近43年黄河上游来水来沙变化特点

选取黄河头道拐站实测水沙序列(1960-2002年)资料,对水沙序列进行了多时间尺度和趋势识别的小波分析。结果表明:①黄河上游来水来沙量汛期所占比例减少,而非汛期所占比例增加;在年际变化上,水沙量逐年减少;同时,水沙相关关系具有一定的变化;②黄河上游水沙序列具有相同的多时间尺度(准周期)变化,但同一尺度下,水沙所处的丰枯变化并不一致;③年水沙序列趋势变化基本一致,20世纪80年代以来,两者存在明显减少趋势;但在非汛期,两者的趋势变化有较大区别。     

中国六省土地沙漠化敏感性时空格局与趋势分析

以我国新疆维吾尔自治区、青海省、内蒙古自治区、甘肃省、宁夏回族自治区和陕西省六省区为研究区,分析了1990年、2000年、2005年、2010年4个时期的土地沙漠化敏感性空间格局分布和时间动态变化特征,探讨变化成因并采用CA-Markov耦合模型对土地沙漠化敏感性格局变化趋势进行预测。结果表明:中国六省四期土地沙漠化敏感性格局相似,各级敏感区按分布面积大小排序为:轻度敏感区域 > 中度敏感区域 > 高度敏感区域 > 不敏感区域 > 极敏感区域。极敏感区域主要分布在土壤质地为流动沙地的沙漠区域,不敏感区域主要分布在高山、湖泊附近;人口增多、人为活动强度增加的区域敏感性程度增高;建立治沙工程的区域敏感性降低。对2020年土地沙漠化敏感性格局预测结果显示,相比2010年,极敏感区域在原有的基础上向外围扩张了7 120.04 km²,增幅为4.63%。本文通过分析中国六省土地沙漠化敏感性时空格局与趋势,为中国土地沙漠化防治分区策略制定和划分沙漠化扩展屏障区提供科学依据。     

Bats adjust temporal parameters of echolocation pulses but not those of communication calls in response to traffic noise

Many studies based on acute short‐term noise exposure have demonstrated that animals can adjust their vocalizations in response to ambient noise. However, the effects of chronic noise over a relatively long time scale of multiple days remain largely unclear. Bats rely mainly on acoustic signals for perception of environmental and social communication. Nearly all previous studies on noise‐induced vocal adjustments have focused on echolocation pulse sounds. Relatively little is known regarding the effects of noise on social communication calls. Here, we examined the dynamic changes in the temporal parameters of echolocation and communication vocalizations of Vespertilio sinensis when exposed to traffic noise over multiple days. We found that the bats started to modify their echolocation vocalizations on the fourth day of noise exposure, with an increase of 42–91% in the total number of pulse sequences per day. Under noisy conditions, the number of pulses within a pulse sequence decreased by an average of 17.2%, resulting in a significantly slower number of pulses/sequence (P < 0.001). However, there was little change in the duration of a pulse sequence. These parameters were not significantly adjusted in most communication vocalizations under the noise condition (all P > 0.05), except that the duration decreased and the number of syllables/sequences increased in 1 type of communicative vocalization (P < 0.05). This study suggests that bats routinely adjust temporal parameters of echolocation but rarely of communication vocalizations in response to noise condition.     

In vitro analyses for predicting standardised ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids in actual batches of feedstuffs and diets for pigs

In vitro digestibility analyses of feedstuffs and diets are integrated in the new Danish feed evaluation system for pigs. This system is based on potential physiological energy and standardised digestible amino acids. For characterisation of the energy value of actual batches of feedstuffs and complete diets for pigs, two different in vitro methods have been developed and proved to analyse precisely the digestibility of organic matter at faecal, as well as at ileal, level in the pigs. For characterisation of the protein value in the diet, table values for standardised digestibility of amino acids from the individual feedstuffs are used for calculation of their contribution to the amino acid recommendations for the specific pig category. The results in the present paper indicate that in vitro analyses for digestibility of crude protein in feedstuffs are a reliable tool for calculation of standardised ileal digestibility of the individual amino acids. Thus, the results may question the need for future experiments with surgically modified pigs for analysing ileal digestibility of amino acids in protein sources. Alternatively, in vitro digestibility analyses appear to have a general potential for a precise evaluation of amino acid digestibility in actual batches of feedstuffs and pig diets.     

