Community-based sheep breeding programs generated substantial genetic gains and socioeconomic benefits

Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) for small ruminants have been suggested as alternatives to centralised, government-controlled breeding schemes which have been implemented in many developing countries. An innovative methodological framework on how to design, implement and sustain CBBPs was tested in three sites in Ethiopia: Bonga, Horro and Menz. In these CBBPs, the main selection trait identified through participatory approaches was 6-month weight in all three sites. In Horro and Bonga, where resources such as feed and water permitted larger litter sizes, twinning rate was included. Ten-year (2009 to 2018) performance data from the breeding programs were analysed using Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method (AI-REML). Additionally, the socioeconomic impact of CBBPs was assessed. Results indicated that 6-month weight increased over the years in all breeds. In Bonga, the average increase was 0.21 ± 0.018 kg/year, followed by 0.18 ± 0.007 and 0.11 ± 0.003 kg/year in Horro and Menz, respectively. This was quite substantial in an on-farm situation. The birth weight of lambs did not improve over the years in Bonga and Horro sheep but significant increases occurred in Menz. Considering that there was no direct selection on birth weight in the community flock, the increased weights observed in Menz could be due to correlated responses, but this was not the case in Bonga and Horro. The genetic trend for prolificacy over the years in both Bonga and Horro flocks was positive and significant (P < 0.01). This increase in litter size, combined with the increased 6-month body weight, increased income by 20% and farm-level meat consumption from slaughter of one sheep per year to three. The results show that CBBPs are technically feasible, result in measurable genetic gains in performance traits and impact the livelihoods of farmers.     

Genotype by environment interaction in response to cold stress in a composite beef cattle breed

Extreme weather conditions such as cold stress influence the productivity and survivability of beef cattle raised on pasture. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the extent of the impact of genotype by environment interaction due to cold stress on birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) in a composite beef cattle population. The effect of cold stress was modelled as the accumulation of total cold load (TCL) calculated using the Comprehensive Climate Index units, considering three TCL classes defined based on temperature: less than −5°C (TCL5), −15°C (TCL15) and −25°C (TCL25). A total of 4221 and 4217 records for BW and WW, respectively, were used from a composite beef cattle population (50% Red Angus, 25% Charolais and 25% Tarentaise) between 2002 and 2015. For both BW and WW, a univariate model (ignoring cold stress) and a reaction norm model were implemented. As cold load increased, the direct heritability slightly increased in both BW and WW for TCL5 class; however, this heritability remained consistent across the cold load of TCL25 class. In contrast, the maternal heritability of BW was constant with cold load increase in all TCL classes, although a slight increase of maternal heritability was observed for TCL5 and TCL15. The direct and maternal genetic correlation for BW and maternal genetic correlation for WW across different cold loads between all TCL classes were high (r > 0.99), whereas the lowest direct genetic correlations observed for WW were 0.88 for TCL5 and 0.85 for TCL15. The Spearman rank correlation between the estimated breeding value of top bulls (n = 79) using univariate and reaction norm models across TCL classes showed some re-ranking in direct and maternal effects for both BW and WW particularly for TCL5 and TCL15. In general, cold stress did not have a big impact on direct and maternal genetic effects of BW and WW.     

X‐ray crystallographic structure of BshB,the zinc‐dependent deacetylase involved in bacillithiol biosynthesis

Many gram‐positive bacteria produce bacillithiol to aid in the maintenance of redox homeostasis and degradation of toxic compounds, including the antibiotic fosfomycin. Bacillithiol is produced via a three‐enzyme pathway that includes the action of the zinc‐dependent deacetylase BshB. Previous studies identified conserved aspartate and histidine residues within the active site that are involved in metal binding and catalysis, but the enzymatic mechanism is not fully understood. Here we report two X‐ray crystallographic structures of BshB from Bacillus subtilis that provide insight into the BshB catalytic mechanism.     

基于灰色三角白化权集对分析模型的喀斯特山区农业生态环境脆弱性评价

生态脆弱性一直是全球变化与可持续发展研究的热点问题,研究农业生态环境脆弱性问题有利于合理利用区域农业资源,提出有效的农业生态环境保护措施。针对农业生态环境脆弱性评价未考虑不同评价级别内各指标之间同、异、反关系,本研究基于灰色三角白化权集对分析(SPA)模型,从生态环境外在脆弱性方面选择人口密度、人均耕地面积、人均造林面积等11个评价指标,对喀斯特山区农业生态环境脆弱性进行评价。结果表明: 研究区农业生态环境比较脆弱,以极度、高度和中度脆弱度为主;极度、高度、中度、轻度和微度农业生态环境脆弱区比例分别为32.4%、14.1%、17.7%、23.6%和12.2%;评价结果与研究区域农业生态环境脆弱性实际状况相符。说明以灰色三角白化权SPA模型评价农业生态环境脆弱性具有可行性,可为农业生态环境脆弱性评价提供一种新的方法和思路。     

