Levels of domestication in fish: implications for the sustainable future of aquaculture

The agricultural world today is dominated by a few domesticated mammal species, that is, animals modified from their wild ancestors through selective breeding in captivity for traits beneficial to human usages. As a result, a clear dichotomy exists between wild (from hunting) and domesticated mammals (produced in farms) used for human consumption. Similar to agriculture, aquaculture is often viewed as the only solution that can provide more fish products given that harvesting wild stocks have reached an upper limit. Aquaculture is considerably younger than agriculture relying on natural sources to farm numerous species. To better describe the diverse strategies for fish production, we propose a new classification comprising five levels of ‘domestication’ with 1 being the least to 5 being the most domesticated. Our classification places 70% of the 250 farmed finfish species recorded in the 2009 FAO database into levels 1, 2 and 3 representing a transitory form of fish production dependent on the availability of the wild resource. In contrast, only a few species, or more accurately populations, can be considered truly domesticated, similar to cattle or sheep. Based on this classification, two scenarios for the future of aquaculture are discussed: either the industry focuses on few truly domesticated species, similar to the path taken by agriculture, but avoiding its negative impacts or aquaculture proceeds with inter‐specific diversification by focusing primarily on the domestication of native species.     

公共图书馆读者服务与读者阅读多元化发展的初探

简要探讨了公共图书馆在读者多元化阅读的今天,如何采取多种手段来满足读者的多元化需求。     

吉林省农村居民消费增长与消费结构变化

从1986-2007年间,随着吉林省农村居民可支配收入的增长,农村居民消费总量也在增长,与此同时,其消费结构已经由原来以食品消费为主,转向食品、衣着、家庭用品、医疗、交通通信、文娱、居住、杂项等各项消费均衡化消费,那么消费总量快速增长与消费结构的多样化之间是否存在联系,存在什么样的联系？本文通过实证研究发现,消费总量增长是促进消费结构多样化的重要原因。     

我国地区产业多样化的演变及其影响因素研究

基于我国二位数产业数据,采用熵值法测算中国的总体产业多样化,并进一步分解为相关和无关多样化,考察我国产业多样化的演变趋势和形成机制,并实证研究其影响因素。结果表明,总体上我国地区产业相关、无关多样化分别呈现倒U和正U型演变趋势,2004年后波动幅度减少,趋于平稳变化;技术进步和交易成本下降均有效促进相关多样化,而阻碍无关多样化发展,竞争和工资水平分别抑制和促进产业多样化。     

森林采伐对区域气候的影响

通过调查和分析发现,黑龙江省的森林资源每年以0.5%的速度递减.森林的过量采伐导致区域气候变化,进而引起粮食产量的变化.     

Integrated assessment of diversification of rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic plain

Diversification of rice-wheat cropping system may improve the productivity and sustainability of agricultural production in the Indo-Gangetic plane region (IGPR), but the choice of alternative sequences to be used requires integrated assessment of various crop sequences. A long-term field experiment was initiated during 2000–01 on sandy loam soil at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India to assess 10 rice-based cropping sequences – rice-wheat, rice-chickpea, rice-wheat-green gram, rice-wheat-Sesbania (green manure), rice-mustard-green gram, rice-lentil-cowpea (fodder), rice-pea, rice-lentil + mustard (3:1)-cowpea (fodder), rice-maize (cob) + vegetable pea (1:1)-cowpea (fodder) and rice-potato-green gram in randomized block design with four replications. The data contained in this paper are for the year 2002–03 and 2003–04. Substitution of rice-wheat with 300% intensity cropping sequences particularly with rice-potato-green gram resulted in maximum production cost but gave the highest system productivity, net return, benefit:cost ratio, production efficiency, profitability and energy productivity. Inclusion of summer grain/fodder legume or Sesbania for green manuring improved the content of soil organic matter. The soil P status was positively affected in all the sequences and particularly those with summer crops. Decline in soil available K in all the sequences indicated inadequacy of present recommended rate of fertilizer K to all the component crops in different sequences.     

