Effective population size and inbreeding depression on litter size in rabbits. A case study

The purpose of this study is to use demographic and litter size data on four Spanish maternal lines of rabbits (A, V, H and LP), as a case study, in order to: (i) estimate the effective population size of the lines, as a measure of the rate of increase of inbreeding, and (ii) study whether the inbreeding effect on litter size traits depends on the pattern of its accumulation over time. The lines are being selected for litter size at weaning and are kept closed at the same selection nucleus under the same selection and management programme. The study considered 47 794 l and a pedigree of 14 622 animals. Some practices in mating and selection management allow an increase of the inbreeding coefficient lower than 0.01 per generation in these lines of around 25 males and 125 females. Their effective population size (Ne) was around 57.3, showing that the effect of selection, increasing the inbreeding, was counterbalanced by the management practices, intended to reduce the rate of inbreeding increase. The inbreeding of each individual was broken down into three components: old, intermediate and new inbreeding. The coefficients of regression of the old, intermediate and new inbreeding on total born (TB), number born alive (NBA) and number weaned (NW) per litter showed a decreasing trend from positive to negative values. Regression coefficients significantly different from zero were those for the old inbreeding on TB (6.79 ± 2.37) and NBA (5.92 ± 2.37). The contrast between the coefficients of regression between the old and new inbreeding were significant for the three litter size traits: 7.57 ± 1.72 for TB; 6.66 ± 1.73 for NBA and 5.13 ± 1.67 for NW. These results have been interpreted as the combined action of purging unfavourable genes and artificial selection favoured by the inbreeding throughout the generations of selection.     

Effects of Parity of Dam and Breeding Date on the Litter Size of Inner Mongolia White Cashmere Goats

The article through the analysis and research to the effects of parity of dam and breeding date on the litter size of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats,determine the optimal mating time of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats,in order to improve the efficiency of reproductive.Data used were 1998 to 2013 reproductive performance records collected from the Arbas stock farm in Inner Mongolia,China.The GLM procedure of SAS 9.0 software was used to determine the significant effect of the parity of dam and breeding date,the results showed that the parity of dam and breeding date had significant effect on litter size (P< 0.01).Litter size was the lowest in 1st parity does (1.37),the significantly increase in litter size with advance in parity and decline after six parity;Mating cycles for September 29th to October 16th had the highest litter size (1.76),and the estrous months and estrus peak time mainly concentrated in October,so this stage in production could be used as breeding period of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats.     

间伐对杉木凋落物分解中生态化学计量的影响

以福建杉木人工林为研究对象,采用不同间伐强度(23%、32%、不间伐),研究间伐后不同密度样地内凋落物分解过程中的C、N、P含量及其化学计量比特征的影响。结果表明:(1)各处理叶和枝的C、N、P含量在整个分解过程中均以下降-上升的波动下降;凋落物分解1 a后,3种处理叶和枝的N、P含量以D2(弱度间伐)处理最低,叶C含量D2处理最低,枝C含量D1(强度间伐)处理最低,且D1和D2处理的叶C和叶N含量显著低于对照CK(P<0.05),D1处理的枝C含量显著低于D2和CK处理(P<0.05),3种处理的枝N含量有显著差异(P<0.05);(2)凋落物分解1 a后,2种间伐密度处理的叶和枝C︰N与对照处理CK有显著差异(P<0.05),3种处理之间叶和枝的C︰P、N︰P无显著差异(P>0.05);(3)叶C与叶N、叶C︰N,叶N与叶P均呈显著正相关,叶C与叶P呈极显著正相关;叶C︰N与叶N︰P呈显著负相关;枝C与枝P,枝N与枝N︰P呈显著正相关;枝C︰N与枝N︰P呈显著负相关;枝N与枝C︰N,枝P与枝C︰P呈极显著负相关。弱度间伐在分解240 d显著增加了枝C︰N和枝C︰P,在分解360 d时显著降低了叶C︰N,增加了枝C︰N;在整个分解过程中,弱度间伐处理对N︰P无显著影响。强度间伐在凋落物分解60 d显著降低了枝C︰N、枝C︰P和枝N︰P,在分解300 d显著降低了叶C︰P,在360 d显著降低了枝C︰N;在整个分解过程中,强度间伐对叶N︰P无显著影响。     

喀斯特森林不同地形凋落物现存量及养分特征

分析茂兰喀斯特森林不同地形条件下,凋落物层现存量和主要养分元素含量、储量及其释放特征,以及与土壤理化性质相关关系,为探讨茂兰喀斯特森林生态系统的养分循环机制提供理论依据。在贵州茂兰国家级喀斯特森林自然保护区内,从坡地、槽谷和漏斗3种典型地形的地表采集各分解层的凋落物和矿质土土壤样品,测定凋落物层的现存量和主要养分元素含量、储量、释放率,使用Pearson相关性分析,探究土壤理化性质与凋落物层现存量、养分元素含量之间的相关性。结果表明:1）不同地形之间以及不同分解层之间,凋落物层现存量差异较大,具体表现为坡地＞槽谷＞漏斗和已分解层＞半分解层＞未分解层。2）凋落物各分解层养分元素含量及储量均表现为C＞Ca＞N＞Mg＞K＞P,不同地形之间凋落物养分总储量存在显著差异,且均以坡地最高,各养分元素因地形和分解层的差异而表现出不同的释放率。3）凋落物现存量与土壤碳、氮含量、含水量、容重、pH之间存在显著相关性。表明地形对喀斯特森林凋落物养分释放分布特征及分解速率具有显著影响,其中坡地森林地表凋落物分解较快,营养元素循环周期较短。     

