Comparison of Laboratory and Field Remote Sensing Methods to Measure Forage Quality

Recent research in range ecology has emphasized the importance of forage quality as a key indicator of rangeland condition. However, we lack tools to evaluate forage quality at scales appropriate for management. Using canopy reflectance data to measure forage quality has been conducted at both laboratory and field levels separately, but little work has been conducted to evaluate these methods simultaneously. The objective of this study is to find a reliable way of assessing grassland quality through measuring forage chemistry with reflectance. We studied a mixed grass ecosystem in Grasslands National Park of Canada and surrounding pastures, located in southern Saskatchewan. Spectral reflectance was collected at both in-situ field level and in the laboratory. Vegetation samples were collected at each site, sorted into the green grass portion, and then sent to a chemical company for measuring forage quality variables, including protein, lignin, ash, moisture at 135 °C, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Total Digestible, Digestible Energy, Net Energy for Lactation, Net Energy for Maintenance, and Net Energy for Gain. Reflectance data were processed with the first derivative transformation and continuum removal method. Correlation analysis was conducted on spectral and forage quality variables. A regression model was further built to investigate the possibility of using canopy spectral measurements to predict the grassland quality. Results indicated that field level prediction of protein of mixed grass species was possible (r2 = 0.63). However, the relationship between canopy reflectance and the other forage quality variables was not strong

Nonstandard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty-nonstandard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for more reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Non-Standard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires potentiellement impliqués dans la régulation du stock de cellules souches spermatogoniales chez le poisson-zèbre Danio rerio

By their ability to self-renew or differentiate into gametes, the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for sperm production throughout the life of male. The work done during the thesis had for objective the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the fate of the SSC in the teleost fish. With a new line of transgenic zebrafish expressing GFP under the control of a new gene promoter fragment vasa, we characterized a subpopulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia composed of asymmetric doublet. The observation of the GFP protein indicates that these doublets can fragment to generate isolated spermatogonia. Transplantation of fluorescent spermatogonial cells into the abdominal cavity of a recipient embryo shows that these cells have all functional properties of SSC. All our observations suggest that asymmetric doublet constitute a pool of stem cells with bivalent fate:they can continue their sperm differentiation or participate in the dynamic renewal of SSC pool. A rnaseq based transcritpome analysis of transcripts expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia fluorescent and Sertoli cells highlights the diversity of paracrine regulatory pathways potentially involved in the control of the SSC (cell adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors, primary metabolites). Phylogenetic analyzes show that some of these regulatory pathways are well conserved among all Gnathostomes while others were lost in tetrapods or mammals only. A comparative approach initiated in rainbow trout generic confirms the interest of the data acquired in thLes capacités d’auto-renouvellement ou de différenciation progressive en gamètes des cellules souches spermatogoniales (SSC) sont indispensables à la production de spermatozoïdes tout au long de la vie des individus de sexe mâle. Les travaux réalisés au cours de la thèse ont eu pour objectif de mieux comprendre les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires potentiellement impliqués dans le contrôle du devenir des SSC chez les poissons téléostéens. Grâce à une nouvelle lignée de poisson-zèbre transgénique exprimant la GFP sous le contrôle d’un nouveau fragment promoteur du gène vasa, nous avons caractérisé une sous-population de spermatogonies indifférenciées composés de doublets asymétriques. L’ensemble de nos observations suggère que ces doublets asymétriques constituent un pool de cellules souches recrutées pouvant soit poursuivre leur différenciation spermatique soit participer à la dynamique de renouvèlement du stock de SSC.Une approche de séquençage à haut débit des transcrits exprimés au sein des spermatogonies indifférenciées fluorescentes et des cellules de Sertoli met en évidence la diversité des voies de régulation paracrine potentiellement impliquées dans le contrôle du devenir des SSC (molécules d’adhésion cellulaire, cytokines, facteurs de croissance…). Les analyses phylogénétiques montrent que certaines de ces voies de régulation sont conservées chez les Gnathostomes alors que d’autres ont été perdues chez les tétrapodes ou les mammifères seulement. Une approche comparée initiée chez la truite arc-en-ciel confirme l’intérêt générique des données acquises che

Cellular and molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the regulation of the pool of spermatogonal stem cells in the zebrafish Danio Rerio

Les capacités d’auto-renouvellement ou de différenciation progressive en gamètes des cellules souches spermatogoniales (SSC) sont indispensables à la production de spermatozoïdes tout au long de la vie des individus de sexe mâle. Les travaux réalisés au cours de la thèse ont eu pour objectif de mieux comprendre les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires potentiellement impliqués dans le contrôle du devenir des SSC chez les poissons téléostéens. Grâce à une nouvelle lignée de poisson-zèbre transgénique exprimant la GFP sous le contrôle d’un nouveau fragment promoteur du gène vasa, nous avons caractérisé une sous-population de spermatogonies indifférenciées composés de doublets asymétriques. L’ensemble de nos observations suggère que ces doublets asymétriques constituent un pool de cellules souches recrutées pouvant soit poursuivre leur différenciation spermatique soit participer à la dynamique de renouvèlement du stock de SSC.Une approche de séquençage à haut débit des transcrits exprimés au sein des spermatogonies indifférenciées fluorescentes et des cellules de Sertoli met en évidence la diversité des voies de régulation paracrine potentiellement impliquées dans le contrôle du devenir des SSC (molécules d’adhésion cellulaire, cytokines, facteurs de croissance…). Les analyses phylogénétiques montrent que certaines de ces voies de régulation sont conservées chez les Gnathostomes alors que d’autres ont été perdues chez les tétrapodes ou les mammifères seulement. Une approche comparée initiée chez la truite arc-en-ciel confirme l’intérêt générique des données acquises chezBy their ability to self-renew or differentiate into gametes, the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for sperm production throughout the life of male. The work done during the thesis had for objective the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the fate of the SSC in the teleost fish. With a new line of transgenic zebrafish expressing GFP under the control of a new gene promoter fragment vasa, we characterized a subpopulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia composed of asymmetric doublet. The observation of the GFP protein indicates that these doublets can fragment to generate isolated spermatogonia. Transplantation of fluorescent spermatogonial cells into the abdominal cavity of a recipient embryo shows that these cells have all functional properties of SSC. All our observations suggest that asymmetric doublet constitute a pool of stem cells with bivalent fate:they can continue their sperm differentiation or participate in the dynamic renewal of SSC pool. A rnaseq based transcritpome analysis of transcripts expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia fluorescent and Sertoli cells highlights the diversity of paracrine regulatory pathways potentially involved in the control of the SSC (cell adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors, primary metabolites). Phylogenetic analyzes show that some of these regulatory pathways are well conserved among all Gnathostomes while others were lost in tetrapods or mammals only. A comparative approach initiated in rainbow trout generic confirms the interest of the data acquired in t

Triploïdisation de Zebrafish

National audienc

Triploïdisation de Zebrafish

National audienc