Impact of grassland contract policy on soil organic carbon losses from alpine grassland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Carbon storage in the soils on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau plays a very important role in the global carbon budget. In the 1990s, a policy of contracting collective grasslands to smaller units was implemented, resulting in a change from the traditional collective grassland management to two new management patterns: a multi‐household management pattern (MMP: grassland shared by several households without enclosures) and a single‐household management pattern (SMP: grassland enclosed and used by only one household). In 2016, 50 MMP and 54 SMP winter pastures on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau were sampled to assess the differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) between the two management patterns. Results showed that average SOC was significantly greater under MMP than under SMP, with an estimated 0.41 Mg C/ha/yr lost due to SMP following the new grassland contract. Based on the government's grassland policy, four grassland utilization scenarios were developed for both summer and winter pastures. We found that if the grassland were managed under SMP, likely C losses ranged between 0.31 × 10⁷ and 6.15 × 10⁷ Mg C/yr across the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau relative to MMP, which more closely resembles pre‐1990s grassland management. Previous estimates of C losses have only considered land use change (with cover change) and ignored the impacts driven by land management pattern changes (without cover change). The new data suggest that C losses from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are greater than previously estimated, and therefore that the grassland contract policy should be reviewed and SMP households should be encouraged to reunite into the MMP. These findings have potential implications for land management strategies not only on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau but also other grazing regions globally where such practices may exist.     

Cohort‐specific variation in juvenile coho salmon habitat use

In this study, we examined summer and fall freshwater rearing habitat use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the quickly urbanising Big Lake drainage in south‐central Alaska. Habitat use was assessed by regressing fish count data against habitat survey information across thirty study sites using generalised linear mixed models. Habitat associations were examined by age‐0 and age‐1+ cohorts separately, providing an opportunity to compare habitat use across different juvenile coho salmon life stages during freshwater rearing. Regression results indicated that the age‐0 cohorts were strongly associated with shallow, wide stream reaches with in‐stream vegetation, whereas age‐1+ cohorts were associated with deeper stream reaches. Furthermore, associations between fork length and habitat characteristics suggest cohort‐specific habitat use patterns are distinct from those attributable to fish size. Habitat use information generated from this study is being used to guide optimal fish passage restoration planning in the Big Lake drainage. Evidence for habitat use partitioning by age cohort during freshwater juvenile rearing indicates that pooling age cohorts into a single “juvenile” stage for the purposes of watershed management may mask important habitat use dynamics.     

Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

祁连山水源涵养林综合效能的计量研究

以马克思级差地租理论,建立了祁连山水源涵养林综合效能的评价模型:E=E_d+E_e+E_s;以E与生产投资I的比值为计量水源林的效能指数T,T=E/I。并以祁连山寺大隆森林生态定位研究站实测资料和社会调查数据为计量评价参数,确定其经济评价指标体系和计量系统。结果表明:祁连山水源涵养林综合效能指标为11.93;其中生态效能和社会效能分别是直接经济效能的4.51倍和6.05倍。说明祁连山水源涵养林现行的保护、发展和综合利用的经营方针是正确的。建议河西各受益部门应按水资源效能总收入的0.5％缴作水源林再生产费,以确保国民经济建设的长远发展。     

An evaluation of the pesera soil erosion model and its application to a case study in Zakynthos, Greece

Abstract. The Pan‐European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (pesera ) model was evaluated using existing soil erosion data collected under various types of climate, vegetation, landscape and soil conditions. The data used represent a variety of typical Mediterranean land uses such as winter wheat, vines, olives and bare, stony land prevailing in hilly areas. Using this data, the model was calibrated for sediment transport by overland flow and results compared to measured soil erosion values from runoff plots and a watershed on a monthly basis. The performance of the model was assessed statistically, showing that it can be satisfactorily used for predicting soil erosion rates under the conditions included in the study. The overall model estimate including all the available experimental data was 0.69 t ha^?1 yr^?1 with a maximum error of 1.49 t ha^?1 yr^?1. After validation, the model was applied to a small watershed (60 ha) of great ecological importance for the sea turtle Caretta caretta. For this purpose, soil and vegetation maps were compiled from all the necessary data for applying the model. The model was run for three years using daily data from an existing nearby meteorological station. The predicted and measured soil erosion rates for a 7‐month period were 0.31 t and 0.18 t, respectively. Application of the model to each mapping unit showed the over‐riding importance of land use for sediment generation under the given climatic conditions. Bare land, occupying 5.5% of the watershed area, generated up to 69% of the total sediments estimated for the watershed. It is concluded that the pesera model can be used as a regional diagnostic tool under a range of soil, topographic and climatic conditions for identifying the best land use type and vegetation cover to protect hilly areas from soil erosion. The calculated overall root mean square error for the model is 0.06 t ha^?1 yr^?1, compared to a soil erosion rate of 0.04 t ha^?1 yr^?1, which can be tolerated for protecting the area for the sea turtle.     

