冷地早熟禾总非结构碳水化合物的季节动态

采用酸提法和水提法两种不同的提取方法对冷地早熟禾的总非结构碳水化合物(TNC)的季节动态进行了研究,同时进行了强度刈割试验以观测TNC与再生的关系。结果显示:冷地早熟禾的TNC季节变化呈宽“U”型,两种提取方法的TNC在返青后都有一个明显的下降过程,酸提TNC在开花期为最低点,水提TNC则是在抽茎期。抽穗期刈割对植株体的再生高度和分蘖数影响最大,而TNC和再生之间并未显示出显著的正相关关系。     

Effects of air temperature, air movement and artificial rain on the heat production of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula): an exploratory study

Two groups of six mature brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpeculu) were housed in two respiration chambers, and their heat production, whole body conductance and lower critical temperatures were measured under a variety of simulated weather patterns. The possums were subjected to ambient temperatures of 30, 20 and 3 degrees C. At 20 and 3 degrees C, the animals were exposed to near still air and light winds (wind speed 0.8 and 6.7 km/h), both with, and without, simulated rain every 8 hours. The lower critical temperature in near still air lies between 7 and 10 degrees C. This temperature increases by about 2, 6 and 8 degrees C respectively for a wind velocity of 6.7 km/h, simulated rain and a combination of the two factors. Weather in New Zealand, especially in the cooler part of the year, will often produce conditions below the lower critical temperature of the thermoneutral zone of possums. This will necessitate significant increases in metabolic rate and hence food consumption or mobilisation of body fat reserves, which if not sustainable will result in the death of possums. Field studies have shown that this is often the case in the wild. It is proposed that this stress may be sufficient to decrease the resistance (especially cell-mediated immunity) of some possums and allow acceleration of the disease process in those infected with Mycobacterium bovis.