Grassland Degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Reevaluation of Causative Factors

In light of Harris (2010) finding insufficient evidence to assert a causal linkage between any of the seven previously proposed causative factors and grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), more recent empirical studies on QTP grassland degradation were explored to ascertain whether, in fact, these factors are casually linked to grassland degradation. The mischaracterization of the underlying causes of grassland degradation among policymakers has and continues to be an obstacle to sustainable regional grassland management practices. Accumulating evidence suggests that privatization and sedentarization, small mammals, climate change, harsh environments, fragile soils, and overgrazing contribute to grassland degradation. However, neither obsolete livestock husbandry methods nor the recent conversion of rangelands to agriculture had a meaningful influence. Estimates of the total area of degraded grasslands and the establishment of grassland degradation criteria have not been properly addressed in the literature. Both omissions constitute the basis for investigating the causes of grassland degradation across the QTP and the adoption of measures to manage these grasslands sustainably.     

Occurrence and distribution of larval and juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at sandy beaches in eastern Hiuchi-Nada, central Seto Inland Sea, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The occurrence and distribution of larval and juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and major demersal fish from May to September were examined at seven sandy beaches at the central Seto Inland Sea. The flounder appeared from late May to August and were mainly collected at a depth of 2–5 m. Settlement of larval flounder was seen from late May to late June. A total of 6412 individuals of 17 species representing 12 families were collected in the study area. The dominant fish species were Favonigobius gymnauchen (56.0%), Tarphops oligolepis (8.1%), Rudarius ercodes (7.8%), P. olivaceus (7.3%), Repomucenus spp. (7.0%) and Heteromycteris japonica (3.3%). The catches of flounder differed among beaches and months. The number of flounder in June at Ohama Beach, where the most flounder were collected, was 22.6 individuals per haul (400 m²). The density of the flounder correlated negatively to that of F. gymnauchen .     

Rhamphicarpa fistulosa, a parasitic weed threatening rain-fed lowland rice production in sub-Saharan Africa - A case study from Benin

Expansion of the facultative parasitic plant Rhamphicarpa fistulosa as a weed of rain-fed lowland rice was studied in 2007 on a national level (Benin) by repeating a survey from 1998. Wider species’ distribution was investigated in 2008. Current and potential impact and management strategies were investigated through farmer surveys and pot experiments. Out of 36 cultivated inland valleys visited across Benin, eight were found to be infested with Rhamphicarpa. Out of nine inland valleys inspected in 1998, Rhamphicarpa was found in five in 2007, compared with only three in 1998. Farmers estimated Rhamphicarpa-inflicted yield losses could exceed 60% and indicated that heavily infested fields are abandoned. In a pot experiment with a wide infestation range, the popular cultivar Gambiaka, combining resistance with sensitivity, showed a mean relative yield loss (RYL) of 63%. Parasitic Rhamphicarpa biomass (PRB), the difference between the above-ground biomass produced with and without a host, was suggested as indicator for infection level of this facultative parasite and hence as a practical measure for host resistance. Genetic variation in resistance and tolerance levels was observed among rice cultivars, but fertilizer applications significantly reduced parasite numbers, biomass and effects, cancelling out such genotypic differences. Depending on the tolerance level of the cultivars, the PRB only accounted for 3.7-38.8% of the average parasite-inflicted host biomass reductions, indicating phytotoxic effects of Rhamphicarpa infection.R. fistulosa is an apparently increasing constraint to rain-fed lowland rice in Benin, threatening rice production in the wider region. The use of resistant and tolerant cultivars, combined with fertilizer applications could reduce Rhamphicarpa infections and mitigate negative effects on rice yields.     

Production of Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in Potassium Supplemented Inland Saline Sub-Surface Water

Abstract

Potassium deficient inland saline (10 g L^?1 salinity) well water was supplemented with muriate of potash to achieve 50% (57 mg L^?1) and 100% (114 mg L^?1) of seawater potassium concentration and used for the production of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Total mortality was observed in non-supplemented water within 6 days compared to 88.0% survival in K⁺100% and 85.3% survival in K⁺50% up to 60 days. P. monodon were subsequently cultured for 110 days in two identical 0.25-ha ponds supplied with water of 10 g L^?1 and supplemented with the potassium equivalent of 35% of seawater. Survival and production were 55.8% to 64.25% and 157.70 kg (630.8 kg ha^?1) to 172.75 kg (691 kg ha^?1), respectively.     

