Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in captive nonhuman primates in zoos in Spain

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite, which can affect most warm-blooded species. Some species of non-human primates (NHPs) are highly susceptible to T. gondii infection. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in NHPs housed in zoos in Spain. Sera from 189 NHPs belonging to 33 species were collected in eight zoos. Additionally, 10 of the 189 animals were longitudinally sampled. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 48 NHPs (25.4%; confidence interval of 95% (CI_95%): 19.2–31.6) using a modified agglutination test (MAT; cut-off = 25). Seropositive animals had titers of 25 (6.3%), 50 (8.3%), 100 (8.3%) and ≥500 (68.8%). Seropositivity was detected in 15 of the 33 species (45.5%). Of the 10 NHPs sampled more than once, two animals (one Barbary macaque [Macaca sylvanus] and one common chimpanzee [Pan toglodytes]) seroconverted along the study period, while one seropositive chimpanzee increased antibody titers over time. The Hominidae family (OR = 5.9; CI_95%: 2.7–12.8) and sex (females) (OR = 2.1; CI_95%: 1.1–4.1) were risk factors potentially associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. Our results evince a widespread circulation of T. gondii in NHPs in zoos in Spain, which may be of conservation concern. Control measures should be implemented to minimize the risk of exposure of these species to T. gondii.     

藏北高原退化高寒草甸土壤团聚体有机碳变化特征

采用湿筛法对藏北高原退化高寒草甸表层(0~10cm)、亚表层(10~20cm)土壤团聚体有机碳及其变化进行了研究。结果表明,高原冷湿环境中退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC的下降幅度随草地退化加剧均趋于显著提高,轻度、严重退化草地表层各粒级SAOC降幅均明显高于亚表层;草地退化缩小了不同土层间SAOC含量的差异,草地退化程度越高则表层、亚表层间SAOC含量的差异越小,退化草地大团聚体(0.25mm)SOC、微团聚体(0.25mm)SOC含量的土层分布亦呈相同趋势。轻度退化草地不同土层大团聚体SOC降幅均较高,严重退化草地不同土层微团聚体SOC降幅则较高;正常草地、轻度退化草地、严重退化草地表层大团聚体SOC/微团聚体SOC比值分别为0.95,0.87,1.55,亚表层分别为0.96,0.72,2.33,表明轻度、严重退化草地中大团聚体SOC含量随土层加深分别更趋下降、更趋提高。退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC贡献率在总体上亦均按2~0.25 mm,2 mm,0.25~0.053mm,0.053mm的顺序依次大幅降低,表明不同土层大团聚体SOC贡献率均较高。土壤团聚体与SAOC、SOC与SAOC间的关系受草地退化程度的影响。     

贵州中部天然暖性草丛草地生产力变化和承载力分析

[目的]探讨放牧与围封对亚热天然暖性草丛草地生产力的影响并分析其草地承载力.[方法]以贵州中部龙里县亚热带天然暖性草丛草地为试验地区,连续调查2010～2012年草地生产力月、季和年动态,并对数据进行分析.[结果]放牧与围封条件下,贵州龙里暖性草丛草地植物现存量、牧草生长量均表现为先增加后减少的趋势,其峰值出现在8～10月份.围封明显提高天然草地的生产力,对天然草地植被组成改变不大.[结论]从草畜平衡的角度分析,贵州中部暖性草地适宜载畜量在3.45～4.66只羊/hm2时,具有良好的生态效益,在经济上可为农牧民所承受.     

Landscape Zonation, benefit functions and target-based planning: Unifying reserve selection strategies

The most widespread reserve selection strategy is target-based planning, as specified under the framework of systematic conservation planning. Targets are given for the representation levels of biodiversity features, and site selection algorithms are employed to either meet the targets with least cost (the minimum set formulation) or to maximize the number of targets met with a given resource (maximum coverage). Benefit functions are another recent approach to reserve selection. In the benefit function framework the objective is to maximize the value of the reserve network, however value is defined. In one benefit function formulation value is a sum over species-specific values, and species-specific value is an increasing function of representation. This benefit function approach is computationally convenient, but because it allows free tradeoffs between species, it essentially makes the assumption that species are acting as surrogates, or samples from a larger regional species pool. The Zonation algorithm is a recent computational method that produces a hierarchy of conservation priority through the landscape. This hierarchy is produced via iterative removal of selection units (cells) using the criterion of least marginal loss of conservation value to decide which cell to remove next. The first variant of Zonation, here called core-area Zonation, has a characteristic of emphasizing core-areas of all species. Here I separate the Zonation meta-algorithm from the cell removal rule, the definition of marginal loss of conservation value utilized inside the algorithm. I show how additive benefit functions and target-based planning can be implemented into the Zonation framework via the use of particular kinds of cell removal rules. The core-area, additive benefit function and targeting benefit function variants of Zonation have interesting conceptual differences in how they treat and trade off between species in the planning process.     

