Response of mountain plovers to plague-driven dynamics of black-tailed prairie dog colonies

Sylvatic plague is a major factor influencing the dynamics of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in the western Great Plains. We studied the nesting response of the mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), a grassland bird that nests on prairie dog colonies, to plague-driven dynamics of prairie dog colonies at three sites in the western Great Plains. First, we examined plover nest distribution on colonies that were previously affected by plague, but that had been recovering (expanding) for at least 6 years. Plovers consistently nested in both young (colonized in the past 1–2 years) and old (colonized for 6 or more years) portions of prairie dog colonies in proportion to their availability. Second, we examined changes in plover nest frequency at two sites following plague epizootics, and found that mountain plover nest numbers declined relatively rapidly (≤2 years) on plague-affected colonies. Taken together, our findings indicate that available plover nesting habitat associated with prairie dog colonies closely tracks the area actively occupied by prairie dogs each year. Given the presence of plague throughout most of the mountain plover’s breeding range in the western Great Plains, important factors affecting plover populations likely include landscape features that determine the scale of plague outbreaks, the distance that plovers move in response to changing breeding habitat conditions, and the availability and quality of alternate breeding habitat within the landscape.     

Evaluation of the effect of eprinomectin in young dairy heifers sub-clinically infected with gastrointestinal nematodes on grazing behaviour and diet selection

Inappetence is commonly associated with parasitism and has been observed in both housed and pastured ruminants. In seeking a functional explanation for these observations, it has been hypothesised that parasitized animals may feed more selectively in order to proportionally increase the protein content of their diet and thus partially compensate for their reduced feed intake. Support for this theory is found principally in studies in housed animals under carefully controlled experimental conditions. Grazing animals face a far more heterogeneous environment and a multiplicity of potentially confounding factors that could influence diet selection. Controlled grazing of adjacent monocultures of grass and clover can mitigate some of these variables and was used in the current study to examine the dietary preference of dairy heifers with sub-clinical parasitic gastroenteritis when compared to those receiving regular anthelmintic treatments. Grazing behaviour and herbage intake rates were determined through the use of jaw-movement recorders, direct observation and short-term liveweight change. Consistent with previous observations and despite evidence that nematode burdens were low in the untreated control heifers, a reduction in daily grazing time of 56 min (P = 0.054) was observed in the control animals. There was, however, no evidence that the control heifers showed greater preference for clover compared with ryegrass: partial preference for clover was 73.0% in the untreated controls and 75.5% in the treated heifers. Furthermore control heifers were observed grazing the clover swards significantly (P = 0.032) less frequently than the treated heifers. This study provides additional evidence in grazing cattle for parasite-induced inappetence, manifest as a reduction in grazing time and in subtle changes in ingestive behaviour. The observed partial preference for clover in both treated and control cattle was not significantly affected by the level of parasitism.     

不同放牧制度和强度下奶牛生产性能的研究──2.放牧对奶牛产奶量及体增重的影响

本文作者在湖南南山牧场首次研究了不同放牧制度(分区轮牧和连续放牧)和放牧强度(0.467,0.667和0.867ha/头)下在多年生黑麦草/白三叶人工草地上放牧的黑白花奶牛产奶量、乳比重及体重的变化。结果表明:轮牧制奶牛的产奶量显著高于连续放牧制(1632.5vs.1462.3kg/头)。不同放牧强度下,奶牛的产奶量以中等放牧强度最高,轻牧次之,重牧最低,分别为1724.5、1571.1和1331.2kgh头。放牧期间两种放牧制间奶牛平均日增重差异不显著,以轮牧制较高(0.224vs.0.205kg/头·天);三种放牧强度间奶牛的平均日增重差异也不显著,由大到小依次为B3>B2>B1,分别为0.242、0.225和0.176kg/头·天。不同放牧处理对牛奶比重影响不大。这说明在本试验条件下,放牧制度和放牧强度对奶牛平均日增重增加影响不显著,但对奶牛的产奶量有显著的影响。     

放牧强度对新麦草土壤氮素分配及其季节动态的影响

通过不同放牧处理对新麦草人工草地土壤氮素分配及其在生长期间的动态研究。结果表明,０～３０ｃｍ土层全氮量月均值的顺序为对照〉重牧〉轻牧〉中牧（Ｐ〈０．０１）。放牧强度对铵未形成显著影响（Ｐ〉０．０５）。０～３０ｃｍ土层随着放牧强度的增加,硝态氮量逐渐增加。放牧区净可矿化氮量大于对照区,其中以中度放牧区最高。０～３０ｃｍ土层土壤微生物生物量氮的顺序为重牧〉对照〉中牧〉轻牧（Ｐ〈０．０５）。     

川南山地黄牛放牧及放牧补饲的增重试验

本试验在三峡库区丰都县选用川南山地黄牛 1 2头 ,随机分成 3组 ( 2个试验组 ,1个对照组 ) ,进行放牧和放牧加补饲的增重试验。经过 60 d的试验 ,2个试验组的平均日增重 ( ADG)分别为 5 4 4.5 8g和 60 2 .92 g,比对照组的 1 37.92 g分别提高 2 94.85 %和 337.1 5 % ;增重毛利润分别为 5 2 .45元 /头和 80 .31元 /头 ,比对照组的 41 .40元分别增加 1 1 .0 5元 /头和 38.91元 /头。试验结果表明 ,与放牧相比 ,放牧加补饲能显著提高日增重 ,增加经济效益     

