Optimizing the use of breed types in developing country livestock production systems: a neglected research area

Developing country livestock production systems are diverse and dynamic, and include those where existing indigenous breeds are currently optimal and likely to remain so, those where non‐indigenous breed types are already in common use, and systems that are changing, such as by intensification, where the introduction of new breed types represents significant opportunities. These include opportunities to improve the livelihood of the world's poor, increase food and nutrition security and enhance environmental sustainability. At present, very little research has focused on this issue, such that significant knowledge gaps in relation to breed‐change interventions remain. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness of this issue and suggests strategic research areas to begin filling these knowledge gaps. Such strategic research would include (i) assessing the impact of differing breed types in developing country livestock productions systems, from a range of viewpoints including intrahousehold livelihood benefit, food and nutrition security at different scales, and environmental sustainability; (ii) identification of specific livestock production systems within developing countries, and the type of livestock keepers within these system, that are most likely to benefit from new breed types; and (iii) identification of new breed types as candidates for in‐situ testing within these systems, such as through the use of spatial analysis to identify similar production environments combined with community acceptance studies. Results of these studies would primarily assist stakeholders in agriculture, including both policy makers and livestock keepers, to make informed decisions on the potential use of new breed types.     

Afforestation,restoration and regeneration——Not all trees are created equal

Undulations in weather patterns have caused climate shifts of increased frequency and duration around the world. The need for additional research and model data on this pressing problem has resulted in a plethora of research groups examining a particular tree species or biome for negative effects of climate change. This review aims to （1） collect and merge recent research data on regeneration within old- and new-growth forests, （2） highlight and expand upon selected topics for additional discussion, and （3） report how shade tolerance, drought toler- ance, and inherent plasticity affect tree growth and development. Al- though shade and drought tolerance have been well studied by a number of research groups, this review reveals that in-depth analysis of a single or a few species in a given area will not generate the data required to implement a successful regeneration plan. Studies using historical accounts of previous species composition, information regarding site sea- sonality, species competition, and individual responses to drought and shade are needed to （1） develop best management plans and （2） ensure future modeling experiments are focused on a greater variety of species using more innovative methods to evaluate climate change effects.     

绩溪抽水蓄能电站工程移民安置环境影响

指出了水利工程移民生产安置是关系到移民的生产水平能否恢复或超过安置前的生产水平的问题,但移民安置也会带来诸多环境问题。处理和解决好绩溪抽水蓄能电站移民安置产生的环境问题则是保障工程建设顺利完成及工程综合效益充分发挥的重要工作。对移民安置于环境的作用和影响进行了分析评价。     

淡水网箱养殖对环境的影响

1我国淡水养殖的现状1.1养殖产量2002年我国水产品总产量为4.56×107t,淡水产品总量为1.92×107t,其中淡水养殖产量为1.69×107t,占淡水产品总量的88.3%[2]。湖北省地处长江中游,洞庭湖以北,境内水系发达,作为我国的渔业大省,它是淡水渔业发展最快,淡水鱼产量最高的省份,其产量     

Occurrence and present status of coastal dolphins (Delphinus delphis and Tursiops truncatus) in the eastern Ionian Sea

• 1. Boat surveys aimed at studying short‐beaked common dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins in eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters were conducted between 1993 and 2003. During 835 survey days, 24 771 km of total effort was distributed within an area of 480 km², resulting in 428 common dolphin and 235 bottlenose dolphin sightings.
• 2. Individual photo‐identification was performed extensively throughout this study, making it possible to monitor the number of animals seen in the study area each year and their long‐term residency patterns.
• 3. Common dolphins declined across the study period, from 2.18 encounters/100 km in 1997 to 0.40 encounters/100 km in 2003. In contrast, there was a relatively stable presence of bottlenose dolphins, some individuals showing high levels of site fidelity and others using the area only occasionally.
• 4. The local decline of common dolphins and the low density of bottlenose dolphins appeared to reflect the general status of these cetacean species in the wider Mediterranean region, where common dolphins were classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List in 2003.
• 5. Based on the available evidence, we infer that the present unfavourable status of common dolphins in eastern Ionian Sea coastal waters is largely a consequence of prey depletion.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in the fish species composition of all Austrian lakes >50 ha during the last 150 years

Abstract  The fish communities of all Austrian natural lakes ( n  = 43) larger than 50 ha in surface area were assessed and the historical fish communities in c . 1850 were reconstructed. During the last 150 years, the fish communities of Austrian lakes have altered: in 49% of lakes at least one indigenous fish species, usually sensitive or small-bodied taxa, is now missing. Conversely, in all but one of the 43 lakes the number of fish species has increased. In particular, certain fish species of interest to angling and commercial fisheries now occur in more lakes. Generalised linear models were used to identify variables that would explain the loss of fish species using categories of lake use (ranking score). The category human population density around the lakes seemed to be one of the main causes for the loss of fish species.     

