JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ENVIRONMENT
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:4 (8)|Papers Count:11

Several breeds of dogs can be found in Iran. Some of them are completely different in their phenotype while others are similar. These animals are kept in rural families as guard animals for their herds. In order to study the genetic diversity of a part of Y sex chromosome between and within the population of Sarabi, Sangsari and Afshari dogs, total number of 21 non inbred male dogs were sampled. Blood samples collected from these animals were transferred to laboratory by EDTA containers. DNA extraction was applied using extraction kits and forward and reverse primers were designed using Oligo5 software. After sequencing, results were analyzed by Finch and Mega4 softwares. Analyzing the replicated sequences showed that all of the sequences were conserved and having repeated sequences caused the existence of slip pages. In this study, both neighbor joint approach and unweighted pair-group method of the arithmetic average (UPGMA) were utilized to draw phylogenetic tree. Results showed that these three populations of dogs, based on their genetic, are completely different.

The aim of study was Mnemiopsis leidyi’s feeding on zooplankton in the southern Caspian Sea. For this purpose, collecting of ctenophores from surface waters of Khazarabad area were done with a plankton net (500 microns) in 2009 Experiments had done under<18, 18-22 and 22-25oC for 70 days trial in 14 aquaria based on diversity of zooplankton (4 zooplankton groups) with salinity condition of Caspian Sea.4 species of Caspian Sea zooplankton included: Copepod (Acartia tonsa), Rotifer (Branchionus sp.), Cladocera (Podon polyphemoides) and invertebrate benthic larvae (Hypania sp. and Nereis sp.) were collected. Feeding carried out by each 8 hours interval with 7000-9000 individuals. Zooplankton diets of the comb jelly were analyzed on quantity and quality of each feeding rate in all levels of treatments. Laboratory experiments of M. leidyi feeding showed that among different diet exposed to these animals, maximum tendency and digestion were occurred in 22-25oC from Balanide (Balanus sp., 98.1%), Rotifer (95%) and Copepods (90%), respectively. Balanus supposed to be the favorite food item with 98% digestion and Rotifers were the second group after Balanide in M. leidyi diet. Copepods included juvenile, adults and nauplii consisted 34-38% of food item in M. leidyi diet in which benthic larvae was only 27%. Electivity of M. leidyi to Balanide and Copepods adults and Nauplii (A. tonsa) being considered positively while to Nereis sp. was negative.

Aeromonas hydrophila is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria in fishes that cause bacterial septicemia. In this study, 120 pieces of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) weighting 30-70 g, were divided in to five different groups (two groups of 30 pieces and three groups of 20 pieces in each). Formalin killed Aeromonas hydrophila were injected intramuscularly and intra-peritonealy to two groups (each group 30 fish). As a control, normal saline were injected intra-muscularly and intra-peritonealy to two groups (each group 20 fish) and one group (20 fish) was not received injection. Blood samples were collected from all fishes 2 weeks after injection and titer of anti-Aeromonas antibody determined by tube agglutination test. Antibody titer in intra-muscular injected group was significantly higher than normal saline injected group. Antibody titer in intra-peritoneal injected group was also significantly higher than normal saline injected group (P<0.05). The result showed that there was a significant difference between titer of killed bacteria received groups in comparison with control groups (P<0.05), but there was not significant difference (P>0.05) between titer of intra-muscular and intra-peritoneal becterin received groups. According to our results, injection of killed bacteria in both methods of injection significantly elevated the serum antibody level.

In order to study of nucleotide variation of wild sheep populations of Tangsayad and Korayi guardianship regions, individual feces were taken from two populations. Then, in order to genetic comparison between two populations using D-loop region and Cyt-b gene of mitochondrial genome, DNA was extracted. After amplifying by PCR, the samples were sequenced. Then, sequences were analyzed using MEGA4 software. Results indicated that Dloop region has 552 base pair and Cyt-b gene has 589 base pair and no significant genetic variation was observed between the two populations.

