Local Swamp Research Articles

A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder (review)

Reviewed by: A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder Jeannette Hulick Crowder, Melanie A Nearer Moon. Atheneum, 2015 150p Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4148-3 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4150-6 $10.99 R Gr. 4-6 When Luna’s little sister, Willow, gets a mouthful of water from the local swamp, the girls know Willow is in trouble; the water is known to cause a wasting sickness that lasts for three weeks and ends in death. While Luna desperately seeks a cure for the sickness, another narrative unfolds: in an earlier time, an adventurous young water sprite, Perdy, seeks to explore as much of the human world as she can before her people leave for a new realm unspoiled by humans. Perdy’s sister, Gia, gives the ever-wandering Perdy a magical locket that will call Perdy back to Gia when the sprites leave the human world behind, but Perdy loses the locket before the critical moment. As Luna’s story continues, it becomes clear that there’s a link between miserable Perdy and the dangerous swamp water, and in the end, it’s up to Luna to make a sacrifice that may both save Willow and free Perdy. Crowder writes with a pleasantly understated lyricism, and there is real emotional resonance to both Luna’s and Perdy’s stories. The connections between the two interwoven narratives are effective in their gradual revelation to readers, and the increasing urgency of the pacing will keep readers absorbed until the end. Luna’s relationship with her mother—who, in her own grief, seems to blame Luna for Willow’s illness—is also poignantly articulated. This would make a bonding family readaloud, and kids who prefer their fairy stories with a bit of realism thrown in will take to this like a sprite to a crystalline river. Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Peningkatan Toleransi Rendaman Padi Lokal Rawa Lebak dengan Introgresi Gen Sub1

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>One of efforts to increase rice production at swamp area which is frequently flooded is the use of submergence tolerant rice varieties. The objectives of this research was to improve plant tolerance after submergence stress for 14 days in BC1F1 of crosses between local superior varieties and Sub1 gen donor (FR13A). The studies were carried out in two stages: 1) Crossing local superior varieties, i.e., Pegagan (Pgn), Siam (Sm), Payak Selimbuk (Pys), dan Pelita Rampak (Plr) to submergence tolerant variety FR13A; and 2) submergence tolerance evaluation of the progeny. The first study was conducted at green house of Graduate Study Sriwijaya University, Palembang. The second study was carried out at field experiment of Central Research and Development of Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources in Bogor. All studies were conducted from March 2011 until March 2013. The first study was the introgression of Sub1 gene into local genotypes Payak Selimbuk, Pegagan, Siam and Pelita Rampak from FR13A. The second study was evaluation of BC1F1 plant performance after submergence treatment for 14 days. The results showed that introgression of Sub1 gene into local varieties improved submergence tolerance as indicated by higher percentage of survived plants, lower decrease of plant dry weight, and lower decrease of grain weight per panicle compared to parents.</p><p>Keywords: Sub1 gene, local swamp rice, submergence tolerant</p>

Integrated stratigraphy and palaeoclimate history of the Carnian Pluvial Event in the Boreal realm; new data from the Upper Triassic Kapp Toscana Group in central Spitsbergen (Norway)

The Late Triassic climate is characterized by arid conditions interrupted by a humid phase known as the Carnian Pluvial Event (CPE). This wet phase is well documented in the Tethyan realm, but evidence from the Boreal realm is scarce. Here we present evidence from quantitative palynology for the CPE from the Kapp Toscana Group on central Spitsbergen integrated with organic carbon isotope data linked to the geomagnetic polarity time scale. Our data reveal an early to mid-Julian-1 age for the Tschermakfjellet Formation. The transition to the Julian-2 is located in the De Geerdalen Formation and the Isfjorden Member is confirmed as mostly Tuvalian-3 in age. The Aulisporites astigmosus pollen assemblage zone that marks the base of the CPE in the Tethys realm at the base of the Julian-2 is assigned to the Julian-1 in the Boreal region. Palaeoclimate proxy data inferred from principal component analysis indicate wetter conditions from the Julian-2 onwards, which is in agreement with the establishment of local swamp vegetation on top of a delta plain. The palaeotemperature curve indicates a period of cooler climate during the early Julian-1 followed by warming during the late Julian-1. Supplementary materials: A list of all identified morphotaxa of pollen, spores and aquatic palynomorphs is available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18879 .

