Local and scientific knowledge to assess plot quality in Central Spain

Farmers’ land management is a key factor for sustainable agriculture, yet the traditional knowledge which constitutes its base is seldom incorporated in the land and soil academic literature. The need for a hybrid approach that combines local (farmers’) and scientific knowledge is formally recognized. Plot quality criteria are a component of both sources of knowledge, playing an important role in shaping land management practices. Yet there are few case studies comparing the criteria used by farmers and soil scientists when assessing plot quality, particularly in developed countries. We compare the plot quality assessment done by a sample of 31 farmers in a semiarid area of Spain with an edaphic quality index (EQI) obtained through laboratory analyses of soil samples from 61 farm plots. There is a coincidence between farmer and laboratory assessments in 70% of cases. Plots identified by farmers as being of good quality have a significantly higher EQI than those identified as bad quality. The two key differentiating parameters were clay content (average 21% in good versus 18% in bad quality plots) and soil organic carbon content (1.6 and 1.3%, respectively), both closely related to soil water retention ability. A holistic land vision, a higher level of education and large differences in EQI between good and bad plots as assessed by farmers have a positive influence in the degree of coincidence between farmers’ and laboratory assessments.     

Consumer perceptions of food safety risk: Evidence from a segmentation study in Albania

Albania is facing serious problems with the national food safety control system in terms of legislation, control and enforcement. The objective of this paper is to analyse consumer perceptions about safety of small ruminant meat in Tirana, in a context of weak enforcement of the food safety system. Applying two-step clustering analyses, consumers were classified in four socio-demographic clusters, and it was found that the cluster composed of female consumers with lower education and income levels, and the two clusters composed of male consumers perceive consumed meat as safe. Consumers in the cluster composed of females with university education and higher income are, on average, more concerned with current meat safety measures and tend to place more trust in the veterinarian stamp on meat carcasses rather than in local butchers.     

Evidence of the development of ‘domain‐restricted’ expertise in the recognition of asymmetric motion characteristics of hindlimb lameness in the horse

Reasons for performing study: Visual assessment of horses' movements is subjective, affected by bias and dependent on the level of experience of the assessor. However, to date there are no data available on the ability of the human visual system to recognise (a)symmetry in moving objects. Objectives: To investigate, using visual lameness assessment, the limits of human perception and the ability of experienced and nonexperienced individuals to detect asymmetry in 2 moving objects simulating hindlimb lameness in the horse. Methods: Twelve experienced individuals (equine and small animal clinicians), and 24 nonexperienced individuals (undergraduate veterinary students) were presented with computer simulations showing 2 ‘tuber coxae markers’ created using data from both lame and nonperceptibly lame horses, as well as artificial data based on a sine wave. Individuals were asked to classify as symmetrical or asymmetrical, and then rank based on the grade of perceived asymmetry. Repeatability and learning effect were evaluated by repeating the tests on a subset of subjects. Results: The threshold for detection of movement asymmetry was found to be approximately 25% difference in amplitude between the 2 moving objects for all individuals. There was no significant difference between experienced and nonexperienced individuals in the ability to detect asymmetry in the simulations based on artificial data. However, the percentage of correct answers was higher for experienced compared to nonexperienced individuals for simulations based on data from real lame horses. Conclusions: There was a significant difference between experienced and nonexperienced individuals in the ability to identify asymmetric movement based on the pattern seen in a lame horse, as opposed to an artificial pattern for which all individuals showed similar performance. Potential relevance: The study provides the basis for the development of computer simulations that could aid in training veterinarians in the diagnosis of lameness and, even, the objective assessment of expertise in this field.     

半农半牧区农户生产现状及对气候变化的感知与应对——基于内蒙古林西县的调查研究

半农半牧区是全球气候变化反应敏感的生态脆弱带。该地区农业基础设施落后,人口与资源矛盾突出,生产力水平低下,经济欠发达,受气候变化影响,农民的生产生活水平的维持与提高面临着十分严峻的挑战。本调查研究以内蒙古赤峰市林西县为例,利用1954~2009年气象数据资料分析了该地区56年来年际和主要季节温度、降水变化趋势;同时,选用60个农户家庭调查样本,研究了农户家庭基本状况与经营现状、农牧户家庭对气候变化及其影响的感知与应对策略。最后,在全面总结研究结果的基础上提出增强农户家庭气候变化适应能力的对策建议。     

宗教旅游地居民旅游感知影响因素研究——以南岳为例

以南岳衡山为例,采用问卷调查的方法对影响宗教旅游地居民旅游感知态度的因素进行了研究。结果表明,社区归属感、对旅游业的依赖程度、对基础资源的使用情况3类因素与旅游影响变量显著相关。     

