Water quality impacts of free ranging cattle in semi-arid environments

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects that free ranging cattle have on water quality in semi-arid environments. There were three specific objectives: 1) To determine the concentration and distribution of cattle feces in meadows, riparian zones, and the associated uplands. 2) To determine the fecal deposition rate of free ranging cattle directly into a stream. 3) To determine if feces near a stream, up to 2.3 meters away, are a source of pollution during rainfall and subsequent surface runoff. As the distance from water and slope increased cow-chip concentrations decreased. The highest concentration of cow-chips was found in the meadows where winter supplemental feeding occurred. The second highest concentration of cow-chips was found in the riparian zones. Areas that had steep slopes and were a long distance from water had the lowest concentration of cowchips. The amount of time the cattle spent in the stream and the fecal deposition rate changed by season. The cattle spent the most time in the stream during the summer, and the least amount of time during the fall. The direct fecal deposits were highest for summer and approximately the same for the other seasons. In the experiment designed to evaluate the effectiveness of buffer strips, feces were placed varying distances from the edge of simulated rainfall plots and subjected to different levels of precipitation. A significant reduction in conform concentrations was noted between the bacteria which traveled 0.7 meters through a buffer strip, as compared to those which did not have any distance to travel. Bacteria concentrations at the 0.0 meter distance averaged 42,800 coliforms/ml, whereas there were only about 2,250 bacteria/ml delivered from the feces deposited 0.7 meters away. No statistical differences were found between buffer strip widths of 0.7 meters and 2.3 meters. Buffer strip effectiveness for widths greater than 2.3 meters were not investigated and thus remain a subject for further investigation

Cryptosporidium rubeyi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in multiple Spermophilus ground squirrel species.

Previously we reported the unique Cryptosporidium sp. "c" genotype (e.g., Sbey03c, Sbey05c, Sbld05c, Sltl05c) from three species of Spermophilus ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi, Spermophilus beldingi, Spermophilus lateralis) located throughout California, USA. This follow-up work characterizes the morphology and animal infectivity of this novel genotype as the final step in proposing it as a new species of Cryptosporidium. Analysis of sequences of 18S rRNA, actin, and HSP70 genes of additional Cryptosporidium isolates from recently sampled California ground squirrels (S. beecheyi) confirms the presence of the unique Sbey-c genotype in S. beecheyi. Phylogenetic and BLAST analysis indicates that the c-genotype in Spermophilus ground squirrels is distinct from Cryptosporidium species/genotypes from other host species currently available in GenBank. We propose to name this c-genotype found in Spermophilus ground squirrels as Cryptosporidium rubeyi n. sp. The mean size of C. rubeyi n. sp. oocysts is 4.67 (4.4-5.0) μm × 4.34 (4.0-5.0) μm, with a length/width index of 1.08 (n = 220). Oocysts of C. rubeyi n. sp. are not infectious to neonatal BALB/c mice and Holstein calves. GenBank accession numbers for C. rubeyi n. sp. are DQ295012, AY462233, and KM010224 for the 18S rRNA gene, KM010227 for the actin gene, and KM010229 for the HSP70 gene

Expanding on Basis Risk Estimates for Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance

Basis risk or residual risk arising from disparity between an index’s estimate of losses and actual losses is inherent in index-based insurance products. We approximate basis risk as the false negative probability (FNP) within pasture, rangeland, and forage (PRF) rainfall index insurance for the south-central coastal region of California. We estimate the FNP on average that at least one of two selected coverage intervals will fail to provide an indemnity when a loss is realized at 48%. The average FNP is reduced to only 11% when considering whether both selected intervals fail to provide an indemnity when a loss is realized

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus: Subcortical connections and innervation by serotonin, orexin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone in macaque monkeys

