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.     

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.     

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.     

短期围栏封育对高寒草甸植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响

充分了解围栏封育对植物群落及土壤理化性质的影响,是合理制定草甸恢复和利用相关政策、促进当地畜牧业经济可持续发展的关键。本研究通过对西藏三江并流区封育2年的高寒草甸的群落样方调查与土壤理化性质测定,结果表明,比较自由放牧,围封后地上和地下生物量分别提高26.24%和8.94%,但物种多样性指数略有下降;围封后土壤电导率、盐度和总溶解固体分别下降26.50%,29.03%,30.15%;围栏内地上生物量与土壤盐度、总溶解固体、电导率呈显著正相关(P<0.05),地下生物量与硝态氮、温度呈显著正相关(P<0.05);围栏外地下生物量与介电常数、体积含水率呈显著负相关(P<0.05),与铵态氮呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,2年短期围封对高寒草甸植物群落及其土壤理化性质均有一定改善,可以作为应对草甸退化的干扰手段与管理措施。     

放牧和模拟降水对短花针茅荒漠草原植物功能群多样性的影响

为探究放牧和降水变化对植物功能群的影响,本文以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原为研究对象,开展了野外控制试验。试验设置围封和适度放牧,分别进行模拟降水处理(减少降水量50%、自然降水、增加降水量50%、增加降水量100%),并在每年8月观测植物群落组成。结果表明：减水会降低植物功能群多样性、生物量和物种数量,增水有利于植物功能群多样性的提高。多年生丛生禾草多样性随降水量的增加而升高。同时,对降水梯度和功能群多样性进行拟合分析发现,降水量低于年降水量16%则不利于除灌木、半灌木外其他功能群植物的生长。围封草地增水67%～79%时,功能群的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数值均较高,功能群多样性较高;由于放牧提高了植物的水分利用效率,放牧地各指数在增水26%～50%时较高,功能群多样性较高。综上,适度的放牧及水分补充有利于提高植物功能群多样性。     

生物多样性与地形及土壤因素对坡面产流产沙的耦合影响

生物多样性关系到生态系统的功能,而坡度和土壤因素是影响坡面产流产沙的重要因子。本研究基于黄土丘陵区生物多样性,并引入坡度、降雨前土壤含水量和土壤容重,探究其与坡面产流产沙总量的耦合关系。通过野外人工降雨试验,记录草本、灌木和乔木群落下的产流时间和产流产沙总量,并开展土壤植被调查。结果表明,与草本和乔木群落相比,灌木群落在延长产流开始时间和降低产沙总量上表现更优;植被群落功能离散度指数(FDiv)对产沙总量影响最大,Simpson指数(D)对产流总量影响最大,坡度仍然是不可忽视的第二重要影响因素;产流总量与坡度、土壤容重、D和功能丰富度指数(FRic)的回归关系优于产流总量分别与其的回归关系;产沙总量与坡度和FDiv指数的回归关系优于产沙总量分别与其的回归关系。植被保护与坡度改善将是该区水土保持规划工作的重点。     

刈割强度对大针茅草原植物群落特征和土壤理化性质的影响

探究不同刈割强度对大针茅典型草原植物群落特征以及土壤理化性质的影响,可为大针茅草原制定合理科学的刈割制度提供理论依据。本研究以大针茅典型草原为对象,于2020年在内蒙古锡林浩特市毛登牧场刈割实验平台进行野外植被调查和取样。该实验平台于2014年建立,以不刈割为对照（CK）,设置轻度（LM）、中度（MM）及重度刈割（HM）3个处理。本研究通过计算物种重要值和多样性指数,测定植物群落地上、地下生物量以及土壤理化性质,探究群落特征与土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明：1）与不刈割相比,不同刈割强度均增加了新物种,且中度刈割的物种数最多;与不刈割相比,不同刈割强度均显著增加了群落的丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数,且轻度刈割显著增加了优势度和均匀度指数,表明轻度刈割最有利于群落多样性的维持;不同刈割强度对大针茅草原的生产力均无显著影响;2）土壤全碳、全氮和pH均在中度刈割时最高,且显著高于不刈割,表明中度刈割对土壤养分有积极影响;3）硝态氮是影响草地生产力的主要土壤因子,土壤含水量是影响草地群落多样性的主要土壤因子。本研究可为大针茅典型草原群落结构、物种多样性以及生产力等方面的研究提供重要参...     

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.     

Study on Genetic Fingerprinting Technique of Microbial Communities

The 99% of all microorganisms in naturecannot be isolated by standard culture methods without conspicuous external characters to classify them morphologically. In addition, classification based on physiological or biochemical features are often fuzzy. Molecular techniques are used for uncultured microorganisms to explore the diversity of microbial communities and novel resources without the need of cultivation. DNA dynamics and cloning of PCR products obtained from environmental DNA is now routinely used to identify microbial populations in microbial ecology. For practical reasons the approach is not suited to study the complex dynamics of microbial communities in environment. Genetic fingerprinting techniques are better tools, which give complement for the traditional microbiological methods. The methods are rapid and relatively easy to perform, and they allow the simultaneous analysis of multiple samples, which makes it possible to compare the genetic diversity of microbial communities from different habitats, or to study the behaviour of individual communities over time.     

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°。