Local and landscape factors determine functional bird diversity in Indonesian cacao agroforestry

Large-scale intensification of smallholder cacao management is currently affecting the agroforestry landscapes of Sulawesi (Indonesia), the world’s third largest cacao producer. Little is known about how this shift from diverse plantations to full-sun cacao will affect functionally important biodiversity within the agroecosystem, and how this is related to landscape-wide patterns in land-use and natural ecosystems. We recorded birds in 43 cacao plots differing in woody and herbaceous vegetation as well as distance to forest in two valleys around the Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi. Species richness of frugivores and nectarivores decreased with increasing distance to forest, whereas granivorous birds increased in richness. Forest specialists, but not habitat generalists, responded positively to forest edge proximity. Species richness of all functional groups except seed eaters increased at higher density of tall shade trees. Greater species richness of shade trees was associated with higher species richness of frugivores and nectarivores, while herbaceous vegetation did not have a strong impact on the avifauna. The positive effect of shade trees was independent of distance to forest. In conclusion, our study shows the relative importance of local and landscape effects on bird diversity with shade trees being critical for bird conservation in cacao agroforestry landscapes.     

Six years of habitat modification in a tropical rainforest margin of Indonesia do not affect bird diversity but endemic forest species

Studies on temporal changes of tropical bird communities in response to habitat modification are rare. We quantified changes in bird assemblages at the rainforest margin of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, over an interval of 6 years. Standardized bird counts were conducted in the years 2001/2002 and 2008 at 15 census points representing natural forest, secondary forest, agroforest and openland sites. Although overall species richness remained nearly identical, different species groups were affected unequally by habitat modification within the forest margin landscape. The mostly endemic forest species declined in abundance (72.0% of forest species) and were detected at fewer census points in 2008 (56.0%). In contrast, 81.8% of the solely widespread openland birds became more abundant and 63.6% of the species were recorded at a larger number of census points. Hence, recent human activities in the forest margin ecotone negatively affected species of high conservation value. Species richness turned out to be a poor indicator of habitat change, and our results underline the importance of considering species identities. Biotic homogenization as result of habitat conversion is a global phenomenon. In our study, the winners were widespread openland species, while the losers were endemic forest birds. In conclusion, our study shows that 6 years of land-use change had negative impacts on bird community structure and endangered species, but not on overall bird species richness.     

竹农参与技术创新模式的构建

以解决技术供求矛盾为前提,把政府各级部门、科研机构、竹农、竹加工企业之间存在一种“断层”关系“接续”起来,提出了“接续”方法,即竹农参与技术创新模式的实施和运用。在本文中,提出了竹农参与技术创新模式的基本要求、参与效果的指标、参与模式的基本思路、基本运行机制和主要特色。     

土耳其斯坦叶螨对杀螨剂的抗性选育及解毒酶活力变化

为探索土耳其斯坦叶螨的抗药性及其生化机理,在室内对敏感系土耳其斯坦叶螨分别用螺螨酯、甲氰菊酯和阿维菌素逐代处理,选育出抗性种群。结果表明,选育至15代,土耳其斯坦叶螨对螺螨酯、甲氰菊酯和阿维菌素的抗性指数分别达到268.63、37.98和112.68倍。分别测定敏感品系(SS)、抗螺螨酯(RS)、抗甲氰菊酯(RF)、抗阿维菌素(RA)品系的解毒酶活性显示,3种不同抗性品系相对SS品系的羧酸酯酶(CarE)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)和多功能氧化酶(MFO)的比活力均有不同程度的提高,差异均达到显著水平(P0.05)。其中,RF品系的MFO比活力上升最快,是SS品系的12.7倍;RA品系的MFO比活力次之,是SS品系的5.76倍;RS品系的3种解毒酶比活力均增长较慢,其中CarE比活力上升最慢,是SS品系的1.31倍。由此表明,CarE、GSTs、MFO的活性增大可促进土耳其斯坦叶螨对3种杀虫剂的抗性形成;螺螨酯的抗性增强可能与CarE关系甚微;MFO活性的增加可能与甲氰菊酯抗性升高密切相关;GSTs、MFO的活性升高可能是土耳其斯坦叶螨对阿维菌素产生抗性的主要原因。     

