Cystiphora sonchi (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), first record for Tunisia and Africa

During 2017 and 2018, from June to October, leaf galls were observed for the first time on Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae), sow thistle, in Akouda‐Sousse, Tunisia. Leaves with galls were collected and brought to the laboratory. After a few days, adults emerged from the leaf galls. Morphological identification showed the emerged gall midges to be Cystiphora sonchi (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). This is the first record of this species in Tunisia and Africa.     

银杏叶药渣用于制备颗粒燃料的工艺能耗试验

为降低银杏叶药渣制备颗粒燃料的能耗,对干燥、粉碎和制粒成型等主要加工环节的单位能耗进行了试验研究。首先,将银杏叶药渣在60～120℃的热风温度下分别恒温干燥至含水率20%,研究干燥温度对干燥能耗的影响;通过正交试验,研究含水率、筛网孔径和主轴转速对粉碎能耗的影响,分析在不同含水率和颗粒度条件下制粒成型的能耗情况。然后根据所制颗粒燃料的发热量与总的加工能耗的比值,确定银杏叶药渣颗粒燃料的最优加工工艺参数。试验结果显示干燥时,在110℃的干燥温度下,单位干燥能耗最低;粉碎时,在原料含水率为13%,筛网孔径4 mm,粉碎机主轴转速4 550 r/min的条件下,单位粉碎能耗最低;制粒成型时,原料的含水率为16%,颗粒度为4mm时的单位能耗最低。从单位发热量与总的加工能耗的比值来考虑,银杏叶药渣颗粒燃料的最优加工工艺参数为:干燥温度110℃,原料含水率16%,筛网孔径3 mm,粉碎机主轴转速4 550 r/min。在此工艺条件下,银杏叶药渣颗粒燃料总的加工能耗为4 478.3 kJ/kg,单位发热量为17 352.4 kJ/kg,满足国家关于生物质颗粒燃料的行业技术标准。     

A GIS-based susceptibility indexing method for irrigation and drinking water management planning: Application to Chebba-Mellouleche Aquifer, Tunisia

Locating high quality groundwater resources in semi-arid regions with growing population and agricultural development is an expensive undertaking. Simple susceptibility indexing method, based on vulnerability and quality index, can be used to facilitate this application. The GIS technique provides an efficient environment to reach this objective. The contamination susceptibility index was calculated by taking the product of the vulnerability index (VI) and the quality index (QI). The VI index was calculated using DRASTIC method to evaluate the hydrogeological characteristics of the Aquifer. The quality index calculation procedure, based on the water classification, was introduced to evaluate hydrochemical data. The susceptibility indexing method was applied in the Chebba-Mellouleche Aquifer, located in Eastern Tunisia. The results show a clear degradation of the water quality throughout the Aquifer. In addition, the susceptibility indexing map which incorporates hydrogeological and hydrochemical datasets reveals a similarity with areas of high anthropogenic activities. Thus, it is more realistic to estimate the groundwater contamination. The main aim of this study is to give an overview of the drinking and irrigation water quality in relation to the hydrogeological characteristics of the Chebba-Mellouleche Aquifer. This overview can form the basis for further investigations.     

The Moray Firth Seal Management Plan: an adaptive framework for balancing the conservation of seals,salmon, fisheries and wildlife tourism in the UK

• 1. Within the Moray Firth, north‐east Scotland, there is a history of conflict between seals and salmon fisheries. Under the UK's Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (CoSA) seals are shot to protect fisheries. In 1999 six rivers in the Moray Firth were designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for Atlantic salmon under the EU Habitats Directive, and in 2000 an SAC for harbour seals was designated in the Dornoch Firth.
• 2. In the 1990s salmon stocks declined. Fisheries managers believed the decline was partly caused by seal predation and consequently increased shooting effort. In years 1993–2003 Moray Firth harbour seal numbers declined possibly due to shooting, posing a potential threat to the status of the Dornoch Firth SAC. Meanwhile wildlife tourism based on marine mammals has increased. The declines in salmon and harbour seals, and the implementation of the Habitats Directive forced a watershed in the approach of statutory authorities to managing seals, salmon and tourism.
• 3. In years 2002–2005 local District Salmon Fishery Boards, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage and stakeholders negotiated a pilot Moray Firth Seal Management Plan to restore the favourable conservation status of seal and salmon SACs, and to reduce shooting of harbour seals and seal predation on salmon.
• 4. Key facets of the plan are the management of the Moray Firth region under a CoSA Conservation Order; application of the Potential Biological Removal concept to identify a limit of seals to be killed; management areas where removal of seals is targeted to protect salmon, while avoiding seal pupping and tourism sites; a training and reporting system for marksmen; a research programme, and a framework allowing an annual review of the plan.
• 5. The plan was introduced in April 2005. A maximum limit of 60 harbour and 70 grey seals was set. Forty‐six harbour and 33 grey seals were killed in 2005 while in 2006 these figures were 16 and 42 respectively. Although the numbers killed were below the maximum limits in both years the returns raised questions about the plan's ability to manage seal shooting at netting stations. The plan provides a useful adaptive co‐management framework for balancing seal and salmon conservation with the protection of fisheries and/or fish farms and tourism for application in the UK and internationally.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preferred foraging areas of Heard Island albatrosses during chick raising and implications for the management of incidental mortality in fisheries

