A statistical thinning model for initialising large-scale ecosystem models

Abstract

Large-scale ecosystem models are important tools for carbon assessment at national scales. Many of these models are not initialised with known field data from any particular time, but simulate the growth of each stand from its estimated germination year up to the present or future. The models will overestimate current-day standing volume or biomass unless historic stand management (biomass removal due to thinning) is taken into account. The full management history of each stand is rarely known, and must be somehow estimated. One possibility is to build statistical thinning models based on data in a National Forest Inventory, which could then be integrated into the ecosystem models. If the harvesting model is constructed using only variables that are also used within the ecosystem model, then the management impacts can be included in the ecosystem model for the entire simulated life of the stand. In the case of most flux dynamics models, this precludes the use of the tree-level data that harvesting models have traditionally relied on. In this article, we develop a novel means to interrogate a subset of the Austrian National Forest Inventory based on deriving probability density functions for particular combinations of stand and site variables. We determine the parameters of a probabilistic model to estimate historic patterns of timber removals and validate it against inventory estimates. Our procedure can establish supportable estimates of historic management regimes suitable as input data for subsequent modelling of national-scale forest carbon stocks, sources and sinks.     

First record of the wood boring weevil, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pentarthrum huttoni</Emphasis>, in Austria (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The wood boring weevil, Pentarthrum huttoni Wollaston, is reported for the first time from Austria. It was recorded from coffins in the crypt of St. Michael’s church in the centre of Vienna. Extensive tunnelling of the larvae and surface damage by the adults caused disintegration of the historically significant wooden 18^th century coffins. Beetles were also detected in rotten cardboard on the loamy soil of the crypt. Infestation by this Cossonine weevil is promoted by the very damp conditions in the crypt, a consequence of the closure of ventilation funnels in the 1940s.     

Converting or not converting to organic farming in Austria:Farmer types and their rationale

Reasons for converting to organic farming have been studied in a number of instances. However, the underlying rationale that motivates the behavior is not always made clear. This study aims to provide a detailed picture of farmers decision-making and illustrate the choice between organic and conventional farm management. Based on 21 interviews with farmers, a decision-tree highlighting the reasons and constraints involved in the decision of farmers to use, or not to use, organic production techniques was formulated. The accuracy of the decision-tree was tested through a written survey of 65 randomly sampled farmers. The decision-tree permits the identification of decision criteria and examines the decision-making process of farmers in choosing their farming method. It also allows for the characterization of farmer strategies and values, identifying five types of farmers: the committed conventional; the pragmatic conventional; the environment-conscious but not organic; the pragmatic organic; and the committed organic. The importance of taking into account heterogeneity in farmers attitudes, preferences, and goals and their impact on the choice of a farming method is emphasized.Ika Darnhofer is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. She received both her MSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, working on issues of agricultural development in Africa. Her current research interests include economic and sociological analyses of factors that shape farmers land use decision-making behavior, with a particular focus on organic farming.Walter Schneeberger is a Full Professor of Farm Business Management and Head of the Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. His current research interests include the economics of producing and processing agricultural products and farm business management for both conventional and organic farms.Bernhard Freyer is a Full Professor of Organic Farming and Head of the Institute of Organic Farming of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. His work on organic farming focuses on its agronomic aspects (plant cultivation, crop rotations, and soil fertility) as well as on the analysis of conversion to organic farming (planning process, farm development) and its potential for regional development.     

Groups of bread wheat landraces in Austrian alps

Summary Using 49 morphological characteristics sixty-six accessions originating from 15 populations of bread wheat, together with 8 selections from landraces and 5 improved varieties were classified in five groups: group 1: Alpiner Bartwizen (including Hausbergweizen), Attergauer Bartweizen, which are marked by awned white ears; group 2: Awned Sipbachzeller (and its selection Otterbacher Bartweizen) and marked by awned red ears. This group also includes some awned derivatives of hybrids between group 1 and group 3; group 3: Sipbachzeller wheat, including Innviertler wheat and the selections Ritzlhofer Alt, Achleitner and Wieselburger roter Kolben; group 4: Tassilo and Tassilo-variants, and group 5: Dickkopf (Squarehead) types with lax ear, probably being derivatives of hybrids between group 3 and Dickkopf types.Most populations were contaminated with foreign material. The contamination may have been caused by the farmer who actually mixed varieties, or may have originated on the farmer's field.     

