Effect of litter size,milk replacer and housing on production results of hyper-prolific sows

The modern hyper-prolific sow gives birth to more piglets than she has functional teats (in the following called supernumerary piglets). The aim of the present study was (1) to investigate the production consequences of hyper-prolific sows rearing supernumerary piglets equal to the mean live-born litter size, and (2) investigate whether potential negative effects on survival and growth could be alleviated by providing access to milk replacer and/or providing easier access to the udder (by loose housing). At day 1 (D1) postpartum (pp), 93 litters were standardised to 14 or 17 piglets (LS14/LS17) after which no piglets were moved between sows leading to decreased litter size if piglets died. Litters were provided with or without milk replacer in milk cups (+MILK/−MILK), and sows were either crated or loose housed (CRATE/LOOSE) in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Piglet mortality was higher in LS17 compared to LS14 (P < 0.01; OR = 2.0), higher in −MILK compared to +MILK (P = 0.01; OR = 1.2) and higher in LOOSE compared to CRATE (P = 0.02; OR = 1.8). This study showed that sow rearing of supernumerary piglets while supplying with milk replacer can increase piglet survival. It also showed that early mortality before piglets learned to drink milk replacer posed a challenge using this automatic milk replacer system. An interaction between access to milk replacer and the standardised litter size D1 affected litter weight (P < 0.01) and piglet weight day 28 (D28) (P = 0.03). The highest litter weight D28 was found in LS17 +MILK (P < 0.01) but with a lower individual piglet weight than in LS14 −MILK. Piglet weight D28 was higher in LS14 −MILK compared to LS17 regardless of access to milk replacer. Heterogeneity in piglet weight within litters D28 was larger in LS17 (P = 0.03) but could be reduced with +MILK in CRATE (P < 0.01). No effects were found on sow weight loss and feed intake (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that sows cannot rear the supernumerary piglets without further management interventions to reduce mortality. Supplying supernumerary piglets equal to the mean live-born litter size of hyper-prolific sows with milk replacer can from results of this study be an alternative strategy to the use of nurse sows.     

Combined analysis of group recorded feed intake and individually recorded body weight and litter size in mink

In the mink industry, feed costs are the largest variable expense and breeding for feed efficient animals is warranted. Implementation of selection for feed efficiency must consider the relationships between feed efficiency and the current selection traits BW and litter size. Often, feed intake (FI) is recorded on a cage with a male and a female and there is sexual dimorphism that needs to be accounted for. Study aims were to (1) model group recorded FI accounting for sexual dimorphism, (2) derive genetic residual feed intake (RFI) as a measure of feed efficiency, (3) examine the relationship between feed efficiency and BW in males (BWM) and females (BWF) and litter size at day 21 after whelping (LS21) in Danish brown mink and (4) investigate direct and correlated response to selection on each trait of interest. Feed intake records from 9574 cages, BW records on 16 782 males and 16 875 females and LS21 records on 6446 yearling females were used for analysis. Genetic parameters for FI, BWM, BWF and LS21 were obtained using a multivariate animal model, yielding sex-specific additive genetic variances for FI and BW to account for sexual dimorphism. The analysis was performed in a Bayesian setting using Gibbs sampling, and genetic RFI was obtained from the conditional distribution of FI given BW using genetic regression coefficients. Responses to single trait selection were defined as the posterior distribution of genetic superiority of the top 10% of animals after conditioning on the genetic trends. The heritabilities ranged from 0.13 for RFI in females and LS21 to 0.59 for BWF. Genetic correlations between BW in both sexes and LS21 and FI in both sexes were unfavorable, and single trait selection on BW in either sex showed increased FI in both sexes and reduced litter size. Due to the definition of RFI and high genetic correlation between BWM and BWF, selection on RFI did not significantly alter BW. In addition, selection on RFI in either sex did not affect LS21. Genetic correlation between sexes for FI and BW was high but significantly lower than unity. The high correlations across sex allowed for selection on standardized averages of animals’ breeding values (BVs) for RFI, FI and BW, which yielded selection responses approximately equal to the responses obtained using the sex-specific BVs. The results illustrate the possibility of selecting against RFI in mink with no negative effects on BW and litter size.     

