Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Protective effect of butylated hydroxylanisole against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic phenolic compound consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds: 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. We examined the effect of BHA against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. Cell viability was significantly decreased by H₂O₂ in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, H₂O₂ treatment increased Bax, decreased Bcl-2, and promoted PARP-1 cleavage in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with BHA before exposure to H₂O₂ significantly attenuated the H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability. H₂O₂ exposure resulted in an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with BHA or N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC, an ROS scavenger). H₂O₂-induced decrease of cell viability was also attenuated by pretreatment with BHA and NAC. Furthermore, H₂O₂-induced increase of Bax, decrease of Bcl-2, and PARP-1 cleavage was also inhibited by BHA. Taken together, results of this investigation demonstrated that BHA protects primary cultured mouse hepatocytes against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by inhibiting ROS generation.     

不同方法处理对4种野生草种发芽率的影响

试验采用了酸、碱、有机试剂、植物激素、热水浸泡、超声波以及擦破种皮等11种方法对4种野生草种进行处理。结果表明:所有方法处理对马唐的种子萌发均没有显著影响(P0.05);野豌豆种子在擦破种皮处理下,发芽率从1.11%提高到96.67%,达到极显著水平(P0.01),其他处理对野豌豆种子发芽率均无明显影响(P0.05);香附子和稗草种子在20%NaOH的方法处理下,发芽率分别从10%和2.22%提高到86.67%和58.33%,均达到极显著水平(P0.01);此外,1 000mg/L赤霉素浸种处理也可极显著提高香附子种子的发芽率(P0.01)。其他方法处理对香附子和稗草种子发芽率均无明显影响(P0.05)。不同野生草种的休眠特性不同,试验选用的马唐种子无休眠性;野豌豆种子需物理破皮;20%的NaOH和1 000mg/L赤霉素处理可打破香附子种子休眠;20%的NaOH处理能打破稗草种子休眠。     

The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China

Little has been published to describe or interpret Asian biodiversity hotspots, including those in the East Himalayan Mountains of Southwest China (HMSC), thus making necessary a review of the current knowledge. The Pliocene and Pleistocene geological and glacial histories of the Asian continent differ from those of Europe and North America, suggesting different mechanisms of speciation and extinction, and, thus, different responses to climate changes during the Quaternary glaciations. This short review summarizes potential drivers in shaping and maintaining high species richness and endemism of birds in the HMSC. The geographical location at the junction of different biogeographical realms, the wide range of habitats and climates along the extensive elevational range, the complex topography and the distinct geological history of this region have probably contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally species‐rich and endemic‐rich, specialized montane avian fauna. The Mountain systems in the HMSC may have provided refugia where species survived during the glacial periods and barriers for preventing species dispersal after the glacial periods. More studies are required to further test this refugia hypothesis by comparing more cold‐tolerent and warm‐tolerent species.     

Central venous blood gas and acid-base status in conscious dogs and cats

To determine the reference level of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO₂) and clinical efficacy of central venous blood gas analysis, partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, pH, oxygen saturation, base excess (B.E.) and HCO₃ concentration were compared between simultaneously obtained central venous and arterial blood samples from conscious healthy 6 dogs and 5 cats. Comparisons between arteriovenous samples were performed by a paired t-test and Bland-Altman analysis. Between arteriovenous samples, B.E. showed good agreement, but there were significant differences in other parameters in the dogs, and no good agreement was detected in cats. The ScvO₂ in dogs and cats were 82.3 ± 3.5 and 62.4 ± 13.5%, respectively. Central venous blood gas analysis is indispensable, especially in cats.     

Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Maxomys spp. (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sulawesi and Sumatra,Indonesia

The present report describes Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from two species of spiny rats, Maxomys musschenbroekii from Sulawesi and M. whiteheadi from Sumatra. It is characterized by a cephalic plate extending laterally with dorsoventral constriction and stumpy eggs with an operculum rim reaching pole. It is readily distinguishable by the former feature from all of hitherto known representatives of this genus in Indonesia, but it resembles parasites in Murini and Hydromyni rodents in continental Asia and Sahul. This is the first Syphacia species distributed in both the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with the exception of Syphacia muris, a cosmopolitan pinworm found in rodents of the of genus Rattus. It is surmised that S. maxomyos is specific to Maxomys and that it was introduced to Sulawesi by dispersal of some Maxomys from the Sunda Shelf.     

高原鼠兔干扰对达乌里秦艽繁殖特征的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)通过掘土和采食等行为对高寒草甸产生广泛的影响,从而影响高寒草甸植物的繁殖特征。本研究以高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸达乌里秦艽(Gentiana dahurica)为对象,采用野外调查法研究了高原鼠兔干扰对其繁殖特征的影响。结果表明,随着高原鼠兔干扰水平的增大,达乌里秦艽的地上生物量、株高、茎叶比、生殖枝数、营养枝数、花序数、花序生物量和单株种子产量均呈增加态势。干扰水平为Ⅰ(112±32)个·hm-2和Ⅱ(192±48)个·hm-2时,达乌里秦艽所同化的物质主要分配于同化器官叶中,以保证种群的生存;当干扰水平增大到Ⅲ(352±64)个·hm-2和Ⅳ(608±48)个·hm-2时,达乌里秦艽将其所同化的物质更多地分配于生殖生长,形成更多的生殖枝数、花序数和单株种子产量,从而提高了达乌里秦艽的繁殖能力,一定程度上解析了高原鼠兔过度干扰劣化高山嵩草草甸放牧品质的途径。     

青海高原禾草内生真菌资源的调查和分离

青海高原的高寒特性决定其生境内禾草植物的多样性和特异性,然而有关青海高原地区禾草内生真菌的研究报道较少,本研究对青海高原地区48个样点内禾草植物内生真菌带菌率和内生真菌分离进行了研究.结果表明,14种禾本科植物内生真菌平均感染率低于50％,而12种植物内生真菌平均感染率大于50％.其中,缘毛鹅观草(Roegneria pendulina)、紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)、醉马草(Achnatherum inebrians)、中华羊茅(Festuca sinensis)、硬质早熟禾(Poa sphondylodes)、微药羊茅(F.nitidula)、毛稃羊茅(F.kiritowii)和紫羊茅(F.rubra) 的平均带菌率均超过80％.同时,同属禾草植物内生真菌带菌率存在差异.禾草内生真菌分离率较低,其中紫花针茅、麦宾草(El ymus tangutorum)、光稃早熟禾(P.psiolepis)和异针茅(S.aliena)内生真菌在菌落和分生孢子形态上存在差异.可见,青海高原禾草内生真菌带菌率较高,同时不同禾草内生真菌可能存在多样性.     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

6种公路常绿植物叶面特性对滞尘效果的影响研究

通过选择6种具有代表性的道路常绿植物,应用接触角测定仪测定了不同树种叶片的接触角,通过扫描电镜观察比较了6种常绿植物的叶表面形态结构,分析其对滞尘能力的影响。试验结果表明常绿植物叶片正面接触角越大,滞尘能力越小;表面叶孔越多,粗糙度越大,滞尘能力越强。研究成果可为城市绿化树种的选择提供基础依据。