安氏隐孢子虫ITS-1序列的PCR扩增、克隆及分析

通过对国内三株安氏隐孢子虫(Cryptosporidium andersoni)即GD株、HN株和AH株的rDNA的内转录间隔区Ⅰ(ITS_1)序列进行PCR扩增、克隆、测序和序列分析,旨在确定ITS_1是否可作为C.andersoni分子分类的遗传标记。结果表明:GD株、HN株和AH株的ITS_1序列基本一致,仅AH株有三个碱基的差异;但与GenBank注册的C.muris和C.parvum存在种间差异,而且差异显著。说明ITS_1可作为C.andersoni种的遗传标记,从而为隐孢子虫属的种间鉴定以及进一步的分子流行病学调查和分子诊断学研究奠定了基础。     

Kinematics of whip spider pedipalps: a 3D comparative morpho-functional approach

Amblypygi are tropical and subtropical ambush predators that use elongated, raptorial pedipalps for different activities. Although pedipalp use in predation and courtship has been explored in videography in vivo analyses, kinematic ex vivo examination of these appendages has not been conducted. Here, we rectify this lack of data by using micro-CT scans to 3D-kinematically model the appendage morphology and the range of motion (ROM) of the joints for Damon medius and Heterophrynus elaphus. We illustrate the successful application of this technique to terrestrial euarthropods in determining the maximum ROM values for each pedipalp joint. We also note that, in life, these values would be lower due to motion restricting structures like tendons, arthrodial membranes, and muscles. We further compare our maximum values obtained here with data from video-based motion analyses. The ROM of each joint shows the greatest flexibility in the femur-tibia joint (140–150°), the lowest in the basitarsus-claw joint (35–40°). ROM in the tibia-basitarsus joint is markedly distinct (D. medius: 44°; H. elaphus: 105°). This disparity reflects how H. elaphus uses the joint in the capture basket, while D. medius uses the femur-tibia joint to form the capture basket. We further illustrate notable vertical motion of the H. elaphus pedipalp compared to D. medius. This difference reflects the retro-ventral trochanter apophysis of H. elaphus. Our study opens the possibility to further whip spider kinematic understanding. Examination of other taxa using this approach will result in a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological significance and ethological implications of this unique arachnid group.     

尖扎县草地退化成因分析

通过对尖扎县草地退化现状的研究分析,认为造成该地区草地退化的主要原因是:1)多年来牲畜数量一直大大超出了天然草地的承载能力;2)草地资源的不合理利用;3)鼠虫害猖獗;4)近年来的气候变化加剧了尖扎县草地的退化过程。     

Genetic diversity decreases as population density declines: Implications of temporal variation in mitochondrial haplotype frequencies in a natural population of Tscherskia triton

Although the spatial genetic differentiation that occurs in animal populations has been extensively studied, information on temporal variations in genetic structure and diversity is still lacking, especially for animals with oscillating populations. In the present study, we used the mtDNA D‐loop sequence to assess the temporal genetic variation in samples from six successive years for the greater long‐tailed hamster, Tscherskia triton. Sampling was carried out between 1998 and 2003 in cropland on the North China Plain, China. A total of 108 individuals were analyzed. The temporal samples showed a high level of genetic diversity. Substantial genetic changes in haplotype frequencies over time were detected for the hamster population. Random genetic drift and migration are likely to be the major factors responsible for the observed temporal pattern. The genetic diversity of the hamster population was higher in years with higher population density, and lower in years with lower population density. The result supports our hypothesis that genetic diversity decreases when population density declines in animals whose population oscillates greatly between years. The combined effects of inbreeding and genetic drift caused by reproduction, dispersal and population size might play important roles in the observed changes in genetic structure and diversity between years.     

The Schmallenberg virus epidemic in Europe—2011–2013

During the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) epidemic, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) collected data on SBV occurrence across Europe in order to provide an assessment of spread and impact. By May 2013, twenty-nine countries were reporting to EFSA and twenty-two countries had reported cases of SBV. The total number of SBV herds reported was 13,846 and the number of SBV laboratory confirmed herds was 8730. The surveillance activities were based on the detection of SBV clinical cases (either adults or newborns). Malformation in newborns was the most commonly reported clinical sign of SBV-infection. All countries were able to provide the date when the first suspicion of SBV in the herd was reported and nineteen could report the location of the herd at a regional level. This allowed the spread of SBV in Europe to be measured both temporally and spatially. The number of SBV confirmed herds started to increase in December 2011 and two peaks were observed in 2012 (February and May). Confirmed herds continued to be reported in 2012 and into 2013. An increase during winter 2012 and spring 2013 was again observed, but the number of confirmed herds was lower than in the previous year. SBV spread rapidly throughout Europe from the initial area of detection. SBV was detected above the latitude of 60° North, which exceeds the northern expansion observed during the bluetongue virus serotype 8 epidemic in 2006–2009. The impact of SBV was calculated as ratio of the number of herds with at least one malformed SBV positive foetus and the total number of herds in this region. The 75th percentile of the malformations ratio in the various affected countries for the whole reporting period was below 1% and 3% for cattle and sheep herds, respectively. International data collection on emerging diseases represents a challenge as the nature of available data, data quality and the proportion of reported cases may vary widely between affected countries. Surveillance activities on emerging animal diseases are often structured only for case detection making the estimation of infection/diseases prevalence and the investigation of risk factors difficult. The impact of the disease must be determined to allow risk managers to take appropriate decisions. Simple within-herd impact indicators suitable for emerging disease outbreaks should be defined that could be measured as part of routine animal health surveillance programmes and allow for rapid and reliable impact assessment of emerging animal health diseases.