This study touches on identification of species of Echinoidea (Echinodermata) in the intertidal zones of Chabahar Bay in the Oman Sea during November 2008 to September 2009. The area of study was at the farthest end of south east of Iran from 25° 16´ 61² N to 25° 22¢ 47² N and from 60° 39¢ 90² E to 60° 24¢ 38² E. Sampling was done bimonthly during low tide from 5 stations, using 1m×1m quadrate randomly. Then, samples were counted, identified. The results showed that 4 species of Echinodermata from class of Echinodea and 4 orders Clypeasteroidea, Diadematoida, Echinoidea, Phymosomatoida and 4 families as Clypeasteridae, Diadematidae, Echinometridae, Stomopneustiae including: Clypeaster humili, Diadema setosum, Echinometra mathaei, Stomopneustes variolaris.

For determining and changes of chloride cells, in gill of juvenile's grouper histomorphology were used during adaptation in two months. After fixation, specimens were dehyderated through a graded ethanol series and embedded in paraffin. Then, the serial sections of 5 m were mounted onto glass slides. The slides were stained by applying H & E and TEM methods for histological examination. Histological changes were studied by light microscopy. Then, in autumn, fishes directly transferred from salinity 40ppt which is normal for the Persian Gulf water to other treatment (10ppt, 20ppt, 60ppt). Results of light microscopic study showed during 15 days, numbers change of chloride cells and mitochondria were significant in different salinity.

Since1970, Hawksbill turtles are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The sandy shores of the Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf are the nursery grounds of this species. In present study, the genetic population of Eretmochelys imbricata in northern part of the Persian Gulf has been studied. For this purpose 90 samples were collected from Hengam, Hormoz and Nakhiloo islands (30 samples from each island) and were analyzed using microsatellites markers. Allele frequency and specific allele, expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity, the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, genetic similarity and genetic distance, Fst and Rst and analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) at 10% confidence level were calculated using the Gen Alex software. The maximum and minimum of allele number in Hormoz and Nakhiloo islands were 7.3 and 5.3 and the average expected and observed heterozygosity were 0.35 and 0.69, respectively. The linkage disequilibrium and deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium have shown that all loci in three regions have deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.001). These results with highly significant Fst of genotypic differences between these populations support the existence of different genetic populations within the Iranian Islands of the Persian Gulf.

The Syrphidae family is one of the largest families of Diptera order which known as Hover fly and Flower fly in the world. This family is consist 3 sub families and 15 tribes and about 6000 species. Flower flies in adult stage feed entirely on nectar and pollen and as some species feed on aphids at larval stage, they play important role in biological control. In present study, faunestic investigation was carried out in Damavand, during 2009-2010. Then ecological indices include: Measures of heterogeneity Simpson and Shannon-Winer, measures of evenness Simpson, Camargo and Smith-Wilson, species Richness, Variance and standard deviation were estimated. Adult specimens were collected with sweeping net and collected specimens were transferred to Shahid Beheshti University laboratory, and were identified using keys identification such as: Stubs & Falk, 1996; Bi-Bienko, 1988 and Speigh & Sarthou, 2008. Identified species sent to Dr. Barkalov from Russia for confirmation. A totally, 25 species from 2 sub families Syrphinae and Eristalinae were collected.

The heavy metals are kind of the pollutants which created too much problems in aquatic ecosystems for both aquatics and human. A comparative study was conducted on concentration of heavy metals Hg, Cd and Pb in the muscle and liver tissues of Aspius vorax of Karoon River in winter 2011. Eighteen samples were taken in station one (Ahwaz six Bridge). Metals were extracted from the tissues using wet Digestion method and concentration of the heavy metals was measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer 4100. Data were analyzed with SPSS17 software in terms of one-way (ANOVA) test. The highest concentration of Hg, Cd, and Pb was 21.50±0.85, 127.73±2.27 and 238.26±7.51mg/Kg/wd, espectively. Accumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb in the muscle and liver of Aspius vorax were significant different (P<0.05). In this study, compare to WHO and FDA standards, concentration of Hg, Cd and Pb was lower.