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.     

Mapping the current and future distributions of Onosma species endemic to Iran

Climate change may cause shifts in the natural range of species especially for those that are geographically restricted and/or endemic species. In this study, the spatial distribution of five endemic and threatened species belonging to the genus Onosma (including O. asperrima, O. bisotunensis, O. kotschyi, O. platyphylla, and O. straussii) was investigated under present and future climate change scenarios: RCP2.6 (RCP, representative concentration pathway; optimistic scenario) and RCP8.5 (pessimistic scenario) for the years 2050 and 2080 in Iran. Analysis was conducted using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to provide a basis for the protection and conservation of these species. Seven environmental variables including aspect, depth of soil, silt content, slope, annual precipitation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and annual temperature range were used as main predictors in this study. The model output for the potential habitat suitability of the studied species showed acceptable performance for all species (i.e., the area under the curve (AUC)>0.800). According to the models generated by MaxEnt, the potential current patterns of the species were consistent with the observed areas of distributions. The projected climate maps under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, respectively) of 2050 and 2080 resulted in reductions and expansions as well as positive range changes for all species in comparison to their current predicted distributions. Among all species, O. bisotunensis showed the most significant and highest increase under the pessimistic scenario of 2050 and 2080. Finally, the results of this study revealed that the studied plant species have shown an acute adaptability to environmental changes. The results can provide useful information to managers to apply appropriate strategies for the management and conservation of these valuable Iranian medicinal and threatened plant species in the future.     

Sulodexide protects against hyperglycemia-induced retinal vascular injury via suppressing NOX4/NLRP3 pathway

AIM To investigate the effect of sulodexide (SDX) on high glucose-induced damage in retinal microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS (1) High-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin were used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) followed by injection of saline or SDX in C57BL/6J male mice. Retinal microvascular leakage and density, and the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were measured. (2) Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were treated with normal glucose or high glucose with or without SDX, and were further transfected with siRNA to knock down NOX4, or infected by adenovirus to over-express NOX4. The protein levels of ZO-1, VE-cadherin (VE-Cad), NOX4 and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins as well as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected. RESULTS Treatment with SDX increased the protein level of ZO-1, attenuated retinal leakage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and enhanced the density of microvasculature and the number of ganglion cells in diabetic retinas. The protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad were decreased, while the levels of NOX4, NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation were increased in high glucose-treated HRMECs. Silencing of NOX4 inhibited high glucose-induced increases in NLRP3 inflammasome and ROS generation, and decreases in the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Over-expression of NOX4 significantly increased the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation in HRMECs, and reduced the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Treatment with SDX partly reversed NOX4 over-expression-induced changes. CONCLUSION SDX alleviates hyperglycemia-induced retinal microvascular endothelial injury via inhibiting NOX4/ROS/NLRP3 pathways.     

Discovery of a synergistic effect of oxytocin on the efficacy of Alpha-Chloralose,a drug used for capturing and controlling birds

Overdose and death of both target and non-target species are not uncommon when α–chloralose is used for animal control. Alpha–chloralose appears to depress the central nervous system by having an affect on the GABA-A receptor in a manner similar to ethanol. Recently central administration of oxytocin was shown to block ethanol-induced impairment in rodents. Our study investigates whether IM administration of oxytocin speeds avian recovery from α–chloralose and reduces mortality under simulated field conditions. We found that when injected twice with oxytocin (30 uL/kg) chickens entered α–chloralose narcosis more quickly and showed greater behavioral impairment. When fed the LD₅₀ dose of α–chloralose, repeated injection with oxytocin produced no significant difference in mortality rate or time to death in comparison to the control group. The effects of peripheral oxytocin on female chicks were different than results found previously in cockerels given oxytocin centrally. Oxytocin is not a suitable antidote for α–chloralose overdose during animal capture in the field but instead accentuates α–chloralose narcosis, making capture more likely and efficient.     

芭蕉属野生种的地理分布

芭蕉属起源于热带亚热带区域,对芭蕉属野生种质资源的研究始于20世纪40年代。通过检索INIBAP的多个数据库和相关文献,归纳整理出芭蕉属野生种的分布规律,为野生蕉的种质资源保存、利用以及品种鉴定提供一定的理论依据。经分析,目前已经报道的芭蕉属共有52个野生种,其中真芭蕉组(Eumusa)11个,观赏蕉组(Rhodochlamys)9个,澳蕉组(Australimusa)13个,红花蕉组(Callimusa)18个,不确定组(Incertae sedis)1个。马来西亚、印度尼西亚、巴布亚新几内亚、印度和中国均分布有不同的3组芭蕉属野生种,但马来西亚和印度分布的种数最多,各分布有15种,约占总数的29%,可能是芭蕉属野生种的多样性中心。     

溧阳市生物多样性评价

为溧阳市生物多样性的保护与利用提供依据,以溧阳市生物物种资源普查成果报告和溧阳天目湖森林公园植物资源调查报告为本底数据,采用综合指标体系评价方法对溧阳市生物多样性进行评价。结果表明:溧阳市生物多样性的综合评分为75分,其中物种多样性评分为35分,生态系统多样性评分为40分。溧阳市生物多样性评价结果等级为一般。     

渭北黄土高原主要造林树种根系分布特征及抗旱性研究

采用土钻法和盆栽试验研究了渭北地区主要造林树种的垂直根系分布特征及其抗旱性。结果表明立地条件对刺槐根系分布特征有明显的影响 ,林地土壤水分状况的差异是造成这种影响的关键所在 ;土壤种类、结构等对刺槐根系的分布特征也有很大的影响 ;不同树种在根系垂直分布特征方面存在着很大的差异 ,其中刺槐的根系分布最深 ;在一定的土壤干旱范围内 ,苗木可以通过提高根系活力来适应逆境 ,当土壤干旱超过一定的阈值后 ,树木根系将逐步丧失其活力和功能 ,最终导致地上部分的枯死 ;在供试的 4个树种中 ,山杏根系的抗旱性最强 ,其次是侧柏、刺槐和油松。苗木根系活力除了受土壤干旱协迫程度的影响之外 ,还受到干旱持续时间的影响。当土壤含水量降至 4 0 %的田间持水量时 ,土壤干旱已经对油松的生长构成了威胁 ,但对山杏、侧柏及刺槐的影响不大     

世界南瓜生产现状及其种群多样性特征

本文介绍了世界南瓜生产的现状及其种群多样性特征，并对南瓜多样性功效的开发利用进行了分析。