Reduced effective population size in an overexploited population of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Unchecked exploitation of wildlife resources is one of the major factors influencing species persistence throughout the world today. A significant consequence of exploitation is the increasing rate at which genetic diversity is lost as populations decline. Recent studies suggest that life history traits affecting population growth, particularly in long-lived species, may act to moderate the impact of population decline on genetic variation and lead to remnant populations that appear genetically diverse despite having passed through substantial demographic bottlenecks. In this study we show that the retention of genetic variation in a partially recovered population of Nile crocodile is deceptive, as it masks the reality of a significant decline in the population’s effective size (N_e). Repeated episodes of unchecked hunting in the mid to late 20th century have today led to a five-fold decrease in the population’s N_e. Using current census data we estimate the contemporary N_e/N ratio as 0.05 and, in light of quotas that permit the ongoing removal of adults, simulated the likely effects of genetic drift on extant levels of variation. Results indicate that even if the current effective size is maintained, both allelic diversity and heterozygosity will decline. Our findings have complex implications for long-lived species; an emphasis on the retention of genetic variation alone, whilst disregarding the effects of population decline on effective size, may ultimately obscure the continued decline and extinction of exploited populations.     

Animal breeding systems and big game hunting: Models and application

We apply an age- and stage-structured model incorporating varying harem sizes, paternal care and infanticide to examine the effect of hunting on sustainability of populations. Compared to standard carnivore and herbivore models, these models produce different outcomes for sustainable offtake when either adults, or adult males are harvested. Larger harem size increases sustainable offtake whereas paternal care and infanticide lowers it. Where males are monogamous, populations are vulnerable to male offtake, regardless of paternal care. Surprisingly, an incidental take of 10% of other age-sex-classes has very little effect on these findings. Indiscriminate (subsistence) hunting of all age-sex classes has a dramatic effect on certain populations. Applying these behavior-sensitive models to tourist hunting in the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania, we find that across the Reserve hunting quotas were generally set at sustainable rates except for leopard (Panthera pardus). In certain hunting blocks within the Reserve, however, quotas for eland (Taurotragus oryx), hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), lion (Panthera leo), reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) are set at unsustainably high rates. Moreover, particular blocks are consistently awarded high quotas. Behaviorally sensitive models refine predictions for population viability, specify data required to make predictions robust, and demonstrate the necessity of incorporating behavioral ecological knowledge in conservation and management.     

Population size and specific potential of P-mineralizing and -solubilizing bacteria under long-term P-deficiency fertilization in a sandy loam soil

The effects of organic manure, mineral fertilizer (NPK), and P-deficiency fertilization (NK) on the individual biomass of young wheat plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization in wheat root systems, population sizes of soil organic phosphorus mineralizing bacteria (OPMB) and inorganic phosphate solubilizing bacteria (IPSB) as well as soil P-mineralization and -solubilization potential were investigated in a long-term (18-year) fertilizer experiment. The experiment included five treatments: organic manure, an equal mixture of organic manure and mineral fertilizer, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NK, and the control (without fertilization). Plant biomass, population sizes of soil OPMB and IPSB were greatly increased (P<0.05) by the application of organic manure and slightly increased by the balanced application of mineral fertilizer, while undiminished AM colonization in wheat root system was only observed in the case of the NK treatment. Compared to balanced fertilization, P-deficiency fertilization resulted in a significant increase (P<0.05) of OPMB-specific mineralization potential (soil P-mineralization potential per OPMB cell) and highest IPSB-specific solubilization potential (soil P-solubilization potential per IPSB cell), suggesting that OPMB and IPSB are likely more metabolically active in P-deficiency fertilized soils after long-term fertilizer management, and mycorrhizal plants are more dependent on AM in P-poor soils than in P-fertilized soils. Our results also showed the different effects of mineral fertilizer versus organic manure on soil P-mineralization and -solubilization potentials, as well as specific potentials of OPMB and IPSB in arable soils.     

Trends and controls of Holocene floodplain sedimentation in the Rhine catchment

Holocene floodplain sedimentation in the Rhine catchment is controlled by human and climate impacts. Intricate river behaviour modifies the fluvial response to the external impacts making cause–effect analysis difficult, especially on large spatial scales. To better understand the relative importance and interdependencies of external and internal controls, temporally resolved floodplain sedimentation rates are established using three different methods: i) floodplain storage studies on the trunk stream, ii) depth/age-analysis of overbank deposits from different parts of the catchment and iii) cumulative frequency distributions of ¹⁴C-ages from floodplain deposits from various parts of the catchment. The applied methodology strongly differs with the available temporal resolution and the size of the corresponding catchment. All three methods show a strong increase in sedimentation rate for more recent periods that can be linked to increasing human impact. Evidences for climate impacts and intricate river behaviour are less clear and hindered by insufficient temporal resolution of the currently available data.     