违规放牧行为的博弈分析及对策研究

中国超过1/3的天然草地处于退化、沙化状态。退牧还草政策是应对草地退化的重要措施。退牧还草政策实施过程中常有违规放牧现象。本文采用博弈论方法,分析牧户和政府双方的策略集合,得出最优策略,并进行模拟计算。结果表明：提高违规放牧被检查到的概率,降低检查成本和增加罚款金额等措施,可促使牧户减少违规放牧行为。据此,我们提出减少或者杜绝违规放牧行为的措施主要包括：规划安置点将牧户由分散居住转为集中居住;违规放牧行为的检查工作由社会招聘监察人员和牧户监督员承担;划定管护责任区域,由常驻人员进行管护区域内的违规放牧检查工作;根据各地具体情况,设置合理罚款金额。本研究可为制定遏制违规放牧的对策提供依据,促进草原地区人口、资源和环境的协调发展。     

大宁河龙溪段鱼类早期资源研究

为了解十年禁渔背景下大宁河鱼类早期资源变化状况,2020和2021年5-7月在大宁河龙溪断面开展了鱼类早期资源现状的调查。结果表明,龙溪江段产浮性卵鱼类1种、漂流性卵鱼类4种、粘沉性卵鱼类19种;中华纹胸鮡（Glyptothorax sinensis）和大眼鳜（Siniperca kneri）的产卵规模相对较大,其卵占比分别达48%和30%以上;2020年的鱼类卵苗资源量和种类都少于2021年。RDA分析结果显示,中华纹胸鮡（Glyptothorax sinensis）、张氏?(Hemiculter tchangi)鱼卵漂流密度与水温变化呈现一定相关性,适宜水温促使中华纹胸鮡（Glyptothorax sinensis）、张氏?(Hemiculter tchangi)产卵;随着流速和流量增加,多鳞白甲鱼(Scaphesthes macrolepis)和云南盘鮈(Discogobio yunnanensis)卵漂流密度均相应增加;大眼鳜（Siniperca kneri）和峨眉后平鳅(Metahomaloptera omeiensis)产卵期间江水酸碱度相对较低。十年禁渔的实施对大宁河鱼类资源的恢复可能产生积极影响。     

Overlooked impacts and challenges of the new European discard ban

Discards are the portion of animal and plant material in the catch that is dumped back at sea. The Common Fisheries Policy plan proposed by the European Commission for 2014–2020 presents a controversial goal: to enforce the landing of fishing discards as a measure to encourage their reduction. This historical and political decision will shape the future of the fishing exploitation in European Seas. Discards generated by European fleets are not negligible, and its reduction is an ecological, socioeconomical and moral imperative. However, it must be achieved through the reduction in discards at source and the promotion of selective and non‐destructive gears. We argue it is doubtful that this discard ban will result in an effective reduction of discards. The proposed measure may, in fact, negatively affect ecosystems at all levels of biological hierarchy by disregarding the Ecosystem‐Based Approach to Fisheries and the Precautionary Principle. It could negatively impact several species by increasing fishing mortality, also commercial species if discards are not accounted in the total allowable catch. Communities preying on discards will likely be affected. The role discards currently play in the energy turnover of current ecosystems will be modified and should be fully evaluated. The landing of discards will likely generate new markets of fishmeal due to the growing demands for marine living resources. The ban will require substantial public investment to deal with technical problems on board and to control and enforce. Therefore, this measure should be only implemented after rigorous scientific and technical studies have been developed.     

草地生态系统碳循环及其影响因素研究进展

近年来,全球变化背景下草地生态系统的碳循环及其影响因素已经成为生态学、地学、植物学和农学的研究热点之一。本文介绍了草地碳循环的过程,探讨了碳素在大气、草地植被、草食动物和土壤中的周转途径,重点分析了气候因素、土壤因素、CO₂浓度升高及人为因素对碳循环过程的影响,以期加深草地生态系统碳循环及其影响因素的理解,并提出了草地生态系统碳循环研究尚需解决的主要问题和研究前景。     

放牧对西藏高寒嵩草草甸地上生物量空间分布的影响

以西藏自治区工布江达县的高寒嵩草（Kobresia）草甸为研究对象,利用地上生物量测定法对草地群落进行实地调查,并结合γ分布模型,从空间异质性角度来探索放牧对西藏高寒草甸地上生物量及其空间分布格局的影响,以期为高寒牧区退化草地的恢复及生产力的提高提供理论指导。结果表明：未放牧区（N）、适度放牧区（M）和重度放牧区（H）植物种地上生物量的空间分布与γ模型均具有很好的吻合性;样方内的平均生物量随着放牧强度的增大而减少,且适度放牧、重度放牧与未放牧区生物量之间均差异极显著（P<0.01）;群落的空间异质性表现为N>H>M,且草地植物种的生物量与其空间异质性负相关。因此在草地的管理与利用中,应有效控制植物群落的空间异质性来提高草地生产力,实现草畜平衡。