• 1. Incidental mortality in fisheries is causing declines in many albatross populations around the world. To assess potential interactions with regional fisheries satellite tags were used to track black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophrys) and light-mantled sooty albatrosses (Phoebetria palpebrata) breeding on Heard Island during the chick-rearing periods of 2003/04. This was the first time individuals from either population had been tracked.
• 2. Black-browed albatrosses foraged largely within the Heard and McDonald Islands Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) north-east of the island, although 20% of foraging trips were to areas north of the EEZ into Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) areas 58.5.1 and 58.5.2 and into the Îles Kerguelen EEZ.
• 3. In contrast, the light-mantled sooty albatrosses foraged well south of Heard Island along the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Both species appear to face minimal risk of incidental mortality during the chick-rearing period in the regulated, legal fisheries, but are threatened by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels operating in the southern Indian Ocean.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of carotenoids and background colour on the skin pigmentation of Australian snapper Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Three 2‐factor experiments were conducted to determine the effects of background colour and synthetic carotenoids on the skin colour of Australian snapper Pagrus auratus. Initially, we evaluated the effects on skin colour of supplementing diets for 50 days with 60 mg kg^?1 of either astaxanthin (LP; Lucantin^® Pink), canthaxanthin (LR; Lucantin^® Red), apocarotenoic acid ethyl ester (LY; Lucantin^® Yellow), selected combinations of the above or no carotenoids and holding snapper (mean weight=88 g) in either white or black cages. In a second experiment, all snapper (mean weight=142 g) from Experiment 1 were transferred from black to white, or white to white cages to measure the short‐term effects of cage colour on skin L^*, a^* and b^* colour values. Skin colour was measured after 7 and 14 days, and total carotenoid concentrations were determined after 14 days. Cage colour was the dominant factor affecting the skin lightness of snapper with fish from white cages much lighter than fish from black cages. Diets containing astaxanthin conferred greatest skin pigmentation and there were no differences in redness (a^*) and yellowness (b^*) values between snapper fed 30 or 60 mg astaxanthin kg^?1. Snapper fed astaxanthin in white cages displayed greater skin yellowness than those in black cages. Transferring snapper from black to white cages increased skin lightness but was not as effective as growing snapper in white cages for the entire duration. Snapper fed astaxanthin diets and transferred from black to white cages were less yellow than those transferred from white to white cages despite the improvement in skin lightness (L^*), and the total carotenoid concentration of the skin of fish fed astaxanthin diets was lower in white cages. Diets containing canthaxanthin led to a low level of deposition in the skin while apocarotenoic acid ethyl ester did not alter total skin carotenoid content or skin colour values in snapper. In a third experiment, we examined the effects of dietary astaxanthin (diets had 60 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 or no added carotenoids) and cage colour (black, white, red or blue) on skin colour of snapper (mean weight=88 g) after 50 days. Snapper fed the astaxanthin diet were more yellow when held in red or white cages compared with fish held in black or blue cages despite similar feed intake and growth. The skin lightness (L^* values) was correlated with cage L^* values, with the lightest fish obtained from white cages. The results of this study suggest that snapper should be fed 30 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 in white cages for 50 days to increase lightness and the red colouration prized in Australian markets.     

钉齿式玉米秸秆饲草化装置的设计与试验分析

玉米是东北地区主要农作物之一。近年来,收获后残留下的秸秆如何合理地处理已成为难题。针对这一问题,本文设计一种专用型玉米秸秆饲草化装置,对玉米秸秆进一步加工,制成易于农畜食用、吸收和消化的天然饲料。然后对设计出的饲草化装置进行田间试验,并对试验结果进行分析,合格率可达80%以上。