Seasonal Use Research Articles

245 The influence of deferment and season of use on beef cattle diet quality and composition following a rangeland wildfire

Abstract Research has shown that forage quality increases after a fire. Greater crude protein content in forage can be beneficial for livestock, and even attract herbivores to recently burned areas. However, there has been little research into how forage quality changes within the first 2 yr after a fire and how it affects livestock diet quality or composition. Therefore, this project was conducted within a burn area of an August 2020 wildfire to evaluate the effect of seasonal deferment and annual rest on diet quality, botanical composition, and foraging efficiency of beef cattle grazing burned rangeland. A randomized complete block design was used comparing June grazing versus September grazing with cow/calf pairs, and no deferment versus a 1 yr deferment of grazing. Sixteen 4-hectare pastures were used, with eight being grazed in 2021 and 2022, and eight only grazed in 2022. Pastures were grazed in either June or September by cow-calf pairs for 2 d at a time. In June, 20 cow/calf pairs were used, and 16 pairs were used in September to account for calf growth/intake. Cattle diet composition and masticate samples were collected during 20-min bite-count periods using six ruminally cannulated cows in each pasture prior to and after 2 d grazing periods. Composition of diets upon pasture entry differed among treatments (P < 0.01) with June diets in greater proportions of forbs than September diets. In addition, June diets with no deferment had greater forb composition than June diets with 1 yr deferment (P < 0.01). Crude protein in June diets were substantially greater than September diets (P < 0.01) and within the June grazing period, greatest for the non-deferred treatment (P < 0.01). June diets had decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations than September diets (P < 0.01) and within the June grazing treatments, the first year after burning was least in NDF content (P < 0.01). There was no difference in ash concentration for all treatments and years (P ≥ 0.07) averaging 16.46% ash content. There was no effect of grazing treatment on grams per bite (P ≥ 0.34) averaging 1.36 grams per bite for pre- and post-grazing treatments. In summary, season of use and timing of grazing following a wildfire has an impact on cattle diet composition and quality with the greatest impact in the spring following a wildfire.

Harvest weed seed control in soybean with an impact mill

AbstractThe distribution of herbicide-resistant weeds such as waterhemp has resulted in a greater need for a more integrated approach to weed management, especially in U.S. soybean production systems. Previous research has shown harvest weed seed control (HWSC) to be an effective method of reducing the amount of weed seed returning to the soil. One form of HWSC is the use of impact mills to destroy weed seed exiting the combine during harvest. In 2019 and 2020, we investigated the efficacy and operating costs of the Seed TerminatorTM impact mill in five Missouri soybean fields that contained significant waterhemp infestations. Results indicated that 22% to 40% of the available waterhemp seed in the field at harvest drops to the soil surface because of shatter whenever the combine reel contacts waterhemp plants. Across all locations, an average of 94% of waterhemp seed exiting the Seed Terminator™ was substantially damaged and considered nonviable. Consecutive seasons of use of the Seed TerminatorTM on the same field in two of the locations resulted in a 96% to 97% reduction of waterhemp in the soil seed bank the spring following the second harvest. The estimated increased operating cost of using a Seed Terminator™ was $14.18 ha–1 compared to harvesting with a conventional combine alone. Engine load increased by 12.5%, fuel consumption was 11.3 L h–1 and 1 L ha–1 greater with the Seed Terminator™, but there was no reduction in productivity when harvesting with a combine equipped with a Seed TerminatorTM compared to a conventional combine. The use of impact mills could play a significant role in reducing soil weed seed banks in soybean production systems in at least the Midwest region of the United States in the future.

