Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact.

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a "Green List of Species" (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species' progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species' viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species' recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard

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Not AvailableInadequate supply, exorbitant prices and diversion towards using cereal grains forbiofuel production, particularly maize, has led to a constant search for alternativeenergy sources for poultry and other non-ruminant species. The abundantavailability of cassava in certain regions makes it a good alternative to maizeand other cereal grains. Cassava root meal is rich in carbohydrate but low inprotein and all other nutrients, whereas, cassava leaf meal is a moderate sourceof protein. Results of studies to evaluate the replacement of cereals with cassavaproducts in poultry feed show wide variability due to differences in origin, variety,plant maturity at harvest, ecological conditions of plant growth and processingmethods. Cassava products contain a wide range of cyanogenetic glycosides,particularly linamarin and lotaustralin. The level of hydrocyanic acid releasedfrom the cyanogenetic glycosides limits the utilization of cassava, but with properprocessing, the dietary inclusion level of cassava meal can be increased for economicpoultry production. This paper reviews the nutrient composition of cassava and itsuses as a substitute for more conventional ingredients in poultry dietsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was carried out to examine the influence of reconstituted sorghum inclusion and enzyme supplementation on carcass traits and growth of digestive and immune organs in broilers. Substituting maize by sorghum or its processed forms in broiler diets did not exert any significant influence on per cent eviscerated yield. However, per cent feather loss was lower (P0.05) due to inclusion of sorghum. The processed sorghum alone or supplemented with enzymes can be economically substituted in broiler diets replacing maize to an extent of 75 and 100% for optimum meat production in broiler chickens.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted involving egg type chicks (CARI Priya) reared in battery cages to optimize energy to limiting amino acids profile ratio during different phases of growth in winter months. Day-old chicks (n=225) were distributed into five dietary treatments formulated with different levels of energy (kcal ME/kg) viz. T1: 2850, T2: 2700, T3: 2600, T4: 2500 at the fixed ratio with concentration of limiting amino acids, and T5: 2600 kcal ME with altered lysine and methionine concentration. Each dietary treatment was offered to four replicated groups of 11 to 12 each. In a second experiment, 112 growing pullets of 6-wk age were distributed to four dietary treatments formulated with different levels of energy (kcal ME/kg) viz. T1: 2700, T2: 2600, T3: 2500 with the fixed energy to amino acids ratio, and T4: 2500 kcal ME with altered lysine and methionine concentration to assess the optimum requirements for 6–12 weeks growth phase, Each dietary treatment was offered to four replicated groups of seven each. Successively, in the third experiment, the same 112 growing pullets of 12-wk of age were switched over to four dietary treatments consisting of different levels of energy (kcal ME/kg) viz. T1: 2900, T2: 2700, T3: 2500 with the fixed energy to amino acids ratio and T4: 2500 kcal ME with altered lysine and methionine. Each dietary treatment was offered to four replicated groups of 7 each upto 20 wk of age. The results indicated that the optimum levels of energy, CP, lysine, methionine and threonine were 2850 kcal ME/kg, 17.7%, 0.85%, 0.31% and 0.68% for gain and feed conversion efficiency during 0–6 wk of age. A diet with 2600 kcal ME/kg, 14.6% CP, 0.62% lysine, 0.28% methionine and 0.56% threonine was optimum for growing pullets during 6–12 weeks of age. Whereas, the optimum concentration in diet of pullets during 12–20 weeks of age was energy 2700 kcal ME/kg, lysine 0.48%, methionine 0.26%, methionine + cystine 0.52% and threonine 0.47%.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableOne hundred twenty day-old straight run broiler chicks were divided into 3 groups with four replicates in each group and fed three different levels of protein i. e. 23% and 21%, 21% and 19%, and 19% and 17% in starting and finishing periods with fixed levels of limiting amino acids viz. lysine (1.25 and 1.16%), methionine (0.55 and 0.50%), threonine (0.95 and 0.88% in starting and finishing period respectively). The temperature in house during the experimental period was recorded as minimum 28.9 to 33.1°C (mean 31.1±0.11°C) and maximum 32.3–38.9°C (mean 35.3±0.16°C). While decreased protein level from 23% to 21 or 19% in starter diet (at fixed energy level of 2900 kcal ME/kg diet) did not alter gain in body weight but improved the feed efficiency, during finisher phase live weight gain was significantly depressed without altering feed efficiency with the result that higher (P<0.01) live weight gain was recorded at high CP in diet (23% and 21% in starting and finishing). The carcass traits, relative weight of visceral and immune organs, blood biochemical (except for SGOT and uric acid levels) and breast yield did not differ due to protein levels. The heterophil (neutrophil) to lymhphocyte ratio, alkaline phosphatases activities, and cellular as well as humoral immune-responsiveness were also similar in the three groups. The SGOT (P<0.01) and uric acid (P<0.05) levels were and feed cost of production increased significantly in amino acid supplemented low protein diets. The results indicated that best performance of broiler chickens was obtained at high levels of dietary protein (23 and 21% in starting and finishing diets) during extreme summer without affecting welfare parameters.