Restoring a Forest Watershed and Adding Water Back to the Land

Historical evidence clearly shows a significant decline in both stream flow and ground water recharge in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. Photos, oral history, early Census data, and written accounts all paint a much wetter picture than is present today. Dense forests are robbing springs and streams of surface flow. Ground water recharge during the recent drought was non-existent. Large numbers of wells all over Otero County dried up. Drilling deeper was successful in some areas, but people in some areas are still hauling water. Members of the Sacramento River Watershed Coalition recently completed several large thinning projects near Timberon. Several thousand acres of Ponderosa pine and alligator juniper have been thinned and restored to historical tree densities. Trees were thinned on both private and State Land using Senator Jeff Bingaman’s Forest Restoration funds, State Forestry Wildland/Urban Interface funds, NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program cost share, BLM, and the rancher’s input. Tree densities were reduced to improve ground cover and reduce danger of a crown fire

The Second Supper: A Debate Between P.C. Key, Byran, Texas, and Cecil Abercrombie, Birmingham, Alabama.

https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/1091/thumbnail.jp

Geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation in a normal fault segment boundary, central Greece

The geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation within a fault segment boundary between the ends of two major active normal fault segments have been investigated through examination of a faulted 126 ka marine terrace. Slip‐vector azimuths defined by striations on the faults indicate N‐S extension on c. E‐W faults, sub‐parallel to those from earthquake focal mechanisms, together with significant and contemporaneous E‐W extension on c. N‐S faults. Summed rates of E‐W extension along a c. 550 m transect (0.17 mm/yr) are comparable with those for N‐S extension (0.20 mm/yr) along a c. 350 m transect. Our observations show that distributed non‐plane strain extension occurs in fault segment boundaries and this should be noted when studying fault‐tip fracture toughness and regional deformation rates

Formation of viable cell fragments by treatment with colchicine

Time-lapse cinematography of human fibroblasts revealed that mitotic cells separated into numerous cell fragments containing varying amounts of chromatin and cytoplasm when treated with colchicine. As cell fragments were very loosely attached to the surface of the culture vessel during their formation, they could be easily detached like mitotic cells by gently shaking the vessel and thus separated from normal interphase cells. Fragments obtained by this procedure were able to exclude trypan blue indicating, therefore, an intact cell membrane. When placed into Petri dishes many of them attached to and even spread out on the surface. Five hours later the majority of the attached fragments incorporated [3H]leucine. Time-lapse films showed that fragments were able to extend and retract pseudopodia at least for several hours after their formation. Although the fragments degenerated within a few days, in the present experiments the possibility was not excluded that fragments which had lost only a very small amount of chromatin and cytoplasm survived for longer periods of time. The observations clearly indicate viability of many newly formed fragments

Global-Scale Genetic Identification of Hammerhead Sharks: Application to Assessment of the International Fin Trade and Law Enforcement

The future status of sharks is an issue of widespread conservation concern due to declines in many species in the face of high levels of exploitation to satisfy market demands for products, especially fins. Substantial declines in the large-bodied hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran and S. zygaena, even in regions where some management occurs, indicate that informed conservation measures are warranted for these circumglobally distributed species. Despite the importance of assessing shark catch and trade on a species-specific basis to detect potential overexploitation of individual species, achieving this goal for hammerheads has proven elusive due to difficulties in identification of their products. Here, we present the development and application of a diagnostic, streamlined, five-primer multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay utilizing species-specific primers based on nuclear ribosomal ITS2 for the three hammerhead species throughout their global distribution. Application of this assay to investigations of the fin market confirmed the presence of hammerhead fins in the international trade. A study of the world’s largest fin market in Hong Kong revealed a high concordance between specific Chinese-name trade categories and fins from these three species (‘‘Bai Chun’’ with S. lewini, ‘‘Gui Chun’’ with S. zygaena and ‘‘Gu Pian’’ with S. mokarran), and clear species preferences. This concordance information allows the use of market records for monitoring species-specific trends in trade and exploitation rates. The assay is also proving useful for identification of shark body parts in U.S. fisheries law-enforcement activities. Screening of morphologically identified ‘‘S. lewini’’ from globally distributed areas using this assay with subsequent whole ITS2 sequencing suggests a cryptic species closely related to S. lewini occurs off the SE USA coast

Ecologia e status de conservação do jacaré-paguá nas montanhas do Amolar, Pantanal Sul.