What Did Economists Do? Euvoluntary, Voluntary, and Coercive Institutions for Collective Action

[Author Affiliation]William F Shughart II, * Department of Economics and Finance, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University, 3565 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-3565, USA; E-mail: william.shughart@usu.edu ; corresponding authorDiana W Thomas, [dagger] Department of Economics and Finance, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University, 3565 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-3565, USA; E-mail: diana.thomas@usu.edu[Acknowledgment]Prepared for presentation at a session honoring the late James Buchanan during the 83rd annual meeting of the Southern Economic Association Tampa, FL. We thank Damon Cann, Peter Leeson, Randy Simmons, Michael Thomas, and Ryan Yonk for helpful comments, as well as Dwight Lee and J. R. Clark for organizing the panel comprised of some of the association's living past presidents and for inviting us participate.1. IntroductionHow is the rider problem be handled? ... [T]here may be cases where the expected benefits from [collective action] are not sufficiently high warrant the emergence of some voluntary cooperative arrangement. And, addition, the known or predicted presence of free riders may inhibit the cooperation of individuals who would otherwise contribute. In such situations, voluntary cooperation may never produce an efficient outcome, for the individual members of the group. Hence, the market, even its most extended sense, may be said fail. recourse is left the individual this case? It is surely that of transferring, again voluntarily, at least at some ultimate constitutional level, activities of ... [that] sort the community as a collective unit, with decisions delegated specifically designated rules for making choices, and these decisions coercively enforced once they are made. (Buchanan 1964, p. 220; emphasis added)In his November 1963 Presidential Address the Southern Economic Association, Nobel laureate James Buchanan asked the audience consider two rather blunt questions (1964, p. 213): What are economists 'should' they be doing? Buchanan's own somewhat disdainful answer the first question was that, owing economists' narrow preoccupation with problems involving the optimal allocation of scarce means among alternative or competing ends, economics was well on its way becoming a not very interesting branch of applied mathematics. Echoing Friedrich von Hayek (1945, p. 520), Buchanan (1964, p. 216) remarked that once a behavioral objective function and the constraints on it have been specified, the model's solution is predetermined, and the problem reduces one of rote computation.Buchanan (1964) answered the second question by saying that he wanted economists to concentrate on 'exchange' rather than on 'choice' (p. 217), thereby reorienting themselves toward an elementary and basic approach that ... places 'the theory of markets' and not the 'theory of resource allocation' at center stage (p. 214). Given that Buchanan delivered his Presidential Address soon after the publication of The Calculus of Consent (Buchanan and Tullock 1962), he closed the passage we have chosen as our epigraph by writing that, in the most sense (perhaps for most of you accept), the approach economics that I am advancing extends cover the emergence of a political constitution (Buchanan 1964, p. 220). More than a half century later, Buchanan's recommended approach economics is longer too general for most of us accept.Buchanan's work takes the process of institutional evolution seriously. In the Address, he gives the example of a program for mosquito control, which requires the draining of a local swamp. Because no single citizen the community has sufficient incentive finance the full costs of this essentially indivisible operation, markets, the orthodox definition of the term, fail (Buchanan 1964, p. …

Holocene palynology and palaeoenvironments in the Savanna Biome at Tswaing Crater, central South Africa

A radiocarbon dated pollen and microscopic charred particle record from the Holocene section of the Tswaing Crater in the Savanna Biome of South Africa give new evidence for environmental changes during the period c. 9400–1800calyears BP. Pollen grains are scarce or absent in layers dating from before 9400calyears BP but deposits rich in pollen occur in overlying layers. The section dated between 9400calyears BP and c. 7200calyears BP contains grass, Asteraceae and dry savanna pollen types that suggest fluctuating but generally dry moisture conditions. Later between c. 7200 and 1800calyears BP, broad leaved savanna woodland elements and local swamp pollen indicate relatively stable vegetation and wetter mildly fluctuating climatic conditions, which is consistent with previously published biomarker analysis. Between c. 6200 and 5500calyears BP, the numbers of charred particles increased slightly. This indicates burning activity, which can probably be attributed to dry season ignition of denser fuel under relatively moist conditions. A decrease of local swamp pollen between c. 3600 and 3500calyears BP suggests that conditions became briefly drier again as pollen of woody elements declined in favour of open grassland pollen. A comparison between the Tswaing pollen profile and various other sequences within the central interior of South Africa suggests generally similar conditions over the central interior of the sub-continent during the Holocene deviating from sequences further afield along the coastal areas of southern Africa. Between 9400calyears BP and ca. 7200calyears BP, the western and southern coasts were probably controlled by different atmospheric and oceanic circulation regimes under the influence of a strong westerly winter–rain system while the north-eastern area where, Tswaing is situated, experienced weaker precession and less summer rain from the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

