Application of bovine microsatellite markers for genetic diversity analysis of European bison (Bison bonasus)

In this study, the cross‐amplification of a commercial multiplex set of 11 cattle (Bos taurus) microsatellites was tested on a panel of 35 European bison (Bison bonasus) individuals. After polymerase chain reaction optimization, all loci cross‐amplified successfully in investigated bisons. Number of alleles and observed and expected heterozygosity per locus are in the range of 2–4, 0.086–0.629 and 0.288–0.621 respectively. The availability of a heterologous set of multiplexed microsatellite markers derived from cattle opens an avenue for collecting profound genetic data for efficient conservation management strategies of the European bison.     

我国草原确权承包及信息化管理探讨

草原是我国重要的自然资源,对维护生态系统稳定具有十分重要的意义。草原确权承包工作是草原生态保护和建设的制度保障,是落实中央有关要求的具体举措。从已有对草原确权的报道来看,由于我国草原牧区的特殊情况,草原确权工作在地区间推进速度不一,整体推进不平衡,部分地区确权工作推进相对缓慢。在对草原确权承包工作的背景、现状进行分析的基础上,梳理了推进我国草原确权承包需要的基础工作,包括基础信息收集、承包合同完善、颁发草原权属证书、开展培训、加强信息管理和健全草场纠纷解决机制等,提出了信息管理平台的构建思路,包括主要构成模块、基本功能、工作流程、采用的主要技术等。在此基础上,提出了下一步推进草原“三权分置”的思考和建议,对于推动我国草原确权承包和信息化管理具有重要意义。     

对北京市公益林市场化经营的思考

北京市的公益林作为传统意义上的公共物品，一直以来由全市各级政府投资建设，成本高，效率低，代价大。因此，提高公益林的经营效率和质量，对于北京市公益林的持续、健康发展至关重要。笔者就如何在北京市公益林的经营中引入市场机制进行思考，并力求构建一个较为合理的公益林市场化经营模式。     

我国农区大型肉牛养殖场管理技术探讨

结合我国农区大型肉牛养殖场现状及其存在的问题,立足于我国农业用地紧张、草场资源有限的生产实际,提出选择性地借鉴奶牛养殖的成功经验、制定精准化生产管理计划、精细分群、繁殖控制等技术措施,以期为提高我国农区大型肉牛养殖场管理技术水平提供参考。     

Quantifying Pinyon-Juniper Reduction within North America's Sagebrush Ecosystem

One of the primary conservation threats surrounding sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems in the Intermountain West of the United States is the expansion and infilling of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis, P. monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands. Woodland expansion into sagebrush ecosystems has demonstrated impacts on sagebrush-associated flora and fauna, particularly the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). These impacts have prompted government agencies, land managers, and landowners to ramp up pinyon-juniper removal efforts to maintain and restore sagebrush ecosystems. Accurately quantifying and analyzing management activities over time across broad spatial extents still poses a major challenge. Such information is vital to broad-scale planning and coordination of management efforts. To address this problem and aid future management planning, we applied a remote sensing change detection approach to map reductions in pinyon-juniper cover across the sage-grouse range and developed a method for rapidly updating maps of canopy cover. We found total conifer reduction over the past several yr (2011−2013 to 2015−2017) amounted to 1.6% of the area supporting tree cover within our study area, which is likely just keeping pace with estimates of expansion. Two-thirds of conifer reduction was attributed to active management (1.04% of the treed area) while wildfire accounted for one-third of all estimated conifer reduction in the region (0.56% of the treed area). Our results also illustrate the breadth of this management effort—crossing ownership, agency, and state boundaries. We conclude by identifying some key priorities that should be considered in future conifer management efforts based on our comprehensive assessment.     

