Climatic response and impacts of drought on oaks at urban and forest sites

This study focuses on the climate and growth response of the sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and the northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) using dendrochronological methods. Tree-ring series of street trees in the city of Dresden, Germany and in a nature reserve close to the urban area were analysed, and the climate and growth response and moving correlation functions (CF) were computed. Moreover, the impact of 13 years of drought was examined by superposed epoch analysis (SEA). Our results show that differences emerge from peculiarities of the different site conditions, indicating that city oaks contain a higher level of noise in their ring width data due to human activities that degrade the strength of growth-climate associations. Importantly, climatic conditions during the previous summer and autumn and during the current spring season display significant correlations with annual growth. The stability of the climate–growth relationship was tested via moving correlation functions. A strong increase in the correlation with the temperature and precipitation in April was found for the trees of northern red oak in forests. Drought years induced significant reductions in radial growth for the northern red oak only. Nevertheless, the long-term impact of drought years must be considered as marginal because of the fast recovery of the radial growth after one to two years. In the future, the growth of the northern red oak may be restricted by an increased frequency of droughts and warmer and drier conditions in April.     

设施葡萄不同新梢间距处理对冠层光环境及果实品质的影响

选用6年生‘贝达’砧木嫁接的‘京蜜’葡萄为试材,在控制果实负载量相同的前提下,设置10、15和20 cm新梢间距处理,连续两年研究其3种新梢间距处理条件下葡萄冠层光环境及果实品质的差异。结果表明：树体冠层总孔隙度和开度为新梢间距20 cm处理 > 15 cm处理 > 10 cm处理,叶面积指数和光能截获率表现相反,新梢间距10 cm 处理 > 15 cm处理 > 20 cm处理。20 cm间距处理光能利用率低,10 cm处理叶面积指数过高,树体郁闭,15 cm处理叶面积指数合理,光能利用率高。果实单粒质量在新梢间距15 和20 cm处理间无显著差异,显著高于10 cm处理;果皮色泽以15 cm间距处理最佳,其次为20 cm处理,10 cm处理最差。果实内在品质,可溶性糖和维生素C含量以新梢间距15 cm处理 > 20 cm处理 > 10 cm处理,可滴定酸含量表现相反趋势,10 cm间距处理最高,15和20 cm处理间无显著差异。特征香气组分中具有玫瑰香味的芳樟醇与绿叶清香和果香的正己醛含量均以15 cm间距处理显著高于其他两个处理;清香和果香味的橙花醇、花香味的香叶醇、甜玫瑰香味的香茅醇及绿叶清香和果香味的2–己烯醛含量均以15和20 cm新梢间距处理显著高于10 cm处理。15 cm间距处理挥发性香气物质的含量较高,表现更浓的品种香气。综合认为,设施栽培中水平龙干树形配合高光效V形叶幕的‘京蜜’葡萄以新梢间距15 cm处理表现最佳。     

Immobilization,cardiopulmonary and blood gas effects of ketamine–butorphanol–medetomidine versus butorphanol–midazolam–medetomidine in free-ranging serval (Leptailurus serval)

ObjectiveTo compare ketamine–butorphanol–medetomidine (KBM) with butorphanol–midazolam–medetomidine (BMM) immobilization of serval.Study designBlinded, randomized trial.AnimalsA total of 23 captures [KBM: five females, six males; 10.7 kg (mean); BMM: 10 females, two males; 9.6 kg].MethodsServal were cage trapped and immobilized using the assigned drug combination delivered via a blow dart into gluteal muscles. Prior to darting, a stress score was assigned (0: calm; to 3: markedly stressed). Drug combinations were dosed based on estimated body weights: 8.0, 0.4 and 0.08 mg kg^–1 for KBM and 0.4, 0.3 and 0.08 mg kg^–1 for BMM, respectively. Time to first handling, duration of anaesthesia and recovery times were recorded. Physiological variables including blood glucose and body temperature were recorded at 5 minute intervals. Atipamezole (5 mg mg^–1 medetomidine) and naltrexone (2 mg mg^–1 butorphanol) were administered intramuscularly prior to recovery. Data, presented as mean values, were analysed using general linear mixed model and Spearman’s correlation (stress score, glucose, temperature); significance was p < 0.05.ResultsDoses based on actual body weights were 8.7, 0.4 and 0.09 mg kg^–1 for KBM and 0.5, 0.4 and 0.09 mg kg^–1 for BMM, respectively. Time to first handling was 10.2 and 13.3 minutes for KBM and BMM, respectively (p = 0.033). Both combinations provided cardiovascular stability during anaesthesia that lasted a minimum of 35 minutes. Recovery was rapid and calm overall, but ataxia was noted in KBM. Stress score was strongly correlated to blood glucose (r² = 0.788; p = 0.001) and temperature (r² = 0.634; p = 0.015).Conclusions and clinical relevanceBoth combinations produced similar effective immobilization that was cardiovascularly stable in serval. Overall, BMM is recommended because it is fully antagonizable. A calm, quiet environment before drug administration is essential to avoid capture-induced hyperglycaemia and hyperthermia.     