A continuous record of vegetation and climate change over the past 50,000 years in the Fujian Province of eastern subtropical China

A 425cm core has been collected from the Gantang subalpine peat bog, in Pingnan County, Fujian Province of Southern China. High-resolution pollen analysis of the core has allowed for the reconstruction of past vegetation and climate changes over the last 50,000years. Today, Fujian province is located in the eastern part of middle subtropical zone where the dominant vegetation is evergreen broadleaved forest that receives its precipitation from the East Asian Monsoon. The pollen record testifies that the vegetation in Fujian varied between subtropical evergreen and warm temperate deciduous forests during the last glacial-interglacial cycle. It appears that during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3, this area was covered with broadleaved forest suggesting warm and wet subtropical condition, whereas the flora was quite different with many ancient elements. The Last Glacial Maximum is distinguished by an increase in warm temperate deciduous taxa, particularly Fagus and Alnus accompanied by abundant Ericaceae, implying a spatial shift of zonal vegetation during this coldest episode in the world. Local swamp developed soon after the Younger Dryas event coinciding with the formation of peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere possibly linked with atmospheric carbon accumulation. A rapid increase in evergreen broadleaved taxa that dominated the local forest occurred at ~ca. 8.2calka BP, indicating the inception of the regional thermal maximum during the Holocene, which was generally characterised by more humid conditions. The middle to late Holocene sees a progressive decline in arboreal elements, and an increase in grasses and Ericaceae. These changes beginning from around 4kacal BP were concordant with the general weakening of the East Asian Monsoon during the Holocene, corresponding with an orbitally induced reduction of boreal summer insolation. This is the first terrestrial high-resolution record from eastern part of middle subtropical areas that evaluates the forest changes through the last glacial-interglacial cycle.

Ecosystem Series: “Who Needs an Iceberg?”, “Who Needs a Jungle?”, “Who Needs a Swamp?” by K. Patkau

Patkau, Karen. Ecosystem Series: “Who Needs an Iceberg?”, “Who Needs a Jungle?”, “Who Needs a Swamp?”. 3 vols. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Part of elementary public school science curriculum, at least in Alberta, for many years has included a study of ecosystems. Many publishers of children’s non-fiction have published series of ecosystem-specific books in support of these curricula. Toronto author/illustrator, Karen Patkau is a new voice in this field. Patkau has won many awards and citations for her illustrations and these books are further examples of her fine work. All three of these books follow a similar pattern. Illustrations make up most of the work. The language is appropriate to the upper elementary target audience. In each book, there are a few textbook-like illustrations of biological cycles, such as the oxygen cycle. At the end of each volume there is a world map that shows where in the world the kind of ecosystem being described can be found. An inset larger map shows the location of the specific ecosystem being illustrated in the book. The map is followed by a visual dictionary of twenty-four of the organisms described in the book with a paragraph describing each organism. Each book concludes with a glossary. “Who Needs an Iceberg? “ is miss-titled, because icebergs have much less impact on the Arctic ecosystems than does the presence of the swiftly-shrinking polar ice cap. However, through the book, Patkau does address most of the varied terrestrial and aquatic Arctic ecosystems. Her illustrations range from very detailed, for example the ptarmigan on the tundra, to the almost two-dimensional representation of the beluga. This is a non-fiction work, so Patkau’s representation of the underwater part of the iceberg as the face of an animal is a bit of an oddity. While “Who Needs an Iceberg?” barely mentions the iceberg through the text, “Who Needs a Jungle?” is completely about jungle environments. Patkau expertly portrays the dark jungle interiors and the bright and vibrant crowns. Her jungle is lush, with many shades of green and bright flowers and is filled with insects, birds, snakes and mammal. In the latter part of the book Patkau addresses how the jungle impacts global weather, air quality and regional water regimes. “Who Needs a Swamp?” focuses on a swamp in southern Georgia, in the southeastern United States. Given that part of the marketing for ecosystem series is the tie-in to the school curriculum, it seem as bit strange that Patkau would not have chosen a swamp in a Canadian environment, with which children might have some personal experience. While swamps wherever they are serve similar functions in trapping excess rainfall, slowing run-off and filtering water, Canadian children will not find armadillos, crocodiles, sassafras and cypress trees in their local swamps. Similar in presentation to “Who Needs a Jungle?” this book showcases Patkau’s portrayal of the lush world of a sub-tropical swamp. Because there have been several ecosystem series published for the Canadian environment in the past ten years, and not much changes in these ecosystems, for school libraries on small budgets, these books, particularly the one on swamps, would probably fall into the “nice to have” category. However, for any public or school library needing to buy new or having a budget large enough to accommodate duplication of subject content and peripheral content, these books are highly recommended. Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Sandy Campbell Sandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.

