Evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner as an alternative control of small hive beetles, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Small hive beetles, Aethina tumida Murray, are parasites and scavengers of honeybee colonies, Apis mellifera L., and have become an invasive species that can cause considerable damage in its new distribution areas. An effective subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (=Bt) would provide an alternative to chemical control of this pest. Therefore, we tested three different Bt strains [B. thuringiensis, var. aizawai (B401^®), B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Novodor^®) and B. thuringiensis var. San Diego tenebrionis (Jackpot^®)] and Perizin^® (3.2% coumaphos), each applied on combs with a pollen diet fed to pairs of adult beetles. This evaluates the products for the suppression of successful small hive beetle reproduction. While none of the tested Bt strains showed a significant effect on the number of produced wandering larvae, we could confirm the efficacy of coumaphos for the control of small hive beetles. We further show that it is also efficient when applied with a lower concentration as a liquid on the combs. We suggest the continued search for efficient Bt strains naturally infesting small hive beetles in its endemic and new ranges, which may become a part of the integrated management of this pest.     

Nitrogen-fixation dynamics in a cut-and-carry silvopastoral system in the subhumid conditions of Guadeloupe, French Antilles

This paper summarizes several studies on N recycling in a tropical silvopastoral system for assessing the ability of the system to increase soil fertility and insure sustainability. We analyzed the N₂ fixation pattern of the woody legume component (Gliricidia sepium), estimated the recycling rate of the fixed N in the soil, and measured N outputs in tree pruning and cut grass (Dichanthium aristatum). With this information, we estimated the N balance of the silvopastoral system at the plot scale. The studies were conducted in an 11-year-old silvopastoral plot established by planting G. sepium cuttings at 0.3 m × 2 m spacing in natural grassland. The plot was managed as a cut-and-carry system where all the tree pruning residues (every 2-4 months) and cut grass (every 40-50 days) were removed and animals were excluded. No N fertilizer was applied. Dinitrogen fixation, as estimated by the ¹⁵N natural abundance method, ranged from 60-90% of the total N in aboveground tree biomass depending on season. On average, 76% of the N exports from the plot in tree pruning (194 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) originated from N₂ fixation. Grass production averaged 13 Mg ha^–1 yr^–1 and N export in cut grass was 195 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. The total N fixed by G. sepium, as estimated from the tree and grass N exports and the increase in soil N content, was about 555 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1. Carbon sequestration averaged 1.9 Mg [C] ha^–1 yr^–1 and soil organic N in the 0-0.2 m layer increased at a rate of 166 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1, corresponding to 30% of N₂ fixation by the tree. Nitrogen released in nodule turnover (10 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) and litter decomposition (40 kg [N] ha^–1 yr^–1) contributed slightly to this increase, and most of the recycled N came from the turnover or the activity of other below-ground tree biomass than nodules. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rural Governance, Forestry, and the Promotion of Local Knowledge: The Case of the German Rural Development Program ‘Active Regions’

This article investigates the role of local knowledge in the policy approach of neo-endogenous rural development, which may be held by local and regional actors such as municipal and county level politicians, local and regional level administration, entrepreneurs as well as local third sector representatives. The main question addressed is whether local knowledge under this approach is merely mobilised or if rural development processes are even based on such knowledge, placing it at the centre of such policy. The relevance of this approach to forestry is also explored. The types of forest owners for which the neo-endogenous rural development approach is appropriate and the types that may have difficulties in coping with this cross-sectoral and area-based approach are especially examined. Using a case study design on the German Active Regions funding program it is shown that the neo-endogenous approach is most relevant to large private forest owners and small-scale corporate enterprises, but also has potential for small- and medium-sized private owners. Concerning the role of knowledge held by local and regional actors, the approach is shown to largely build on the use of local expertise, and hence policy acceptance increases. However, scientific knowledge as well as politics are found to play a major role in the use, production and interpretation of local knowledge.     

Consuming Fuel and Fuelling Consumption: Modelling Human Caloric Demands and Fuelwood Use

This paper describes a conceptual framework that was developed to integrate livestock, human, cultivation and forest constraints to model community fuelwood consumption over a 25-year planning horizon. This framework was constructed as an energy balance based on human caloric requirements in order to examine the effects of household-level decisions for nutrition, fuelwood and land use. A scenario from a virtual community in Uganda is presented to illustrate the utility of this model to allow rapid policy and scenario evaluation. User-defined inputs combined with published research data are used in simulating resource responses and energy consumption rates. This model is a potential tool to monitor fuelwood consumption and to understand the implications of various land-use practices.

