Vitrification of feline ovarian tissue: Comparison of protocols based on equilibration time and temperature.

Global contraction of biodiversity pushed most members of Felidae into threatened or endangered list except the domestic cat (Felis catus) thence preferred as the best model for conservation studies. One of the emerging conservation strategies is vitrification of ovarian tissue which is field-friendly but not yet standardized. Thus, our main goal was to establish a suitable vitrification protocol for feline ovarian tissue in field condition. Feline ovarian tissue fragments were punched with biopsy punch (1.5 mm diameter) and divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was fresh control (Fr), while the other three were exposed to 3 vitrification protocols (VIT_CT, VIT_RT1 and VIT_RT2). VIT_CT involved two step equilibrations in solutions containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) for 10 min each at 4 °C. VIT_RT1 involved three step equilibration in solutions containing DMSO, EG, polyvinylpyrrolidone and sucrose for 14 min in total at room temperature, while in VIT_RT2 all conditions remained the same as in VIT_RT1 except equilibration timing which was reduced by half. After vitrification and warming, fragments were morphologically evaluated and then cultured for six days. Subsequently, follicular morphology, cellular proliferation (expression of Ki-67, MCM-7) and apoptosis (expression of caspase-3) were evaluated, and data obtained were analysed using generalised linear mixed model and chi square tests. Proportions of intact follicles were higher in Fr (P = 0.0001) and VIT_RT2 (P = 0.0383) in comparison to the other protocols both post warming and after the six-day culture. Generally, most follicles remained at primordial state which was confirmed by the low expression of Ki-67, MCM-7 markers. In conclusion, VIT_RT2 protocol, which has lower equilibration time at room temperature has proven superior thus recommended for vitrification of feline ovarian tissue.

The Global Forest Health Crisis: A Public-Good Social Dilemma in Need of International Collective Action.

Society is confronted by interconnected threats to ecological sustainability. Among these is the devastation of forests by destructive non-native pathogens and insects introduced through global trade, leading to the loss of critical ecosystem services and a global forest health crisis. We argue that the forest health crisis is a public-good social dilemma and propose a response framework that incorporates principles of collective action. This framework enables scientists to better engage policymakers and empowers the public to advocate for proactive biosecurity and forest health management. Collective action in forest health features broadly inclusive stakeholder engagement to build trust and set goals; accountability for destructive pest introductions; pooled support for weakest-link partners; and inclusion of intrinsic and nonmarket values of forest ecosystems in risk assessment. We provide short-term and longer-term measures that incorporate the above principles to shift the societal and ecological forest health paradigm to a more resilient state.

Comparison of aquatic macrophyte community structure between natural wetlands and rice fields with different cultivation ages / Comparação da estrutura da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas entre áreas úmidas naturais e arrozais com diferentes tempos de cultivo

Abstract Recent studies indicate that rice fields contribute to the conservation of aquatic plants, however, repeated cultivation can reduce the species diversity harbored by rice fields. Repeated tillage, agrochemical application and environmental homogeneity can reduce plant diversity and select for species more tolerant to disturbance. Our hypotheses were: 1) macrophyte richness and biomass decrease with increased rice crop age; and 2) macrophyte species of rice fields are a subsample of natural wetlands and species loss will increase with crop age. We investigated three rice fields of each different ages (old, intermediate and new ones) and three natural intermittent wetlands for this study. Each area was sampled four times throughout the rice cultivation cycle (off-season, initial growth, final growth and post-harvest). Our results showed that the mean macrophyte richness and biomass were similar between rice fields of different ages and lower than that of natural wetlands. Although species composition in the different-aged rice fields was not markedly different, there was nestedness in the rice fields as age increased. In this study, we verified that macrophyte richness and biomass in rice fields was lower than natural wetlands and the species composition was different among wetland types (rice fields and natural wetlands), however our hypothesis that species richness and biomass will decrease with crop age was not confirmed. All rice crops had similar macrophyte assemblage structure (richness, biomass and species composition). However, the another hypothesis tested was confirmed, macrophyte assemblage of rice fields is a subset of natural wetlands and as, the age of a rice field increases, the species that occur in older rice field are subsets of species that occur in younger ones.

