New York Communities 2008: A Year of CaRDI Publications

CaRDI Reports Issue 7. Compilation of CaRDI Rural New York Minute and the Research & Policy Brief Series from 200

Habitat use at fine spatial scale: how does patch clustering criteria explain the use of meadows by red deer ?

Large mammalian herbivores are keystone species in different ecosystems. To mediate the effects of large mammalian herbivores on ecosystems, it is crucial to understand their habitat selection pattern. At finer scales, herbivore patch selection depends strongly on plant community traits and therefore its understanding is constrained by patch definition criteria. Our aim was to assess which criteria for patch definition best explained use of meadows by wild, free-ranging, red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a study area in Northeast Portugal. We used two clustering criteria types based on floristic composition and gross forage classes, respectively. For the floristic criteria, phytosociological approach was used to classify plant communities, and its objectivity evaluated with a mathematical clustering of the floristic relevés. Cover of dominant plant species was tested as a proxy for the phytosociological method. For the gross forage classes, the graminoids/forbs ratio and the percentage cover of legumes were used. For assessing deer relative use of meadows we used faecal accumulation rates. Patches clustered according to floristic classification better explained selection of patches by deer. Plant community classifications based on phytosociology, or proxies of this, used for characterizing meadow patches resulted useful to understand herbivore selection pattern at fine scales and thus potentially suitable to assist wildlife management decisions

Foresters’ Perceptions of Forest Regeneration and Possible Barriers to Regeneration in New York State

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Effects of watershed liming on terrestrial ecosystem processes

Watershed liming has been proposed to mitigate lake acidification and depletion of soil base cations. This paper reviews and synthesizes literature describing the effects of liming on natural terrestrial ecosystems, with a specific emphasis on watershed liming studies. Specifically, we look at the purpose of liming, types of lime, physiological role of calcium, lime effects on soil and belowground processes, and plant response to liming with special attention to growth and tissue chemistry, roots, and plant–plant interactions. Liming increases soil pH and either increases or decreases soil nutrient availability. Liming affects litter decomposition, mineral soil processes, root growth, plant nutrient uptake, and plant productivity. Interspecific plant interactions can be affected after liming. Specific soil and biotic responses depend upon the type and amount of lime applied, the period of observation, soil characteristics, and species composition.Key words: watershed liming, CaCO3, calcite, dolomite, calcium, ecosystem response to liming, wetland liming, forest liming, nutrient availability, soil acidity. </jats:p

Analysis for Carotenes and Xanthophylls in Dried Plant Materials

Abstract A method is presented for the analysis of carotenes, carotenols, and carotendiols in dried plant materials. The extraction procedure is applicable to both alfalfa meals and corn products. Column chromatography on silica gel G permits separation of carotenes from xanthophylls and subsequent fractionation of xanthophylls into mono hydroxy (MHP) and dihydroxy pigments (DHP) which are free from polyoxy pigments. A procedure is proposed for calculation of a “DHP-equivalent” as a measure of pigmenting effectiveness for avian skin and yolks. The method appears to be applicable to mixed feeds.</jats:p

Elk Distributions Relative to Spring Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Values

Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) that winter near San Antonio Mountain in northern New Mexico provide important recreational and economic benefits while creating management challenges related to temporospatial variation in their spring movements. Our objective was to examine spring distributions of elk in relation to vegetative emergence as it progresses across the landscape as measured by remote sensing. Spring distributions of elk were closely associated with greater photosynthetic activity of spring vegetation in 2 of 3 years as determined using NDVI values derived from AVHRR datasets. Observed elk locations were up to 271% greater than expected in the category representing the most photosynthetic activity. This association was not observed when analyses at a finer geographic scale were conducted. Managers facing challenges involving human-wildlife interactions and land-use issues should consider environmental conditions that may influence variation in elk association with greener portions of the landscape

Sulfamethazine and Sulfathiazole Determination at Residue Levels in Swine Feeds by Reverse-Phase Liquid Chromatography with Post-Column Derivatization

Abstract Twenty g sample, to which sulfamerazine has been added as internal standard, is extracted with 0.3N HC1 + 1.5% diethylamine in 25% methanol. The sample extract is chilled (to aid clarification), centrifuged, and filtered. The sulfonamides are separated from each other and from co-extracted materials on a C-18 reverse-phase column and detected at 450 nm following post-column derivatization with dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. Two isocratic mobile phases have been tested: (1) acetonitrile-2% acetic acid (17 + 83), with an analysis time of 13 min; and (2) acetonitrile-methanol-2% acetic acid (4 + 16 + 80), with an analysis time of 20 min but an improved analysis for some samples. As many as 40 samples have been analyzed at one time unattended with the aid of an autosampler. A total of about 1500 field samples have been assayed using the method. Method sensitivity is 0.1 ppm for either analyte in a hog finishing feed. Linearity for each of the analytes is satisfactory over a range of 0.4-25 ppm in spiked feeds. Coefficients of variation range from 13% at 0.5 ppm to 2% at 13 ppm as tested over a period of time in naturally contaminated samples. The absolute recovery of sulfamethazine varies with sample matrix, but, in the presence of sulfamerazine as internal standard, recovery has been 96.7-99.7% over the range of 0.1-10 ppm. Sulfamerazine and sulfamoxole were tested for their suitability as internal standards. Sulfamerazine is a good internal standard for sulfamethazine; neither is ideal for sulfathiazole. A recovery factor is necessary for estimating the level of sulfathiazole in feeds when either internal standard is used; however, either standard is satisfactory for correcting for feed matrix variation</jats:p

Does cardiac rehabilitation improve patient emotional well-being and illness perception

Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs promote lifestyle modification to improve prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of CR on patients’ perceived emotional well-being and illness perception has not been fully studied. Methods and Results: Two arms were used in this study. Arm 1 enrolled new CR participants and Arm 2 enrolled existing CR participants. Three validated questionnaires were employed. ANOVA and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare differences between the groups. A total of 238 patients were enrolled from July 1 to December 31, 2015 with 131 patients (55%) in Arm 1 and 107 (45%) in Arm 2. Statistically significant differences of illness perception were seen between the groups. Arm 1 patients had statistically significant improvements in illness perception, perceived emotional support, and depression after CR. Conclusions: CR participation is associated with improved illness perception, perceived emotional support, and decreased depression