Duck fleas as evidence for eiderdown production on archaeological sites

Acknowledgements This project was undertaken as part of my doctoral studies funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CACR-2009-39) in the United Kingdom. I would like to thank my supervisors Karen Milek and Andrew Dugmore for their help and support. I also wish to thank Jónas Helgason, his son Alexius Jónasson and Baldur Vilhelmsson for kindly having allowed access to the eiderdown stores and workshops at Æðey and Vatnsfjörður and for having provided assistance when needed. I would like to thank Fornleifastofnun Íslands for supporting my fieldwork at Vatnsfjörður, as well as Paul Ledger and Garðar Guðmundsson for their help during fieldwork. I am especially grateful to Richard Marriott for his invaluable help with flea identifications and for lending me reference material. Erling Ólafsson and Jan Klimaszewski also helped with the beetle identifications. Consultation of the BugsCEP database (Buckland and Buckland, 2006) aided the redaction of this paper.

Duck fleas as evidence for eiderdown production on archaeological sites

Acknowledgements This project was undertaken as part of my doctoral studies funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CACR-2009-39) in the United Kingdom. I would like to thank my supervisors Karen Milek and Andrew Dugmore for their help and support. I also wish to thank Jónas Helgason, his son Alexius Jónasson and Baldur Vilhelmsson for kindly having allowed access to the eiderdown stores and workshops at Æðey and Vatnsfjörður and for having provided assistance when needed. I would like to thank Fornleifastofnun Íslands for supporting my fieldwork at Vatnsfjörður, as well as Paul Ledger and Garðar Guðmundsson for their help during fieldwork. I am especially grateful to Richard Marriott for his invaluable help with flea identifications and for lending me reference material. Erling Ólafsson and Jan Klimaszewski also helped with the beetle identifications. Consultation of the BugsCEP database (Buckland and Buckland, 2006) aided the redaction of this paper.

Duck fleas as evidence for eiderdown production on archaeological sites

Acknowledgements This project was undertaken as part of my doctoral studies funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CACR-2009-39) in the United Kingdom. I would like to thank my supervisors Karen Milek and Andrew Dugmore for their help and support. I also wish to thank Jónas Helgason, his son Alexius Jónasson and Baldur Vilhelmsson for kindly having allowed access to the eiderdown stores and workshops at Æðey and Vatnsfjörður and for having provided assistance when needed. I would like to thank Fornleifastofnun Íslands for supporting my fieldwork at Vatnsfjörður, as well as Paul Ledger and Garðar Guðmundsson for their help during fieldwork. I am especially grateful to Richard Marriott for his invaluable help with flea identifications and for lending me reference material. Erling Ólafsson and Jan Klimaszewski also helped with the beetle identifications. Consultation of the BugsCEP database (Buckland and Buckland, 2006) aided the redaction of this paper.

Bioecology and conservation of Duck Mussel Species (Anodonta anatina L., 1758) in Northeastern Portugal

Freshwater mussel (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionoida) populations are one of the most endangered faunistic groups. Mussels play an important role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, because they are responsible for the filtration and purification of water. They have a complex life cycle, with a parasitic larvae and usually limited host fish species. The real status of these populations is still poorly understood worldwide. The objectives of the present work were the study of bioecology of duck mussel (Anodonta anatina L.) populations of Tua Basin (NE Portugal). It was made the characterization of the ecological status of Rabaçal, Tuela and Tua Rivers, selecting 15 sampling sites, equally distributed by the three rivers. Samplings were made in the winter of 2016, and several physico-chemical water parameters measured and two habitat quality indexes calculated (GQC and QBR indexes). Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were sampled based on the protocols established by the Water Framework Directive. Host fish populations for duck mussel were determined in laboratorial conditions, testing several native and exotic fish species. The results showed that several water quality variables (e.g. dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, and nutrients) can be used for the classification of river typology. Other responsive metrics were also determined to identify environmental degradation. For instances, hydromorphological conditions (GQC and QBR indexes) and biota related metrics (e.g. composition, distribution, abundance, diversity of invertebrate communities) contributed to the evaluation of the ecological integrity. The upper zones of Rabaçal and Tuela rivers were classified with excellent and good ecological integrity, while less quality was found in downstream zones. The host fish tests showed that only native species are effective hosts, essential for the conservation purposes of this mussel species. Threats, like pollution, sedimentation and river regularization (3 big dams are in construction or in filling phase), are the main cause of habitat loss for native mussel and fish populations in the future. Rehabilitation and mitigation measures are essential for these lotic ecosystems in order to preserve the prioritary habitats and the native species heavily threatened.

