Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

Evaluation of truncated LipL32 expressed by Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris for serodiagnosis of Leptospira infection in rodents

The applicability of the recombinant LipL32 for serodiagnosis of leptospiral infection in field rodents was assessed in this study. An immunodominant region of LipL32 was determined by monoclonal antibodies, and then, truncated LipL32 (tLipL32) was designed to contain the region (87–188th amino acid). The tLipL32 was compared between two recombinant expression hosts Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris in ELISA. With field rat sera, tLipL32 expressed by P. pastoris (tLipL32p) had high antigenicity without background reactions, while tLipL32 expressed by E. coli (tLipL32e) showed high background reactions, which were reduced by pre-adsorption of sera with E. coli. To evaluate tLipL32-ELISA, field rat sera were tentatively divided into a Leptospira infection positive (12 sera) and a negative group (12 sera) based on the results from flaB gene PCR of kidney samples and WB with whole Leptospira cell. Consequently, the sensitivity of tLipL32p-ELISA for field rat sera was 83% . A similar result was obtained from tLipL32e-ELISA with adsorbed sera, (92%). However, sensitivity of tLipL32e-ELISA using sera without an adsorption treatment was 50%. Regardless of the expression host, tLipL32-ELISA had 100% specificity and sensitivity in experimentally infected laboratory rats. These results suggest that recombinant LipL32 expressed by P. pastoris is more applicable for serodiagnosis in field rats due to a lack of background reaction.     

路灯照射对大豆生长发育和产量的影响

通过对淮北市五马路沿线2块夏大豆的田间调查分析表明:受路灯照射的影响,夏大豆株高增加,开花期、成熟期推迟,底荚部位上升,单株生产力下降.且距离越近,植株越高,开花、成熟越晚,底荚部位越高,单株生产力越低.     

黑豆色素的研究进展

本文综述了近年来黑豆色素的研究进展.提出了综合开发利用的前景.     

Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

气力轮式精密排种器大豆充种过程试验研究

采用均匀设计和高速摄像方法,研究气力轮式精密排种器在常压和加气条件下大豆种子在充种过程中的运动。试验结果表明:常压下,充种角小于45o时,种子面随充种包角增加而提高,无带动层;充种角大于45o时,排种轮上部出现带动层,带动层种子随排种轮转动到达清种位置;气力条件下,吹嘴进口压力>1.0kPa时,在充填区上部逐渐形成一个比较明显的回旋流动区,种子群在该区域形成沿逆时针方向运动的种子环流群,扩大了种子的充填范围。     

负压供水下盆栽大豆叶片的光合生理研究

试验采用一种自制装置,在负压灌溉原理的基础上,通过设置一系列供水吸力梯度,结合盆栽方式对大豆叶片叶绿素含量、光合及荧光参数的变化进行了研究.结果表明:供水吸力增加,土壤重量含水量下降,大豆叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)含量降低,类胡萝卜素(Car)含量增加; 吸力处理在50～70 hPa时光合参数均保持在较高的水平,气孔限制是光合速率(P n)下降的主要原因,120、140 hPa处理时非气孔限制起主要作用;随着光强(PAR)的增加,电子传递速率(ETR)增加,实际光量子产量(Yield)与光化学淬灭(qP)下降,非光化学淬灭(qN)上升,4个处理中50 hPa吸力下的大豆叶片活性较高.     

半干旱区坡耕地抗旱保水技术集成对大豆水分利用效率的影响

黑龙江省西部半干旱区属典型的东北黑土区,为我国重要的商品粮生产基地。然而,由于地形地貌、气候条件的复杂多变,降水的时空分布不均,以及人类的长期干预造成的生态环境的改变,致使该区连年干旱。干旱及水土流失已成为制约该区经济发展的主要因素。根据黑龙江省西部半干旱区的自然特点,选取了坐水播种和苗期补灌2种抗旱节水技术和垄向区田保水技术,在甘南县国家863试验基地研究了该3项技术的集成对WUE的影响。结果表明,该项技术可以显著的提高大豆的WUE值。     

60%吡福甲大豆超微粉体种衣剂的应用效果研究

通过对60%吡福甲大豆超微粉体种衣剂的试验,进一步验证了该种衣剂的防治效果。其对根腐病防效达74%,对孢囊线虫的防效达70%。与胶体种衣剂相比,减少农药使用量达53.4%,节约农药成本47%;与粉体种衣剂相比,减少农药使用量达37%,节约农药成本达49%。