Greenhouse gas mitigation potential of agricultural land in Great Britain

The aim of this paper is to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of croplands and grasslands in Great Britain under different management practices. We consider the feasible land management options for grass and cropland using county level land‐use data with estimates of per‐area mitigation potential for individual and total GHGs, to identify the land management options with the greatest cost‐effective mitigation potential. We show that for grasslands, uncertainties still remain on the mitigation potential because of their climatic sensitivity and also their less intensive management. For croplands in Great Britain, the technical mean GHG mitigation potentials for all cropland management practices range from 17 Mt CO₂‐eq. per 20 yr to 39 Mt CO₂‐eq. per 20 yr. There are significant regional variation in all cases, with the greatest potentials in England, negligible potential in Wales and intermediate potential in Scotland, with country differences largely driven by the areas of cropland and grassland in each country. Practices such as agronomic improvement and nutrient management are the most promising options because of their impact on N₂O emissions and also their larger potential at low cost. In terms of annual emissions from agriculture, calculated mitigation potentials are small, where the technical mitigation potential of agronomy and nutrient management strategies are ca. 4.5 and 3.8%, respectively (agricultural emissions account for ca. 9% or 47.7 Mt CO₂‐eq., of total Great Britain GHG emissions, Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK). However when compared with the land use, land‐use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) emissions, nutrient management would reduce further emission reductions by approximately half of the 2005 LULUCF sink (i.e. ?1.6 Mt CO₂‐eq. per year).     

Indices of soil nitrogen availability for an ecological site classification of British forests

An adequate supply of nitrogen (N) is essential for the successful establishment and sustainable productivity of forest stands. N deficits may necessitate the use of artificial fertilisers. Availability of N in the inorganic forms, and the relative abundance of the NO₃-N and NH₄-N components, influences the species composition of natural forest vegetation. Hence it is essential to use reliable measures of soil N supply that fully reflect its ecological significance. The new Ecological Site Classification (ESC) used in British forestry employs a multi-factorial definition of soil nutrient regime (SNR), including soil N. To develop this, a soil and vegetation study was made at 89 forest sites throughout Great Britain covering the major soil types used for forestry. “Total N” levels were compared with separate pre- and post-incubation measures of the two inorganic N components as potential indices of soil N supply. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the major discriminant chemical variables for the sampled soils were pH, calcium and NO₃-N and that these were also the main variables influencing the species composition of the ground vegetation. Total N and NH₄-N were less effective discriminant variables for these sites. In some infertile soils the levels of NH₄-N or total N may be of greater importance, as NO₃-N is usually in very limited supply. A multivariate gradient of SNR, which incorporates the NO₃-N measures, has been adopted for use within the ESC system. The position of a site on this gradient can be estimated quantitatively from soil type, ground vegetation species composition and humus type. This enables soil N supply and overall SNR to be assessed in a simple but effective way that guides the operational management of British forest soils for sustainable productivity. It will also be possible to use these techniques to monitor the nutritional status of forest sites over time.     

解读英国动物福利法完善我国动物福利立法

英国动物福利法以关注物质利益和精神利益为原则。立法者特有的立法理念及非政府民间保护组织的积极推动影响着立法原则。英国的立法经验对于我国动物保护法、动物福利法的制定有着相当积极的借鉴意义。     

Arctic charr in Britain and Ireland – 15 species or one?

Abstract –  From both a modern and a historical perspective there is little doubt that the Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , in Britain and Ireland (as well as elsewhere) is a 'difficult' species. Historically 15 separate species have been recognised from populations in Britain and Ireland and there have been recent attempts to reassert these specific names. Here we review the evidence for the status of these 'species'. We conclude that the evidence for these 15 being afforded full species status is poor. However, both historical and contemporary data show that Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus 1758) in Britain and Ireland exhibits levels of variability in form that is much greater than in other species. We argue that a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic survey of charr populations in Britain and Ireland is required to determine the full extent of variability and the status of populations with a view of providing suitable protection.     

The status of the recently introduced fish Leucaspius delineatus (Cyprinidae) in Great Britain

Abstract The fish Leucaspius delineatus (Heckel) (Cyprinidae) has been introduced to southern England as a result of importation as an ornamental fish. It is now established at several waters (lakes, canals, and lowland rivers) in Hampshire and Somerset. It appears to be well adapted to spread beyond these centres as a result of its small size at sexual maturity and reproductive biology. A preliminary assessment of its diet and fecundity, and notes on its breeding habits are given.     

英国爱丁堡皇家植物园的地被植物

介绍了主要生长于英国受丁堡皇家植物园内分属于Xun子属Cotoneaster、萎陵菜属Potentilla、悬钩子属Rubus、野珠兰属Stephanandra、虎儿草属Saxifraga、刺柏属Juniperus、廖属Polygonum、Microbiota、水杨梅属Geum、富贵草属Pachysandra、玉簪属Hosta等11个属中的30种地被植物。除较详细地描述了30种地被植物的形态特征外，还介绍了各属植物的生长习性和每种植物的耐低温能力。     

RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUSES DETECTED IN PET RABBITS IN A COMMERCIAL LABORATORY IN EUROPE

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is an important cause of disease and mortality in wild and domestic European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) throughout the world. Testing for 2 distinct RHD virus types (RHDV/RHDVa and RHDV2) was carried out on samples collected from 684 rabbits submitted from veterinary practices and private owners throughout Europe between January 2015 and June 2017. Four (0.6%) were positive for RHDV/RHDVa and 257 (37.4%) were positive for RHDV2. RHDV/RHDVa was detected in individual samples from Germany and the Netherlands, while RHDV2 was found in animals from Germany, Great Britain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, and Finland.     

英国林业法规政策体系及启示

研究国外林业法规与政策有利于借鉴相关成功经验。文中概述英国全国性和地方性林业法规,分析人工造林、林地补助和绿色采购等林业政策及发展趋势,归纳乡村林业、城市林业发展和生物多样性保护等林业配套政策,总结英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士林业发展战略。英国林业法规层次分明体系完善、林业政策持续稳定与时俱进、配套政策系统全面效果明显、林业战略重视突出地方特色和实施森林可持续经营政策等5点启示对于指导我国林业法规制定和政策调整具有一定的参考作用。