Structural features of the epididymal region of the domestic duck (Anas plathyrynchos)

A região epididimária do pato doméstico era composta pelos ductúlos eferentes, os quais hitotopologicamente foram caracterizados como dúctulos eferentes proximal e distal e, sequencialmente, pelo ducto epididimal. O epitélio dos dúctulos eferentes era pseudo-estratificado, formado por células colunares. O epitélio dos ductos epididimários mostrou-se também pseudo-estratificado, mas não ciliado. de acordo com as análises histomorfométricas, a média da altura epitelial foi significativamente maior nos dútulos esferentes distais, diferindo das baixas médias de altura epitelial observadas nos dúctulos eferentes proximais e ducto epididimal. A média dos diâmetros máximos e mínimos foi significativamente maior nos dúctulos eferentes proximais, comparativamente as médias dos mesmos diâmetros dos outros dúctulos.

The Effect of Eggs Shape Index on Embryo on Mortalities, Unhatched Eggs and Day Old duck Abnormalities of Selected and Control Tegal Duck

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of eggs shape index on embryo mortalities, unhatched egg and day old duck abnormalities of selected and control Tegal duck. A total of 1428 fertile eggs obtained from a selected duck group and a control group were divided in to 3 group according to their eggs shape index (ESI), i.e. small (ESI ,79 percent), medium ( ESI ,82 percent ) and large (ESI ,85 percent ). The ESI was measured as a ratio of wide and length of eggs and percentage. Three batches of incubation with 7 day interval were carried out as replicates. Parameter measured were embryo mortalities, number of unhatched eggs and number of abnormal day old duck. Candling of eggs were performed at 6, 14 and days of incubation and mortalities of embryo were detected by loup. Results of the experiment showed that lowest embryos mortalities was occurred on medium eggs (24 percent) and significantly ( p< 0,05 ) affected by eggs size. Abnormal DOD from medium eggs was significantly (p ,0,05 ) lower (13 percent ) than the small (23 percent ) and large (21 percent ) eggs. Similar trends on eggs from selected duck and control ducks. This may be due to short term of selection program and young age of the female duck (24 weeks ). These results conclude that medium eggs (ESI ,82 percent) were the best size for hatching eggs. (Animal Production 2(1): 25-32 (2000)Key word : duck , hatching eggs, selection, eggs shape index

Effect of Combination between CaCl2 Dosage and Electric Stimulation Period on Meat Quality Duck Adult

Research entitled “The effect of combination between CaCl2 dosage and length of electric stimulation on adult meat quality duck quality”. The aim was to know the effect of combination between CaCl2 and length of electric stimulation on quality. It was conducted at Technology of Animal Production Laboratory in Animal Science Faculty, Jenderal Soedirman University on June 2nd up to August 30rd 2002. Materials used in this research were 27 Tegal duck adult. Experimental design with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with factorial 3 x 3 was performed in this research. The first factor was CaCl2 was dosage (a1=50cc; a2=100cc; and a3=150cc) and the second factor was length of electric stimulation period (b1=10 sec; b2=20 sec; and b3=30 sec). Each experiment was repeated three times, and variable of this research were pH, tenderness, WHC and CL. The result of research shows that CaCl2 dosage (50, 100, and 150 cc); length of electric stimulation and their interaction were gave no significant effect (P>0,05) on pH, tenderness, WHC and CL in adult duck meat. Conclusion of this research was CaCl2 dosage, electric stimulation period and their interaction gave the same effect on pH, tenderness, WHC and CL adult duck meat. (Animal Production 5(1): 25-34 (2003) Key word: Tenderness, WHC and CL, Duck, Meat, Electrical, Calsium Chlorida

