果树越冬不同覆盖方法的成本计算

为减轻果树越冬掩埋的劳动强度,推广塑料膜防寒覆盖法,对土埋和白塑料布、黑塑料布、彩条布覆盖的劳动力和材料成本进行了对比分析。结果表明:蟠桃土埋法需要强壮劳动力1 700元/667m2,塑料薄膜法只需要强壮劳动力450元/667m2;加材料费合计:白塑料布单层覆盖690.0元/667m2,双层覆盖930.0元/667m2;黑塑料布单层覆盖814.8元/667m2,双层覆盖1 179.6元/667m2;彩条布单层覆盖862.8元/667m2,双层覆盖1 275.6元/667m2。葡萄土埋法需要强壮劳动力2.92元/m;塑料薄膜法只需要强壮劳动力0.74元/m,加材料费合计:白塑料布单层覆盖1.24元/m,双层覆盖1.74元/m;黑塑料布单层覆盖1.50元/m,双层覆盖2.26元/m;彩条布单层覆盖1.60元/m,双层覆盖2.46元/m。塑料薄膜法比土埋法便宜,其中白塑料布更便宜。同时提出,在环塔里木主产区和吐哈区的暖温带,应该根据气象部门秋季的长期天气预报,一般年份用单层覆盖都能安全越冬,预报寒冬的年份,应该进行双层覆盖。在中温带的北疆沿天山一带产区,也应根据气象部门秋季的长期天气预报,一般年份用单层覆盖都能安全越冬,预报寒冬或者晚降雪的年份,应该进行双层覆盖。     

天山北坡蟠桃越冬覆膜新法的效果评价

以12年生的蟠桃盛果园为研究对象,为应对-37℃的极端最低气温和长期低温,对蟠桃塑膜双层、单层和再生棉单层覆盖越冬的方法进行了比较分析。结果表明:塑膜双层比单层和单层再生棉覆盖优越。最低气温-33.2℃时,塑膜双层内温度为-8.1℃,再生棉单层为-13.8℃,而塑膜单层则为-19.7℃。经推测,在-37℃时,塑膜双层为-9.4℃,再生棉单层为-15.6℃,而塑膜单层则为-22.4℃,超过-22℃临界值,会出现冻害。塑膜双层覆盖不会造成减产和影响新枝条生长。塑膜双层覆盖的缺点是转暖期有升温过快的温室效应弊病,但可以采用放边通风降温和提前春灌融冻提墒来消除。     

不同覆盖物对果树越冬的保温作用

在克拉玛依市乌尔禾区,于2006～2007年冬季,采用不同覆盖材料,进行了黑塑料布、双膜彩条布、单膜彩条布和紧贴式双层塑料布覆盖下的最低温度和温差的逐日观测,以减轻果树越冬掩埋的劳动强度。结果表明:最低气温平均值是黑塑料布-5.9℃,双膜彩条布-7.3℃,单膜彩条布-9.3℃,紧贴式双层-6.6℃,裸露的气温-17.9℃。温差平均值是黑塑料布-2.8℃,双膜彩条布-2.6℃,单膜彩条布-4.8℃,紧贴式双层-3.7℃,裸露的气温-10.0℃。试验表明,黑塑料布的保温效果好,温差也小。单膜彩条布的保温效果最差,温差也最大,有转暖乍冷的不良影响。紧贴式双层塑料布的保温效果因为与单层黑塑料布相同,并且多浪费一层覆盖材料和多费工时而被否定。     

新疆天山北坡中部葡萄安全越冬防寒材料研究

以单层白膜(普通地膜)、单层黑膜、单层草帘和双层膜(白膜加黑膜)为试材,模拟冬季有积雪覆盖和没有积雪覆盖2种气候状况,分析不同覆盖材料对冬季葡萄根系40 cm地温变化的影响.结果表明:4种覆盖材料保温性能都比较稳定,保温效果最好的是有积雪覆盖的单层草帘,在冬季3个月内40 cm地温始终处于最高,最低温度不低于-1.5℃.无积雪覆盖单层白膜、无积雪覆盖单层黑膜保温效果相对较弱,在3个月内40 cm地温不低于-4.5℃.积雪覆盖单层白膜保温效果仅次于积雪覆盖单层草帘,在3个月内40 cm地温不低于-3.5℃.     