The effect of managed hydropower peaking on the physical habitat, benthos and fish fauna in the River Bregenzerach in Austria

The lower reaches of the Bregenzerach, a river in western Austria, have been affected by heavy hydro-peaking discharges (up to 60 m³ s^?1) for several decades. In conjunction with a plan to construct a new power plant, mitigation measures were developed to reduce the adverse effects of hydro-peaking in this river reach. The impact assessment examined the effects of a new flow management system introduced in 1992. The study concentrated on three main components: abiotics (morphology, hydrology, hydraulics), fish and benthic fauna. Prior to mitigation, both the fish and invertebrate fauna were heavily affected by the peaking. Benthic biomass was less than 15% of that predicted by an altitude model. After mitigation benthic biomass recovered to about 60% of the model prediction. No post-mitigation improvement was found with respect to fish biomass. Flow velocity distribution data showed that rising surge releases had two distinct phases, a bed-filling and a flow acceleration phase. The present flow management system, based on a dual-flow logistic, resulted in increased base flows and reduced peak flows, but did not alter the ramping rates. The reduction of the adverse effects of the bed-filling phase was apparently responsible for the recovery of the benthic fauna. However, the unaltered ramping rate of the acceleration phase may have inhibited the development of the fish community. An analysis of the hydrograph demonstrated the possibility of adjusting the present management strategy to reduce the ramping rate of the acceleration phase, smoothing out the peak duration curve.     

德国奥地利森林资源监测与经营管理的特点及启示

深入分析了德国在同一抽样体系下,实施森林资源及其生态状况监测的技术特点、永续利用的经营理念与近自然的经营管理方法,以及奥地利信息技术在森林资源监测中的应用特点与科技创新的发展措施,对比我国森林资源监测状况,提出了完善森林资源监测内容和指标体系,建立森林资源及生态状况综合监测体系,加强新技术的创新研究和应用,积极争取国家基础数据共享应用的建议。     

普通小麦-奥地利黑麦抗条锈病衍生系NR1121的鉴定

【目的】检测从普通小麦(Triticum aestivumL.)与奥地利黑麦杂交后代选育出的、形态学稳定的抗条锈病衍生系NR1121的黑麦遗传物质。【方法】在室内条锈病抗性鉴定的基础上,采用细胞学方法、基因组原位杂交、SCAR(Sequence characterized amplified region)标记以及SSR(Simple sequence repeat)标记、A-PAGE等方法,对普通小麦-奥地利黑麦衍生系NR1121进行分子细胞遗传学鉴定。【结果】NR1121和奥地利黑麦对条中32号生理小种(CY32)免疫,陕麦611和携带Yr9基因的洛夫林10、洛夫林13、秦麦9号、丰抗8号、陕229和偃师9号均高感,表明NR1121携带的抗条锈病基因来源于奥地利黑麦。NR1121细胞学稳定,根尖细胞染色体数2n=42,花粉母细胞减数分裂期2n=21Ⅱ;以奥地利黑麦总基因组DNA为探针的原位杂交结果显示,NR1121含有2条奥地利黑麦染色体。SCAR和SSR标记(Xgwm 131-1B)检测结果表明,NR1121携带黑麦1R染色体的遗传物质。A-PAGE结果显示,NR1121在ω区的Gli-B1位点具有黑麦特征带,说明NR1121含有黑麦1R染色体短臂上的遗传物质。【结论】NR1121为农艺性状优良的小麦-黑麦1R异代换系,对CY32免疫,其抗病基因来源于奥地利黑麦,可能是一个不同于Yr9基因的新抗条锈病基因。该种质可作为条锈病抗源用于小麦抗病育种。     

