Western White Research Articles

Landscape Biology of Western White Pine: Implications for Conservation of a Widely-Distributed Five-Needle Pine at Its Southern Range Limit

Throughout much of the range of western white pine, Pinus monticola Dougl., timber harvesting, fire exclusion and the presence of Cronartium ribicola J. C. Fisch., the white pine blister rust (WPBR) pathogen, have led to negative population and genetic consequences. To address these interactions, we examined population dynamics and genetic diversity in 10 populations of western white pine in upper montane forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin. We documented negative population trends for three of the 10 populations. These populations exhibited low estimated growth rates (λ), moderate to high incidences of WPBR and mountain pine beetle (MPB), and high levels of mortality. In contrast, seven populations appear to be stable (λ ≥ 1.0), with low to moderate disease and insect incidence, and evidence for genetic resistance to WPBR. Genetic diversity (HE) for a set of 160 single nucleotide polymorphisms was in the range of 0.245–0.272 across populations, and population-specific estimates of FST ranged from 0.0062 to 0.0244. Allele frequency of the Cr2 gene, which confers complete resistance to C. ribicola in western white pine, was low, averaging 0.009 for all populations sampled. However, a low frequency of pollen receptors (i.e., susceptible maternal parents pollinated by a local resistant parent) was found in nine of 10 populations. A moderate and negative relationship was found between the frequency of pollen receptors in a population and the incidence of WPBR (r2 = 0.32). In the context of an introduced pathogen, climate driven outbreaks of MPB, fire exclusion, and prolonged drought, conservation and management strategies are warranted for this species in the Lake Tahoe Basin and likely other locations in California. These strategies include gene conservation of western white pine, WPBR resistance screening, and forest restoration treatments.

Effects of Grosmannia clavigera and Leptographium longiclavatum on Western White Pine Seedlings and the Fungicidal Activity of Alamo®, Arbotect®, and TREE-äge®

Bark beetles carry a number of associated organisms that are transferred to the host tree upon attack that are thought to play a role in tree decline. To assess the pathogenicity to western white pine (WWP; Pinus monticola) of fungi carried by the mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae), and to evaluate the potential for systemic prophylactic treatments for reducing fungal impacts, experiments were conducted with WWP seedlings to meet three objectives: 1) evaluate pathogenicity of two MPB-associated blue-stain fungi; 2) evaluate phytotoxicity of tree injection products; 3) evaluate the anti-fungal activity of tree injection products, in vitro and in vivo, toward the associated blue-staining fungi. To evaluate pathogenicity, seedlings were inoculated with Grosmannia clavigera or Leptographium longiclavatum, common fungal associates of MPB. Seedling mortality at four months after inoculation was 50% with L. longiclavatum and 90% with G. clavigera, both significantly higher than controls and thereby demonstrating pathogenicity. Phytotoxic effects of TREE-äge®, Alamo®, and Arbotect® were evaluated by stem injection; no phytotoxic effects were observed. Anti-fungal properties of the same three products were evaluated in vitro against G. clavigera, where Alamo was most active. Co-inoculation of G. clavigera and L. longiclavatum into seedlings after a stem injection of Alamo showed significantly less mortality and lesion formation than either species alone. Results support the hypothesis that MPB blue-stain associates, particularly G. clavigera, promote death of WWP when attacked by MPB. These findings suggest that the administration of a fungicide with insecticide for tree protection against bark beetles may be advantageous.

Segmented Lineage and Straight Line in Modern Perspectives

The paper contains some field data from the Oraons and an attempt at the formalization of lineage relations. Starting with the title of the paper “The Elementary Approach on Segmentation of Lineage and Directed Straight Line segment: An Analogical perception of review study in Anthropology,” the purpose of the study simply wants to draw an abstract parallel between lineage relations and mathematical relations. There are sporadic references to Western scholars, including Harary & White’s “parental graph” and W.H.R. Rivers’s “genealogical method.” The study derives from “physics” and applies them to the anthropology of kinship for reasons that “Physics is the study of matter, energy and motion. Since everything in our world relates to these three basic subjects, physics can help understand many working system in the universe. All comes down to energy and matter.

