Landscape patterns as habitat predictors: building and testing models for cavity-nesting birds in the Uinta Mountains of Utah,USA

The ability to predict species occurrences quickly is often crucial for managers and conservation biologists with limited time and funds. We used measured associations with landscape patterns to build accurate predictive habitat models that were quickly and easily applied (i.e., required no additional data collection in the field to make predictions). We used classification trees (a nonparametric alternative to discriminant function analysis, logistic regression, and other generalized linear models) to model nesting habitat of red-naped sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), northern flickers (Colaptes auratus),tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), and mountain chickadees (Parus gambeli) in the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah, USA. We then tested the predictive capability of the models with independent data collected in the field the following year. The models built for the northern flicker, red-naped sapsucker, and tree swallow were relatively accurate (84%, 80%, and 75% nests correctly classified,respectively)compared to the models for the mountain chickadee (50% nests correctly classified). All four models were more selective than a null model that predicted habitat based solely on a gross association with aspen forests. We conclude that associations with landscape patterns can be used to build relatively accurate, easy to use, predictive models for some species. Our results stress, however, that both selecting the proper scale at which to assess landscape associations and empirically testing the models derived from those associations are crucial for building useful predictive models. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

根区滴灌对干旱山地苹果树生长发育和结实的影响

根区滴灌是将雨水促渗管与传统滴灌相结合而组装集成的一项节水灌溉新技术。为了探讨根区滴灌在山地果园的应用效果,为山地果园的栽培管理提供依据,本文以陕北米脂县6 a生山地红富士苹果树为研究对象,以世界公认的最佳苹果优生区洛川县的降雨量和土壤贮水量为灌水依据,分析了不同灌溉方式对苹果树萌芽、坐果、枝叶生长、果实发育和水分利用效率的影响,以及山地果园土壤水分达到优生区标准后与优生区苹果树生长结果的差异。结果表明,采用根区滴灌能有效提高苹果树的萌芽率和坐果率,萌芽率比传统滴灌提高了2.14%~2.76%,坐果率比传统滴灌提高了0.80%~1.42%;能有效促进苹果树新稍和叶片的生长,新稍长度比传统滴灌提高了1.44%~4.94%,百叶鲜质量比传统滴灌提高了2.13%~4.16%;能显著促进苹果树果实的生长,单果重比传统滴灌增大了7.05~14.99 g,优果率比传统滴灌提高了9.4%~14.7%;能显著提高水分利用效率,灌水量比传统滴灌节约了8.09%,水分利用效率比传统滴灌提高了10.62%~15.30%。可见,根区滴灌技术在陕北黄土丘陵区山地苹果生产中具有广阔的应用效果,但是,单纯依靠人为限量补水,山地苹果还不能达到优生区的生产水平。     

蛹虫草CmKexin基因克隆和菌丝体中表达检测

为了探讨蛹虫草类枯草杆菌蛋白酶(Subtilisin-like protease)的表达特性,以真菌蛹虫草菌丝体为研究对象,通过RT-PCR获得蛹虫草CmKexin基因的ORF序列,并进行序列分析。应用Northern杂交和Real-time PCR方法,检测蓝光照射后蛹虫草菌丝体中CmKexin基因的转录情况。结果获得蛹虫草CmKexin基因的ORF序列。对翻译蛋白质产物CmKexin进行生物信息学分析,表明该蛋白质含1个属蛋白转化酶的肽酶S8家族功能域(143~429)和1个前体蛋白转化酶P功能域(514~600),符合真菌类枯草杆菌蛋白酶的特征。蛹虫草菌丝体在黑暗预培养4 d后再蓝光照射,Northern Blotting和Real-time PCR检测均可得到相同的结果,即在持续的蓝光照射48~50 h时,出现CmKexin基因的瞬时大量转录。而其他时间内均未检测到该基因的大量转录。试验结果将为蛹虫草类枯草杆菌蛋白酶的利用提供理论依据。     

Soil organic carbon stock variability in the Northern Gangetic Plains of India: interaction between agro‐ecological characteristics and cropping systems