雪藏二次干湿交替法对油松种苗生理生化效应研究

对油松种子用雪藏二次干湿交替、一般雪藏和温水浸种三种方法处理后,有关生理生化指标及幼苗抗逆性变化测定,表明雪藏二次干湿交替法处理的种子其呼吸强度、氨基酸含量、幼苗体内叶绿素含量以及幼苗抗旱性、抗寒性和抗高温性等均显著或极显著地优于另两种处理方法。该研究为针叶树种子处理中推广应用雪藏二次干湿交替法提供了理生化方面的理论依据。     

珠峰自然保护区的气象要素变化特征分析

[目的]分析珠峰自然保护区的气象要素变化特征。[方法]利用定日站和聂拉木站地面观测资料,对珠峰自然保护区内的气温、地温、蒸发量、降水量和积雪深度进行分析。[结果]20世纪60年代中期以来,定日和聂拉木年平均气温呈上升趋势,定日尤为明显。1986～2010年平均地温也呈上升趋势,聂拉木更为突出,近25年以0.9℃/10 a的速率上升。冷暖季平均气温均呈上升趋势,但冷季平均温度上升的速率高于暖季。年平均降水量和蒸发量呈现地域差异性,定日站降水量和蒸发量从80年代初开始均呈增加趋势,而聂拉木站从80年代末年平均降水量和蒸发量均略有减少。两站的年积雪总量均呈减少趋势,而聂拉木积雪总量变化幅度较大,60～80年代末积雪总量增大,但90年代开始减少。[结论]该研究为珠峰自然保护区生态环境的保护提供了科学依据。     

雪盖与径流的相关性分析——以玛纳斯河为例

选用2000年11月～2009年4月玛纳斯河上游流域所涉及的MOD10A2数据作为遥感数据源和同一时期的玛纳斯河径流数据,研究了雪盖与径流相关性。结果表明,3月的积雪覆盖率与当年4月径流相关系数为-0.817 5,并通过了显著水平0.005的检验;冬春季里最大月份的积雪覆盖率与次年6月径流的相关系数为-0.649 6,并通过了显著水平0.05的检验;12月份的平均积雪覆盖率与次年5月份径流的相关系数约为0.577 5,并通过了显著水平0.1的检验。     

Windborne migration routes of newly-emerged fall armyworm from Qinling Mountains–Huaihe River region,China

The fall armyworm(FAW, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith), invaded China in mid-December 2018; since then, it has become a great threat to Chinese agricultural production. Qinling Mountains–Huaihe River region(QM–HRR) is the transitional zone between northern and southern China, an important region for both corn and wheat production. Based on the actual occurrence of QM–HRR invaded by FAW in 2019, daily mean surface air temperature and nocturnal wind conditions at 925 hPa were examined, and migratory routes of FAW moths originated in QM–HRR were modeled by a forward-trajectory-analysis approach. The results indicated that migratory activities of FAW adults emerged in QM–HRR were initiated from late June. The moths from western QM–HRR, where has complex topographic terrain, mainly flied to Ningxia and Inner Mongolia before mid September. However, FAW moths from the eastern QM–HRR primarily engaged in high-altitude northward transport assisted by the prevailing southerly winds before mid August, and the North China Plain was identified as the main destination of FAW. Meanwhile, the migration trajectories of FAW moths had a possibility to reach the Northeast China Plain. From mid August, FAW moths in eastern QM–HRR largely migrated southward and returned to the Yangtze River Valley. This study provides detailed information on the occurrence and migration routes of FAW moths from QM–HRR and will be helpful for early warning and development of integrated pest management strategies for the control of this exotic insect pest.     

Attitudes of Rural Communities Toward Dispersing African Wild Dogs in South Africa

Subsistence pastoralists often view large carnivores negatively given that any loss of livestock is likely to represent a significant economic cost. Consequently, large carnivore conservation initiatives in rural landscapes should incorporate appropriate human–carnivore conflict mitigation strategies. In this study, structured interviews with local residents (n = 247) were used for determining attitudes toward African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) among rural communities neighboring two protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Contrary to expectations, the majority of respondents (58%) were generally positive toward wild dogs. This was probably due to a lack of livestock depredation by wild dogs and relatively high levels of formal education among respondents. Respondents with greater knowledge of wild dogs and conflict mitigation had more positive attitudes, and most were aware of effective husbandry techniques. The positive attitudes observed in these rural communities may benefit wild dog dispersal from natal home ranges and the future conservation of this endangered carnivore.     

雨雪冰冻灾害的成因及对策研究

2008年初突发的雨雪冰冻灾害对城市绿地植物的健康、安全和稳定生长造成一定的影响。对雨雪冰冻灾情的形成原因进行了分析,并探讨了一系列应对雨雪冰冻灾害的对策。     

Mesoscale spatial variability of ichthyoplankton in the Southwest Atlantic during the autumn–winter period

To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying spatial heterogeneity in ichthyoplankton communities in the SW Atlantic, we examined for the first time the latitudinal and continental shelf–slope gradients in ichthyoplankton structure and oceanographic features in the Campos Basin during the relaxation phase of coastal upwellings (late autumn to early winter). This region, located on SE Brazil's continental margin, is the most productive offshore oil basin in the country and has ecological relevance owing to the existence of areas that experiences mesoscale (tens to hundreds of kilometers) processes (eddies, filaments, and upwelling) caused by the interaction of continental shelf and slope circulation with deep water masses. The present study collected a total of 3892 fish eggs and 10,030 larvae from 36 sampling stations, averaging 22 eggs per 100 m³ and 56 larvae per 100 m³. A total of 250 taxa (5 for fish eggs and 248 for larvae) were identified, encompassing 80 families and 145 genera. Species distribution exhibited a considerable degree of spatial variability, which was related mostly to hydrological characteristics. In general, greater densities were associated with higher nutrient concentrations areas. Through distance-based Redundancy Analysis, some discriminating species were found to associate with certain areas of the continental shelf characterized by colder temperatures. The ichthyoplankton distribution patterns suggested a potential influence from mesoscale oceanographic fronts, specifically those that induce upwelling of the cold and nutrient-rich South Atlantic Central Water. Nonetheless, the methodologies used in this study faced challenges in distinctly identifying these processes.