Bat activity on riparian zones and upper slopes in Australian timber production forests and the effectiveness of riparian buffers

Unlogged buffers are used to ameliorate impacts to riparian areas in timber production forests. One function of these buffers is to protect the biodiversity of riparian areas. We measured bat activity in buffered streams with ultrasonic detectors across four different stream orders in logged, regrowth and mature forests (60 sites). Bat activity, foraging rates and species richness were similar in buffered streams surrounded by logged, regrowth and mature forests, suggesting that riparian areas effectively provide habitat for foraging and commuting bats in selectively logged forests. Vespadelus pumilus was the only species that responded to logging history, with decreased activity in mature forests. We found higher activity on larger rather than smaller order streams, a pattern also not affected by logging history. Bat activity along paired forest trail flyways on upper slopes (60 sites) was measured simultaneously with riparian flyway activity (for a total of 120 sites) to determine the importance of riparian areas relative to other available flyways. Activity was higher on upper slopes than on small streams, but similar to levels on larger streams. Total foraging activity was similar between riparian zones and upper slopes. Upper slopes contained higher species diversity, with Chalinolobus gouldii, Miniopterus schreibersii, Mormopterus norfolkensis, Scotorepens sp., Vespadelus pumilus and, to a lesser extent, Vespadelus darlingtoni detected more often than along streams. Other species (Rhinolophus megaphyllus, Nyctophilus spp. and Miniopterus australis) were not affected by topography. Estimates of total vegetation cover and, in particular, rainforest cover, were negatively associated with bat activity, highlighting the need for management of forest ‘clutter’ in regrowth forests for a suite of bat species. Streams and forest trails provide areas of lower clutter, which assist in maintaining high species diversity in regrowth forests. Our results support the use of riparian buffers, and point to the need for greater recognition of tracks on upper slopes as important habitat.     

Influence of liquid cattle manure on reduction processes in soil

Summary Reduction processes in cultivated soil during the decomposition of liquid cattle manure were studied in laboratory experiments. Anoxic slurries of soil and manure in different proportions or alone were followed over 5 weeks. Upon NO _inf3 ^sup- depletion, ferrous Fe appeared in solution in soil-manure slurries. Sulfide levels were generally low in the presence of both soil and manure, probably because of precipitation by Fe²⁺; Fe thereby counteracted the production of free hydrogen sulfide. Methane formation was the quantitatively most important electron sink under prolonged anoxic conditions. When extra sulfate was added to soil-manure slurries, the concentration of Fe²⁺ remained low and less methane was produced. The detection of Fe²⁺ was examined in a model system with a gel-stabilized soil-manure mixture sandwiched between two soil phases with a water content near field capacity. Large methodological problems made it impossible to quantify Fe²⁺ in this oxic-anoxic environment, but the results indicated that reducing conditions were maintained in the manure-saturated zone for the 20-day period of this experiment.     

西藏南迦巴瓦峰地区土壤地理分布规律的研究

西藏东南部的南迦巴瓦峰地区，面积约６．４３×１０＾４ｋｍ＾２。章探讨了土壤垂直带谱的性质和结构特点，土壤水平地带与垂直带的关系，土壤垂直带的结果类型；论述了湿润程度，逆温、人类活动对土壤垂直带影响，以及山体高度和大小与山地土壤分布的关系。     

Assessment of shoreline vegetation in relation to use by molting black brant Branta bernicla nigricans on the Alaska coastal plain

To evaluate the importance of large thaw lakes on the Alaska Coastal Plain for molting Pacific black brant Branta bernicla nigricans, distribution and life form of shoreline vegetation were assessed using several scales: satellite imagery, point-intercept transects, cover quadrats, and a parameter for water regime. Brant population and distribution estimates from aerial surveys were used to classify large lakes into high, moderate, and low use. Correlations between brant and abundance of their preferred feeding site — moss flats — were best demostrated by satellite imagery. Intercepts and cover ratings were not correlated, presumably because these techniques were less efficient at assessing area. General observations suggested that the presence of islands, large ice floes, and possibly other physical attributes of the habitat, influenced brant distribution. This area is unique because of low-lying, drained-lake basins that have ideal combinations of moss flats and large water areas where brant seek protection disturbance is vital to the success of this declining species because alternate habitats may not be available elsewhere on the Coastal Plain. in water or on ice floes. Protection of the area from     

