A reovirus disease in cultured mud crab, Scylla serrata, in southern China

A reovirus, designated mud crab reovirus (MCRV), associated with large economic losses was recently isolated from marine cultured mud crab, Scylla serrata, in southern China. The complete viral particle is 70 nm in diameter, icosahedral and non-enveloped. The virus infects connective tissue cells of the hepatopancreas, gills and intestine in mud crab and develops in the cytoplasm. Hundred per cent mortality was observed in mud crab experimentally infected by intramuscular injection, bath inoculation and oral inoculation, while cohabitation infection caused 80% mortality. The viral genome consists of 13 linear dsRNA segments, with an electrophoretic pattern 1/5/7. The results of this study suggest that the virus is highly pathogenic and can be transmitted enterically as well as via the body surface of mud crab. Although the genomic organization of this virus is different from that of the other crab reoviruses, CcRV-W2 and DpPV, all three of these reoviruses have similar electrophoresis patterns. Therefore, MCRV may be a new member of the DpPV and CcRV-W2 group.     

Analysis of Spectral Characteristics Based on Optical Remote Sensing and SAR Image Fusion

Because of cloudy and rainy weather in south China, optical remote sens-ing images often can＇t be obtained easily. With the regional trial results in Baoying, Jiangsu province, this paper explored the fusion model and effect of ENVISAT/SAR and HJ-1A satel ite multispectral remote sensing images. Based on the ARSIS strat-egy, using the wavelet transform and the Interaction between the Band Structure Model （IBSM）, the research progressed the ENVISAT satel ite SAR and the HJ-1A satel ite CCD images wavelet decomposition, and low/high frequency coefficient re-construction, and obtained the fusion images through the inverse wavelet transform. In the light of low and high-frequency images have different characteristics in differ-ent areas, different fusion rules which can enhance the integration process of self-adaptive were taken, with comparisons with the PCA transformation, IHS transfor-mation and other traditional methods by subjective and the corresponding quantita-tive evaluation. Furthermore, the research extracted the bands and NDVI values around the fusion with GPS samples, analyzed and explained the fusion effect. The results showed that the spectral distortion of wavelet fusion, IHS transform, PCA transform images was 0.101 6, 0.326 1 and 1.277 2, respectively and entropy was 14.701 5, 11.899 3 and 13.229 3, respectively, the wavelet fusion is the highest. The method of wavelet maintained good spectral capability, and visual effects while improved the spatial resolution, the information interpretation effect was much better than other two methods.     

Estimating harvest costs and projecting quantities of logging residues for small-scale forestry in Nasushiobara,Tochigi Prefecture,Japan

We used GIS on a regional scale to estimate and compare supply potentials and costs of small-scale logging systems, a mini-forwarder and a 4-ton truck operated by private logging contractors, and manual logging and a light truck operated by individual forest own- ers, with the mechanized operational system of the Forest Owners＇ Asso- ciation. Total potential yields of timber and logging residues were esti- mated as 418,895 m3 and 254,962 m3, respectively. The economic bal- ances were estimated and available amounts were projected as supply potentials from profitable sub-compartments. As a result, available amounts of timber and logging residues were estimated at 375,466 m3 （89.9%） and 203,850 m3 （80.0%）, respectively. Because their transport expenses were lower than for other systems the most profitable sub-compartments were operated by private logging contractors who sold logging residues at a plant. The profitable sub-compartments operated by individual forest owners were few because the extracting distances were usually greater than 20 m. Raising logging residue prices from 3,000 yen·m-3 to 4,080 yen·m-3 or 6,800 yen·m-3, and establishing forest roads, which reduced some extracting distances to less than 20 m, increased the number and area of profitable sub＊compartments, and increased available amounts of logging residues.     

Detecting changes in habitat-scale bee foraging in a tropical fragmented landscape using stable isotopes

As the body of research on the ecosystem service of pollination grows, our ability to tackle a range of agricultural, conservation, and land management issues is limited by our understanding of pollinator foraging patterns and requirements. In particular, better knowledge of which habitats bees utilize for foraging over their lifetime would inform a range of applied and theoretical questions. Traditional methods of studying foraging are either impractical for insects (e.g. radio tracking) or else are limited spatially or temporally (e.g. observations by researchers). Here we describe a method for using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen from bee tissues to gain an integrated signal of which habitats a bee has foraged in over its lifetime, using three species of social stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) in a fragmented tropical forest landscape in southern Costa Rica as a test case.     

Modeling spatial variability in the life-cycle costs of low-volume forest roads

Cost estimation is probably the most decisive factor in the process of computer-aided, preliminary planning for low-volume road networks. However, the cost of construction is normally assumed to be route-independent for a specific project area, resulting in sub-optimal layouts. This is especially true for mountainous terrain and in areas with unstable subsoil. Here, we present a model for more accurately estimating spatial variability in road life-cycle costs, based on terrain surface properties as well as geological properties of the subsoil. This parametric model incorporates four structural components: embankment, retaining structures, pavement, and drainage and stream-crossing structures. It is linked to a geo-database that allows users to derive location-specific parameter values as input. In applying this model, we have demonstrated that variability in costs ranges widely for mountainous areas, with the most expensive construction being approximately five times greater there than on more favorable sites. This variability strongly affects the optimal layout of a road network. First, when location-specific slope gradients are considered, costs are reduced by about 17% from those calculated via currently available engineering practices; when both slope gradient and geotechnical formations are included, those costs are decreased by about 20%. Second, the length of the road network is increased by about 4% and 10% respectively, compared with current practices.