Genetic distance estimation of local swamp buffaloes through morphology analysis approach.

Information about genetic distances among populations (geographics) of local swamp buffalo is less published. Genetic distance analysis was done among seven local swamp buffalo populations trhough a morphological analysis. Female and male buffaloes were observed for a total number of 905 hds, originating from the Provices of NAD (100 hds), North Sumatera (51 hds), Banten (180 hds), Central Java (203 hds), South Kalimantan (121 hds), NTB (200 hds), dan South Sulawesi (50 hds). Genetic variation among buffalo populations was calculated by discriminant function of Mahalonobis distance. Genetic distance was estimated by MEGA program. Morphometric measurements of female buffalo in North Sumatera were larger (P < 0,01) than those of buffaloes in Banten, South Kalimantan, NAD and South Sulawesi. Morphometric measurements of male buffalo in South Sulawesi were larger than those of buffaloes in Central Java, Banten, and NAD. Chest width was the highest different morphometric factor (0.969). Buffalo from NTB had the highest similarity (95.0%), followed by buffaloes from North Sumatera (74.51%) and South Sulawesi (74.19%); while the lowest one was from South Sulawesi (38.02%) and Banten (49.44%). Morphological distribution map indicated existence of three local swamp buffalo groups. Grup 1 was presented by buffalo from NTB, distributed in the II and III quadrants. Group 2 was presented by buffaloes from five locations (North Sumatera, Central Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and Banten), distrributed in I and II quadrants, and a smaller part distributed in III and IV quadrants. Group 3 was presented by buffaloes from NAD and a smaller part from South Kalimantan and Banten, distributed in IV quadrant. The lowest genetic distance was identified between buffaloes in NAD and South Kalimantan (0.348), while the highest one was between buffloes in Banten and South Kalimantan (1.883). Based on phenogram tree structure, the observed local swamp buffaloes could be classified into 3 cluster, namely: Cluster 1 from South Kalimantan, NAD and Banten; Cluster 2 from South Sulawesi, Central Java and North Sumatera, and Cluster 3 from NTB. Key Words: Swamp Buffalo, Morphology, Discriminant Analysis, Genetic Distance

Scat (review)

Reviewed by: Scat Karen Coats Hiaasen, Carl Scat. Knopf, 2009 [384p] Library ed. ISBN 978-0-375-93486-5$19.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-375-83486-8$16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 6-9 It's not that he doesn't like biology, but Nick dreads his hours with Mrs. Starch, the infamous, rumor-encrusted biology teacher. Still, when she embarrasses the class bully, Smoke, Nick fears for her, especially when she disappears from a school field trip to a local swamp. The class had to cut the trip short because of a fire in the swamp, and many of his classmates figure that Smoke started it. As Nick and his friend Marta investigate the disappearance of their teacher, they run into someone driving her car and intimating that he's her nephew, even though they know she doesn't have family. As it turns out, Smoke, Mrs. Starch, and the mysterious "nephew" are all connected, but it's not for the reason Nick imagines. Nor are the dangers where he imagined, either; an unscrupulous would-be oil tycoon from Texas is trying to sink a well in public land and will do just about anything to keep people from discovering his plans. With his usual flair, Hiaasen blends endangered species (this time a Florida panther), uniquely Floridian landscapes, and environmental mystery into an intricate plot web, laying out multiple strands before pulling them up tightly into a resolution that turns the kids into the latest media heroes. Along the way, he stretches and twists factual details in tall-tale fashion, sacrificing absolute credibility for an exciting climax. His secondary characters tend toward the hyberbolic as well, neatly situating the quirky alongside the earnest everykids who are his protagonists. Fans of Hoot (BCCB 11/02) and Flush (BCCB 10/05) will cheer for Scat. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