湖北太子山不同林分对降雨的截留作用研究

本文在湖北太子山选取柏木纯林、马尾松纯林、麻栎五角枫混交林、柏木红果冬青混交林和马尾松红果冬青混交林共5种林分作为研究对象,采用天然降雨监测的方法,研究5种林分林分林冠层、灌草层和枯落物层分别对降雨的截留作用。结果表明林场中阔叶混交林的水源涵养能力最强,其次为针阔混交林,最差的是针叶纯林。     

祁连山大野口流域青海云杉林苔藓枯落物及其土壤水热特征分析

为探讨森林生态系统中苔藓枯落物的生态属性与其下层土壤水热之间的关系,采用样地调查法及特征描述统计、相关系数等分析法,对祁连山大野口流域49块样地的青海云杉林苔藓枯落物及其土壤水热特征进行分析.结果表明:苔藓枯落物平均厚度(6.0±0.3)cm,平均含水率为(101.9±6.3)%;0~10、10~20、20~40、40~60、60~80cm土层深的土壤含水率平均值分别为(66.24±4.22)%、(57.62±3.23)%、(48.44±3.21)%、(42.81±6.48)%、25.89%,各土层温度平均值分别为(7.2±0.26)(5.2±0.27)(2.8±0.29)(2.0±0.61)(1.6±0.95)℃;苔藓枯落物厚度与海拔、坡向、坡度、胸径、树高、冠长、冠幅、郁闭度、土壤各层含水率和温度等因子均极弱相关,甚至认为不相关;苔藓枯落物含水率与海拔为中度正相关(P<0.05),与40~60cm深的土壤含水率存在显著正相关,与其温度成中度负相关.     

模拟酸雨与凋落物对柳杉幼苗根际土壤酶活性的影响

为了探讨酸雨和凋落物对柳杉Cryptomeria fortunei林地土壤酶活性的影响,以柳杉幼苗根际土壤为材料,采用酸雨(pH 4.0),凋落物(500 g·m-2)和酸雨与凋落物复合等3种处理,测定了短时间(30 d)和长时间(90 d)处理后土壤氧化还原酶和水解酶活性的变化。结果表明:酸雨和凋落物处理对土壤氧化还原酶活性具有不同的影响,酸雨对土壤硝酸还原酶活性无显著影响,凋落物极显著地提高其酶活性,复合处理极显著地降低其酶活性(P<0.01);3种处理均显著提高了土壤多酚氧化酶活性(P<0.05);复合处理对土壤过氧化物酶活性无显著影响,短时间酸雨和凋落物处理均对其具有抑制作用,长时间处理具有促进作用(P<0.05);凋落物处理对土壤过氧化氢酶活性表现为抑制作用,复合处理对其具有极显著促进作用(P<0.01)。在水解酶中,短时间3种处理和长时间复合处理均对土壤脲酶活性具有极显著促进作用(P<0.01);酸雨、长时间凋落物和复合处理对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性具有显著地抑制作用(P<0.05);酸雨和凋落物处理以及长时间复合处理均使土壤蛋白酶活性降低(P<0.05);长时间酸雨处理对土壤蔗糖酶活性具有显著抑制作用,复合处理和短时间凋落物处理具有促进作用(P<0.05)。酸雨和凋落物复合处理柳杉幼苗根际土壤,显著改变了两者对土壤酶活性的影响,说明酸雨和林地凋落物长时间并存,能够缓解两者对除土壤蛋白酶外其他土壤酶活性的不利影响,有助于改善土壤条件。     

An assessment of reproductive and lifetime performances of Kagoshima Berkshire gilts and sows

We investigated the reproductive and lifetime performances of Kagoshima Berkshire gilts and sows. We examined 20 605 parity records of 4419 pigs for 2008 to 2012 on a farrow‐to‐finish commercial farm. The mean parity (± SD) of all animals was 3.0 ± 2.1. For farrowing performance, the highest numbers of total pigs born and pigs born alive were found in sows with parities 5 and 6 and with parity 3–6, respectively (P < 0.05). Regarding weaning and mating performance, sows with parity 2 had the lowest preweaning mortality (P < 0.05). The longest weaning‐to‐first‐mating interval was found in parity 1 pigs, and the interval decreased as parity increased (P < 0.05). Parities 0 and 1 pigs had the lowest farrowing rate and those with parity 4 had the highest farrowing rate (P < 0.05). The mean parity at culling, total number of pigs born alive in a lifetime, and nonproductive days in a lifetime were 5.5 ± 2.93, 49.2 ± 24.72 pigs, and 132.1 ± 83.34 days, respectively. These animals had a lower litter size and fertility that the F₁ crossbred sows mainly used in Japan, but a similar tendency for performance by parity.     

黄土高原地区林地枯枝落叶层水土保持效应研究进展

枯枝落叶层是林地垂直结构中参与水文循环过程的重要作用层,在涵养水源和保持水土中发挥着重要作用。黄土高原经过20年植被快速恢复,枯落物覆盖使近地表植被特征和生态过程变化明显,这必将影响地表土壤水分入渗、产汇流等水文和土壤侵蚀过程。为全面掌握黄土高原地区林地枯枝落叶层的水土保持效应研究动态,系统回顾了林地枯枝落叶层在凋落动态、蓄积量变化、截留降雨、阻延地表径流、提高土壤抗蚀抗冲能力和增加土壤入渗等方面的研究历史。分析了目前林地枯枝落叶层研究中存在的若干问题,提出未来黄土高原地区应加强野外坡面枯落物原位长期监测和降雨试验研究,开展多地貌、多尺度研究,关注天然林和人工林枯枝落叶层水土保持功能的对比研究,以及水文物理过程模型建立和参数确定,并重视林地枯枝落叶层的保护和监管。