Unmanned Aerial Vehicle − Based Rangeland Monitoring: Examining a Century of Vegetation Changes

Rangelands comprise a large component of the terrestrial land surface and provide critical ecosystem services, but they are degrading rapidly. Long-term rangeland monitoring with detailed, nonsubjective, quantitative observations can be expensive and difficult to maintain over time. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide an alternative means to gather unbiased and consistent datasets with similar details to field-based monitoring data. Comparing summer 2017 UAV images with long-term plot measurements, we demonstrate that rangeland vegetation cover changes can be accurately quantified and estimate an increase in total absolute shrub/subshrub cover from 34% in 1935 to > 80% in 2017 in central Arizona. We recommend UAV image-based rangeland monitoring for land managers interested in a few specific and dominant species, such as the foundation species, indicator species, or invasive species that require targeted monitoring. Land managers can identify and continuously monitor trends in rangeland condition, health, and degradation related to specific land use policies and management strategies.     

蚕茧在枇杷保鲜中的应用研究

采用固体(蚕茧)吸附式保鲜剂,分室温(25℃±5℃)、冷藏(3℃±1℃)及薄膜包装贮藏(3℃±1℃)3种贮藏条件,研究蚕茧对枇杷果实的保鲜作用以及枇杷在保鲜过程中的品质变化。结果表明,在室温条件下,以蚕茧作为固体吸附式保鲜剂的样品贮藏期比空白对照长7 d左右;低温可明显延长枇杷的贮藏期,并能有效延缓果实可溶性固形物、可滴定酸等品质的损失,果实可贮藏40 d以上。     

中国美利奴羊PROP1和PRLR基因的表达分析

本研究旨在探讨PROP1和PRLR基因在绵羊不同组织中的表达差异及其发育变化规律。利用荧光实时定量PCR技术分析了PROP1和PRLR基因在中国美利奴成年母羊13种组织中的表达谱信息,并检测了垂体组织中PROP1基因和垂体、卵巢、睾丸和皮肤组织中PRLR基因在0、7、14、30、60和90日龄时表达水平的发育变化。结果表明:PROP1基因仅在绵羊垂体组织中表达;而PRLR基因在绵羊各种组织中广泛表达,且在子宫和下丘脑组织中的表达量高于其它组织(P<0.01)。垂体组织中的PROP1基因表达量较低,在7日龄高于30(P<0.01)、14和60日龄(P<0.05)。垂体组织中PRLR基因表达量在30日龄时最高,之后急剧下降,各日龄间无差异(P>0.05);在卵巢组织中从7日龄起呈先下降后上升的趋势,90日龄高于0(P<0.01)、14和30日龄(P<0.05);在睾丸组织中总体呈上升趋势;在皮肤组织中呈现为生长前期高于后期的趋势(P<0.01)。绵羊PROP1和PRLR基因表达存在明显的组织表达差异和发育变化差异;PROP1和PRLR基因的表达可能对绵羊繁殖等性状的发育有一定的调节作用。     

青海省海晏县放牧牦牛体重及血清生化指标的全年监测

本试验旨在探明青海省主要牦牛饲养区海晏县牦牛的营养状况,为制定添补措施提供科学依据。于2015-09—2016-08跟踪测定了青海省海晏县牧户草场天然牧草产量以及牦牛干物质采食量、体重和血清生化指标,同时分析平均日增重与血清生化指标的相关性。结果表明:天然牧草可食草产量7月份高于其他月份;春季牦牛干物质采食量显著高于秋、冬季(P0.05),秋季显著低于其他季节(P0.05);1月份、2月份、3月份、10月份、11月份、12月份牦牛平均日增重呈现负增长,4月份后逐渐上升,6月份、7月份显著高于其他月份(P0.05);血清葡萄糖(GLU)的含量7月份显著高于除6月份、10月份外的其他月份(P0.05);2月份、3月份血清尿素氮(UN)含量及碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性低于其他月份;由相关性分析可知,平均日增重与血清UN含量呈显著的正相关(P0.05)。综合得出,青海省海晏县10月份至次年3月份为饲草供给不足,牦牛平均日增重呈现负增长,4月份后平均日增重逐渐上升,因此,建议轮牧的放牧形式下,10月份至次年3月份,采用天然草场配合补饲饲料的饲养方式。     