Resumo Estudos recentes indicam que arrozais contribuem para a conservação de plantas aquáticas, entretanto cultivos repetidos podem reduzir a diversidade de espécies nos arrozais. Cultivos repetidos, aplicação de agrotóxicos e homogeneização ambiental podem reduzir a diversidade de plantas e selecionar espécies mais tolerantes a perturbações. Nossas hipóteses foram: 1) a riqueza e a biomassa de macrófitas reduzem com o aumento do tempo de cultivo dos arrozais; e 2) as espécies de macrófitas aquáticas dos arrozais são subamostras das áreas úmidas naturais e a perda de espécies aumentará com o tempo de cultivo. Nós investigamos três arrozais de cada uma das diferentes idades (antigos, intermediários e novos) e três áreas úmidas naturais temporárias. Cada área foi amostrada quatro vezes ao longo do ciclo de cultivo (resteva, crescimento inicial, crescimento final e pós-colheita). Nossos resultados indicaram que a riqueza e a biomassa média de macrófitas foram similares entre os arrozais de diferentes idades e menor do que nas áreas úmidas naturais. Embora a composição de espécies nos arrozais de diferentes idades não tenha sido marcadamente diferente, houve aninhamento nos arrozais e este aumentou com tempo de cultivo do arrozal. Neste estudo, nós verificamos que a riqueza e biomassa de macrófitas nos arrozais eram menores que nas áreas úmidas naturais e a composição de espécies era diferente entre os tipos de áreas úmidas (arrozais e áreas úmidas naturais), entretanto nossa hipótese de que a riqueza e a biomassa de macrófitas diminuiriam com a idade do cultivo não foi confirmada. Todos os arrozais foram similares quanto à estrutura da assembleia de macrófitas (riqueza, biomassa e composição de espécies). No entanto, a outra hipótese testada foi confirmada, a assembleia de macrófitas dos arrozais é um subconjunto das áreas úmidas naturais e, conforme aumenta a idade do arrozal, as espécies que ocorrem nos arrozais mais antigos são subconjuntos das espécies que ocorrem nos mais jovens.

Nonfood GM Crops in Tropical Regions: A Reasonable Way to Promote the Technology for Increased Agricultural Sustainability.

Modifying a plant genetically is the most remarkable technology developed for agriculture production; however, the use of genetically modified (GM) food crops has raised concerns regarding their impact on the human health and environment. Nevertheless, the nonfood GM crops, such as for biofuel and wood production, can be a solution to increase the yield and avoid deforestation promoted by the expansion of cultivable land. Thus, the biosafety regulatory framework of different countries can be revised and studied on a case-by-case basis, considering the rapid release of nonfood GM uses for the development of a more sustainable agriculture, particularly in tropical regions.

Urbanisation and the loss of phylogenetic diversity in birds.

Despite the recognised conservation value of phylogenetic diversity, little is known about how it is affected by the urbanisation process. Combining a complete avian phylogeny with surveys along urbanisation gradients from five continents, we show that highly urbanised environments supported on average 450 million fewer years of evolutionary history than the surrounding natural environments. This loss was primarily caused by species loss and could have been higher had not been partially compensated by the addition of urban exploiters and some exotic species. Highly urbanised environments also supported fewer evolutionary distinctive species, implying a disproportionate loss of evolutionary history. Compared with highly urbanised environments, changes in phylogenetic richness and evolutionary distinctiveness were less substantial in moderately urbanised environments. Protecting pristine environments is therefore essential for maintaining phylogenetic diversity, but moderate levels of urbanisation still preserve much of the original diversity.

