Severe hail damage to mangroves at Port Curtis, Australia

A hailstorm in October 1994 was found to have moderately or severely impacted on 5.3% of the mangrove forests in Port Curtis. All mangrove species showed evidence of hail damage, including the three most common species (Rhizophora stylosa, Ceriops tagal and Avicennia marina). Physical effects of hail damage included stripping of leaves from plants, holes punched through leaves, bruising to bark, divots removed from bark, branch and plant death. Speciesspecific differences in vulnerability to the effects of hail were observed with C.tagal experiencing relatively higher mortality rates than the other two common mangrove species. A delayed pattern of mortality was observed in two species _ C.tagal and A.marina. Alterations to mangrove community structure included: (1) reductions in stem density, stem diameter and basal area, (2) reductions in canopy cover (based on a photographic index of foliage projective cover) and (3) changes in relative abundance of species in mangrove zones. Recovery was observed in some stands but others had not recovered to prehail levels of canopy cover two years after the hailstorm. Recovery had occurred by regeneration of fresh leaves but no recruitment of young plants had been observed during the study. The forests in the impact area were dominated by either Ceriops tagal or Rhizophora stylosa with Avicennia marinaas a subdominant in places. C.tagal dominated forests within the impact area were relatively more severely affected (41.8% in the severe category) than R.stylosa dominated communities (only 17.4% in the severe category). This indicated that C.tagal dominated forests were more vulnerable to the effects of hail damage than R.stylosa dominated forests. In addition, hailimpacted C.tagal dominated forests represented a relatively high percentage of the area of C.tagal dominated forests in Port Curtis (44.3%). This percentage was much higher than hailimpacted R.stylosa dominated forests in Port Curtis (2.7%). These two factors – relatively severe impact on C.tagal communities and a relatively higher percentage affected within the Port Curtis area – illustrate that hailstorms, as a form of natural disturbance, are an important influence on the forest ecology of mangrove ecosystems in this region.     

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii Franch. var.amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima, on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii var.amamiana, was monitored on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island from 1994 to 1998. There are 163 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana over 1.3 m in height. They are distributed on steep ridges and rocks with a thin soil layer mostly consisting of friable granite. During the monitoring period, 21 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana died and the mortality rate was 12.9%. Dead trees were categorized into three types: standing, uprooted and landslide. The uprooted- and landslide-typed dead trees were found only after a severe typhoon struck Yaku-shima Island. This suggests that the combination of fragile site conditions and severe typhoons play an important role in the process of decline ofP. armandii var.amamiana. The standing-typed dead trees were presumed to have been killed by pine wilt disease, accounting for 71.4% of the dead trees. However,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the cause of pine wilt disease, was not detected from any of the wood chips or branch samples from the standing-typed dead trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana. This might indicate that some factor(s) other than pine wilt disease could be responsible for the standing-typed death ofP. armandii var.amamiana in natural habitats. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society.     

Effects Of Thinning In a Water-Limited Holm Oak Forest

ABSTRACT

A natural holm oak forest was selectively thinned to test thinning as a tool to reduce tree mortality, increase productivity, and reverse the recent regression of the dominant species (Quercus ilex) induced by climate change. Thinning increased aboveground productivity and reduced stem mortality in this Mediterranean forest during four years just after thinning, contributing to the maintenance of forest functioning under changing climatic conditions. Q. ilex was the only species positively affected by the thinning: stem growth increased for all stem sizes, and mortality was significantly lower in thinned plots. On the contrary, mortality rates of Phillyrea latifolia and Arbutus unedo were not significantly lower. Stem growth increased for P. latifolia only in the smallest stem-size class. Our results highlight the suitability of selective thinning for improving the forest productivity and ensuring the conservation of Mediterranean coppices. Other benefits of selective thinning, such as a decrease in the risk of fire dispersion and an increase in the water supply for human populations, are also discussed.     

云南松毛虫自然种群生命表的研究

通过对云南松毛虫自然种群数量动态规律的研究,组建了自然种群生命表,并采用排除控制指数法(EIPC)对其进行了关键因子和阶段的分析,结果表明:种群消长趋势指数(I)大于1,种群呈上升趋势;自然死亡对种群密度发展趋势起关键作用,其次是幼虫的迁移;幼虫期是种群消长的关键阶段。     

Trees and windbreaks in the Sahel: establishment,growth, nutritive,and calorific values

