Mangroves as indicators of coastal change

In view of the unique biological characteristics of mangroves, it is interesting to assess the extent to which these ecosystems can be used as indicators of coastal change or sea-level rise. From recent studies of mangrove mortality at several locations (including Guiana, Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, India and Bangladesh), it appears that these coastal ecosystems are so specialized that any minor variation in their hydrological or tidal regimes causes noticeable mortality. Each species of mangrove (but particularly those belonging to the genera Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Sonneratia, Heritiera and Nypa) occurs in ecological conditions that approach its limit of tolerance with regard to salinity of the water and soil, as well as the inundation regime. If the duration of daily immersion were to be modified by tectonic, sedimentological or hydrological events, the species either readjusts to the new conditions or succumbs to unsuitable conditions. Consequently, the use of remote sensing data for mangrove ecosystems offers excellent potential as a tool for monitoring coastal change.     

Some determinants of the spatio-temporal fire cycle in a mediterranean landscape (Corsica,France)

Based on recent needs to accurately understand fire regimes and post-fire vegetation resilience at a supra-level for carbon cycle studies, this article focusses on the coupled history of fire and vegetation pattern for 40 years on a fire-prone area in central Corsica (France). This area has been submitted since the beginning of the 20^th century to land abandonment and the remaining land management has been largely controlled by frequent fires. Our objectives were to rebuild vegetation and fire maps in order to determine the factors which have driven the spatial and temporal distribution of fires on the area, what were the feed backs on the vegetation dynamics, and the long-term consequences of this inter-relationship. The results show a stable but high frequency of small fires, coupled with forest expansion over the study period. The results particularly illustrate the spatial distribution of fires according to topography and vegetation, leading to a strong contrast between areas never burnt and areas which have been burnt up to 7 times. Fires, when occuring, affect on average 9 to 12% of the S, SE and SW facing slopes (compared to only 2 to 5% for the N facing slopes), spread recurrently over ridge tops, affect all the vegetation types but reburn preferentially shrublands and grasslands. As these fire-proning parameters have also been shown to decrease the regeneration capacity of forests, this study highlights the needs in spatial studies (both in terms of fire spread and vegetation dynamic) to accurately apprehend vegetation dynamic and functionning in fire-prone areas.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

关中西部四灌区旱情规律分析

为给关中西部灌区水资源合理调控提供依据，在简述干旱及其分类的基础上，指出了关中西部各类干旱多源于气象干旱。对该区7个气象站的年降水进行分析表明，各气象站年降水量的变差系数均为0．25，偏态系数均为0．5。以兴平气象站作为代表站对不同历时的旱情进行了分析，结果显示11月到来年2月发生重旱和特旱的概率较大，在30％左右，特别是12月份，概率达54％，且以特旱为主；7、8月份以中旱和重旱为主；夏玉米播前发生特旱的概率较高，达27％，拔节孕穗和抽穗开花期以特旱为主，概率达33％；冬小麦的越冬和麦黄期以特旱为主，发生概率在30％左右。     

黑河流域荒漠地区梭梭人工林地土壤水分动态研究

梭梭林地土壤剖面的含水量与裸沙地含水量显著不同 ,裸沙地土壤含水量随深度增加而增加 ,林地在 30～ 12 0cm范围内有较高的含水量 ;林地 0～ 30cm的上层土壤含水量受降雨及蒸发的剧烈影响 ,30～ 2 0 0cm范围内的林地土壤各测量层平均含水量与其标准差有二次函数的关系 ;降雨对每月的 0～ 2 0 0cm的土壤贮水量没有明显的影响 ,说明降雨多数在当月就被蒸散和深层渗漏所消耗 ;认为梭梭人工林这种脆弱生态系统能够在严酷的环境条件下存在 ,其根系对土壤水和地下水有吸水和释水的再分配功能是重要的因素之一     

Modelling optimal timing and frequency of insecticide sprays for knockdown in preparation for other control measures

A modelling investigation was conducted into optimizing the number of sprays and inter-spray interval to reduce an insect population to a low level, for example, prior to pheromone trapping or the release of sterile males. The model population was age-structured and density-dependent. If spray mortality is 100% for each spray, then the ideal spraying schedule is easily determined from the durations of the various life stages. For spray mortality of less than 100%, a simulation was used to determine optimal spraying schedules. Relative length of the larval period, fertility rate and age to first oviposition were found to be the most important biotic parameters for this determination. Their importance is magnified as spray mortality decreases. The stage targeted by sprays and the percent mortality caused by each spray are also important in determining the required number of sprays. Using medfly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedmann) biotic parameters as an example when the spray targets adults, it appeared that neither the stage at which density-dependent mortality takes effect, nor the form of the adult survivorship curve are important in determining the optimal spray schedule.     

Contribution of spray droplet pinning fragmentation to canopy retention

Drop behaviour during impact affects retention. Increasing adhesion is usually seen as an objective when applying crop protection products, while bouncing and shattering are seen as detrimental to spray retention. However, observation of drop impacts on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using high speed shadowgraphy shows that bouncing and fragmentation can occur in Cassie–Baxter as well as in Wenzel wetting regimes. In this last regime, a part of the drop may remain stuck on the surface, contributing to retention. Using simultaneous measurements of drop impacts with high speed imaging and of retention with fluorophotometry for spray mixtures on excised barley leaves using a Teejet 11003 nozzle at 0.2 MPa, it was observed that about 50% of the drops that fragmented in the Wenzel state remain on the horizontal leaf. Depending on the spray mixture, these impact outcomes accounted for 28–46% of retention, the higher contribution being correlated with bigger VMD (Volume Median Diameter). This contribution is not negligible and should be considered when modelling spray retention processes.     