不同果袋对鸭梨的套袋效果

果实套袋是提高梨果品质、增加经济效益的有效措施。目前生产中应用的果袋种类较多 ,既有自制袋 ,也有商品袋 ;既有纸袋 ,也有塑料膜袋 ;既有单层袋 ,也有双层袋。各种袋使用效果、经济效益反应不一。为了更好地推广梨果套袋技术和帮助果农选择适宜的袋型 ,我们于 2 0 0 0年 5月对鸭梨进行了不同袋型的套袋试验。1　材料和方法1.1　试验材料和处理　试验在本校果树试验基地 5年生鸭梨园进行 ,供试果袋有 :自制报纸袋 ;河涧市生产的单层黑色纸袋、黑色塑膜袋和外黄内黑双层纸袋(简称双层纸袋 1) ;晋州市生产的外黄内黑双层纸袋(简称双层纸袋 …     

双大棚多层覆盖保温效果及对西瓜生长的影响

为了更好地指导江苏沿海地区早春大棚西瓜生产,利用ZQZ-CⅡ型自动气象站(PT1000温度传感器),连续测定不同覆盖层数大棚内温度,探讨了双大棚多层覆盖保温增温效果及对西瓜生长的影响。结果表明,"单层大棚+地膜"方式覆盖平均增加气温5℃左右,最低气温增加2℃左右,平均增加地温7℃;"双层大棚+地膜"方式覆盖平均增加气温7℃左右,最低气温增加4℃左右,平均增加地温10℃;"双层大棚+小棚+地膜"方式覆盖平均增加气温12℃左右,最低气温增加8℃左右,平均增加地温14℃。2月下旬至3月上旬移栽西瓜,建议采用"双层大棚+小棚+地膜"方式;3月中旬移栽西瓜,建议采用"双层大棚+地膜"方式;4月上旬移栽西瓜,建议采用"单层大棚+地膜"方式。综合种植效益比较,2月下旬至3月上旬移栽,西瓜种植效益最高。     

不同设施覆盖类型冬至前后的温度和光照性能比较

以安徽凤阳当地典型的设施类型为试验对象,研究比较了单层覆盖的温室和大棚、2层覆盖的温室+拱棚和大棚+拱棚等不同设施覆盖类型在冬至前后对气温、土温和光照强度等性能的影响。结果表明:冬至前后,温室+拱棚保持日最低气温在5℃以上,最低土温可达9.2℃;大棚+拱棚气温在0～5℃,最低土温6.3℃;温室气温有时在0℃以下,最低土温7.5℃;大棚气温则常在0℃以下,有时达-4.75℃,最低土温达3.95℃。在观测的天数范围内,单层覆盖的温室和大棚、2层覆盖的温室+拱棚和大棚+拱棚日平均最高光照强度分别为25.8和25.6、12.1和7.2klx。建议在淮河流域进行喜温作物的冬季生产适宜采用温室+拱棚类型,其它覆盖类型需再增加保温或加温措施。     

加盖双层保温被对冬季日光温室精细果菜生产的影响

由于天水市冬季日光温室在单层保温被覆盖条件下,不能满足精细果菜生长所需棚温和地温的要求,故进行加盖双层保温被的比较试验。结果表明:在天水最冷的12月和1月,加盖双层保温被较单层保温被的棚温增加2.6～3.0℃,地温提高2.8～3.3℃,湿度降低1.9%～2.5%;同茬番茄上市的时间提早10d,拉秧时间延迟58d,667m2产量增加4820kg,667m2产值提高7844元。     

葡萄越冬不同覆膜方法和日光温室保温性能分析

为了明确葡萄越冬不同覆膜方法保温性能的差异,2013—2014年冬季,在新疆阜康市进行了葡萄覆膜越冬架空式双层、紧贴式双层、单层覆膜和日光温室与土埋越冬的温度逐日观测。结果表明:架空式双层的保温性最好,最低温度大于土埋的补偿温度最多,温室效应最小;寒冷期最低温度比温室高,转暖期最高温度比温室低,有利于保温和防止烧苗抽条。平均温度10℃的萌发日期,架空式双层比土埋提前8 d,增加了生长期,缩短了冷冻期,使得产量高,果穗大而重并且紧实。架空式双层覆膜的温室效应可以通过及时放边通风降温消除。晚冬灌、晚封边和早春灌、早放边是架空式双层覆膜的配套技术。紧贴式双层、单层覆膜因寒冷期保温性差和转暖期增温过大的温室效应而不宜采用。     