土微观结构的研究综述

总结了土微观结构的研究历史,论述了最新的研究进展,阐明了现阶段土的微观结构研究的不足之处,指出在微观结构参数提取技术、土体微结构的动态观察、土结构性参数的研究方面仍需深入的研究,这将对微观土力学有及其重要的意义。     

落叶松生长率测定方法的探讨

落叶松生长率是落叶松资源档案管理的重要资料，其测定方法较多，笔者认为，用复利式生长率比用普雷斯勒式生长率更接近实际值，可达到要求的精度，并可保持计算的系统性。笔者还认为，区分立地条件测定龄级带皮材积复利生长率的方法，比区分立地条件测定龄组去皮材积生长率的方法更科学、实用性更强、使用范围更广，前者可为基地化、规模化栽培落叶松速生丰产林提供科学依据。     

“森林资源诅咒”的存在性、传导机制及破解对策:综述与展望

文中研究森林资源丰裕度与经济增长的关系,从森林资源诅咒的存在性检验、传导机制和破解对策3个方面对国内外相关文献进行了梳理总结。结果表明:森林资源诅咒研究已经取得了一定成果,但是现有文献对森林资源诅咒现象的实证研究结果不稳定,会因研究对象、时间、样本以及模型和指标选取的不同而变化;现有研究对森林资源诅咒的传导机制缺乏实证检验,在指标选择和模型构建中尚存在许多不足之处。未来研究需要考虑指标筛选的科学性、计量模型的稳健性以及中介和调节效应的引入等;此外,森林资源丰裕度与经济增长之间的关系可能不是线性关系,因此在建立计量模型时应对模型形式进行优化选择。     

色彩对城市山地型公园春冬季植物景观视觉质量的影响

文章采用SBE法、色彩量化分析等研究方法,结合实地调查,应用景观美学、色彩构成理论、色彩量化分析等理论对福州市金鸡山公园植物景观质量提升进行研究,研究结果表明:1)金鸡山公园春冬植物景观整体以绿、黄绿色为主,色相种类相对较少,色彩丰富度较低;明度主要集中在N4,N5等级,位于中等水平;纯度主要分布于1~3等级内,植物色彩饱和度较低。2)根据美景度评价法及景观质量等级划分,将金鸡山植物景观分为5个等级,SBE最高最低差值为146.24,差异较大;景观质量较高的景观主色调色系较多且差别较大,绿色色调的斑块与景观色彩面积比较小(最低值仅63.52%),景观质量较差的景观主色调色系较少且差别不大,绿色色调的斑块与景观色彩面积比较大(高于80%),且美景度较高的照片其明度及纯度也较高。3)从色彩频率分析可知,Ⅰ,Ⅱ组主要为绿色系、蓝色系、黄色系及红色系;Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ组多以冷色调的绿色系、灰色系为主。4)应适当增加植物景观主色调色系、控制绿色系色调的比例,多采用邻近色和互补色配置,并注意明度和饱和度变化以提高金鸡山公园植物景观质量。     

湖北省杉木人工林立地类型划分及评价

以湖北省杉木人工林为研究对象,选择166块具有代表性的杉木人工林标准地,并测定样地的常规立地因子。利用数量化理论Ⅰ的方法建立了杉木优势高与立地因子之间的关系模型,对研究区杉木人工林进行立地类型划分及立地质量评价。结果表明,所选择的5个立地因子与优势高数量化拟合的复相关系数为0.639;海拔、腐殖层厚度和坡位这3个立地因子对优势高的贡献率达84.99%,且影响均达到极显著水平;采用海拔、腐殖层厚度和坡位3个因子构建研究区杉木人工林立地类型,共划分为22类;按照优、良、中、差4个评价等级对166块样地所属的立地类型进行立地质量评价,得出湖北省杉木人工林在中海拔、土壤湿润、土壤养分含量较高的立地条件下生产力较高,研究区立地质量整体处于中等偏上水平的结论。     

青海云杉种实害虫危害情况及综合治理调查分析

青海云杉的种实害虫有十几种，危害严重的有三种，即云杉球果小卷蛾、云杉蛀果斑螟和云杉梢斑螟，主要发生在甘肃祁连山林区。本文经过调查，根据青海云杉和种实害虫的生物学特性，提出加强青海云杉林的经营管理，尽量减少广谱性化学药剂的大面积使用；尽可能多的应用营林技术为主的、不杀伤天敌的防治措施，以达到青海云杉种实害虫综合治理的良性循环；并提出青海云杉种实害虫综合治理的策略、原则以及评价青海云杉种实害虫综合治理的步骤和方法。