Differential response to disturbance factors for the population of sympatric crocodilians (Gavialis gangeticus and Crocodylus palustris) in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary,India

1. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary along the Indo‐Nepal border in India harbours a well‐known breeding gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) population in its global distribution range together with a substantial population of breeding muggers (Crocodylus palustris). However, no systematic information on size and structure is available for either of the species' populations in the protected area.
2. This study was undertaken in winter and the ensuing summer of 2010–2011 to estimate the relative population density and structure of the two crocodilian species and to examine the effect of various disturbance factors, with the main focus on the effects of tourism and illegal fishing on the behavioural attributes of the two species.
3. Five daytime surveys were conducted from December 2010 to April 2011. Relative density based on encounter rate (number per 20 km) was highest for gharial juveniles followed by gharial adults and gharial sub‐adults in all the five surveys. Muggers, on the other hand, showed the opposite trend, with the lowest encounter rate being for juveniles, followed by sub‐adults and adults. The encounter rate of both species declined with increase in the mean ambient temperature from December to April.
4. The river habitat was divided into 2 km segments and disturbance factors were recorded at intervals of 100 m on both river banks. Wariness was taken as an indicator of response to disturbance caused by human beings and was measured from mechanized boats used for tourism and non‐mechanized boats used for illegal fishing.
5. Segments with sandbars, in spite of moderate to high disturbance rate, were preferred for basking by both species. In conclusion, with suitable habitat for basking, gharials and muggers were observed to tolerate moderate levels of disturbance. Wariness resulting from disturbances from the non‐mechanized boats was higher than that from the mechanized boats. Gharials tend to avoid humans, possibly with age/size acquired experience and knowledge, whereas muggers become more tolerant to human presence with increased age/size.
6. Despite many disturbance factors, the crocodilian population in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is doing relatively well compared with populations in other habitats in India. With the involvement of local stakeholders and strict implementation of forest laws, the habitat can be further improved and a healthy gharial population can be ensured.

     

千年桐苗木生长规律研究

以千年桐1年生播种苗为研究对象,对其苗高、地径的生长规律和苗高、地径与气象因子的关系等进行研究。试验结果表明：Logistic方程可较好地反映1年生千年桐的苗高、地径生长规律;日平均气温是影响苗高生长的主要气象因子,气象因子与地径生长关系不大。     

2010—2019年江苏省渔业船舶水上安全事故分析及对策建议

依据中国渔政指挥系统江苏省渔业船舶水上安全事故的统计资料,对2010—2019年事故的发生时间、事故起数、死亡人数、事故类型和事故等级等方面进行了统计分析。结果表明,江苏省渔业船舶水上安全事故以一般等级事故居多,事故发生时间呈现一定规律性,渔船自身安全隐患突出,从业人员岗位技能不足,渔船安全管理责任不到位。基于分析结果,提出压降一般等级事故,遏制较大等级以上事故,提高风险管控和事故防范能力的对策建议。     

离地高度可调的减振式履带驱动机构设计

履带式农田作业车由于其优异的通过性与稳定的行驶性能,被广泛使用于南方丘陵地区。针对传统履带底盘采用刚性悬架,无法调节离地高度,行驶时乘坐舒适性较差的问题,设计了一种离地高度可调的减振式履带驱动机构。该机构采用分离式设计,将整个驱动机构分为上层承载架与下层行驶架,通过在上、下层之间设置液压缸与弹性元件,达到在一定区间内调节车辆离地高度与减少车身振动的目的。通过对关键部件进行重点设计,并对其工作过程进行简要分析,该机构在理论上能达到设计要求。     

定苗时间对峦大杉1年生苗木生长的影响

探究定苗时间对峦大杉苗期生长动态与生长节律影响,优化定苗时间,为育苗提供理论与技术支持。以当年生峦大杉幼苗为试验材料,开展不同定苗时间试验,采用定株观测并应用Logistic方程拟合生长动态的方法,分析定苗时间对苗木生长动态和生长节律的影响效应。研究结果表明,定苗时间影响苗高地径生长效应随处理时间推移而显现,是个动态过程。Logistic方程能够很好地拟合峦大杉苗木生长。定苗时间显著影响苗高、地径线性生长速率、最大线性生长速率和线性生长量,但对苗高地径线性生长始期、终期、线性生长持续期无显著性影响;苗高生长初期定苗较其他处理显著提高苗高和地径的线性生长量线性生长速率、最大线性生长速率,建议增加速生期的养分和水分供给以提高苗木质量。峦大杉合理定苗时间是苗高生长初期（6月30日）。     