新型果袋对梨果实品质的影响

为选择生产上适宜的梨果套袋 ,1999年进行了套袋效果比较试验。1　材料与方法试验在桐庐县桐庐镇大丰村的朱世林果园内进行 ,供试品种为生长健壮的 6年生黄花梨 ,株行距 4 m× 4 m,树冠大小、树势基本一致。供试纸袋有 :台湾产的外黄内黑双层袋、外黄内白双层袋、黄色单层袋 ,规格为长 2 0 cm、宽 15cm;山东产的外黄内黑双层袋、外黄内白双层袋、黄色单层袋 ,规格为长 18.5cm、宽 15cm;果农自制的四层报纸袋、二层报纸袋 ,规格为长 19cm、宽13cm。不套袋为对照。于 1999年 5月 2 5日套袋 ,套袋前全树喷 50 %多菌灵 80 0倍加 10 %一遍净 150 …     

Ergebnisse der Leistungsprüfungen der Süßkirschensorte ‚Stella‘ auf Gisela- und Weiroot-Unterlagen in Bulgarien

Zusammenfassung Die Leistungsprüfungen wurden im Zeitraum 1997 bis 2003 mit den Unterlagen Gisela 4 und 5, den Klonnummern 195/20 und 497/8 aus der Gisela-Serie sowie Weiroot 10, 13, 53, 72 und 158 durchgeführt. Dabei dienten Sämlinge von P1 (bulgarische Selektion aus Prunus mahaleb) als Kontrolle. Alle Unterlagen waren mit der Sorte Stella veredelt und im Dezember 1996 in der Versuchsanlage der Agraruniversität in Plovdiv, Bulgarien, im Abstand von 6 m×4,5 m gepflanzt worden. Dabei erfolgte ein Pflanzschnitt. Nach Abschluss der natürlichen Kronenentwicklung wurde jedes Jahr ein Winterschnitt vorgenommen. Der Boden wurde durch mechanische Bearbeitung offen gehalten und nach dem 4. Standjahr wurden die Baumstreifen mit Herbiziden behandelt. Die Wasserversorgung erfolgte durch eine dem natürlichen Gefälle folgende Überflutung, allerdings nicht immer zum optimalen Zeitpunkt, da keine eigene Wasserquelle zur Verfügung stand.Basierend auf den Ergebnissen bis zum Anfang des 7. Standjahres können die untersuchten Unterlagen in zwei Gruppen differenziert werden: starkwüchsig—Weiroot 10, P1 und Weiroot 13; mittelstarkwachsend bis schwachwüchsig—Gi 497/8, Gisela 4, Weiroot 53, Weiroot 158, Gi 195/20, Weiroot 72 und Gisela 5. Letztere zeichnete sich durch besondere Schwachwüchsigkeit aus. Die meisten Wurzelschosser bildeten Gisela 4, Weiroot 10 und Weiroot 13. Weiroot 53, Weiroot 72 und Weiroot 158 entwickelten deutlich weniger und P1, Gisela 5, Gi 195/20 sowie Gi 497/8 keine Wurzelschosser. Den frühesten Blühbeginn induzierte Gisela 4. Die anderen Unterlagen führten, in Abhängigkeit von den Temperaturbedingungen des jeweiligen Jahres, zu einer Verspätung der Blüte: P1 und Weiroot 10 um 1–2 Tage; Gi 497/8, Weiroot 13 und Weiroot 158 um 2–4 Tage; Weiroot 72 um 2–7 Tage; Gi 195/20 um 3–6 Tage; Weiroot 53 um 3–8 Tage und Gisela 5 um 3–10 Tage. Die Reifezeit der Früchte war bei den Bäumen auf Gisela 5 im Vergleich zu den anderen Varianten um 2–3 Tage verspätet. Gisela 5, Weiroot 72 und Gisela 4 induzierten bei der aufveredelten Sorte die höchsten Ertragsleistungen, P1 die geringsten. Bei den Bäumen auf Gisela 5 war die Fruchtgröße geringer als bei den anderen Unterlagen. Bäume auf Gisela 5 brauchen intensive Pflege. Nur wenn alle Produktionsfaktoren und kulturtechnischen Maßnahmen optimiert werden, kann das hohe Ertragspotenzial dieser Unterlage ausgeschöpft werden.     

