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Recruitment Patterns (recruitment + pattern)
Selected AbstractsRecruitment pattern of muscle fibre type during flat and sloped treadmill running in Thoroughbred horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006D. ETO Summary Reasons for performing the study: There is little information about the muscle fibre recruitment pattern during sloped and flat track running in Thoroughbred horses. Objectives: To examine the glycogen depletion pattern of each muscle fibre type during running on a flat and sloped treadmill. Methods: Thirteen Thoroughbred horses (3,9 years old) were used. They were initially subjected to incremental exercise tests on a treadmill at 10 and 0% inclines in each horse to determine running speed at 90 and 60% VO2max. Needle biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle immediately after the running at 90% VO2max for 4 min and 60% VO2max for 12 min on 10% and 0% inclines treadmill. Four muscle fibre types (Types I, IIA, IIA/IIX, and IIX) were immunohistochemically identified, and optical density of Periodic Acid Schiff staining (OD-PAS) in each fibre type and the glycogen content of the muscle sample were determined by quantitative histochemical and biochemical procedures. Results: The changes in OD-PAS showed that the recruitment of all fibre types were identical after each exercise bout, i.e., 4 min running at 90% VO2max (8.4,9.4 m/sec on 10%, 13.9,14.1 m/sec on 0%), and 12 min running at 60% VO2max (5.4,6.0 m/sec on 10%, 7.9,11.2 m/sec on 0%). No significant differences were found in the recruitment patterns of each muscle fibre type between 10 and 0% inclined exercise bouts at the same exercise intensity. Conclusions: The recruitment pattern of muscle fibre type is mainly determined by exercise intensity (%VO2max) and duration, but not by running speed. Potential relevance: The results of this study indicate the possibility that up-hill running results in the same training effect as faster running on a flat track. [source] Recruitment patterns of six species of cyprinid fishes in the lower River Trent, EnglandECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 2 2002A. D. Nunn Abstract,,,Fisheries data were collected for six species of 0-group cyprinid fishes from eight sites in the lower reaches of the River Trent, England, between May and October 1999 inclusive, using a micromesh seine net. Recruitment and growth patterns were observed via monthly length,frequency histograms and estimations of mean length. In the cases of roach and dace, growth was approximately linear through the summer, before declining in September and October. In the cases of chub and gudgeon, and to a lesser extent bream and bleak, however, there were suggestions of multiple recruitment events. It is argued that some of the fish species examined in the present study adopt fractional or protracted spawning strategies in the lower River Trent. [source] Seed dynamics of the mast seeding tussock grass Ampelodesmos mauritanica in Mediterranean shrublandsJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Montserrat Vilà Summary 1,The Mediterranean perennial grass Ampelodesmos mauritanica may have the potential to expand its range. We analysed temporal variability of its reproductive components (seedfall, seed bank, seed predation, seed germination, seedling emergence, survival and growth) in three microsites (open areas, beneath Ampelodesmos and beneath shrubs) at two sites. 2,Reproductive components prior to seedling emergence were both closely linked and very similar between microsites within a site. Seedling survival and growth differed between microsites, being lowest in open areas. Recruitment patterns cannot therefore be predicted from seedfall. 3,Abundant seed production in 1996 was followed by successful germination and high seedling survival. In the following (non-masting) year, although Ampelodesmos has a low-density persistent seed bank, recruitment was much lower because germination was low and post-dispersal seed predation was high. 4,Our results suggest that Ampelodesmos reproduction is episodic. Expansion of its distribution may be triggered by intermittent seedling recruitment following masting, but is otherwise constrained by seed limitation, post-dispersal seed predation and a loss of viability in the seed bank. [source] Recruitment pattern of muscle fibre type during flat and sloped treadmill running in Thoroughbred horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006D. ETO Summary Reasons for performing the study: There is little information about the muscle fibre recruitment pattern during sloped and flat track running in Thoroughbred horses. Objectives: To examine the glycogen