The allochthonous genesis model about the extra-thick and high-quality coalbed in Xianfeng basin, Yunnan Province, China

An extra-thick high-quality brown coal was found to have accumulated in the Xianfeng basin in Yunnan Province, China. There are also abundant sedimentary marks of allochthonous genesis in the extra-thick coalbeds. These genesis indicators reveal a new submodel about allochthonous accumulation, which is: the long-distance river transportation of detrital plant and inorganic matter → the sedimentation of detrital plant fan delta + the hypautochthony accumulation of local lakeshore swamp peat → the autochthonous accumulation of local lacustrine peat + the sedimentation of fine inorganic matter → the mixing and transportation by flood current or weak storm flow or underwater gravity flow → the mechanical differentiation and their resedimentation between detrital plant and inorganic matter. This submodel can be called “the double accumulation of lacustrine detrital plant fan delta and underwater gravity flow” or “Xianfeng submodel”, which supplements the “allochthonous-hypautochthony lacustrine combination accumulation model” of the extra-thick coalbeds. The combination accumulation model is based on the Fuxin submodel and Fushun submodel in the Chinese Mesozoic and Cenozoic intarcontinental fault basin.

PCR-RFLP of mitochondrial DNA of swamp buffaloes in breeding station

Methods have been devised for detecting polymorphisms in the D-loop regions using the PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion to reveal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Total DNA were extracted from the white blood cell of swamp buffaloes. Restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of local swamp buffalo from Lamphayaklang Livestock Research and Breeding Station in Thailand were analyzed using three enzymes (Ava lI, Bam H I and Hae III) which recognize 4 and 6 nucleotides. Among the 49 animals were analyzed, Ava II, BamH I and Hae III revealed different polymorphisms. Ava II showed two types of cleavage pattern. BamH I showed two type of cleavage pattern. And Hae III showed four types of cleavage pattern. The polymorphic fragments patterns for these three restriction endonuclease (Ava II- BamH I- Hae III) revealed five types of D-loop mtDNA in all the animals examined.These preliminary results indicated that polymorphism in the D-loop region of swamp buffalo mtDNA can be revealed by PCR and restriction enzyme analysis. And these enzymes would be able to show the genetic difference among the swamp buffaloes.These preliminary results indicated that polymorphism in the D-loop region of swamp buffalo mtDNA can be revealed by PCR and restriction enzyme analysis. And these enzymes would be able to show the genetic difference among the swamp buffaloes.

321 PREGNANCIES ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING TRANSFER OF IN VITRO-PRODUCED FRESH AND FROZEN - THAWED BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) EMBRYOS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of obtaining pregnancies in the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) species, following transfer of fresh and frozen–thawed in vitro-produced embryos during the months of April and May in southern China. Embryos produced from oocytes recovered by ovum pickup (OPU), from Murrah and Nili-Ravi buffaloes, were transferred into synchronized local F1 swamp � Murrah/Nili-Ravi heifers to establish pregnancies. In vitro maturation (IVM) was performed in 50-�L droplets of TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 0.5 �g mL-1 of LH, 5 �g mL-1 of FSH, and 1 �g mL-1 of estradiol in a humidified gas atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 39�C for 22 to 24 h. A concentration of 2 million spermatozoa was prepared in TALP supplemented with 0.6% BSA fraction V, 60 �g mL-1 of heparin, 0.2 mM penicillamine, and 0.1 mM hypotaurine, and co-incubated in 50-�L droplets up to 24 h. Co-culture on granulosa cell monolayer in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS (GIBCO, Grand Island, NY), 0.25 mM Na pyruvate, and 50 �g mL-1 of kanamicin was allowed up to 8 days. A total of 923 antral follicles were punctured and 647 cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered (70%) over 3 replicates on 40 buffalo donors in twice-weekly collections. A total of 462 COCs were selected based on the presence of at least one layer of granulosa cells and were used for IVM and IVF, with a resulting cleavage of 257 (55.6%), leading to 22 morula (4.7%) and 93 blastocysts (20.1%). Embryo development was evaluated from Days 6 to 8, and grades 1 and 2 blastocysts to expanding blastocysts were used for transfer as fresh or following freezing and thawing. Recipients were synchronized by the Ovsynch protocol, and to match the recipient estrous cycle to the stage of in vitro embryo development, a second gonadotropin-releasing hormone was administered to recipients at the time of OPU on donors. For both fresh and frozen–thawed embryos, each recipient received 2 embryos into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary bearing the corpus luteum. Following the Ovsynch protocol, a total of 26 out of 47 recipients (57.4%) were found to be suitable as recipients by palpation per rectum, receiving 52 fresh embryos and resulting in 7 pregnancies (26.9%). Thirty embryos were cryopreserved by conventional freezing using 1.8 M ethylene glycol and a freezing protocol, from seeding to plunging into liquid nitrogen, of -0.3�C min. Subsequently, embryos were transferred following thawing into 15 out of 20 recipients originally subjected to the Ovsynch protocol. Only 2 recipients were diagnosed as pregnant (13.3%). No statistical difference in pregnancy rate was found following the transfer of fresh vs. frozen–thawed embryos (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Further improvements are needed to optimize the establishment of pregnancies. A closer monitoring by ultrasound of recipients subjected to synchronization protocols will favor a better selection of more suitable animals.