蛋鸡锰缺乏症的病理学研究

１日龄父母代罗曼（Ｌｏｈｍａｎｎ）蛋鸡１２０只,随机分为３组,分别喂以低锰（基础日粮含锰１３．６２ｍｇ／ｋｇ）、低锰高磷（基础日粮＋０．５％的磷）、补锰对照（基础日粮＋锰８０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）日粮。试验期８周。饲喂５～８周发病。低锰组发病率２６％,低锰高磷组２８％,补锰对照组无一发病。第４周时,体重分别为（２６７．９±８．３２）、（２１４．２±１０．４２）、（２６５．０±１２．１８）ｇ,低锰组、补锰对照组与低锰高磷组之间差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。肝锰含量分别为（５．４０±０．７４）、（２．８２±０．３６）、（８．４８±０．９６）ｍｇ／ｋｇ,补锰对照组与低锰组差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）,与低锰高磷组差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。发病症状：精神沉郁,不愿走动,伏卧,跛行,单腿发病病腿向外侧伸展,双腿发病则内收呈“Ｏ”字形或外展呈“八”字形。剖检跗关节肿大,胫骨髁骨骨质增生、肿大,髁间沟变平坦。组织学检查,胫骨骺生长板增殖区变窄,软骨基质中粘多糖减少。超微结构变化,心肌纤维、肝细胞、胫骨骺生长板软骨细胞、睾丸精原细胞等线粒体肿胀与空泡化。     

不同种类牧草对山羊瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸变化规律的研究

研究山羊瘤胃内放入装有不同种类牧草的尼龙袋后,瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸浓度的动态变化规律。选用带有瘤胃瘘管的山羊为实验动物,结合尼龙袋法测定3类牧草在山羊瘤胃中的挥发性脂肪酸浓度。结果表明,添加装有不同牧草的尼龙袋后,山羊瘤胃乙酸、丙酸、丁酸、总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）浓度及乙酸／丙酸值均呈先上升后下降的规律,并在4h达到峰值,其中乙酸浓度约为70．49％、丙酸浓度约为15．38％,瘤胃的发酵类型总体上偏向于乙酸-丙酸型．3类牧草均适用于山羊的科学饲养。由此可见,添加装有不同种类牧草的尼龙袋均会对山羊瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸产生影响,其原因主要与原料的蛋白质含量有关。     

青藏高原东部高寒沼泽湿地动态变化及其驱动因素研究

20世纪中后期以来,在全球气候变化和人类活动的影响下,青藏高原湿地生态系统变的极其敏感和脆弱。运用遥感与地理信息系统技术,以Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感影像为主要数据源,解译了青藏高原东部甘南和川西北地区1991、2000、2010和2016年4个时期的沼泽湿地;利用转移矩阵和湿地动态度,分析了沼泽湿地的空间变化、转移方向和变化速率;采用景观指数,分析了沼泽湿地景观格局变化;结合气象数据和相关统计资料并利用灰色关联度法,分析了沼泽湿地变化的驱动因素。结果表明: 1)研究区沼泽湿地主要分布在东北部,1991-2016年4个时期的面积分别为6739.89、6231.39、5849.59和5649.35 km²,处于持续减少的状态,26年间面积共减少了1090.54 km²。2)26年来,研究区沼泽湿地的动态度从-7.54%减小至-3.42%,面积变化速率持续减慢,高寒草地是沼泽湿地转出和转入的主要类型。3)沼泽湿地的斑块数量先增加后减少,斑块密度持续增大,反映了沼泽湿地的破碎程度增高;最大斑块指数先降低后小幅升高,斑块形状指数先升高后小幅下降,反映了沼泽湿地的优势度降低,景观形状趋于复杂化;分离度指数先增大后小幅减小,聚集度持续降低,反映了沼泽湿地从单独紧凑的状态趋向离散化发展。4)人为因素是影响青藏高原东部沼泽湿地面积变化的首要原因,其次受到气候因素的影响,各因子影响力大小依次是牧业生产总值>国民生产总值(GDP)>人口数量>温度>蒸发量。沼泽湿地面积与各因子呈明显的负相关关系,面积随牧业生产总值、GDP、人口数量、温度和蒸发量的增加而减小。     

