A multi-method approach to delineate and validate migratory corridors

Context

Managers are faced with numerous methods for delineating wildlife movement corridors, and often must make decisions with limited data. Delineated corridors should be robust to different data and models.

Objectives

We present a multi-method approach for delineating and validating wildlife corridors using multiple data sources, which can be used conserve landscape connectivity. We used this approach to delineate and validate migration corridors for wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania.

Methods

We used two types of locational data (distance sampling detections and GPS collar locations), and three modeling methods (negative binomial regression, logistic regression, and Maxent), to generate resource selection functions (RSFs) and define resistance surfaces. We compared two corridor detection algorithms (cost-distance and circuit theory), to delineate corridors. We validated corridors by comparing random and wildebeest locations that fell within corridors, and cross-validated by data type.

Results

Both data types produced similar RSFs. Wildebeest consistently selected migration habitat in flatter terrain farther from human settlements. Validation indicated three of the combinations of data type, modeling, and corridor detection algorithms (detection data with Maxent modeling, GPS collar data with logistic regression modeling, and GPS collar data with Maxent modeling, all using cost-distance) far outperformed the other seven. We merged the predictive corridors from these three data-method combinations to reveal habitat with highest probability of use.

Conclusions

The use of multiple methods ensures that planning is able to prioritize conservation of migration corridors based on all available information.

     

鸭绿江松江鲈人工繁育技术研究

采用人工注射催产药物获取受精卵、人工孵化等技术原理,在不同的盐度中进行亲鱼培育、人工催产、人工孵化和苗种培育对比试验研究,重点解决了催产时间、催产药物的选择等技术问题,同时研究出各个时期所需要的最佳盐度。     

山东省机井定量分析

为了给山东省机井建设提供科学的发展依据。通过山东省机井工程的定量分析,指出了机井建设中存在的问题,提出了今后应合理开发利用地下水,严格控制成井质量,保护地下水环境。     

蘑菇渣堆肥做基质对华北落叶松容器苗生长的影响1）

以华北落叶松（ Larix principis-rupprechtii）播种容器苗为研究对象,采用完全随机设计,试验设置6个处理,通过比较苗木形态指标及苗木根系形态结构的差异,研究了添加不同比例的蘑菇渣堆肥对华北落叶松苗木生长的影响。结果表明：基质的密度、pH值、EC值随着蘑菇渣堆肥比例的增加呈现逐渐增大的趋势,总孔隙度、持水孔隙度与对照无显著差异;苗木苗高、地径、生物量及苗木总根长、总根表面积、总根体积随着蘑菇渣堆肥比例增加呈现逐渐减小的趋势;基质中蘑菇渣堆肥比例在0～20％范围内时,苗木形态指标及苗木根系形态结构均与对照无显著差异,基质中蘑菇渣堆肥比例大于30％时,苗木形态指标及苗木根系形态结构与对照出现显著差异,苗木生长受到不利影响。     

施磷水平与冬小麦产量和土壤有效磷含量的关系

[目的]研究施磷水平对冬小麦分蘖成穗、产量、磷素吸收利用的影响及其与土壤有效磷含量的关系,明确维持冬小麦持续高产的最佳土壤有效磷含量及施磷量,为冬小麦高效磷肥管理提供理论依据。[方法]于2018—2021年在河南科技大学农场进行了连续3年小麦田间试验,试验设P₂O₅ 0、90、180和270 kg/hm² 4个磷水平,分别记为P₀、P₉₀、P₁₈₀、P₂₇₀处理,研究了施磷水平对冬小麦分蘖成穗率、干物质积累与分配、产量、磷素吸收与分配及利用效率的影响,并分析了施磷水平、土壤有效磷含量与产量之间的关系。[结果](1)随着施磷水平的提高,冬小麦单位面积最大分蘖数、有效分蘖数和干物质积累量处理间均呈P₂₇₀>P₁₈₀>P₉₀>P₀,而穗粒数、干物质向籽粒中分配率和产量呈先增加后降低的趋势;P₁₈₀处理的冬小麦产量高...     