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted to study the effects of water-soluble carbohydrate extracts from Cabbage tree ( Cordyline australis), Acacia ( Acacia pycnantha), and Undaria seaweed ( Undaria pinnatifida) (at 5 or 10 g/kg diet) on the performance and gut microbiota of broilers. The plant extracts had no negative effect on growth performance, except that a high level of Undaria extract in the diet suppressed the growth of broiler chicks. Ileal digesta viscosity was increased ( P<0.05) and apparent ileal digestibility of fat was depressed ( P<0.05) in birds fed the higher level of Undaria extract compared with the negative control. The plant extracts increased ( P<0.05) the numbers of lactobacilli in the ileum and caeca. The high levels of Acacia extract and Undaria extract significantly ( P<0.05) reduced the population of coliform bacteria in the ileum compared with the negative control group. The population of Clostridium perfringens in caeca, but not the ileum, was reduced ( P<0.05) by the plant extracts. An antibiotic positive control reduced the population of C. perfringens in both the ileum and caeca compared with the negative control group. The plant extracts altered microbial fermentation patterns in the ileum and caeca. The higher level of Undaria extract reduced villus height in the ileum while the antibiotic diet resulted in higher ( P<0.05) villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio compared with the negative control group. The results of the study suggest that prebiotic plant extracts had no negative effect on performance of broilers except at a high level (10 g/kg diet) of Undaria extract. The plant extracts beneficially modulated the composition of the microflora in the ileum and caeca by increasing the number of lactobacilli and reducing harmful bacteria, such as potential pathogenic coliforms and C. perfringens.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted to determine the effect of in ovo administration of different forms of zinc with respect to hatchability and performance of commercial broiler chicken. In trial 1, the fertile eggs on day 18 were divided into six treatment groups: Group I as control without any supplementation of zinc, group II to IV were supplemented with 0.5 mg zinc per egg as zinc sulphate, zinc methionine or nano zinc, respectively, and Group V with nano zinc at 0.25 mg zinc per egg. Sixth group received 0.5 ml citric acid per egg as sham control. The results of the first trial indicated that in ovo administration of nano zinc at both levels and zinc methionine resulted in complete failure of hatchability. A second trial to validate the result of trial 1 consisted of Group I control (no administration). Group II and Group III were supplemented with zinc sulphate and zinc methionine, respectively, at 0.5 mg zinc per egg. Group IV and Group V were supplemented with nano zinc at 0.04 and 0.08 mg per egg. In the second trial, again there was a similar pattern for zinc sulphate and zinc methionine. Administration of Zn by nano form had around 80% hatchability on fertile eggs in comparison with the unadministered control eggs (92%). There was no difference (p > .05) in body weight gain, feed intake and FCR. No difference (p > .05) was observed between treatments for cell-mediated immune response and humoral immune response. Nano Zn-administered group showed a non-significant downregulation of MUC2 gene. It could be concluded that in ovo administration of higher levels of zinc has to be with caution for the developing embryo of commercial broiler chicken.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableOrganochlorine pesticide residues in feedstuffsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dietary phytase supplementation in the layer feed on egg production performance, egg shell quality and expression of osteopontin (OPN) and calbindin (CALB1) genes. Seventy-five White Leghorn layers at 23 weeks of age were randomly divided into 5 groups consisting of a control diet with 0.33% non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) and 4 low phosphorus (P) diets: 2 diets (T1 and T2) with 0.24% NPP + 250 FTU/kg laboratory produced phytase or commercial phytase and another 2 diets (T3 and T4) with 0.16% NPP + 500 FTU/kg laboratory produced phytase or commercial phytase with complete replacement of inorganic P. The results indicated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in egg production performance and quality of egg during the first 2 months of trial. However, in next 2 months, a significant drop in egg production and feed intake was observed in birds fed diets with low P and 500 FTU/kg supplementation of laboratory produced phytase. Osteopontin gene was up-regulated whereas the CALB1 gene was down regulated in all phytase treatment groups irrespective of the source of phytase. The current data demonstrated that 250 FTU/kg supplementation of laboratory produced phytase with 50% less NPP supplementation and 500 FTU/kg supplementation of commercial phytase even without NPP in diet can maintain the egg production. The up-regulation of OPN and down regulation of CALB1 in egg shell gland in the entire phytase treated group birds irrespective of the source of enzymes is indicative of the changes in P bio-availability at this site.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBandur lambs (18), 10-month-old, weighing 11.97 kg body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 each. The lambs were given a basal diet of ragi straw and concentrate in control group (T1). The maize cobs replaced 50 and 100% ragi straw in the diet of T2 and T3 groups of lambs. All lambs were fed complete diets as TMR with 50:50 of concentrate: roughage meeting the nutrient requirement. Initial body weight, final body weight and the body weight gains were similar among the three groups. There was no effect of the diet on the weight gain. There was no significant change in DMI and nutrient digestibility in different groups. However, incorporation of maize cobs in the diet increased bacterial and fungal counts in the rumen. Bulk density of maize cobs and maize cob-based diets could be increased many folds by converting them in to blocks for easy storage and transportation. The study concludes that ground maize cobs could replace ragi straw completely in the ration of lambs.Not Availabl