Inequalities in residential nature and nature-based recreation are not universal: A country-level analysis in Austria

Evidence suggests that residential nature, e.g., greenness around the home, and nature-based recreation, e.g., visits to specific natural locations, are beneficial for health and well-being. However, several studies report that residential access is lower among socio-economically disadvantaged communities, potentially exacerbating health inequalities. We explored this issue in Austria, a relatively rural and mountainous country that also contains several cities, including the capital Vienna with around 2 million citizens. Data were drawn from a representative survey of the adult population across all nine Austrian regions (N = 2258) and explored socio-demographic predictors of residential green and blue space (using satellite data on surrounding greenness and distance to rivers and lakes), and visit frequencies to 12 different urban and rural green/blue environments. In contrast to most findings elsewhere, which usually focus on relatively specific locations (e.g., cities), we found little evidence of socio-economic inequalities in residential green/blue space at the whole country level. Further, although frequent visits to specific environments were less likely among, e.g., people with lower vs. higher education, other typically disadvantaged groups, e.g., those self-identifying as belonging vs. not belonging to an ethnic minority, reported more visits to e.g., urban parks and rivers. Findings suggest that inequalities in nature exposure may not be universal when considered at a country level.     

Occupational swine exposure and Hepatitis E virus,Leptospira, Ascaris suum seropositivity and MRSA colonization in Austrian veterinarians, 2017–2018—A cross‐sectional study

We investigated the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), Leptospira and Ascaris suum (A. suum) seropositivity, and of nasal methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization among Austrian practising veterinarians, and assessed the association with occupational swine livestock exposure. The 261 participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, intensity of occupational swine livestock contact and glove use during handling animals and their secretions. Participants' blood samples were tested for HEV, Leptospira and A. suum seropositivity and nasal swabs cultured for MRSA. We compared swine veterinarians (defined as >3 swine livestock visits/week) to non‐swine veterinarians (≤3 swine livestock visits/week) with regard to the outcomes through calculating prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Furthermore, the relationship between occupational swine livestock contact and the study outcomes was examined by age (</≥55 years) and glove usage. The prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization was 13.4% (95% CI: 9.3–17.6), of HEV seropositivity 20.8% (95% CI: 15.8–25.7) and A. suum seropositivity 44% (95% CI: 37.7–50.2). The highest anti‐leptospiral antibodies titres were 1:200 (L. hebdomadis) and 1:100 (L. autumnalis, L. caicola) found in three non‐swine veterinarians. Compared to non‐swine veterinarians, swine veterinarians were 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0–3.4) and 1.5 (95%CI: 1.0–2.3) times more likely HEV seropositive and A. suum seropositive, respectively, and 4.8 (95%CI: 2.5; 9.3) times more likely nasally colonized with MRSA. Among glove‐using veterinarians, occupational swine contact was no longer a determinant for HEV seropositivity (PR 1.6; 95% CI: 0.8–2.9). Similar was found for A. suum seropositivity, which was no longer associated with occupational swine livestock contact in the subgroup of glove using, ≥55‐year‐old veterinarians (PR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.4–3.3). Our findings indicate that >3 occupational swine livestock visits per week is associated with HEV and A. suum seropositivity and nasal MRSA colonization and that glove use may play a putative preventive role in acquiring HEV and A. suum. Further analytical epidemiological studies have to prove the causality of these associations.     

奥系西门塔尔种公牛与母牛血液、被毛、乳和精液中几种微量元素含量的分析

从奥系西门塔尔牛群中选公母牛各3头,检测被毛、全血和乳中Fe、Cu、Co、Mn、Zn与Se的含量;还检测3种公牛(16头次)精液中Co、Mn、Zn和Se的含量。将测定值与日粮的微量元素含量进行综合分析看出,该牛群日粮中Mn含量明显不足,Cu、Zn略欠,Fe和Se足够。被毛中微量元素含量是衡量牛微量元素营养的较好指标。