Vespa velutina: a new invasive predator of honeybees in Europe

The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is the first invasive Vespidae predator of honeybees to be accidentally introduced into Europe from Asia. In the current pollinator decline, V. velutina is an additional stressor for honeybees and other pollinators. Although V. velutina contributes to the loss of honeybee colonies, little is known about its biology and behaviour both in the native and in the invaded area. Here, we review the current knowledge of this species and describe its life cycle and life history traits (reproduction, overwintering, foraging and dispersal) in the light of the biology of other Vespidae. We also review the impact of this species on ecosystems, on the economics of beekeeping, and on human health (this species being potentially deadly for allergic people). Based on this information and on previous worldwide experiences with Vespidae invasions, we propose key research topics for the development of effective management plans. We identify methods to limit the impact and proliferation of V. velutina in Europe that are based on nest destruction, trapping, population genetics, and biological control. In our opinion, research effort on the means to detect and destroy V. velutina nests at an early stage is required in order to short-circuit the colony cycle and thus limit both its impact on honeybees and its expansion through Europe. Finally, we discuss the impact of this biological invasion on the development of methods that should be used to manage alien species in the future.     

Effects of different neem preparations in comparison to synthetic insecticides on the whitefly parasitoid Encarsia sophia (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and the predator Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on cotton under laboratory conditions

The contact and feeding toxicity of NeemAzal T/S (EID Parry, Chennai, India) to the parasitoid Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) was compared with three synthetic insecticides (chlorpyriphos, endosulfan and triazophos) against immatures and adult emergence. NeemAzal T/S (1.0%) at lower dose (200 mg/l) did not cause any effect on the emergence of E. sophia adults, but there was a significant reduction in emergence at higher doses (800 mg/l). Also, it did not show contact toxicity to adults of E. sophia, but there was a significantly high feeding mortality in a dosage dependant manner, whereas chlorpyriphos, endosulfan and triazophos showed high toxicity both by contact and feeding method. Three neem preparations registered in India, NeemAzal T/S, Nimbecidine (T. Stains, Coimbatore) and Godrej Achook (Godrej Agrovet, Mumbai) were tested against egg and larval stages of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) at three dosages, using a synthetic insecticide, triazophos 40 EC (200 mg/l), for comparison under laboratory conditions. The three biorationals did not induce any adverse effect on the hatchability of C. carnea eggs. The mortality of the first instars of C. carnea was not affected by any of the azadirachtin enriched formulations; however, at higher dosage of 800 mg/l these neem based products resulted in increased mortality of the first and second instar larvae of C. carnea relative to the untreated controls. Whereas, triazophos induced very high mortality rates (85.0, 89.0 and 81.5%) of all the three larval instars. The neem based insecticides showed a dosage-dependant effect on the larval instars of C. carnea. Thus, these biorationals show that there is a potential to use them in an IPM system, being safe for natural enemies of B. tabaci in cotton.     

Fitness costs associated with infections of secondary endosymbionts in the cassava whitefly species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis>

We investigated the dual effects of bacterial infections and diseased cassava plants on the fitness and biology of the Bemisia tabaci infesting cassava in Africa. Isofemale B. tabaci colonies of sub-Saharan Africa 1-subgroup 3 (SSA1-SG3), infected with two secondary endosymbiotic bacteria Arsenophonus and Rickettsia (AR+) and those free of AR infections (AR?), were compared for fitness parameters on healthy and East African cassava mosaic virus-Uganda variant (EACMV-UG)-infected cassava plants. The whitefly fecundity and nymph development was not affected by bacterial infections or the infection of cassava by the virus. However, emergence of adults from nymphs was 50 and 17% higher by AR? on healthy and virus-infected plants, respectively, than AR+ flies. Development time of adults also was 10 days longer in AR+ than AR?. The whiteflies were further compared for acquisition and retention of EACMV-UG. Higher proportion of AR? acquired (91.8%) and retained (87.6%) the virus than AR+ (71.8, 61.2%, respectively). Similarly, the AR? flies retained higher quantities of virus (~ninefold more) than AR+. These results indicated that bacteria-free whiteflies were superior and better transmitters of EACMV-UG, as they had higher adult emergence, quicker life cycle and better virus retention abilities than those infected with bacteria.     

