基于空间质量平衡法的植保无人机施药雾滴沉积分布特性测试

为了探究飞行方式、飞行参数及侧风等因素对无人机喷雾雾滴空间质量平衡分布和旋翼下旋气流场分布的影响,该文基于无人机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试方法,测定了3WQF80-10型单旋翼油动植保无人机在不同飞行方式(前进、倒退)、飞行高度和侧风速条件下的喷雾雾滴空间不同部位的沉积率和下旋气流风速。结果表明:对于该型无人机,在飞行高度(3.0±0.1)m、速度(5.0±0.2)m/s、1.2 m/s侧风速条件下,机头朝前与机尾朝前2种飞行方式对雾滴分布有显著影响,机尾朝前的飞行方式底部沉积比例可达60%,作业效果更佳;在2.0~3.5 m高度、(5.0±0.3)m/s速度和0.8 m/s侧风速条件下,空间质量平衡收集装置底部雾滴沉积率变异系数与高度呈现线性负相关,线性回归方程决定系数为0.9178,即高度越高雾滴分布均匀性越好;在(3.0±0.1)m高度和(5.0±0.3)m/s速度条件下,空间质量平衡收集装置底部雾滴加权平均沉积率与侧风风速呈线性正相关,线性回归方程决定系数为0.9684,即侧风速越大雾滴越集中分布在下风向处;飞行方式、高度和侧风3种因素对单旋翼无人机喷雾雾滴产生的影响都是通过改变其旋翼下旋气流场在垂直于地面向下方向的强度,减弱气流对雾滴的下压作用来实现的。研究结果可以为植保无人机设计定型、田间喷雾作业参数确定和作业条件的选择提供理论参考。     

基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机施药雾滴飘移测试方法与试验

植保无人机(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,UAV)果树飞防植保作业中飞行高度较高并且采用低容量细小雾滴喷雾,飘移风险极高。但是,无人机果园施药雾滴飘移特性研究尚处于初步开展阶段,缺乏全方位综合测试方法以及对不同无人机机型和喷头类型的评价。该研究在前期研究基础上,提出一种基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机果园施药雾滴飘移测试方法,设计并制作仿真葡萄园试验台和空中飘移收集装置,结合地面飘移收集装置和冠层沉积收集带,首次通过雾滴空间飘移指数ADX定量分析评价不同机型的喷雾过程中农药雾滴空间飘移特性,并采用田间近地飘移测试平台进行无人机喷雾飘移试验,使用荧光示踪法探究4种典型植保无人机(油动单旋翼、电动6旋翼及2种电动8旋翼无人机)分别搭载IDK 120-015空气射流喷头和TR 80-0067空心圆锥喷头喷雾作业的雾滴冠层沉积分布、地面飘移、近地飘移及空中飘移特性,进而对不同喷雾飘移测试收集装置进行评估。结果表明:在侧风速2.2～3.6 m/s,温度29.8～34.3℃,相对湿度10.7%～30.6%的环境条件下,IDK空气射流喷头在作业高度1.5 m、速度2.0 m/s参数下可显著降低无人机喷雾下风向飘移水平,优化沉积分布均匀性,提高农药雾滴利用率;4种机型飘移特性无显著差异,旋翼下洗气流产生的卷扬涡流是影响无人机喷雾飘移的重要因素;葡萄园喷雾作业缓冲区至少应设置为15 m;冠层沉积率越小(P0.05,r0)、沉积分布变异系数越高(P0.01,r0)、田间飘移平台平均均值飘移率和90%累积飘移距离越大(P0.01,r0)以及ADX值越大(P0.01,r0)均表明雾滴飘移风险越高,3种收集装置及其评价指标均可有效评估下风向飘移特性;植保无人机喷雾飘移率与下风向距离满足指数函数关系。研究结果以期为新型果树专用植保无人机研发、植保无人机果园作业喷雾飘移测试方法的标准制定和田间作业参数选择提供参考和数据支持。     

