Use of three‐dimensional acceleration sensing to assess dairy cow gait and the effects of hoof trimming

The aim of this study was to assess the use of three‐dimensional acceleration sensing to describe the gait of dairy cows and the effect of hoof trimming. In Trial 1, a three‐dimensional acceleration sensor was attached to the carpal region of a front leg of six Holstein cows who were then walked for 9 m. Results showed that measures of acceleration could clearly show the presence of steps, which were divided into an acceleration phase, which involved the hoof descending to and ascending from the ground, and a non‐acceleration phase, which included the swing phase. Lissajous figures could succinctly depict the degree of acceleration for each cow and showed that one cow who was lame walked with greater vertical and lateral acceleration than the remaining cows. In Trial 2, 17 loose‐housed Holstein cows were walked for 20 m during the month before, once during the month after and once 2 months after hoof trimming with the sensor attached at the end of their thoracic vertebrae to measure acceleration of the whole body. To relate the acceleration of the body to movements of the legs, image analysis was used to the range of vertical movement of four major skeletal joints, using visual markers attached to them. Hoof trimming significantly (P < 0.005) decreased both the range of vertical movement of the joints of front and hind legs and the variance of lateral and forward acceleration at the end of the thoracic vertebrae, suggesting improved gait pattern smoothness. Acceleration sensing was able to characterize variation among gait patterns of the cows and could reproduce the pattern shown by image analysis. This study demonstrates that three‐dimensional acceleration sensing of either the carpal region of a front leg or the end of the thoracic vertebrae is useful to detect walking irregularities and evaluate the effectiveness of hoof trimming on walking ability of cattle.     

Microhabitat use by three endemic Iberian cyprinids in Mediterranean rivers (Tagus River Basin, Spain)

Abstract  Microhabitat use by three endemic Iberian cyprinids, Barbus bocagei (Steindachner), Pseudochondrostoma polylepis (Steindachner) , and Squalius pyrenaicus (Günther) was studied in terms of depth, mean water column velocity, focal height, focal velocity, distance to shore and substrate. Data were obtained by snorkelling during spring and summer at nine sites of the Tagus River Basin, Spain. Habitat suitability criteria (HSC) were calculated, including fish position and focal velocity in the water column. Species comparison showed differences in depth and focal height (indicating a vertical segregation), and greater water velocities for Pseudochondrostoma . Size-class comparisons mainly showed differences in depth and focal height (correlated with fish size). The fish groups (3 species × 3 length classes) were assigned to microhabitat functional types. The results are essential for environmental flow assessments and allow 2- and 3-dimensional habitat simulations in Mediterranean rivers; they are also useful to define critical habitats for the conservation of native fish populations.     

模拟增温和添加氮素对高寒草甸草地生产力影响的初步研究

为探索高寒草地植被对模拟增温和添加氮素的响应机制,通过在野外对高寒草甸进行模拟增温和硝态氮、铵态氮的氮素添加试验,研究模拟增温和添加氮素对高寒草地群落物种组成、生产力及土壤水含量的影响.结果表明:增温和添加氮素可显著增加植物地上总生物量、优良牧草地上生物量和植被平均高度(P <0.05).增温处理能增加植物种类,且有利于杂类草生物量的增加;对几种主要植物来说,增温施氮互作下植株高度高于其他处理,土壤0～15和15～30 cm水分均先减少后增加,且都为不增温不施肥处理最高.可见增温施氮互作处理能够促进植被的生长,但不利于土壤水分的增加.     

不同施肥时间及施氮水平对高寒草甸生物量和土壤养分的影响

采用随机区组设计,探讨了不同施肥时期及氮肥用量对三江源区高寒草甸初级生产力、植物养分及土壤养分的影响。结果表明:在施肥时间为7月10日,施肥量为150 kg·hm^-2时,地上生物量为最大值,较对照增加了2.06倍(P <0.05)。而植物氮素含量在施肥时间为7月10日,尿素用量为300 kg·hm^-2时达到最大值,较对照增加了31.18%(P <0.05)。相关性分析表明,地上生物量与植物全氮成显著正相关,施氮量与植物全氮成线性相关。施肥时间为7月10日左右时,尿素施用水平为150~300 kg·hm^-2,该类型高寒草甸初级生产力和土壤全氮都达到最大值,可作为优先氮素添加量来推荐。     