2011-2020年夏季全国草原净初级生产力时空变化及其气象影响评估

为评估2011—2020年夏季全国草地净初级生产力时空变化以及气象条件对净初级生产力的影响,本研究依据气象站逐日气象观测资料以及中分辨率成像光谱(Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer,MODIS)系列卫星资料遥感数据,分析了近10年夏季全国草地净初级生产力变化。结果表明:2011—2020年夏季全国草原净初级生产力总体呈现增加趋势,平均每年增加0.2 gC·m^-2·a^-1,内蒙古中部、甘肃东部、青海东部、西藏东部等地近10年草原净初级生产力明显增加。近10年全国大部草原区平均气温和降水量均呈增加趋势,较好的气象条件利于夏季牧草生长。2020年夏季全国草原区的气温和降水量也较常年偏高,北方草原区草地平均净初级生产力为121.3 gC·m^-2·夏季^-1,为近10年偏好年份。2011—2020年夏季全国草原净初级生产力呈增加趋势,较好的气象条件对其贡献较大。     

三江源退化高寒草原植物种间亲和性和土壤团聚体特征

为研究三江源地区不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤团聚体和种间亲和性特征,以轻度、中度、重度和极度退化草地为研究对象,对土壤特征和群落特征进行测定。结果表明：随着退化程度的加剧,同一土层相同粒径土壤颗粒的分形维数逐渐减小,>0.5 mm粒径土壤团聚体占比下降、平均重量直径减小,<0.5 mm粒径土壤颗粒的平均重量直径增大,各粒径团聚体分布受土层深度影响较小;中度退化草地物种多样性最高,其种间相关性也最为复杂;随退化程度加剧,正联结种对占比增大,而负联结种对占比下降,种对间的相关性和性质也发生显著变化;退化过程中土壤沙化明显,群落建群种发生变化、杂类草比例显著增加,种对间相关性趋于简单,种间竞争强度逐渐降低。因此,在草地退化过程中维持群落种间亲和性,可有效遏制土壤沙化和草原进一步退化。     

四川阿坝州草原畜牧业现状、存在问题及发展对策

介绍了阿坝州草原资源和畜牧业发展现状,论述了草原生态保护与畜牧业的关系,剖析了草原生态与畜牧业发展中存在的问题,并针对存在的问题提出了实现草原生态保护和畜牧业平衡发展的对策。     

陕北农牧交错带牧草生产力分析

根据陕北农牧交错带的生态环境特点以及牧草生长发育过程对水热资源的要求和利用效率,运用迈阿密模型定量估算陕北农牧交错带七县区牧草自然生产力。并与牧草现实生产力进行比较。研究表明:陕北农牧交错带牧草现实生产力仅为自然生产力的30.80%。基本掌握了该区牧草生产力状况和特点,并据此提出了相应的开发战略和实施途径。     

保护性耕作现状及发展趋势

在分析美国、加拿大、巴西、澳大利亚、欧洲等国家、地区和我国保护性耕作技术现状的基础上,阐明了保护性耕作是旱地农业发展的一条重要途径,并针对我国实际情况,提出了相关的建议.     

Determinants of income-earning strategies and adoption of conservation practices in hillside communities in rural Honduras

Based on the results of participatory diagnostic surveys conducted in 95 rural communities in the hillsides of Honduras, we determine income earning strategies at the community level; identify their main determinants; and analyze the adoption of of conservation practices. Eight income-earning strategies were distinguished that reflect differences in comparative advantage between communities. We explain the choice of income earning strategy using a multinomial logit model that includes biophysical, economic, social and institutional variables. We use a probit model to show that adoption of conservation practices is determined by the type of income earning strategy, population density, market access, and organizational variables.