江河源区草场退化的生态环境后果及成因

江河源区是我国五大牧区之一,然而由于自然环境变迁与人类活动的影响,草地生态环境日趋恶化.突出表现为:草地生产力下降、沙化、草地植被减少、草地生态系统恶化.草地生态系统退化是人为因素与自然因素综合作用的结果,尤其是人类活动(如过渡放牧、不合理的放牧制度、滥挖、滥垦等)的加剧成为草地退化和草地生态环境恶化的"加速器".     

青藏高原高寒草地生态系统的适应性管理

青藏高原约有1/3的草地经历着不同程度退化,严重危害区域生产、生活和生态安全。草地退化是气候变化等自然因素和过度放牧等人为因素综合作用的结果,主要表现为植被群落结构失调、功能减弱、土壤理化性质恶化。目前,草地恢复的主要措施有围栏封育、人工建植、鼠虫害及毒杂草防除等,需根据不同草地退化情况,因地制宜,采取合理有效的治理方案。对退化草地进行恢复治理,协调高寒草地生态系统生态、经济和社会功能的关系,实现高寒草地的可持续利用,关系到生态安全、区域稳定和经济发展,主要应从宏观功能区划,畜牧业科学发展、政策法规和教育落实3个方面进行。高寒草地生态系统的适应性管理应以生态学理论为基础,实现草地资源的可持续利用和草地生态系统的保护与恢复。作为青藏高原高寒草地生态系统适应性管理的前期探索和阶段性总结,本专辑收录了关于青藏高原草地退化和恢复关键生态过程和机制等方面的研究成果,以期为高寒草地生态系统的保护和管理提供科学依据。     

江河源区草地退化状况及成因

近年来 ,江河源区存在草场严重退化、土地荒漠化过程加剧、水土流失加重以及湿地生态衰退等以草地生态系统为主的生态环境退化问题。分析研究结果表明 ,在青藏高原特殊的地理气候背景下 ,经过长期自然演化形成的江河源区脆弱的草地生态系统 ,对外界环境条件反应极其敏感 ,季节性过牧等人类活动是造成该区近期草地迅速退化的突破口和主导因素 ,从而促使气候、鼠害等自然因子作用加剧。江河源区的草地退化 ,是人为因素和自然因素共同作用下人为加速加剧的结果。     

江河源区草地退化状况的成因

近年来，江河源区存在草场严重退化、土地荒漠化过程加剧、水土流失加重以及湿地生态衰退等以草地生态系统为主的生态环境退化问题。分析研究结果表明，在青藏高原特殊的地理气候背景下，经过长期自然演化形成的江河源区脆弱的草地生态系统，对外界环境条件反应极其敏感，季节性过牧等人类活动是乱该区近期草地迅速退化的突破口和主导因素，从而促使气候、鼠害等自然因子作用加剧。江河源区的草地退化，是人为因素共同作用下人为加速加剧的结果。     

2000－2010年中国退牧还草工程区生态系统宏观结构和质量及其动态变化

本研究以生态学理论为基础，以空间信息技术为支撑，基于遥感数据、气象数据和地面观测数据，通过多源数据融合、生态模型模拟和尺度转换手段，分析中国退牧还草综合治理工程区2000－2010年生态系统宏观结构和质量的时空分布及变化趋势，探讨生态系统变化的自然和人文驱动机制，为退牧还草工程的生态成效评估提供理论依据。研究结果表明，1）2000－2010年，草地生态系统面积保持平稳，生态系统宏观结构稳定，但局部区域仍存在草地与农田、湿地和荒漠间的相互转化；2）研究区草地退化趋势已得到初步遏制，植被覆盖度略有增长，叶面积指数略呈波动式增加，净初级生产力呈显著上升，草地植被呈现恢复转好态势，生态系统总体质量有所提高，生态环境向良性演变；3）研究区生态状况具有空间差异性，总体转好，局部变差，各亚区整体水平排序为内蒙古东部退化草原治理区＞青藏高原江河源退化草原治理区＞新疆退化草原治理区＞蒙甘宁西部退化草原治理区；4）退牧还草工程的实施有利于草地保护，气候暖湿化促进植被生长与恢复，人类活动干扰局部地区生态系统，三者共同影响研究区总体生态状况。     

江河源区退化高寒草地土壤微生物与地上植被及土壤环境的关系

对青藏高原江河源区退化高寒草地土壤微生物与地上植被、土壤环境的相关性进行分析。结果表明,退化高寒草地植物多样性、物种组成、地上植被盖度、草地生产力的变化引起土壤微生物数量发生变化,土壤微生物特别是细菌生理类群受土壤环境因子影响较大。江河源区退化高寒草地土壤中非有益性微生物功能群处于增加趋势,限制了土壤养分供给和转化能力,不利于草地土壤肥力维持和提高,给受损高寒草地,特别是“黑土滩”退化草地的生态恢复带来困难。因此,在修复受损高寒草地生态系统时,不仅要恢复地上部分的植被,而且要恢复地下部分的土壤微生物群落,重建土壤微生物生态系统。     