Holocene palaeoenvironments inferred from a sedimentary sequence in the Tsoaing River Basin, western Lesotho

The paper presents a sedimentological, palynological, and phytolith record from a 13 m deep Holocene sedimentary sequence, located in the Tsoaing River valley, southwestern Lesotho. Six conventional radiocarbon and two AMS dates provide a relatively high resolution Holocene record for the sedimentary sequence, ranging from ca. 12 000 to 4000 years BP. Pollen is absent in the upper section but present in the lower 2 m, confirming terminal Pleistocene/Holocene conditions reported in previous published pollen and charcoal records from the region. The absence of pollen in the upper layers of ca. 9000 years BP and younger suggests that conditions over southwestern Lesotho throughout much of the Holocene was typified by a seasonal climate that prevented long-term preservation of plant remains, although other plant material like robust spores, microscopic charcoal, and phytoliths withstood oxidation. Sedimentological and phytolith results suggest that the period from ca. 8600 to 8450 years BP experienced rapid environmental change towards drier conditions. Phases of chemical disintegration with organic input (including local swamp phytoliths) are suggested at ca. 7000 years BP and again after 4500 years BP.

245 OOCYTE RECOVERY BY OVUM PICK UP AND EMBRYO PRODUCTION IN MURRAH AND NILI-RAVI BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS) IMPORTED IN CHINA

In this preliminary study, in vitro embryo production and cryopreservation in two river type buffaloes (Murrah and Nili-Ravi) imported into China have been carried out. The objective of the study was enhancement of the genetic merit and productive performances of imported river buffaloes in conjunction with the utilization of local swamp buffaloes. In order to improve milk and meat production in China local swamp buffaloes (2n = 48), which are the predominant subspecies, have been crossbred with imported river buffaloes (Murrah and Nili-Ravi: 2n = 50). At present, several hundred thousand crossbred heads have been produced, and although both males and females can reproduce with 2n = 49 crossbred buffaloes, their reproductive performances are significantly reduced when compared to 2n = 50 buffaloes. As an alternative approach, a program of embryo production in river buffaloes and transfer into both river and swamp buffaloes has been implemented at the Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, in Nanning, P.R. China. Some preliminary results are presented: from a start-up experiment, a total of 46 river buffaloes were subjected to 2 to 3 ovum pickup sessions at 4-day intervals. A total of 750 antral follicles were punctured and 495 (66%) cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved. Only COCs characterized by at least one layer of granulosa cells (n = 451; 91.1%) were considered for in vitro maturation (IVM). COCs were matured in TCM 199 + 10% FCS, 0.5 μg/mL FSH, 5 μg/mL LH, and 1 μg/mL estradiol in the presence of cysteamine (50 μM) at 39°C under 5% CO2 in humidified air for 24 h. Of the initial 451 COCs matured, only 277 could be considered for in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF was performed at 39°C under CO2 in humidified air in TALP medium supplemented with 0.2 mM penicillamine, 0.1 mM hypotaurine, and 0.01 mM heparin. Frozen/thawed sperm from a tested bull was treated by swim-up procedure and used at a final concentration of 20 million/mL. Following 20 to 22 h of co-incubation, presumptive zygotes were cultured in SOF medium, supplemented with essential and non-essential amino acids and 8 mg/mL BSA, in a gas atmosphere of 5% CO2, 7% O2, and 88% N2. A total of 41 (14.8%) blastocysts were produced, of which 33 were vitrified and 8 transferred immediately into available swamp and river buffalo recipients. Two calves were born (25%) from the transfer of fresh embryos into one river and one swamp buffalo. In vitro embryo production in the buffalo species is still characterized by a high degree of variable results. However, these preliminary results reinforce the need to implement newly developed reproductive technologies not only for speeding up genetic gain of already productive species, but also for the utilization of local breeds characterized by reduced productive performance.

