Developing a methodology for the National Frog Survey of Ireland: a pilot study in Co. Mayo.

A National Frog Survey of Ireland is planned for spring 2011. We conducted a pilot survey of 25 water bodies in ten 0.25 km2 survey squares in Co. Mayo during spring 2010. Drainage ditches were the most commonly available site for breeding and, generally, two 100 m stretches of ditch were surveyed in each square. The restricted period for peak spawning activity renders any methodology utilizing only one site visit inherently risky. Consequently, each site was visited three times from late March to early April. Occurrence of spawn declined significantly from 72 % to 44 % between the first and third visit whilst the overall occurrence of spawn at all sites was 76 %. As the breeding season advanced, spawn either hatched or was predated and, therefore, disappeared. In those water bodies where spawning was late, however, greater densities of spawn were deposited than in those sites where breeding was early. Consequently, spawn density and estimated frog density did not differ significantly between site visits. Future surveys should nevertheless include multiple site visits to avoid biased estimation of species occurrence and distribution. Ecological succession was identified as the main threat present at 44 % of sites.

Mammals and agri-environment schemes: hare haven or pest paradise?

1. Agri-environment schemes (AESs) are designed to create landscape-scale improvements in biodiversity. While the specific aims of AESs do not always include the enhancement of species of conservation concern, associated conservation strategies, such as the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, often rest on the assumption that AESs enhance environmental conditions and thereby improve the conservation status of target species. However, there is little evidence for the general efficacy of AESs in this respect. 2. To evaluate the effects of the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) scheme, a widespread AES in Northern Ireland, a spotlight survey of the relative abundance of three mammal species, Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus, European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus and red fox Vulpes vulpes, was conducted. Of these, the Irish hare is a priority species for conservation action and the focus of a species action plan, while rabbit and fox are commonly considered agricultural pests. The effects of ESA designation and habitat on each species were assessed at 150 ESA and 50 non-ESA sites, matched for landscape characteristics. 3. The ESA scheme had no demonstrable effect on the abundance of Irish hares, and this agri-environment scheme did not target the landscape and habitat variables associated with hares. 4. In contrast, the abundance of rabbits and foxes was significantly greater within ESAs than the wider countryside. Agricultural factors such as reduced livestock stocking density, reduced overgrazing and field boundary enhancements may create more favourable conditions for both species. Aside from the implications for farm economics, the proliferation of rabbit populations within conservation areas may raise issues concerning the grazing of important plant communities, while increases in fox populations may adversely affect ground-nesting birds and other animal species of conservation concern. 5. Synthesis and applications: The abundance of rabbits and foxes corroborates recent work that suggests AESs may benefit common species but can not be relied upon to encourage rarer species. The Irish hare species action plan relies on agri-environment schemes to enhance the species’ status and realize the target of increasing the hare population by 2010 by promoting suitable habitat. However, the ESA scheme is unlikely to help in achieving these objectives. Targeted and evidence-based agri-environment prescriptions are clearly required in order to ensure the realization of species-specific conservation targets.

New members of the chiral pool:  -hydroxypiperidine carboxylates from bakers' yeast reductions of the corresponding keto-esters.

. Knight, David W.; Lewis, Neil; Share, Andrew C.; Haigh, David. Chem. Dept., Univ. of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry (1993), 4(4), 625-8. CODEN: TASYE3 ISSN: 0957-4166. Journal written in English. CAN 120:54423 AN 1994:54423 CAPLUS (Copyright (C) 2009 ACS on SciFinder (R)) Abstract Redn. of the keto-piperidinecarboxylates I and II with fermenting bakers' yeast produced the corresponding hydroxy-esters III and IV in good yields with >99% diastereomeric excess and >93% enantiomeric excess in both cases.

 -Hydroxypiperidinecarboxylates: additions to the chiral pool from bakers' yeast reductions of  -ketopiperidinecarboxylates.

Knight, David W.; Lewis, Neil; Share, Andrew C.; Haigh, David. Chemistry Department, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1998), (22), 3673-3684. Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, CODEN: JCPRB4 ISSN: 0300-922X. Journal written in English. CAN 130:153545 AN 1998:715806 CAPLUS (Copyright (C) 2009 ACS on SciFinder (R)) Abstract Redn. of the piperidine keto esters, e.g., I, using fermenting bakers' yeast provides high yields of the corresponding hydroxy esters, e.g., II, exclusively as the cis-diastereoisomers and with good levels (?80%) of enantiomeric enrichment. The relative stereochemistries of the products were deduced from NMR data while the abs. configurations were detd. by degrdn. to known piperidinemethanol derivs. or, in the case of hydroxy ester III, by homologation to (R)-3-quinuclidinol IV.