Assay conditions and validation of a new UV spectrophotometric method using microplates for the determination of polyphenol content

A new spectrophotometric assay for the quantification of polyphenolic content has been validated. It is based on Prussian Blue method and adapted to microplate spectrophotometry. Prussian Blue reaction is critically dependent on reaction time, but microplate spectrophotometry permits exact measures of many samples at the same time. This new method is precise, reproducible, repeatable and exact.     

山区生态型县域经济发展研究

中国的山区县域经济取得了一定的发展,但同时也存在着很多亟需解决的生态经济问题。文章以浙江省山区为研究案例,通过采用PRRA法分析山区县域经济现状,以及其发展所面临的障碍和困难,提出山区县域经济发展要求战略。     

Rational Harvesting Policy and Sustainable Development of Community in Forest Regions

INTRoDUCTIoNManyforestentcrpriscslnHeiIonaiiangForestRcgion,Chinaarefacingx`ithseriousproblemsoffi-nanceshortageandresourccrapidly'dccrcasingtoday.Highdemandoftimberandotl1erforestproductsintI1epastresultedinoverharvestingandi111proPerharvesting.Thishasbe…     

Traditional agroforestry,parcel management,and social forestry development in a pioneer agricultural community: the case of Jala-jala,Rizal, Philippines

This paper overviews a variety of traditional agroforestry systems found in a small community of Filipino migrant farmers. Background information provides context, and then case studies of seven farmers are offered to illustrate the functions which their agroforestries fulfill in a situation of parcellization of farm-holdings into both level and sloping fields. The implications of the brief portraits presented for further research and development and for the acceptability of a social forestry program now going on in the community are suggested.     

Container characteristics influence Pinus pinea seedling development in the nursery and field

The growth and development of Pinus pinea seedlings grown in different containers was followed through one growing season in the nursery and 3 years following outplanting in the field. The variables studied in the nursery were height, diameter, biomass of shoots and roots, nutrient uptake and root density. The measured field variables, height and diameter increment and survival, were correlated with the nursery variables. Container volume had the greatest influence on plant morphology. Containers with larger rooting volume had seedlings with larger height and diameter, greater nutrient content, and better field performance. Growing density was correlated with seedling morphology and nutrient concentration in the nursery. Among the variables that influenced container volume, the diameter of the container was the most important, while the depth of the container had a minor influence on seedling morphology.The best indicator of seedling development in the nursery was the ratio of container depth to container diameter, and the optimum ratio was 4. All containers produced seedlings with some root spiralling, including those containers with ribs. There was no relationship between either the number of spiralling roots or the angle of spiralling and container characteristics. Furthermore, root spiralling did not influence seedling performance following outplanting. Root density (root biomass/cm³) was inversely correlated with container volume but there was no correlation with either depth or growing density. The largest plants were produced with container volumes of 300–400 cm³, depth/diameter ratios of 4, and growing densities of 200–300 seedlings/m². These growing conditions will result in larger Pinus pinea seedlings coming out of the nursery, which will increase growth following outplanting.     

Conservation and use of the Pinus chiapensis genetic resource in Colombia

The species Pinus chiapensis is under severe pressure from forest conversion to agriculture and fuelwood cutting. These trends are certain to continue and methods for conservation and wise use of the genetic resource must be implemented soon in Mexico and Guatemala as well as in those countries where the species can be grown on a commercial basis. A total of 101 open-pollinated families from nine provenances of Pinus chiapensis have been established in trials and gene conservation banks by Smurfit Carton de Colombia since 1981. The best provenances for growth rate have been Cotzal, La Trinidad and Pohlo. A tree improvement program with grafted seed orchards is underway.     

天然林资源保护工程对集体林及社区经济发展的影响

在案例研究与统计调查相结合的基础上,分析了天保工程对集体林区经济发展的影响,并提出了相关建议。由于实施天保工程,全国2001年减少乡村木材收入23亿元,减少农户木材采伐劳务收入3.7亿元;四川省3年减少乡村木材收入10亿元,年乡镇企业总产值减少15亿元,减幅达30%;四川省天保工程县经济发展速度放慢、财政收入减少、木材加工业委缩;部分农户返贫。     

Balancing wood market demand and common property rights: a case study of a community in the Italian Alps