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its spatial distribution in the Northern Gangetic Plain (NGP) Zone of India were determined to establish the cause–effect relationship between agro‐ecological characteristics, prevailing crop management practices and SOC stock. Area Spread Index (ASI) approach was used to collect soil samples from the NGP areas supporting predominant cropping systems. Exponential ordinary kriging was found most suitable geo‐statistical model for developing SOC surface maps of the NGP. Predicted surface maps indicated that 43.7% area of NGP had 0.5–0.6% SOC, while the rest of the area was equally distributed with high (0.61–0.75%) and low (< 0.5%) SOC content levels. Averaged across cropping systems, maximum SOC content was recorded in Bhabar and Tarai Zone (BTZ), followed by Central Plain Zone (CPZ), Mid‐Western Plain Zone (MWPZ), Western Plain Zone (WPZ) and South‐Western Plain Zone (SWPZ) of the NGP. The SOC stock was above the optimum threshold (> 12.5 Mg/ha) in 97.8, 57.6 and 46.4% areas of BTZ, CPZ and MWPZ, respectively. Only 9.8 and 0.4% area of WPZ and SWPZ, respectively, had SOC stock above the threshold value. The variation in SOC stock was attributed largely to carbon addition through recycling of organic sources, cropping systems, tillage intensity, crop or residue cover and land‐use efficiency, nutrient‐use pattern, soil texture and prevailing ecosystem. Adoption of conservation agriculture, balanced use of nutrients, inclusion of legumes in cropping systems and agro‐forestry were suggested for enhancing SOC stock in the region.     

Littoral spawning habitats of three southern Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) populations

Abstract Arctic charr populations in southern latitudes are nonmigratory, with all life‐stages limited to freshwater lakes and in‐ or out‐flowing tributaries. Although many of these populations are reported to also spawn in lake littorals, little is known about the physical characteristics of putative spawning grounds. A total of 23 discrete spawning sites within three Irish lakes were located by fyke netting of spawning adults and snorkelling in littoral habitats. Spawning sites were found to be long, narrow strips running parallel to the shore at a maximum depth of 124 cm. Spawning sites were limited to areas of coarse mineral substrate with an adequate (c. 8 cm) depth of clean interstitial spaces. In individual lakes, combined areas of spawning sites made up 0.4–0.7% of available littoral. Egg densities varied considerably between sites (33–900·eggs m^?2) and were significantly correlated with gradient and width of spawning sites. No evidence of redd digging was found. The shallow, localised and restricted nature of spawning grounds makes such populations vulnerable to anthropogenically induced postoviposition changes in surface water level, eutrophication processes such as increased lake sedimentation and elevated nutrient status.     

不同枣粉添加水平对陕北白绒山羊屠宰性能和肉品质的影响

为探讨日粮中不同枣粉添加量对陕北白绒山羊屠宰性能和肉品质的影响,选取初始体重为（20.15±1.63） kg的40只6月龄健康白绒山羊,随机分为5组,每组8只羊,分别饲喂枣粉添加量为0（对照组）、10%（Ⅰ试验组）、15%（Ⅱ试验组）、20%（Ⅲ试验组）、25%（Ⅳ试验组）的日粮,饲养试验预试期10 d,饲喂基础日粮,饲喂期70 d,饲喂试验日粮。试验结束屠宰全部试验羊,以羊背最长肌为试验材料,分别测定羊肉的基本营养成分、矿物质、肌纤维特性、外观品质、脂肪酸和氨基酸含量并进行比较分析。结果表明：1）Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ试验组的屠宰率和净肉率均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,对照组、Ⅰ和Ⅱ组的骨肉比显著高于Ⅲ和Ⅳ组（P<0.05）;2）对照组的肌内脂肪含量显著低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ组（P<0.05）;3）Ⅲ组的肌纤维面积、直径和剪切力值最小（P<0.05）;4）Ⅲ组中棕榈酸（C16：0）和硬脂酸（C18：0）的含量显著低于对照组和Ⅰ试验组（P<0.05）,花生四烯酸（C20：4n6）、α-亚麻酸（C18：2n6c）的含量显著高于对照组和Ⅰ组（P<0.05）;5）Ⅳ组羊肉中的天冬氨酸、谷氨酸和丙氨酸含量显著高于其他4组（P<0.05）。综上所述,枣粉添加改善了羊肉的嫩度,有利于羊肉中的矿物质、不饱和脂肪酸和氨基酸等营养成分的积累,从而使羊肉有较高的营养价值,综合考虑20%枣粉添加量时羊肉品质最好。     