Mission and the cultural other: In search of the pre-colonial Jesus

As an American, and a missionary of various shades among my own Native American peoples for 30 years, I have observed as much about Western (White) culture in North American missions as I have among the many Indigenous tribal cultures. This article is meant to provide an opportunity for a self-critique of Western missionary culture, particularly concerning some of the roots of colonial and neo-colonial practices of mission in the United States. In other words, I want to provide an opportunity for us to learn how those who have been the recipients of North American mission the longest may understand Western missionary culture. The most blatant contrast of Western missionary culture compared to Indigenous cultures is hierarchy as the structural norm. Hierarchical structures do not intuitively generate equality. Such structures require power to be used over the other in order to retain power and maintain homeostasis. By diminishing notions of dignity in the (subaltern) other, whether the other is such by ethnicity, gender, class, or simply by being considered a less important part of creation, we dehumanize them or desacralize them, robbing them of their dignity. Once a person, group, or another part of creation is identified as having less dignity or sacredness than ourselves we can, within a hierarchical norm, find rationalizations to use power over them. These rationalizations are then codified in societies and systemic structures to create the norm. Throughout the centuries, Christians have settled for hierarchical governance as the norm. In a very real sense, a significant root of slavery, patriarchy, racism, and classism involves accepting this hierarchical norm. Christian mission has not been immune to the same hegemonic tendencies and must be re-examined in order to resurface in a form worthy of the message of the pre-colonial Jesus.

Our Village Is Watching: Sociocultural and Attitudinal Factors Related to HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors among Black South African Men Who Have Sex with Men

The aim of this study is to explore the attitudes, cultural norms, and social factors among South African black men who have sex with men ( msm ) residing in the Eastern Cape in the context of hiv sexual risk behavior. Data were collected from demographic questionnaires and six focus group discussions with 41 men residing in the cities of East London and Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Participants were in agreement that many black South Africans in their locality view homosexuality as something that Western whites do, and that South African black msm are generally not open about their sexual identity. Participants expressed, “our village is watching,” as a concern among some South African black msm for not being open about being gay and their same sex sexual orientation. The findings provide additional insights into the nature of hiv risk behavior of South African black msm , and offer considerations for future research and intervention efforts.

Comparison of Quality‐Related Alleles Among Australian and North American Wheat Classes Exported to Japan

ABSTRACTGrain hardness, amylose content, and glutenin subunit composition are critical determinants for end‐use properties of wheat. To improve the end‐use properties of domestic wheats, we studied these traits between the Australian and North American wheat classes exported to Japan in 2009 and 2011 by analyzing the corresponding alleles. Most hard classes had Pina‐D1b or Pinb‐D1b. A partial waxy allele (Wx‐B1b) was found in all Australian Standard White (ASW) seeds in 2009 and two‐thirds of ASW seeds in 2011. All or most American hard wheat seeds had Glu‐D1d. Most U.S. Western White (WW) seeds had a null allele (Glu‐A1c) or alleles that lacked one of the two Glu‐B1 subunits. Most hard red winter (HRW) seeds had Glu‐B3b or Glu‐B3g. Quality characteristics of these classes seemed to be consistent with these results. In addition, we also found new Glu‐1 and Glu‐3 alleles in HRW and WW. These results suggested that although there are variations in its allelic composition from year to year, each class has unique quality‐related alleles corresponding to its end use. We proposed two matrices for classification of starch properties on the basis of Pin and Wx allelic combinations and for classification of gluten strength on the basis of glutenin allelic combinations.

Recovery of boreal forest structures near abandoned villages in Western White Sea Karelia, Russia

Regeneration of natural forest structures and dead wood has a key role in the long-term maintenance of biodiversity in most parts of the boreal zone. In order to obtain benchmarks for practical dead wood management rapidly, we utilised unintended historical experiments in land use by studying the recovery of forests surrounding abandoned villages along 2.5-km transects in NW Russia. The signs of past human forest use declined as a function of distance from villages. We found that the closest forests were 130 yr old or younger and contained very few elements typical of natural forests. Forests at a distance of between 1 and 1.5 km were older than 150 yr but showed marks of selective cuttings and had a less complete continuum of dead wood than forests that were 2–2.5 km from the villages. The most remote stands, which were generally older than 200 yr, predominantly had no signs of past forest use and had the most diverse dead wood composition. Our study shows that full recovery of the dead wood continuum in middle boreal forests is a slow process and also that less intensive past forest use can have a significant effect on the dead wood continuum.