The Lower Karoo coal (k2–3) of the Mid-Zambezi basin, Zimbabwe: depositional analysis, coal genesis and palaeogeographic implications

Intensive lithological study and correlation of borehole records from the k2–3 coalfields or coal occurrences in the Mid-Zambezi basin led to the identification of two sedimentological types of coal: the Alluvial plain coal and the freshwater-lake shoreline coal. The Alluvial plain coal was found only at Gokwe and in the Nyamandlovu area. Its depth of more than 200 m below surface, the thinness and discontinuous nature of the seams, and the high ash content of the coal make the economic significance extremely small. In clear contrast, lithologically and economically, stand the lake shoreline coal fields at Wankie, Lubimbi, Lusulu, Lubu, Busi, and Sengwa. The pay-zone is the basal Main Seam, up to 17-m thick. The shoreline coal is either more or less massive (Wankie, Lusulu-Lubu) or is thin coal bands alternating with carbonaceous mudstone (Lubimbi, Sengwa). The clearest evidence for a lake shoreline environment comes from the lateral lithofacies change of the coal, e.g., at Wankie where it turns down-dip into sapropelic mudstone of the lake, and up-dip into terrestrial sediments of the coastal plain. The lake shoreline interpretation results finally in the delineation of a 20- to 40-km-wide coal-belt stretching from Wankie in the W to Sengwa in the E. The new model also opens up new perspectives for more coal within and between the coalfields. The study of quality and petrography of the shoreline coal supports the above depositional environment and reveals a standard maceral profile characterized by a basal vitrinite-rich coal passing upwards into inertinite-rich coal forming the major upper part of the sequence (typical Gondwana coal). The profile reflects an initial swamp phase generating a wet-forest swamp with Glossopteris trees, but this turned soon to a dry-forest swamp, with oxidation and decomposition of the vegetation, before it was finally overlain by fluviodeltaic sandstones of k4. The paludification is referred to an eustatic rise of the water-table caused by post-ice-age meltwater, but soon the water level dropped, due to the warmer climate. The local and regional controls of the peatswamp formation were considered, as well as the autochthonous and diachronous nature of the coal. The two coal types led to a new palaeogeographic setting for the Mid-Zambezi basin which is in agreement with the new rift concept. It was more of a trough having a SW–NE trend axis which was in the centre filled by a shallow freshwater lake. The above coal-belt was formed out of a peatswamp zone along its palaeo-shoreline. South of this stretched a ca. 100-km-wide shallow alluvial plain drained towards the NW by some meandering rivers, with adjacent flood plains temporarily occupied by local swamps. The alluvial plain was bounded on the SE by crystalline highlands representing the source of clastic sediments for the basin.

SHORT REPORT: PROXIMITY TO MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES AS A RISK FACTOR FOR CLINICAL MALARIA EPISODES IN AN URBAN COHORT OF UGANDAN CHILDREN

The impact of geography on incidence of clinical episodes of malaria was investigated in a cohort of children enrolled in a longitudinal clinical trial of antimalarial therapy in Kampala, Uganda. Participant households and the boundaries of local swamps and streams were mapped and incidence of clinical malaria episodes was measured prospectively using passive surveillance during one year of follow-up. Of 316 cohort participants, 305 from 219 households were followed for at least six weeks and were included in the analysis. Incidence of clinical malaria was highly variable, with no episodes occurring in 131 participants, and 367 new episodes of malaria diagnosed in the remaining 174 children. A gradient in incidence of clinical episodes of malaria was observed with distance of residence from a swamp (0.41 episodes per person year for residence > 100 meters from a swamp increasing to 2.22 episodes per person year for residence within a swamp), or a stream (0.61 episodes per person year for residence > or = 500 meters from a stream versus 1.76 episodes per person year for residence <500 meters from a stream). Multivariate analysis showed that distances of residence from a swamp or from a stream were independent predictors of malaria incidence, controlling for age, use of preventative measures, and primary source of water. Distance from a swamp was the strongest predictor, with an incidence rate ratio of 4.3 (95% confidence interval = 2.6-6.9, P < 0.001) between residence within a swamp and >100 meters from a swamp. In this urban setting, incidence of clinical episodes of malaria was strongly associated with proximity of residence to potential mosquito breeding sites.