depletion pattern of each muscle fibre type during running on a flat and sloped treadmill. Methods: Thirteen Thoroughbred horses (3,9 years old) were used. They were initially subjected to incremental exercise tests on a treadmill at 10 and 0% inclines in each horse to determine running speed at 90 and 60% VO2max. Needle biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle immediately after the running at 90% VO2max for 4 min and 60% VO2max for 12 min on 10% and 0% inclines treadmill. Four muscle fibre types (Types I, IIA, IIA/IIX, and IIX) were immunohistochemically identified, and optical density of Periodic Acid Schiff staining (OD-PAS) in each fibre type and the glycogen content of the muscle sample were determined by quantitative histochemical and biochemical procedures. Results: The changes in OD-PAS showed that the recruitment of all fibre types were identical after each exercise bout, i.e., 4 min running at 90% VO2max (8.4,9.4 m/sec on 10%, 13.9,14.1 m/sec on 0%), and 12 min running at 60% VO2max (5.4,6.0 m/sec on 10%, 7.9,11.2 m/sec on 0%). No significant differences were found in the recruitment patterns of each muscle fibre type between 10 and 0% inclined exercise bouts at the same exercise intensity. Conclusions: The recruitment pattern of muscle fibre type is mainly determined by exercise intensity (%VO2max) and duration, but not by running speed. Potential relevance: The results of this study indicate the possibility that up-hill running results in the same training effect as faster running on a flat track. [source] Age, growth, mortality and population structure of the oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis, in the Moheskhali Channel (southeastern coast of Bangladesh)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 1 2008S. M. Nurul Amin Summary The population structure, age, growth, mortality and harvest intensity of the oyster Crassostrea madrasensis were examined in the Moheskhali Channel, Bangladesh between June 2003 and May 2004. The channel is a representative habitat for the area. C. madrasensis monthly length frequency data were analyzed using FiSAT software for estimating population parameters, including asymptotic length (L), growth co-efficient (K) and recruitment pattern to assess the status of the stock. Asymptotic length (L,) and growth co-efficient (K) were 20.88 cm and 0.35 year,1, respectively. The growth performance index (,,) was calculated with 2.18. The growth pattern showed negative allometric growth (b < 3), with an asymptotic weight (W) of about 1124.6 g. The oyster attained an average length of 6.17 cm at the end of 1 year. Total mortality (Z) by length-converted catch curve was estimated at 1.78 year,1, fishing mortality (F) at 0.77 year,1, and natural mortality (M) at 1.01 year,1. The exploitation level (E) of C. madrasensis was 0.43, while the maximum allowable limit of exploitation (Emax) was 0.45 for the highest yield. The recruitment pattern was continuous, displaying a single major peak event per year. Habitat temperatures were 25.5,31.0°C (mean ± SD, 29 ± 1.62°C); salinity range was from 12.36 to 26.0 ppt (mean ± SD, 19.6 ± 4.7 ppt). The exploitation level (0.43) indicated that the oyster stock was exploited at almost maximum yield in this channel. [source] Dynamics of black spot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) mean length: evaluating the influence of life history parameters, recruitment, size selectivity and exploitation ratesJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2006K. Erzini Summary Stochastic simulations were used to evaluate the influence of recruitment pattern (log-normal, decreasing), size selectivity (normal, logistic model) and fishing mortality pattern (abrupt, continuous increase in fishing mortality) on the evolution of mean length and the dispersion of mean length for a relatively long-lived deep-water species, the black spot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo). An abrupt increase in fishing mortality resulted in mean size decreasing and stabilizing at a lower level while a steady increase in fishing mortality caused the continuous decrease in mean size that has been reported for many long-lived species. Decrease in mean size was greatest for logistic model simulations and for cases where fish were susceptible to capture at a small size. Logistic selectivity, with decreasing recruitment and increasing fishing mortality over time, resulted in mean length and variability in mean length trends similar to that observed for the Strait of Gibraltar fishery. Furthermore, it was found with the declining recruitment that moderate increases in fishing mortality can result in significant decreases in mean length. Given the importance of mean size