炼锌废渣-修复植物-凋落物体系的生态化学计量学研究

为揭示金属冶炼废渣堆场生态修复多年后,废渣-植物-凋落物系统中养分循环和系统维持机制。该研究以实现生态修复6 a的黔西北铅锌冶炼废渣堆场上土荆芥(Dysphania ambrosioides)、芦竹(Arundo donax)、刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)、构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)和柳杉(Cryptomeria fortunei)五种优势修复植物为对象,分析它们的主要营养器官(细根、粗根、茎/干、枝、叶片)、地表凋落物、植被下方表层废渣(0～10 cm)中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及化学计量特征,探讨它们之间的相互关系。结果表明:不同植物、不同营养器官间C、N、P的含量具有显著差异(P<0.05),C平均含量在两种草本植物中为茎>叶片>根>凋落物,在三种乔木中为干>枝>细根>粗根>叶片>凋落物; N和P的分布在草本植物中分别为叶片>凋落物>根>茎和叶片>根>凋落物>茎,在三种乔木中均为叶片>细根>凋落物>粗根>枝>干。五种植物中,柳杉各营养器官及凋落物中C含量均高于其他植物,N、P含量呈相反的规律; 刺槐中N含量最高。C:N和C:P在五种植物营养器官与凋落物中的变化规律跟N、P的分布相反,说明C:N和C:P分别主要受N和P含量影响。相关性分析指出,草本植物的N:P受N和P共同影响,三种乔木的N:P主要由N的分布决定,同时受到枝和叶片中P含量影响。五种植物中,仅豆科类刺槐的叶片N:P大于16,在系统中生长受P限制,其他植物生长均受N限制,说明刺槐更能适应贫瘠的废渣环境,建议在修复贫瘠的废渣堆场时优先选择豆科类植物作为先锋植物,改善基质养分条件。植被下方表层废渣中C、N、P含量基本都低于植物各营养器官及凋落物,不同修复植物下方对应的表层废渣中C、N、P含量间具有显著差异(P<0.05),草本植物修复下的废渣中C、N、P含量低于乔木修复下的含量。废渣-植物-凋落物体系中N、P、N:P之间的相关性分析显示,植物细根和凋落物中N、P含量与废渣中N、P含量及化学计量比关系更密切。     

不同林龄和密度对马尾松人工林凋落叶养分变化的影响

该文选择广西南宁市横县镇龙林场的4种林龄(幼龄林、中龄林、成熟林和过熟林)和4种密度(低密度林、中低密度林、中高密度林和高密度林)马尾松人工林共8种林分作为研究对象,分析了未破碎和破碎两个不同降解阶段的凋落叶C、N、P含量及其生态化学计量学特征。结果表明:(1)不同林龄中,凋落叶初始C、N含量在过熟林和成熟林中较高,P含量没有显著变化,且C∶N比值和C∶P比值从幼龄林到成熟林逐渐升高,说明较高林龄马尾松对N和P重吸收较低,而较低林龄马尾松对N和P重吸收较强,需要较大。(2)不同密度林中,随着林木密度的增加,凋落叶初始C含量逐渐升高,N含量无显著变化,P含量降低;高密度林凋落叶的初始C∶P比值和N∶P比值较高,说明高种植密度下马尾松可能对N和P养分的需求较大,P重吸收较强。(3)不同林龄和不同密度马尾松林的破碎凋落叶C含量、C∶N比值、C∶P比值和N∶P比值比未破碎凋落叶的低,N和P含量较高,说明凋落物在降解过程中出现N和P养分的富集现象。(4)中林龄和较高种植密度的马尾松破碎凋落叶与未破碎凋落物的C含量差值最大,C∶N比值和C∶P比值较低,说明这两种林分的凋落叶C的降解速率可能较大。上述结果说明,中龄林和中高、高密度林的马尾松可能对N和P养分的需求较大,重吸收效率较高,且凋落叶C的潜在分解速率较高,可能利于有机碳较快进入土壤中。     

氮沉降对不同入侵程度加拿大一枝黄花化感作用的影响

为探究全球氮沉降影响外来植物入侵扩张的作用机制,该文通过受控模拟试验,以入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)为对象,研究了三种氮水平(N0、N5和N12)下五种不同入侵程度(种内及种间竞争)的加拿大一枝黄花凋落叶浸提液对本地植物莴苣(Lactuca sativa)种子萌发和幼苗生长化感作用的影响。结果表明:(1)N0、N5和N12处理下的不同入侵程度加拿大一枝黄花凋落叶浸提液均显著抑制莴苣的萌发和生长,其中N5土壤入侵初期(S1A3)处理浸提液的化感作用最显著,其发芽速度指数、发芽活力指数、根长、株高和叶长比对照分别降低了61%、79%、84%、68%和13%,此时凋落叶中的总酚和总黄酮含量最高,分别为0.48 mg·g^-1和1.50 mg·g^-1。(2)相同氮添加下,入侵程度对加拿大一枝黄花化感作用有显著影响,随着入侵程度的增加,加拿大一枝黄花化感作用显著减弱,入侵初期(S1A3)凋落叶化感作用显著高于入侵后期(S3A1)。(3)相同入侵程度下,氮添加对加拿大一枝黄花化感作用有显著影响,N5处理的加拿大一枝黄花化感作用比N0或N12处理显著增加。(4)氮添加与入侵程度有交互作用,两者共同作用显著影响了莴苣种子的综合化感作用。综上结果表明,氮沉降可能会增强入侵初期加拿大一枝黄花凋落叶对本地植物的化感抑制作用,进一步促进外来植物的成功入侵,为进一步研究加拿大一枝黄花的化感作用及生态防治提供了一定的理论参考。     

林火干扰对广东省桉树林生态系统碳密度的影响

林火作为森林非连续的生态因子,引起森林生态系统碳库碳储量与碳分配的变化,影响森林演替进程及固碳能力。以桉树林不同林火干扰强度的火烧迹地为对象,采用相邻样地比较法,以野外调查采样与室内试验分析相结合为主要手段,研究不同林火干扰强度对森林生态系统各碳库及生态系统碳密度变化和空间分布格局的影响,探讨林火干扰对生态系统碳密度与碳分布格局的影响机制。结果表明:林火干扰降低了植被碳密度(P<0.05),轻度、中度和重度林火干扰样地植被碳密度依次为67.88、35.68和15.50 t·hm^-2,相比对照分别下降了15.86%、55.78%和80.79%;在轻度、中度和重度林火干扰样地中,凋落物碳密度分别为1.43、0.94和0.81 t·hm^-2,相比对照分别降低了28.14%、52.76%和59.30%;不同林火干扰强度样地土壤有机碳密度均低于对照,且减少幅度随土壤剖面深度增加而逐渐变小,轻度、中度和重度林火干扰样地土壤有机碳密度分别为103.30、84.33和70.04 t·hm^-2,相比对照分别下降了11.67%、27.89%和40.11%;轻度、中度和重度林火干扰后桉树林生态系统碳密度分别为172.61、120.95和86.35 t·hm^-2,相比对照依次下降了13.53%、39.41%和56.74%;林火干扰降低了桉树林的碳密度,表现为随林火干扰强度增加,碳密度呈递减的规律;与对照相比,轻度林火干扰强度对桉树林碳密度的影响不显著(P>0.05),而中度和重度林火干扰强度对桉树林碳密度的影响差异显著(P<0.05)。     

亚热带不同树种凋落叶分解对氮添加的响应

为探究不同质量凋落物对氮(N)沉降的响应, 该研究采用尼龙网袋分解法, 在亚热带福建三明格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)自然保护区的米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)天然林, 选取4种本区常见的具有不同初始化学性质的树种凋落叶进行模拟N沉降(N添加)分解实验(施N水平为对照0和50 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1)。研究结果表明: 在2年的分解期内, 对照处理的各树种凋落叶的分解速率依次为观光木(Michelia odora, 0.557 a ^-1)、米槠(0.440 a ^-1)、台湾相思(Acacia confusa, 0.357 a ^-1)、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata, 0.354 a ^-1); N添加处理凋落叶分解速率依次为观光木(0.447 a ^-1)、米槠(0.354 a ^-1)、杉木(0.291 a ^-1)、台湾相思(0.230 a ^-1), 除杉木凋落叶外, N添加显著降低了其他3种凋落叶分解速率。N添加不仅使4种树木凋落叶分解过程中的N释放减慢, 同时还抑制凋落叶化学组成中木质素和纤维素的降解; N添加在凋落叶分解过程中总体上提高β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)和酸性磷酸酶活性, 对纤维素水解酶的活性影响不一致, 而降低β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性和酚氧化酶活性。凋落叶分解速率与凋落叶中的碳获取酶(βG)活性以及其化学组分中的可萃取物含量极显著正相关, 与初始碳浓度、纤维素和木质素含量极显著负相关, 与初始N含量没有显著相关性。凋落物类型和N添加的交互作用虽未影响干质量损失速率, 但对木质素和纤维素的降解具有显著效应。综上所述, 化学组分比初始N含量能更好地预测凋落叶分解速率, 而N添加主要通过抑制分解木质素的氧化酶(如PHO)来降低凋落叶分解速率。     

佛山城市典型森林群落土壤重金属分布、流通及枯落物富集特征

富集重金属的枯落物分解可能提高重金属暴露率,增加人体接触健康风险。为了解南方城市土壤重金属在森林生态系统中的分布及流转情况,通过调查研究了佛山市8个典型森林群落土壤及枯落物重金属含量,分析了各森林群落枯落物对不同重金属的富集效应及重金属随枯落物回归土壤流通量。结果表明：1）城市森林各土壤重金属含量在不同典型群落间差异显著（P<0.05）,差异最大为Pb、Cr、Zn,As、Cu、Ni次之,Hg、Cd最小;土层深度（0-20,20-40,40-60 cm）对重金属含量影响显著（P<0.05）,差异最大为Cd、Hg,其次为As、Cu,最小为Zn、Ni、Pb、Cr。整体上,Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Zn在0-20 cm最高,表层富集特征明显,Cr和Ni在40-60 cm最高。2）8个森林群落中阴香-白楸-醉香含笑群落（CMMC）枯落物对8种重金属的综合富集系数（TBCF,66.76）最高,其中以Cd的富集效果最突出,富集系数为44.45,且对Pb、Cu、Zn也相对富集;最低的为黧蒴锥-香椿-樟树群落（CTCC）,综合富集系数（TBCF）为8.09,仅对Cd、Cr、Cu相对富集,对其余重金属富集效应不明显。3）相关分析显示,群落重金属枯落物流通量与0-60 cm土壤重金属平均含量（Cr和Ni除外）无显著相关性。本研究对城市森林建设管理及筛选重金属富集植物及群落具有较强理论及实践意义。