Relationship between renal hypertension and cardiac α1-adrenoceptor autoantibodies in rats

AIM: To examine the autoantibody against α₁-adrenoceptor and its biologic activities during the development of renal hypertension. METHODS: Renal hypertension of rat was achieved by clipped renal artery, the titre of autoantibody to α₁-adrenoceptor was detected using ELISA immunoassay. Furthermore, the biological offects of these autoantibodies on cultured cardiomyocytes were also examined. RESULTS: After two weeks of clipping renal arteries, both the frequency of occurrence and the titre of autoantibodies to cardiac α₁-adrenergic receptor were significantly increased as compared with the control of pre-treatment. The increased autoantibodies lasted for several weeks and then automatically decreased gradually to the pre-clipping level at 12 weeks. The biological effects of these autoantibodies displayed an "agonistic-like" activities on the beating frequency of cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies against α₁-adrenoceptor may play a role in the elevation of peripheral vascular resistance and in the development of cardiac hypertrophy in rats with renal hypertension.     

Effects of radiation from 188Re on smooth muscle cell proliferation

AIM: Although endovascular radiotherapy inhibits neointimal hyperplasia, the exact alterations induced by β-particles irradiation remain to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability and the cellular mechanism of local β^-particles emission from ¹⁸⁸Re to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). METHODS: The SMCs in vitro were irradiated by ¹⁸⁸Re with single doses of 2.6 Gy-25.8 Gy. The effects of β-particles on SMCs, such as effective irradiate doses, the period of inhibition for SMCs proliferation, the changes of cell proliferation rate and DNA synthesis rate, cell cycle progression and related gene expression, were investigated by cell count, [³H]-TdR incorporation, cell cycle progression analysis, cell viability and immunocytochemistry, respectivecy. RESULTS: β-particles irradiation with dose of 5.2 Gy could inhibit significantly SMCs proliferation. At dose of 20.6 Gy DNA synthesis inhibitory rate was 92%, SMCs proliferation rate was only 3%. Renoval of ¹⁸⁸Re did not abolish the inhibitory effects of β-particles on SMCs proliferation. The expression of P53 was up regulation and PCNA was down regulation after irradiation. CONCLUSION: β-particles from ¹⁸⁸ Re was significantly effective and permanent in inhibiting SMCs proliferation, and inhibitory effect was in dose-dependet manner ED50was 5 Gy, the best dose to inhibit SMCs proliferation was 20 Gy. β-particles irradiation induced SMCs to occur G₀/G₁ arrest, damaged the ability of SMCs reproliferation and led to cell clonogenic death. P53 and PCNA had regulatiory effects on SMCs proliferation after β-particles irradiation.     

Influence of Mineral Nutrients on Strawberry Fruit Quality and Their Accumulation in Plant Organs

Abstract

This review is based partly on complete articles and partly on abstracts. Three of the 60 articles deal with the total uptake of elements in strawberry plant organs in two different strawberry production systems, both considered as optimal concerning amount and balance of elements. The effect on fruit quality may be dramatic if the level of a particular element is outside this range, but there may also be effects initiated by differences within the optimal range of elements. Most articles refer to product oriented quality, but some focus on consumer oriented quality, as discussed by Shewfelt (1999). The discussion here is on a general basis, so one should keep in mind that there are cultivar differences and that specification of nutrition ideally should mirror the needs of a single cultivar, or a group of cultivars with similar requirements. Also, to get a complete understanding of the subject future reviews should embrace a broader access of information including the effect on plant development of individual elements, such as the role of calcium in fruit firmness and its importance in cell wall structure. However, the intention here is to narrow the information to results that suggest a direct connection between nutrient uptake and fruit quality.     