as an indicator of the state of a resource, these simulations are a useful alternative or complement to standard fisheries assessment methods, helping to provide information on exploitation patterns and rates that can be used for conservation and management. [source] Recruitment of Heliozoa, rhizopods and rotifers from the sediments of an extremely acidic lake during spring and early summerLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008Elanor M. Bell Abstract The goal of this study was to investigate the recruitment of zooplankton from the littoral sediment of Lake 111, an acidic lake in north-east Germany, in April (spring) and June (early summer), and its role in coupling the benthos and the pelagic. Maximum heliozoan and rhizopod recruitment occurred in early summer from sediment cores incubated at ambient water temperatures (20°C). Conversely, recruitment of the rotifer Cephalodella sp. was highest in spring at ambient spring temperatures of 12°C. A combination of passive and active recruitment processes is likely responsible. The seasonal abiotic and biotic sediment characteristics were relatively constant and therefore not likely responsible for the observed temporal recruitment pattern. The sediment water and carbon content ranged from 20 to 50% (mean = 29 ± 6% standard deviation) and 2,12% (mean = 5 ± 2% standard deviation), respectively. Similarly, there was little variation in the chlorophyll- a (mean = 0.2 ± 0.2 µg Chl- a g,1 dry weight , 6.1 ± 3.9 mg Chl- a m,2). The in situ sediment bacterial density (0.82 × 109 ± 0.26 × 109 g,1 dry weight , 1.01 × 109 ± 0.34 × 109 cells cm,3) was high. In contrast, the abundance of zoobenthos and their resting stages was low (< 25 individuals cm,3, and mean of 90 ± 75 cysts cm,3, respectively), with no temporal pattern being observed. Temperature was the only abiotic factor influencing recruitment. This study suggests that, even in relatively young, chemically extreme lakes, the benthos can play an important role in whole lake microbial processes and zooplankton community composition. Such benthic repositories of resting stages potentially provide protection against adverse environmental changes. [source] Recruitment pattern of muscle fibre type during flat and sloped treadmill running in Thoroughbred horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006D. ETO Summary Reasons for performing the study: There is little information about the muscle fibre recruitment pattern during sloped and flat track running in Thoroughbred horses. Objectives: To examine the glycogen depletion pattern of each muscle fibre type during running on a flat and sloped treadmill. Methods: Thirteen Thoroughbred horses (3,9 years old) were used. They were initially subjected to incremental exercise tests on a treadmill at 10 and 0% inclines in each horse to determine running speed at 90 and 60% VO2max. Needle biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle immediately after the running at 90% VO2max for 4 min and 60% VO2max for 12 min on 10% and 0% inclines treadmill. Four muscle fibre types (Types I, IIA, IIA/IIX, and IIX) were immunohistochemically identified, and optical density of Periodic Acid Schiff staining (OD-PAS) in each fibre type and the glycogen content of the muscle sample were determined by quantitative histochemical and biochemical procedures. Results: The changes in OD-PAS showed that the recruitment of all fibre types were identical after each exercise bout, i.e., 4 min running at 90% VO2max (8.4,9.4 m/sec on 10%, 13.9,14.1 m/sec on 0%), and 12 min running at 60% VO2max (5.4,6.0 m/sec on 10%, 7.9,11.2 m/sec on 0%). No significant differences were found in the recruitment patterns of each muscle fibre type between 10 and 0% inclined exercise bouts at the same exercise intensity. Conclusions: The recruitment pattern of muscle fibre type is mainly determined by exercise intensity (%VO2max) and duration, but not by running speed. Potential relevance: The results of this study indicate the possibility that up-hill running results in the same training effect as faster running on a flat track. [source] EMG and Oxygen Uptake Responses During Slow and Fast Ramp Exercise in HumansEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Barry W. Scheuermann This study examined the relationship between muscle recruitment patterns using surface electromyography (EMG) and the excess O2 uptake (ExV,O2) that accompanies slow (SR, 8 W min,1) but not fast (FR, 64 W min,1) ramp increases in work rate (WR) during exercise on a cycle ergometer. Nine subjects (2 females) participated in this study (25 ± 2 years, ± S.E.M.). EMG was obtained from the vastus lateralis and medialis and analysed in the time (root mean square, RMS) and frequency (median power frequency, MDPF) domain. Results for each muscle were averaged to provide an overall response and expressed relative to a maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC). ,V,O2/,WR was calculated for exercise below (S1) and above (S2) the lactate threshold (LT) using linear regression. The increase in RMS relative to the increase in WR for exercise below the LT (,RMS/,WR-S1) was determined using linear regression. Due to non-linearities in RMS above the LT, ,RMS/,WR-S2 is reported as the difference in RMS (,RMS) and the difference in WR (,WR) at end-exercise and the LT. SR was associated with a higher (P < 0.05) ,V,O2/,WR (S1, 9.3 ± 0.3 ml min,1 W,1; S2, 12.5 ± 0.6 ml min,1 W,1) than FR (S1, 8.5 ± 0.4 ml min,1 W,1; S2, 7.9 ± 0.4 ml min,1 W,1) but a similar ,RMS/,WR-S1 (SR, 0.11 ± 0.01% W,1; FR, 0.10 ± 0.01% W,1). ExV,O2 was greater (P < 0.05) in SR (3.6 ± 0.7 l) than FR (-0.7 ± 0.4 l) but was not associated with a difference in either ,RMS/,WR-S2 (SR, 0.14 ± 0.01% W,1; FR, 15 ± 0.02% W,1) or MDPF (SR, 2.6 ± 5.9%; FR, -15.4 ± 4.5%). The close matching between power output and RMS during SR and FR suggests that the ExV,O2 of heavy exercise is not associated with the recruitment of additional motor units since ExV,O2 was observed during SR only. Compared to the progressive decrease in MDPF observed during FR, the MDPF remained relatively constant during SR suggesting that either (i) there was no appreciable recruitment of the less efficient type II muscle fibres, at least in addition to those recruited initially at the onset of exercise, or (ii) the decrease in MDPF associated with fatigue was offset by the addition of a higher frequency of type II fibres recruited to replace the fatigued motor units. [source] Spatial patterns of recruitment in Mediterranean plant species: linking the fate of seeds, seedlings and saplings in heterogeneous landscapes at different scalesJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Lorena Gómez-Aparicio Summary 1Plant recruitment is a multiphase process that takes place in environments that are heterogeneous in space and time. In this work, I analyse how environmental heterogeneity in Mediterranean forests affects dynamics of early recruitment at different scales, using the wind-dispersed tree Acer opalus subsp. granatense as a case study. 2Seed dispersal and viability, post-dispersal predation, seedling emergence and seedling and sapling survival were evaluated in different habitats (regional scale) and microhabitats (local scale). Simultaneously, a review of the literature on spatial dynamics of plant recruitment in Mediterranean systems was conducted to look for general patterns and investigate their fit to the Acer system. Nineteen woody and herbaceous species were included in the review. 3At the regional scale, Acer recruitment dynamics strongly converged among sites of the same habitat. This was mainly due to large seedling emergence and survival differences among habitats. Although most of the studies reviewed analyzed only one site per habitat type, they also support strong regional variation (either site- or habitat-specific) in recruitment patterns. 4At the local scale, Acer recruitment was microhabitat-specific, a result shared by almost all the reviewed species independently of their life form and dispersal syndrome. This was mostly due to spatial differences in seed arrival (higher under conspecifics) and seedling survival (higher under nurse shrubs). 5Spatial discordance among seed rain and recruitment was found in 60% of the reviewed species at the regional scale, and in 67% at the local scale. Acer results supported this predominant lack of concordance. Discordance among seed rain and recruitment suggests that regeneration is largely limited by safe sites than by seed availability. Because seedling survival was the limiting process with a larger impact on the magnitude and spatial pattern of recruitment, safe sites might be defined as those where seedlings have a higher survival probability. 6Synthesis: This study indicates that the influence of seed dispersal on the spatial patterns and demography of plant species could be limited in heterogeneous and stressful environments (as are found in the Mediterranean), where recruitment is restricted to a small fraction of the landscape. If we are to preserve the distribution and abundance of Mediterranean species in the face of environmental changes, we need to explicitly consider the strong patch-specificity that characterizes their recruitment process at all scales. [source] Recruitment and growth of two small-bodied resident fish species (Gobiidae and Atherinidae) in oligohaline, seasonally open lagoonsJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010P. G. Close