Benthic microbial indicators of fish farm impact in a coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea

We studied the impact of organic loads due to the biodeposition of a fish farm in a non-impacted coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Sediment chemistry and benthic microbial community were investigated from July 1997 to February 1998 on monthly basis at two stations: one was located under the fish farm, while the second was about 1 km away, and served as a reference site. The presence of the cage induced rapid changes in the benthic conditions: the sediments were rapidly (after 6 weeks) reduced. A significant accumulation of biopolymeric carbon was observed beneath the cage both 2 weeks after the initial cage deployment, on non-impacted sediments, and 5–7 months after, and appeared to be related to the fish farm production cycle. The density of microbial communities beneath the fish farm increased only during the first month of farming activity (July) and partially 7 months after cage disposal (i.e. in January), when there was a significant sediment organic enrichment. Additional evidence of rapid impact of the fish farm on the benthic bacterial communities is provided by the increase in the numbers of autofluorescent microbial cells. The photosynthetic eukaryotic cells displayed a highly reduced contribution to total autofluorescent microbial density, indicating that their decrease is related with biopolymeric carbon accumulation, and probably was due also to “shadow effect” induced by suspended material, coming from the fish farm, on the environment below. We propose here, to apply the ratio of culturable heterotrophic bacteria to microbial direct counts (CFU/MDC) to detect fish farm impact. In cage sediments, organic enrichment and the consequent modification of the characteristics of the benthic environment, determined an increase in aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and vibrio density indicating that they are efficient colonizers of organic-rich sediments. Densities of Escherichia coli and Enterococci were not significantly higher than in the reference site, and are likely of terrestrial origin. Thus they cannot be used as specific indicators of fish farm impact.     

1961~2013年天峻地区草地气候生产力的变化分析

依据天峻县1961~2013年的年平均气温和降水量气象观测资料,采用目前常用的Thomthwaite Memorial模型计算了草地气候生产力TSPV。结果表明,天峻地区的TSPV总体呈现显著增加趋势,尤其是2000年以来,达到年代最大;平均气温对天峻地区TSPV的影响占主导地位,而年降水量的影响相对较小,但不容忽视;气候变化对TSPV影响明显,"暖湿型"气候对草地植被生长最有利,平均增产9.2%~18.3%,"冷湿型"、"冷干型"、"暖干型"气候对草地植被生长均较不利。     

菏泽霾气候特征及影响因素分析

利用1981-2013年菏泽市地面气象观测资料,对菏泽市霾日数变化特征及其影响因素进行了分析.结果表明：近33年菏泽霾日数总体呈上升趋势,1980-1990年代霾日数较少,2000年之后明显上升.菏泽年平均霾日数为10.8天.菏泽秋冬季霾天气出现多,春夏季出现少.菏泽霾天气95％以上为轻微霾（大气能见度5～10 km）,相对湿度在70％～90％的占8成以上.霾日数变化对气温和风速的变化较为敏感.霾天气发生时,一般风速比较小（1～2 m/s）,并以N风最多.正变湿和负变压对霾的生成和维持更加有利.连续无降水日数越长,出现霾的概率就可能越大.     

高山立体气候资源与高山蔬菜种植分布规律研究

2009～2013 年在鄂西南山区174～1 800 m 不同海拔高度上进行了小气候观测及蔬菜田间试验,对不同界限温度（5、
10、15 ℃）、降水量、蒸发量等气象要素时空变化特征以及喜温蔬菜辣椒、耐寒蔬菜莴苣等蔬菜产量、品质与气象条件之间
的关系进行了分析。分析表明：≥ 5 ℃、≥ 10 ℃、≥ 15 ℃的持续天数随海拔高度每升高100 m 分别递减4.8、5.5、6.8 d,
降水量及地表湿润指数均随海拔高度的升高而增加;辣椒单株坐果数、单位面积产量与开花结果期≥ 15 ℃的持续天数呈显
著线性相关,≥ 15 ℃持续每增加1 d 对单株坐果数、单产贡献率分别增加0.32 个、73.47 kg·（667 m²） ^-1;海拔800～1 200 m
高度≥ 15 ℃的持续时间为100～130 d,且无高温天气胁迫,是喜温蔬菜最佳种植带;海拔1 600 m 以上高度基本无夏季,是
喜冷凉蔬菜的适宜种植区