Origin and evolution of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Asia

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by H5N1 viruses were reported almost simultaneously in eight neighbouring Asian countries between December 2003 and January 2004, with a ninth reporting in August 2004, suggesting that the viruses had spread recently and rapidly. However, they had been detected widely in the region in domestic waterfowl and terrestrial poultry for several years before this, and the absence of widespread disease in the region before 2003, apart from localised outbreaks in the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (SAR), is perplexing. Possible explanations include limited virus excretion by domestic waterfowl infected with H5N1, the confusion of avian influenza with other serious endemic diseases, the unsanctioned use of vaccines, and the under-reporting of disease as a result of limited surveillance. There is some evidence that the excretion of the viruses by domestic ducks had increased by early 2004, and there is circumstantial evidence that they can be transmitted by wild birds. The migratory birds from which viruses have been isolated were usually sick or dead, suggesting that they would have had limited potential for carrying the viruses over long distances unless subclinical infections were prevalent. However, there is strong circumstantial evidence that wild birds can become infected from domestic poultry and potentially can exchange viruses when they share the same environment. Nevertheless, there is little reason to believe that wild birds have played a more significant role in spreading disease than trade through live bird markets and movement of domestic waterfowl. Asian H5N1 viruses were first detected in domestic geese in southern China in 1996. By 2000, their host range had extended to domestic ducks, which played a key role in the genesis of the 2003/04 outbreaks. The epidemic was not due to the introduction and spread of a single virus but was caused by multiple viruses which were genotypically linked to the Goose/GD/96 lineage via the haemagglutinin gene. The H5N1 viruses isolated from China, including the Hong Kong SAR, between 1999 and 2004 had a range of genotypes and considerable variability within genotypes. The rising incidence and widespread reporting of disease in 2003/04 can probably be attributed to the increasing spread of the viruses from existing reservoirs of infection in domestic waterfowl and live bird markets leading to greater environmental contamination. When countries in the region started to report disease in December 2003, others were alerted to the risk and disease surveillance and reporting improved. The H5N1 viruses have reportedly been eliminated from three of the nine countries that reported disease in 2003/04, but they could be extremely difficult to eradicate from the remaining countries, owing to the existence of populations and, possibly, production and marketing sectors, in which apparently normal birds harbour the viruses.     

OPTIMIZATION OF VERMICOMPOST AND WORM-BED LEACHATE FOR THE ORGANIC CULTIVATION OF RADISH

Vermicompost and worm-bed leachate (WBL) are two products obtained from vermicomposting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different combinations of vermicompost and WBL on cultivating radish (Raphanus sativus L.). A multilevel factorial design with 25 treatments was used to investigate the effect of vermicompost at 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40% and WBL at 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40% on germination and growth parameters. A maximum seed germination of 54%, number of leaves (2.8), and plant height (8.6 cm) were obtained with 10% vermicompost and 10% WBL. A maximum shoot (7.0 g) and root (7.3 g) dry weight was obtained with 10% vermicompost and 15% WBL. Vermicompost and worm-bed leachate have an inhibitory effect at higher concentrations on seed germination and plant growth. These inhibitory effects might be due to increased salt concentrations, pH or auxin-like effects of humic and fulvic acids.     

尼加拉瓜废弃农田的森林恢复年代序列分析

对废弃4年、9年和14年的3块废弃农田的木本植物物种组成、植物密度和种群结构的恢复情况进行了表征.在每块废弃地上,建立70个100 m2样地,鉴别和计数幼苗、幼树和成年树.在4年龄林分中有13科17物种,9年龄林分中有29科48物种,14年龄林分中有22科44物种.在不同的演替阶段,林分中优势种不同.Lonchocarpus acuminatus在4年龄林分中重要值最高,Myrospermun frutescens、榆梧桐和破布木在9年龄林分中重要值最高;Caesaeria cotymbosa、南美假樱桃、墨西哥丁香和红花风铃木在14年龄林分中重要值最高.从4年龄到14年龄的废弃地,总的立木度从5011株/hm2增加到9631株/hm2.胸径在1cm以上的植株总的基面积也随废弃农田年龄增加而增加.总的来讲,小的植株(胸径小于10cm)的基面积超过总的基面积的一半.9年龄林分物种丰富度最高,14年龄和4年龄林分次之.总之,相比于林分结构属性,次生林植物种类构成可以快速恢复到成熟林水平,这与热带干旱森林总的演替趋势是相一致的.     

Trophic plasticity of invasive juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in Iberian streams

Biological invasions are a major factor for biodiversity loss, particularly in freshwater environments. Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides is native to North America and is invasive on the Iberian Peninsula, primarily to provide angling opportunities in reservoirs. However, this species is a threat to the endemic Iberian fauna via predation and competition. Currently, there is little information on largemouth bass in European streams. Thus, we assessed the trophic plasticity and body condition of young largemouth bass in both invasive (the regulated Bullaque River) and native (Murray Creek) streams. Abundance of juvenile largemouth bass, percentage of full stomachs and body condition were higher in Bullaque River. Largemouth bass preyed on benthic invertebrates much more heavily in the Bullaque River, whereas fishes were the most important prey in Murray Creek. Prey richness, diet diversity and trophic niche breadth were higher in the Bullaque River population. Largemouth bass preferred water-column fishes as prey and avoided consuming benthic fishes in Murray Creek, whereas water-column fishes were avoided in Bullaque River. These results demonstrate that largemouth bass display substantial trophic plasticity which possibly facilitates its success as invasive species. Regulated Iberian streams may provide both suitable food and habitat resources with minimal predation pressure, and hence may serve as recruitment sources for this invasive fish.     

尼加拉瓜Chacocente野生动物保护区三种干旱落叶阔叶树种的天然更新动态(英文)

在尼加拉瓜Chacocente野生动物保护区对极又平荚木,毛风铃木和Lonchocarpus minimiflorus(Donn.Sm.)树种的天然更新进行了调查,并分析了更新异质性与地形坡度和入射光的关系。从2001到2003连续3年记录了高度10m以下和直径10cm以下的苗木和幼树。结果表明,3个树种的天然更新的个体数量的密度明显不同,并随时间存在差异。与极叉平荚木相比,L.minimiflorus和毛风铃木天然更新密度较大,只有毛风铃木种群密度方面的净变化是正相关。在树冠部分曝光的条件下,在缓坡和陡坡上更新较好,形成了分布聚集分布,尤其是L.minimiflorus和毛风铃木。仅靠天然更新不足以维持这些树种理想的立木数量,应当采取直接的恢复措施以促进天然更新过程。参47表3图3。