青藏高原草地退化原因述评

导致青藏高原草地退化的因子很多,主要有气候、野生动物和人类活动等。在气候因素中以气温和降水的影响为主,短期内气候的变化不会成为草地退化的主导因素,从长期来看,气候变化与草地退化之间的相互作用可引起草地生态系统的退化;野生动物因素中主要以植食性小哺乳动物的影响为主,其危害程度取决于其种群数量的高低,同时大型野生草食动物对草地退化的影响也不容忽视;人类活动因素中主要以家畜过度放牧为主,在一定程度上,家畜放牧强度的高低直接决定草地的退化程度;草地退化是多种因素综合作用的结果。不同地区导致草地退化的主要因素不尽相同,导致青藏高原草地退化最主要的因子是过度放牧和植食性小哺乳动物种群爆发。针对退化的原因,提出了青藏高原退化草地恢复与管理过程中应注意的事项。     

青海草地鼠害浅议

<正>草地鼠害是草原开发利用过程中出现的重要生态学问题。随草地退化和荒漠化进程的加剧,我国草地鼠害发生面积呈逐年扩增趋势。加上由害鼠终年不断的挖掘活动而加剧的草地退化、沙化,鼠害已成为恶化草地生态环境、遏制畜牧业可持续发展的重要生物灾害。严重威胁着我国草原畜牧业可持续发展、草原生物的多样性、草原生态环境建设成果的巩固以及人类的健康和生存。青藏高原气候等条件比较恶劣,是一个草原生态系统脆弱、易遭破坏、恢复缓慢、覆盖度低、草地负载日益严重,害鼠     

高寒植物吸收土壤氮策略研究进展

高寒草甸是青藏高原广泛分布的主要植被类型之一,约占青藏高原可利用草地的50%。深入研究该类生态系统的结构、功能,保护和建设本地区的生态环境,实现区域社会经济可持续发展,不仅对青藏高原本身、而且对全国的可持续发展有重大战略意义。本文主要综述了国内外对植物吸收不同形态氮的研究进展,旨在为青藏高原高寒草甸退化草地的植被恢复提供参考。     

河北张北:加大禁牧力度,严防草场退化

正坝上草原是河北省北方的绿色屏障,具有防风固沙、涵养水源、保持水土、净化空气及维护生物多样性等重要生态功能。张北县地处坝上,属于生态植被脆弱区,草场退化极为严重。近年来,由于干旱少雨等自然因素及人类活动加剧,如超载过牧、工业建设等,使草地植被退化严重,草原生态系统物种多样性急剧下降。为了使已退化     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective review of 160 cases (1985-2001)

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different tumor types within a large cohort of cats with intracranial neoplasia and to attempt to correlate signalment, tumor size and location, and survival time for each tumor. Medical records of 160 cats with confirmed intracranial neoplasia evaluated between 1985 and 2001 were reviewed. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, breed, FeLV/FIV status, clinical signs, duration of signs, number of tumors, tumor location(s), imaging results, treatment, survival times, and histopathologic diagnosis. Most of the cats were older (11.3 +/- 3.8 years). Primary tumors accounted for 70.6% of cases. Metastasis and direct extension of secondary tumors accounted for only 5.6 and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Twelve cats (7.5%) had 2 or more discrete tumors of the same type, whereas 16 cats (10.0%) had 2 different types of intracranial tumors. The most common tumor types were meningioma (n = 93, 58.1%), lymphoma (n = 23, 14.4%), pituitary tumors (n = 14, 8.8%), and gliomas (n = 12, 7.5%). The most common neurological signs were altered consciousness (n = 42, 26.2%), circling (n = 36, 22.5%), and seizures (n = 36, 22.5%). Cats without specific neurological signs were common (n = 34, 21.2%). The tumor was considered an incidental finding in 30 (18.8%) cats. In addition to expected relationships (eg, meninges and meningioma, pituitary and pituitary tumors), we found that lesion location was predictive of tumor type with diffuse cerebral or brainstem involvement predictive of lymphoma and third ventricle involvement predictive of meningioma.     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

The Prevalence and Intensity of Helminth and Coccidial Infections in Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

