How to assess the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity in ever-changing landscapes: a literature review

Landscape Ecology - Landscape connectivity plays a key role in determining the persistence of species inhabiting fragmented habitat patches. In dynamic landscapes, most studies measure connectivity...     

Composts Vary in Their Effect on Soil P Pools and P Uptake by Wheat

With diminishing world reserves of phosphorus (P) deposits and rising fertilizer prices, it is important to find alternate sources of P for crops. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of four different composts C1 (animal manure and straw), C2 (garden waste), C3 (wood chips and bark), and C4 (kitchen waste) on soil P pools and P uptake by wheat on 14, 28, and 72 days after compost application. The composts were applied as a 2.5 cm thick layer on the soil surface. During sampling, only the soil underlying compost was sampled. Soil pH and total organic carbon were not affected by the amendments. Soil respiration was significantly higher in compost-amended soils compared with the unamended soil except with C4 on day 72. Addition of composts increased plant growth, and P uptake being highest on day 72 with C1 and C4. With little effect on available P concentration on day 14, there was a conversion of organic P into inorganic P in the compost treatments suggesting net mineralization of organic P on day 28. On day 72, the concentrations of the less labile P forms were higher in the compost treatments compared with the unamended suggesting precipitation and fixation as well as synthesis of organic P. This study showed that mulching with composts having high available and total P concentrations can provide plants with P and also increase soil P concentrations which could reduce the fertilizer requirement for the following crop.     

Using landscape graphs to delineate ecologically functional areas

Context

Landscape graphs are widely used to model connectivity and to support decision-making in conservation planning. Compartmentalization methods applied to such graphs aim to define clusters of highly interconnected patches. Recent studies show that compartmentalization based on modularity is suitable, but it applies to non-weighted graphs whereas most landscape graphs involve weighted nodes and links.

Objectives

We propose to adapt modularity computation to weighted landscape graphs and to validate the relevance of the resulting compartments using demographic or genetic data about the patches.

Methods

A weighted adjacency matrix was designed to express potential fluxes, associating patch capacities and inter-patch distances. Eight weighting scenarios were compared. The statistical evaluation of each compartmentalization was based on Wilks’ Lambda. These methods were performed on a grassland network where patches are documented by annual densities of water voles in the Jura massif (France).

Results

The scenarios in which patch capacity is assigned a small weight led to the more relevant results, giving high modularity values and low Wilks’ Lambda values. When considering a fixed number of compartments, we found a significant negative correlation between these two criteria. Comparison showed that compartments are ecologically more valid than graph components.

Conclusions

The method proposed is suitable for designing ecologically functional areas from weighted landscape graphs. Maximum modularity values can serve as a guide for setting the parameters of the adjacency matrix.

     

Correction to: Coupling landscape graph modeling and biological data: a review

Landscape Ecology - In the original publication of the article, the sixth author name has been misspelt. The correct name is given in this Correction. The original article has been corrected.     

草地早熟禾的选育研究与利用

内蒙古畜牧科学院草原所自 1985年以来 ,对从荷兰、美国、瑞典等国家引进的草地早熟禾 11个品种和国内采集的野生种进行了引种驯化 ,筛选出了瓦巴斯、凯达布鲁克茅 2个品种适应内蒙古地区的气候特点 ,是适宜推广种植的优良品种。利用国内野生种采用单株选择方法培育出了大青山草地早熟禾品种 ,它较原始群体抗性增强 ,叶量增加。目前已有较大的推广利用面积     

酸化剂对杜长大商品猪生产性能的影响

为探索酸化剂对杜长大系列商品猪生产性能的影响,将40头4周龄体重相近的杜长大(或杜大长)断奶仔猪随机分为4组(即对照组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX001组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX002组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX003组),每组10头(母猪和阉公猪各半),测定4周龄至90kg体重时的生长性能,并测定达90kg屠宰体重时的胴体性能及肉质性能。结果显示,BGIFEX001和BGIFEX002组有改善日增重和料重比的趋势,4～10周龄阶段料重比分别比对照组降低9.88%和8.70%,全期料重比分别降低5.19%和4.81%;各处理组未对屠宰和胴体性能产生显著影响;肉质测定结果显示酸化剂有显著改善肉的红度(a)和拿破率的效应(P<0.05),各处理间肉质常规参数和风味前体物质(脂肪酸和氨基酸)含量无显著差异。总体数据提示酸化剂BGIFEX001和BGIFEX002可在一定程度上改善杜长大商品猪的生长性能和肉品质量。     

Ammonium oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron under anaerobic conditions in wetland soils

In exploring the dynamics of iron and nitrogen cycling in sediments from riparian forests we have observed a redox reaction that has not been previously described. During incubations of soil slurries under strictly anaerobic conditions, we repeatedly measured an unexpected production of both nitrite () and ferrous iron [Fe(II)]. Using this indirect evidence we hypothesize that, under anaerobic conditions, there is a biological process that uses ferric iron [Fe(III)] as an electron acceptor while oxidizing ammonium () to for energy production. This oxidation under iron reducing anaerobic conditions is thermodynamically feasible and is potentially a critical component of the N cycle in saturated sediments.     

Sirtuin 2 inhibitors rescue alpha-synuclein-mediated toxicity in models of Parkinson's disease

The sirtuins are members of the histone deacetylase family of proteins that participate in a variety of cellular functions and play a role in aging. We identified a potent inhibitor of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) and found that inhibition of SIRT2 rescued alpha-synuclein toxicity and modified inclusion morphology in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease. Genetic inhibition of SIRT2 via small interfering RNA similarly rescued alpha-synuclein toxicity. Furthermore, the inhibitors protected against dopaminergic cell death both in vitro and in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease. The results suggest a link between neurodegeneration and aging.     

Heterocyclic acetals from glycerol and acetaldehyde in Port wines: evolution with aging

In Port wine, isomers of glycerol and acetaldehyde acetals have been found at total contents ranging from 9.4 to 175.3 mg/L. During oxidative aging, the concentrations of the 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,3-dioxane and 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane isomers increased with time showing a linear correlation (r > 0.95). The flavor threshold for the mixture of the four isomers was evaluated in wine at 100 mg/L. Thus, it is expected that they contribute to "old Port wine" aroma in wines older than 30 years. Experiments with model solutions and wine clearly demonstrated that SO(2) combines with acetaldehyde and blocks the acetalization reaction.     

Influence of lipid extraction process on the rheological characteristics, swelling power, and granule size of rice starches in excess water

The influence of the lipid extraction process on both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of nonwaxy rice starch gelatinization in excess water was examined. Surface lipids extraction did not change the thermodynamics of starch gelatinization but lead to a significant reduction (33%) in the enthalpy of starch-lipid complex melting at high temperature, resulting in less viscous dispersions. Internal lipid extraction using hot aqueous alcoholic solutions resulted in an irreversible increase in starch granule diameter (50% increase in D[4,3]) and a dramatic change in cooking characteristics of the starch. Instead of the bimodal swelling observed for native nonwaxy rice starch, only one broad transition in swelling, solubility, granule size, and viscosity was observed in the case of the totally defatted starch. While the total removal of lipids resulted in a slight increase in starch swelling at intermediate temperatures, the harshness of the process caused irreparable changes leading to notably lower swelling at high temperatures.