Black girls' perceptions of health and ideal body types

This study employs an opportunity sample of 18 Black girls attending afterschool programmes in a Mid-western US town. The girls were asked to describe health and the ideal body type for girls of their age. Previous research has noted important cultural differences in how girls define both health and their ideal body type, indicating that Black girls in this community may have differing views than other cultural groups. The purpose of this study was to better understand the connections between how Black girls define health, various body types and the ways in which they rationalise their healthy behaviours. According to the girls in this study, health is defined as exercising and eating fruits and vegetables. In addition, the girls mentioned idealising a body type that they referred to as ‘thick’ which is typically larger than Western White ideals. The girls mentioned various sociocultural factors and practices, such as peers and mothers who influence their definitions of the ideal body type. These social influences also impact their social construction of what it means to be healthy. This information can be used to gain an improved understanding of Black girls' perceptions of health and body types to empower them and to expand our understanding and encouragement of various health practices.

Intertidal foraminiferal fauna and the distribution of Elphidiidae at Chupa Inlet, western White Sea

The bright colouration of the cytoplasm in intertidal rotaliid foraminifera and their particle-gathering activity reliably reveals live specimens in fresh samples, without any fixatives or dyes applied. Using this approach, we demonstrate that live representatives of three rotaliid species, all belonging to the genus Elphidium, were common on intertidal mud and sand beaches. Two species, E. excavatum clavatum and E. albiumbilicatum, lived close to freshwater outflows, whereas E. williamsoni occupied beaches bathed by waters with normal salinity (surface 26–27‰ in the western White Sea). A least 13 species were found alive in the intertidal zone. Among non-calcareous foraminifera, Miliammina fusca, Ammotium cassis and Ovammina opaca were the most numerous.

Stand-level Attributes of Snowshoe Hare (<em>Lepus americanus</em>) Habitat in a Post-Fire Trembling Aspen (<em>Populus tremuloides</em>) Chronosequence in Central Yukon

Large-scale fires are anticipated to increase in frequency in the boreal forest under global climate warming scenarios. To understand concomitant responses by wildlife to fire-induced habitat changes, fecal pellet counts were used to assess Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) use of four age-classes of boreal forest after fire in central Yukon, Canada. Use of stands across a chronosequence of 8–177 years was bimodal. Post-fire Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands ≤20 years old had greater densities of Snowshoe Hare pellets (median 156 pellets/dam2) than Trembling Aspen stands 21–70 years old, mixedwood stands 71–120 years old (<17 pellets/dam2), or Western White Spruce (Picea albertiana) -dominated stands 121–170 years old (71 pellets/dam2). Forty stand-level compositional and structural variables were assessed as possible predictors of Snowshoe Hare pellet densities. Multidimensional scaling was used to identify variables (n = 10) that were most strongly related to pellet densities and was followed by multiple regression. Canopy cover of Trembling Aspen <50 cm tall and Western White Spruce ≤1 m tall, and deadfall depth, in combination, were the best estimators of Snowshoe Hare pellet densities among stands in the chronosequence (P <0.001, 64.5% variance explained). Although Trembling Aspen <50 cm tall explained the most variance, its canopy cover did not exceed 10%. More Trembling Aspen cover <50 cm tall and greater deadfall depths within the chronosequence were associated with stands ≤20 years old. Peak Snowshoe Hare use occurred in early (≤20 years old) rather than mid-successional (21–120 years old) stands, contrary to use patterns reported elsewhere. The lack of tall understory shrubs likely limited the use of mid-successional stands.

Temporal variation of genetic composition in Atlantic salmon populations from the Western White Sea Basin: influence of anthropogenic factors?

BackgroundStudies of the temporal patterns of population genetic structure assist in evaluating the consequences of demographic and environmental changes on population stability and persistence. In this study, we evaluated the level of temporal genetic variation in 16 anadromous and 2 freshwater salmon populations from the Western White Sea Basin (Russia) using samples collected between 1995 and 2008. To assess whether the genetic stability was affected by human activity, we also evaluated the effect of fishing pressure on the temporal genetic variation in this region.ResultsWe found that the genetic structure of salmon populations in this region was relatively stable over a period of 1.5 to 2.5 generations. However, the level of temporal variation varied among geographical regions: anadromous salmon of the Kola Peninsula exhibited a higher stability compared to that of the anadromous and freshwater salmon from the Karelian White Sea coast. This discrepancy was most likely attributed to the higher census, and therefore effective, population sizes of the populations inhabiting the rivers of the Kola Peninsula compared to salmon of the Karelian White Sea coast. Importantly, changes in the genetic diversity observed in a few anadromous populations were best explained by the increased level of fishing pressure in these populations rather than environmental variation or the negative effects of hatchery escapees. The observed population genetic patterns of isolation by distance remained consistent among earlier and more recent samples, which support the stability of the genetic structure over the period studied.ConclusionsGiven the increasing level of fishing pressure in the Western White Sea Basin and the higher level of temporal variation in populations exhibiting small census and effective population sizes, further genetic monitoring in this region is recommended, particularly on populations from the Karelian rivers.

