Public perceptions of ecosystem services and preferences for design scenarios of the flooded bank along the Three Gorges Reservoir: Implications for sustainable management of novel ecosystems

The newly formed extensive flooded land associated with the Three Gorges Reservoir hold great potentials to provide ecosystem services (ESs) for surrounding cities and communities. Conflicting values and conventional management strategies may complicate and inhibit broad-scale decision-making for this novel ecosystem. Public attitudes are a crucial influence in the way this process plays out. This study was conducted to assess how the reservoir bank is perceived by the general public of Chongqing Municipality in terms of importance of riparian ESs, and preference for corresponding landscape design styles through photo-questionnaire interviewing. Although Chongqing citizens know little of the “ecosystem services” concept, they do recognise riparian environmental and ecological benefits especially the bank protection and pollution interception functions, while benefits of habitats for wildlife and flood attenuation were of less concern. Recreational values were least appreciated, which is inconsistent with other studies. This may be attributed to a wider, intensive environmental education in various social media in today’s China. But publicity has been dominated by toxic air, water and soil pollution control rather than the benefits of nature conservation and personal contact with nature. In line with recognition of ESs, there is quite strong preference for the forested design scenario and particularly vegetation components across the socio-demographic spectrum. Overall, socio-demographic variables have very low explanatory power for the perceptual responses. Our study also revealed misunderstandings around riparian functions and a gap between public expectations and special abiotic and biotic prerequisites in restoring novel ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this research to urban novel ecosystems in general, and implications for raising public awareness, engaging appropriate public values in sustainable design and management of such ecosystems.     

Functional heterogeneity in resources within landscapes and herbivore population dynamics

Large mammalian herbivores are notorious for their propensity towards population irruptions and crashes, yet many herbivore populations remain relatively stable. I explore how resource heterogeneity within landscapes dampens population instability, using a metaphysiological modelling approach considering patch state distributions. Resource heterogeneity is functionally stabilizing through spreading consumption away from preferred resources before these become critically depleted. Lower-quality resources act as a buffer against starvation during critical periods of the seasonal cycle. Enriching resource quality is destabilizing, even if patch diversity is maintained, because food quantity then becomes the limitation. The potential consequences of landscape fragmentation are explored using the Serengeti ecosystem, characterised by broadscale resource gradients, as a hypothetical example. Further insights provided by the model are illustrated with specific examples concerning the effects of patch scales and waterpoint distribution. A metaphysiological modelling approach enables the basic consequences of landscape heterogeneity to be distinguished from further effects that may arise from specific patch scales and configurations, without the distracting detail of spatially explicit models.     

秃杉大径级用材林抚育采伐技术的研究

结合国家林业行业标准《秃杉速生丰产林》编制的要点,对秃杉大径级用材林抚育采伐进行了专项调查和研究;结合具体实际培育过程,有的放矢地提出了培育目标、分区生长指标以及抚育采伐的原则、对象和范围,为秃杉大径级用材林的培育提供了技术保障。     

基于股份减持中的大股东隧道行为实证研究

以2007~2009年被大股东减持的沪深A股上市公司作为样本，运用OLS与Logistic回归方法，实证分析了大股东通过操纵重大信息披露在股份减持过程中的隧道行为。得出了在减持前30个交易日被大股东减持的上市公司有显著的正累计超常收益，但减持后30个交易日则出现显著的负累计超常收益；被大股东减持的上市公司在减持前披露“利好”消息、减持后披露“利空”消息的概率高；民营控股上市公司大股东操纵上市公司信息披露的概率较高；公司估值(托宾值)越高，大股东信息操纵行为的概率也越大；被减持公司的净资产收益率(ROE)与总资产收益率(ROA)对大股东信息操纵行为的概率不存在显著影响等结论。     

