Effects of predator-induced visual and olfactory cues on 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) foraging behaviour

Abstract –  Foraging juvenile fish with relatively high food demands are usually vulnerable to various aquatic and avian predators. To compromise between foraging and antipredator activity, they need exact and reliable information about current predation risk. Among direct predator-induced cues, visual and olfactory signals are considered to be most important. Food intake rates and prey-size selectivity of laboratory-reared, naive young-of-the-year (YOY) perch, Perca fluviatilis , were studied in experiments with Daphnia magna of two size classes: 2.8 and 1.3 mm as prey and northern pike, Esox lucius , as predator. Neither total intake rate nor prey-size selectivity was modified by predator kairomones alone (water from an aquarium with a pike was pumped into the test aquaria) under daylight conditions. Visual presentation of pike reduced total food intake by perch. This effect was significantly more pronounced (synergistic) when visual and olfactory cues were presented simultaneously to foraging perch. Moreover, the combination of cues caused a significant shift in prey-size selection, expressed as a reduced proportion of large prey in the diet. Our observations demonstrate that predator-induced olfactory cues alone are less important modifiers of the feeding behaviour of naive YOY perch than visual cues under daylight conditions. However, pike odour acts as a modulatory stimulus enhancing the effects of visual cues, which trigger an innate response in perch.     

Analysis of Growth and Productivity of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) in Relation to FYM, Nitrogen and Source of Fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at Anand to study the effect of FYM, nitrogen and source of fertilizer on growth and yield of mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson]. The results showed significant variation in leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), dry matter production and seed yield. The direct effect of farmyard manure (FYM) was conspicuous in improving the growth of mustard. FYM application at 10 tonnes ha⁻¹ significantly increased the LAI, CGR and dry matter accumulation per plant at almost all the stages during first year study (1992–93) and in pooled analysis. Similarly, nitrogen application registered maximum LAI, CGR at 75 kg level and RGR and NAR at 50 kg level at almost all the during both years. Sulphur carrying source (Ammonium sulphate plus single super phosphate) increased all stages growth characters. Maximum dry matter accumulation per plant and seed yield were recorded with highest levels of FYM (20 tonnes ha⁻¹), N (75 kg ha⁻¹) and source having S. Seed yield was strongly associated with LAI and dry matter accumulation per plant at all the stages.     

长期不同施氮量下黑土团聚体稳定性及有机碳含量的变化

为测定不同氮肥施用量对黑土团聚体组成及稳定性、有机碳含量及团聚体有机碳分布的影响,阐明黑土有机碳稳定性对不同施氮水平的响应机制,本研究在吉林省梨树县不同施氮水平长期定位试验田进行取样,以施氮水平不同设置5个处理,分别为T1(0)、T2(160 kg·hm^-2)、T3(240 kg·hm^-2)、T4(280 kg·hm^-2)、T5(320 kg·hm^-2),分析长期不同施氮量下水稳性团聚体组成、团聚体结构特征、土壤总有机碳含量及团聚体有机碳分布的变化,探究酸化黑土有机碳含量影响特征。结果表明：随氮肥施用水平的升高,土壤碱解氮(AN)和全氮(TN)含量先增后减,T3处理含量最高,AN和TN分别比T1处理高24.90%、10.28%;土壤速效磷(AP)的含量呈下降趋势。随氮肥用量的提高,土壤团聚体呈现大粒径团聚体向小粒径团聚体转变的趋势,>2 mm粒径团聚体下降14.55%。土壤有机碳总量随施氮水平的提高呈先增后减的趋势,施氮量为280 kg·hm^-2有机碳含量最高;>2...     

