Over the last few decades, important advances have been made in understanding of host–parasitoid relations and their applications to biological pest control. Not only has the number of agent species increased, but new manipulation techniques for natural enemies have also been empirically introduced, particularly in greenhouse crops. This makes biocontrol more complex, requiring a new mathematical modeling approach appropriate for the optimization of the release of agents. The present paper aimed at filling this gap by the development of a temperature- and stage-dependent dynamic mathematical model of the host–parasitoid system with an improved functional response. The model is appropriate not only for simulation analysis of the efficiency of biocontrol agents, but also for the application of optimal control methodology for the optimal timing of agent releases, and for the consideration of economic implications. Based on both laboratory and greenhouse trials, the model was validated and fitted to the data of Chelonus oculator (F.) (Hym.: Braconidae) as a biological control agent against the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lep.: Noctuidae). We emphasize that this model can be easily adapted to other interacting species involved in biological or integrated pest control with either parasitoid or predator agents. 相似文献
A new phenolic ester has been isolated from the seeds of Nigella damascena and the structure was established as 1-O-(2,4-dihydroxy)phenylacetyl glycerol (1) by 1H and 13C-NMR spectral data and EI-MS analysis. 相似文献
Agroforestry Systems - Complex agroforestry systems are suggested as a possible solution to reduce the effects of deforestation in the tropics while enhancing the livelihoods of local human... 相似文献
● Virtual joint centers on N agronomy were established between UK and China.● Key themes were improving NUE for fertilizers, utilizing livestock manures, and soil health.● Improved management practices and technologies were identified and assessed.● Fertilizer emissions and improved manure management are key targets for mitigation. Two virtual joint centers for nitrogen agronomy were established between the UK and China to facilitate collaborative research aimed at improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural production systems and reducing losses of reactive N to the environment. Major focus areas were improving fertilizer NUE, use of livestock manures, soil health, and policy development and knowledge exchange. Improvements to fertilizer NUE included attention to application rate in the context of yield potential and economic considerations and the potential of improved practices including enhanced efficiency fertilizers, plastic film mulching and cropping design. Improved utilization of livestock manures requires knowledge of the available nutrient content, appropriate manure processing technologies and integrated nutrient management practices. Soil carbon, acidification and biodiversity were considered as important aspects of soil health. Both centers identified a range of potential actions that could be taken to improve N management, and the research conducted has highlighted the importance of developing a systems-level approach to assessing improvement in the overall efficiency of N management and avoiding unintended secondary effects from individual interventions. Within this context, the management of fertilizer emissions and livestock manure at the farm and regional scales appear to be particularly important targets for mitigation. 相似文献
Gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) was raised in six individual recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) whose biofilters’ performance was analyzed. Fish were fed with three different diets (a control diet, a fishmeal-based diet (FM), and a plant meal-based diet (VM)) and with three different feeding strategies (manual feeding to apparent satiation, automatic feeding with restricted ration, and auto-demand feeding). For every combination of diet and feeding strategy, the mean oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, and ammonia removal rate were determined. Fish fed with the VM diet consumed the most oxygen (20.06?±?1.80 gO2 consumed kg?1 day?1). There were significant differences in ammonia excretion depending on the protein content and protein efficiency of the diet, as well as depending on feeding strategy, which in turn affected ammonia removal rates. Fish fed by auto-demand feeders led to the highest mean ammonia removal rate (0.10 gN-TAN removed m?2 biofiltration area day?1), while not leading to peaks of high ammonia concentration in water, which preserve fish welfare and growth.
The current field study used thoroughbred stallions and mares from central Kentucky to investigate the occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria on the stallion's external genitalia, based on cultures, and investigated the occurrence of bacteria and type of isolate in the mare's uterus after breeding by live cover to stallions with or without positive bacterial cultures. Fifteen thoroughbred stallions and 206 mares from two central Kentucky thoroughbred farms were used during the 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons. Samples for bacteriological evaluation were taken from the prepuce and postejaculate urethra (n = 201) of stallions. Uterine swabs (n = 264) were collected 12-18 hours postbreeding. For statistical analyses, a chi-squared test was used to test the relationship between stallion culture results and postbreeding uterine culture results, as well as the effect of bacterial types found on the stallion cultures with bacterial types found on the postbreeding uterine cultures. Of stallion cultures, 22.4% were positive for potentially pathogenic bacteria, with Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (51.1%) being the most common isolate. Uterine cultures resulted in a 29.2% positive rate for potentially pathogenic bacteria, with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (90.9%) being the most common. There was no difference (P > .05) in the occurrence of bacteria or type of isolate found on uterine cultures after breeding stallions with or without positive cultures. In conclusion, potentially pathogenic bacteria found on the stallion's external genitalia did not affect the occurrence and type of bacterial isolate found in the mare's uterus after breeding by live cover. 相似文献