西宁地区70种草坪草引种试验报告

连续3年以成坪期、质地、密度、颜色、耐旱性、越冬性、抗病性、青绿期、盖度等指标对9属70个品种的草坪草进行5级质量综合评价,从中筛选出适合西宁地区种植的草坪草种.其中,早熟禾属5个品种:Eclipse,Ram1,Glade,Wabash 和加拿大早熟禾;羊茅属6个品种:Pixie,Arid3,Houndog5,TripleA3,Watersaver和匍匐紫羊茅;黑麦草属2个品种:Dandy和Calypso2.     

不同形态及配比的氮素对高寒草甸植物生长高度和生物量的影响

为探索提高青藏高原高寒草甸草地生产力的科学施肥途径,通过小区施肥试验,研究添加不同形态及配比的氮素对称多县高寒草甸植物生长高度和生物量的影响。在2013年添加氮素的当年,选用的9个物种的生长高度对添加不同形态氮素及配比处理的响应表现出多元特征;除有机态氮外,铵态氮、硝态氮、酰胺态氮3种形态的氮素对禾本科、莎草科、杂类草的平均草丛高度有显著影响（P<0.05）,不同形态氮素添加对禾本科、莎草科、杂类草功能群以及群落总生物量影响显著（P<0.05）,但铵态氮和硝态氮的不同配比间差异不显著。     

用突变点检测方法预测木生境下污染土壤中的可提性镉、铅和锌

Accumulation of heavy metals in soils poses a potential risk to plant production, which is related to availability of the metals in soil. The phytoavailability of metals is usually evaluated using extracting solutions such as salts, acids or chelates. The purpose of this study was to identify the most significant soil parameters that can be used to predict the concentrations of acetic and citric acid-extractable cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in contaminated woody habitat topsoils. Multiple linear regression models were established using two analysis strategies and three sets of variables based on a dataset of 260 soil samples. The performance of these models was evaluated using statistical parameters. Cation exchange capacity, CaCO3, organic matter, assimilated P, free Al oxide, sand and the total metal concentrations appeared to be the main soil parameters governing the solubility of Cd, Pb and Zn in acetic and citric acid solutions. The results strongly suggest that the metal solubility in extracting solutions is extractable concentration-dependent since models were overall improved by incorporating a change point. This change point detection method was a powerful tool for predicting extractable Cd, Pb and Zn. Suitable predictions of extractable Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations were obtained, with correlation coefficient (adjusted r) ranging from 0.80 to 0.99, given the high complexity of the woody habitat soils studied. Therefore, the predictive models can constitute a decision-making support tool for managing phytoremediation of contaminated soils, making recommendations to control the potential bioavailability of metals. The relationships between acetic and/or citric acid-extractable concentrations and the concentrations of metals into the aboveground parts of plants need to be predicted, in order to make their temporal monitoring easier.     

Characterizing the potential habitat of European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Mediterranean Sea,at different life stages

Identification of the potential habitat of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) at different life stages in relation to environmental conditions is an interesting subject from both ecological and management points of view. For this purpose, acoustic data from different seasons and different parts of the Mediterranean Sea along with satellite environmental and bathymetry data were modelled using generalized additive models. Similarly, egg distribution data from summer ichthyoplankton surveys were used to model potential spawning habitat. Selected models were used to produce maps presenting the probability of anchovy presence (adults, juveniles and eggs) in the entire Mediterranean basin, as a measure of habitat adequacy. Bottom depth and sea surface chlorophyll concentration were the variables found important in all models. Potential anchovy habitats were located over the continental shelf for all life stages examined. An expansion of the potential habitat from the peak spawning (early summer) to the late spawning season (early autumn) was observed. However, the most suitable areas for the presence of anchovy spawners seem to maintain the same size between seasons. Potential juvenile habitats were associated with highly productive inshore waters, being less extended and closer to coast during winter than late autumn. Potential spawning habitat in June and July based on ichthyoplankton surveys overlapped but were wider in extent compared with adult potential habitat from acoustics in the same season. Similarities and dissimilarities between the anchovy habitats as well as comparisons with sardine habitats in the oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea and other ecosystems with higher productivity are discussed.