Simulating the cumulative effects of multiple forest management strategies on landscape measures of forest sustainability

While the cumulative effects of the actions of multiple owners have long been recognized as critically relevant to efforts to maintain sustainable forests at the landscape scale, few studies have addressed these effects. We used the HARVEST timber harvest simulator to predict the cumulative effects of four owner groups (two paper companies, a state forest and non-industrial private owners) with different management objectives on landscape pattern in an upper Michigan landscape managed primarily for timber production. We quantified trends in landscape pattern metrics that were linked to Montreal Process indicators of forest sustainability, and used a simple wildlife habitat model to project habitat trends. Our results showed that most trends were considered favorable for forest sustainability, but that some were not. The proportion of all age classes and some forest types moved closer to presettlement conditions. The trend for the size of uneven-aged patches was essentially flat while the average size of patches of the oldest and youngest age classes increased and the size of patches of the remaining age classes decreased. Forest fragmentation generally declined, but edge density of age classes increased. Late seral forest habitat increased while early successional habitat declined. The owners use different management systems that cumulatively produce a diversity of habitats. Our approach provides a tool to evaluate such cumulative effects on other landscapes owned by multiple owners. The approach holds promise for helping landowner groups develop and evaluate cooperative strategies to improve landscape patterns for forest sustainability.     

Growth,feed efficiency and blood profile of buffalo calves consuming high levels of fluoride

Twelve male buffalo calves of 10 to 12 months of age were divided into 3 groups of four each. They were fed wheat straw+concentrate mixture +3 Kg greens. The chemical composition of the diet was same in all the three groups except fluoride which was added (as NaF) in concentrate mixture of group B and C to make the final fluoride concentration 30 ppm and 60 ppm respectively. The animals were kept on scheduled diet for a period of 90 days. Body weights were recorded at the start of the experiment and at fortnightly interval thereafter. Analysis of data revealed that the dry matter intake decreased non significantly in group B and C as compared to control group. A significant decrease in serum calcium and a significant increase in phosphorus concentration were observed in group C animals. A significant increase was observed in alkaline phosphatase activity in group C animals. A non significant decrease was observed in T₄ values in group C animals. On the basis of these results it could be concluded that fluoride in the diet of buffalo calves @ 30 ppm is a safe level whereas 60 ppm has affected the blood metabolites.     

荒漠草原自然恢复中植物群落组成及物种多样性

摘要：通过调查封育3、4、5、6、7年及未封育荒漠草原群落的特征,研究了不同封育年限下草原植物群落组成及生物多样性的变化,以期探明封育对荒漠草原群落恢复的影响。结果表明,封育改变了草原植物群落组分,表现为随封育年限延长,多年生草本植物,特别是短花针茅(Stipa breviliora)等一些地带性物种比例增加;封育草原的Shannon Wiener指数、Pielou指数、Simpson指数均比未封育草地高,封育5年草原的多样性指数最大。     

小麦禾谷孢囊线虫寄生范围的研究

经测试表明,禾谷孢囊线虫(Heterodera avenae)对长江中游地区栽种的小麦、裸大麦、米大麦、家燕麦、野燕麦、黑麦草、鹅冠草、苇状羊茅、球茎草芦和鸭茅均能侵染,这些植物是该线虫的良好寄主,但感染率差异不显著。该线虫能侵染玉米,但很难完成生活史,不侵染供试的红三叶草和紫苜蓿2种非禾本科牧草。在不同的寄主根内,线虫发育速度有差异,单位重量根内虫口数亦有异,黑麦草内最多,鲜根有线虫4.45条/g,鸭茅最少为1.26条/g。     

Changes in fox squirrel anti-predator behaviors across the urban–rural gradient

Predator stimuli created by humans in the urban environment may alter animals’ anti-predator behaviors. I hypothesized that habituation would cause anti-predator behaviors to decrease in urban settings in response to humans. Additionally, I hypothesized that populations habituated to humans would show reduced responses to other predator stimuli. I observed three populations of squirrels (urban, suburban and rural) responses to human approaches, red-tailed hawk vocalizations (Buteo jamaicensis) and coyote (Canis latrans) vocalizations. Mahalanobis distances of anti-predator behaviors in response to human approaches were consistent with the urban–rural gradient. Flight initiation distances (X ² = 26.33, df = 2, P < 0.001) and amount of time dedicated to anti-predator behavior (X ² = 10.94, df = 2, P = 0.004) in response to human approaches were also consistent with the urban–rural gradient. Supporting the habituation hypothesis, naive juvenile squirrels increased flight initiation distances (X ² = 35.89, df = 1, P < 0.001) and time dedicated to anti-predator behaviors (X ² = 9.46, df = 1, P = 0.002) relative to adult squirrels in the same urban environment. Time dedicated to anti-predator behaviors differed among all three sites in response to both coyote (X ² = 9.83, df = 2, P = 0.007) and hawk (X ² = 6.50, df = 2, P = 0.035) vocalizations. Responses to both vocalizations on rural sites (coyote = 45%, hawk = 55%) greater than twice that found on the urban sites (coyote = 11%, hawk = 20%). This is possibly the first case of a transfer of habituation demonstrated under field conditions.     