多旋翼植保无人机悬停下洗气流对雾滴运动规律的影响

多旋翼植保无人飞机在农药喷洒和授粉作业等相关领域已开展广泛应用,但存在风场分布不明晰导致的分布不均问题。针对六旋翼植保无人飞机,结合雷诺平均N-S方程及Realizable k-ε湍流模型,建立了下洗气流三维数学模型,风场测试及非定常计算表明特征点z向速度的测量和模拟值相对误差在9%以内,验证了风场数值计算的可靠性;在机翼旋转诱导及外界气压的挤压下,下洗气流纵向主截面呈现出"收缩-扩张-再收缩"现象;"旋翼间干扰"使得下洗风场湍流效应明显,横截面的旋翼间区域出现了气流"引入"及"导出"区。引入雾滴离散相,并对连续相进行动量、能量方程修正,建立喷头含雾滴离散相的两相流模型,结合喷头喷幅试验来验证了该两相流模型计算雾滴运动轨迹的有效性;结果表明,粒径越小,雾滴水平方向分速度衰减越快,喷幅越小;雾滴粒径越大,竖直方向的最终分速度越大。建立了六旋翼植保无人飞机悬停条件下含雾滴离散相的三维两相流模型,计算分析表明,雾滴主要分布在"旋翼间干扰"明显的3个"引入区"、3个"导出区",下洗区内侧雾滴群交织,外侧大雾滴周向水平行程更大进而分布在外围;当雾滴粒径小于200?m时,雾滴运动范围无法覆盖全部的"引入区",雾滴多分布在下洗区中心;当雾滴粒径大于250?m时,雾滴运动区域逐渐覆盖所有"引入区"、"导出区"。该研究可为飞行施药过程中迎风气流、下洗气流、瞬时横风耦合风场扰动下雾滴的漂移、沉积研究提供参考。     

无人植保机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试方法

为了研究精准作业参数(速度、高度)下的无人植保机施药雾滴空间分布和下旋气流场特性,该文提出了一种无人机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试试验方法,并且使用该方法对3种无人机进行了田间实际试验研究,结果表明:该方法可以有效获得准确飞行速度和高度下无人机施药雾滴空间分布情况和下旋气流场分布情况,在平均风速1.7 m/s、平均气温31.5℃、平均相对湿度34.1%的条件下,飞行高度2.5 m、速度5.0 m/s时,3WQF80-10型无人机喷雾作业雾滴在上风向部、顶部、下风向部和底部的平均分布比例为4.4%,2.3%,50.4%和43.7%;CG-Q60S型无人机雾滴在4个方向上平均分布比例为2.5%,1.5%,43.2%和52.8%;LXD8-3WD10型无人机雾滴在4个方向上平均分布比例为1.9%,2.0%,21.9%和74.7%。雾滴空间质量平衡分布规律符合下旋气流场分布规律,无人机下旋气流风场的测量是分析雾滴在空间不同部位分布的重要手段。研究结果可为低空低量无人植保机施药技术研究和建立无人植保机低空低量施药田间雾滴沉积与飘失测试标准提供参考。     

油动单旋翼植保无人机雾滴飘移分布特性

为了研究油动单旋翼植保无人机在精准作业参数(速度、高度)条件下的雾滴飘移分布特性,该文建立了雾滴飘移收集测试平台,分别用雾滴飘移测试框架、等动量雾滴收集装置和培养皿收集3WQF80-10型油动单旋翼植保无人机在作业时空中及地面飘移的雾滴。将测试结果分别与侧风风速、飞行高度、飞行速度进行相关分析和回归分析,结果表明:在平均温度31.5℃、平均相对湿度34.1%的条件下,侧风风速为雾滴飘移的主要影响因素;侧风风速与等动量雾滴收集器和培养皿测得的雾滴飘移率呈正相关(相关系数r分别为0.97、0.93);而与雾滴飘移测试框架测得的雾滴飘移率无相关性;侧风风速为0.76~5.5 m/s时,90%飘移雾滴沉降在喷雾区域下风向水平距离9.3~14.5 m的范围内,因此在作业时要预留至少15 m以上缓冲区(安全区)以避免药液飘移产生的危害。研究结果可为低空低量植保无人机施药技术研究和建立植保无人机低空低量施药田间雾滴沉积与飘移测试标准提供参考。     