不同燕麦品种在尼泊尔北部山区的生长特性及其营养品质的研究

畜牧业是尼泊尔北部山区的重要生计支柱,提升牧草产量是我国对尼泊尔开展农业技术援助的关键领域。为筛选出适宜尼泊尔北部山区栽培的燕麦品种,于2019年5-10月在尼泊尔热索瓦县郎唐山区对12个燕麦品种（爱沃、太阳神、贝勒1、美达、科纳、林纳、青引1号、青海444、青海甜燕麦、陇燕2号、陇燕3号、Kamadhenu）的物候期、株高、产草量、穗含量、叶茎比和关键营养成分等进行了品比试验。结果表明：美达、科纳、青引1号、青海444、青海甜燕麦和Kamadhenu 6个品种能完成生育期,生育天数在115~141 d,其余多数品种只能达到乳熟期。各燕麦品种的株高为134.8~177.7 cm,其中引进品种太阳神、青海444、青海甜燕麦、美达和林纳的株高较对照品种Kamadhenu高6.3%~20.4%,存在极显著差异（P<0.01）。青海甜燕麦、青海444和美达的干草产量分别达到了14723.0、13491.0和13369.6 kg·hm^-2,分别比对照品种Kamadhenu增产36.0%、24.7%和23.6%,差异极显著（P<0.01）。贝勒1、科纳和太阳神的叶茎比分别为0.40、0.38和0.36,是对照品种Kamadhenu的1.50~1.67倍。各燕麦品种的干物质、粗蛋白、总灰分、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量变化范围分别为93.5%~95.6%、5.7%~9.9%、4.4%~6.9%、68.2%~78.4%和39.3%~48.7%,其中太阳神的粗蛋白含量是对照品种Kamadhenu的1.57倍,存在极显著差异（P<0.01）。对各燕麦品种的10个农艺性状进行主成分分析及综合评价,结果表明,引进品种青海甜燕麦、美达、青海444和太阳神综合适应性较好,适宜在该地区推广种植。     

A review of factors influencing litter size in Irish sows

Many factors influence litter size. These include genetics, gilt management, lactation length, parity distribution, disease, stress and boar fertility. In the past 20 years, litter size in Irish sows has increased by only one pig. Born alive figures now average at 11.2 pigs per litter. In this regard, Ireland is falling behind our European competitors who have made significant advances over this time. Denmark, for example, has an average figure of 12.7 pigs born alive per litter and France an average of 12.5. The single area that could be improved immediately is sow feeding. It is important that sows are fed correctly throughout pregnancy. If over-fed during pregnancy, sows will have depressed appetite during lactation. If underfed in pregnancy, sows will be too thin at farrowing. The correct way to feed a pregnant sow is to match her feed allocation to her requirement for maintenance, body growth and growth of her developing foetuses. During lactation, sows should be given as much feed as they can eat to prevent excessive loss of body condition. Liquid-feed curves should be such that lactating sows are provided with a minimum mean daily feed supply of 6.2 kg. A small proportion of sows will eat more and this could be given as supplementary dry feed. Where dry feeding is practised in the farrowing house, it is difficult to hand-feed sows to match their appetite. Ideally ad libitum wet/dry feeders should be used. From weaning to service, sows should once again be fed ad libitum. If liquid feeding, this means giving at least 60 MJ DE (digestible energy) per day during this period. If dry feeding, at least 4 kg of lactation diet should be fed daily. The effort spent perfecting sow feeding management on units should yield high dividends in the form of increased pigs born alive per litter.     

北方农牧交错带土地利用结构的线性规划——以定西县为例

探讨了用线性规划方法优化土地利用结构,并以北方农牧交错带定西县土地利用结构的经济效益作为目标函数,以人口和自然条件作为约束条件,进行优化分析,规划结果为定西县土地利用结构由2005年的农、林、草面积比例54:10:36调整为30:13:57.     

土地利用动态监测中多源影像融合方法的比较研究--以陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区为例

在陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区,采用单一传感器的遥感影像提取土地利用信息,存在着识别的土地利用类别少、某些类别混分现象较严重、分类结果的精度较低等问题。以TM多光谱数据和SPOT全色光谱数据的融合为例,提出了适宜于该地区的两种影像融合方法:主成分变换法和乘积运算法,并从影像的光谱质量、纹理信息和目视效果等方面对其进行了对比与评价。结果显示,主成分变换法为较理想的融合方法。以陕北无定河流域为实验样区的土地利用自动分类结果表明,该方法的应用使土地利用各类别的提取精度都有不同程度的提高;水体、水田和城镇用地等面积较小的类别分类正确率提高达到10%以上;坡耕地与林草地的混分明显减少,分类精度均提高了5%以上;分类总精度从82.0%提高到89.2%,取得了良好的分类效果。此研究对于遥感影像融合技术的评价与应用进行了有益的探索,同时为该地区的土地利用动态监测提供了关键技术。