Comparison of aquatic macrophyte community structure between natural wetlands and rice fields with different cultivation ages

Abstract Recent studies indicate that rice fields contribute to the conservation of aquatic plants, however, repeated cultivation can reduce the species diversity harbored by rice fields. Repeated tillage, agrochemical application and environmental homogeneity can reduce plant diversity and select for species more tolerant to disturbance. Our hypotheses were: 1) macrophyte richness and biomass decrease with increased rice crop age; and 2) macrophyte species of rice fields are a subsample of natural wetlands and species loss will increase with crop age. We investigated three rice fields of each different ages (old, intermediate and new ones) and three natural intermittent wetlands for this study. Each area was sampled four times throughout the rice cultivation cycle (off-season, initial growth, final growth and post-harvest). Our results showed that the mean macrophyte richness and biomass were similar between rice fields of different ages and lower than that of natural wetlands. Although species composition in the different-aged rice fields was not markedly different, there was nestedness in the rice fields as age increased. In this study, we verified that macrophyte richness and biomass in rice fields was lower than natural wetlands and the species composition was different among wetland types (rice fields and natural wetlands), however our hypothesis that species richness and biomass will decrease with crop age was not confirmed. All rice crops had similar macrophyte assemblage structure (richness, biomass and species composition). However, the another hypothesis tested was confirmed, macrophyte assemblage of rice fields is a subset of natural wetlands and as, the age of a rice field increases, the species that occur in older rice field are subsets of species that occur in younger ones.

Resumo Estudos recentes indicam que arrozais contribuem para a conservação de plantas aquáticas, entretanto cultivos repetidos podem reduzir a diversidade de espécies nos arrozais. Cultivos repetidos, aplicação de agrotóxicos e homogeneização ambiental podem reduzir a diversidade de plantas e selecionar espécies mais tolerantes a perturbações. Nossas hipóteses foram: 1) a riqueza e a biomassa de macrófitas reduzem com o aumento do tempo de cultivo dos arrozais; e 2) as espécies de macrófitas aquáticas dos arrozais são subamostras das áreas úmidas naturais e a perda de espécies aumentará com o tempo de cultivo. Nós investigamos três arrozais de cada uma das diferentes idades (antigos, intermediários e novos) e três áreas úmidas naturais temporárias. Cada área foi amostrada quatro vezes ao longo do ciclo de cultivo (resteva, crescimento inicial, crescimento final e pós-colheita). Nossos resultados indicaram que a riqueza e a biomassa média de macrófitas foram similares entre os arrozais de diferentes idades e menor do que nas áreas úmidas naturais. Embora a composição de espécies nos arrozais de diferentes idades não tenha sido marcadamente diferente, houve aninhamento nos arrozais e este aumentou com tempo de cultivo do arrozal. Neste estudo, nós verificamos que a riqueza e biomassa de macrófitas nos arrozais eram menores que nas áreas úmidas naturais e a composição de espécies era diferente entre os tipos de áreas úmidas (arrozais e áreas úmidas naturais), entretanto nossa hipótese de que a riqueza e a biomassa de macrófitas diminuiriam com a idade do cultivo não foi confirmada. Todos os arrozais foram similares quanto à estrutura da assembleia de macrófitas (riqueza, biomassa e composição de espécies). No entanto, a outra hipótese testada foi confirmada, a assembleia de macrófitas dos arrozais é um subconjunto das áreas úmidas naturais e, conforme aumenta a idade do arrozal, as espécies que ocorrem nos arrozais mais antigos são subconjuntos das espécies que ocorrem nos mais jovens.

Historical evidence for nature disconnection in a 70-year time series of Disney animated films.

The assumed ongoing disconnection between humans and nature in Western societies represents a profoundly challenging conservation issue. Here, we demonstrate one manifestation of this nature disconnection, via an examination of the representation of natural settings in a 70-year time series of Disney animated films. We found that natural settings are increasingly less present as a representation of outdoor environments in these films. Moreover, these drawn natural settings tend to be more and more human controlled and are less and less complex in terms of the biodiversity they depict. These results demonstrate the increasing nature disconnection of the filmmaking teams, which we consider as a proxy of the Western relation to nature. Additionally, because nature experience of children is partly based on movies, the depleted representation of biodiversity in outdoor environments of Disney films may amplify the current disconnection from nature for children. This reduction in exposure to nature may hinder the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures.