Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

贮藏时间与蒙药黄芩对紫花苜蓿草颗粒维生素和化学成分的影响

为有效保全苜蓿草颗粒贮藏过程中维生素及营养品质,本研究以紫花苜蓿草颗粒为研究材料,研究贮藏时间(0,60,120,180,240 d,冷冻240 d)与蒙药黄芩(0%,0.5%,1.0%,1.5%)对其维生素含量和营养品质的影响。结果表明：在贮藏过程中,与其他添加量相比,添加1.5%黄芩有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒维生素B5、维生素C和α-维生素E含量。贮藏60 d及以上显著降低了苜蓿草颗粒维生素B1、维生素B3、维生素C和维生素E含量;贮藏120 d时苜蓿草颗粒DM含量趋于稳定;苜蓿草颗粒贮藏180 d后其CP含量显著降低;贮藏0～180 d期间,随着贮藏时间的延长,苜蓿草颗粒NDF和ADF含量显著升高。与常温贮藏240 d相比,冷冻贮藏相同时间有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒中维生素B1、维生素B5、α-维生素E和OM含量,显著降低DM、NDF和ADF含量。因此,1.5%黄芩添加剂有利于保存苜蓿草颗粒维生素含量,且常温贮藏时间不宜超过60天。     

Effects of Compound Plant Nutrients on Rumen Fermentation Parameters,Rumen Microbiota and Fatty Acid Composition of Longissimus dorsi Muscle in Finishing Small Tail Han Sheep北大核心CSCD

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of compound p1ant nutrients (CPN) on rumen fermentation parameters, rumen microbiota and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi musc1e in finishing sma11 tai1 Han sheep. Sixteen 4-month-o1d finishing sma11 tai1 Han sheep with an initia1 body weight (BW) of (24.18±0.31) kg were random1y divided into two groups, name1y, with 8 rep1icates per group and 1 sheep per rep1icate. The sheep in the contro1 group were fed a basa1 diet, whereas the sheep of the contro1 group (CPN group) was fed the basa1 diet supp1ementation with 3‰ CPN. The experiment 1asted for 97 days after 7 days adaption. The resu1ts showed as fo11ows: compared with the contro1 group, 1) adding CPN decreased the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (P<0.05); 2) CPN supp1ementation affected beta diversity of rumen microbiota; 3) the re1ative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Erysipe1otrichaceae_UCG-002, Lactobacillus, and Megasphaera were enhanced by adding CPN (P<0.05), whereas, the re1ative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Prevotella was 1ower (P<0.05); 4) the supp1ementation of CPN had no significant effect on fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi musc1e of fattening sma11-tai1ed Han sheep (P>0.05); 5) the contents of tota1 MUFA, C18:1n9c, C14:1, C16:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3n3 and n-3PUFA in the longissimus dorsi musc1e were corre1ated with the re1ative abundance of Megasphaera, Erysipe1otrichaceae_UCG-002, Succiniclasticum and Ruminococcus (P<0.05). In conc1usion, CPN can regu1ate the rumen microbiota structure and reduce the rumen NH3-N concentration of fattening sma11-tai1ed Han sheep. In production practice, CPN can be used as a rumen eco1ogica1 regu1ator. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.     

沮漳河下游洪水遭遇地区组成规律

漳河水库由观音寺和鸡公尖两个水库以明槽渠道组成，涉及入库洪水的两个来源，而为下游防洪又涉及到与水库坝址至两河口区间及沮河洪水的组成遭遇。沮漳河为长江的一级支流，对长江防洪安全有一定的影响作用，为了确保水库及其下游防护区的安全，必须研究洪水的地区组成，为防洪错峰及安全调度提供设计依据。通过F检验法及t检验法来进行回归方程及相关系数的检验，证明回归方程是显著的，相关也较密切，可用于生产实际。     

Effect of the Silicic Acid Polymerization Degree on the Coagulating Property of Polyalumium Silicate Chloride

Polyaluminum silicate is a new type of inorganic macromolecular flocculants, which is developed as a complex product in recent years on the base of polyalumium flocculant and polysilicic acid flocculant. Sodium silicate is diluted to the concentration of 3.0% SiO 2 with distilled water. The solution was adjusted to pH 4.5 with sulphate acid and kept at quiescency for different time to get polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees. Using polysilicic acid prepared and aluminium chloride as materials, a series of polyaluminium silicate chlorides(PASC) with different basicities(B), Al/Si molar ratios and polymerization degree of silicic acid are prepared by copolymerization technique. The Al-Ferron timed complex colorimetric method is applied to characterize species distribution of PASC and to study its influence factors. The interaction between hydrolyzed aluminum species and polysilicic acid with different polymerization degrees in PASC is discussed.The flocculant prepared is applied to the treatment of commercial concrete wastewater. The turbidity removal of commercial concrete wastewater is up to 97% when a PASC, prepared with polysilicic acid of 145 min polymerization degree.     

免耕精量直插点播偏置滑块机构的参数优化

以免耕直插式精量点播器的偏置滑块机构为研究对象,为实现该点播器接近零速投种对其结构参数进行优化分析。对偏置滑块的偏置距离e在[0,25]内抽出11组进行仿真分析。优化分析的结果表明:滑块偏置的距离e=10mm,点播器的鸭嘴入出土位移差s=68mm,鸭嘴在入出土瞬时速度v=42mm/s,曲柄摆角θ=30°。     

大兴安岭火烧迹地主要目的树种的天然更新

对不同火烧方式、火烧强度、林分组成、坡向、坡位、郁闭度、土壤厚度、下木盖度、地被物盖度、林龄等条件下的样地的天然更新情况进行了调查。结果表明:地表火火烧迹地的天然更新效果好于树冠火火烧迹地;中度火烧迹地好于重度火烧迹地;发生火烧的林分比未发生火烧的林分天然更新效果好。