Distribution, abundance and conservation status of dugongs and dolphins in the southern and western Arabian Gulf

The marine mammals of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were censussed by three strip-transect aerial surveys. The Arabian Gulf supports a population of ca. 5800 dugongs (Dugong dugon), which is the largest known outside Australia. The most important habitats occur (1) around Murawah Island (UAE), (2) between Qatar and Bahrain and (3) between Qatar and the UAE. Surveys of the UAE were repeated 13 years apart. The two estimates of the dugong population were not significantly different, suggesting a stable population of ca. 3000 between 1986 and 1999. In the region between Kuwait and Oman, the Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) is the most common cetacean (71% of groups and individuals), followed by the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis; 27%) and finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides; 2%). The estimates of cetacean abundance in the UAE differed significantly between 1986 and 1999 and indicate a population decline of 71%. At least two die-offs of marine mammals occurred between these surveys. The countries of the southern Gulf are developed and affluent and are well positioned to take a lead in marine conservation in the region. A coordinated series of protected areas could greatly enhance the long-term prospects for marine mammals and other components of biodiversity in the region.     

江苏沿海地区Bt棉主栽品种的性状评价

室内饲养结果表明,与对照品种"苏棉9号"比较,4个Bt棉品种对棉铃虫的抗性都达到极显著水平;饲喂Bt棉组织,能使棉铃虫幼虫发育延缓、蛹期缩短和蛹重减轻;1～3龄棉铃虫幼虫对Bt棉的敏感程度高于4龄以上幼虫。田间调查结果表明,Bt棉田棉铃虫的虫量和蕾铃被害量与对照棉田差异极显著,其趋势与室内试验一致。在棉花品种的生育特性方面,4个Bt棉品种的株高和果枝数与"苏棉9号"相近;蕾铃数量及成铃率高于或接近于常规棉;各品种间生长发育指标的差异均达不到显著水平。按照供试的4个Bt棉品种在当地的抗虫性及丰产性状的优劣排序,依次为"鲁棉研15">"中棉所29">"南抗3号">"科棉1号"。     

土壤盐碱改良剂施用量及施用时期研究

土壤盐碱改良剂在一定程度上能够起到松土、保湿、改良土壤理化性状的作用,促进植物对养分和水分的吸收,比传统的工程水利和生物改良方法简便易行、成本低、效果好,可较好的解决滨海盐渍土盐、板、瘦的问题,是一项改良治理滨海盐渍土的新措施.通过此技术的推广实施,可提高作物产量,扩大可利用农业土地资源,改善当地生态环境,推动经济发展,促进黄河三角洲的可持续发展.     

区域滩涂资源开发管理系统的设计与实现

利用地理信息系统(GIS)作为核心软件开发的江苏盐城滩涂资源开发管理系统,成功地对该区域的滩涂资源进行了动态监测,在过去7年中围垦滩涂的速度年均上升了1 417/hm2,运行及测试结果表明,该系统达到了预定的技术要求.     

Processing of Yield Map Data

Yield maps reflect systematic and random sources of yield variation as well as numerous errors caused by the harvest and mapping procedures used. A general framework for processing of multi-year yield map data was developed. Steps included (1) raw data screening, (2) standardization, (3) interpolation, (4) classification of multi-year yield maps, (5) post-classification spatial filtering to create spatially contiguous yield classes, and (6) statistical evaluation of classification results. The techniques developed allow more objective mapping of yield zones, which are an important data layer in algorithms for prescribing variable rates of production inputs.     

绿色食品生产分区布局的研究--以辽宁省铁岭市为例

结合铁岭市生态环境质量和农业发展现状,采用聚类分析和灰色诊断的方法,对铁岭市绿色食品生产进行了分区布局,以便为绿色食品生产的产业化和区域化提供参考。铁岭市绿色食品生产可分为4个区:Ⅰ区包括开原市、铁岭县和清河区,该区拟发展为铁岭市农、林、牧、副为一体,产、加、销相结合的绿色食品综合开发区。Ⅱ区是昌图县,定为铁岭市绿色种植业和绿色畜牧业的生产区。Ⅲ区是西丰县,该区应作为铁岭市绿色林产品和特产生产区,走以林为主,农、林、牧、副相结合的绿色食品发展道路。Ⅳ区是调兵山市,该区适宜发展城郊型绿色农业和绿色食品加工业。