Diets of endangered silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana,Kirtland, 1844) in Lake Erie and implications for recovery

Silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana, Kirtland, 1844) is a native Cyprinid in Lake Erie, one of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. It is listed as endangered by the US state of New York and Canada, which has a recovery plan, and as special concern by the state of Michigan. Silver chub faces a potential threat to recovery from control efforts for invasive Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Valenciennes 1844). Among the knowledge gaps for protection and restoration is current diet data. I describe the diet of silver chub from western Lake Erie in 2014, and I compare it to past studies to assess changes in diet through time. Silver chub captured in bottom trawls May–September 2014 were frozen in the field, and stomach contents were preserved in ethanol. Diet taxa were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic unit, then dried and weighed. Frequency of occurrence in silver chub diets was highest for Hexagenia spp. mayflies (79%). Dreissena spp. and Hexagenia spp. were both 41% of the diet by dry weight. Analysis of δ¹³C isotopes identified Hexagenia spp. as the primary source of carbon in silver chub. Compared to past studies, Dreissena spp. have mostly replaced Sphaeriidae and Gastropoda in silver chub diets. There also have been seasonal shifts in relative amounts of shelled organisms and Hexagenia spp. This study and past research suggest a functional link between silver chub and Hexagenia spp. abundance. Maintenance and recovery of silver chub may be dependent on maintaining Hexagenia spp. populations.     

缓释肥类型与运筹对不同穗型水稻产量的影响

以大穗型品种甬优2640和多穗型品种南粳9108为材料,270 kg hm–2纯氮条件下,选用树脂包衣(PCU)、硫包衣(SCU)和脲甲醛(UF)3种缓控释肥类型,设置了缓控释肥与尿素均基施、缓控释肥基施后分蘖期施尿素2种施肥方式,以常规尿素定量分施为对照(CK)。结果表明,缓控释肥的应用对甬优2640无增产效应。主要因为甬优2640穗大粒多,群体颖花量大。与CK比,相对集中在前中期的肥效难以满足植株全生育期生长,中后期叶面积指数下降快,氮素积累少,光合势弱,物质生产量不足,不能实现群体大库容的有效充实。而对南粳9108,脲甲醛基施+尿素分蘖期施处理比CK增产5.2%~5.9%,树脂包衣基施+尿素分蘖期施和脲甲醛+尿素均基施处理与CK平产的同时可减少施肥2~3次。2种运筹方式中,以缓控释肥基施后分蘖期施用尿素处理能有效增加植株茎蘖数,提高成穗率和最终穗数,扩大叶面积指数,增强光合势,增加干物质和氮素的积累,获得高产。3种肥料类型中,产量呈现UFPCUSCU。脲甲醛基施+分蘖期施尿素处理之所以能使南粳9108获得比CK更高的产量,是因为UF的肥效在中后期依然能相对稳定释放,配合尿素的分蘖期施用,既保证了前期分蘖的发生,又能保证高峰苗后稳定的茎蘖数和群体叶面积指数,植株在拔节后的光合势和物质积累量大,氮肥利用率高,增产显著。由此可见,针对不同穗型和产量特性的水稻品种,优选缓控释肥类型基施的同时,分蘖期配合速效肥料的施用,可获得既省工又增产的效果。     

Dietary plasticity in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to long‐term environmental change

Corrigan LJ, Winfield IJ, Hoelzel AR, Lucas MC. Dietary plasticity in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to long‐term environmental change.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 5–13. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract –  In the face of widespread environmental change impacts, there is a need to better understand mechanisms promoting flexibility and resilience of ecosystem components to such change to inform strategies for conservation. Glacial relict species are especially vulnerable to such changes. We investigated the behavioural responses of a native, glacial relict species, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) to long‐term environmental changes. It was hypothesised that changes in feeding behaviour would occur as a key intermediary to reduction in habitat availability (through climate change and eutrophication) or competitive interactions [with introduced roach (Rutilus rutilus)]. Stomach content analysis was used to assess the diet of 199 charr caught from Windermere, United Kingdom, in the months of March, June, September and November 2003–2007. The results were compared to data from 1940 to 1951 prior to the environmental changes and revealed a marked increase in the contribution of benthic invertebrates in the present diet. Stable isotope analysis confirms the results of the stomach analysis, suggesting that the charr have switched their diet from zooplanktivory towards benthivory. We discuss the possibility that habitat modification and roach population expansion in Windermere have contributed to changes in charr diet. Complementary studies suggest that this diet shift is more likely to be a response to the increasing roach population than to habitat modification; however, further study in Windermere would be required to elucidate the exact mechanism. Long‐term data sets such as these provide information that is useful for determining the directivity of ecological change and the capability of species to respond to change.     

棉花膜下滴灌灌溉制度试验研究

以田间试验为基础对棉花膜下滴灌的灌溉制度及其各因素的特点进行了分析研究。膜下滴灌技术采用局部灌水，男间地面蒸发量很小，另外，该技术为浅灌且可控性强，使灌水深度与棉花根系吸水深度相一致，避免深层渗漏，极大地提高了田间水分利用率。