植保无人机喷施雾滴沉积特性的荧光示踪分析

航空施药雾滴沉积特性的准确检测对施药参数选择和施药质量优化至关重要。该研究以3WQF-80-10型植保无人机为试验对象,选取典型飞行工况,通过水敏纸和基于荧光示踪的航空施药沉积检测系统同步获取展向雾滴沉积覆盖率,研究对比了该机型在典型飞行工况条件下的雾滴沉积离散性和连续性分布,评估基于荧光示踪的沉积检测系统对雾滴沉积检测效果与适用性。试验结果表明:荧光示踪法与水敏纸法所得雾滴沉积率分布曲线整体趋于一致,2种方法的检测结果相关性拟合优度(R2)为0.88~0.96;由于植保无人机旋翼下洗风场胁迫细小雾滴沉降至非水敏纸布样位置,致使荧光示踪法测得的平均雾滴覆盖率曲线出现更多峰值,覆盖率值高于水敏纸法测量结果。植保无人机飞行速度为2 m/s,飞行高度为3 m的作业条件下,与水敏纸离散布样方式相比,荧光示踪连续布样方式测得雾滴覆盖率提高16.92%,当飞行速度为4 m/s,飞行高度为9 m时,后者较前者提高97.77%。植保无人机作业工况对施药雾滴沉积覆盖率影响方面,飞行速度2 m/s,飞行高度3 m的工况下,雾滴沉积覆盖率最高,为8.34%和7.14%;随着植保无人机飞行高度和速度增加,雾滴沉积覆盖率降低。针对植保无人机下洗风场作用下施药雾滴沉积质量检测,与离散布样方式相比,连续性样品采集可获取更丰富的雾滴空间沉积分布细节。该研究可为无人机低空低量施药雾滴沉积检测和无人机下洗风场对雾滴沉积分布影响研究提供方法参考。     

植保无人机飞行参数对施药雾滴沉积分布特性的影响

为探究植保无人机喷雾田间雾滴沉积分布特性和飞行参数及参数精准度对沉积分布影响,该文采用高精度北斗卫星定位系统获取无人机精准飞行参数,以柠檬黄示踪剂水溶液代替农药对4种典型国产植保无人机进行了小麦田间喷雾试验,并将其中2种单旋翼无人机的飞行参数与其变异系数、均方根误差相结合,对雾滴沉积分布特性的影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:4种无人机施药在航线两端区域内沉积量变化剧烈,航线中间区域沉积量较稳定;影响横向雾滴沉积分布主要因素是无人机相邻喷头或喷幅间的雾滴重合度;对于单旋翼无人机,在高度1.1~1.2 m、速度4.2~4.9 m/s的范围内,沉积量与速度均方根误差呈极显著线性正相关关系(P0.01,r=0.952),纵向沉积量变异系数与速度变异系数呈极显著线性正相关关系(P0.01,r=0.963),总体沉积量变异系数与高度呈显著线性负相关关系(P0.01,r=–0.888);使用速度均方根误差、速度变异系数和高度这3个飞行参数和参数精准度指标来分析和预测雾滴沉积量和分布均匀性的方法合理、有效、可行。根据试验结果,该文给出了相关合理建议以改善植保无人机施药效果,研究结果可为植保无人机田间喷雾作业参数确定、作业条件的选择和田间作业规范的制定提供参考。     