陕西富硒与非富硒地区山羊组织硒含量和GPX-7基因表达的比较

为了探讨陕西紫阳县(富硒地区)山羊各组织中微量元素硒的含量和谷胱甘肽过氧化酶7(Glutathione Peroxidase 7,GPX-7)基因的表达情况,以及组织中的硒沉积量对GPX-7基因表达的影响。利用原子荧光光谱法对年龄相仿、体质量相近的紫阳县双安镇(n=7)和广成镇(n=7)和宝鸡市陈仓区白山羊体内硒含量进行了测定;同时运用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)相对定量技术测定GPX-7基因mRNA的相对表达量。紫阳双安镇山羊硒含量显著高于紫阳广成镇(P0.05),同时紫阳县均显著高于宝鸡陈仓区(P0.05);但是紫阳双安镇与紫阳广成镇山羊肺脏中硒含量差异不显著(P0.05)。GPX-7基因在各组织器官中广泛表达,但是不同地区的山羊表现出不同的组织差异性。紫阳双安镇山羊心脏、脾脏、肾周脂肪和背最长肌组织中mRNA水平与紫阳广成镇差异不显著(P0.05),但是紫阳地区均显著高于宝鸡陈仓区(P0.05)。在肺脏、肾脏、股二头肌和淋巴组织中,来自不同地区的山羊GPX-7基因mRNA的表达量地差异均两两显著(P0.05),其中紫阳广成镇山羊肺脏的表达量显著高于其他两个地区(P0.05)。由此可见,山羊各组织器官中微量元素硒的沉积量和GPX-7基因mRNA的表达量表现出较为一致的地域趋势,即紫阳双安镇紫阳广成镇宝鸡陈仓区,这表明微量元素硒上调GPX-7基因的表达,但是具有组织差异性。     

北京市马属动物赛事监管制度的建立

通过对近年来重大马术活动的监管,结合《北京市动物防疫条例》的实施,北京市逐步形成马属动物展览演出比赛的“赛事报告、报检报验、档案记录、防疫条件审查、隔离观察、赛中监管、应急预备和宣传告知”八大监管制度,确保了北京市马属动物无疫安全。     

猪用加味玉屏风缓释微丸水提醇沉工艺研究

目的:考察猪用加味玉屏风缓释微丸的水提醇沉工艺。方法:以黄芪甲苷的含量及干膏得率作为评价指标,选用L9(34)进行正交试验。结果:猪用加味玉屏风缓释微丸最佳水提取工艺为药材分别加12倍量水,提取2次,提取时间分别为0.5 h;最佳醇沉工艺为浓缩药液相对密度1.15,加醇浓度70%,静置时间为12 h。结论:优选出的水提醇沉工艺科学、合理。     

绵羊FGF10基因克隆、序列分析及其在毛囊发育中的表达分析

本试验旨在获得中国美利奴羊成纤维细胞生长因子10（fibroblast growth factor 10,FGF10）基因的编码区（CDS）全长序列并进行生物信息学分析,随后对FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达特征进行分析,明确其在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达模式,为进一步研究FGF10 mRNA表达水平与中国美利奴羊毛囊生长发育的表达调控机制奠定理论基础。采用PCR扩增获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因CDS,并克隆到zero PCR@^TM-Blunt进行测序验证;利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测FGF10在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达差异。结果表明,绵羊FGF10基因CDS长度为696 bp（序列上传GenBank,获得登录号：MT872422）,编码231个氨基酸,与牛和山羊的氨基酸序列同源性达100%,存在1个信号肽和1个跨膜结构域,其为分泌通路信号蛋白;实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中均表达,在毛囊发育第85天表达最高,显著高于其他毛囊发育时期（P<0.05）。本研究获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因完整的编码区序列和毛囊发育过程中的表达特征,生物信息学分析发现,FGF10基因编码区序列具有物种间的保守性,同时FGF10在绵羊毛囊不同发育阶段的皮肤组织中表达,由此表明,FGF10基因可能在绵羊毛囊的生长发育过程中发挥重要的生物学作用。     

短棒早丝瓜新品种的选育

短棒早丝瓜生长势强,较抗丝瓜霜霉病和白粉病.特早熟,第一雌花节位5～6节,比对照品种长沙肉丝瓜早7～8天采收.瓜条短棒形,较粗,匀直,表皮青绿色,果肉脆嫩,味甜.果长20～22 cm,果粗7～8 cm,单果重350～400g.露地栽培每667m2产量3 000kg以上,比长沙肉丝瓜增产35%左右.