Some biological consequences of environmental change: A study using barnacles (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) and gum trees (Angiospermae: Myrtaceae)

Uniformitarianism permits understanding of the past on the basis of the present, and modeling the future through consideration of the fossil record. The present paper addresses the impact environmental (climatic) change has had on acorn barnacles and eucalyptus trees. Acorn barnacles (Balanomorpha) are first recorded after the K/T mass-extinction event. In the Paleogene, rapid radiation resulted in their occupying most marine environments. That balanomorphs survived both the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum and the Pleistocene glaciation is testament to their ability to adapt to opportunities; they are known from the littoral (Chamaesipho) to depths of 3600 m (Tetrachaelasma) and within this from diverse substrates: rock, wood and miscellaneous flotsam, plus in symbiosis or commensalism with most larger marine organisms. Darwin's (1854) view of the late Tertiary as the age of barnacles is reflected in their diversity, distribution and biomass. Barnacles are contrasted with the Australian Myrtaceae: plants ranging from woody shrubs to tall trees. The most significant is Eucalyptus sensu lato, which typifies Australia's flora, and is characterized by aromatic leaves that produce eucalyptol. Eucalyptus has evolved strategies that result in its domination of Australian open woodlands: these include production of highly flammable eucalyptol oil (with a flashpoint of 49 °C) and an unprecedented ability to regenerate following forest fires. Gum trees and barnacles first appear in the Paleogene, their earliest records are Australasian, and they both demonstrate extraordinary resilience when environmental conditions are optimal.     

Contextual influences on animal decision‐making: Significance for behavior‐based wildlife conservation and management

Survival and successful reproduction require animals to make critical decisions amidst a naturally dynamic environmental and social background (i.e. “context”). However, human activities have pervasively, and rapidly, extended contextual variation into evolutionarily novel territory, potentially rendering evolved animal decision‐making mechanisms and strategies maladaptive. We suggest that explicitly focusing on animal decision‐making (ADM), by integrating and applying findings from studies of sensory ecology, cognitive psychology, behavioral economics and eco‐evolutionary strategies, may enhance our understanding of, and our ability to predict how, human‐driven changes in the environment and population demography will influence animal populations. Fundamentally, the decisions animals make involve evolved mechanisms, and behaviors emerge from the combined action of sensory integration, cognitive mechanisms and strategic rules of thumb, and any of these processes may have a disproportionate influence on behavior. Although there is extensive literature exploring ADM, it generally reflects a canalized, discipline‐specific approach that lacks a unified conceptual framework. As a result, there has been limited application of ADM theory and research findings into predictive models that can enhance management outcomes, even though it is likely that the relative resilience of species to rapid environmental change is fundamentally a result of how ADM is linked to contextual variation. Here, we focus on how context influences ADM, and highlight ideas and results that may be most applicable to conservation biology.     

基于信息熵的天山山区降水时空变化特征

降水是山区气候中最重要的气象要素之一,其大小及变化直接关系到干旱山区中、下游的生态环境与经济社会的发展,但是,由于技术和地理条件的限制,是难以精确观测的气象要素。本研究采用天山山区31个台站和1960-2008年间的实测降水资料,应用信息熵方法对天山山区年、季和月的降水变化特征进行分析。结果表明,天山山区降水在时间和空间上均存在变异性,时间变异性表现为信息熵的无序指数(DI)年际变化小于季节变化,季节变化小于月变化。DI多年变化特征呈现下降趋势;冬季DI变化最为显著,夏季最小;冬季北坡降水随高程的增加DI变化呈显著增加趋势(P0.05),春、夏和秋季南坡降水随高程的增加DI变化呈显著减少趋势(P0.05)。山区月降水4-9月逐渐增加,10月至次年3月降水逐渐减少,月降水DI的变化与降水变化呈反相特征。在空间上DI变化与降水的分布相反,表现为南强北弱,东强西弱,伊犁河谷降水DI变化最小。结果证明,DI方法能够有效地分析山区降水的时空变化特征,为合理开发山区的水资源提供科学依据。