Associations of fish with various types of littoral habitats in reservoirs

Fish associations with different types of littoral habitats were studied in four canyon‐shaped reservoirs in the Czech Republic in years 2010 and 2011 by gillnets. Two to three habitats per reservoir–beaches (former meadows), stump fields (former forest) and rubble slopes–were defined and sampled along the longitudinal axis of reservoirs. Effects of reservoir, habitat and locality (position along longitudinal axis) on fish biomass, abundance and species structure were tested for juvenile and adult fish separately. Hierarchical analysis of variance revealed that habitats differed significantly in fish biomass and abundance. Redundancy analysis showed that analysed environmental variables had significant influence on fish community structure. Most variability in community structure was explained by reservoir and then by combination of habitat and slope steepness. Locality position had the smallest influence on community structure. For both adult and juvenile fish total abundance and biomass, the most inhabited habitat was beaches; rubble slopes were the least inhabited. Habitat associations differed among species. Among adults, bream Abramis brama, white bream Blicca bjoerkna and roach Rutilus rutilus were associated with beaches and stump fields, whereas perch Perca fluviatilis, ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus, asp Aspius aspius and pike Esox lucius were associated with rubble slopes. Bream, white bream, bleak Alburnus alburnus, roach, ruffe and pikeperch Sander lucioperca were associated with beaches among juveniles, whereas the only juvenile associated with rubble slopes was perch. We showed that most common species are associated with distinct habitats and also that utilisation of various littoral habitats differs in general.     

极小种群野生植物八蕊单室茱萸的种群状况研究

八蕊单室茱萸为云南省特有的极小种群野生植物和濒危物种。通过查阅相关文献并结合访问调查,确定八蕊单室茱萸可能分布的区域,开展种群资源调查。结果显示:八蕊单室茱萸目前仅在普洱市和西双版纳州有10个天然种群,其种群规模已低于最小可存活种群,属极小种群野生植物和濒危物种,亟需开展保护工作。生境破坏和生境片段化是导致八蕊单室茱单室茱萸濒危的人为因素。提出收集种质资源、营建和管护近地保护种群、建立迁地和回归种群等保育建议。     

Contribution of spray droplet pinning fragmentation to canopy retention

Drop behaviour during impact affects retention. Increasing adhesion is usually seen as an objective when applying crop protection products, while bouncing and shattering are seen as detrimental to spray retention. However, observation of drop impacts on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) using high speed shadowgraphy shows that bouncing and fragmentation can occur in Cassie–Baxter as well as in Wenzel wetting regimes. In this last regime, a part of the drop may remain stuck on the surface, contributing to retention. Using simultaneous measurements of drop impacts with high speed imaging and of retention with fluorophotometry for spray mixtures on excised barley leaves using a Teejet 11003 nozzle at 0.2 MPa, it was observed that about 50% of the drops that fragmented in the Wenzel state remain on the horizontal leaf. Depending on the spray mixture, these impact outcomes accounted for 28–46% of retention, the higher contribution being correlated with bigger VMD (Volume Median Diameter). This contribution is not negligible and should be considered when modelling spray retention processes.     

磷酸、膦酸酯类农药的质谱裂解规律研究

在对23种磷酸、膦酸酯类农药及其氧化物的质谱数据进行归纳整理的基础上,明确了这类农药质谱裂解规律。结果表明:电子轰击离子化条件下,磷酸、膦酸酯类农药分子极易裂解,且分子离子峰较弱。发现C_2H_6O_3P~+(m/z109)是其最具代表性的特征碎片离子。磷酸酯类农药裂解规律是二甲氧基磷酸酯P-0键易发生a断裂,生成m/z 109特征碎片离子。二乙氧基磷酸酯易脱去中性碎片C_2H_4,形成m/z81的特征离子。R'含有烯烃结构,易产生m/z127的特征碎片离子。膦酸酯类农药裂解规律与磷酸酯类似,特征性弱,膦键容易发生a断裂。选定了磷酸、膦酸酯类农药在质谱分析中常见的碎片离子,为农药残留筛查、确证分析提供参考。     

Addition of structural complexity – contrasting effect on juvenile brown trout in a natural stream

In a field experiment, we examined the effects of structural complexity in the form of added artificial plastic plants and shredded plastic bags on growth and abundance of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta). Just after emergence, the added complexity had a positive effect on the density, biomass and condition factor of young‐of‐the‐year (0+) brown trout. This difference in density was not present six weeks later. In contrast, both young‐of‐the‐year and older brown trout generally tended to be larger in the simple habitat. Hence, our data suggest that increased complexity initially is beneficial for young‐of‐the‐year individuals probably due to lower risk of predation and increased densities of prey. However, as density increases in the complex environment, it may induce negative density‐dependent effects, here reflected in smaller sized fish in the complex environment. This might force fish to redistribute to habitats with lower densities of conspecifics as they grow larger. We propose that habitat complexity can increase survival of yearlings in early phases and thereby also affect the overall population structure of brown trout in natural streams.     

