Reproductive biology of the female Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (Stomatopoda) in relation to changes in the seasonal pattern of larval occurrence in Tokyo Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The reproductive traits and the monthly larval abundance of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2002. The goal of the study was to elucidate the cause of changes in the monthly pattern of larval abundance from the 1980s to the 1990s as these changes relate to variation in the stock size of the adult shrimp. Oogenesis was divided into 10 stages by histological observation. The developmental stage of oocytes in an individual's ovary was synchronous, suggesting that almost all the oocytes in an ovary are spawned at the same time. The size at first maturity was estimated to be 7 ≤ body length ( BL ) < 8 cm. Fecundity was expressed as a function of BL , ranging from 19 300 eggs for 8 cm BL to 92 100 eggs for 14 cm BL . Small female shrimps (<10 cm BL ) spawned around August. Most large female shrimps (≥10 cm BL ) spawned around May, and some large female shrimps also spawned until September. Although most large female shrimps spawned in spring, the larval abundance was low before July and high from August onwards. The results suggest that a substantial decrease in the stock size of large individuals causes the low larval abundance before July.     

亚龙湾海域生态旅游及环境保护

从地理位置、水质及沉积物、红树林、珊瑚礁海岸等方面介绍亚龙湾生态自然环境特点，分析其生态旅游发展现状、形式及成效，提出对亚龙湾生态环境保护的建议。     

人类活动对象山湾滩涂沉积物理化特征的累积效应

[目的]研究人类活动对象山湾滩涂沉积物理化特征的累积效应。[方法]选取象山湾沿岸滩涂沉积物作为供试材料,测定沉积物样品粒度特征、磁化率、总有机碳及硝态氮含量。[结果]象山湾滩涂沉积物粒径组成以粉粒为主,质地较为黏重,可塑性和保水性较好,透气性差,且沉积物粒径组成随深度变化明显;磁性物质的含量随着取样深度的增加而不断减少;有机物质含量较高,且随着取样深度的增加,有机质含量明显下降,但总体维持在较高水平;硝态氮含量随取样深度的增加总体呈上升趋势,波动明显。[结论]人类活动对象山湾滩涂影响较为明显,理化特征的累积效应在剖面上表现显著。     

香港行道树管理优化探讨

结合实际情况，分析香港市区行道树安全管理在综合管理措施、规划设计建设、种植养护技术等方面存在的不足，其管理观念及技术已经不符合当前绿化生态的理念及发展。继而针对性提出健全管理机构、优化技术措施、加强各部门的宏观协作等建议。     

First serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in wild birds in Northern Algeria

While the epidemiology of Flaviviruses has been extensively studied in most of the Mediterranean basin, little is known about the current situation in Algeria. In order to detect the circulation of West Nile (WNV) and Usutu viruses (USUV) in Kabylia, 165 sera were collected from two wild birds species, namely the long distance migrant Turdus philomelos (song thrush) (n = 92) and the resident Passer domesticus (house sparrow) (n = 73). A total of 154 sera were first analyzed by commercial competition ELISA. WNV and USUV micro-neutralization tests were performed on all c-ELISA positive sera and all samples with poor volume. Overall, 7.8 % (CI95 %: 3.5–11.9) were positive by c-ELISA. Positive results were detected in 12.5 % (CI95 %:5.6–19.4) of song thrushes and 1.5 % (CI95 %: 0.0–4.5) for sparrow.Micro-neutralization tests revealed an overall seroprevalence of 6.7 % for WNV (CI95 %: 2.9–10.3), Neutralizing antibodies were found in 8.7 % (CI95 %: 3.0–14.4) for song thrushes and in 4.1 % (CI95 %: 0.0–8.7) of sparrows. The current study demonstrates significant seroprevalence of WNV antibodies in wild birds in Algeria.     

Intensification or extensification? Factors affecting technology use in peri-urban lowlands along an agro-ecological gradient in West Africa

The paper analyses whether the increased use of lowlands in proximity to urban centres in West Africa is associated with technological intensification or extensification. Technologies are typified in terms of their orientation – land or labour saving – and market dependence for their procurement and reviews the factors driving and modifying their use in lowlands. The factors associated with technology use are analyzed empirically using geo-referenced lowland data around four urban centers along an ecological gradient in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. The technologies analyzed include both external inputs (fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, improved varieties) and crop management practices (plot level bunding, rice transplanting and rice direct seeding). Results from binomial logit models highlight the prominent positive and non-linear role of proximity to urban markets for the technological intensification of lowlands – an issue associated with factor scarcities and the transaction costs for procurement and marketing. Technology use in lowlands is also associated with the agro-ecological gradient, lowland development and non-native lowland users. A common thread linking these variables is that they modify resource scarcity and therefore intensification incentives. Lowlands are not always as valuable as they may seem and there may be limited incentives to intensify. Instances of significant lowland cultivation and intensification in the study sites tend to be associated with specific opportunities – driven by market opportunities and modified by seasonal, institutional or development-induced relative land scarcity. Market access is therefore a necessary but not sufficient factor for the technological intensification of lowland use. There is a need for better targeting of development efforts in terms of enabling lowland intensification or extensification as appropriate.     

Can carbon sequestration markets benefit low-income producers in semi-arid Africa? Potentials and challenges

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change allows a country that emits C above agreed-upon limits to purchase C offsets from an entity that uses biological means to absorb or reduce greenhouse emissions. The CDM is currently offered for afforestation and reforestation projects, but may apply subsequently to sequestration in agricultural soils. Additionally, markets outside of the Protocol are developing for soil C sequestration.     

非正规金融与家族企业发展——来自海峡西岸经济区的调查

通过调查发现非正规金融是海峡西岸经济区家族企业融资资金的重要来源,在家族企业发展过程中起着重要的作用,如何规范非正规金融促进其健康发展是人们关注的焦点。本文论述了非正规金融对家族企业发展的重要作用及存在的问题,并提出规范和引导非正规金融为家族企业服务的一些适配政策措施。     

敦煌西晋画像砖所绘“白象”形象溯源

敦煌佛爷庙湾西晋早期墓出土的白象画像砖,是佛教在当时被视为一种神秘性方术而存在的现实表现。本文对敦煌西晋画像所绘“白象”形象进行溯源,认为画像砖上的六牙白象应该是中国早期佛教朝着神秘主义方向发展的一个缩影。     

对口支援促进西部高校发展的实践与探索——以受援高校新疆农业大学为例

＂对口支援西部地区高等学校计划＂是促进教育区域协调发展的重要措施,是具有中国特色的促进欠发达地区教育发展的模式之一。通过对口支援,新疆农业大学在教学、科研、师资队伍建设等方面均取得了长足发展。新疆农业大学和支援高校间的援助实践表明,推动对口支援工作深入开展,需要提高思想认识,健全考核评价机制,形成支、受援高校双赢的长效机制,设立对口支援专项资金,发挥受援学校所在地行政部门的作用。