Tree and windbreak species considered for the Southern Sahelian Zone (SSZ) of West Africa have to be evaluated following multiple criteria such as fast establishment, shelter efficiency, production of feed for livestock, and firewood. An on-station experiment was conducted on a sandy soil in southwest Niger between 1988 and 1993 to assess the establishment, growth, nutritive, and calorific values of seven species considered for windbreaks:Andropogon gayanus, Bauhinia rufescens, Acacia holosericea, Acacia nilotica, Acacia senegal, Faidherbia albida, andAzadirachta indica. Mortality and stem diameter were monitored twice a year. From 20 months after planting (MAP) onwards, species were annually trimmed to 2 m height and to 1 m sidewards of the main stem. Fresh and dry weight of leaves, twigs, wood, and fruits were recorded. Leaves were analyzed for crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) content. Wood was analyzed for its gross calorific value and its ash content. At 56 MAP, all species had less than 5% morality, except forA. holosericea, which had a mortality rate of 15.9%.A. indica andA. holosericea showed the highest stem diameter among species with 12.2 and 11.8 cm, respectively, at 56 MAP.A. senegal had the highest dry matter production with 22.3 t ha^–1 at 56 MAP, followed byA. indica (12.0 t ha^–1),A. holosericea (11.7 t ha^–1) andB. rufescens (11.2 t ha^–1), butA. holosericea was most productive at earlier harvests. OnlyA. senegal (6.4 t ha^–1) andA. indica (5.1 t ha^–1) had a significant wood production, whereasA. holosericea (5.7 t ha^–1) had the highest phyllodes production. Leaves ofA. senegal andA. indica had highest CP contents of 258 and 214 g kg^–1, respectively. The leaves of all species exceptA. gayanus had a higher CP:ME ratio than natural pasture in the region. The calorific values of firewood did not differ significantly among the species.A. nilotica, the species with one of the lowest firewood production, had the highest Fuelwood Value Index of 6.6. The choice of species for planting trees and windbreaks in the SSZ must be oriented along these criteria. Further research should be directed towards cost-benefit analyses, land tenure and property rights in combination with surveys on local knowledge of rural people.     

Adaptation of herbaceous plant species in the understorey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus brutia</Emphasis>

Most of Pinus brutia (Ten.) Holmboe forests are grazed, as silvopastoralism is well adapted in the Mediterranean environment. However, little attention has been paid to the demographic dynamic of the understorey vegetation even though it is strongly affected by the absorbed radiation. The purpose of this study was to examine the adaptation of herbaceous plant species under a Pinus brutia canopy, in Northern Greece. Monocultures of four plant groups (annual and perennial grasses, annual and perennial legumes) were sown in experimental areas of 50%, 70% and 100% light intensity. The density of annual and perennial grasses and perennial legumes were decreased by the shade cast by the Pinus brutia canopy. Population density of the annual legumes was little affected by light intensity: the annual grasses Bromus mollis L. and Lolium rigidum Gaudin; the perennial grasses Dactylis glomerata L. var. palestine, Festuca arundinacea and Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn; the perennial legume Medicago sativa L. var. romana; the annual legumes Medicago lupulina L. and all the tested varieties of Trifolium subterraneum adapted well to the 50% light intensity habitat.     

Microclimate within beech stands—part II: thermal conditions

Within the framework of an interdisciplinary project on the effects of climate and forest management on beech-dominated deciduous forests (Swabian Jura, south-western Germany), forest meteorological investigations are carried out to analyse the influences of exposure and canopy density on the microclimate within various beech stands (Fagus sylvatica L.). This second paper of the series Microclimate within beech stands focuses on the thermal conditions that exist mainly in the near-surface layer at different test plots. They were analysed by air temperature, T_a, (at 1.5 m a.g.l) and soil temperature, T_s, at six depths measured continuously in the period 1999–2003. The main results can be summarized as follows. (1) The thermal situation within the beech stands described by T_a depended primarily on the turbulent air-mass exchange conditions which were based on the slope-specific energy balance of the forest floor and advective heat fluxes. (2) The thermal situation within the soil described by T_s at 3 and 20 cm depth was governed by the molecular heat transport. Therefore, the heating and cooling rates of T_s were always lower than for T_a. Higher T_a and T_s values for the test plots on the SW slope showed that the thermal conditions within the beech stands depended primarily on the exposure. (3) Based on slope-specific differences of daily extremes of T_a and T_s at 3 cm depth between the silviculturally treated and control plots, the influence of the more pronounced height growth of the understorey vegetation under the near-surface thermal conditions could be clearly verified for the NE slope.Abbreviations PAR Photosynthetically active radiation - PAI Plant area index - LAI Leaf area index     

仔猪高死亡率腹泻病因探讨

2010年4月以来,全国各地先后出现高死亡率吮乳仔猪腹泻,以冬春寒冷季节多发、持续时间长、高死亡率为特征,日龄越小死亡率越高,用药物及生物制剂均无法有效控制,给养殖业带来巨大的经济损失。按照流行性腹泻病毒感染、霉菌毒素及中毒等采取相应的防治措施,效果均不明显。按中兽医整体观念、辨证论治,将两方面病因有机结合起来,分析该疾病的病理机制,采用中药复方进行临床验证,取得较好的防治效果,为该病的预防和治疗提供了新的思路与方法。     

Recent developments and improvements in ornamental fish packaging systems for air transport

Current ornamental fish packaging systems are characterized by very high fish loading densities and high metabolic wastes in the transport water after shipment. They focus mainly on management of the quality of transport water. Recent studies using the guppy as a model fish showed that post‐shipment mortality could be reduced through enhancement of the stress resistance of the fish, and hence emphases should also be placed on the preparation of the fish for transport and recovery of the fish after shipment. Farmers can contribute significantly by applying nutritional prophylaxis before harvesting. Exporters may use the salinity stress test to identify fish lots of good quality for transport, apply health prophylaxis to eradicate parasites and optimize other techniques such as starvation of the fish or addition of salt to the transport water to enhance the stress resistance of the fish. Importers may adopt proper acclimation procedure and allow fish to recover in low salinity water to reduce post‐shipment mortality. As the main bulk of post‐shipment mortality is stress‐mediated and occurs during the 1‐week recovery period, the industry should consider revising the basis of the current warranty system for their customers, from death on arrival to cumulative mortality at 7 days post shipment (or death after 7 days, DA7), in order to cut down fish losses after shipment.