中国亚洲象研究现状与展望

我国亚洲象栖息地减少,伴随而来的人象冲突问题使亚洲象及其栖息地保护工作十分紧迫,通过对中国亚洲象种群数量、遗传多样性、行为和人象冲突等方面进行归纳与总结,对国内亚洲象相关研究工作进行梳理,为亚洲象保护管理和人象冲突缓解工作提供科研基础。     

GIS技术在西双版纳尚勇保护区亚洲象保护方案设计中的应用

针对亚洲象保护所面临的栖息地减少、生境破碎化、人象冲突加剧、盗猎等问题,通过查阅资料、实地调查和监测,取得了尚勇保护区亚洲象种群数量及分布、活动地点、对生境因子的选择、周边社区土地利用等方面的数据.应用GIS技术对数据进行分析处理,从野外巡护、栖息地改造与恢复、生物走廊带建设、缓解人象冲突4个方面开展对尚勇保护区的亚洲象保护方案设计.     

勐腊保护区亚洲象活动变化及保护措施

采用实地查看、数据收集整理、村寨访谈等方法,分析了亚洲象自2002年以来在勐腊保护区内的分布及变化情况.结果表明,亚洲象主要分布在人类活动频繁区域周围,分析了造成这种现象的主要原因以及近年来亚洲象所造成的保护区内及周边村寨群众粮食作物损失情况.提出加强宣传,改善管理部门工作条件和能力,调整产业结构和做好亚洲象栖息地改造工作等做好亚洲象保护及缓解人象冲突的建议.     

西双版纳自然保护区勐腊子保护区亚洲象种群数量与分布变迁

采用野外跟踪调查、村寨走访调查、半结构式访问调查等方法,分析了野生亚洲象自2002年以来在西双版纳国家级自然保护区勐腊子自然保护区种群数量与分布变迁情况。结果表明,如今野生亚洲象数量越来越多,种群数也有所变化,分布范围越来越广,活动区域和栖息地逐渐朝北迁移,并且主要分布在人类活动频繁区域。对造成这种现象的主要原因,以及亚洲象的生存环境现状的有利因素和不利因素进行了分析,提出了相应的保护管理建议。     

云南太阳河自然保护区亚洲象现状调查

1962年思茅就有野生亚洲象的记录,1976年象群消失,1992年又从西双版纳返回,近年来种群在不断变迁,但据以往的调查记录亚洲象很少进入太阳河保护区。在思茅区亚洲象数量和分布增加的背景下,2017年4月～2019年7月,我们运用红外相机技术、样线法和访谈法对保护区内亚洲象开展调查。自2018年4月以来,发现亚洲象重返太阳河自然保护区,数量为5～6头的极小种群。结果表明亚洲象的种群数量整体上呈增长趋势,分布区域也有扩散的趋势,亚洲象保护取得显著成效,但其保护现状仍不容乐观,面临着栖息地减少和高度破碎化、食物不足以及人为活动干扰等威胁。本文还讨论了亚洲象对森林生态系统的作用及相关的保护措施。     

中国亚洲象与人类关系

对中国亚洲象的历史性南移、分布现状、亚洲象分布与人口密度的关系、因人象生境之争而形成的日益严重的人象冲突、亚洲象的保护现状等方面进行了论述,提出了对亚洲象保护的管理建议。     

普洱市思茅区亚洲象肇事原因和对策分析

近几年在思茅活动的亚洲象数量迅速增多,人象冲突日益尖锐。本文通过实地调查、数据收集等方法,分析了2008年~2013年以亚洲象为主的野生动物肇事情况,认为适宜生境和食物的不断减少、亚洲象取食习性的改变以及亚洲象报复行为是造成亚洲象肇事不断加剧的主要原因。根据分析结果,提出了加强亚洲象的栖息地保护、改善亚洲象生境质量、完善亚洲象监测与预警体系、完善补偿机制、调整产业结构、建立以亚洲象为主的生物廊道等缓解人象冲突的建议。     

勐腊自然保护区亚洲象活动的时空规律及保护建议

采取野外监测和跟踪调查、资料查阅、村寨访谈、数据分析等方法,分析亚洲象在勐腊保护区的活动区域变化,季节、日的活动规律。结果发现,与2010年相比,亚洲象的活动范围已扩大到勐腊保护区60%的区域以及保护区以外的东北部区域,这些区域主要在人类活动频繁的村落周围;在活动时间上,一年中活动最频繁的时间为4—8月,一天中活动最频繁的时间为下午到夜晚(17—21点),表明亚洲象的活动区域、活动范围与食源密切相关。对亚洲象保护的管理规范、群众保护意识有所增强等有利因素和食源减少、食性改变、栖息地减少等不利因素进行分析;提出引导当地居民调整种植结构、合理安排生产活动时间,开展跨境保护、加强栖息地保护,加强宣传、建立预警预报系统等缓解人象冲突的对策。     