Correlations between ultrasonographic characteristics of corpora lutea and systemic concentrations of progesterone during the discrete stages of corpora lutea lifespan and secretory activity in cyclic ewes

Associations between physical characteristics and functionality of corpora lutea (CL) have previously been reported in monovulatory species, albeit several studies in cattle and humans have refuted the existence of temporal relationships between CL size, echotexture and serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations. The main objective of the present study was to examine whether or not there were correlations between ultrasonographic image attributes of CL and systemic concentrations of P(4) during the discrete stages of the luteal phase in two breeds of sheep differing in ovulation rates (non-prolific Western White Face [WWF] ewes and prolific Finn [F] sheep). Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography utilized a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer connected to a portable scanner (Aloka SSD-500) and the images were analyzed using commercially available image analytical software (Image ProPlus(®)) validated for the present application in sheep. The correlations were assessed using the Pearson's Product Moment (PPM) analysis and also, to increase the accuracy of statistical tests, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with the number of CL as a co-factor. In WWF ewes, serum concentrations of P(4) correlated significantly with the total luteal area (TLA) during the CL growth phase (days 3-6; day 0 = ovulation) and functional luteolysis (days 12-15), and with numerical pixel values (NPVs--pixel intensity) during luteolysis; the results obtained by using two different statistical methods were generally similar. In prolific F ewes, serum P(4) concentrations were directly correlated with TLA during CL growth (days 3-6; ANCOVA), functional luteolysis (days 13-14; PPM), and structural CL regression (days 11-14; PPM and ANCOVA), and with NPVs during functional luteolysis (PPM and ANCOVA). We concluded that systemic P(4) concentrations could only be accurately predicted from the changes in luteal area during CL growth and regression, and from NPVs during luteolysis, in both prolific and non-prolific ewes, but the changes in size and echotexture of the luteal glands at mid-cycle were not indicative of serum P(4) concentrations in sheep.

Interrogating Girl Power: Girlhood, Popular Media, and Postfeminism

Research Article| December 01 2011 Interrogating Girl Power: Girlhood, Popular Media, and Postfeminism Michelle S. Bae Michelle S. Bae Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Visual Arts Research (2011) 37 (2): 28–40. https://doi.org/10.5406/visuartsrese.37.2.0028 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Michelle S. Bae; Interrogating Girl Power: Girlhood, Popular Media, and Postfeminism . Visual Arts Research 1 January 2011; 37 (2): 28–40. doi: https://doi.org/10.5406/visuartsrese.37.2.0028 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectiveUniversity of Illinois PressVisual Arts Research Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright 2011 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois2011 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Modeling Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA

Climate change is projected to profoundly influence vegetation patterns and community compositions, either directly through increased species mortality and shifts in species distributions or indirectly through disturbance dynamics such as increased wildfire activity and extent, shifting fire regimes, and pathogenesis. Mountainous landscapes have been shown to be particularly sensitive to climate changes and are likely to experience significant impacts under predicted future climate regimes. Western white pine (Pinus monticola), a five-needle pine species that forms the most diverse of the white pine forest cover types in the western United States, is vulnerable to an interacting suite of threats that includes climate change, fire suppression, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), and mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae) that have already caused major changes in species distribution and abundance. We used the mechanistic simulation model FireBGCv2 to simulate effects of climate change and fire management on western white pines in a mountainous watershed in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. Our results suggest that warming temperatures favor increased abundance of western white pine over existing climax and shade tolerant species in the study area, mainly because warmer conditions potentiate fire dynamics, including increased wildfire frequency and extent, which facilitates regeneration. Suppression of wildfires reduced the area dominated by western white pine, but fire suppression was less effective at limiting burned area extent and fire frequency in a warmer and drier climate. Wildfires created canopy gaps that allowed for western white pine regeneration at a high enough rate to escape local extirpation from white pine blister rust. Western white pine appears to be a resilient species even under fairly extreme warming trajectories and shifting fire regimes, and may provide a hedge against vegetation community shifts away from forest types and toward grass and shrublands.