Spatio-temporal recruitment patterns, growth and survival of the Swan River goby Pseudogobius olorum and western hardyhead Leptatherina wallacei are described from two small, coastal lagoons on the south coast of Western Australia. In these lagoons, estuarine salinity dynamics were relatively stable over much of the autumn,spring period when freshwater inputs from rivers were reduced and there was no oceanic connection. Preflexion and flexion stages of both fish species contributed strongly to population size structure in downstream reaches, whereas upstream reaches were dominated by postflexion larvae and juvenile stages. Spawning of both species was protracted and largely asynchronous, although the episodic presence of stronger preflexion and flexion cohorts suggested some synchronized spawning had occurred. Comparison with estuarine conditions over this period provided evidence that synchronized spawning may be related to temperature and salinity variations from a combination of freshwater inputs and periods of marine exchange. Uninterrupted growth and the progression of cohorts through to juvenile stages were consistent with the generally stable estuarine conditions. Larval and juvenile stages of both species were also tolerant of abrupt changes in salinity and temperature, which occurred due to a non-seasonal oceanic connection. These findings were consistent with the euryhaline nature of adults of both species. [source] Spawning and recruitment patterns of major fish species in Bontanga Reservoir, Ghana, West AfricaLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2010Kwadwo Kwarfo-Apegyah Abstract The spawning and recruitment patterns of the major Cichlid fish species, including Hemichromis fasciatus, Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Tilapia zillii and other species, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, Brycinus nurse, Clarias gariepinus and Marcusenius senegalensis were studied for 24 months in Bontanga Reservoir, Ghana, using length-based fish stock assessment approaches. The species spawned throughout the year, with two spawning pulses described as major and minor spawning seasons. The major spawning season occurred from March to September for the Cichlids, and from May to September for the other species. The minor spawning season, indicative of extended spawning, occurred from October to March for all the fish stocks. Fish spawning began with the onset of the rains in April/May, peaking by June/July, before the rainfall peak in August for all the fish stocks studied. Recruitment was found to occur throughout the year, with major and minor pulses coinciding with the major and minor spawning seasons. Accordingly, the most appropriate time for a possible closed fishing period appears to be from June to August, 1 month after the start of, and before the end of, the rains. The estimated mean standard length (Lm) for first time spawners of A. occidentalis, B. nurse, C. gariepinus and H. faciatus were 11.7, 12.7, 2.7 and 7.5 cm respectively. The estimated maturity,length ratio of 0.4 and 0.2 for O. niloticus, S. galilaeus and T. zillii were lower than the known 0.7 for normal growth, suggesting the tilapias matured faster, and at a smaller size, in the reservoir. Apparent sexual precocity associated with early maturity, year-round spawning and recruitment were some important adaptations found to have sustained the reservoir fisheries, even during high fishing pressures. For conservation and sustainable exploitation of the fisheries, instituting a closed fishing season, mesh size regulations, withdrawal rights and a community-based fishery management system are recommended. [source] Seed removal in two coexisting oak species: ecological consequences of seed size, plant cover and seed-drop timingOIKOS, Issue 9 2008Ignacio M. Pérez-Ramos Seed predation and dispersal can critically influence plant community structure and dynamics. Inter-specific differences arising at these early stages play a crucial role on tree recruitment patterns, which in turn could influence forest dynamics and species segregation in heterogeneous environments such as Mediterranean forests. We investigated removal rates from acorns set onto the ground in two coexisting Mediterranean oak species ,Quercus canariensis and Q. suber, in southern Spain. We developed maximum likelihood estimators to investigate the main factors controlling probabilities of seed removal and to describe species-specific functional responses. To account for inter-specific differences in seed-drop timing, two experiments were established: a simultaneous exposure of acorns of the two species (synchronous experiments) and a seed exposure following their natural seed-drop