Duck Productivity in Restored Species-Rich Native and Species-Poor Non-Native Plantings

Conservation efforts to increase duck production have led the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to restore grasslands with multi-species (3-5) mixtures of introduced cool season vegetation often termed dense nesting cover (DNC). The effectiveness of DNC to increase duck production has been variable, and maintenance of the cover type is expensive. In an effort to decrease the financial and ecological costs (increased carbon emissions from plowing and reseeding) of maintaining DNC and provide a long-term, resilient cover that will support a diversity of grassland fauna, restoration of multi-species (16-32) plantings of native plants has been explored. We investigated the vegetation characteristics, nesting density and nest survival between the 2 aforementioned cover types in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, USA from 2010–2011 to see if restored-native plantings provide similar benefits to nesting hens as DNC. We searched 14 fields (7 DNC, 271 ha; and 7 restored native, 230 ha) locating 3384 nests (1215 in restored-native vegetation and 2169 in DNC) in 2010-2011. Nest survival was similar between cover types in 2010, while DNC had greater survival than native plantings in 2011. Densities of nests adjusted for detection probability were not different between cover types in either year. We found no structural difference in vegetation between cover types in 2010; however, a difference was detected during the late sampling period in 2011 with DNC having deeper litter and taller vegetation. Our results indicate restored-native plantings are able to support similar nesting density as DNC; however, nest survival is more stable between years in DNC. It appears the annual variation in security between cover types goes undetected by hens as hens selected cover types at similar levels both years

Influence of location and fertilization on antioxidant acitivity in highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Highbush blueberry cultivars ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Reka’ were growing in two variants of mulching and fertilizing systems on formerly used farmland. Fruits were harvested at two picking dates and analyzed for their content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. These data were compared with samples of two forest soil locations from the Brandenburg region (Beelitz and Klaistow). The results showed significant differences between cultivars, both harvest times and different locations. The variations in fertilization and ground cover (with or without mulch) showed significant differences. Moreover, it is demonstrated that without ground cover and commercial fertilization higher contents of total phenolic compounds and an increase in antioxidant activity tendentiously occurred. This result paralleled the decline in vegetative growth and was associated with drought stress

UV-B induced changes of phenol composition and antioxidant activity in black currant fruit (Ribes nigrum L.)

Information on UV-B elicitor mediated changes on phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) are scanty. In the present study physiological ripe black currant fruits were harvested and exposed to UV-B radiation with different exposure and adaptation times. The influence of UV-B on phenolic profile and quantitative composition as well as on the corresponding antioxidant activity was investigated. Antioxidant activity was screened with electron spin resonance spectrometry (ESR), while phenolic compound composition was conducted by HPLC analysis. Total phenol content and phenolic composition (flavonols, anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids) increased to a large extent during UV-B treatment, irrespective of the adaptation time. Anthocyanins are concluded to absorb UV radiation within a short time, meanwhile flavonols and phenolic acids are assumed to have an impact on antioxidant protection of UV-B mediated tissue damage. Moreover, antioxidant activity significantly correlated with different phenolic compounds and increased to a similar extent by UV-B exposure

Common bean keepers and cultivar diversity at Terra Indigena do Guarita Indian reserve in Brasil.

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Photosynthetic pigment levels in Macroptilium lathyroides L under water deficit.

Título em espanhol: Contenido de pigmentos fotosinteticos Macroptilium lathyroides L en condiciones de sequia

Vinte anos de integração pesquisa-extensão-agricultor com feijão no Rio Grande do Sul.

bitstream/item/58268/1/7-feijao-Iraja-2011.pd

Focal amplification of the androgen receptor gene in hormone-naive human prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Androgen receptor (AR)-gene amplification, found in 20-30% of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) is proposed to develop as a consequence of hormone-deprivation therapy and be a prime cause of treatment failure. Here we investigate AR-gene amplification in cancers before hormone deprivation therapy. METHODS: A tissue microarray (TMA) series of 596 hormone-naive prostate cancers (HNPCas) was screened for chromosome X and AR-gene locus-specific copy number alterations using four-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: Both high level gain in chromosome X (≥4 fold; n=4, 0.7%) and locus-specific amplification of the AR-gene (n=6, 1%) were detected at low frequencies in HNPCa TMAs. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation mapping whole sections taken from the original HNPCa specimen blocks demonstrated that AR-gene amplifications exist in small foci of cells (≤ 600 nm, ≤1% of tumour volume). Patients with AR gene-locus-specific copy number gains had poorer prostate cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Small clonal foci of cancer containing high level gain of the androgen receptor (AR)-gene develop before hormone deprivation therapy. Their small size makes detection by TMA inefficient and suggests a higher prevalence than that reported herein. It is hypothesised that a large proportion of AR-amplified CRPCa could pre-date hormone deprivation therapy and that these patients would potentially benefit from early total androgen ablation

Shorescape-level factors drive distribution and condition of a salt marsh facilitator (Geukensia Demissa)

Ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) are a highly abundant bivalve filter feeder throughout the salt marshes of the U.S. Atlantic Coast. These mussels form a mutualistic relationship with smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora wherein the grass provides habitat and shade to the mussels, and the mussels stabilize the sediment and fertilize the grass. Salt marshes are, however, rapidly changing and eroding as humans modify the coast, and the rate of sea level rise is accelerating. In order to understand how ribbed mussels may respond to their changing habitat, we collected mussel density and distribution data from 30 marshes covering the range of geomorphic settings found in lower Chesapeake Bay. We used a combination of in situ and GIS-derived spatial variables to develop spatially applied models of ribbed mussel density and physical condition. Of the estimated 1.06 billion ribbed mussels in Virginia, we found that mussels were most abundant along the front edge of marshes in wide creeks, rivers, or bays with dense Spartina and minimal proximal forest, set in agriculturally dominated areas. In contrast, mussel condition was highest in fringing marshes located in narrow tidal creeks. Ribbed mussels responded to factors at a variety of scales, ranging from extremely local (0.5 m) to larger shorescapes (≥300 m). The methods that we used to create models linking both aquatic and terrestrial variables to explain the variation in ribbed mussel populations along the shoreline provide a valuable tool for identifying baselines and assessing potential for change across estuary-level spatial scales not only for ribbed mussels in the Chesapeake Bay, but also for other sessile, intertidal species in other systems