污染场地土壤生态风险评估研究进展

随着我国快速城市化以及产业结构的调整,遗留下了大量的污染场地,发展和实施污染场地土壤生态风险评估是进行大规模污染场地修复行动的必要条件。本文围绕污染场地土壤生态风险评估的科学原理、框架构建及技术方法等方面的关键问题: 1)评估框架的场地实际针对性;2)概念模型的不确定性;3)土壤复合污染毒性机制;4)评估终点筛选;5)评估方法和框架构建等展开讨论,指出土壤复合污染的制毒机制,即污染物生物有效性和联合效应是污染场地土壤生态风险评估的关键科学问题。耦合美国环保局四步法和欧盟层级法的“证据-权重法”评估框架适用于野外复杂环境条件下的土壤污染生态风险评估。建议今后重点开展以下5个方面的工作: 1)污染场地土壤生态风险评估技术框架与风险管控技术框架之间的联合;2)概念模型研究;3)基于过程的场地土壤污染物反应运移模型研究;4)场地土壤复合污染生态毒理学机制研究;5)生态系统高水平生态风险评估终点研究。旨在为形成我国本土污染场地土壤生态风险评估技术指南提供理论基础和构架。     

软枣猕猴桃控制授粉对果实和种子的影响

为了研究软枣猕猴桃授粉规律,以11年生软枣猕猴桃紫果3号为试验材料,设置剪留花柱数量为0、2、5、8、11、14、17和23(全留对照组)共8个处理。人工授粉,收获后调查测定其单果重、坐果率、果型指数、果实可溶性固形物含量和果实内含种子数量。结果表明:随着授粉柱头数的增加,单果重等主要指标相应增加;当授粉柱头数增至为8时,其果型指数和果实可溶性固形物含量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显;当授粉柱头数增至为11时,其单果重、坐果率和果实内含种子数量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显。据此软枣猕猴桃充分授粉的数量级指标为11,当授粉柱头数小于11时,产量降低、品质下降;当授粉柱头大于11时,浪费花粉。生产上可利用猕猴桃精准充分授粉技术,节约使用花粉或减少果园雄株数量,以提高生产效率。     

Length-weight relationships of 10 fish species from the coastal waters of the East China Sea

The present study provides the length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 10 marine fish species collected from the coastal waters of the East China Sea by bottom trawl surveys. The open width of the sampling net was 40 m and the mesh size of the codend was 20 mm. Specimens were collected from November 2015 to November 2019 at seasonal intervals. The measurement accuracy of weight and length were 0.1 grams and 0.1 centimeters, respectively. This study provides new information of LWRs for nine species which have not yet been reported in FishBase. Also, this study updates the information of maximum length for two species.     

Length–weight relationships of seven fish species in the Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent waters,Eastern China

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) for seven fish species belonging to five families in the Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent waters are presented. Cynoglossus gracilis, Cynoglossus macrolepidotus, Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Collichthys niveatus, Ophichthus apicalis and Erisphex potti were collected monthly in 2009 using trammel nets (the size of smaller mesh net was 1.5 m × 15 m × 4 panels with mesh sizes of 2.5, 3.4, 4.3 and 5.8 cm; the size of larger-mesh net was 2.4 m × 30 m × 4 panels with mesh sizes of 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 cm; soaking overnight). Lophiogobius ocellicauda were collected December in 2020 using shrimp trawl nets (mesh size 2.0 cm). The precision of measurement for the fish specimens is 0.1 cm total length and 0.1 g total weight. The estimated ranges of the parameters a and b for the seven fish species were from 0.0001 to 0.0289 and 2.718 to 3.541, respectively. Two new maximum total length were recorded for Ctenotrypauchen chinensis and Ophichthus apicalis.     

Length weight relationships of five marine fishes from the Bay of Bengal

Length weight relationships (LWR) of five marine fishes were estimated from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected occasionally from fisher's catch with gill net (mesh size: 3 cm) during November 2019 to October 2020. Fishing was done overnight. Total length (0.1 cm) and body weight (0.01 g) of each individual were measured. We recorded maximum total length for P. maculatus (55.0 cm) and P. parmatus (39.0 cm).     

煤炭资源型城市生态安全评价——以锡林浩特市为例

煤炭资源型城市生态安全评价能够协调人口、资源和环境之间的矛盾,保障城市可持续发展。基于PSR模型,以煤炭资源型城市锡林浩特市为研究区域,从生态环境和社会经济方面共选取了33个指标因子,构建了煤炭资源型城市的生态安全评价指标体系,运用熵权TOPSIS法进行了城市生态安全综合评价,并通过障碍度模型对城市生态安全的主要障碍因子进行了研究。研究结果表明:(1)2008—2017年锡林浩特市生态安全水平总体呈缓慢上升趋势。生态安全综合评价指数从0.464上升到0.553,安全等级由较不安全转为临界安全状态;(2)10年间PSR三大指数表现出不同变化特征。压力指数呈下降后上升再小幅下降的变化趋势,状态指数呈波动上升趋势,响应指数呈快速上升趋势;(3)子系统的障碍度分析表明压力系统的障碍度最大,是影响煤炭资源型城市生态安全的首要因素。子系统的障碍度变化趋势表现为:压力系统和状态系统的障碍度均不同程度增大,响应系统的障碍度越来越小;(4)单项指标的障碍度分析表明影响该资源型城市生态安全的主要障碍因子集中在压力系统和状态系统,10年间最大障碍因子经历了从城镇化率到矿区面积的演变。