Nutrient addition and disturbance effects on the community composition and assembly in a desert steppe北大核心CSCD

The effects of short-term nutrient additions (NPKμ, 10 g·m- 2) and disturbances on the species diversity, functional traits, soil properties, and community assembly mechanisms of the herbaceous community in the Urat desert steppe were examined. A mixed linear model, principal component analysis, and null model methods were utilized and both disturbance and interaction treatments were found to significantly reduce species richness and β diversity. Short-term nutrient additions significantly reduced soil pH but increased soil electrical conductivity. Six functional traits of the dominant species (i.e. Stipa glareosa, Peganum harmala, Salsola collina, Corispermum mongolicum) and six community-weighted mean significant changes under the disturbance and nutrient addition treatments were identified. The disturbance and nutrient additions promoted the transformation of the dominant species in the community from conservative strategies to acquisitive strategies. The results of the two null models revealed that community assembly under the control tended to be a stochastic process, while the disturbance and interaction treatments tended to be deterministic processes, and that of the nutrient addition treatments tended to be weaker deterministic processes. Plant communities in the desert steppe responded and adapted to the nutrient additions and disturbances through changes in the dominant species and their crucial functional traits. © 2023 Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.     

Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

Effect of the Silicic Acid Polymerization Degree on the Coagulating Property of Polyalumium Silicate Chloride

Polyaluminum silicate is a new type of inorganic macromolecular flocculants, which is developed as a complex product in recent years on the base of polyalumium flocculant and polysilicic acid flocculant. Sodium silicate is diluted to the concentration of 3.0% SiO 2 with distilled water. The solution was adjusted to pH 4.5 with sulphate acid and kept at quiescency for different time to get polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees. Using polysilicic acid prepared and aluminium chloride as materials, a series of polyaluminium silicate chlorides(PASC) with different basicities(B), Al/Si molar ratios and polymerization degree of silicic acid are prepared by copolymerization technique. The Al-Ferron timed complex colorimetric method is applied to characterize species distribution of PASC and to study its influence factors. The interaction between hydrolyzed aluminum species and polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees in PASC is discussed.The flocculant prepared is applied to the treatment of commercial concrete wastewater. The turbidity removal of commercial concrete wastewater is up to 97% when a PASC, prepared with polysilicic acid of 145 min polymerization degree.     

并联机床——新一代数控机床

并联机床是数控机床行业的新生代,目前尚处于起步阶段,本文简要介绍了国内外发展动态,以及面临的问题。     

泵行业存在的主要问题及急需解决的关键技术

分析了我国泵行业研究与生产部门存在的主要问题对策，探讨了泵行业急需解决的关键技术。     

免耕精量直插点播偏置滑块机构的参数优化

以免耕直插式精量点播器的偏置滑块机构为研究对象,为实现该点播器接近零速投种对其结构参数进行优化分析。对偏置滑块的偏置距离e在[0,25]内抽出11组进行仿真分析。优化分析的结果表明:滑块偏置的距离e=10mm,点播器的鸭嘴入出土位移差s=68mm,鸭嘴在入出土瞬时速度v=42mm/s,曲柄摆角θ=30°。     

部分军队医学期刊论文关键词标引质量的调查

 

以中国生物医学文献数据库(CBMdisc)的主题标引为金标准，

对数据库中用主题词标引的23

种军队医学期刊，共计265篇医学论文关键词标引进行对比分析。发现其中存在4个方面问题：一是标引质量问题；二是主、副主题词组配错误；三是将缺乏检索意义的形容词、副词及专业上未得到公认和未被普遍使用的缩略词用作关键词；四是关键词数量普遍不足。为提高关键词标引质量，应重视关键词标引工作的意义，切忌随意性、潦草对待;配备最新的标引工具书;标引工作严格遵循标准化程序，提高整个行业的质量水平。

     

小麦品种纹枯病抗性鉴定

小麦纹枯病是由禾谷丝核菌 (Ｒｈｉｚｏｃｔｏｎｉａｃｅｒｅ ａｌｉｓ)侵染所致的土传病害[1 ] 。近年来 ,该病害在湖北省麦区发生日趋严重[2 ,3] ,已逐渐成为生产上的一种重要病害。培育抗纹枯病品种和鉴定筛选抗源并在育种工作中加以利用是控制该病害的重要途径。本研究对湖北省麦区近年来推广的 2 5个品种以及从全国各地征搜集的 548份材料进行了鉴定和筛选 ,以期明确湖北省麦区品种的抗性现状 ,为育种单位提供抗源和小麦品种合理布局提供科学依据。1　材料与方法1 .1　材　料供试小麦品种为湖北省近年来推广品种 2 5个和从全国各地征搜…