Functional traits drive the difference in soil respiration between Gilbertiodendron dewevrei monodominant forests patches and Scorodophloeus zenkeri mixed forests patches in the Central Congo basin.

Aims In tropical rainforests, soil respiration accounts for the major part of ecosystem respiration, yet a deep understanding of the influence of forest type and species composition is still lacking. We therefore selected patches of the rainforest in the Central Congo basin differing in their species composition, some patches under the Scorodophloeus zenkeri Harms mixed forests (MIF) and others in the Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (De Wild.) J.Léonard monodominant forests (MOF). We measured daily soil respiration over a one-year period. Methods By fitting a simple conceptual model of soil respiration, including fine root biomass, soil organic C stocks and ground climate measurements (soil moisture and temperature), we attempted to distinguish autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration, and to better understand the drivers behind total soil respiration. Results On an annual basis, soil respiration was 10% higher under MOF (22.10 Mg C ha−1 y−1) compared to MIF (20.01 Mg C ha−1 y−1) (p < 10−3). While the estimated autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration contributed about equally to soil respiration in MOF, autotrophic soil respiration slightly dominated (59%) in MIF. In both forests, the combined contribution of litterfall inputs and fine roots productivity was lower than the heterotrophic flux, with the largest difference observed under MOF (−6.16 Mg C ha−1 year−1) compared to MIF (−2.62 Mg C ha−1 year−1). The sensitivity analysis of the model showed that the higher heterotrophic soil respiration under MOF was driven by the twofold C accumulation in MOF topsoil compared to MIF. Soil moisture was a major driver of temporal changes in soil respiration, but hardly impacted the differences in annual soil respiration between forests. Conclusion While the difference in SOC accumulation between forests was driven by the low nutrient to C ratios of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei tissues, additional research is needed to identify the causes behind the unbalanced C budget

Agenesis of olfactory bulbs: A forgotten diagnostic indicator of acampomelic campomelic dysplasia

Campomelic dysplasia (CD) and its variant acampomelic campomelic dysplasia (ACD) are caused by SOX9 haploinsufficiency. This gene encodes a transcription factor crucial for embryogenesis and primarily expressed in the olfactory bulbs. The detection of agenesis of olfactory bulbs could help establish a prenatal diagnosis of CD or ACD, although prevalence of this sign remains unknown.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The impact of naturally-occurring, trans-placental bluetongue virus serotype-8 infection on reproductive performance in sheep.

Infection with bluetongue virus serotype (BTV)-8 occurred in ruminants in 2006 in Central-Western Europe. The trans-placental passage of this virus has been demonstrated in naturally- and experimentally-infected cattle and in experimentally-infected sheep. Trans-placental transmission is potentially important in the 'over-wintering' of this virus and its subsequent impact on reproductive performance. This epidemiological study was carried out on a sheep flock in Belgium that had experienced a severe outbreak of BTV-8 infection, and where the seroprevalence had increased from 1.3% to 88% between January and November 2007. In total, 476 lambs and 26 aborted fetuses from 300 ewes, lambing at four distinct time periods, were investigated between November 2007 and May 2008. The following evidence suggested that BTV-8 infection occurred in utero: (1) positive PCR results from splenic tissue from aborted fetuses (n=4); (2) fetal malformations suggestive of BTV infection (n=10); (3) positive PCR results from red blood cells in-lambs (n=7), and (4) the presence of antibody at birth in viable lambs prior to the intake of colostrum (n=9). The evidence provided by this investigation strongly suggests that trans-placental BTV-8 infection occurs in naturally-infected sheep and the impact of infection on the reproductive performance of such a naive flock was considerable, with up to 25% of ewes aborting and with flock fertility reduced by 50%. The contribution of in utero-infected lambs to the over-wintering of BTV appears limited

Maladies métaboliques - Point sur les outils diagnostiques et pronostiques de la myopathie atypique

National audienc

Genetic improvement of tropical breeds by local breeds of Wallonia.

As part of the genetic improvement of production, selection of breeds (purebred selection) on the one hand and crossbreeding, exploiting the complementarity between breeds and hybrid vigor or heterosis other hand, are methods choice used by animal husbandry. The pure breeding as practiced in the developed world, based on the individual performance of breeding as well as the placement of the offspring, uses expensive infrastructure and significant human resources. In addition, genetic progress is slow and must be sustained effort. For all these reasons, in the less favored regions of the world, although the intra-breed selection is operational, most stakeholders are most often uses the crossbreeding technique leading to immediate results and protecting local breeds. Thus, in dairy cattle, many countries have used the Holstein, Brown in the Alps, and the Montbéliarde Normande with varying success. In the meat sector, in cattle, swine and sheep, as well as in the area of ​​poultry meat, crossing indigenous breeds with exotic breeds imported leads to interesting results. In the Walloon Region, due to the hard work of breeders, animals have emerged exceptional and, in cattle, swine and sheep, they are in fact, more muscular animals in the world. Thus, bulls Belgian Blue reared under natural conditions, have average daily gains as high as 2000 g / d with yields close to slaughter 70% Pietrain pigs reach values ​​of the performance slaughter of around 83% and the yield values ​​as high as 59% were observed in Texel sheep. All these animals have the characteristic of being very efficient while presenting carcasses with more muscle, less fat and less bone. As for local poultry type Ardennaise, it has remarkable phenotypes leading to immediate traceability (black members), more than 150 eggs per clutch and a darker meat.The author gives in detail examples of the use of crossbreeding with cattle, sheep, pig and poultry all originated from the Walloon Region of Belgium

Our natural capital: Research needs and priorities for the future. White Paper

1. No poverty2. Zero hunger3. Good health and well-being6. Clean water and sanitation7. Affordable and clean energy8. Decent work and economic growth9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure12. Responsible consumption and production13. Climate action15. Life on land17. Partnerships for the goal