Circulating concentrations of ovarian steroids and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in ewes with 3 or 4 waves of antral follicle emergence per estrous cycle

The mechanism governing the number of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) peaks and emerging follicular waves in ruminants remains unknown. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships between progesterone (P(4)) levels, circulating concentrations of FSH and antral follicular development throughout the interovulatory interval in sheep. We retrospectively analyzed and compared daily serum concentrations of (P4), FSH and estradiol (E2) obtained in cyclic (November-December) Western White Face ewes (Columbia×Rambouillet) that had 3 (n=10) or 4 (n=19) follicular waves per estrous cycle. Follicular growth was monitored in all animals by daily transrectal ultrasonography. Mean P(4) concentrations were greater (p<0.05) in sheep with 4 waves per cycle compared to their counterparts with 3 waves of follicular growth. The ewes with 3 waves exceeded (p<0.05) animals with 4 follicular waves in mean serum FSH concentrations on days 0-2, 6, 7, 9-11, 14 and 15 post-ovulation. Animals with 4 follicular waves exceeded (p<0.05) the ewes with 3 waves in mean serum E(2)> concentrations on days - 1, 2 and 10 of the estrous cycle studied (day 0=ovulation). The present results are supportive of the notion that luteal P(4) is an important endocrine signal, which controls the periodicity of FSH peaks and the number of emerging follicular waves in cyclic ewes.

Comparison of Reclamation Techniques to Re‐establish Western White Pine on Smelter‐impacted Hillsides in Idaho

In the spring of 1991, a study was initiated to identify techniques that could be used to reclaim steep hillsides at the Bunker Hill Superfund site with low pH soils and elevated concentrations of heavy metals near an old smelter site. Treatments included fertilizer to alleviate nutrient deficiencies, lime to raise soil pH, wood chips to increase organic matter content, and mulching to improve plant establishment and reduce erosion. Plots were planted to Pinus monticola (western white pine) seedlings alone and in combination with four species of shrubs. A mixture of eight grasses was also seeded on some plots planted to trees and shrubs to provide ground cover for erosion control. Overall, white pine survival averaged 60–80% in the best treatments after five growing seasons. The height of white pine transplants ranged between 37.1 and 69.5 cm after five years of growth across all treatments and sites which are comparable to growth rates reported elsewhere for this species. White pine survival and growth was greatest on the control, phosphorus, and lime treatments and lowest on treatments that received organic matter as an amendment primarily due to the competitive influence of herbaceous plants as opposed to any particular soil amendment. Treatments that supported high amounts of grass cover had poor white pine survival and growth, while treatments with low amounts of grass cover had high white pine survival. A combination of lime and N, P, and K fertilizer is recommended as the appropriate treatment to restore white pine in this type of environment.

Prediction of Specific Japanese Sponge Cake Volume Using Pasting Properties of Flour

ABSTRACTIn Japanese soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs, protein content (PC), and specific surface area (SSA) of flour have been used as important factors for the baking quality of Japanese sponge cake. We proposed batter pasting viscosity (BPV) as a parameter to predict the baking quality of Japanese sponge cake. BPV was measured using a Rapid Visco‐Analyser (RVA) with a modified heating profile. Twenty soft wheat samples from the 2006‐07 season and 22 from the 2007‐08 season, including Japanese soft wheat cultivars, advanced breeders' lines, and Western White (WW) imported from the United States, were milled and evaluated for solvent retention capacity (SRC) values of four solvents, batter pasting properties, flour pasting properties, PC, SSA, and specific cake volume (SCV) to investigate their relationships. BPV was the most strongly correlated of the parameters to SCV (r = –0.90, P &lt; 0.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis selected BPV and minimum viscosity (MV) of flour pasting as significant independent variables to predict SCV (corrected R2 = 0.848). The variability in BPV related to cake batter expansion was highly explained by PC and sucrose SRC (corrected R2 = 0.854, P &lt; 0.001). MV was correlated to SSA (r = 0.56, P &lt; 0.001) and might be related to the prevention of sponge cake shrinkage during baking.

