Hunting vulnerability, ecological characteristics and harvest rates of bushmeat species in afrotropical forests

We reviewed and analysed patterns and between-site variation in hunter-kill profiles of mammals in tropical moist forests in west and central Africa. Published data from 36 sites in seven countries were used. A total of 71 mammals from 8 orders and 22 families were hunted. Significant variation was found in number of species exploited, but ungulates constituted 73.2% of all hunted animals. Rodents and primates contributed 12.2% and 12.0%, respectively. Large-bodied species (15.0-99.9 kg) represented over half (54.4%) of the total hunted biomass. Most species were snared, and were generally medium-sized, fast, terrestrial, frugivore-herbivores. By species, we showed using meta-analysis, that abundance was the main predictor of harvest level. But, the relationship between hunter presence (calculated as average hunter numbers operating per 100 days) and hunter ease (an index of catchability of the hunted fauna) and site harvest levels was shown to be significant only for hunter ease. Site harvest rates were higher in areas with more hunter presence. Overall, an average of 2000 carcasses (16,000 kg in weight) per site was extracted in a year. Per hunter, this amounted to 200 carcasses (1000 kg) extracted. Such amounts fall within reported unsustainable harvest levels of the mammalian fauna in African forests.     

焉耆盆地气候变化和人类活动对生态系统服务 价值的影响研究

环境变化下的生态服务功能研究,对生态环境与社会经济持续发展具有重要的科学意义和应用价值。本文以新疆焉耆盆地作为研究对象,基于Landsat遥感影像数据、DEM数据和气象要素数据,运用非参数气候变化突变点检验(MK,Mann-Kendall-Sneyers test)、趋势分析方法(Mann-Kendall,MK),通过计算生态服务价值(ESV)和土地利用/覆盖变化(LUCC)动态度,对新疆焉耆盆地近40 a(1973—2014年)生态服务功能的变化及其驱动因素进行了分析。结果显示:1)生态系统服务价值和功能的变化是气候变化和人类活动共同作用的结果;2)山区冰川面积的缩小是山区生态服务价值减少的主要原因;3)平原区的生态系统服务价值以2004年为转折点呈现先减少后增加的趋势,整个研究区的生态服务价值分别为1973年85.86×108元、1977年94.46×108元、1994年84.15×108元、2004年89.40×108元和2014年96.47×108元,这与降水量和蒸发量变化趋势吻合。人类活动如长期开垦、扩大绿洲面积和有益的气候变化支撑(降水量增加、蒸发量减少)是平原区生态服务价值增加的主要原因。在山区,生态服务价值随着降水量、蒸发量的变化而变化,在绿洲区生态服务价值的变化是人类开荒耕地、还林、还耕,以及人工栽培芦苇等活动和气候变暖共同作用的结果。     

Free-ranging domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) as predators and prey in rural Zimbabwe: threats of competition and disease to large wild carnivores

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) arrived in Zimbabwe ca. 1000 years ago. Numbers of free-ranging dogs have reached unprecedented levels in communal lands (agro-pastoralist rural areas), and interact with large wild carnivores along boundaries with wildlife reserves as predators and prey. This study examined a population of 236 dogs in a 33-km² section of Gokwe Communal Land (GCL) bordering the Sengwa Wildlife Research Area (SWRA) in north-western Zimbabwe in 1995-1996. Dogs were found up to 6 km within the SWRA, and were the most common carnivore on the GCL-SWRA boundary. Observations of 16 radio-collared dogs showed that they were inefficient predators. Only 20 kills were recorded amongst the remaining dog population, of which three were wild ungulates. Dogs were unsuccessful predators due to their small group size (mean 1.7) and body mass (mean 14.7 kg), and the abundance of alternative food. It is therefore unlikely that they compete with large carnivores for wild prey. However, leopards (Panthera pardus), lions (P. leo) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) preyed on dogs in GCL, removing ?6% of the dog population in 1993. Such predation provides ideal circumstances for disease transmission. Canid disease was prevalent in the study area; including rabies and probably distemper. The risk of infection is greatest during the dry season (May-October), when peaks in rates of disease, carnivore incursions into GCL, and predation on dogs coincided. The role of jackals (Canis adustus and Canis mesomelas) and spotted hyaena predation of dogs is discussed in relation to disease epidemics within wildlife reserves. With a dog population growth rate of 6.5% per annum, and the prevalence of canid diseases, the conservation threat posed by dogs is escalating on communal land-wildlife reserve boundaries in Zimbabwe. Measures to control dog numbers and improve vaccination coverage of dogs are discussed.     

