Management of Grazing Intensity in the Semi‐Arid Rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on Soil and Biodiversity

Overgrazing contributes to rangeland degradation altering plant community composition, erosion and biodiversity. Little unanimity in the literature exists on the effects of livestock grazing on soil carbon and biodiversity, in part, due to uncontrolled grazing pressure from native and feral animals. Paired paddock contrasts at three, long‐term (>8 years) study locations in the southern Australian rangelands were used to examine the effects of managing grazing intensity through the use of exclusion fencing and rotational grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (TN), ground cover and biodiversity (flora and invertebrates). Grazing management had no effect on SOC or TN on grey soils (Vertisols), but for red soils (Lixisols), significantly higher levels of SOC were found for both the 0 to 5 and 5 to 10‐cm soil depths (0·3% and 0·27% respectively) and associated with increased TN. We found strong and consistent relationships among SOC and higher perennial (p < 0·001), higher litter (p < 0·05) cover and close proximity to trees (p < 0·05). Managing grazing intensity resulted in significantly higher perennial ground cover (p < 0·001) on Vertisols (8·9 to 11%) and Lixisols (12·5 to 15%) and higher plant diversity (both native and exotic) but negatively impacted invertebrate diversity, indicating trade‐offs between production and resources. We provide evidence that the effects of grazing management on SOC are mediated by ground cover and increased organic matter supply and/or reduced soil carbon redistribution (erosion), which indicates that the management of grazing intensity may provide a tool to avoid soil carbon loss in rangelands. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MULTISLICE HELICAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES FOR CANINE EXTRA-HEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT ASSESSMENT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) multislice computed tomography (CT) angiography with maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) in six dogs with clinical and sonographic findings suggestive of portosystemic shunt. Furthermore, we aimed to estimate the diameter of the portal vein and shunt vessels. MIP and VR reconstructions were performed for each patient and the origin and insertion of all shunt vessels were detected. In addition, 3D reconstructions allowed excellent depiction of vascular morphology and topography. All diagnoses and vessel measurements were confirmed by surgery. 3D multidetector CT angiography is a promising, noninvasive, and accurate method of evaluating dogs with suspected portosystemic shunts.     

二月兰耐阴性的研究

用黑色遮阴网设置四种光强(全日照、全日照的33%、全日照的11%、全日照的3%),研究二月兰的耐阴性,结果表明:二月兰具有较典型阴生植物结构特点,其叶绿素含量随着光强降低而增加,叶绿素a/b则降低。二月兰对光照适应能力较强,全日照的3%下仍具有很高的观赏价值。但最适光照为全日照的33%。     

利用遥感技术监测锡林郭勒天然草原利用强度方法初探

利用多时相的遥感数据，对2005年锡林郭勒天然草原生长期放牧利用强度进行了信息提取、监测和制图。结果表明：在牧草生长季节，天然草原各旬度的利用强度与植被指数旬度变动系数成反比，并与降雨和植被长势时空分布格局相一致；放牧初期旬度变动系数下降4％左右，利用强度较轻，处于轻度过牧状态；6月中旬以后，旬度变动系数下降12％～20％之间，利用强度加重，处于中度超载过牧状态；8月下旬后植物生长停止，旬度变动系数下降27％左右，利用强度最重，处于重度超载过牧状态。遥感监测结果经过地面同步采集数据验证，监测精度达到79．6％。     

氮素水平与光强互作对‘蓝伞’玉簪生长和光合特性的影响

 以蓝灰类型玉簪‘蓝伞’（Hosta 'Blue Umbrella'）为材料，研究了4种光强（自然光照的100%、50%、30%、10%）和4种氮素水平（盆栽土施尿素量0、0.5、1.5和2.5 g·kg^-1）处理对玉簪生长和光合特性的影响。结果表明：‘蓝伞’玉簪的生长和光合特性受光强、氮素水平以及光氮互作的影响。在同一氮素水平下，随着光照强度的减弱，玉簪的生物量、叶面积、叶片数、光合速率及可溶性蛋白含量均表现先上升后下降的趋势，在30%～50%光强下达到最大值；叶绿素含量则随光强的减弱而增加。在同一光照强度下，随着氮素水平的升高，玉簪的生物量、叶面积、叶片数、光合速率及叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量均呈先上升后下降的趋势，在0.5 g·kg^-1氮素水平下达到最大值。     

Catecholamine and cortisol responses of horses to incremental exertion

The responses of the plasma concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol in horses to varied relative intensities of exertion were examined. The plasma concentrations of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine increased significantly (p<0.05) with exertion. The plasma cortisol concentrations at relative work intensities of 48.3%±1.4%, 82.3%±2.0% and 99.6%±0.4% of VO_2max were 114%, 124%, and 126%, respectively, of those at rest, whereas the plasma epinephrine concentrations were 239%, 772% and 3483%, and the norepinephrine concentrations were 138%, 255%, and 1121% of the values at rest. There was a significant (p<0.0001) relationship between the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations. The blood lactate concentration and the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were significantly (p<0.0001) related, as were the relative work intensity (%VO_2max) and the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations. The relationships between the plasma cortisol concentration and work intensity or blood lactate concentration were not significant (p>0.05). This study demonstrates a relationship between relative work intensity and indicators of adrenal medullary and sympathetic activity during brief exertion in horses.     

林火对长白山自然保护区风灾区土壤性质的影响

以2012年长白山国家级自然保护区西坡风灾区森林火灾为研究背景，采用常规土壤分析方法研究了不同火烧强度下土壤理化性质的变化情况．结果表明：火烧后土壤容重和土壤含水率随火烧强度的增强显著下降；0～6cm土壤pH，土壤有机质，土壤全C、全N、速效P、速效K质量分数经轻度和中度火烧后均呈显著增加趋势；在火烧强度因子的控制下，对各养分质量分数进行的偏相关分析显示，除土壤pH外，其他各养分间存在显著的相关性．     

利用微米木纤维定向重组技术形成超高强度纤维板的细胞裂解理论研究

采用人造板微观力学和木材细胞学理论，提出了一种利用定向重组微米木纤维技术形成超高强度人造板的细胞裂解理论和强度参数预测方法。应用提出的理论，可以根据纤维、木质素、细胞直径和排列的程度，建立理想状态下微米重组高强度定向纤维板木纤维细胞在定向重组微米技术形成超高强度人造板的细胞裂解理论，为人造板力学运用数学手段深入到细胞结构研究的深度提供了一种新的理论和方法。