亚洲象保护的机遇和挑战

概述了亚洲象在全球的分布和数量等基本情况,阐明了亚洲象在生态系统中发挥的重要作用和面临的生存威胁,提出了亚洲象保护的优先领域和面临的主要问题。提出缓解人象冲突和保护亚洲象两个行动方向,阐释了构建亚洲象种群基因交流廊道和从生态学和社会学角度研究人象冲突发生机制的必要性。还提出了研究亚洲象觅食农作物的行为机制和能量补给策略,以及探究亚洲象的个体差异与肇事行为的关联机制等亟待开展的研究方向。     

关坪亚洲象食物源基地内亚洲象活动特点及与地区水热条件变化关系研究

通过对比2005—2012年间关坪亚洲象食物源基地的亚洲象活动记录和同期气象观测数据,对食物源基地中亚洲象活动规律与当地降雨、温度变化间的关系进行分析。结果显示,进入食物源基地的亚洲象数量与年份增加呈正相关关系(r_s=0.643),食物源基地正吸引越来越多的亚洲象来此觅食;进入基地的亚洲象活动次数随年降雨量的降低而增加,主要是因为亚洲象独立个体活动次数的增加。气候变化对亚洲象活动规律有潜在影响,建议未来在当地开展更加深入的气候和森林物候监测,以更合理地解释当地亚洲象的活动规律和行为改变。     

Growth of Phlebiopsis gigantea in wood of seven conifer species

Heterobasidion parviporum and Heterobasidion annosum are widely distributed root‐rot fungi that infect conifers throughout Europe. Infection of conifer stumps by spores of these pathogens can be controlled by treating fresh stumps with a competing non‐pathogenic fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea. In this study, growth of three Latvian strains of P. gigantea and the biological control agent ‘Rotstop’ strain was evaluated in stem pieces of Norway spruce, Scots pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas‐fir, Weymouth pine, Siberian larch and Sitka spruce. The growth rates of one H. parviporum and one H. annosum isolate were also measured in the same stem pieces. The growth rate of P. gigantea varied greatly in wood of different conifer species. It was higher in the three pine species, lower in Norway spruce and lowest in Sitka spruce and Siberian larch, and in Douglas‐fir, this fungus did not grow. The largest area of wood occupied by P. gigantea was in lodgepole pine. Growth of Latvian isolates of P. gigantea in the wood of Pinus and Picea species was comparable to that of the Rotstop isolate. Consequently, stump treatment with local P. gigantea isolates should be recommended. However, our results suggest that Douglas‐fir stump treatment against Heterobasidion by P. gigantea may be ineffective and other stump treatment methods should be considered.     

Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Defoliation by the Needle-shortening Pine Gall Midge,Thecodiplosis brachyntera,on Pines in Central Sweden

An outbreak of the needle-shortening pine gall midge, Thecodiplosis brachyntera , occurred on Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.) and lodgepole pine, P. contorta (Dougl.) in central Sweden during 1995-1998. The larval feeding of T. brachyntera kills current-year needles and heavy infestation causes severe defoliation. A pattern of fluctuating defoliation among years and sites was found on both pine species. Defoliation was evenly distributed in the crown of P. sylvestris during years of high as well as low infestation; apical whorls had as much defoliation as basal whorls. In P. contorta , however, there was a tendency for defoliation to be concentrated on branches in the most apical whorls. Growth ring increments on P. sylvestris with high levels of defoliation (71%) did not differ from trees with moderate levels (26%) of defoliation. Shoot lengths were significantly shorter, however, on heavily infested trees the year after defoliation.     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Effect of Drought on Growth and Mortality of Actively Growing Norway Spruce Container Seedlings Planted in Summer

Survival, root egress and height growth of 13-month-old actively growing Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings exposed to preplanting drying treatments (0, 4, and 8 days) and postplanting drought periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks) were studied in the field between 5 July and 18 August 1999. The mortality of seedlings increased and the height growth and root egress decreased throughout the postplanting drought period. Postplanting performance was also affected by preplanting drying treatments. The results indicate that no risk of excessive mortality and growth restrictions occurs when actively growing seedlings are planted in summer, provided that seedlings are well watered before planting and the drought period does not exceed 3 weeks.     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.