Effects of a decade of grazing exclusion on three Wyoming big sagebrush community types

Livestock grazing is the most extensive land use in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh) steppe and its effects on plant community characteristics have been greatly debated. However, most of the studies used to support grazing removal evaluated the impacts of excluding historic grazing, rather than the impacts of excluding moderate contemporary grazing (40–50% utilization, altering season of use) which has vastly different effects on plant communities. Thus, to understand the effects of removing contemporary grazing, we compared contemporary grazed areas to long-term (+10 yrs.) grazing exclusion areas in three common Wyoming big sagebrush community types: intact, degraded, and exotic annual grass-dominated types. Plant community characteristics (cover, density, diversity, richness, dissimilarity) were measured in 2020 and 2021 in five grazed and grazing excluded areas within each community type. Most plant community characteristics were not influenced by grazing exclusion, suggesting that the removal of contemporary grazing has little effect on Wyoming big sagebrush plant communities. The effect of grazing exclusion on Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl) abundance and litter cover varied among community types, suggesting that grazing exclusion effects slightly varied among community types. In contrast, most plant community characteristics varied among community types and between years, suggesting that grazing management plans need to account for the spatial and temporal variability among Wyoming big sagebrush communities. Furthermore, our results suggest that contemporary grazing exclusion has negligible effects compared to contemporary grazing on plant communities, and that exclusion of contemporary grazing (passive restoration) does not promote the recovery of degraded and annual grass invaded plant communities.

Sea otters in a California estuary: Detecting temporal and spatial dynamics with volunteer monitoring

AbstractVolunteer monitoring can support conservation of imperiled wildlife, by providing higher resolution data in space and time than those available from professional scientists. However, concerns have been raised that data collected by amateurs are inaccurate or inconsistent and thus do not allow for robust detection of spatial or temporal trends. We evaluated the rigor and value of volunteer monitoring data for one iconic wildlife species, the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), in Elkhorn Slough estuary in central California, USA, and explored whether volunteer monitoring could provide added value to complement limited professional surveys. First, we compiled and analyzed sea otter counts taken on daily ecotourist boat trips along the estuary, and then compared temporal patterns to data collected by professional scientists tasked with monitoring this federally listed species. Second, we analyzed data on sea otter abundance, habitat use, and behavior collected by a team of trained volunteers, the Elkhorn Slough Reserve Otter Monitoring Program. Overall, we demonstrated the ability to detect important ecological patterns relevant to sea otter conservation and wetland habitat management using volunteer‐derived datasets. Long‐term trends and inter‐annual variability were similar between professional agency monitoring data and volunteer datasets. Moreover, the much higher frequency of volunteer observations allowed for seasonal and tidal dynamics to be detected that could not be revealed by less frequent professional monitoring. We found higher sea otter abundance in the estuary in spring–summer, indicating seasonality in use of the estuary. We detected differences in habitat use of the estuary between higher and lower tides, and greater frequency of foraging at low tide and in certain areas. Volunteer observations revealed fine‐scale differences in habitat use: eelgrass beds were used much more heavily than adjacent areas only a few meters away. Volunteer data can thus provide critical information about coastal habitat use and behavior that can improve conservation strategies for threatened wildlife species.

Current state of Anabasis salsa pasture varieties in Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan) due to Aral Sea drying

This article is devoted to the study of the current state of 2 pasture varieties of the biyurgun type: Anabasis salsa with the participation of Caroxylon orientale, Artemisia terrae-albae and A. kemrudica; Anabasis salsa with Caroxylon orientale and Artemisia terra-albae and Convolvulus fruticosus, Lycium ruthenicum, Anabasis brachiata, Nanophyton erinaceum, Nitraria schoberi, Malacocarpus crithmifolius and Xylosalsola chiwensis, with single Crambe edentula specimens distributed across the territory of Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan) under the influence of Aral Sea drying. The Anabasis salsa pasture type occupies a larger area than that occupied by the other pasture types in Karakalpak Ustyurt (2 664 774 ha) and accounts for 36.4% of the total territory, which includes 9 pasture varieties. This type is common on takyr, loamy saline soils and, high-gypsum soils. The area of the studied pasture varieties, soil cover nature, projective cover percentage, landscape plant species, species placement, forage yield and recommended seasonality of use were determined. According to our observations the investigated pasture varieties are recommended for use as autumn-winter pastures.