Asymmetric rhodium carbenoid insertion into the Si-H bond.

Buck, Richard T.; Doyle, Michael P.; Drysdale, Martin J.; Ferris, Leigh; Forbes, David C.; Haigh, David; Moody, Christopher J.; Pearson, Neil D.; Zhou, Qi-Lin. Dep. Chemistry, Loughborough Univ., Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Tetrahedron Letters (1996), 37(42), 7631-7634. Publisher: Elsevier, CODEN: TELEAY ISSN: 0040-4039. Journal written in English. CAN 125:328854 AN 1996:644681 CAPLUS (Copyright (C) 2009 ACS on SciFinder (R)) Abstract Decompn. of Me 2-diazophenylacetate in the presence of dimethylphenylsilane and a chiral dirhodium(II) catalyst results in Si-H insertion of the intermediate carbenoid to give PhCH(SiMe2Ph)CO2Me with varying degrees of enantioselectivity (up to 47% ee; 47% using (S)-Rh2L4, LH = I).

Endothelin 1 Stimulates Ca2+-Sparks and Oscillations in Retinal Arteriolar Myocytes via IP3R and RyR-Dependent Ca2+ Release

PURPOSE:
To investigate endothelin 1 (Et1)-dependent Ca(2+)-signaling at the cellular and subcellular levels in retinal arteriolar myocytes.
METHODS:
Et1 responses were imaged from Fluo-4-loaded smooth muscle in isolated segments of rat retinal arteriole using confocal laser microscopy.
RESULTS:
Basal [Ca(2+)](i), subcellular Ca(2+)-sparks, and cellular Ca(2+)-oscillations were all increased during exposure to Et1 (10 nM). Ca(2+)-spark frequency was also increased by 90% by 10 nM Et1. The increase in oscillation frequency was concentration dependent and was inhibited by the EtA receptor (Et(A)R) blocker BQ123 but not by the EtB receptor antagonist BQ788. Stimulation of Ca(2+)-oscillations by Et1 was inhibited by a phospholipase C blocker (U73122; 10 µM), two inhibitors of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)Rs), xestospongin C (10 µM), 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (100 µM), and tetracaine (100 µM), a blocker of ryanodine receptors (RyRs).
CONCLUSIONS:
Et1 stimulates Ca(2+)-sparks and oscillations through Et(A)Rs. The underlying mechanism involves the activation of phospholipase C and both IP(3)Rs and RyRs, suggesting crosstalk between these Ca(2+)-release channels. These findings suggest that phasic Ca(2+)-oscillations play an important role in the smooth muscle response to Et1 within the retinal microvasculature and support an excitatory, proconstrictor role for Ca(2+)-sparks in these vessels.

Primary science teacher confidence revisited: ten years on

Background

The pitfall with PIT tags: Marking freshwater bivalves for translocation induces short-term behavioural costs

Tagging animals is frequently employed in ecological studies to monitor individual behaviour, for example postrelease survival and dispersal of captive-bred animals used in conservation programmes. While the majority of studies focus on the efficacy of tags in facilitating the relocation and identification of individuals, few assess the direct effects of tagging in biasing animal behaviour. We used an experimental approach with a control to differentiate the effects of handling and tagging captive-bred juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera, prior to release into the wild. Marking individuals with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags significantly decreased their burrowing rate and, therefore, increased the time taken to burrow into the substrate. This effect was contributed to, in part, by the detrimental impacts of handling, which also significantly affected activity, burrowing ability and the time taken for each individual to emerge and start probing the substrate. Disturbance during handling and tagging may lead to indirect mortality after release by increasing the risk of predation or dislodgement during flooding, thereby potentially compromising any conservation strategy contingent on population supplementation or reintroduction. This is the first study to demonstrate that handling and PIT tagging has a detrimental impact on invertebrate behaviour. Moreover, our results provide useful information that will inform freshwater bivalve conservation strategies.