Plant regeneration from callus cultures in two ecotypes of reed (Phragmites communis Trinius)

Different ecotypes of reed (Phragmites communis Trinius) provide an ideal resource for studies on plant environmental adaptations and presence of genes relating to stress resistance. Dune reed is a drought-tolerant reed ecotype growing in the desert regions of north-west China. In this work, in vitro culture systems of dune reed and local swamp reed (as control) were established by optimizing the culture conditions for each of them. Bright yellow calluses were induced on a Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 5.4 μM naphthaleneacetic acid and 2.2μM benzyladenine. Benzyladenine promoted callus induction, but was not required for callus maintenance. Four types of callus have been identified from each of the reed ecotypes. Two types of callus, i.e. type A (formed normal green shoots) and type C (formed albino plants), were both found as embryogenic calluses. The optimal concentrations of 2,4-D to maintain embryogenic callus were 2.3–4.5 μM for dune reed and 9.0–13.5 μM for swap reed. Plant regeneration was achieved from types A and C callus in a hormone-free medium. The embryogenic calluses of swamp reed have been maintained for over 2 yr and still retain their strong embryogenic potential; however, those of dune reed gradually lost their embryogenic potential after only 7 mo. of culture. Regenerated plants from the two reed ecotypes showed, after a growth season, similar morphology and the same chromosome number (2n=8x=96, octoploid) as the wild plants.

Palynological evidence for the astronomical origin of lignite–detritus sequence in the Middle Pleistocene Marathousa Member, Megalopolis, SW Greece

The Marathousa Member, Middle Pleistocene strata in the fluvio-lacustrine Megalopolis basin, southwest Greece, displays distinct but complicated lithological cycles comprising first-order alternation of lignites and detrital muds and second-order alternation expressed by frequent intercalation of organic layers. Palynological evidence indicates that the lithological cycles are driven by the Earth’s orbital forcing. All the lignite seams yield temperate oak forest whereas the detrital beds provide semi-arid steppe mainly of Artemisia. This means that the first-order lithological cycle represents the glacial/interglacial cycle (i.e., the 100-kyr eccentricity cycle), providing a timescale of at least 350 kyr to the Marathousa Member. Pollen also detects smaller-scale climate fluctuations in many of the subordinate organic layers, with the total number of fluctuations being five in a complete lignite–detritus couplet. This means that the second-order lithological cycle reflects the 21-kyr insolation cycle. A tentative phase relation between the lithological cycles and the astronomical cycles is shown based on palynostratigraphy and electron spin resonance dating. Lacustrine environments with increased water tables are implied for the glacial periods sedimentologically, in contrast to local swamp vegetation for the interglacial periods. The subordinate organic layers were formed under intermediate environments (climate, water depth, etc.) between full glacials and interglacials.

Gene expression in ineffective actinorhizal nodules ofAlnus glutinosa

Summary Several Frankia strains have been shown to induce ineffective, i.e. non-nitrogen fixing nodules, sometimes in a host-plant dependent manner. Previous studies have demonstrated that the resistance to nodulation of Alnus glutinosa by ineffective Frankia strains is genetically determined. In this study, ineffective nodules induced on susceptible Alnus glutinosa clones by soil suspensions from a local swamp were analysed cytologically. Comparisons with effective nodules showed that ineffective nodules contain higher amounts of polyphenols than effective nodules, indicating a plant defense reaction. Polyphenols were found even in the infected cortical cells. In situ hybridization with a Frankia antisense 16S rRNA probe showed that Frankia is degraded at an early stage of development of infected cells. The mRNAs of two plant genes, ag12ar\6 ag13, which had been found to be expressed in the infected cells of effective nodules, were localized in ineffective nodules. Their expression patterns seemed to be ...

Excursion – Local Swamps

Excursion – Local Swamps