蝶形花科植物叶绿体基因组研究进展

被子植物叶绿体基因组比较保守,但豆科植物中蝶形花科叶绿体基因组却表现出高度分化的特征.通过综述蝶形花科叶绿体基因组在进化过程中多个基因/内含子丢失、倒置的发生对基因排列顺序变化的影响,不同物种间或同一物种中不同基因间进化速率的差异等特征,推测重复序列的存在可能是其出现高度分化的一个重要原因.目前已测序的蝶形花科植物叶绿体基因组的数量有限,叶绿体基因组高度分化的内部机制尚不完全清楚.随着越来越多的蝶形花科植物叶绿体基因组测序的完成,可以深入探讨叶绿体基因丢失的机制及影响;通过开发高变的叶绿体基因标记,可对蝶形花科进行近缘物种的系统学研究.     

Cropping systems modify soil biota effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and competitive ability

Plants alter soil biota which subsequently modifies plant growth, plant–plant interactions and plant community dynamics. While much research has been conducted on the magnitude and importance of soil biota effects (SBEs) in natural systems, little is known in agro‐ecosystems. We investigated whether agricultural management systems could affect SBEs impacts on crop growth and crop–weed competition. Utilising soil collected from eight paired farms, we evaluated the extent to which SBEs differed between conventional and organic farming systems. Soils were conditioned by growing two common annual weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) or Avena fatua (wild oat). Soil biota effects were measured in wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and crop–weed competition, with SBEs calculated as the natural log of plant biomass in pots inoculated with living soil divided by the plant biomass in pots inoculated with sterilised soil. SBEs were generally more positive when soil inoculum was collected from organic farms compared with conventional farms, suggesting that cropping systems modify the relative abundance of mutualistic and pathogenic organisms responsible for the observed SBEs. Also, as feedbacks became more positive, crop–weed competition decreased and facilitation increased. In annual cropping systems, SBEs can alter plant growth and crop–weed competition. By identifying the management practices that promote positive SBEs, producers can minimise the impacts of crop–weed competition and decrease their reliance on off‐farm chemical and mechanical inputs to control weeds, enhancing agroecosystem sustainability.     

Integration of soil, crop and weed management in low-external-input farming systems

Greater adoption and refinement of low-external-input (LEI) farming systems have been proposed as ways to ameliorate economic, environmental and health problems associated with conventional farming systems. Organic soil amendments and crop diversification are basic components of LEI systems. Weed scientists can improve the use of these practices for weed management by improving knowledge of four relevant ecological mechanisms. First, multispecies crop rotations, intercrops and cover crops may reduce opportunities for weed growth and regeneration through resource competition and niche disruption. Secondly, weed species appear to be more susceptible to phytotoxic effects of crop residues and other organic soil amendments than crop species, possibly because of differences in seed mass. Thirdly, delayed patterns of N availability in LEI systems may favour large-seeded crops over small-seeded weeds. Finally, additions of organic materials can change the incidence and severity of soil-borne diseases affecting weeds and crops. Our research on LEI sweetcorn and potato production systems in central and northern Maine (USA) suggests that these mechanisms can reduce weed density and growth while maintaining crop yields. Low-external-input farming systems will advance most quickly through the application of interdisciplinary research focused on these and other ecological mechanisms.     

Diversified Investments of Wealthy Ethiopian Pastoralists Include Livestock and Urban Assets That Better Manage Risk

The Borana pastoral system has long been regarded as a model for sustainable resource use in eastern Africa. Recent growth in human and livestock populations, however, has contributed to a marked decline in rangeland condition, as well as increasing poverty. Another trend is fewer pastoralists controlling more resources. Today, for example, only 10% of households own 60% of all livestock. This wealthy minority has become increasingly important but has received little research attention. We wanted to learn how such elites perceive system change and how they innovate when accumulating or managing their assets. Twelve wealthy men were interviewed. They noted that the pastoral system is in sharp decline, with the most serious livestock-production constraints including chronic shortages of forage and labor. The average value of the physical and financial assets held by these men was estimated as at least USD $164,000, about 62-times that held by poor households. The average investment portfolio was composed of livestock (two-thirds of total value), while savings accounts in local banks and urban real estate (largely housing) made up the remainder. Livestock in general—and cattle in particular—were the riskiest physical assets given recurrent effects of drought and forage scarcity on animal productivity and mortality. When asked to identify future investment priorities, the men said that investing in urban real estate and their children was now preferred to investing in more livestock; their tradition of steady livestock reinvestment has thus changed. Recent urban growth in the rangelands has given the wealthy elite new investment options that offset heightened risks of animal losses. Urban investments are important because they could facilitate town development and provide incentives to improve range management via destocking. Outreach programs focused on the diversification of pastoral assets could include wealthy pastoralists as opinion leaders and accelerate positive change here.