Paleosuchus palpebrosus é considerado entre as 22 espécies de crocodilianos a menor em tamanho, atingindo no máximo 1.6 m de comprimento (Medem, 1981). Paleosuchus significa "crocodilo antigo", derivado de palaios (antigo em grego) e soukhos que significa crocodilo, e palpebrosus significa "pálpebra espessa" referindo-se às pálpebras que possuem placas ósseas. Dentre as cinco espécies que ocorrem no Brasil, tem a sua distribuição marcante ao longo dos rios Amazonas, Paraguai e Paraná e de suas áreas inundadas, excluindo a área central do Pantanal (Magnusson, 1985). No entanto, um dos maiores problemas que afeta as populações naturais são as modificações dos seus habitats aliado ao total desconhecimento da sua distribuição e abundância ao longo da área de distribuição (Campos et al., 1995). A falta de informação da ecologia da espécie, apesar da extensa distribuição geográfica, é um fator que pode eventualmente afetar a conservação da espécie (Thorbjarnarson, 1992). Pouco é conhecido sobre reprodução e de seus habitats, mas sabe-se que as fêmeas fazem montes de folhas e gravetos e põem de 10 a 15 ovos. A dieta varia de invertebrados aquáticos, terrestres e vertebrados, principalmente peixes. Nas bordas do Pantanal, existem alguns registros de ocorrência dessa espécie no rio Paraguai, norte de Cáceres, serras da Bodoquena, Amolar e Urucum. A espécie provavelmente ocupa habitats periféricos da planície do Pantanal, causando uma separação espacial com o Caiman crocodilus yacare (jacaré-do-pantanal). Este estudo é parte de um projeto pioneiro da Embrapa-Pantanal com P. palpebrosus na região das montanhas do Amolar, que busca conhecer densidade, estrutura de tamanho, e razão sexual. Também, determinar o conteúdo estomacal dos jacarés em seu habitat natural.bitstream/item/79504/1/COT31.pd

Developmental evolution of flowering plant pollen tube cell walls: callose synthase (CalS) gene expression patterns

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A number of innovations underlie the origin of rapid reproductive cycles in angiosperms. A critical early step involved the modification of an ancestrally short and slow-growing pollen tube for faster and longer distance transport of sperm to egg. Associated with this shift are the predominantly callose (1,3-β-glucan) walls and septae (callose plugs) of angiosperm pollen tubes. Callose synthesis is mediated by callose synthase (CalS). Of 12 <it>CalS </it>gene family members in <it>Arabidopsis</it>, only one (<it>CalS5</it>) has been directly linked to pollen tube callose. <it>CalS5 </it>orthologues are present in several monocot and eudicot genomes, but little is known about the evolutionary origin of <it>CalS5 </it>or what its ancestral function may have been.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We investigated expression of <it>CalS </it>in pollen and pollen tubes of selected non-flowering seed plants (gymnosperms) and angiosperms within lineages that diverged below the monocot/eudicot node. First, we determined the nearly full length coding sequence of a <it>CalS5 </it>orthologue from <it>Cabomba caroliniana </it>(<it>CcCalS5</it>) (Nymphaeales). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated low <it>CcCalS5 </it>expression within several vegetative tissues, but strong expression in mature pollen. <it>CalS </it>transcripts were detected in pollen tubes of several species within Nymphaeales and Austrobaileyales, and comparative analyses with a phylogenetically diverse group of sequenced genomes indicated homology to <it>CalS5</it>. We also report <it>in silico </it>evidence of a putative <it>CalS5 </it>orthologue from <it>Amborella</it>. Among gymnosperms, <it>CalS5 </it>transcripts were recovered from germinating pollen of <it>Gnetum </it>and <it>Ginkgo</it>, but a novel <it>CalS </it>paralog was instead amplified from germinating pollen of <it>Pinus taeda</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The finding that CalS5 is the predominant callose synthase in pollen tubes of both early-diverging and model system angiosperms is an indicator of the homology of their novel callosic pollen tube walls and callose plugs. The data suggest that <it>CalS5 </it>had transient expression and pollen-specific functions in early seed plants and was then recruited to novel expression patterns and functions within pollen tube walls in an ancestor of extant angiosperms.</p

