Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China

A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek, motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park. However, planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China. We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure. We identified 237 unique genotypes (153 females, 84 males), representing 81% of the known population. However, the effective population size was small (28, range 25–32). Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.235), but moderate nucleotide and nuclear diversity (π = 0.6%, H_e = 0.55) was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters, with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations (F_ST = 0.23); elephants from Mengyang, Simao, and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population (henceforth, MSJ), and differed from the Shangyong population (F_ST = 0.11). Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isolation by distance and female-biased dispersal. Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units: Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ; their long-term viability will require restoring gene flow between Shangyong and MSJ, and between elephants in China and neighboring countries. Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.     

不同放牧方式对山地草甸生产与生态功能及其权衡关系的影响

为实现喀纳斯景区山地草甸的可持续管理,本研究通过设置无牧对照(NG)、单牧马-轻牧区(HG)、牛马混牧-重牧区(MG)三种放牧方式,探求提高山地草甸生态系统多项生产和生态功能协同性的放牧方式。结果表明：不同放牧方式下山地草甸的生产功能放牧后较放牧前均有下降,生态功能中土壤N:P、植物N:P、凋落物N:P放牧后较放牧前均升高,其他生态功能降低,但HG的Shannon-Wiener指数在放牧后变化不大;NG的土壤呼吸速率和植被C:N升高。在山地草甸生态系统生产和生态功能的权衡关系中,权衡、协同和不相关关系同时存在,与牧草产量,草地质量指数相关的生产和生态功能存在协同关系;与植被平均高度、土壤呼吸速率、土壤碳储量相关的生产和生态功能存在权衡关系,其余指标为不相关关系。综上所述,最适放牧方式为HG,其协同关系最佳。     

生态红线划定研究综述

生态红线顾名思义指生态安全保护的底线,是中国在生态环境保护领域的一项制度创新,当前已经上升为国家战略,体现了国家以强制性法律手段严格实施生态保护政策的导向,更进一步体现了我国生态文明建设的重要举措。本文通过文献梳理,理清了生态红线的定义和内涵,综述了生态红线划定的指标体系和方法,概述了划定生态红线的国内外研究现状,并对生态红线划定理论,详细介绍了目前借助重要功能区、生态敏感区和禁止开发区划定生态红线的方法并指出其不足之处,继而对研究区生态红线划定中的关键问题以及对应的措施提出了建议,为全面科学研究生态红线提供指导。     

The Role of Recreational Motivation in the Birding Participation–Environmental Concern Relationship

Previous research has generally not found a strong relationship between participation in outdoor recreation and environmental concern. Research has suggested, however, that the motivation underlying recreation can mediate this relationship for some nature-based recreation groups. We hypothesized that the motivation underlying participation in birding mediates the participation–environmental concern relationship. We collected data via mail-back surveys from 529 American Birding Association members. Using structural modeling, we compared a direct effects model with partial and full mediation models with motivation variables as the mediators. The partial mediation model was weakly supported for two out of three motivation variables. Fit indices showed all models to have less than adequate fit. The results suggested that participation may not lead to environmental concern and that other variables, including motivation, may be more influential.     

四川阿坝州草原畜牧业现状、存在问题及发展对策

介绍了阿坝州草原资源和畜牧业发展现状,论述了草原生态保护与畜牧业的关系,剖析了草原生态与畜牧业发展中存在的问题,并针对存在的问题提出了实现草原生态保护和畜牧业平衡发展的对策。     

甘肃省草地植被NDVI时空变化特征及驱动因素研究

本文基于甘肃省2000—2019年归一化植被指数（normalized different vegetation index,NDVI）数据及气象数据,研究了甘肃省草地NDVI时空变化特征及驱动因素。结果表明：近20年,生长季草地NDVI整体水平较低但呈波动上升趋势,增速为0.030·（10a）^-1,草地NDVI分布呈现东南高西北低的格局;20年间生长季NDVI呈显著增加趋势的面积占甘肃省草地的19.08%,主要分布在陇中黄土高原;甘南高原和祁连山地生长季NDVI保持稳定,其中高寒草甸NDVI整体较高且稳定性较强;生长季草地NDVI受夏季降水量的影响较大;人类活动主要促进了草地NDVI的增长。整体而言,甘肃省草地NDVI呈现增长趋势且稳定性较高,降水量对草地NDVI的影响较强。另外,生态工程也促进了草地NDVI增长,需长期实施。     

青藏高原高寒草甸草地资源环境及可持续发展研究

通过青藏高原地理位置、气侯条件和高寒草甸草地资源、生态环境现状及发展趋势的分析表明，草地生态结构不合理，经营管理水平落后，超载过牧、鼠虫危害、水土流失以及人类活动干扰是草地退化、生态环境恶化、阻碍草地畜牧业持续发展的主要因素。合理利用天然草地，优化草地生产结构，培育家育优良品种，开展季节畜牧业生产，建立稳产高产人工草地，并建立健全草地资源监测、预测预报和开展可持续发展的示范研究是防治草地退化，促进生态系统良性循环和提高草地畜牧业经济效益的有效途径。     

云南不同生态区域15单株罗望子果实性状比较研究初探

以云南5个生态区域采集的15株罗望子的果实为材料,对果实的16个性状进行分析研究,探讨罗望子果实品质进而筛选优良种质。结果表明：15株罗望子果实性状中,除了果实弯系数差异不显著,其余的果实性状指标差异都极显著。YM3的单果重（14.04g）、果肉重（6.63g）、种子重（4.79g）、种子数（10）最大,可以作为优良单株进行保存、繁殖后代。罗望子果实各个指标之间存在着显著或极显著的正相关或负相关性。     

广东惠州生猪养殖现状调查及分析

惠州地处广东省珠江三角洲,近10多年城市化进程速度加快,城市人口增长迅速,随着人们生活水平不断提高,猪肉消费急速上升.同时,惠州也是广东省猪场最为集中的地区,是广东重要的肉猪、种猪生产基地.惠州地区规模生猪养殖发展之路更是广东省生猪养殖的一个缩影和风向标.通过深入基层调查,走访养殖户、屠宰场、大型养殖企业等,通过座谈交流、问卷调查和查阅生产记录的方式,对惠州不同规模生猪养殖发展现状及面临的主要问题进行了调查和分析.通过分析发现,中等规模的生猪养殖场（存栏500-2 999头）具有生产效益明显、环境容量合适、调整生产快、抗风险高和适合精细饲养等特点,比较适合目前惠州的生猪养殖发展.针对惠州面临的产业结构调整、划定动物禁养区等现实问题,本文提出应结合人文发展,完善行业标准,大力发展现代都市养殖模式-绿色生态园区的建议.     

甲螨生态学在畜牧业生产中的应用研究

本研究系统揭示了新疆不同干旱气候区的甲螨生态规律,首次提出新疆绵羊裸头科绦虫分区防治的最佳时间表及综合防治制度,科学地解决了畜牧业生产中的实际问题,取得了明显的控制效果,从而加速防病灭病的进程。