Reproductive performance of Farafra ewes in the subtropics

The present study was carried out to assess the reproductive performance of Farafra ewes—a breed with potential economic importance in the subtropics. A total of 262 ewes were categorized according to age, parity, and postpartum interval. Ewes were introduced for breeding in fall, winter and late spring seasons. Fertility, prolificacy, lamb birth weight, and ultrasonic fetal parameters were recorded. Results obtained showed that litter size was increased with age and parity. Lamb birth weight was affected by season. None of the parameters studied had a clear-cut effect on fertility. However, an interaction between season and parity was detected. Measurement of fetal size in the first half of gestation did not predict birth weight. The obtained data represents the first record of the reproductive performance of Farafra ewes in the subtropics, which could be used to anticipate their performance in different seasons.     

Floristic diversity and co-occurrences in a subtropical broad-leaved forest and two contrasting regrowth stands in central-west Yunnan Province,China

Many of the natural forested ecosystems that still remain in mainland China are being cleared with potentially detrimental effects on woody plant species diversity on both local and regional scales. The most extensive stand of subtropical broad-leaved forest remaining in China is located in Yunnan Province. In an effort to document the influence of human-induced disturbance on Yunnan's woody flora, floristic inventories were conducted in a stand of primary forest and in regrowth stands located in its interior and along its outer margin in the Xujiaba Nature Sanctuary in the Ailao Mountain Range. Of particular interest was the location of the disturbance relative to the primary forest source area. A total of 134 woody plant species representing 74 genera and 43 families were recorded. The floristics of the two regrowth stands were significantly different from each other, with < 10% of their respective floras comprised of co-occurring species. The interior regrowth stand had a higher number of co-occurring species with the primary forest; however, > 40% were still non-co-occurring.The principal families represented in the primary forest and the interior regrowth stand were Aquifoliaceae, Berberidaceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Rosaceae, Smilacaceae, Symplocaceae, Theaceae, and Vacciniaceae. The three dominant species with relative importance values ranging from > 5% to 18% in both the primary forest and the interior regrowth stand were Castanopsis wattii, Lithocarpus jingdongensis, and Symplocos sumuntia. The edge regrowth stands had the lowest species diversity and were dominated by the native pine Pinus yunnanensis, with a relative importance of 24%. The principal families represented in the edge regrowth stand were Betulaceae, Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Myricaceae, Pinaceae, and Theaceae. Only the Fagaceae and Theaceae were well-represented in all three stands. The results of the study document the low species diversity in post-cutting regrowth on the margins of the primary forest as compared with post-cutting regrowth in the forest interior.     

模拟氮沉降对南亚热带两种乔木幼苗生物量及其分配的影响

探讨了南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林两种优势树种荷木(Schima superba)和黄果厚壳桂(Cryptocarya concinna)幼苗的生物量及其分配对氮沉降增加的响应。实验分为对照(CK)、T₅、T₁₀、T₁₅和T₃₀ 5个处理,每个处理设置3次重复。所施氮肥为NH₄NO₃,以溶液方式喷施,5个处理浓度分别为0、0.12、0.24、0.36、0.72 mol N·L^-1。每月喷施2次,5个样方1年喷施的总氮量分别相当于氮沉降率0、5、10、15、30 g N·m^-2·a^-1。经过11个月的施氮处理,两种幼苗对氮沉降的响应存在差异,其中黄果厚壳桂幼苗的基径、株高、全株生物量和相对生长速率除最高处理T₃₀外,均高于对照,但荷木幼苗的基径、全株生物量和相对生长速率除T₁₀外,均小于对照。氮处理也对生物量的分配产生了明显的影响,两种幼苗的叶重比以T₃₀最低,表明高氮处理不利于幼苗叶片的生长;枝重比均以T₃₀最高,反映了高氮处理的幼苗生物量分配到枝干的比例最高;根重比和根冠比均以对照样方幼苗的最高,表明氮处理抑制根的生长,分配到根部分的生物量下降。总的来看,经过11个月的处理,除最高处理T₃₀外,氮处理仍对黄果厚壳桂幼苗的生长有促进作用,而对荷木幼苗的生长则趋向于一定程度的抑制效应,表明黄果厚壳桂幼苗更能耐受高氮条件。     

南亚热带丘陵赤红壤区农业可持续发展的土壤水分管理

南亚热带丘陵赤红壤地区水热资源丰富,可大力发展荔枝、龙眼、香蕉、芒果等岭南佳果基地和高效益的蔬菜的种植,是广东省以至全国的一块得天独厚的宝地.本文分析了南亚热带的自然概况、广东南亚热带地区的优势及丘陵赤红壤的特征.研究了广东省南亚热带丘陵赤红壤受气候因素的制约,土壤贮水库容和有效库容小,下层非饱和导水率及土壤水力扩散度低等水分特性及问题.提出了改善生态环境,利用生物或工程措施截流降雨、减少地表径流,提高降雨入流率从而增加土壤贮水量和有效贮水量,通过改良土壤,提高土壤保水性能和土壤供水能力,采取防止或减缓土壤水分蒸发措施,发展节水灌溉技术等土壤水分调控与管理技术措施.     

Refractoriness to short and long days determines the end and onset of the breeding season in subtropical goats

The objective was to determine whether refractoriness to short and long days were involved in the end and onset of the breeding season, respectively, in goats adapted to subtropical latitudes. Ovariectomized does given a subcutaneous implant constantly releasing estradiol-l7 β (OVX+E) were used in two experiments. Plasma LH concentrations were determined twice weekly. In Experiment 1, the control group remained in an open-shed pen (natural day length and ambient temperature). Two experimental groups were placed in light-proof buildings (with natural temperature variations). One group was exposed to natural simulated increasing days (winter to spring), whereas the other was exposed to a winter solstice photoperiod (10 h of light) from December 21 to April 28. In Experiment 2, the control group remained under natural day length and ambient temperature. One experimental group was exposed to natural simulated decreasing days (summer to autumn), whereas the other group was exposed to a summer solstice photoperiod (14 h of light) from June 21 to October 20. In Experiment 1, the breeding season was not prolonged in does maintained in the winter solstice day length. Mean dates of decrease in LH secretion (end of the breeding season) did not differ significantly between does exposed to natural (February 3 ± 5 d) or natural simulated photoperiod (January 26 ± 14 d) and those exposed to constant short days of winter solstice (February 4 ± 10 d). In Experiment 2, the onset of the breeding season was not delayed in does maintained in the summer solstice day length. Mean dates of increase in LH secretion (onset of the breeding season) did not differ significantly between does exposed to natural (September 7 ± 8 d) or natural simulated photoperiod (September 18 ± 10 d) and those exposed to constant long days photoperiod of summer solstice (September 24 ± 4 d). In goats adapted to a subtropical environment, we concluded that: 1) the end of breeding season was due to refractoriness to short days, and not the inhibitory effect of increasing day length; and 2) the onset of the breeding season was due to refractoriness to long days, and not a stimulatory effect of decreasing day length.     

Litterfall and nutrient dynamics in a montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains,SW China

Montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest, dominated byLithocarpus and Castanopsis species,is the most extensive stand of subtropical mountain in Yunnan Province, SWChina. Litter production, standing crop of litter on forest floor and nutrientreturn patterns were studied over nine years (1991–1999) in a stand ofprimary evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern crest of the Ailao MountainRange. There were significant yearly variations in litter production, which ismainly related with the masting year of canopy species, and exceptionalphysicalevents (strong winds and snow) in the natural forest. The mean annual smalllitterfall is 7.12 t ha^–1 yr^–1ofwhich leaf litter account for 65% of the total litterfall. The seasonality ofsmall litterfall was bia-modal, with the main one in the late dry season(April–May) and a lesser one in early winter (October–November).Decomposition quotient value was relatively low with 0.58 for total smalllitterfall. Mean large-wood ( 2.5 cm in diameter) ranged from0.21 to 1.41 t ha^–1 yr^–1 with amean of 0.52 t ha^–1 yr^–1.Concentrations of most elements in leaf and twig were slightly greater in wetmonths than dry months, except for C and K. Woody litter had low N and Pconcentrations compared with the leaf and reproductive parts. Nutrient returntothe soil through small litterfall decrease in the orderC>N>Ca>K>Mg>Mn>Al>P>Fe, while nutrient reserve inlitteron the forest floor was in the declining sequenceC>N>Ca>K>Mg>P>Fe>Al>Mn.     

中国中亚热带东部常绿阔叶林主要类型的群落多样性特征

 本文通过10个地区61个样地资料分析,研究了中亚热带东部常绿阔叶林群落多样性特征及其随纬度、海拔梯度的变化。结果表明,中亚热带东部常绿阔叶林群落丰富度为49±17种(样地面积400m2),各层次的多样性表现为灌木层(包括幼树与幼苗)>乔木层>草本层。常绿阔叶林各类型间的差异远比落叶阔叶林与多样性较低的常绿阔叶林之间的差异大。各层次中变化幅度从大到小的顺序为：草本层>乔木层>灌木层。在所研究地区常绿阔叶林的群落多样性没有表现出明显的随纬度梯度和海拔梯度的变化规律。     

Nest site selection by a neotropical swarm-founding wasp: seasonal alternation of nest orientation

Nest orientation in social insects has been intensively studied in warmer and cooler climates, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Previous studies have consistently shown that species subjected to these climatic conditions prefer to select mostly southern locations where the nests can gain direct sunlight. However, very little is known on nest orientation in tropical and subtropical social insects. We studied nest orientations initiated by swarms throughout a year in a Brazilian swarm-founding wasp, Polybia paulista von Ihering (Hymenoptera: Polistinae). Swarms selected various orientations as nest sites, but there was a particular trend in that swarms in the winter period (May–August) preferred to build northward-facing nests. This preference is opposite from that of social wasps observed in the northern hemisphere. Colonies of this species can potentially last for many years with continuous nesting, but nesting activities of colonies during the winter are severely limited due to cool temperature and a shortened day length. Northward-facing nests are warmer through the gain of direct solar heat during the winter period; consequently, choosing northward-facing sites may be advantageous for swarms in terms of a shortened brood development and shortened time needed to increase metabolic rates during warm-up for flight.     

鼎湖山生物圈保护区马尾松林凋落物的分解及其营养动态研究

 本文报道了鼎湖山生物圈保护区马尾松林凋落物分解及其营养动态的情况。松针和混合凋落物的失重率在试验过程中均呈直线下降。松针和混合凋落物的分解系数(K)分别为0.44a-1和0.37a-1。在凋落物分解过程中氮是5个元素中唯—的1个元素,它表现出浓度和绝对量均首先呈上升然后下降的变化。磷和钙的浓度和绝对量在凋落物分解过程中,表现相类似的变化模型。它们的释放速率较其它元素更类似于凋落物的失重率。钾是5个元素中最活跃的元素。其浓度和绝对量的变化在凋落物分解过程中相类似：在分解初期(30到50天)迅速下降后呈缓慢的变化。镁的浓度和绝对量在分解初期以相对快的速率下降后,呈现两种绝然不同的变化：绝对量渐渐下降而浓度则慢慢上升。5个元素的流动性比较,在两种凋落物的分解过程中,均早K>Mg>P>Ca>N的顺序变化。