Public awareness activities on Eichhornia crassipes in the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site,Livingstone, Zambia1

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are a major threat to biodiversity and national economies worldwide. Public awareness and support is critical for the success of any interventions aimed at controlling and managing such invasions. Various communication tools have been identified for the implementation of public awareness programs. Assessment of public perceptions, attitudes and knowledge levels should be an integral part of any public awareness activities. This paper reports the communication actions undertaken in the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site by the Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa (RBIPMA) project during the year 2007. Several awareness meetings with various stakeholders were conducted during the year. A number of posters, leaflets, brochures and newsletters have been produced. Production of radio and television documentaries is currently ongoing. A pre‐knowledge survey was conducted to determine the baseline status as regards knowledge and awareness levels on IAS in the project area. A post‐knowledge survey will be conducted at a subsequent stage to assess the effectiveness of the project interventions on public awareness and knowledge levels. Recommendations for future action are also presented.     

Survey and Assessment of the Natural Enemies of Water Hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes

Abstract

In northern Queensland, the addition of 2,4,5‐T butyl ester was found to be unnecessary to maintain the control of Echinochloa colona (L.) Link and Cyperus Iria L. In dry seeded rice when propanil rates were reduced below the registered rate of 4 kg a.i. ha^?1. Adequate weed control was obtained with 1.3 kg a.i. ha^?1 propanil alone. No adverse effects on rice yield were found with any of the propanil × 2,4,5‐T treatments. Low rates of propanil, 1.3 and 0.72 kg a.i. ha^?1, compared favourably with pre‐emergence treatments of thiobencarb, butachlor, oxyfluorfen and pretilachlor (plus a safener) when weed yields were low. Where water management was poor and Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. was the dominant weed, oxyfluorfen applied pre‐emergence at 0.96 kg a.i. ha^?1 produced a higher rice and a lower weed yield than the low rates of propanil. In three of the five experiments, weed growth was insufficient to depress rice yields significantly.     

世界自然遗产保护的社区感知差异及其影响因素分析——以喀拉峻世界自然遗产地为例

社区参与是世界自然遗产保护的重要内容,社区支持是自然遗产可持续保护的重要保障。基于遗产地社区的感知调查,分析当地居民和牧民对喀拉峻世界自然遗产保护的感知意愿。本次调查向牧民和县城居民共发放问卷180份,回收139份,主要调查其对喀拉峻世界自然遗产地的遗产感知及差异。遗产感知调查包括遗产认知、发展感知和保护感知3部分内容。调查发现,由于受遗产地区位和遗产地旅游发展阶段的限制,县城居民的遗产感知较牧民更为积极。研究表明,社区发展是影响社区参与和支持遗产保护的关键因素。为使喀拉峻自然遗产地保护具有可持续性,应当积极开展遗产教育与宣传,加大生态补偿力度,有效引导牧民进行生产转型,进而平衡居民和牧民的利益,提高社区的遗产感知整体水平。     

Perspective: enhancing economic evaluations and impacts of integrated pest management Farmer Field Schools (IPM‐FFS) in low‐income countries

Over the last few decades, the use of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) have been considered one of the best approaches to disseminate integrated pest management (IPM) practices that aim to reduce reliance on and misuse of chemical pest control methods in agriculture. However, the published empirical literature has been decidedly mixed in terms of the effectiveness of the IPM‐FFS approach to improve economic outcomes in the short‐term (e.g. reduce chemical use, improve profits), and the potential for scaling‐up and IPM dissemination in the medium‐term. This article briefly explores the empirical IPM‐FFS literature and draws implications for future research directions that can potentially enhance IPM knowledge diffusion methods (including IPM‐FFS) and increase the economic impact of IPM techniques in low‐income countries. We find that promising research directions to improve understanding of IPM dissemination and IPM impacts will need to involve: (i) interdisciplinary long‐run studies using rigorous evaluation methods; (ii) in‐depth assessments of spillover effects; (iii) careful examination of IPM and IPM‐FFS impact heterogeneity; (iv) evaluation of novel IPM packages with herbicide‐ and genetics‐centered components; (v) piloting and impact assessments of alternative IPM knowledge diffusion structures; and (vi) piloting and impact analysis of IPM dissemination and learning programs with private sector involvement. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

基于GIS的山地自然遗产露营适宜度分析——以新疆天山遗产库尔德宁为例

露营作为一种生态旅游形式,是世界遗产地等保护区内珍贵资源开发和利用的重要手段之一.基于新疆天山世界遗产库尔德宁片区遥感影像、基础地理信息和实地调查等数据,通过层次分析法确定了山地自然遗产露营适宜度评价指标的权重,并利用Arc GIS分析了库尔德宁露营适宜度的空间格局.结果表明:①露营适宜度评价体系中权重最高的是安全条件,露营安全是各方关注的重点;②库尔德宁露营极高适宜度区域占2.2％,较高适宜度区域占64.09％,较低和极低适宜度区域仅占1.92％,大部分区域适宜开展露营活动;③库尔德宁部分高适宜度区域位于遗产地和缓冲区以内,这些区域应严格按照保护要求进行开发或者禁止开发.     

Mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters in insecticide‐resistant and insecticide‐susceptible Drosophila melanogaster

BACKGROUND: Previous research on insecticidal formate esters in flies and mosquitoes has documented toxicity profiles, metabolism characteristics and neurological impacts. The research presented here investigated mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters and their hydrolyzed metabolite formic acid in the model dipteran insect Drosophila melanogaster Meig. These studies compared two Drosophila strains: an insecticide‐susceptible strain (Canton‐S) and a strain resistant by cytochrome P450 overexpression (Hikone‐R). RESULTS: In initial studies investigating inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, two proven insecticidal materials (hydramethylnon and sodium cyanide) caused significant inhibition. However, for insecticidal formate esters and formic acid, no significant inhibition was identified in either fly strain. Mitochondrial impacts of formate esters were then investigated further by tracking toxicant‐induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, a biomarker of apoptosis and neurological dysfunction. Formic acid and three positive control treatments (rotenone, antimycin A and sodium cyanide) induced cytochrome c release, verifying that formic acid is capable of causing mitochondrial disruption. However, when comparing formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release between Drosophila strains, formic acid liberation was only weakly correlated with cytochrome c release in the susceptible Canton‐S strain (r² = 0.70). The resistant Hikone‐R strain showed no correlation (r² < 0.0001) between formate ester hydrolysis and cytochrome c release. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide confirmation of mitochondrial impacts by insecticidal formate esters and suggest links between mitochondrial disruption, respiratory inhibition, apoptosis and formate‐ester‐induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Short‐term gain and long‐term pain: Lessons learnt from the control of Lachnagrostis filiformis (fairy grass) in Victoria,Australia

The indigenous Lachnagrostis filiformis colonized extensive areas of dry lake beds in Victoria, Australia, during the drought from 1997 to 2009. Large numbers of the plants' detached seed heads disperse in the wind, lodging against nearby housing, fences and other obstacles. This accumulation of material creates a fire hazard, degrades townships' aesthetics and presents a nuisance to the communities of lake‐side towns. This study aimed to examine the effects of various control methods on L. filiformis in the short and long term. Although herbicide applications, slashing, grazing and burning were found to be effective in controlling the blown L. filiformis seed heads in the short term, they failed to prevent subsequent reinvasion and can increase its abundance in the long term. The late application of herbicide resulted in an increase in the foliage cover and seed‐head biomass of L. filiformis by up to 37% and 150%, respectively, in the year following the treatment application. The results from this study highlight how management focused on achieving short‐term goals, without consideration of the successional trajectory after implementation, can not only fail but be counter‐productive in the long term. In order to achieve sustainable management, the fundamental ecological processes that promote the establishment and persistence of the weed need to be addressed.     

The impacts of traditional and novel herbicide application methods on target plants,non‐target plants and production in intensive grasslands

Herbicides contribute significantly to agricultural intensification, but some negatively impact non‐target organisms. Much research has focused on reducing herbicide use through technological improvements in application and herbicide selectivity, but impacts on non‐target organisms are less well understood. Using experimental plots in silage systems, we investigated impacts of herbicides (both narrow spectrum targeting broad‐leaved plants and selective and non‐selective broad spectrum) applied using traditional techniques (blanket‐ and manual spot‐spraying) and a novel application technique (automated spot‐spraying) on non‐target plant richness/diversity, target weed presence (Rumex species) and production (DM yield). All herbicides reduced non‐target plant richness/diversity and sometimes target weeds (when applied using traditional methods). Automated spot‐spraying had fewer negative effects on non‐target organisms, but did not reduce target weeds. No differences in production levels among treatments were observed. The automated spot‐spraying technique requires further research and development. Our results indicate that 20–30% weed cover does not significantly alter production and so, as herbicides are expensive, their effects on non‐target organisms and the environment can be more significant than their benefits to production. We advocate more research into the relationships between weed infestation and production in grasslands, so that the propensity to overuse herbicides is reduced.     

