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Background Pasteurella multocida causes numerous economically relevant diseases in livestock including rabbits. Immunisation is only variably effective. Prophylactic antibiotics are used in some species but are contra-indicated in rabbits, due to their adverse effects on the rabbit microbiota. There is therefore a substantial need for alternative forms of infection control in rabbits; we investigated the effect of oral β-glucan on P. multocida infection in this species. Results Thirthy-five New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into five groups of seven animals. Three groups were inoculated with Pasteurella multocida intranasally (in.), a physiologically appropriate challenge which reproduces naturally acquired infection, and received either (1–3), (1–6) β-glucans or placebo. Four other groups were inoculated both in. and intramuscularly (im.), representing a supra-physiological challenge, and received either (1–3), (1–6) β-glucans, antibiotic or placebo. β-glucans given prophylactically were highly effective in protecting against physiological (in.) bacterial challenge. They were less effective in protecting against supra-physiological bacterial challenge (in. and im.), although they extended survival times. This latter finding has practical relevance to breeders as it extends the window in which heavily infected and symptomatic animals can be salvaged with antibiotics. Conclusions In our study, (1–3), (1–6) β-glucans were highly effective in protecting against a model of naturally acquired P. multocida infection and extended survival times in the supra-physiological model. Enrofloxacin was effective in protecting against supra-physiological infection. We are currently reviewing the use of combined prophylaxis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-014-0276-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This paper reports on measured carbon stocks in the forests of two treeline ecotones of the Ural region where climate change might improve growing conditions. The first is an alpine ecotone that is represented by an altitudinal gradient of the spruce-dominated forests on the Western slope of the Tylaiskii Kamen Mountain (Western part of the Konzhakovskii-Tylaiskii-Serebryanskii Mountain system, 59 0 30'N, 59 0 00'E), at the alpine timber line that has risen from 864 to 960 m above sea level in the course of the last 100 years. The second is an arctic ecotone in larch-dominated forests at the lower course of the Pur River (67 0 N, 78 0 E), at the transition zone between closed floodplain forests and open or island-like communities of upland forests on tundra permafrost. According to our results, there are large differences in the carbon of the aboveground biomass of both ecotones across environmental gradients. In the alpine treeline ecotone, a 19-fold drop of the carbon stocks was detected between the lower and higher altitudinal levels. In the arctic ecotone the aboveground biomass carbon stock of forests of similar densities (1300 to 1700 trees per ha) was 7 times as much in the river flood bed, and 5 times as much in mature, dense forests as the low density forests at higher elevations.

This paper presents the results of the statistical analysis of biomass and NPP estimates from vast forest areas in relation to climatic conditions. The analysis was based on biomass data in 1236 sample plots as well as both NPP and biomass estimates in 480 sample plots that were established in mixed spruce and fir stands. Data were available for the entire Eurasian territory from the UK to South China and Japan, and included information on both total biomass and various biomass components. The climatic conditions of the sampled forests were characterized by using specific indices of zonality and continentality. A system of recursive equations was fitted to the data using standard regression analysis. For both the aboveground and total NPP, we found a statistically significant increase from the North to the South, but also a decrease from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts towards the continental center of Siberia. We also found that lower upper-story NPP is compensated by higher understory NPP and vice versa. On the other hand, inconsistencies were identified concerning the share of root biomass in relation to the continentality index.

We present the first comprehensive overview about the state-of-the-art estimates of the Hungarian biospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) balance. Biogeochemical models, statistical time series, and literature data are used together to describe grassland, forest, and arable land specific GHG fluxes. The estimates are aggregated to the country level to approximate the net biospheric greenhouse gas balance for the first time. The results suggest that the overall biospheric GHG balance of Hungary is negative (−13.8 Mt CO2-equivalent year-1), which means net GHG release to the atmosphere. According to this finding, the biosphere does not mitigate anthropogenic GHG emission in the country. More research is needed to constrain the estimates, and to provide reliable uncertainty estimates to the fluxes and stocks. We try to point out important research priorities that can help us to ­better understand the biogeochemical processes of the biosphere in Hungary, and to provide mitigation opportunities for biospheric GHG emission.

This chapter describes computer simulation models developed for ­estimating greenhouse gas fluxes of different ecosystems. In general, each model is used for the simulation of specific parts of the complex systems; therefore, merging the results of various kind of models can give a better insight. In this chapter, we describe four models used for estimating biospheric fluxes of greenhouse gases in Hungary. The Biome-BGC and the DNDC models are process-based ecological models. The adapted version of Biome-BGC is capable of describing the carbon, nitrogen, and water fluxes of the Hungarian arable lands and grasslands. This model is used to estimate the net primary production (NPP) and the net biome production. DNDC is used to predict the soil fluxes of nitrous oxide and methane, and simulates the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen occurring in agricultural soil. MOD17 is a simple lightweight model that is based on remote sensing and ancillary meteorological information, and provides gross primary production (GPP) and NPP data. The CASMOFOR model was developed to estimate how much carbon can be accumulated in afforestation projects.

International audience; This paper is the outcome of a group discussion held at the Savonlinna meeting Management of forest ecosystems and its impact on the GHG budget'. The aim of this break-out group discussion was to Characterize forest management impacts on the GHG budget of forest ecosystems in different European regions'. In this paper we briefly characterize different options that a forest owner has in order to maintain or maximize forest carbon pools and carbon sequestration. These hectare scale descriptions of measures are then regarded in connection to the current state of European forests and how they can be combined with ongoing management trends and local issues. We point out the various possibilities that exist in European forests, where they are located, and where they could possibly be combined with adaptation. We identify these hotspots for largest growing stocks, largest peat areas, and, e.g. largest risks for loss of carbon due to fire or urban sprawl. We conclude that one common strategy cannot be designed. Within each region, local solutions have to be found that optimize goals and aim at integrated and sustainable land use.

The complexities inherent in land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities have led to contentious and prolonged debates about the merits of their inclusion in the 2008–2012 first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Yet the inclusion of these activities played a key role in agreement on the general framework of the Kyoto Protocol, and LULUCF will likely continue to play a substantial part in negotiations on national commitments post-2012. The Marrakech Accords dictate which LULUCF activities are to be included under the Kyoto Protocol and provide rules on how they are to be accounted in the first commitment period. However, these rules have limitations and drawbacks that may be avoided in the structure of future commitments beyond 2012. Through adherence to the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the incorporation of several critical features, a future framework can more effectively address the mitigation challenges and opportunities of this sector.