安徽省省会经济圈水源地生态补偿环境调查分析

生态补偿已经成为当前全社会所广泛关注的热点问题。该文从水源地农村居民认知和态度的角度,调查皖西大别山水源地居民对安徽省省会经济圈生态补偿政策的意愿、补偿标准、补偿后收入的变化、补偿方式的接受意愿。对352份的调查分析结果显示:76.3%的居民对主体功能区水资源的生态补偿政策配合、大力支持和倡导宣传。77.5%水源地居民认为水资源生态补偿标准由水费价格或经济发展水平而定,34.5%的水源地居民认为生态补偿政策实施会改善生活。生态补偿金多数用在投入农业生产方面。34.9%的农户认为生态补偿金应由省政府或经济圈机构来发放,38.9%的农户认为生态补偿金由经济圈内的受益企业和事业单位来支付。从生态补偿方式的意愿来看,67.7%的农户愿意通过技术培训满足外出打工需要或发展补偿产业。在对水源地生态补偿环境调查分析的基础上,提出了生态补偿机制的实施对策。     

The Image of Fish from Aquaculture Among Europeans: Impact of Exposure to Balanced Information

This study investigated the effect of balanced, nonpersuasive information related to safety, healthiness, and sustainability of aquaculture on the image of farmed fish among European consumers. It was demonstrated that there is neither positive nor negative influence of this type of information on the predominantly positive image of fish from aquaculture. Consumers who were exposed to information related to the EU origin and aquaculture related guarantee reported a more positive image of farmed fish. These results provide valuable input for transparent communication about fish farming practices which might increase consumer trust and will not harm the image of fish from aquaculture. Increasing consumers' knowledge about aquaculture and its positive effects on the image of farmed fish is also discussed as a pathway for maintaining and improving aquaculture's positive image in the future.     

Interpretation of Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptations by Local Household Farmers: a Case Study at Bin County,Northeast China

Although climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations have been studied extensively, how smallholder farmers perceive climate change and adapt their agricultural activities is poorly understood. Survey-based data (presents farmers' personal perceptions and adaptations to climate change) associated with external biophysical-socioeconomic data (presents real-world climate change) were used to develop a farmer-centered framework to explore climate change impacts and agricultural adaptations at a local level. A case study at Bin County (1980s–2010s), Northeast China, suggested that increased annual average temperature (0.6°C per decade) and decreased annual precipitation (46 mm per decade, both from meteorological datasets) were correctly perceived by 76 and 66.9%, respectively, of farmers from the survey, and that a longer growing season was confirmed by 70% of them. These reasonably correct perceptions enabled local farmers to make appropriate adaptations to cope with climate change: Longer season alternative varieties were found for maize and rice, which led to a significant yield increase for both crops. The longer season also affected crop choice: More farmers selected maize instead of soybean, as implicated from survey results by a large increase in the maize growing area. Comparing warming-related factors, we found that precipitation and agricultural disasters were the least likely causes for farmers' agricultural decisions. As a result, crop and variety selection, rather than disaster prevention and infrastructure improvement, was the most common ways for farmers to adapt to the notable warming trend in the study region.     

基于视觉感知的蔬菜害虫诱捕计数算法

针对当前大田环境条件下对害虫进行识别研究的不足,以南方蔬菜重大害虫为研究对象,探索了一种在大田环境下使用黄色诱捕板对蔬菜害虫进行监测计数的方法。在经典图像处理算法基础上,根据害虫监测目标的需要,提出了一种基于结构化随机森林的害虫图像分割算法和利用不规则结构的特征提取算法,进一步结合背景去除、干扰目标去除和检测模型计数子算法,集成设计了基于视觉感知的蔬菜害虫计数算法(Vegetable pest counting algorithm based on visual perception,VPCA-VP)。使用了现场环境下拍摄的图像进行实验与分析,共识别出蓟马9351只,烟粉虱202只,实蝇23只。经过与人工计数比对得出,本文基于视觉感知的蔬菜害虫计数算法的平均识别正确率为94.89%。其中,蔬菜害虫蓟马的识别正确率为93.19%,烟粉虱的识别正确率为91%,实蝇的识别正确率达到100%。算法达到了较好的测试性能,可以满足害虫快速计数需求,在农田害虫监测中有一定的应用前景。     

Identifying Wildlife Species Believed to be Deserving of Protection From Hunting by U.S. Residents

This article examines the perceptions of individuals toward protecting animals from hunting. Researchers surveyed 825 U.S. residents in an online survey about their views of whether 17 species of mammals should be protected from hunting. Over 85% of respondents believed elephant, white rhino, black rhino, hippo, leopard, lion, and polar bear species should be protected from hunting. Conversely, only 55% of respondents believed mountain lion and coyote should be protected. Cross tabulations and logit analysis were employed to explore relationships between believing an animal species should be protected from hunting and demographics. Older and female respondents more often agreed that species should be protected from hunting. Those who hunted or knew a hunter less frequently agreed that the species surveyed should be protected from hunting. Demographics and previous exposure to hunting appear to influence beliefs about what species should be protected from hunting.