The effect of Physiological NaCl Dilution levels and Storage Duration to Sperm Motility and Abnormality in Muscovy Duck

The aim of this research are to know the effects of physiological NaCl dilution levels and storage duration on sperm motility and abnormality of  Muscovy duck. Materials which used in this research were semen that collected of 1  - 1,5 years of four Muscovy duck. Semen were treated by physiological NaCl dilution levels nol , three, six and nine and storage duration ( t0 = 0 minute t1 =45minutes and t2=90 minute). Replication was three tapping periode . The method of this research was laboratory experimental with Randomized Complete Blok Design (RBD) in Split Plot Design (SPD)  pattern ,as main plot is Physiological NaCl dilation levels and as sub plot is storage duration. Result of the experiment showed that physiological NaCl dilution levels was very significantly influences on sperm motility (p<0,01) and significantly influences and sperm abnormality (p<0,05) . The storage duration was very significantly influences and sperm motility and abnormality (p<0,01) .Orthogonal duration polynomial assayed showed that the effect of physiological NaCl dilution levels to sperm motility  had a linier regression line with the a equation as Y =69.94 - 2.65 X,  r=0,49 R2=0.24 with Y presented to sperm motility and X represented to physiological NaCl dilution levels  sperm and effect of storage duration to sperm motility had a linier regression line with the equation as Y =74.24-0.35 X, r =0.73 R2=0.53 with Y represented to sperm motility and X represented to storage duration . The effect of physiological NaCl dilution levels to sperm abnormality had a linier regression line with the equation as Y =5.61+0.34X, r=0.52 R2=0.27 with Y represented to sperm to abnormality and X represented to regression line with the equation as Y =6.74+0.01X, r=0.24R2=0.060 with Y represented to sperm abnormality and X represented to storage duration. It is can be concluded that a higher physiological NaCl dilation levels and storage duration caused sperm to motility decreased and sperm abnormality increased. (Animal Production 3(2): 45-52 (2001)Key Word: sperm Muscovy duck.

The Effect of Debeaking and Crude Fibre in Ration On Canibalism and Performance of Muscovy Duck

A research has been conducted from September 3rd until November 2nd 2002 to study cannibalism and performance of Muscovy duck. The method applied was experiment with factorial pattern of Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factors were debeaking (P) : p1 = control, p2 = debeaking. The second factors were crude fibre content in ration (R) : r1= 6 %, r2 = 8 % and r3 = 10 %.  Parameters observed were cannibalism mortality, food consumption, growth rate, carcass production, meat and blood cholesterol and meat fat. The duck used were 96 heads at one week old and cage in 24 pens with litter floor.  The results indicated that debeaking had no significant effect on food consumption, growth rate, carcass percentage and blood cholesterol, but it had significant effect on carcass weight and meat fat up to 8 weeks old. Crude fibre had significant effect on blood and meat cholesterol. (Animal Production 6(1): 9-16 (2004) Key Words: Debeaking, Crude fibre, Canibalism, Production Performance

The Effect of Fish Meal Substitution with Squilla empusa on Reproductive Performance of Local duck

A study has been conducted to know the effect of fishmeal substitution with Squilla empusa on reproductive performance of local duck.  Randomized Completely Design was applied in this experimental. Ninety-six grower local ducks were divided into six treatments ration. Each treatment was replicated by four replications and consists of four local ducks each. The treatment was P0 = 0 % Squilla empusa and 10 % fish meal, P1 = 2 % Squilla empusa and 8 % fish meal, P2 = 4 % Squilla empusa and 6 % fish meal, P3 = 6 % Squilla empusa and 4 % fish meal, P4 = 8 % Squilla empusa and 2 % fish meal, and P5 = 10 % Squilla empusa and 0 % fishmeal.  Parameters observed was reproductive performance consisted of sexual maturity, average egg production and egg weight during 3 months of production period. The result showed that fishmeal and Squilla empusa had very significant by effect (P<0,01) on feed consumption, sexual maturity, egg production and egg weight. It was significant by (P< 0,05) on egg production and weight. It was concluded that substitution up to 4.96 % of Squilla empusa give the latest of sexual maturity (5.8 month); the lowers egg production was at 6 % Squilla empusa; at 10 % Squilla empusa egg weight tended to increase. (Animal Production 6(2): 110-117 (2004) Key Words: substitution,  Squilla empusa, reproductive performance

