Presidentielerede

Abstract

Present methods of evaluating veld composition in relation to grazing capacity can be criticised on grounds of subjectivity, especially with regard to the assignment of relative values to the constituent species. Data relating to botanical composition and estimated grazing capacity, derived from long‐term animal production systems trials, were used to examine the possibility of increasing objectivity. A “multiplier‐correlation” method involving four palatability classes was devised, which appears to provide valid estimates of the status of different species in term of grazing capacity. Multivariate analysis of the proportional species composition, classified into four palatability classes, provided confirmation of the validity of the multiplier‐correlation method.     

Nursery growth, survival and chemical composition of great scallop Pecten maximus (L.) spat from different larval settlement groups

Scallop Pecten maximus spat (1.3–2.1 mm shell height) from different settlement groups were transferred from hatchery to land‐based nursery at different ages and sizes. Chemical content, growth and survival were compared at transfer time and after 1 and 8 weeks of nursery growth. Growth was lowest and mortality highest in the first week after transfer. Mean shell height growth was 21.5–71.4 μm day^?1 and ash‐free dry weight (AFDW) growth ?2.7 to 10.3 μg day^?1. Spat from the first settlement group attained a larger size and weight than spat from larvae settled 3 days later, but had a lower daily growth rate (%). Keeping the late‐settled spat a longer time in the hatchery to reach a bigger size before transfer seemed not to improve subsequent nursery growth. Survival showed a large variation with mean survival ranging from 32% to 74%. A substantial reduction in lipid content was found after transfer to the nursery. Sterol content at transfer was the only lipid class correlating with survival in the nursery. Based on the results, it is justified that spat groups of different settlement age are included in production of 15‐mm great scallop spat if they are transferred from the hatchery at the same age.     

Pros and cons of eliminating veld burning

Fire has been a factor of the environment in Africa since time immemorial and it is often caused by natural agencies such as lightning. It is maintained that there is much prejudice against veld burning, often ill‐founded. Fire has caused and maintained most of the world's grassland. When fire has been prevented plant succession has resulted in bush encroachment in the savanna and surrounding areas or in fynbos encroachment in others. Fire results in much old grass being wasted but, if this is not removed in some manner, the grazing deteriorates. Old grass can be removed by fire, mowing or grazing, using high protein supplements. The consequences of the different methods of removal, other than mowing, may be equally deleterious.     

Differential composition in the age of mates in Bonelli’s eagle populations: The role of spatial scale, non-natural mortality reduction, and the age classes definition

Monitoring of the age of mates, a method proposed to detect early warning signals for demographic trends in long-lived bird populations, showed different patterns when the study was performed on a single Bonelli’s eagle subpopulation of Andalusia (South of Spain) than when the whole region is taken into account. In this respect, we discuss the role of the spatial scale, the origin of reduction in non-natural mortality and the definition of the used age classes. For a correct monitoring of the age of mates in the Bonelli’s eagle, we propose the two age classes previously suggested, adult and non-adult, but paying particular attention to the late subadult individuals, specially when the monitoring is performed in a wide region by different field work groups. Likewise, it is necessary for monitoring age of breeders in long-lived species with deferred maturity to collect data from a sample well distributed over space, taking regularly into account pairs from the edge and from the centre of population. Besides, it is important to monitor those subpopulations with different known threats, providing them their relative importance among the whole population. Finally, conventional monitoring of the age of mates seems to generally be a reliable way to predict viability changes of bird populations, except when adult by adult replacements take place by reduction in juvenile mortality.     

基于ITS和trnL-F序列的具有优良性状蕉类资源的遗传结构分析

为了构建广西具有优良性状的蕉类遗传结构,本研究收集了广西7个不同地理来源的5大种类具有优良性状的蕉类资源,利用PCR技术将这些蕉类资源细胞核DNA的ITS序列及叶绿体DNA的trnL-F序列进行扩增和测序,并对测序所获得的序列进行STRUCTURE分类、PCoA排序、AMOVA分析、群体遗传分化(F_ST指数)及基于NJ树和UPGMA树的聚类分析,进一步研究蕉类资源遗传变异分布和遗传变异水平。STRUCTURE结果显示:当K=2时,Delta K出现了最高的峰值,即将个体分为2个类别最合适,大蕉中的多数和野蕉中的少数可归为第一类,所有粉蕉、鸡蕉、香蕉和大多数的野蕉归为第二类。PCoA排序图显示粉蕉虽然个体数量较多,但是遗传多样性较低,而大蕉和野蕉具有较高的多样性。AMOVA分析表明遗传变异主要存在于群体内的个体间,方差占总和的63.088%,品种间的遗传变异大于品种内群体间的遗传变异,方差分别占总和的27.676%和9.236%。遗传分化非常大(F_ST>0.25)且P<0.05的群体绝大多数在不同蕉类型之间。NJ树和UPGMA树同样显示不同蕉类型之间的群体遗传距离较远。以上结果表明野蕉存在的历史最久,积累了大量的遗传变异;在人工杂交育种时,不同蕉之间的交配可能产生更多的具有遗传多样性的后代;具有育种潜力性状的粉蕉分布在遗传关系非常近的一个群体内,今后的资源收集时应该更加注重对某个粉蕉群体的详尽调查以发现更多的可利用性状。研究结果有助于对广西具有优良性状的蕉类资源的蕴藏状况和遗传潜力进行评估,为进一步的育种学应用奠定基础。     

Performance of height-classified Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings after one year in the field

Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings of 16–25, 26–35, 36–45 and 46–55cm height classes were used to examine the effect of planting stock quality on field performance. Survival, height and diameter (10cm above ground) were assessed 6 and 12 months after planting out. Significant height differences (P 0.05) existed between the 16–25 and 46–55cm height classes at 6 months age. There were no significant (P 0.05) differences in all these parameters at 12 months after planting out throughout the four height classes. It is concluded that the height classification approach for E. camaldulensis seedlings has very little value if the seedlings are in the 16–55cm height range. Until other nursery stock grading approaches are studied, 16–25cm seedling height class is as effective as the taller ones and would therefore be more economical for dry zone afforestation in Malawi.     

植物种子共轭亚麻酸含量分析

以栝楼、3个石榴品种(三白玉、青皮软籽和甜绿子)和6个苦瓜品种(长白、满优青、槟城一号、开化白苦瓜一号、开化白苦瓜二号和青丰)的种子为材料分析其脂质组成和共轭亚麻酸含量.结果表明:所分析的植物种子脂质组成中最主要的为甘油三酯.其质量分数在92.6%到97.0%之间;栝楼籽油主要的脂肪酸为油酸(22.6%)、亚油酸(32.6%)和石榴酸(32.6%).而总的共轭亚麻酸(conjugated linolenic acid,CLNA)质量分数为36.9%;石榴籽中石榴酸质量分数高达73.4%～77.5%,总的CLNA 质量分数迭83.4%～87.9%;苦瓜籽α-桐酸质量分数高达56.0%～63.7%,总的CLNA质量分数达65.2%～71.9%.研究结果表明这些植物种子富含CLNA,其中栝楼籽和石榴籽中主要的CLNA为石榴酸,而苦瓜籽中主要的CLNA为α-桐酸.