Seasonal variation in semen quality and conception rate of Jaffarabadi buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) in India

The study was conducted on four Jaffarabadi breeding bulls, 5 to 6 years old, to know the neat characteristics based on total of 192 semen ejaculates evaluated and cryopreserved during winter (10 to 25°C mean temperature) of November to February (n=96 ejaculates) and summer (38 to 45°C temperature) March to June (n=96 ejaculates). The neat seminal characteristics of Jaffarabadi bulls, viz., ejaculate volume (ml), colour/density (score), sperm concentration (million/ml), mass activity (score), initial motility (%), live sperm (%), abnormal sperm (%), HOST reactive sperm (%) and acrosomal integrity (%), first AI conception rate observed during winter season were 5.19±0.18, 2.38±0.10, 1253.36±24.75, 3.73±0.05, 80.31±0.05, 86.20±0.64, 5.00±0.40, 85.75±0.43, 93.56±0.56, 45.75±0.21 respectively, whereas the respective values in summer were 5.07±0.13, 2.00±0.00, 1186.60±24.78, 3.72±0.11, 78.75±0.46, 82.31±0.74, 7.13±0.52, 84.93±0.45, 90.56±0.23, 43.50±0.11. The semen quality of fresh samples was observed better during winter compared to summer season for use in breeding program with satisfactory first AI conception rate.

Difference of Usage Behavior between Urban Greenway and Suburban Greenway: A Case Study in Beijing, China

Greenway is an important linear public space that meets the diverse needs of the public. With the increasing popularity of greenway construction, the study of different greenway usage behavior in different socio-economic areas is of great value to the detailed design and construction of greenway in the future. Using the theory of environment-behavior studies (EBS), this study selected representative urban greenways and suburban greenways in Beijing, China, and conducted a questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test are used to quantitatively analyze and summarize the behavior of greenway users. It is found that user gender, educational level, and residence (i.e., permanent resident or visitor), as well as season of use, are highly similar for urban greenways and suburban greenways in Beijing. However, due to a close relationship with urban location, modified by temporal, spatial, and personal factors, different behavioral characteristics are evident as follows: (1) Urban greenways are most closely related to daily life, work and education of urban residents, with short travel distances, short single use time, high frequency of use, high social and cultural value, wide distribution of age groups and wide distribution of time periods of use. (2) Suburban greenways are an important choice for residents’ outdoor activities on weekends and holidays. It is mainly used for ecological protection and sightseeing, supplemented by sports and fitness functions. It has the characteristics of low use frequency, high income level, wide distribution of time and distance, mainly used by young and middle-aged people, and used for a single time of more than 1 hour. Natural scenery along the trail is the most important attraction factor, and waterfront space and walking space are the main use behavior characteristics.

Spatio‐temporal rainfall variability and trend analysis in the Tekeze‐Atbara river basin, northwestern Ethiopia

AbstractSpatial and temporal rainfall variability analysis at a basin scale is essential to understand water availability for sustainable water resource management. This study investigated the spatial distribution and temporal rainfall trend in the Tekeze river basin using daily rainfall data collected from 43 meteorological stations with records from 1960 to 2019. Coefficient of variation, seasonality index (SI) and trend index were used to evaluate monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall variability in the basin. The non‐parametric Mann‐Kendall's test was used to understand any rainfall trends. Results showed that there is moderate annual rainfall variability in the basin. Rainfall variability is higher in the Tsedey, Bega and Belg than kiremt season. SI results showed that majority of the Tekeze river basin is categorized as seasonal, most of the rain occurring in less than 3 months. Overall, Mann‐Kendall's test result revealed that there is no significant annual rainfall trend in the basin except for four stations. The seasonal rainfall characteristics and short duration of rain in the basin indicate that there is a need to implement water harvesting measures during the wet season for use in the dry periods.