Effect of puerarin on pulmonary arterioles wall collagen metabolism of chronic hypoxia hypercapnia rats

AIM:To investigate the effect of puerarin on pulmonary vessel collagen metabolism in pulmonary hypertension rats induced by chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia.METHODS:Collagen Ⅰ, Ⅲ and their mRNA were observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.RESULTS:① Light microscopy showed media thickness of pulmonary arterioles was much higher in HH(hypoxic-hypercapnia) group than that of NC(normal control) group, and, vessel cavity turned more straiter in HH group than that of NC group.However, the damage of pulmonary arterioles in HP(hypoxic-pueratin) group was much slighter than that of HH group. ② The levels of plasma ET-1 and lung homogenates Hyr were much higher in HH group than those of NC group(P＜0.01), and lower in HP group than HH groups(P＜0.01).Plasma NO content in group HH was lower than that of group NC(P＜0.01), it was higher in group HP than that of group HH(P＜0.01).③Expression of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅰ mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were significantly higher in HH groups than those of NC group (P＜0.01), and they were lower in HP group than those of HH group (P＜0.01).Expression of collagen Ⅲ and collagen Ⅲ mRNA showed no difference among three groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Puerarin inhibited the deposition of collagen and improved pulmonary vessel remodeling.     

Mixed-severity fire regime in a high-elevation forest of Grand Canyon,Arizona, USA

Fire regime characteristics of high-elevation forests on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, were reconstructed from fire scar analysis, remote sensing, tree age, and forest structure measurements, a first attempt at detailed reconstruction of the transition from surface to stand-replacing fire patterns in the Southwest. Tree densities and fire-/non-fire-initiated groups were highly mixed over the landscape, so distinct fire-created stands could not be delineated from satellite imagery or the oldest available aerial photos. Surface fires were common from 1700 to 1879 in the 4,400 ha site, especially on S and W aspects. Fire dates frequently coincided with fire dates measured at study sites at lower elevation, suggesting that pre-1880 fire sizes may have been very large. Large fires, those scarring 25% or more of the sample trees, were relatively infrequent, averaging 31 years between burns. Four of the five major regional fire years occurred in the 1700s, followed by a 94-year gap until 1879. Fires typically occurred in significantly dry years (Palmer Drought Stress Index), with severe drought in major regional fire years. Currently the forest is predominantly spruce-fir, mixed conifer, and aspen. In contrast, dendroecological reconstruction of past forest structure showed that the forest in 1880 was very open, corresponding closely with historical (1910) accounts of severe fires leaving partially denuded landscapes. Age structure and species composition were used to classify sampling points into fire-initiated and non-fire-initiated groups. Tree groups on nearly 60% of the plots were fire-initiated; the oldest such groups appeared to have originated after severe fires in 1782 or 1785. In 1880, all fire-initiated groups were less than 100 years old and nearly 25% of the groups were less than 20 years old. Non-fire-initiated groups were significantly older (oldest 262 years in 1880), dominated by ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, or white fir, and occurred preferentially on S and W slopes. The mixed-severity fire regime, transitioning from lower-elevation surface fires to mixed surface and stand-replacing fire at higher elevations, appeared not to have been stable over the temporal and spatial scales of this study. Information about historical fire regime and forest structure is valuable for managers but the information is probably less specific and stable for high-elevation forests than for low-elevation ponderosa pine forests.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

瓜叶绿素降解关键酶基因PPH和PAO cDNA片段的克隆与表达初步分析

 以西双版纳黄瓜和‘华黄5号’黄瓜叶片为试验材料,研究了衰老过程中两种黄瓜叶片叶绿素含量变化及脱镁叶绿素脱镁叶绿酸水解酶基因PPH和脱镁叶绿酸a加氧酶基因PAO的表达。结果表明：随着叶片衰老,叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量显著降低,叶绿素a与叶绿素b的比值在0.5左右,推测叶绿素b的含量可能对黄瓜叶片保绿起到重要作用。荧光定量RT-PCR分析结果显示：PPH和PAO在西双版纳黄瓜叶片生长35 d时表达量最高,分别为5.50和1.86;PPH在‘华黄5号’叶片35 d时表达量最高,为7.14,而PAO在35和45 d表达量都很高,分别为3.90和3.91;PPH和PAO在西双版纳黄瓜叶片中的表达量低于在‘华黄5号’中。     

