Effect of housing conditions (clean vs. dirty) on growth performance and feeding behavior in growing pigs in a tropical climate

The effect of bad sanitary conditions on growth performance and feeding behaviour were studied on a total of 48 Large White pigs between 95 and 130 d of age. This experiment carried out during the hot season in a tropical humid climate. Two groups of 12 pigs each were housed in a clean environment in which the pens were disinfected thoroughly prior to stocking and maintained in a clean state by daily washing the pens and by weekly emptying the manure stored beneath the partial concrete floor. The dirty environment was achieved by not cleaning the pens prior to stocking or throughout the experiment and by storing the manure beneath the floor slats throughout the experimental period. The microbial pressure was increased by introducing 5 additional non experimental pigs near each experimental dirty pen. Feeding behaviour parameters were measured using automatic feed dispensers. Pigs housed in a clean environment consumed more feed (2.283 vs. 1.953 kg/d; P < 0.001) and grew faster (871 vs. 780 g/d; P < 0.05) than those housed in the dirty environment. No significant effect on treatment was reported for the feed conversion efficiency (2.70 kg/kg on average). The reduced average daily feed intake in dirty pens was associated with a reduction of the meal size (334 vs. 282 g/meal; P = 0.10) whereas the meal frequency was not affected by treatment (7.5 meals/d on average). The rate of feed intake was significantly higher in the clean than in the dirty environment (34.0 vs. 29.9 g/min; P < 0.05).     

Beyond the forest edge: Ecology, diversity and conservation of the grassy biomes

Forests and grassy vegetation (savannas and grasslands) are alternative ecosystem states in many tropical landscapes. Relative to forests the grassy ecosystems are poorly known and poorly conserved, partly because they were thought to be products of forest clearance. However many grasslands have proved to be ancient. Commensurate with their antiquity, grassy biomes have distinct suites of plant and animal species that contribute a large fraction of the diversity of forest-grassland mosaics. Grasslands differ strikingly from forests in their ecology and in the nature of threats to their future. Here we highlight the high biodiversity value of grassy biomes and, in contrast to tropical forests, we illustrate the importance of fire in maintaining these systems. We discuss the major threats to, and consequences for, biodiversity in these regions including land clearance and elevated CO₂-driven forest expansion. Finally we focus on the difficulties of grassland restoration. A new approach to understanding and conserving grassy ecosystems, free from cultural prejudices of the past, is long overdue.     

热带中西太平洋海域黄鳍金枪鱼的摄食生物学特性

利用延绳钓作业方式,于2018年5月—2019年2月对热带中西太平洋海域(163°14'E—173°35'E,2°03'S—11°17'S)的黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacares)进行了取样.对取样的919尾黄鳍金枪鱼叉长进行了组成和性比分析,对其中的551尾进行了摄食生物学研究,并使用方差分析(ANOVA)...     

舍饲情况下热带优良牧草品种的适口性分析

采用3种不同的方法舍饲海南黑山羊，比较4种热带优良牧草品种的适口性。蛄果表明，①4种牧草适口性顺序为：热研4号王草〉黑籽雀稗≈热研5号柱花草〉热研8号坚尼草；②不同饲喂方法下供试羊对4种牧草的采食速度与彩食量不同，最终导致4种牧草在供试羊食谱结构中所占的比例不同，自由采食法能给供试羊充分的选择采食余地，此法用于单种牧草的适口性分析要可靠，混合日粮法有利于提高供试羊对适口性差的牧草的采食速度与采食量，是实践中值得推荐的一种舍饲方法。4种牧草混合饲喂是否存在适口性改善的效应有待于进一步研究。     

热带中西太平洋大眼金枪鱼的繁殖生物学特性

利用漂流金枪鱼延绳钓作业方式,于2018年6月~2019年3月对热带中西太平洋海域(WCPO,2°03''S~11°17''S,163°14''E~173°35''E)的大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)进行了取样,对其中886尾进行了繁殖生物学测定。使用广义线性模型(GLM)和有序多元Logistic回归模型,结合圆形统计方法,分析个体叉长等生物因素、渔获水深和月度等时空因素对繁殖生物学参数的影响。结果表明: 雄性和雌性平均叉长分别为132.2(±19.1) cm和125.4(±16.8) cm;取样群体中,雌雄比为0.54(±0.74),且叉长与雌雄比具有负相关关系(r=0.323, P =0.003),叉长大于140 cm后,雄性占主导;GLM模型结果显示,性腺指数(GSI)与叉长之间存在显著的二次方关系(P<0.001),即个体GSI随着叉长增加,当雄性和雌性叉长分别达到130~140 cm和140~150 cm后GSI随叉长下降;基于圆形统计发现,月度对个体GSI具有显著影响,其中雄性GSI上半年较下半年高(正弦显著,P<0.001),而雌性GSI年末和年初高于年中(余弦显著,P=0.021);有序多元Logistic模型结果显示,性腺成熟度随叉长显著增加(P<0.001),雄性性腺成熟度在5~7月较高(余弦显著,P=0.004);此外,栖息水层对雄性个体的性腺成熟度具有显著的影响(正相关,P<0.001);雄性和雌性个体50%性成熟叉长分别为96.13(?1.24) cm和104.93(?2.60) cm。研究结果为更好地了解热带WCPO大眼金枪鱼的繁殖生物学特征、科学养护热带WCPO大眼金枪鱼资源提供参考。     

Rehabilitation of alkaline wasteland on the gangetic alluvial plains of Uttar Pradesh,India, through afforestation

A few species of fuelwood trees were established on highly alkaline wasteland at Aligarh (27°5′ N., 78°4′ E.) in a tropical environment. Of these Prosopis juliflora produced maximum biomass (12.05 t ha⁻¹) and had an energy content of 242.11 GJ ha⁻¹ after 3.5 years growth period. The survival percentage of Terminalia arjuna was highest of those the species tried, but their growth and biomass production were inferior to that of Prosopis juliflora and Acacia nilotica. Some of the fuelwood tree plantations were raised without adding any soil amendment but suffered heavy mortality and could not produce any significant quantity of biomass. In another experiment Leucaena leucocephala was identified as a most promising species for afforestation on substandard soils; also it was found that a relatively high population density (of about 7,500 plants per hectare) is required to rehabilitate such land. Of the soil amendments tried, gypsum with farmyard manure and sand in equal proportion gave the better response (gypsum alone was also tried). Two species of shrubs: Sesbania sesban and Tamarix dioca have shown good adaptability in difficult habitats. After five years of afforestation the soil properties of the sites improved significantly, showing marked reduction in pH, EC and ESP values and an increase in organic carbon content.