Ecological state of some pasture differences of Haloxylon ammodendron of Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan)

The article is devoted to the study of the current state of three pasture differences from the Haloxylon pasture type: 1. Haloxylon ammodendron, Caroxylon orientale, Artemisia terrae-albae; 2. Haloxylon ammodendron, Artemisia terrae-albae, Caroxylon orientale with Haloxylon persicum; 3. Haloxylon ammodendron, Artemisia terrae-albae, Anabasis salsa with Haloxylon ammodendron, Kalidium caspicum, Halostachys caspica and Halocnemum strobilaceum are common in the territory of Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan). The results of field studies of plant communities with the dominance of Haloxylon ammodendron are presented. The area of the studied pasture differences, the nature of the soil cover, the percentage of projective coverage, landscape plant species, their placement, the yield of feed mass and the recommended seasonality of use are determined. The studied pasture differences are recommended to be used as year-round pastures.

Сравнительный эколого-географический анализ кузниц большого пёстрого дятла Dendrocopos major (Aves: Piciformes) на севере и юге европейской части России

Сравнительный эколого-географический анализ кузниц большого пёстрого дятла Dendrocopos major (Aves: Piciformes) на севере и юге европейской части России

Impacts of dams on surrounding groundwater levels

The increasing number of dams built to address surface water problems has attracted the awareness of engineers about the impact of water in dams on surrounding groundwater levels. Some of the benefits of a dam include reducing peak flooding and storing excess water during the rainy season for use in the dry season. However, it is necessary to be aware that an increase in surface water in one place can have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. This paper describes the relationship between the water level in the dam and changes in the surrounding groundwater level. This study did not discuss the type of soil layer. The analysis was carried out by observing the level of the surrounding wells. Following Darcy’s law of homogeneous isotropic steady-state flow, as well as the principle of the double-well pumping test, the well water level is used as a groundwater representation level. This research was conducted in the sub-districts around the Pandan Duri Dam. The results showed that water levels inside the dam had a significant impact on the surrounding groundwater levels. This is evidenced in this research that water levels of wells in Sakra District significantly changes following the change in water levels inside the Pandan Duri Dam.

Measuring the Impact of Physical Geographical Factors on the Use of Coastal Zones Based on Bayesian Networks

Coastal regions of the Baltic Sea are among the most intensively used worldwide, resulting in a need for a holistic management approach. Therefore, there is a need for strategies that even out the seasonality, which would ensure a better utilization of natural resources and infrastructure and improve the social and economic conditions. To assess the effectiveness of coastal zone planning processes concerning sustainable tourism and to identify and substantiate significant physical geographical factors impacting the sustainability of South Baltic seaside resorts, several data sets from previous studies were compiled. Seeking to improve the coastal zone’s ecological sustainability, economic efficiency, and social equality, a qualitative study (content analysis of planning documents) and a quantitative survey of tourists’ needs expressed on a social media platform and in the form of a survey, as well as long-term hydrometeorological data, were used. Furthermore, a Bayesian Network framework was used to combine knowledge from these different sources. We present an approach to identifying the social, economic, and environmental factors influencing the sustainability of coastal resorts. The results of this study may be used to advise local governments on a broad spectrum of Integrated Coastal Management matters: planning the development of the beaches and addressing the seasonality of use, directing investments to improve the quality of the beaches and protect them from storm erosion, and maintaining the sand quality and beach infrastructure. The lessons learned can be applied to further coastal zone management research by utilizing stakeholders and expert opinion in quantified current beliefs.

Seasonal use of bridges as day-roosts by bats in the Trans-Pecos of Texas

Bats commonly use highway infrastructure as day- or night-roosts. Nonetheless, little is known regarding how regularly bats use these structures or whether they do so only on a seasonal basis. We surveyed 13 parallel box beam bridges along 15 km of State Highway 17 in Jeff Davis County, Texas monthly for 12 months to examine seasonality of day-roost use. Bats using bridges, ranked based on abundance, were: Tadarida brasiliensis, Myotis velifer, M. californicus/ciliolabrum, M. yumanensis, Antrozous pallidus, and M. thysanodes. Myotis velifer, M. californicus/ciliolabrum, and M. yumanensis exhibited significant differences among bridges and significant seasonality in roost use. Tadarida brasiliensis exhibited significant differences among bridges but no significant seasonality of bridge use. Seasonality of use of bridges as day-roosts likely reflects seasonal patterns of distribution of species in the Trans-Pecos. Moreover, these results suggest that surveys of bats roosting in highway infrastructure should be planned carefully and consider the seasonal nature of roost use