Projecting future habitat quality of three midwestern reservoir fishes under warming conditions

Rising temperatures caused by climate change are likely to affect cool‐water and warm‐water fishes differently. Yet, forecasts of anticipated temperature effects on fishes of different thermal guilds are lacking, especially in freshwater ecosystems. Towards this end, we used spatially explicit, growth rate potential (GRP) models to project changes in seasonal habitat quality for a warm‐water piscivore (largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides), a cool‐water piscivore (walleye Sander vitreus) and a hybrid piscivore (saugeye S. vitreus × S. canadensis) in two Midwestern reservoirs. We assessed habitat quality for two periods (early and middle 21st century) under two realistic greenhouse gas emission scenarios (a mid‐century emissions peak and a rapid continuous increase in emissions). Largemouth bass were projected to experience enhanced or slightly reduced habitat during all seasons, and throughout the mid‐21st century. By contrast, walleye habitat was projected to decline with anticipated warming, except during the spring in the smaller of our two study reservoirs and during the fall in the larger of our two study reservoirs. Saugeye habitat was projected to either increase modestly or decline slightly during the spring and fall and declines in habitat quality and quantity that were smaller than those for walleye were identified during summer. Collectively, our findings indicate that climate warming will differentially alter habitat suitability for reservoir piscivores, favouring warm‐water species over cool‐water species. We expect these changes in habitat quality to impact the dynamics of reservoir fish populations to varying degrees necessitating the consideration of climate when making future management decisions.     

Variation among stallions in sperm quality after single layer centrifugation

Although single layer centrifugation (SLC) selects robust spermatozoa from stallion semen, the effect of individual variation has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to determine the variation among stallions in the effects of SLC on sperm quality during cooled storage for up to 48 hr. Semen samples from seven stallions (18 ejaculates) were split, with one portion being used for SLC and the other serving as a control (CON). Sperm quality (kinematics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, membrane integrity (MI) and chromatin integrity) were analysed at 0, 24 and 48 hr using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry. Sperm quality was better in SLC than in CON at all timepoints, especially chromatin integrity and MI (p < .0001 for both), and some categories of ROS production (e.g. proportion of live hydrogen peroxide negative spermatozoa, p < .0001), but the degree of improvement varied among stallions and type of ROS (p < .05–p < .0001). Total and progressive motility were also better in SLC samples than in CON at 24 and 48 hr (p < .0001), although the effect on sperm kinematics varied. The interaction of treatment, time and stallion was not significant. In conclusion, sperm quality was better in SLC samples than in CON, although there was considerable individual variation among stallions. The improvement in sperm quality, particularly in chromatin integrity, was clearly beneficial, and therefore the use of this technique would be warranted for all stallion semen samples.     

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

生境对无芒雀麦幼穗分化进程及生殖格局的影响

以乌苏1号无芒雀麦为材料,设置2个生长环境（荒漠绿洲区、高海拔地带）,通过观测幼穗分化进程及开花习性,探究生境对无芒雀麦幼穗分化及生殖格局的影响。结果表明,无芒雀麦幼穗分化从分蘖期开始至抽穗期结束,分为初生期、伸长期、结节期、小穗原基分化期、小花原基分化期、雌雄蕊原基分化期、雌雄蕊形成期和完穗期8个时期。幼穗分化是从生长锥顶端第1枝梗原基与小花原基开始分化,相同小枝梗上原基与小花原基均是自下逐渐向上发育;整穗是从顶部向下逐渐开花,下部枝梗开花时间小于上部枝梗;小穗上的小花由下向上逐步开花。与荒漠绿洲区相比,高海拔地带的无芒雀麦幼穗分化时间晚,周期缩短,穗部赤霉素（GA）、脱落酸（ABA）及叶片可溶性蛋白含量相对较高,细胞分裂素（CTK）含量和种子千粒重较低,但高海拔地带单穗成熟种子粒数与单位面积内种子产量高,更适合无芒雀麦种子生产。     

The Research on the Construction of Concentrative Residence and Ecological Human Habitat Environment in the Rural Area of Rapidly Urbanizing Region

Under the background of the new rural construction in China, it is an important scientific question and an urgent social task to construct the harmonious society and to achieve the sustainable regional development on how to construct concentrative residence and manage the human habitat environment in the fast industrializing and typically urbanizing area. This paper analyzed the problems in the construction of the human habitat envi- ronment in the rural area of southern Jiangsu, discussed the methodologies of planning and design for rural con- centrative residence, researched the human habitat environment improvement technologies, and put forward the resolution of the recycling community for the rural inhabitation, which aimed at demonstrating the practicing in rapidly urbanizing regions.