Developmental evolution of flowering plant pollen tube cell walls: callose synthase (\u3cem\u3eCalS\u3c/em\u3e) gene expression patterns

Background A number of innovations underlie the origin of rapid reproductive cycles in angiosperms. A critical early step involved the modification of an ancestrally short and slow-growing pollen tube for faster and longer distance transport of sperm to egg. Associated with this shift are the predominantly callose (1,3-β-glucan) walls and septae (callose plugs) of angiosperm pollen tubes. Callose synthesis is mediated by callose synthase (CalS). Of 12 CalS gene family members in Arabidopsis, only one (CalS5) has been directly linked to pollen tube callose. CalS5 orthologues are present in several monocot and eudicot genomes, but little is known about the evolutionary origin of CalS5 or what its ancestral function may have been. Results We investigated expression of CalS in pollen and pollen tubes of selected non-flowering seed plants (gymnosperms) and angiosperms within lineages that diverged below the monocot/eudicot node. First, we determined the nearly full length coding sequence of a CalS5 orthologue from Cabomba caroliniana (CcCalS5) (Nymphaeales). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated low CcCalS5 expression within several vegetative tissues, but strong expression in mature pollen. CalS transcripts were detected in pollen tubes of several species within Nymphaeales and Austrobaileyales, and comparative analyses with a phylogenetically diverse group of sequenced genomes indicated homology to CalS5. We also report in silico evidence of a putative CalS5 orthologue from Amborella. Among gymnosperms, CalS5 transcripts were recovered from germinating pollen of Gnetum and Ginkgo, but a novel CalS paralog was instead amplified from germinating pollen of Pinus taeda. Conclusion The finding that CalS5 is the predominant callose synthase in pollen tubes of both early-diverging and model system angiosperms is an indicator of the homology of their novel callosic pollen tube walls and callose plugs. The data suggest that CalS5 had transient expression and pollen-specific functions in early seed plants and was then recruited to novel expression patterns and functions within pollen tube walls in an ancestor of extant angiosperms

Performing heritage: the use of live 'actors' in heritage presentations

This paper investigates the phenomenon of 'living history' presentations of heritage, using live 'actors' to portray historical characters. Its aim is to discuss these presentations in the context of what may be understood as 'heritage', and of the nature of 'performance'. Four case studies of heritage sites, each important as a tourist attraction, have been selected for detailed study, together with a number of other examples of heritage performance. It is clear from the empirical work that different performance strategies are employed within the heritage industry and by individual 'actors'. Most of the performers take part as a leisure activity, and many do not consider themselves to be 'performing' at all. The greatest concern of participants lies in the degree of authenticity of the performance. Through 'living history', the 'actors' are drawn into an experience of heritage which has real meaning for them, and which may contribute both to a sense of identity and to an enhanced understanding of society, past and present. The popularity of such presentations with visitors also indicates that similar benefits are perceived by the 'audience'

Endovascular treatment of a Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome variant secondary to traumatic pseudoaneurysm

Pseudoaneurysms related to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are a recognised complication of trauma to the vessel, and successful treatment with stenting has been previously described. We report the case of a patient who presented with obstruction of the fourth part of the duodenum secondary to a traumatic pseudoaneurysm, a hitherto unreported variant of superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and relief of the duodenal obstruction were simultaneously achieved by placement of a covered stent