增加家蚕微粒子病母蛾抽样检查集团蛾数的探讨

在农村原蚕区不断扩大 ,蚕种检验批增多的情况下 ,研究在不影响检种质量的前提下减少检种工作量的抽样检查方法十分必要。提出了在家蚕微粒子病母蛾集团检查中接收概率的近似公式 ,以及增加集团母蛾数 ,减少镜检次数的设想。通过接收概率和平均检查次数的计算、计算机模拟、实际检查操作 ,以及与现行方法的比较 ,证明了接收概率的近似公式的适用性 ,同时也表明集团母蛾数为 6 0蛾的抽样方案与现行集团母蛾数为 30蛾的抽样方案的生产方风险和使用方风险基本相同 ,而平均检查次数大大减少 ,从而证明了其可行性。在检验错误较多情况下 ,这种方法的风险也较大 ,使用时应谨慎。     

新疆旅游饭店等级、规模、空间结构的分析与对策

旅游饭店的档次结构、规模结构和空间结构特征是衡量旅游饭店业和地区旅游业供给特征的重要指标。本文从档次、规模、空间分布等多角度分析新疆旅游涉外饭店的发展现状 ,发现新疆旅游饭店的产业规模逐渐扩大的同时 ,旅游饭店等级、规模及空间结构等却存在诸多不合理性。从国内外旅游饭店业发展的经验分析 ,如果不妥善处理这种不合理性 ,将会影响新疆旅游饭店业的健康发展     

自身阳离子型松香施胶剂及其施胶性能

以两条路线分别合成了自身阳离子型的N-(3-松香酰氧-2-羟)丙基-N,N,N-三甲基氯化铵和N-(3-松香酰氧-2-羟)丙基-N,N,N-三乙基氯化铵,并对其性能进行了简单分析和评价。结果表明,虽然这两种松香季铵盐具有较高的Zeta电位,能够不依赖于矾土的“架桥”作用而吸附于纸张的纤维表面,但是由于在合成中向松香分子上引入了较强的亲水基团,使其疏水性能下降,成纸施胶度较低,且耐老化性能略有下降,加上合成过程使成本增加,松香季铵盐不适于作施胶剂产品主要成分。     

几种培养因子对喹诺酮类药物抑制体外嗜水气单胞菌活性的影响

研究了培养基酸碱度(pH)、镁离子(Mg2+)、细菌接种量及小牛血清对4种喹诺酮药物抑制鱼类体外病原菌嗜水气单胞菌Aeromonashydrophila的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC)的影响。结果表明,当pH为7和8时,4种药物的MIC和MBC均最小,当pH升高或降低时,MIC和MBC均明显升高,抑菌活性明显降低。Mg2+对4种药物的体外抗菌活性均有不同程度的影响,随着Mg2+浓度的升高,环丙沙星和恩诺沙星的MIC和MBC均升高;当Mg2+浓度为0～2 0mg/mL时,二氟沙星的MIC无明显变化;Mg2+浓度为1 0mg/mL时,二氟沙星的MBC由0 8μg/mL上升到3 2μg/mL,单诺沙星的MIC为0 00625μg/mL,但随着Mg2+浓度的增加,MIC和MBC均有升高。细菌接种量为102～105CFU/mL时,环丙沙星和二氟沙星的MIC和MBC均无变化,只有当菌数增至106CFU/mL时,MIC和MBC才开始随着接种细菌量的增加而增加。血清能明显降低4种喹诺酮类药物的体外抑菌活性。     

巴音布鲁克羊生长规律的研究

选择0～6月龄的纯种巴音布鲁克羊羔羊和巴音布鲁克羊经济杂交羔羊,在自然放牧状态下,观察羔羊生长规律及经济杂交效果。通过对母羊妊娠后期进行补饲,研究补饲对羔羊产后生长的影响。结果表明,巴音布鲁克羊从出生到6月龄的过程中,2～3月龄增长最快,其次是1～2月龄、0～1月龄;4～5月龄体重下降,5～6月龄又开始增加。妊娠后期母羊补饲对羔羊产后生长没有明显影响,经济杂交羔羊杂交优势明显,公、母羔羊累计生长体重均极显著高于纯种巴音布鲁克羔羊。所以根据羔羊生长规律,加强羔羊生长高峰期营养和管理,是提高巴音布鲁克羊经济效益的重要措施。