SUMMARY Members of the genus Panagrolaimus are bacterial-feeding nematodes that occupy a diversity of niches ranging from Antarctic and temperate soils to terrestrial mosses. Some members of this genus are able to survive extreme desiccation by entering into a state of suspended animation known as anhydrobiosis. We have assembled a collection of Panagrolaimusspecies and strains and have investigated their anhydrobiotic phenotypes. Our data show that within the genus Panagrolaimus there is a continuum of strains ranging from those unable to survive exposure to low relative humidity(RH) without prior preconditioning at high RH (slow desiccation strategists),through strains that have limited ability to survive rapid desiccation but whose anhydrobiotic ability improves upon preconditioning, to strains such as P. superbus that can readily survive immediate exposure to severe desiccation (fast desiccation strategists). Using this panel of nematodes we investigated the effect of preincubation at high RH on the accumulation of trehalose and on the nematodes' anhydrobiotic potential. We found that there is a strong correlation between trehalose induction and anhydrobiotic survival in Panagrolaimus. Furthermore, the high trehalose levels observed in fully hydrated P. superbus (10% dry mass) suggest that constitutive expression of trehalose pre-adapts this fast dehydration strategist to combat desiccation. All the strains observed, regardless of survival rates, undertook both coiling and clumping, which has the effect of reducing surface area and slowing the rate of water loss during desiccation. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out to investigate whether the observed anhydrobiotic phenotypes were the result of convergent evolution or represented a single phylogenetic lineage. These analyses, derived from alignments of the rDNA ITS and D3 sequences, indicate that the strongly anhydrobiotic strains of Panagrolaimus form a single phylogenetic lineage, which is separate from the weakly anhydrobiotic strains. The weakly anhydrobiotic strains are also phylogenetically divergent from each other. Our data indicate that Panagrolaimus has the potential to be an excellent model system for the investigation of molecular aspects of nematode anhydrobiosis.

Background: Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool for functional genomics. Although RNAi was first described in Caenorhabditis elegans, several nematode species are unable to mount an RNAi response when exposed to exogenous double stranded RNA (dsRNA). These include the satellite model organisms Pristionchus pacificus and Oscheius tipulae. Available data also suggest that the RNAi pathway targeting exogenous dsRNA may not be fully functional in some animal parasitic nematodes. The genus Panagrolaimus contains bacterial feeding nematodes which occupy a diversity of niches ranging from polar, temperate and semi-arid soils to terrestrial mosses. Thus many Panagrolaimus species are adapted to tolerate freezing and desiccation and are excellent systems to study the molecular basis of environmental stress tolerance. We investigated whether Panagrolaimus is susceptible to RNAi to determine whether this nematode could be used in large scale RNAi studies in functional genomics.

Highlights 17 In contrast to equines, canine sport science has been poorly studied. 18 As the distance between consecutive upright hurdles increases, so do the take-off and 19 landing distances. 20 Take-off and landing distances further alter with the dog's skill level. 21 There are greater differences in jump kinematics when the distances between 22 consecutive hurdles are shorter. speeds differed for hurdle distances (P < 0.001) and level of skill (P < 0.001). There were 40 significant differences in apparent neck angle during take-off and landing (P < 0.001), lumbar 41 spine angles during take-off, bascule and landing (P < 0.01), and in shoulder angles during 42 the bascule phase (P < 0.05). The results indicate that agility dogs alter their jumping 43 patterns to accommodate the spacing between hurdles, which ultimately may impact long 44 term health and welfare due to altered kinematics.

12Research examining kinematic parameters of the canine athlete is markedly behind 13 equivalent human and equine research. With increasing participation and popularity, canine 14 sports science needs to bridge this gap with comparable equine research. The aim of this 15 study was to examine changes to specific kinematic parameters as hurdle height increases. 16Twenty border collies and border collie crosses were analysed jumping over a single hurdle at 17 increasing heights, starting with a pole on the floor and increasing to a maximum height of

There is currently a lack of research examining the health and welfare implications for competitive agility dogs. The aim of this study was to examine if jump kinematics and apparent joint angles in medium (351-430 mm to the withers) and small (<350 mm to the withers) agility dogs altered when distances between consecutive upright hurdles differ. Dogs ran a course of nine hurdles; three set at 3.6 m apart; three at 4 m apart and three at 5 m apart. Both medium (P=0.044) and small (P=0.006) dogs landed closer to the hurdle when consecutive hurdles were set 3.6 m apart, with small dogs jumping slower at this distance (P=0.006). Results indicate that jump kinematics, but not apparent joint angles, alter when the spacing between hurdles differs. These findings may have implications for the health and welfare of agility dogs and should be used to inform future changes to rules and regulations.

9Dog agility is a rapidly progressing sport worldwide. Consequentially, research and methods 10to improve technique and performance are becoming highly sought after. Video data were 11 collected of elite agility dogs during a training session, with downstream analysis examining 12 differences in apparent topline angle and jumping speed of large and medium dogs as well as

Dog obedience competition is an understudied area of canine kinematic research. Consequently, little is understood about the potential welfare considerations of competing in such disciplines. This study examined correlations between the dog’s head position and judges’ scores during an obedience heelwork test. Dartfish was used to analyse head and neck positions of obedience dogs whilst completing a heelwork test in competition. The study found no correlation between judges scores and the apparent head and neck angle of the dogs during heelwork. There was also no correlation between head and neck position of the dogs and the time taken to complete the heelwork test. Study findings demonstrate that more acute hyperextension of the dog’s neck during heelwork is not being selected for by judges. Thus, more research is needed to examine where the desire for apparent hyperextension is originating from and indeed the welfare implications of such positions.

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