甘肃省经济发展产生的能源承载压力和环境效应研究

文中利用近几年甘肃省GDP、能源消耗、污染物排放统计数据,分析了甘肃省资源型经济增长因素、能源承载压力及环境污染排放改善情况。结果表明:在甘肃省采取了相应的节能减排措施后,万元产值能耗和万元产值污染物排放量没有随经济发展出现同比增长,证明甘肃省采取节能减排措施后取得了一定的成果。进一步降低能耗和控制污染物排放,营造甘肃省社会经济、资源环境和谐发展的局面还需积极地采取污染防治措施,转变经济发展模式。     

The vegetation of roadsides and adjacent farmland of the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

A survey of the composition and structure of the vegetation of the roadside easement and adjacent farmland was made at eighteen sites on the Mornington Peninsula. Victoria, Australia. The ground cover was grass dominant at all sites, with a predominance of introduced species notably Holcus lanatus, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Briza maxima. Agrostis tenuis and Paspalum dilatatum occurred to a lesser extent. Two alien broad-leafed species, Hypochoeris radicata and Plantago lanceolata, were abundant at most sites. The frequency of species present on the easement was markedly reduced in the adjacent farmland; conversely, the pasture plants Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens and T. subterraneum, did not colonize the easement to any great extent. At some sites, the native trees and shrubs had not been cleared during road construction. They were able to survive on the easement despite the influences of the adjacent road and farmland. Seedlings of all the native species were found.     

喀纳斯世界遗产价值分析与保护开发

喀纳斯是我国唯一一处位于四国交界处的国家级自然保护区,因其独特丰富的自然景观和生物多样性而具有重要的生态保护、科学研究及旅游开发价值,被认为具有申报世界自然遗产的潜力.通过对喀纳斯与俄罗斯"金山阿尔泰"世界自然遗产地在地质地貌成因、水文、垂直自然带以及生物多样性特征的对比分析得出,喀纳斯符合世界自然遗产的第Ⅲ、Ⅳ条标准.提出将其加入俄罗斯"金山阿尔泰"世界遗产地的建议,从而为喀纳斯申报世界遗产以及资源利用和生态保护提供依据.     

Long‐term changes in weed occurrence,yield and use of herbicides in maize in south‐western Germany,with implications for the determination of economic thresholds

In 393 field experiments in Baden‐Württemberg region in south‐western Germany, herbicide efficacy, yield loss and crop tolerance of maize (Zea mays) were investigated between 1981 and 2011. The collected data served to determine changes in weed frequencies, in herbicide use, yield loss functions and economic thresholds (ETs). Over 60 weed species were reported. Chenopodium album and Galium aparine were the most frequent broad‐leaved weeds, the former becoming more frequent over time. Species of the genera Lamium, Polygonum, Veronica and Matricaria occurred in about every fifth trial. Alopecurus myosuroides and Echinochloa crus‐galli were the most frequent grass weeds; the former declining in frequency by 1.1% per year, the latter increasing by 1.5%. Results suggest a weed population shift towards thermophilic species. aceto‐lactate‐synthase and 4‐HPPD‐inhibitor herbicides became important in the 1990s. Pendimethalin and bromoxynil have been integral components of weed control since the 1980s. ETs, the point at which weed control operations provide economic returns over input costs, ranged between 3.7% and 5.8% relative weed coverage. Without weed control, no yield increase was found over 24 years. Yield increased by 0.2 t ha ^{? 1} year ^{? 1}, if weeds were controlled chemically. Despite intensive use of effective herbicides in maize, problematic weed species abundance and yield losses due to weed competition have increased in Baden‐Württemberg over a period of 30 years.     

Seasonal dynamics of ground cover in Cirsium arvense – a basis for estimating grazing losses and economic impacts

Analysis of the economics of managing Cirsium arvense in grazed pastures worldwide has been hampered by a lack of data on the within‐year seasonal dynamics of the weed and its impact on the yield of palatable herbage. To redress this, the seasonal pattern in within‐patch percentage ground cover of the weed was determined from measurements on 39 dairy and 66 sheep and/or beef cattle farms in New Zealand during 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. This pattern was then scaled using farmer estimates of peak whole‐farm cover to derive mean monthly covers for dairy, beef, sheep/beef, sheep and deer farms. These monthly covers corresponded, respectively, to mean annual percentage covers of 2.7, 1.7, 3.0, 5.9 and 2.9% and to mean annual percentage losses in pasture growth (palatable herbage yield) of 3.6, 2.3, 4.0, 7.8 and 3.9%. The latter, in combination with 2011–2012 farm statistics, revealed that C. arvense caused a national loss in pastoral farm gross revenue in New Zealand in 2011–2012 of $685 million ($446 m dairy, $233 m sheep/beef, $6 m deer). Beyond the scope of this paper, the monthly covers and their corresponding monthly losses in pasture growth provide a basis for modelling the economic impacts of C. arvense and its management at a farm scale. More generally, the analytical method that we have developed is appropriate for evaluating the economic impact of any weed in a grazed pasture, particularly those exhibiting pronounced seasonal patterns in occupancy, such as annuals and deciduous perennials.