Unlocking the potential of protected areas for freshwaters

Declining trends in the integrity of freshwater systems demand exploration of all possible conservation solutions. Freshwater protected areas have received little attention, despite the prominence of protected areas as conservation interventions for terrestrial and more recently marine features. We argue that a dialogue on freshwater protected areas has been neglected both because few models of good protected area design exist, and because traditional notions of protected areas translate imperfectly to the freshwater realm. Partly as a result of this conceptual disconnect, freshwaters have been largely ignored in protected area accounting schemes, even though a number of existing freshwater conservation strategies could qualify according to general protected area definitions. Rather than impose terrestrially-motivated ideas about protected areas onto freshwaters, we propose new vocabulary - freshwater focal area, critical management zone, and catchment management zone - that can be used in conjunction with IUCN protected area categories and that recognize the special ecological dynamics of freshwaters, and in particular the critical role of fluvial processes. These terms, which attempt to diffuse concerns about locking away essential ecosystem goods and services, move us toward consideration of protected areas for freshwaters. This conceptual shift, which acknowledges that freshwater conservation may occur remotely from freshwater features, opens the door for improved integration of freshwater, terrestrial, and marine concerns in protected area design and management.     

林芝地区国内游客购物行为实证研究

文章以消费者购物行为基本模式——刺激—反应模式作为研究的理论基础,通过对林芝国内游客购物行为采用问卷调查的方式进行实证调查,得出从商品特色、商品质量、促销方式、购物环境等方面的提升来刺激消费者购物行为。     

淡水变水层疏目拖网经验设计方法的研究

本文根据作者十余年试验研究的经验和资料，分析了总结了我国内陆水域当前使用的几十种变水层疏目拖网，在选优淘劣的基础上，用数理统计的方法，计算出淡水变水层疏目拖网的主机功率与网口周长的关系式，以及拖网其它各部分主尺度与网口周长的比例等系列关系式，为小马力淡水变水层疏目拖网设计总结出一种简便、易行、可靠的经验设计方法。     

干旱区内陆河流域中游低湿草地蒸散特征

以气象观测资料为基础,采用波文比能量平衡法(BREB)对低湿草地的蒸散进行了估算。结果表明,在一个完整年度内,试验地蒸散量(ET)为611.5mm,日均1.67mm。在牧草不同生长季节,ET变化剧烈,非生长期、生长初期、生长中期、生长末期分别为0.57mm/d、2.01mm/d、3.82mm/d和1.49mm/d,蒸散量分别占全年蒸散总量的18.26%、9.20%、61.83%和10.71%。ET月变化显示,从3月开始草地蒸散量有所增大,6月牧草进入生长中期后蒸散量迅速增大,到7月蒸散量达到最大,9月牧草进入生长末期,蒸散急剧减小;随着牧草生长终结和土壤冻结,蒸散量逐步减小,在11月中旬到次年2月蒸散基本停止。蒸散的日内变化规律显示,草地蒸散开始于早晨7:00～8:00,13:00左右达到最大,19:00～20:00蒸散趋于0。晴天蒸散强度远大于阴天。     

从水资源承载能力看河南核电的发展

水资源承载能力是制约内陆核电发展的关键因素之一。引入"用水紧张程度"和"区域水资源承载能力的平衡指数σ"对河南省水资源承载能力进行分析,比较火电与内陆核电用水需求特点,分析核电空冷技术的用水优势,在此基础上阐述采用空冷技术发展河南核电的思路。     

Distribution and abundance of resting cysts of the toxic Alexandrium spp. (Dinophyceae) in sediments of the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Sediment samples were collected from 135 stations in the western part of the Seto Inland Sea (Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada) to determine the horizontal distribution and abundance of resting cysts of Alexandrium spp. ( A. tamarense  +  A. catenella ). Enumeration of the cysts was performed using the primuline-staining direct count method. Cysts of Alexandrium spp. were rarely found in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada and Beppu Bay, but were widely distributed in Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada. Cyst concentrations ranged from not detected (ND) to 14, ND to 17, ND to 4, 93 to 8137, 8 to 4454, ND to 6, ND to 18 and 4–29 cysts/cm³ wet sediment in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada, respectively. The majority of cysts occurred in Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay, where higher densities were observed in the inner bay and along the coastal margin. Relatively higher cyst concentrations were observed at stations with a higher mud content. The abundance of Alexandrium spp. cysts in western Seto Inland Sea is lower than in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, except for Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay. However, because sporadic blooms of Alexandrium have been observed, continuing monitoring is necessary to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in this area.