Do public attitudes affect conservation effort? Using a questionnaire-based survey to assess perceptions,beliefs and superstitions associated with frogs in South Africa

Globally, amphibians are among the least appreciated vertebrates and are often negatively perceived by the general public. Such attitudes are particularly prevalent in South Africa, where fear, superstitions and myths associated with frogs are pervasive in some cultures. These attitudes could have harmful consequences both for the animals concerned and conservation efforts. This study aimed to investigate attitudes to frogs throughout South Africa across multiple age and ethnic groups. We used a multi-language survey in both hard-copy and online versions. Respondents (n = 2 295) comprised both genders across six age groups and five ethnic groups. A functionalist approach using structural equation modelling was used to assess how liking of frogs and cultural beliefs varied with socio-demographic factors. Attitudes varied significantly between groups, with males more likely to like frogs than females and age and level of education also significantly linked to liking. The influence of cultural beliefs and lack of knowledge also directly influenced negative attitudes towards frogs. More than 60% of respondents expressed an interest in learning more about frogs, indicating an opportunity for improving attitudes through educational outreach. The findings of this study can be used to inform current efforts to protect amphibians in South Africa through social interventions.     

Pilot study of the ultrasonographic examination of the intact and transected medial glenohumeral ligament in dogs

Medial glenohumeral ligament injury is commonly reported during medial shoulder joint instability in dogs. Arthroscopy is considered the gold standard procedure, but it is invasive and requires distension of the joint. Ultrasonographic examination of the medial glenohumeral ligament has been studied as a possible, less invasive alternative to arthroscopy however it has not been considered a useful method of assessment due to the interference of the probe with the pectoral muscles. The aims of this prospective analytical randomized pilot study were to develop a standardized ultrasound protocol for visualizing the canine medial glenohumeral ligament and to compare goniometry and ultrasound findings in cadaver dogs with versus without transection of the medial glenohumeral ligament. Nine adult Beagle cadavers (18 shoulders) were used. The first six shoulders were used in a preliminary study to describe an ultrasound technique to identify the medial glenohumeral ligament. Arthroscopy was performed on the remaining 12 shoulders, with six randomly selected medial glenohumeral ligaments from these shoulders, transected during the procedure. Ultrasound examination was performed after each arthroscopic procedure by an ultrasonographer blinded to the patient group. Four medial glenohumeral ligaments (67%) were correctly identified during the preliminary study. Ultrasonographic examination failed to diagnose the transection of all six medial glenohumeral ligaments in the second part of the study. No difference was observed in the ligament thickness between the dogs with and without a transected medial glenohumeral ligament. Dogs with a transected medial glenohumeral ligament had a wider articular space compared to dogs without a transected ligament (P < 0.001), and an articular space wider than 8.2 mm was discriminatory of a transected medial glenohumeral ligament in all the shoulders. In conclusion, the medial glenohumeral ligament could be identified with a medial ultrasonographic approach of the shoulder and a wider articular space can be a sign of a medial shoulder joint instability. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings in living dogs, with and without shoulder instability.     

A note on the social structure of the kudu,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,in an agricultural area

The mean group size of kudus in an agricultural area was 3,9 and noticeably affected by hunting. A low male: female sex ratio was also recorded, but did not influence fecundity negatively.     

THE INFLUENCE OF TYLOSES ON THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES

This article deals with the results of time studies of pruning P. radiata from 22 ft. to 35 ft. with pole saws. The influence on pruning time of mean diameter and number of branches removed in the pruning operation, number of cones removed and time of day is investigated and a multiple regression equation, expressing the relationship between pruning time and these variables, is computed. A taper table is prepared and used to investigate the effect of pruning on the formation of knot-free timber. The economics of high-pruning is discussed.     

兰旗榆——一个在干旱草原区很有发展潜力的造林树种

兰旗榆为白榆的一个地理生态变种,在锡盟浑善达克沙地及其南缘的镶黄旗、正镶白旗、正兰旗等地区生长表现突出。该树种较之其它的白榆品种具有抗旱、抗寒、抗风沙,物候期早,所需积温低以及生长迅速等优良特性,对我区北部干旱草原气候生态条件适应能力强,在草原造林中有着其它树种不可替代的地位和作用,建议大力推广。     

基于EOD模式的田园综合体碳平衡初步研究

中国正在不断推进农村绿色经济转型与乡村振兴战略，田园综合体等各种以生态环境为导向的农业开发模式是乡村振兴建设的新途径，驱动农业固碳减排的同时，也带动着传统农业不断向现代农业发展的转变。以EOD（Ecology-Oriented-Development，生态环境导向的开发）模式的上海市金山区枫泾镇郊野村庄田园综合体为研究对象，在现场调研与数据统计的基础上，分析了园区内的碳输入和碳输出以及碳在园内各区域间的流动和储积；同时，根据碳源和碳汇清单和估算结果，分析了田园综合体各区的碳平衡特点。结果显示，上海市金山区郊野村庄田园综合体2021年碳平衡表现为净碳汇区，净碳汇量为152.09 tC，其中排放量为588.79 tC，碳固定量为740.88 tC。田园综合体内，作物种植区通过低碳有机种植模式成为净碳汇量最大的区域，净碳汇量185.76 tC；水产养殖区通过高效的水草多级循环利用模式净碳汇量达62.20 tC；高空间利用率的立体农业区因农肥的碳排放量大表现为碳源区，净碳汇量为-10.81 tC；生产生活区是最大的碳源区，净碳汇量达-85.05 tC，人类文旅活动是其中最大的碳排放源。分析结合该田园综合体的碳流动，提出了发展高物质循环利用率、高空间利用率、低碳有机种植模式和农业科学管理四个农业降碳增汇的方向。     

Comparison of physical and mechanical properties of tension and opposite wood from ten tropical rainforest trees from different species

On 10 trees from 10 species of French Guyana tropical rainforest in a clear active process of restoring verticality growth strains were measured in situ in order to determine the occurrence of tension wood within samples. Wood specimens were cut in the vicinity of the growth strains measurements in order to measure some mechanical and physical properties. As suspected, tensile growth strains was very much higher in tension wood zone, because longitudinal modulus of elasticity was slightly higher. Longitudinal shrinkage was also much higher in tension wood than in opposite wood.