Large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure in the longest tropical river in Asia

Although the Mekong River is one of the world's 35 biodiversity hot spots, the large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure remain poorly addressed. This study aimed to investigate the fish distribution patterns in the Lower Mekong River (LMR) and to identify their environmental determinants. Daily fish catch data (i.e. from December 2000 to November 2001) at 38 sites distributed along the LMR were related to 15 physicochemical and 19 climatic variables. As a result, four different clusters were defined according to the similarity in assemblage composition and 80 indicator species were identified. While fish species richness was highest in the Mekong delta and lowest in the upper part of the LMR, the diversity index was highest in the middle part of the LMR and lowest in the delta. We found that fish assemblages changed along the environmental gradients and that the main drivers affecting the fish assemblage structure were the seasonal variation of temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, pH and total phosphorus. Specifically, upstream assemblages were characterised by cyprinids and Pangasius catfish, well suited to low temperature, high dissolved oxygen and high pH. Fish assemblages in the delta were dominated by perch‐like fish and clupeids, more tolerant to high temperatures, and high levels of nutrients (nitrates and total phosphorus) and salinity. Overall, the patterns were consistent between seasons. Our study contributes to establishing the first holistic fish community study in the LMR.     

Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

The Brief Introduction to the Sino-US Joint Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection

Erosion and transport of soil has worldwide implications for agriculture, landscape stability, climate, natural hazards, and clean, renewable resources of water and air. Assured access to clean water and a healthy and safe environment requires an ethic of conservation and protection. The minimum scale in which these principles apply successfully is basin wide. These are the fundamental concerns of the Sino-US Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection.     

开发区区域大气和水环境容量的计算及管理

介绍了开发区大气、水环境容量计算及管理方法，并以湖南城陵矶经济技术开发区为例，初步了方法的具体应用和有关细节处理，所介绍的方法将对其他类似开发区大气、水环境容量的计算及管理起到一定的借鉴和指导作用。     

Multi-sectoral Participatory Urban Forestry Development in Philippines Metropolitan Manila

The Luntiang Kamaynilaan Project (Metro ManilaGreening Project) launched in 1988 planted trees inmajor thoroughfares, center islands, school premisesand other idle public lands, was basically a governmenteffort. When the funds ran out, the project also fizzledout. In both projects however, it is evident that the keyfactor is peoples participation.Gaining lessons from the past two projects, thegovernment established a collaborative effort ofgovernment and non-government organizations. TheCl…     

畜牧业生产中的环境污染及治理对策

本文阐述了畜牧业生产中产生的畜禽粪尿、有机废水等废弃物对环境造成的污染，探讨了治理畜牧业污染的措施，提出了发展生态畜牧业的思路。     

哈尼族传统人居环境体系中森林要素之作用评述

从不同角度评述了森林在哈尼族传统人居环境体系中的作用和地位，阐述了未来山区村镇发展中保留周边森林的重要性。     

鸡舍环境耐药细菌气溶胶及其向环境传播的研究

通过对舍内粪便、空气和舍外环境(10、50、100m)中的空气分离到的细菌鉴定，包括细菌DNA分子生物学检测及药物敏感实验以及细菌含量统计学分析，证明三者之间存在着内在联系；舍内环境微生物气溶胶包括耐药细菌通过舍内外气体交换排往鸡舍周围环境，舍周边环境在一定范围内受到生物污染。研究显示，在粪便、舍内空气、舍外环境10、50、100m空气中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌和链球菌80％以上对氯霉素(CMP)和对苯唑青霉素(OXA)耐药；粪便和舍内外环境空气中的80％以上的大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌对氨苄青霉素(AMP）、氯霉素(CMP)、头孢唑啉(CFZ)均为抑制。证明该鸡舍曾经使用过这些药物治疗或作为添加剂在饲料中添加，鸡群产生了耐药细菌菌株，并向环境传播。测量数据统计结果指出，十里河鸡场鸡舍内环境空气中的大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和链球菌与舍外环境中相应菌群含量比较差异显著或极显著(P＜0．05或P＜0．01)，但舍外10、50、100m之间的相应菌群比较差异不显著(P＞0．05)，这说明鸡舍内环境细菌气溶胶含量产生多，含量高，菌源强度大；另一方面，反应了鸡舍内环境微生物气溶胶包括耐药细菌能向舍外环境扩散，位舍外环境在一定的范围内受到动物源性生物污染，影响范围大于100m。通过对鸡舍环境微生物气溶胶来源的探讨发现，粪便中的大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和链球菌与舍内空气相应菌群数量关系比较，呈现正相关(r=0.99)。这从一个侧面揭示了粪便可能是微生物气溶胶的主要来源。     

Patterns of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) sex ratio in a catchment

Abstract –  Changes in the numbers and size-class structure of European silver eels, Anguilla anguilla , in the River Frémur (France) were examined over a 9-year period after installation of downstream eel passes. The number of silver eels migrating downstream peaked in 1999, then decreased strongly and steadily after 2000, reaching relatively low levels. At the same time, a gradual shift in the silver eel sex ratio from a dominance of males (size from 270 to 442 mm, age from 3 to 6 years) to females (size from 366 to 1112 mm, age from 4 to 9 years) was recorded. Possible explanations for the escapement patterns observed are environmental sex determination and the installation of eel passes on the main hydraulic engineering structures in 1992 and 1996.