A survey of gastrointestinal parasite infections of young (<6 months old), immature (6–12 months old) and adult (>12 months old) dairy cattle on 16 farms in Kiambu District, Kenya was conducted during a dry season (September 1991 to January 1992) and during a wet season (March to July 1992). The survey was based on monthly coproparasitological examination of cohorts and worm counts in tracer calves. The effects of age, sex, farm and season on the prevalence and intensity of helminth and coccidial infections were determined. Faecal egg and oocyst counts revealed that the overall prevalences were: strongyles (including trichostrongyles) (85.5%), liver flukes (Fasciola gigantica) (34.0%), coccidia (30.9%) and tapeworms (9.6%). Eight species of the protozoan Eimeria were identified, the most prevalent species being E. bovis and E. zuernii. The most prevalent nematode genera were Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus. Season, farm and age of the animals had a significant (p<0.05) influence on the intensity of infection with strongyles, liver flukes and coccidia, whereas the sex of the animals had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the prevalence or intensity of infections. A higher intensity of infection with strongyles and coccidia was found in the wet season than in the dry season (p<0.05). The age-specific intensity was in the following order: for strongyles, immature animals of 6–12 months of age had the highest egg counts, followed by young calves and adults. Calves had significantly (p<0.05) higher oocyst counts than immatures or adults. Liver fluke egg counts did not differ significant (p>0.05) between immatures and adult cattle.     

A brief history of the prevention of infectious diseases by immunisations

Infectious diseases have always been a terrible scourge for humans. The appearance of these plagues, as they were called without distinction, was generally connected to various conditions: asters, climatic changes or religious reasons. The concept of contagious, and then infectious, diseases came slowly. Variolation, i.e. transmission of ‘virulent’ matter to induce a natural disease and the immunity against it, was brought from Constantinople to England by Lady Montague, in 1721. This ‘variolation’ technique was also often performed in veterinary medicine against diseases like sheep-pox or pleuropneumonia. As ‘vaccination’ is the term generally accepted for ‘immunisation’, variolation can be the word designating such a technique. The second period of the history of immunisation began, in 1880, with the studies of Pasteur and his collaborators. A great number of bacterial vaccines were developed: dead, live but attenuated or only parts of pathogens. The viruses were produced in animals, then in eggs and at last, in tissue cultures. Second generation vaccines appeared with genetic engineering: recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines, nucleic acids vaccines, and markers vaccines, among others. These novel technologies can permit the development of new ones and improve the quality of the vaccines already existing.     

Micronutrient Content of Certain Tropical Conventional and Unconventional Feed Resources of Southern India

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.     

Bovine Mastitis in Selected Areas of Southern Ethiopia

A study on bovine mastitis, designed to determine the causal agents, prevalence of infection and impact of risk factors in three cattle breeds, was conducted in selected areas of southern Ethiopia. A total of 307 lactating and non-lactating cows, of which 162 were indigenous Zebu, 85 Jersey and 60 Holstein-Friesian, were examined by clinical examination and the California mastitis (CMT) test. Of these, 40.4% were positive by CMT and bacteriology for clinical or subclinical mastitis, with prevalence rates of 37.1% and 62.9%, respectively. Out of 1133 quarters examined, 212 (18.7%) were found to be infected, 83 (39.2%) clinically and 129 (60.8%) subclinically. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly higher in Holstein-Friesian than in indigenous Zebu, in non-lactating cows than in lactating cows, in the early lactation stage than in the mid-lactation stage, in cows with lesions and/or tick infestation on skin of udder and/or teats than in cows without this factor, and in the wet season than in the dry season. Mastitis increased with parity number (R = 0.9). Of 248 CMT and clinically positive udder quarter samples analysed microbiologically, 212 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and 36 were negative. Of the 199 positive samples, Staphylococcus accounted for 39.2%, Streptococcus for 23.6%, coliforms for 14.1%, Micrococcus and Bacillus species for 8.0% each and Actinomyces or Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) for 7.0%. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli, in this study area.     

不同日粮氮水平对山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同日粮氮水平对内蒙古白绒山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成(MCP)的影响,以达到提高氮利用率,减少环境污染和饲料资源的浪费。试验选用9只体况良好、体重为(43.83±2.95)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,按体重随机分为3组,每组3只。日粮分为低氮7.5%、中氮10.5%、高氮13.5%3个氮水平。试验使用常规试验方法分析测定粪尿血液等生化指标,通过全收尿法和尿嘌呤衍生物法估测MCP。结果表明:随着氮水平增加,氨氮(NH3-N)浓度、氮摄入量、尿氮排出、尿中尿素氮(UUN)和MCP显著增加(P0.05),干物质采食量(DMI)显著降低(P0.01);沉积氮占总摄入氮的比例在中氮组最高,MCP在高氮组最高。综上所述,适当降低日粮氮水平可减少粪尿氮排放,提高反刍动物氮利用率。