imbibition test, analysis of embryo to seed length (E:S) ratios and germination in response to the following four dormancy-breaking treatments: (I) scarification of the seedcoat near the micropylar end; (2) removal of the seedcoat; (3) application of 100 mg L(-1)or (4) 500 mg L-1 gibberellic acid. The most effective treatment was then tested on T. membranea. The requirement for light for germination was also assessed. Key results: Both scarified and intact seeds imbibed water. Initial E:S ratios were <0.22 for both species and increased up to 0.74 after 40 days, just before radicle emergence, for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker. Germination proportions were significantly higher in Treatments 1 and 2 than the remaining treatments for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker; T. membranea responded similarly well to Treatment 1. Germination under alternating light/dark conditions was slightly, but not significantly, greater than germination in the dark alone. Conclusions: Both species have morphophysiological dormancy and treatments that remove seedcoat resistance to embryo growth facilitate germination. These treatments may improve germination in other species from the genus Tasmannia. Implications: This knowledge will aid the germination of seeds to implement conservation strategies for Tasmannia spp