基于变水位静水法的梯形渠道渗漏强度函数构建及验证

变水位静水法受规范中观测方法限制,相邻2次观测时间段的计算只能代表平均水深的平均渗漏强度,且将观测期间渠道渗漏的非线性过程假设为线性变化,该假设将导致计算误差,从而使拟合的渗漏强度幂函数存在系统误差。该文以渠道内水位随时间的渗漏过程拟合函数为基础,建立了关于梯形渠道变水位静水法(dropping head ponding test,DHPT)的渗漏强度函数。以石津灌区6种梯形衬砌渠道的变水位静水法试验为依据进行实例分析,分析获得6种梯形渠道的传统幂函数和DHPT渗漏强度函数,并应用各函数进行了渗漏时长计算。通过渗漏时长计算值与实测值对比表明,DHPT函数平均估计误差0.978 h,最大相对误差为1.552%;而传统方法平均估计误差为3.997 h,最大相对误差为5.632%。表明DHPT函数能够更好地描述梯形渠道的渗漏过程,可用于计算点水深下的渗漏强度。通过DHPT函数与传统方法的计算结果对比,表明传统方法计算的渗漏强度普遍偏高,实例中平均误差达到0.248 L/(m~2·h),而DHPT函数直接建立于观测数据之间的函数关系,可避免线性假设的影响,提高计算精度,为分析变水位工况下的渠道水利用系数提供依据。     

Nocturnal melatonin concentrations vary dramatically between the two jugular veins in most individual sheep maintained under mimicked or natural photoperiod

Two experiments were designed to determine if melatonin concentrations differ between jugular veins. In a first experiment, blood was collected continuously every 30 min from each jugular during 12-h from 6 ewes. In a second experiment, 100 ewes were sampled twice at night simultaneously from the two jugular veins. In both experiments, mean melatonin concentrations were similar between right and left jugulars. However, within individuals, large differences were observed between the two sides (p < 0.001). This difference was stable over time and the higher side varies among individuals. The concentrations of prolactin and oxytocin, measured in the same samples did not show such differences. This observation raises the question of the origin of this phenomenon. Moreover, it has important implications for studies in which melatonin concentrations need to be assessed accurately. Indeed, a reliable quantitative assessment of melatonin production by the pineal gland requires sampling from both jugular veins.     

Relating MODIS vegetation index time-series with structure,light absorption and stem production of fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations

By allowing the estimation of forest structural and biophysical characteristics at different temporal and spatial scales, remote sensing may contribute to our understanding and monitoring of planted forests. Here, we studied 9-year time-series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on a network of 16 stands in fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations in São Paulo State, Brazil. We aimed to examine the relationships between NDVI time-series spanning entire rotations and stand structural characteristics (volume, dominant height, mean annual increment) in these simple forest ecosystems. Our second objective was to examine spatial and temporal variations of light use efficiency for wood production, by comparing time-series of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (APAR) with inventory data.     

Antimicrobial Compounds from Eukaryotic Microalgae against Human Pathogens and Diseases in Aquaculture

The search for novel compounds of marine origin has increased in the last decades for their application in various areas such as pharmaceutical, human or animal nutrition, cosmetics or bioenergy. In this context of blue technology development, microalgae are of particular interest due to their immense biodiversity and their relatively simple growth needs. In this review, we discuss about the promising use of microalgae and microalgal compounds as sources of natural antibiotics against human pathogens but also about their potential to limit microbial infections in aquaculture. An alternative to conventional antibiotics is needed as the microbial resistance to these drugs is increasing in humans and animals. Furthermore, using natural antibiotics for livestock could meet the consumer demand to avoid chemicals in food, would support a sustainable aquaculture and present the advantage of being environmentally friendly. Using natural and renewable microalgal compounds is still in its early days, but considering the important research development and rapid improvement in culture, extraction and purification processes, the valorization of microalgae will surely extend in the future.     

Influence of mitochondria origin on fruit quality in a citrus cybrid

Sugar, organic acid, and carotenoid are the most important indicators of fruit taste and nutritional and organoleptic quality. These components were studied on fruit pulp of the cybrid between Willow leaf mandarin ( Citrus deliciosa Ten.) and Eureka lemon [ Citrus limon (L.) Burm.] and the two parents. The cybrid possessed nuclear and chloroplast genomes of Eureka lemon plus mitochondria from Willow leaf mandarin. The impact of new mitochondria on fruit quality was studied during the mature period. Levels of organic acids were slightly higher in the cybrid fruit pulp than in Eureka lemon. No significant difference in sugar and carotenoid content was observed between the cybrid and the lemon. Results confirm that the main genetic information for the biosynthesis of sugars, organic acids, and carotenoids is contained in the nucleus. In Citrus, cybridization can be used as a strategy to breed specific traits associated with mitochondrial genomes, such as male sterility, without affecting the main organoleptic and nutritional qualities.