草地贪夜蛾缅甸虫源迁入中国的路径分析

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E. Smith)对非洲和南亚国家的入侵已对全球粮食安全造成重大影响,该虫2018年年底已在缅甸形成虫源基地,并零星进入中国云南西南部地区。本文利用历史数据分析了缅甸和华南地区春、夏两季(3-8月)925 hPa夜间平均风温场,并模拟预测了缅甸地区草地贪夜蛾在此期间进入中国的迁飞轨迹以及主要降落和波及的地区。结果表明:3-4月盛行的微弱西风不利于远距离迁移,但成虫的自主飞行可形成对云南和广西局部地区的近距离入侵;进入5月份后,随着西南夏季风的加强,云南和广西全境成为缅甸虫源的主要迁入地,并可能波及贵州、广东、海南和湖南等省。因此,4月份之前要重点监控云南和广西地区草地贪夜蛾的发生与为害,此后,应将监控区域扩大至中国中南部地区的各个省份。     

Shedding light on the migratory patterns of the Amazonian goliath catfish,Brachyplatystoma platynemum,using otolith 87Sr/86Sr analyses

1. In the Amazon, migratory catfishes of the genus Brachyplatystoma are apex predators that are important for fisheries and conservation. The life cycle of Brachyplatystoma platynemum Boulenger, 1898 is poorly known, although it has been hypothesized to be very similar to that of Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii Castelnau, 1855, which uses the entire length of the Amazon basin to complete its life cycle (from the Andes to the estuary). This study provides the first data on the migratory patterns of B. platynemum at the individual level using otolith microchemistry.
2. In total, 94 individuals were sampled close to major breeding areas in the Amazon basin (78 fish from the middle and upper Madeira River and 14 fish from the upper Amazon), and their lifetime movements were assessed by measuring variations in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr along transverse sections of their otoliths (ear stones), using laser ablation multi‐collector mass spectrometry (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS).
3. The migrations of B. platynemum are not as extensive as those of B. rousseauxii, and do not involve natal homing. Furthermore, the estuary is not a nursery area, at least for fish hatched in the Madeira. Nevertheless, B. platynemum migrates several thousand kilometres within the Amazon basin, with transboundary displacements between at least Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
4. Current and planned hydroelectric development in the Amazon basin will severely disrupt both migration and access to breeding grounds, ultimately affecting the recruitment and population dynamics of these apex predators.
5. The conservation of B. platynemum is crucial for the stability of the Amazonian aquatic food webs. This requires building effective fish passage on the two existing Madeira dams and considering alternative options to the large‐scale hydropower development in the Amazon basin.

     

Upstream migration of the anadromous sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758) in a highly impounded river: Impact of low‐head obstacles and fisheries

1. Fisheries and the presence of low‐head obstacles are considered major threats for anadromous lampreys, including the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Nonetheless, research is still needed to increase our understanding of their effect and to implement effective conservation and management measures. Petromyzon marinus receives conservation protection in Europe through the Bern Convention and the European Habitats Directive and is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in Spain.
2. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of low‐head obstacles and fisheries on the spawning migration of P. marinus in the highly impounded River Ulla (in north‐west Spain). Nineteen lamprey were radio‐tracked in 2012 and 2013, and historical data (2002–16) on fishing captures were analysed (n = 25 607) to provide a population‐level approach.
3. The retention of individuals by low‐head obstacles, including pesqueiras constructed for lamprey fishing, and extraction by fisheries at those structures, caused a significant reduction of migrants upstream of each impoundment (mean: 24% individuals per obstacle). A delay in migration (mean: 6.3 days per obstacle) seems to be an important limiting factor for lamprey conservation in this river. Thus, based on the recorded delay, lamprey would need c. 5 months to pass the 23 obstacles present before reaching the first spawning areas and 9.5 months to cover the accessible river section (45 obstacles), which is far longer than the 3–5 months of spawning migration of P. marinus in this river.
4. Consequently, obstacle removal or permeabilization should be prioritized for lamprey conservation in this river. This would reduce migration delay, the retention of individuals, and the catchability of lamprey at pesqueiras (with alternative routes to avoid traps). Basic information on fisheries management is still lacking, especially on stock exploitation rates and on lamprey population status and dynamics. Future studies should also investigate the role of lamprey exchange between basins (a lack of homing) in the resilience of lamprey populations.

     

Fishing for conservation of freshwater tropical fishes in the Anthropocene

1. The ecosystem services provided by freshwater biodiversity are threatened by development and environmental and climate change in the Anthropocene.
2. Here, case studies are described to show that a focus on the shared dependence on freshwater ecosystem functioning can mutually benefit fisheries and conservation agendas in the Anthropocene.
3. Meeting the threat to fish biodiversity and fisher livelihood is pertinent in developing regions where there is often a convergence between high biodiversity, high dependency on aquatic biota and rapid economic development (see Kafue River, Logone floodplain, Tonle Sap, and Rio Negro case studies).
4. These case studies serve as evidence that biodiversity conservation goals can be achieved by emphasizing a sustainable fisheries agenda with partnerships, shared knowledge and innovation in fisheries management (see Kafue River and Kenai River case studies).
5. In all case studies, aquatic biodiversity conservation and fisheries agendas are better served if efforts focused on creating synergies between fishing activities with ecosystem functioning yield long‐term livelihood and food security narratives.
6. A unified voice from conservation and fisheries communities has more socio‐economic and political capital to advocate for biodiversity and social interests in freshwater governance decisions.