柞蚕肠液理化性质与饲料效率的相关性研究

对柞蚕肠液的理化性质与饲料效率的相关性进行研究的结果表明 :柞蚕肠液对促进蚕体抗病与消化吸收功能有着重要作用 ,平均每头蚕有肠液 1 76mL ,品种间开差为 0 78mL ,相对开差 5 7 80 % ,肠液量越多 ,饲料效率越高 ;柞蚕不同品种肠液pH平均值未发现明显差异 ,但强健好养饲料效率高的品种个体间开差小 ;柞蚕肠液缓冲力除与品种强健性有关外 ,还与品种的饲料效率呈正相关 ,在强健丰产与高饲料效率品种中 ,肠液恢复pH原值所需时间越短 ,饲料效率越高 ,电刺法取出肠液后 ,肠液恢复缓冲力所需时间是恢复其pH原值时间的 1 8倍多 ,同恢复肠液pH原值所需时间长短与品种强健性和饲料效率的关系完全一致。     

杉木林杆材阶段能量积累和分配的研究

目前森林生态系统生产力的研究 ,多以干物质量作为指标 ,这对深入了解生态系统的功能 ,生态效益都有一定的局限性。必须把生物量与能量结合起来 ,因为生物量和能流的研究 ,是人工林生态系统结构和功能的研究中最主要的一环 ,是研究物质生产、物质循环和能量流动的基础。关于森林各组织器官的热值和能量的研究 ,国内外许多学者做过这方面的工作。刘世荣等 (1990 )研究了落叶松 (Larixgmelinii)林群落能量积累、分配、固定和转化的规律 ;陶金川等 (1990 )探讨了银鹊树 (Tapisciasinensis)群落的生物量和能量的现存量 ;张文其等 (1995 )对鹤山…     

A test for interaction between brown trout (Salmo trutta) and inanga (Galaxias maculatus) in an artificial stream

Abstract –  The interaction between brown trout ( Salmo trutta ; fork length (FL) range 255–390 mm) and inanga ( Galaxias maculatus ; FL range 55–115 mm) was tested during summer through autumn in an artificial stream consisting of a single run-riffle-pool sequence with a natural food supply. Each experimental trial lasted for 15 days, and consisted of two brown trout and 50 inanga collected fresh from a nearby stream, with each species given prior residence in four replicate tests, totalling eight trials in all. In addition, two control trials (each 10 days), with 50 inanga in each, were run. Brown trout almost exclusively occupied the pool, whereas inanga occupied all habitat types, although in different proportions, when tested with and without brown trout. The proportion of inanga in the pool was appreciably lower in the experimental trials with brown trout than in the control trials with no brown trout; prior residence had no significant effect on inanga habitat use. Mortality of inanga attributable to predation by brown trout ranged from 0 to 40% with a mean of 14.5 ± 4.7%. The results suggest that habitat use and survival of inanga populations in small streams can be adversely affected by brown trout.     

水分对硝酸磷肥中氮的扩散及其肥效的影响

国产硝酸磷肥含氮27%,磷13.5%。所含速效氮中硝态氮均占一半。研究麦田不同水分对硝酸磷肥中硝态氮在土壤中扩散结果显示,硝态氮在土壤中下移深度与土壤湿润峰的深度基本一致,在小麦越冬期有表聚现象。当灌水量为田间持水量时,硝态氮移动深度为40～50cm,是在主要根系活动层内,这对小麦吸收有利,不会产生氮的流失。等氮磷条件下,硝酸磷肥与磷铵加尿素在北方地区有同样肥效。     

正反反复选择下近交对褐壳蛋鸡饲料利用率和繁殖性状的影响

本文估计了褐壳蛋鸡洛岛红(AA)和浅花苏赛克斯(BB)在正反反复选择(RRS)下的近交系数,分析了近交对选择标准饲料利用率及其相关性状和繁殖性状的影响。试验群体由两纯种及其正反交组合和相应的对照组组成。经过7个世代的RRS和近交试验,试验组AA和BB(括弧里为对照组1AA和1BB)用系谱材料计算出的平均累积近交系数分别为2.58％和3.23％(9.33和8.17%)或每代为0.43%(1.35%),用有效群体含量估计出的AA与BB的相应数值为2.91％与2.83％(5.84%与5.92％)或每代为0.42％(0.86％)。1％近交系数导致的孵化率和饲料利用率的近交衰退较严重(0.5％和0.4％),其次是产蛋性状(约0.3％),而体重和蛋重只有0.1％左右。在本研究中,通过连续7代的RRS与合适的留种率等措施,成功地将闭锁群体的近交系数控制在3%以下的低水平,消除或减轻了近交对饲料利用率等重要经济性状的不利影响。