Wolf space use in a seasonally changing environment

In this study, we investigate the space use of a recolonizing predator in Scandinavia in relation to the density of its main prey and other environmental variables. Animal space use is influenced by intrinsic factors, such as age, sex and reproductive phase, presence of other animals (e.g., mates, competitors, predators, prey) and habitats providing food, shelter or disturbance. In heterogeneous landscapes, resources are often not evenly distributed which can influence animal movement and behavior, as well as species interactions. For predators, obtaining food resources is often challenging as prey tend to develop anti-predator strategies and adaptations after predators settle in an environment. In addition, seasonal variation shifts both the spatial and temporal resource availability, which in turn affects the space use of the predator. Here, we study the space use of the Scandinavian wolf (Canis lupus) in relation to its main prey, the moose (Alces Alces) to gain insight into which parameters lie at the cause. We analyzed GPS locations of nine breeding wolves in five wolf territories and compared their utilization distribution with the seasonally changing distribution of moose fecal pellet groups and other habitat covariates. Contrary to our initial predictions, we found that moose pellet group density was negatively correlated with wolf space use in summer, and that the relationship between pellet group density and wolf space use was weak and its direction unclear during in winter. The space use of wolves reflects multiple behavioral strategies of predator and prey that may explain this pattern. Wolves selected transitional forest stands (young forests) during both summer and winter. Additionally, wolves significantly avoided areas with human infrastructures (buildings and roads) both in summer and winter. In summary, the relationship between wolf space use, prey density and different habitat types differed between seasons, although anthropogenic variables had a negative effect throughout the year. Further research should differentiate between different behavioral states of the wolves, such as resting, breeding, travelling and consuming prey. This would help to understand the importance of seasonal shifts in prey distributions and different habitat types and support the management and conservation of this protected, but conflict-prone species

The essence of fertilization: oocyte meets sperm

The problem of reduced fertility in high yielding dairy cattle is a very complicated one, and the relationship between various measures of fertility and level of milk production remains controversial. In this brief review the essence of the problem is considered: what is the oocyte's and the sperm's contribution, and what is the importance of the resulting embryo in the declining fertility of the Holstein Friesian cow

Bovine endometrial cells as an in vitro model to address early embryo maternal cross-talk

We optimized a bovine endometrial epithelial cell (BEEC) line as a valuable research model for the study of early embryo-maternal interactions in vitro. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the BEEC monolayers along the primary culture and the first three passages with respect to the expression of cell-origin markers, by immunofluorescence, and abundance of functional key transcripts, by Real Time PCR. BEECs isolated from uteri (at early luteal phase) ex vivo were cultured and subpassed three times. Based on the markers studied, we conclude that BEEC monolayers undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro but preserve functional characteristics after few passages

The effects of hypo- and hyperglycemia during lipolysis-like conditions on bovine oocyte maturation, subsequent embryo developmental and glucose metabolism

Abstract of a conference paper presented at the 31st meeting of the European Embryo Transfer Associaton, 11-12 September 2015, Ghent, Belgium

The Water Sector for the CARD/RCA 85 Model

Availability of water for agricultural use is one of the major factors determining agricultural production in the Western United States and is becoming an important factor in areas of the Southwest. In addition, water use and conservation is an important concern of the 1977 Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act. Thus, it is necessary to build an agricultural water sector for use in the CARD/RAC85 programming models

Testimony of Burton C. English before the Joint Economic Committee and the Agriculture Subcommittee in Washington, D.C.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Burton C. English. I am a staff economist with the Center for Agricultural Development located in Ames, Iowa. My area of expertise is in agricultural economics and policy with a special emphasis in soil conservation. I wish to thank you for inviting me here to testify. You will note that the testimony that I am presenting here was written by Earl O. Heady and myself. I send his apologies for not being able to make this hearing, but his schedule would not permit it

The CARD/RCA Water Sector Model

Water has become a major input into agriculture production in the United States. Irrigation in the Western United States has been important in crop production and will continue to be important. Irrigation is also becoming more important in areas of the southeast. The use and conservation of water, as well as the importance of irrigation in the conservation of soil, are areas of concern as outlined in the 1977 Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act. Therefore, it is necessary for the CARD/RCA programming models to incorporate a water sector

Metabolic stress in the transition period of dairy cows : focusing on the prepartum period

Simple Summary Complex pathways of metabolic adaptation occur in high-yielding dairy cows around calving. These adaptations require the redirection of nutrients to support the last stages of fetal growth and the commencement of lactation. Failure to adapt to these changes may result in the development of clinical disease in the postpartum period. Therefore, most existing literature is focused on studying the metabolic changes in the postpartum period. However, some of the risk factors associated with postpartum clinical disease can already be found in the prepartum period. This review describes adaptive changes occurring in prepartum high-yielding dairy cows, from drying off (40 to 60 days before parturition) until calving. All modern, high-yielding dairy cows experience a certain degree of reduced insulin sensitivity, negative energy balance, and systemic inflammation during the transition period. Maladaptation to these changes may result in excessive fat mobilization, dysregulation of inflammation, immunosuppression, and, ultimately, metabolic or infectious disease in the postpartum period. Up to half of the clinical diseases in the lifespan of high-yielding dairy cows occur within 3 weeks of calving. Thus, the vast majority of prospective studies on transition dairy cows are focused on the postpartum period. However, predisposition to clinical disease and key (patho)physiological events such as a spontaneous reduction in feed intake, insulin resistance, fat mobilization, and systemic inflammation already occur in the prepartum period. This review focuses on metabolic, adaptive events occurring from drying off until calving in high-yielding cows and discusses determinants that may trigger (mal)adaptation to these events in the late prepartum period

Sistema Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária - SEPA: revitalização de um mecanismo de integração e parceria institucional.

SEPA; Abordagem conceitual; Importância; Objetivo geral; Diretrizes; Organização e operacionalização; O papel da EMBRAPA em relação ao SNPA e aos SEPAs.bitstream/item/120249/1/Sistema-Estadual-de-Pesquisa-Agropecuaria-SEPA.pd