phenology (diachronic experiments). A total of 1536 acorns were experimentally distributed along a wide and natural gradient of plant cover, and removal was periodically monitored for three months at two consecutive years (with contrasting differences in seed production and thus seed availability on the ground). The probability of seed removal increased with plant cover (leaf area index, LAI) for the two oak species. Inter-specific differences in acorn removal were higher in open areas and disappeared in closed microhabitats, especially during a non-mast year. Despite later seed-drop, Q. suber acorns were removed faster and at a higher proportion than those of Q. canariensis. The higher probability of seed removal for this species could be attributed to its larger seed size compared to Q. canariensis, as inter-specific differences were less pronounced when similar sized acorns were exposed. Inter-specific differences in seed removal, arising from seed size variability and microsite heterogeneity, could be of paramount importance in oak species niche separation, driving stand dynamics and composition along environmental gradients. [source] Flooding and grazing promote germination and seedling establishment in the perennial grass Paspalum dilatatumAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009PATRICIA S. CORNAGLIA Abstract Seed germination and seedling emergence are key processes for population recruitment. Flooding and grazing are disturbances forming gaps that may strongly influence recruitment patterns in space and time, but their combined effects and action mechanisms have rarely been addressed. In this study we analysed the effects of microhabitat conditions associated with winter flooding and spring-summer defoliation on seed germination and seedling establishment of Paspalum dilatatum, a dominant perennial C4 grass in native grasslands of the Flooding Pampa, Argentina. The dynamics of seedling emergence from natural seed banks and buried seeds was studied in a factorial experiment with flooding and defoliation treatments applied to soil monoliths (mesocosms) collected from natural grassland. Additional laboratory experiments were applied to investigate seed germination under different combinations of temperature, light quality and simulated flooding. Seed germination and seedling emergence of P. dilatatum were promoted by flooding and high intensity defoliation. Gaps generated by flooding were maintained by high intensity defoliation exercising a synergistic effect on survival seedlings. Flooding resulted in the breaking of seed dormancy and higher germination rates associated with alternating temperature and the activation of the phytochrome system. Our results indicate that microhabitat conditions associated with the disturbances forming gaps, such as flooding and heavy grazing, synergistically promote the recruitment process of this dominant grass species. [source] Seed ecology of a Mediterranean perennial herb with an exceptionally extended flowering and fruiting seasonBOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2003F. XAVIER PICÓ Lobularia maritima is a Mediterranean short-lived herb with a flowering and fruiting season that lasts for ten months. Previous studies have shown that recruitment in periods other than autumn of the flowering season has few demographic implications; that is contributes little to the population growth rate. Since environmental conditions in periods other than autumn would allow recruitment, we examined to what extent the seed ecology of L. maritima accounts for recruitment shortage for the greater part of the year. To this end, we studied the effects of selfing and outcrossing on seed production and germination, within- and between-year variation in seed mass and germination, seed characteristics in the soil seed bank throughout the year, and the effect of temperature as a factor controlling seed germination. Results indicate that selfing does not decrease recruitment, and thus the observed changes in visitation rate and pollinator composition throughout the year cannot account for differences in recruitment. Germinability decreases throughout the year, suggesting a possible cost in reproduction associated with extended flowering. L. maritima has a transient seed bank whose seeds also experience a decrease in their germination throughout the year. Finally, temperature affects seed germination patterns, indicating the existence of quiescence mechanisms that prevent germination in the months prior to the summer drought. Overall, the results obtained support and, at least partly, explain the recruitment patterns of L. maritima observed in the field. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 142, 273,280. [source] |