Effects of estradiol and progesterone on circulating LH and FSH secretion, and ovarian antral follicle growth in anestrous ewes

In the ewe, ovarian antral follicles emerge or grow in a wave-like pattern and each wave is preceded by a peak in the serum FSH level. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether in anestrous Western White Face ewes, a combination of progesterone and estradiol affects the circulating FSH peak secretion and the number of small ovarian follicles. Five ewes were treated with subcutaneous silastic rubber implants (10 cm × 0.47 cm), containing 10% estradiol-17β w/w (controls) and 5 ewes were treated with the same estradiol implant, along with subcutaneous implants (11 cm × 0.48 cm) containing 10% progesterone w/w for 12 days. Daily transrectal ovarian ultrasonography and blood sampling was performed from 5 days before, to 9 days after the period of implantation. Blood samples were also taken every 12 min for a 6 h period on day −2, 6 and 13 prior to or after implant insertion (day 0, day of implant insertion). Pulsatility in the serum LH levels was eliminated by the implants ( P < 0.05). During the implantation period, the serum FSH peak amplitude was lower in ewes treated with implants releasing estradiol and progesterone, compared to ewes treated with implants releasing only estradiol ( P < 0.05). No follicular waves emerged during implant treatment in both groups ( P < 0.05) and the number of serum FSH peaks did not differ during implantation, compared to before implantation. During the implantation period, the number of small follicles did not differ in ewes with implants releasing estradiol and progesterone, compared to ewes treated with implants releasing only estradiol. To conclude, supra-physiological concentrations of estradiol completely eliminated the serum LH pulsatality and suppressed the follicular wave emergence, while the FSH secretory peaks that preceded the follicular waves were not affected. Supra-physiological concentrations of estradiol-17β with physiological concentrations of progesterone decreased the serum FSH peak amplitude, eliminated the serum LH pulses, but did not decrease the size of the small follicle pool in anestrous ewes.

Gun Cultures or Honor Cultures? Explaining Regional and Race Differences in Weapon Carrying

We use the National Violence against Women (and Men) Survey to examine the effects of region and race on the tendency to carry weapons for protection. We find that Southern and Western whites are much more likely than Northern whites to carry guns for self-protection, controlling for their risk of victimization. The difference between Southern and Northern whites is particularly strong for women. We do not find much evidence for regional/race differences in carrying knives or mace. These findings provide support for the idea that regional differences in weapon carrying reflect a gun culture rather than an honor culture. We see more evidence of an honor culture among blacks: they are more likely than whites to carry knives as well as guns, controlling for their risk of victimization.

Ovarian antral follicular dynamics in sheep revisited: Comparison among estrous cycles with three or four follicular waves

In this study, the characteristics of ovarian follicular waves and patterns of serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and progesterone were compared between cycles with three (n = 9) or four (n = 10) follicular waves in Western White Face (WWF) ewes ( Ovis aries). Transrectal ultrasonography and blood sampling were performed daily during one cycle. Estrous cycles were 17.11 ± 0.3 and 17.20 ± 0.2 d long in cycles with three and four waves, respectively (P > 0.05). The first interwave interval and the interval from the emergence of the final wave to the day of ovulation were longer in cycles with three waves compared with those in cycles with four waves (P < 0.05). The growth phase (5.1 ± 0.5 vs. 3.1 ± 0.4 d) and life span (5.67 ± 0.3 vs. 4.3 ± 0.3 d) of the largest follicle growing in the last or ovulatory wave was longer in cycles with three waves compared with that in cycles with four waves (P < 0.05). The maximum diameter of the largest follicle was greater in the first wave and the ovulatory wave compared with that in other waves of the cycle (P < 0.05). The regression phase of the largest follicle growing in the first wave was longer in cycles with three waves compared with that in cycles with four waves (4.44 ± 0.4 vs. 3.4 ± 0.4 d; P < 0.05). The length of the life span, regression phase, and, although not significant in every case, FSH peak concentration and amplitude decreased across the cycle (P < 0.05). We concluded that estrous cycles with three or four follicular waves were confined within the same length of cycle in WWF ewes. In this study, there were no apparent endocrine or follicular characteristics that could explain the regulation of the different number of follicular waves (three vs. four) during cycles of similar length.