放牧管理模式对高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量特征的影响

为探讨不同放牧管理模式高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量特征的变化,对青藏高原东缘禁牧(NG)、全生长季休牧(RG)、传统放牧(TG)和连续放牧(CG)4种放牧管理模式高寒草甸地上植被、地表凋落物、根系和土壤有机碳、氮储量进行测定和分析。结果表明,1)NG、RG和TG较CG显著提高了土壤、根系、植被和凋落物有机碳、氮储量。2)高寒草甸生态系统中,土壤有机碳储量所占比例最大(88.859%~98.242%),其次为根系(1.563%~8.742%),再次为植被(0.172%~1.430%),最小为凋落物(0.022%~0.969%);氮储量所占比例最大的是土壤(97.331%~99.633%),其次为根系(0.316%~2.071%),再次为植被(0.047%~0.442%),凋落物最小(0.003%~0.157%)。3)不同放牧管理模式土壤有机碳、氮储量具有明显的垂直分布特征,随土壤深度的增加土壤有机碳、氮储量明显降低。为期4年不同放牧模式仅对0~40 cm土层土壤有机碳、氮储量有影响。4)土壤有机碳、氮储量主要分布在0~40 cm土层,同时,放牧有使有机碳、氮向深层转移的趋势。5)NG、RG和TG显著提高了高寒草甸生态系统总有机碳、氮储量,而CG显著降低了总有机碳、氮储量,导致有机碳、氮的流失。禁牧和季节性休牧能有效增加青藏高原东缘高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量,实现碳、氮增汇的目的,是该区和类似区域草地放牧管理的重要模式。     

Association between porpoise presence and fish choruses: implications for feeding strategies and ecosystem-based conservation of the East Asian finless porpoise

The associations between feeding activities and environmental variables inform animal feeding tactics that maximize energetic gains by minimizing energy costs while maximizing feeding success. Relevant studies in aquatic animals, particularly marine mammals, are scarce due to difficulties in the observation of feeding behaviors in aquatic environments. This data scarcity concurrently hinders ecosystem-based fishery management in the context of small toothed-cetacean conservation. In the present study, a passive acoustic monitoring station was deployed in an East Asian finless porpoise habitat in Laizhou Bay to investigate potential relationships between East Asian finless porpoises and their prey. The data revealed that porpoises were acoustically present nearly every day during the survey period. Porpoise detection rates differed between spring and autumn in concert with activities of fish choruses. During spring, fish choruses were present throughout the afternoon, and this was the time when porpoise vocalizations were the most frequently detected. During autumn, when fish choruses were absent, porpoise detection rates decreased, and diurnal patterns were not detected. The close association between fish choruses and finless porpoise activities implies an “eavesdropping” feeding strategy to maximize energetic gains, similar to other toothed cetaceans that are known to engage similar feeding strategies. Underwater noise pollution, particularly those masking fish choruses, could interrupt finless porpoises’ feeding success. Fisheries competing soniferous fishes with finless porpoise could impact finless porpoise viability through ecosystem disruption, in addition to fishing gear entanglement.     

粗放管理条件下山西中部地区适用草坪草种评价

选择北方地区建植草坪常用的草地早熟禾Poa pratensis、多年生黑麦草Lolium perenne、高羊茅Festuca arundinacea、匍匐剪股颖Agrostis stolonifera和白三叶Trifolium repens 为供试种,采用NTEP草坪质量评价体系进行了3年的引种评比试验.结果表明:在粗放管理条件下,高羊茅和白三叶适应性很强,其草坪质量保持性好;草地早熟禾次之,虽然其草坪质量下降较快、抗性较低,但草坪质量相对较好,可以与高羊茅以适当比例混播;多年生黑麦草和匍匐剪股颖适应性差,草坪质量下降速度很快,不适宜于低养护强度下在山西中部地区单播建植草坪使用.     

The stadium effect: rodent damage patterns in rice fields explored using giving‐up densities

Rodents are globally important pre‐harvest pests of rice. In Southeast Asia, rodent damage to growing rice crops is commonly concentrated towards the center of rice fields, away from the field edge, resulting in a clear pattern known as the “stadium effect.” To further understand this behavior of rodent pests and to develop recommendations for future research and management, we examined the relation between giving‐up densities (GUDs) and damage patterns. In Tanay, Luzon, Philippines, GUD trays containing pieces of coconut in a matrix of sand were placed at 4 different distances from the field edge to quantify the perceived risk of predation in a rice field pest, Rattus tanezumi. GUDs were recorded during a dry and wet season crop at the reproductive and ripening stages of rice. In addition, assessments of active burrows, tracking tile activity and rodent damage to the rice crop, were conducted in the dry season. GUDs were significantly lower in the center of the rice fields than on the field edges, suggesting that rodent damage to rice is greater in the middle of rice fields due to a lower perceived predation risk. Furthermore, this perception of predation risk (or fear) increases towards the field edge and was greatest on the rice bund, where there was no vegetation cover. We discuss the implications for rodent management and rodent damage assessments in rice fields. This is the first documented use of GUDs in a rice agro‐ecosystem in Asia; thus we identify the challenges and lessons learned through this process.