The Effects of a Selective and Non-Selective Organic Herbicides on Amaranthus species

The Amaranthus species has adaptive abilities that give them competitive advantages and invasive tendencies. Their high seed production, seed viability, quick growth rate, and C4 metabolism have allowed some of the species to become resistant to some types of herbicides, causing soybean, corn, and cotton crop yield losses in North America. For this investigation, different organic herbicide solutions were analyzed to determine their affects on the Amaranthus species. Different concentrations of acetic acid, eucalyptus volatile oil, and okanin were combined to test the hypothesis that the unique characteristics of each organic herbicides should safely and effectively deter Amaranthus growth, even at low concentrations. The organic herbicide cocktail significantly affected the growth rates and germination percentages of resistant A. palmeri, susceptible A. palmeri, A. viridis, and A. tricolor. Spouts died when the solution was applied daily, and seeds did not germinate after application. The solution did not have a large effect on A. hypochondriacs and A. caudatus, but most of those sprouts’ length was diminished, and growth ceased

Population and Environmental Correlates of Maize Yields in Mesoamerica: a Test of Boserup’s Hypothesis in the Milpa

Using a sample of 40 sources reporting milpa and mucuna-intercropped maize yields in Mesoamerica, we test Boserup’s (1965) prediction that fallow is reduced as a result of growing population density. We further examine direct and indirect effects of population density on yield. We find only mixed support for Boserupian intensification. Fallow periods decrease slightly with increasing population density in this sample, but the relationship is weak. Controlling for other covariates, fallow-unadjusted maize yields first rise then fall with population density. Fallow-adjusted maize yields peak at 390 kg/ha/yr for low population densities (8 persons / km2) and decline to around 280 kg/ha/yr for the highest population densities observed in our dataset. Fallow practices do not appear to mediate the relationship between population density and yield. The multi-level modeling methods we adopt allow for data clustering, accurate estimates of group-level variation, and they generate conditional predictions, all features essential to the comparative study of prehistoric and contemporary agricultural yields

Fish handling and ultrasound procedures for viewing the ovary of submersed, nonanesthetized, unrestrained channel catfish

This study addressed the development of rapid, straightforward, and minimally stressful procedures for the ultrasound imaging of ovaries of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in a commercial hatchery setting. The objectives were to (1) describe the ultrasound imaging equipment and settings used, (2) describe the fish handling procedures during imaging, and (3) illustrate image orientation with respect to the physical positioning of the probe and the catfish. Ultrasound images of the ovaries of channel catfish were recorded as digital video recordings (audio video interleave format) and as still images (ultrasound image format files). This study integrated the use of nonanesthetized, submersed fish within a recirculating tank system or portable container and a submersed waterproof probe, which enabled us to use water as a transmission medium for ultrasound. This allowed us to image the fish in ventral recumbency (upright swimming position) without using a physical restraint in the tank system, or by positioning the fish in the portable container by adjusting the position of its caudal peduncle with one hand and that of the probe with the other hand. The ease of using this technique allows it to be employed as a systematic method for fish handling under laboratory and hatchery conditions. The detailed ultrasound imaging procedures and instrument control settings reported can be used in future testing, improvement, and standardization of procedures for viewing ovaries in channel catfish and potentially other species