Effects of simvastatin on PDGF-BB and serum-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and on the expression of tumor suppressor gene PTEN

AIM:To observe the effect of simvastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by serum and growth factor PDGF-BB and the effect of simvastatin on the expression of PTEN,a important regulator of G₁/S cell cycle transition. METHODS:The DNA synthesis was determined by [³H]-TdR incorporation, cell cycle was examined with flow cytometry, the protein level of PTEN was measured by Western blot method. RESULTS: (1)Simvastatin inhibited [³H]-TdR incorporation in a dose dependent manner. (2) Flow cytometric DNA analysis revealed that simvastatin induced significantly enhancement of G₀/G₁ phase and decrease in S phase VSMCs.(3)Simvastatin increased protein level of PTEN and mevalonate, a metabolite of HMG-COA, reversed the effect of simvastatin on PTEN protein expression. CONCLUSION:Simvastatin may inhibit proliferation of VSMCs and retarded cell cycle in G₀/G₁ phase by increasing PTEN expression through inhibiting synthesis of mevalonate.     

Multi-scale landscape and seascape patterns associated with marbled murrelet nesting areas on the U.S. west coast

Habitat for wide-ranging species should be addressed at multiple scales to fully understand factors that limit populations. The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), a threatened seabird, forages on the ocean and nests inland in large trees. We developed statistical relationships between murrelet use (occupancy and abundance) and habitat variables quantified across many spatial scales (statewide to local) and two time periods in California and southern Oregon, USA. We also addressed (1) if old-growth forest fragmentation was negatively associated with murrelet use, and (2) if some nesting areas are more important than others due to their proximity to high quality marine habitat. Most landscapes used for nesting were restricted to low elevation areas with frequent fog. Birds were most abundant in unfragmented old-growth forests located within a matrix of mature second-growth forest. Murrelets were less likely to occupy old-growth habitat if it was isolated (> 5 km) from other nesting murrelets. We found a time lag in response to fragmentation, where at least a few years were required before birds abandoned fragmented forests. Compared to landscapes with little tono murrelet use, landscapes with many murrelets were closer to the ocean's bays, river mouths, sandy shores, submarine canyons, and marine waters with consistently high primary productivity. Within local landscapes (≤ 800ha), inland factors limited bird abundance, but at the broadest landscape scale studied (3200 ha), proximity to marine habitat was most limiting. Management should focus on protecting or creating large, contiguous old-growth forest stands, especially in low-elevation areas near productive marine habitat. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationships of landscape,prey and agronomic variables to the abundance of generalist predators in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>) fields

A two-year field study investigated the possible effects of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) and uncultivated areas on the abundance of generalist predators in commercially-managed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fields in Texas, USA. From 63 to 70 fields were sampled for pests and predators over nine consecutive weeks during early stages of cotton development. Additional data on agronomic practices and landscape composition at three spatial scales were also collected for each field. Stepwise regression analyses were used to determine the relationships of landscape, agronomic and prey variables to the abundance of generalist predators. Because the variables most closely linked to predator levels could vary over time, separate regressions were conducted for three time periods corresponding to stages of grain sorghum growth (half-bloom, hard-dough, maturity) in each year. Significant relationships between predator abundance and agricultural landscape composition appear in both years and in all three time periods, but the specific relationships of landscape variables to cotton predator levels differed between and within years. At maturity in 2001, predator levels rose as the amount of uncultivated land from 1.6 to 3.2 km distant and the perimeter shared with grain sorghum increased. During 2002, the area of grain sorghum (half-bloom) and uncultivated land (hard-dough) within 1.6 km of cotton fields were both positively related to predator numbers. Cotton planting dates and the abundance of cotton fleahoppers (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus [Reuter]) were also strongly linked to predator numbers during both years. Results suggest that the total amount of grain sorghum or uncultivated land in an area is more important than the presence of these habitats adjacent to cotton fields, and that landscape composition may sometimes be the most important factor in determining predator abundance.