The present study examines subcortical connections of paraventricular thalamic nucleus (Pa) following small anterograde and retrograde tracer injections in cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis ). An anterograde tracer injection into the dorsal midline thalamus revealed strong projections to the accumbens nucleus, basal amygdala, lateral septum, and hypothalamus. Retrograde tracer injections into these areas labeled neurons specifically in Pa. Following a retrograde tracer injection into Pa, labeled neurons were found in the hypothalamus, dorsal raphe, and periaqueductal gray. Pa contained a remarkably high density of axons and axonal varicosities immunoreactive for serotonin (5-HT) and orexin/hypocretin (ORX), as well as a moderate density of fibers immunoreactive for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). A retrograde tracer injection into Pa combined with immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ORX and 5-HT axons originate from neurons in the hypothalamus and midbrain. Pa-projecting neurons were localized in the same nuclei of the hypothalamus, amygdala, and midbrain as CRH neurons, although no double labeling was found. The connections of Pa and its innervation by 5-HT, ORX, and CRH suggest that it may relay stress signals between the midbrain and hypothalamus with the accumbens nucleus, basal amygdala, and subgenual cortex as part of a circuit that manages stress and possibly stress-related psychopathologies. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:825–848, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61435/1/21934_ftp.pd

Protein-protein interaction between surfactant protein D and DC-SIGN via C-type lectin domain can suppress HIV-1 transfer

Surfactant protein SP-D is a soluble C-type lectin, belonging to the collectin (collagencontaining calcium-dependent lectin) family, which acts as an innate immune pattern recognition molecule in the lungs and other mucosal surfaces. Immune regulation and surfactant homeostasis are salient functions of SP-D. SP-D can bind to a range of viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens and trigger clearance mechanisms. SP-D binds to gp120, the envelope protein expressed on HIV-1, through its C-type lectin or carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). This is of importance since SP-D is secreted by human mucosal epithelial cells and is present in the female reproductive tract including vagina. Another C-type lectin, Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin (DCSIGN), present on the surface of the dendritic cells, also binds to HIV-1 gp120 and facilitates viral transfer to the lymphoid tissues. Dendritic cells are also present at the site of HIV-1 entry, embedded in vaginal or rectal mucosa. In the present study, we report a direct proteinprotein interaction between recombinant forms of SP-D (rfhSP-D) and DC-SIGN via their Ctype lectin domains. Both SP-D and DC-SIGN competed for binding to immobilized HIV-1 gp120. Pre-incubation of Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells expressing surface DCSIGN with rfhSP-D significantly inhibited the HIV-1 transfer to activated PBMCs. In silico analysis revealed that SP-D and gp120 may occupy same sites on DC-SIGN, which may explain the reduced transfer of HIV-1. In summary, we demonstrate, for the first time, that DC-SIGN is a novel binding partner of SP-D, and this interaction can modulate HIV-1 capture and transfer to CD4+ T cells. In addition, the present study also reveals a distinct mechanism of host defense by SP-D against HIV-1

Managing Diversity in California: An Exploration of Range Management in California

The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202

Fish Habitat in Freshwater Streams

This is reference sheet 10.3 in the Farm Water Quality Planning series

Identifying and Addressing Contemporary Issues in Central Coast Oak Woodlands

Recently, questions about the extent of thinning, the sustainability of forest management practices, and the compatibility with other uses were raised by the media, agency personnel, and environmental groups. In response, University of California Cooperative Extension and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Natural Resources Management Department collaborated to address these issues. In March 2006, a questionnaire was mailed to landowners of properties greater than 100 acres in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey counties. A total of 2,786 questionnaires were mailed, with 450 completed and returned (16 percent). The respondents were highly educated, holding degrees in areas other than agriculture or natural resources. Most landowners earned degrees in biology, business, education, law, engineering, or medicine. Over 60 percent of respondents were opposed to any county ordinance. However, 71 percent of respondents said oaks are “important” for their aesthetic value, which indicates support for oak protection. Responding landowners feared the loss of private property rights, and felt that government should not interfere with management on private property. Nearly 73 percent of respondents to our survey make less than 25 percent of their income from their land. Landowners rated their knowledge of oak products marketing, laws and regulations (e.g., Forest Practices Act), forest health (e.g., Sudden Oak Death), and available consulting services as especially poor. A majority of landowners who responded to the survey did not know how to get more information on oak woodland management. The workshop presented on August 17, 2006, in San Luis Obispo, was designed to respond to issues and information needs identified by central coast landowners as well as to provide the latest scientific findings and policies regarding oak woodland management