新疆林业生态环境中的木垒胡杨林群落特征研究

对新疆林业生态环境中木垒胡杨林群落的多样性特征进行研究,分析胡杨林群落的相似度变 化趋势,通过个体数对数和失稳率研究胡杨林的结构与动态特征。结果表明:在多样性特征中,中、 下游区域临界点的胡杨林群落丰富度最高,中游区域的丰富度最小;生态输水前,下游区域的胡杨 林群落均匀度指数最小,中游区域的均匀度指数最大,生态输水后,中、下游区域临界点处的均匀度 指数最大,下游区域的均匀度指数最小;生态输水后的物种多样性高于生态输水前的物种多样性, 下游区域的物种多样性受生态输水的影响较小;在相似性特征中,Jaccard 指数和Sorenson 指数在 不同区域内的变化趋势相似;在胡杨林结构与动态特征中,胡杨林种群在上游区域中的数量较多, 种群的个体数与高度级呈反比。     

水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌装置设计与试验

为解决南方水稻工厂化田间育秧水肥药人工管理作业中存在的灌溉均匀性差、化肥和农药浪费以及劳动强度大等问题,该研究设计了一种水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌装置,阐述了水肥药变量喷灌装置总体结构和工作原理,进行了关键部件设计与试验;以可编程逻辑控制器（programmable logic controller,PLC）为控制核心,构建了注肥量在线调控及整机变量喷灌控制系统。采用Box-Behnken试验设计方法,对装置喷灌均匀性与主要影响因素进行试验研究,应用单目标优化方法对喷灌关键参数进行优化,并通过验证试验,得到最优参数组合为：干管入口水压0.20 MPa、球阀开度90°、喷头喷角80°,此时装置的喷灌均匀性为92.69%;构建了氯化钾肥液质量浓度与电导率（electrical conductance,EC）值的线性模型,开展了装置变量灌溉施肥性能试验,3种喷灌等级下各作业区的肥液EC值分别为1.65、1.66和1.68 mS/cm,平均喷灌强度分别为900.85、1092.04和1263.67 mm/h,施肥均匀系数分别为85.21%、87.86%和91.62%。采用水肥药变量喷灌装置开展水稻育秧田间管理试验,华航51常规稻和广8优165杂交稻的秧苗长势均匀度均高于95%,成毯性良好,各项素质指标满足机插作业要求。所设计的水肥药变量喷灌装置能够满足水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌作业要求,对提高水稻工厂化田间育秧机械化水平、保证秧苗质量具有实际应用价值。     

不同缢蛏群体应对高盐养殖环境的潜沙和摄食响应能力

为研究缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)生态行为应对高盐养殖环境的响应能力,以2个缢蛏群体(“申浙一号”群体SZSC和自然群体ZRSC)为实验对象,研究了不同盐度(20、24、28和32)对缢蛏群体潜沙行为、摄食生理的影响。对比2个群体潜沙指标和摄食率(FR)的差异,其中,潜沙行为实验设置盐度应激组(缢蛏从暂养池取出放进各盐度组开始实验)和胁迫组(缢蛏在各盐度条件下胁迫24 h后开始实验)。结果显示,SZSC的120 h半致死盐度为34.04,ZRSC的120 h半致死盐度为32.04。应激组中,SZSC的半数潜沙时间(BT50)显著大于ZRSC (P<0.05),盐度为24时,SZSC的BT50为4.2 min,显著低于盐度为28和32时的BT50;盐度为32时,SZSC潜沙深度分布更集中,潜沙率为88.33%,显著高于ZRSC(P<0.05)。而在胁迫组,SZSC中BT50显著低于ZRSC,潜沙率显著大于ZRSC (P<0.05)。摄食生理上,除对照组外,SZSC的FR均显著大于ZRSC(P<0.05),SZSC的FR在盐度为24时达到最大值[89.54 mL/(g·h)],显著大于其他盐度组(P<0.05)。研究表明,2个群体的生态行为均会受到盐度的影响,盐度越高,应激反应越强烈,其中,SZSC对高盐环境具有较好的耐受性。本研究从生态行为水平评估了2个缢蛏群体对高盐环境的耐受性,揭示了高盐养殖环境下缢蛏在底泥中的垂直分布情况和摄食能力,研究结果为进一步开展缢蛏耐高盐新品系的选育提供了理论参考。     