Common property rights have a long tradition in the Italian Alps, dating back to the Middle Ages, when alpine village communities managed common forests. On these properties, in accordance with rules aimed at regulating the collective use of resources, shareholders have the right of common use of the land. As many mountainous areas still rely on firewood for the heating of homes, the right to gather firewood from common forests is the most important common property right. In the last few decades, renewable bio-energy production based on forest woody biomass has undergone significant development. In Italy, in communities where the right to gather wood still has economic, social, and cultural relevance, decision makers and community members have a different vision about the use of firewood. This paper focuses on this issue by presenting a case study located in the Italian Eastern Alps, characterised by a historical tradition of common property management. In order to define the optimal strategy to manage the common forests, taking into consideration the local community’s needs, a semi-structured questionnaire was submitted to the administrators of the common forests and to the shareholders. Different scenarios of wood use were developed to support managers and decision makers in identifying on-going trends in firewood demand. The results show that the economic scenario for the development of the bio-energy supply chain cannot be reconciled with the historical tradition and social needs.     

Characterization of antibiosis to the silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in cowpea entries

The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is considered one of the most important pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), limiting the productivity of this crop worldwide. Chemical control is still the main strategy for the management of populations of this insect. However, due to the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment and to humans, less injurious alternatives have been investigated. Along this line, the use of resistant genotypes can be a valuable tool for the control of the silverleaf whitefly. In this paper, we investigate some biological aspects of B. tabaci biotype B confined on 14 genotypes of cowpea. We evaluated the incubation period, egg viability, duration of nymphal stages, total duration of the juvenile phase, instar mortality and total mortality of the immature stage. The genotype MNC 99-541 F21 exhibited antibiosis against the whitefly, prolonging the lifecycle of the insect. The genotypes Canapu, BRS-Urubuquara and TE97-304 G-4 also exhibited antibiosis, causing high nymphal mortality. These results may help in breeding programmes to develop cowpea lines with resistance to B. tabaci biotype B.     

Persistence of soil and foliar azadirachtin treatments to control sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on tomatoes under controlled (laboratory) and field (netted greenhouse) conditions in the humid tropics

Persistence of neem-based products against sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was tested in air conditioned rearing rooms and tropical netted greenhouses (GHs). Two commercial neem products, NeemAzal^®-T/S (1% azadirachtin) and NeemAzal^®-U (17% azadirachtin), were used. Foliar application, under room conditions at dose-rates of 7 and 10 ml NeemAzal^®-T/S, induced an immature mortality of 32 and 44%, respectively, whereas 7 days post-application, under GH conditions, mortality rates declined to 5 and 7%, respectively. This result indicated rapid dissipation of the active ingredients. However, systemic application by soil drenching resulted in more stable effects under both laboratory and GH conditions. After soil drenching with solutions of 3.0 g NeemAzal^®-U until 7-day, immature mortality declined from 88% for the first day to almost half (45%) by day-7 in the GH, and from 90% on first day to 64% by day-7 under laboratory condition. Similar response trends for B. tabaci were obtained for other parameters such as adult colonisation, egg deposition, and egg hatch. The loss of efficiency of the neem products was clearly related to dose-rate, methods of application, and environment (temperature and UV). Soil application is therefore, a convenient approach to achieve high efficiency and persistence with neem products under the conditions in tropical GH environments for whitefly management.     

Certification of community forestry enterprises: experiences with incorporating community forestry in a global system for forest governance

This paper discusses the history and present status of community forest certification as an illustration of the growing interactions between global and local processes in forest governance. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system is analyzed as an illustrative case of the trend towards increased incorporation of community-based forest enterprises (CFEs) into international initiatives for sustainable forest management and global markets. First the paper reviews the development of community-based forest management and the evolution in certification of community-based forest enterprises. Next it discusses the main challenges and opportunities for making CFE certification accessible and beneficial for communities. Finally it illustrates the importance of multi-level and multi-actor partnerships for creating effective interfaces between global standards and community forestry practices. The experiences with FSC certification of community-based forest enterprises demonstrate that community forestry is enlarging its scope from autonomous decision-making on local practice to incorporation in international forest governance systems. This experience also demonstrates that the application of global standards for sustainable forest management requires adaptation to local realities. These lessons are of relevance for further incorporation of community forestry in the newly evolving global programs for forest management and conservation.     