The changes in physiological and biochemical traits of Tibetan wild and cultivated barley in response to low phosphorus stress

Low phosphorus (LP) limits crop growth and productivity in the majority of arable lands worldwide. Here, we investigated the changes in physiological and biochemical traits of Tibetan wild barleys (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. spontaneum) XZ99 (LP tolerant), XZ100 (LP sensitive), and cultivated barley ZD9 (moderately LP tolerant) under two phosphorus (P) levels during vegetative stage. These genotypes showed considerable differences in the change of biomass accumulation, root/shoot dry weight ratio, root morphology, organic acid secretion, carbohydrate metabolism, ATPase (Adenosine triphosphatase) activity, P concentration and accumulation under LP in comparison with CK (control) condition. The higher LP tolerance of XZ99 is associated with more developed roots, enhanced sucrose biosynthesis and hydrolysis of carbohydrate metabolism pathway, higher APase (Acid phosphatase) and ATPase activity, and more secretion of citrate and succinate in roots when plants are exposed to LP stress. The results prove the potential of Tibetan wild barley in developing barley cultivars with high tolerance to LP stress and understanding the mechanisms of LP tolerance in plants.     

2005-2015年小江流域生态系统服务供需变化及对石漠化的响应

喀斯特地区石漠化及其生态修复引起的土地利用变化,改变了地表植被覆盖等下垫面条件,进而对生态系统服务产生影响。为了探究石漠化治理工程以来生态系统服务变化情况,采用InVEST、CASA模型等多种模型和方法,研究了小江流域2005-2015年水服务、粮食服务和固碳服务的供需时空变化及对石漠化的响应。结果表明：（1）3种服务的供给水平整体都呈现递增趋势,增幅分别为14.34%,44.00%,40.11%,而需求方面,水服务和固碳服务呈现增加趋势,增幅为3.26%和61.54%,粮食服务呈现减小趋势,减幅为6.98%。（2）水服务和粮食服务的供需比均呈现增加趋势,且供给大于需求,而固碳服务的供需比呈现减小趋势,2015年供给小于需求。（3）石漠化面积越大的区域,粮食服务越低,随着石漠化程度的加重,水服务和固碳服务都呈现递减趋势,而随着石漠化面积减小,水服务和固碳服务变化不明显,粮食服务呈现一定程度的增加趋势,其中变化的面积越大,趋势越明显。流域内生态系统服务的供需状况及对石漠化的响应可在一定程度上反映石漠化治理对人类福祉的影响,能够为区域内生态系统的管理以及石漠化综合治理提供重要的参考。     

The requirements of the rare moss, Hamatocaulis vernicosus (Calliergonaceae, Musci), in the Czech Republic in relation to vegetation, water chemistry and management

Hamatocaulis vernicosus, a rare moss, has been investigated in detail for its habitat preferences, ecology and population dynamics in the Czech Republic. At all its known sites plant species composition was described and relationships with environmental factors investigated (water table, pH, water conductivity). Experiments that included mowing and gap cutting were investigated at three sites over two years.Hamatocaulis vernicosus had the highest cover at neutral pH (6.7-7.2) and conductivity between 100 and 250 μS/cm, although most localities had lower values. It was influenced positively by mowing only at a site with a high vascular plants cover, and gap cutting was only beneficial at sites with a low water table. The growth and vitality of Hamatocaulis may, therefore, be supported by suitable management especially in drier habitats.