Dissecting Genetic Basis of Deep Rooting in Dongxiang Wild Rice

Deep rooting is an important trait in rice drought resistance. Genetic resources of deep-rooting varieties are valuable in breeding of water-saving and drought-resistant rice. In the present study, 234 BC₂F₇ backcross introgression lines were derived from a cross of Dongye 80 (an accession of Dongxiang wild rice as the donor parent) and R974 (an indica restorer line as the recurrent parent). A genetic linkage map containing 1 977 bin markers was constructed by ddRADSeq for QTL analysis. Thirty-one QTLs for four root traits (the number of deep roots, the number of shallow roots, the total number of deep roots and the ratio of deep roots) were assessed on six rice chromosomes in two environments (2020 Shanghai and 2021 Hainan). Two of the QTLs, qDR5.1 and qTR5.2, were located on chromosome 5 in a 70-kb interval. They were detected in both environments. qDR5.1 explained 13.35% of the phenotypic variance in 2020 Shanghai and 12.01% of the phenotypic variance in 2021 Hainan. qTR5.2 accounted for 10.88% and 10.93% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. One QTL (qRDR2.2) for the ratio of deep roots was detected on chromosome 2 in a 210-kb interval and accounted for 6.72% of the phenotypic variance in 2020. The positive effects of these three QTLs were all from Dongxiang wild rice. Furthermore, nine and four putative candidate genes were identified in qRDR2.2 and qDR5.1/qTR5.2, respectively. These findings added to our knowledge of the genetic control of root traits in rice. In addition, this study will facilitate the future isolation of candidate genes of the deep-rooting trait and the utilization of Dongxiang wild rice in the improvement of rice drought resistance.     

低糖番茄脯加工技术

低糖番茄脯不仅营养丰富而且具有浓郁的原果风味，是一种独具风格的保健食品，符合人民生活水平，文化素质日益提高的要求，开发前景十分广阔，本文介绍了低糖番茄脯的完整生产工艺及产品质量指标。     

“WaterMan”: an on-farm water management game with heuristic capabilities

A modern computer-based simulation tool (WaterMan) in the form of a game for on-farm water management was developed for application in training events for farmers, students, and irrigators. The WaterMan game utilizes an interactive framework, thereby allowing the user to develop scenarios and test alternatives in a convenient, risk-free environment. It includes a comprehensive soil water and salt balance calculation algorithm. It also employs heuristic capabilities for modeling all of the important aspects of on-farm water management, and to provide quantitative performance evaluations and practical water management advice to the trainees. Random events (both favorable and unfavorable) and different strategic decisions are included in the game for more realism and to provide an appropriate level of challenge according to player performance. Thus, the ability to anticipate the player skill level, and to reply with random events appropriate to the anticipated level, is provided by the heuristic capabilities used in the software. These heuristic features were developed based on a combination of two artificial intelligence approaches: (1) a pattern recognition approach and (2) reinforcement learning based on a Markov decision processes approach, specifically the Q-learning method. These two approaches were combined in a new way to account for the difference in the effect of actions taken by the player and action taken by the system in the game world. The reward function for the Q-learning method was modified to reflect the suggested classification of the WaterMan game as what is referred to as a partially competitive and partially cooperative game.     

Promoting sustainable intensification in precision agriculture: review of decision support systems development and strategies

Precision agriculture provides important issues toward a more sustainable agriculture. Many farmers have the necessary technology to operate site-specifically, but they do not use it in practice, and thus available information and communications technology (ICT) systems are not used to their full potential. This paper addresses how to reduce the so-called “problem of implementation”, based on the knowledge that participatory approaches during the design and development process is one of the most important factors to frame technology adoption. The development of sustainable ICT systems through theories and methodologies from the fields of human computer interaction and user-centered design (UCD) is presented and an ongoing Swedish project for development of an agricultural decision support system (AgriDSS) for nitrogen fertilization is used as an example to frame the issue. The overreaching aim is to develop AgriDSSs that are sustainable in design as well as through design by stressing the importance of participatory approaches for the successful development of AgriDSSs. The Swedish project has the intention to apply a UCD approach, and some pitfalls on starting to use this way of working is identified as well as some suggestions on how to reduce them through co-learning processes. Despite the challenges presented in this paper, ICT can contribute significantly to long-term sustainable development. Thus, several competences and scientific disciplines need to act in concert to help develop a sustainable development of agriculture via a transdisciplinary approach that can make an impact on society at many levels.     

Inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth by root-infecting fungi in soil of a rice paddy field

 Rice seedling growth, estimated by plant height and root development and discoloration, was better in pasteurized soil than in unpasteurized soil obtained from a flooded rice field. Rice seedlings also grew better in sterilized soil modified by adding roots harvested from the pasteurized soil than in soil modified by adding roots harvested from the unpasteurized soil. The results demonstrate that seedling growth in the rice field soil was inhibited by soil microorganisms, even though no typical symptoms such as seedling blight or damping-off appeared. Pythium aristosporum is suggested to be involved in the inhibition. Thus, it appears that inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth could occur in soils of rice paddy fields. Received: May 20, 2002 / Accepted: October 16, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. T. Ichitani, former professor at Osaka Prefectural University, for providing an isolate of Pythium aristosporum for comparison, and Mr. Mitsuaki Sato of Akita Prefectural College of Agriculture for technical assistance.