242. Seasonality in antibiotic use and resistance across multiple bacterial pathogens and antibiotic classes

BackgroundAntibiotic use is an important driver of antibiotic resistance. Previous studies have shown that this relationship is detectable on a seasonal timescale, where seasonally cycling antibiotic prescribing corresponds with cycling levels of resistance. Here, we evaluated the seasonal relationship between antibiotic use and resistance across multiple species and antibiotic classes in Boston, Massachusetts.MethodsTo conduct our study, we analyzed antibiotic claims data from the Massachusetts All Payers Claims Database for five antibiotic classes, beta-lactams, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines, and nitrofurans, which together account for 74% of the total outpatient antibiotic claims in this dataset. In addition, we analyzed antibiotic susceptibility data for clinical isolates collected from two tertiary care hospitals, focusing on three clinically important bacterial pathogens. Our analysis included a total of 131,815 Escherichia coli, 47,208 Staphylococcus aureus, and 27,237 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected over the years 2007–2019, with susceptibility testing data for 5–6 antibiotics per species. To determine the extent of seasonality in use and resistance, we fit the antibiotic claims data for each antibiotic class and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for each species-antibiotic combination to a sinusoidal model with either a 6 or 12-month period.ResultsWe found that use of all 5 antibiotic classes and resistance in 9 out of 15 species-antibiotic combinations showed a significant amplitude of seasonality (p-value < 0.05). Despite different seasonal peaks in antibiotic use across classes, resistance peaked in the winter for almost all species-antibiotic combinations and was most highly correlated with use of winter-peaking antibiotic classes, beta-lactams and macrolides.ConclusionOverall, these results suggest that co-resistance and “bystander” selection – selection for resistance in asymptomatically colonizing and potentially pathogenic bacteria that are not the direct target of treatment – mediate the effects of antibiotic prescribing on the landscape of resistance.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Интенсивность формирования травостоя на имитационных моделях пастбищ различного сезона использования

Abstract. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the relationship between the parameter of the greatest growth of plants with a specific rate of grazing of animals on pasture. It is necessary to solve problems with the intensity of animal grazing, and also to establish, according to the data, a statistical relationship between the parameters of the logistic equation that describes the average statistical growth of plants on natural pastures. Research methods. The experiments were carried out at the research sites of the lysimetric complex of the FSC of Agroecology RAS with various soil substrates (Kumskiy sand, Bazhiganskiy sand, chernozem-like sandy loam substrate). Sowing mixtures of multicomponent herbs of the Stavropol selection was performed for further analysis of plant growth and development, taking into account the different season of use. Results. The article presents the equation of the course of growth of the grass stand for the growing season, which proves that even after the removal of part of the phytomass, the plant growth law is preserved according to the principle of the sigmoid curve. The maximum plant height after simulating phytomass etching was recorded on a lysimeter No. 6 and averaged: with phytomass removal of ⅓ – 121 cm, ½ – 97 cm, ⅔ – 61 cm. The smallest average plant height was noted on lysimeter No. 13 – 64 cm. The highest height on this lysimeter was 110 cm with ⅓ removal. The average growth at the end of the growing season of plants for all simulation models was distributed as follows: with the withdrawal of 33 % – 73 %; 50 % – 53 %; 67 % – 31 %. The experiments showed that it is not recommended to remove more than ⅓ of the plant phytomass. The main role is played by the rate of phytomass removal (grazing rate) for the stable restoration of the grass stand of degraded pastures, and it is also necessary to take into account the vegetative period of the plant. Scientific novelty. The relationship between plant growth parameters has been established. It allows you to predict the characteristics of further growth, improve the natural degraded grass stands, establish the sequence of grazing in different areas in accordance with the species composition of plants.