脉宽调制变量控制喷头雾化性能及风洞环境雾滴沉积特性

脉宽调制(pulse width modulation, PWM)技术是实现变量喷雾的重要手段,其工作参数与环境条件决定着施药的精准性。为探究PWM变量喷头雾化及风洞环境沉积特性,该文研制了脉宽调制变量喷雾系统,以农业施药常用空心圆锥雾化喷头喷雾的雾化、沉积特性为研究对象,在IEA-II型常规风速风洞内,通过点阵式放置电容式雾滴沉积传感器测定计算雾滴沉积与沉积评价指数(deposition evaluation index,DEIX),并利用Spraytec雾滴粒径仪测试其雾滴体积中径(volume median diameter,VMD)和雾滴相对分布跨度(relative span,RS)。试验结果表明:占空比在10%～40%间,随占空比增大,雾滴体积中径呈减小趋势,与占空比10%时相比,占空比40%时的雾滴体积中径下降了7.9%;PWM占空比60%时分布跨度最小,较占空比20%时雾滴分布跨度下降9.52%,雾滴谱最窄,获得的雾滴粒径分布最集中。雾滴沉积方面,风速1 m/s条件下,雾滴主要沉积在距喷头3.3 m内,此范围内沉积量占总沉积量的95.7%,当风速超过3 m/s时,在气流作用下,雾滴沉降距离增大,导致雾滴运动偏离施药靶标区域。PWM占空比增加,雾滴沉积评价指数DEIX值降低,雾滴的飘移率增大;相同工况下,风速及喷头高度越大,DEIX越小,施药雾滴越易飘移。该研究可为农业田间实际生产中脉宽调制变量施药技术应用及其工况参数的选择提供依据,为PWM变量调节装置的进一步优化提供研究基础。     

航空植保作业用喷头在风洞和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径分布

为了获得GP-81A系列航空喷头的雾滴粒径分布情况,该文针对GP-81A系列航空喷头进行了风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布测试,通过高速风洞测试系统模拟飞行时产生的高速气流开展了气流大小对雾滴粒径及分布的影响研究;基于农用航空常用的Y5B飞机开展了不同型号喷嘴航空喷雾时的雾滴粒径及分布研究;同时,比较了相近喷雾压力条件下,相同喷嘴在风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布差距。试验结果表明,风洞条件测试时,当风速小于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而增大;而当风速大于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而减小,足够大的气流可以使雾滴进一步雾化。当气流在33.8 m/s时,7#喷嘴雾滴粒径最大,为491.1μm;当气流在84.87 m/s时,2#喷嘴雾滴粒径最小,为202.1μm。该系列喷头的6种不同喷孔的喷头的雾滴粒径均大于150μm,说明该喷头航空喷雾时的飘移损失较小。在喷雾压力基本相同的条件下,风洞条件下的雾滴粒径测试结果略高于飞行试验结果,主要原因是距离喷头出口的测试位置不同。风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴谱相对宽度S值均较小,表明雾滴分布较均匀,而飞行条件下的雾滴分布更均匀些。该研究为进一步优化航空喷头的作业参数,开展减少雾滴飘移研究提供参考。     

侧风影响下喷头倾斜角度对雾滴飘移补偿

为研究植保喷雾作业中在不同风速和喷头倾斜角度下对水平喷雾的雾滴飘移的影响,设置3个风速水平（1、2、3 m/s）与4个喷头倾斜角度水平（0°、15°、30°、45°）进行喷雾试验,测定了不同水平的雾滴分布,以风速为0、喷头倾斜角度为0°的常规作业水平作为对照组,对垂直和水平两个方向的雾滴质量分布中心与变异系数进行分析。结果表明,垂直方向上,侧风风速与喷头倾斜角度对垂直雾滴质量分布中心的影响在±3 cm范围内整体影响较小,而侧风风速与喷头倾斜角度的增大都会使垂直方向变异系数减小,在1～3 m/s的风速下垂直方向变异系数减小的最大值分别为12.3、6.0、16.0个百分点,提高了雾滴在垂直方向上的均匀性。水平方向上,不同风速和喷头倾斜角度都会对雾滴飘移产生影响,随着喷头倾斜角度的增大,雾滴受风速的影响程度会减小,当喷头倾斜角的补偿量超过了当前风速下对雾滴的飘移量,会使雾滴飘移产生过补偿,在高风速时喷头倾斜角度的改变会带来更大的雾滴飘移改变。侧风风速与喷头倾斜角度对水平方向上变异系数会产生较大影响：随着喷头倾斜角度的增大,水平变异系数也随之增大,而风速的变化使水平变异系数呈现先增大后减小的趋势。拟合了喷头倾斜角度与风速对雾滴飘移的影响模型,并计算出在1、2、3 m/s风速条件下,最佳补偿的喷头倾斜角度分别为3°、7°、11°。该研究为植保作业中雾滴飘移改善技术提供参考。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.