Determination of α-Amylase Enzyme Activity and Blood Glucose Level in Local Duck

A α-amylase is included in hydrolase’s enzyme (E.C. 3.2.1.3), which catalyzed the breaking down of α-1,3-glycosidic bound on amylase chain and produced glucose as end product. In mammalian and poultry, α-amylase enzyme has a function as starch breaking down or changed glycogen to glucose. It was used as energy resource in the body. A α-amylase enzyme is protein that resulted in expression from one or several genes, so that has various characteristics among individual. To study the existence and the characteristic of α-amylase enzyme, therefore it has been conducted a research about the connection of α-amylase enzyme unit number  with glucose content in Tegal, Magelang and Mojosari duck blood (each of them consisted of 28 birds). This research used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven replicates for each treatment. The result research showed that either the unit number of α-amylase enzyme activity or glucose content in these local breed of duck has a highly significant different (P<0.01). This result showed that genetic factor (breed of duck) has influenced either enzyme unit number or their catalytic activity on substrate, so the capability to form blood glucose inter breed of duck also different. It was suggested that their enzyme characteristics have strong connection with the sequence of amino acid as α-amylase enzyme protein composer, which was the result of gene expression. From the result, it was concluded that the unit number and catalytic activity of α-amylase enzyme and blood glucose content in the breed of local duck was affected by genetic factor (breed of duck). (Animal Production 5(1): 50-56 (2003) Key words: Enzyme, K-Amylase, Blood, Glucose, Duck

Environmental health risk assessment of dioxin exposure through foods in a Dioxin hot spot—Bien Hoa City, Vietnam

This study used the Australian Environmental Health Risk Assessment Framework to assess the human health risk of dioxin exposure through foods for local residents in two wards of Bien Hoa City, Vietnam. These wards are known hot-spots for dioxin and a range of stakeholders from central government to local levels were involved in this process. Publications on dioxin characteristics and toxicity were reviewed and dioxin concentrations in local soil, mud, foods, milk and blood samples were used as data for this risk assessment. A food frequency survey of 400 randomly selected households in these wards was conducted to provide data for exposure assessment. Results showed that local residents who had consumed locally cultivated foods, especially fresh water fish and bottom-feeding fish, free-ranging chicken, duck, and beef were at a very high risk, with their daily dioxin intake far exceeding the tolerable daily intake recommended by the WHO. Based on the results of this assessment, a multifaceted risk management program was developed and has been recognized as the first public health program ever to have been implemented in Vietnam to reduce the risks of dioxin exposure at dioxin hot-spots.

E-mail in the workplace : the role of stress appraisals and normative response pressure in the relationship between email stressors and employee strain

In many organizations, e-mail is an effective and dominant workplace application tool; however, research identifying its role as a potential workplace stressor remains limited. Utilizing the Transactional Model of Stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), 215 full-time administrative and academic staff at a university were surveyed about workplace e-mail. The aim was to study the effects of potential e-mail stressors on emotional exhaustion as mediated and moderated by person and situation variables. Results indicated that 2 distinct e-mail stressors—high quantity and poor quality (in terms of high emotionality and ambiguity) of workplace e-mail—were associated both with stress appraisals (e-mail overload and e-mail uncertainty) and with emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the effects of the 2 e-mail stressors on emotional exhaustion were mediated by appraised e-mail overload. Perceived normative response pressure—a relevant aspect of the specific work environment—added to the explanation of emotional exhaustion and accentuated the positive effect of e-mail ambiguity on emotional exhaustion, although effects involving normative response pressure were not explained by the stress appraisals.