Analyzing the Frequency of Emergency Room Visits and the Use of 119 Ambulance Services

This study aimed to the socioeconomic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of 119 ambulance/private cars and the number of emergency room visits based on the 2017 data from the Korea Health Panel. The analysis revealed that during emergencies, the use of private cars (59.02%) was more common than 119 ambulance services (18.89%). Moreover, 119 ambulance users were significantly older, had a lower annual total household income, and had relatively more accidents than diseases when compared to private car users. On comparing the number of emergency room visits between single and multiple visits, there were statistically significant differences in age, total annual household income, season of use, and reasons for use for private car usage than 119 ambulances. The 119 ambulance service is an essential public safety net. Therefore, it is increasingly important to solve the frequent use of 119 ambulances by non-emergency patients, and efficiently utilize limited ambulance resources.

An Eastern Tibetan Tool for Managing Draught Cattle

This study, based on a trip to the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region of Qinghai Province, China in August 2018, focuses on the tradition of using wooden nose-rings for managing draught yaks and yak-cow hybrids, still practiced in Tibet. The materials and technology for manufacturing this tool are described, and measurements are provided. I describe variants of the traditional yoke and plow (ard) system used in conjunction with a nose-ring and identify several variants of nose-ring, distinguished by the style of terminus. I investigate seasonality of use, method of piercing, age of animals at piercing, techniques for managing single animals and draught teams, as well as nose-ring durability and advantages of wooden vs. rope forms. Based on a comprehensive comparative historical analysis of materials from Yushu, I suggest that Tibetan ancestors, who had moved there from the northeast in the second half of the 1st millennium BC, introduced wooden nose-ring technology.

SOLUTION TO WATER SCARCITY IN THE EASTERN INDONESIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE LEMBATA REGENCY

The Lembata Regency, which is located on Lembata Island in eastern Indonesia, is a region with high water scarcity. Appropriate efforts should be made to ensure the drinking water supply in the area. A water supply-demand analysis is needed to determine the condition of water sources (surplus or deficit). Water supply is determined based on rainfall data, while water demand is calculated based on domestic, nondomestic and irrigation needs, including evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is calculated using the Thornthwaite method. The results showed that a water deficit would exist in the Lembata Regency in 2033 for seven months per year (May to November), although the amount of accumulated water in one year would still be surplus. Therefore, it is recommended to store water in a raw water reservoir during the rainy season for use during the dry season. The minimal total reservoir capacity is 95,000,000 m3, and the reservoir should be spread among watersheds in Lembata. The raw water reservoirs need to be lined with a geomembrane to prevent lost water from seeping into the soil.

Pit-houses, seasonality, and subsistence resources: an essay from Boyo Paso 2 (ca. 900–700 BP, Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina)

How pre-Hispanic foragers adjusted their foraging and mobility strategies to plant cultivation is a question that drives much of the modern archaeological research. As a result, the spread of food-producing economies during the late pre-Hispanic period from Sierras of Cordoba (Argentina, ca. 1500–360 BP) has been recently defined as a dynamic sociocultural process where a mixed foraging and cultivation economy was accompanied by a flexible and seasonally landscape-use organization. However, the seasonally-sedentary model requires the elaboration of details that has not been specified. In order to enhance the discussion, this paper presents the study carried out on faunal and botanical spring-summer indicators recovered at Boyo Paso 2, an open-air site interpreted as a residential base camp occupied during the growing season (October–April) by people with mixed foraging and cultivation economy. The major aim was to identify reliable biological indicators to assess the season of use of the site based on their ecology. The identification of Rheidae eggshells, small vertebrates, crops, and wild fruits remains, as well as the contextual evidence, supports that Boyo Paso 2 was occupied with a stronger signature in middle spring through early autumn (October–April), when planting, harvesting, and/or wild food were available around the site. Thus, it is concluded that zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data were critical to understand the dynamic process that has underlain transition from foraging to farming in Sierras of Cordoba, providing data to improve the understanding of residential mobility in archaeological groups where the adoption of crops plants did not necessary lead to fully sedentary farming.

Implications of losing snowpack

Snow in the mountains provides a natural reservoir, storing water in the cold season for use later in the year. Now research demonstrates that reduced mountain snowpack due to rising temperatures makes drought harder to predict and jeopardizes irrigated agriculture throughout the world.