武夷山自然保护区的联合保护与社区的协调发展

群众参加武夷山保护区联合保护的重点是把区内群众引向联合保护 ,把周边群众吸引到联合保护。联合保护工作的主要对策是建立生物走廊带 ,创建保护区周边生物防火带等。     

Demography and life history of Geonoma orbignyana: An understory palm used as foliage in Colombia

Geonoma orbignyana is a common understory palm, whose leaves are used as foliage in Colombia. This palm has been used for more than 30 years; but there is no information about its life history or conservation status. Our objective was to characterize the life history of this palm and population dynamics of a natural population as a first step to assess the effect of leaf harvesting. More than 1600 palms were monitored from June 1999 to March 2000; we measured growth, mortality, and reproductive success. Population dynamics were evaluated using a Lefkovitch matrix model, and elasticity analysis. Results indicate that G. orbignyana grows at a rate of 1.98 ± 0.047 leaves/year, the palm has a long lifespan, and growth and reproduction are related to light conditions in the forest. The density of this palm is high (108–311 palms/100 m²), which is explained in part by its capacity to continue growing after damage, and to respond to the frequent gap formation in the forest. The population is growing (λ = 1.074, CI = [1.046–1.099]). Survival transitions account for 77% of population growth, a value that is higher compared to other understory plants. Because of the high density, the recovery capacity of these palms, and the correlations found between individual and population performances with forest dynamics, we hypothesize that G. orbignyana behaves as an opportunistic species taking advantage of forest gaps. This palm is a promising non-timber forest product (NTFP) with a high profile for further exploitation, although we recommend that harvesting regimens should consider time of recovery and forest dynamics. Without these considerations mortality could increase in all classes, which will compromise population persistence. Further studies should accurately estimate the recovery time after defoliation as well as to characterize forest dynamics identifying its most important features for population growth.     

A seed rain community in a reforested post-agricultural field and adjacent secondary forest of Mount Papandayan Nature Reserve,West Java,Indonesia

Understanding the mechanisms and barriers to the restoration of degraded land, especially post agriculture, will help provide protocols on effective ways of restoration into functional ecosystems. One of the barriers in early stages of forest restoration is the arrival and availability of propagules. Seed rain and factors affecting it(i.e., distance to the forest edge, species diversity and surrounding vegetation) were measured in a reforested post-agricultural field and in an adjacent secondary forest. Multivariate g lm analysis was used on the seed rain community data and univariate lm analysis on the most abundant seed captured(i.e., Schima wallichii(DC.) Korth.). After 8 months of seed rain collection, there was a total of 3596 seeds from eight tree species. Seeds were more abundant and more diverse in the secondary forest(74.9%, 8 species) compared to the reforested field(24.1%, 2 species). There was a limitation on seed dispersal in reforested field from the adjacent forest. The abundance of S. wallichii seeds determined by the dominance of adult trees(136 trees/ha in the forest and 115 trees/ha in the reforested field). Our study suggests, that after 7 years of planting, the reforested field has received limited seed rain and has not yet recovered.     

Distribution of a bark beetle and its predator within and outside old growth forest reserves: No increase of hazard near reserves

To test the hypothesis that reserves create a hazard because pest insects are more abundant in unmanaged forest reserves than in managed forests, pheromone trapping of lps typographus was done within and outside two small old growth forest reserves (Tallet and Nyteboda) in southern Sweden. Initially, two 2 km perpendicular transects centered in the Tallet reserve did not show higher abundance of insects in the reserve in 1986 and 1987. A second hypothesis, that more predators existed in the diverse ecosystem in the reserves (giving fewer bark beetles) was tested. An important predator of bark beetles, Thanasimus formkarius, was monitored with kairomone traps inside and outside reserves, together with the prey in 1989. The catches of the prey (Ips) showed the same pattern as earlier. The predator was caught in small numbers, but in a pattern opposite to the predictions of the hypothesis of higher catches inside the reserves.     

天宝岩自然资源保护利用与社区经济联动发展的研究

福建省永安市天宝岩国家级自然保护区的植物与自然景观资源十分丰富,资源利用与社区发展需要协调.提出了天宝岩的资源开发利用的思路,通过与社区的联动建设,能够加强天宝岩自然资源的保护,并促进社区村经济发展,解决社区村森林资源保护与开发利用的矛盾,实现区域经济和社会可持续发展.