长白和大白猪主要生长性状的遗传参数估计

旨在分析母猪的出生年份、出生季节、初生重、开测日龄等固定效应对长白、大白猪主要生长性状的影响,并对目标生长性状进行遗传参数估计（遗传力、遗传方差、表型相关和遗传相关）,为猪的遗传改良提供基本依据。本试验利用GLM模型分析试验猪群（398头长白猪和1 176头大白猪）的固定效应对猪生长性状的影响,并采用多性状动物模型对目标性状进行遗传参数估计。目标生长性状包括达100 kg体重日龄（age to 100 kg,AGE）、达100 kg背膘厚（backfat to 100 kg,BF）、100 kg平均日增重（average daily gain to 100 kg,ADG）。研究表明,在大白和长白猪中,猪的出生年、出生季、初生重以及开测日龄对生长性状均具有极显著的影响（P<0.001）;长白猪的AGE、ADG和BF的遗传力分别为0.321、0.327和0.324,大白猪对应性状的遗传力分别为0.454、0.469和0.408;长白猪的ADG和AGE之间的遗传相关、表型相关分别为-0.990、-0.995,大白猪的ADG和AGE之间的遗传相关、表型相关分别为-0.993、-0.998,均呈现较强的负相关。长白、大白猪的生长性状（AGE、ADG、BF）均属于中等遗传力性状,其出生年份、出生季节、初生重和开测日龄对猪的生长性状影响较大。在遗传参数估计分析时,提高样本数量并提升表型数据质量,可以增加遗传参数估计的可靠性。本研究中的生长性状遗传参数估计结果较为可靠,可为后续的遗传改良提供参考。     

Genetic analysis for sow stayability at different parities in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs

Genetic parameters for sow stayability were estimated from farrowing records of 10,295 Landrace sows and 8192 Large White sows. The record for sow stayability from parity k to parity k + 1 (k = 1, …, 6) was 0 when a sow had a farrowing record at parity k but not at parity k + 1, and 1 when a sow had both records. Heritability was estimated by using single-trait linear and threshold animal models. Genetic correlations among parities were estimated by using two-trait linear–linear and single-trait random regression linear animal models. Genetic correlations with litter traits at birth were estimated by using a two-trait linear–linear animal model. Heritability estimates by linear model analysis were low (0.065–0.119 in Landrace & 0.061–0.157 in Large White); those by threshold model analysis were higher (0.136–0.200 & 0.110–0.283). Genetic correlations among parities differed between breeds and models. Genetic correlation between sow stayability and number born alive was positive in many cases, implying that selection for number born alive does not reduce sow stayability. The results seem to be affected by decisions on culling made by farmers.     

头骨形态指标鉴别水貂来源有效性的评估

人工驯养野生动物是获取野生动物产品的重要手段,但是非法盗猎的野生动物产品以人工饲养的名义进入市场,就会对野生动物的保护形成挑战。因此,准确鉴别市场上的动物产品是来自养殖场还是野外,是保护野外种群,维持养殖业正常秩序的关键。本研究以北美水貂(Neovison vison)为例,基于颧骨内侧空间(ZAS)、颧宽(ZAA和ZBA)、颅基长(BSL)、下颌长(MDL)、眶后收缩(POC)和最大面部宽度(GFB)等量度,建立了9个头骨形态计量学指标:POC/GFB、POC/BSL、POC/MDL、ZAS SQRT/BSL、ZA SSQRT/MDL、ZBA×BSL/2ZAS、ZBA×MDL/2ZAS、ZBB×BSL/2ZAS和ZBB×MDL/2ZAS。野生组(n=32,9雄23雌)和饲养组(n=45,35雄10雌)的比较表明,除POC/GFB外,所有指标对于在两组样品之间均有显著差异,整体判别正确率为73.2%—85.5%。在性别已知的情况下,雄性的整体正确率为82.4%—93.8%,雌性为41.7%—85.7%。为此,应针对不同性别、不同来源的动物建立相应的参考数据,利用似然比进行鉴别。本研究的结果不仅可用于北美水貂的鉴别,也为其他小型食肉动物的鉴别提供经验。     

From killer to carer: steroid hormones and paternal behaviour

Mammalian parental investment (i.e. care of descendant offspring) is largely biased towards maternal contributions due to the specific feeding needs of mammalian offspring; however, varying degrees of paternal investment have been reported in about 10% of all mammalian species. Within the order Carnivora, paternal contribution to rearing offspring is particularly high: an estimated 32% of all studied carnivore species exhibit direct paternal care. Despite the prominence of paternal investment in carnivores, the endocrine basis of this behaviour is not well understood. This review examines the current – highly constrained – state of knowledge about the endocrine basis of carnivore paternal investment. We attempt to link changes in androgen and glucocorticoid levels with variation in direct and indirect paternal care behaviour making specific predictions regarding the way forward. Well-studied species, such as bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis), dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) and meerkats (Suricata suricatta), where social dynamics are relatively well understood, can act as ideal model systems through which we may further investigate the endocrine basis of paternal investment in carnivores.     

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

大型拖拉机设计中的人性化美学要素研究

对大型拖拉机设计中的人性化美学要素进行了分析和研究,以求用优秀的人性化美学设计出能够满足使用者的生理、心理和审美需求的产品,提升我国大型拖拉机的市场竞争力。