测土配方施肥对玉米产量和养分利用率的影响

研究测土配方施肥对玉米生长性状、产量、经济效益和养分利用率的影响,进而指导阿克苏市玉米科学合理施肥,提高化肥利用率,减少化肥投入,实现玉米化肥减量增效的目标。以金谷玉6号玉米为试验材料,设置不施肥(CK)、无氮(PK)、无磷(NK)、无钾(NP)和氮磷钾(NPK)5个处理,在收获期对玉米株高、径粗、穗长、穗粒数、百粒重、产量、平均产值、净收入和养分利用率等指标进行测定。实验结果表明:全年施肥量为尿素29.78kg/667m2,重过磷酸钙25kg/667m2,硫酸钾10.4kg/667m2,对玉米的生长、产量和经济效益均有促进作用。玉米氮肥的利用率为36.26%,磷肥的利用率为17.39%,钾肥的利用率为41.99%。     

生物结皮生长发育对黄绵土抗侵蚀性能的影响

[目的] 黄土高原退耕还林(草)工程驱动的生物结皮发育可显著抑制土壤侵蚀,为探明土壤抗侵蚀性能随生物结皮生长发育的变化特征及其响应机制。[方法] 设置藻结皮、藓结皮和自然演替结皮3个处理,培育176天,系统研究生物结皮不同发育阶段及其类型差异对黄绵土抗侵蚀性能的影响。[结果] (1)生物结皮盖度、厚度、生物量、叶绿素和粗糙度随生长时间均显著增加,培育初期藓结皮较高,培育末期自然演替结皮反而最高。(2)随生物结皮发育,土壤黏结力呈幂函数增强,较初期增加39.8%~60.3%;质量损失率呈指数函数减小,较初期降低45.6%~57.3%;饱和导水率变化趋势较为复杂,但培育末期均最低(0.08~0.12 mm/min)。(3)土壤黏结力随生物结皮盖度、厚度、叶绿素、生物量和表面粗糙度的增加呈幂函数增长,质量损失率随生物结皮盖度、厚度、叶绿素、生物量和表面粗糙度的增加呈指数函数下降。(4)土壤抗侵蚀综合指数(C_ser)可表示为盖度(Cov)、厚度(T)和生物量(B)的幂函数(C_ser=0.279 Cov^0.194 T^0.188 B^0.119, R²=0.73, p＜0.05)。[结论] 黄土高原生物结皮发育可显著提高黄绵土抗侵蚀性能,藓结皮效果最强。     

钢质渔船的腐蚀研究

本文根据对实船测厚数据的统计分析,阐述了钢质渔船船体外板的腐蚀特点,分析了造成腐蚀的原因,并对渔船易腐部位的防护提出了建议。     

Can supplemental food increase winter survival of a threatened cottontail rabbit?

Populations of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) have declined substantially in recent decades in response to habitat loss and fragmentation. Among some remnant populations, cottontails occupy small patches of thicket habitat where they experience high mortality rates as a consequence of limited food during winter. This limitation causes rabbits to forage away from cover where they are exposed to predators. Although conservation efforts are emerging to reverse the decline of New England cottontails, most are directed toward improving long-term viability by increasing the abundance of suitable habitats. Such efforts do little to improve the short-term survival of remaining cottontails. To address this immediate need, we evaluated the use of supplemental food as an approach to improve overwinter survival rates. We speculated that by positioning feeders in close proximity to escape cover, rabbits would be less vulnerable to predators. We evaluated this approach using eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) as a research surrogate because this species is readily available and has similar habitat requirements to New England cottontails. Transmitter-equipped eastern cottontails were randomly assigned to either a fed or unfed group. Remotely-triggered cameras were also used to gauge use of feeders by cottontails and visits by other species. Winter survival rates were substantially greater for fed rabbits (70%) than for unfed rabbits (32%). Cameras revealed that rabbits were the most frequent consumer and that there was only limited carnivore activity near feeders. We conclude that supplemental feeding may improve survival of remaining New England cottontails as efforts to increase habitat availability continue to develop.