Simulated long-term vegetation response to alternative stocking strategies in savanna rangelands

Increasing cover by woody vegetation, prevalent in semiarid savanna rangelands throughout the world, is a degrading process attributed to the grazing impact as a major causal factor. We studied grazing effects on savanna vegetation dynamics under alternative stocking strategies with a spatially explicit grid-based simulation model grounded in Kalahari (southern Africa) ecology. Plant life histories were modeled for the three major life forms: perennial grasses, shrubs, annuals. We conducted simulation experiments over a range of livestock utilization intensities for three alternative scenarios of small scale grazing heterogeneity, and two alternative strategies: fixed stocking versus adaptive stocking tracking herbage production. Additionally, the impact of the duration of the management planning horizon was studied, by comparing community response and mean stocking rates after 20 and 50 years. Results confirmed a threshold behavior of shrub cover increase: at low, subcritical utilization intensity little change occurred; when utilization intensity exceeded a threshold, shrub cover increased drastically. For both stocking strategies, thresholds were highly sensitive to grazing heterogeneity. At a given critical utilization intensity, the long term effect of grazing depended on the level of grazing heterogeneity: whereas under low heterogeneity, shrub cover remained unchanged, a large increase occurred under highly heterogeneous grazing. Hence, information on spatial grazing heterogeneity is crucial for correct assessment of the impact of livestock grazing on vegetation dynamics, and thus for the assessment of management strategies. Except for the least heterogeneous grazing scenario, adaptive stocking allowed a more intensive utilization of the range without inflating the risk of shrub cover increase. A destabilizing feedback between rainfall and herbage utilization was identified as the major cause for the worse performance of fixed compared to adaptive stocking, which lacks this feedback. Given the usually high grazing heterogeneity in semiarid rangelands, adaptive stocking provides a management option for increasing herbage utilization and thus returns of livestock produce without increasing degradation risks.     

农牧交错带系统生产力概念及其对生态重建的意义

论证了黄土高原农牧交错带在全球所有同纬度(39°～41°N)地区中是作物生长盛期内光、温及降水条件组合最好的地带,并以初步的实证和观测支持了这一论点,阐述了通过开发能很好地适应自然条件,特别是能扬长避短,充分利用总体上虽较严酷而局部具有优势的气候资源的“系统生产力”的新思路;中心选择和应用生物量高、水分效率高、覆盖作用好的新作物和相应的种植制度,围绕生物量“为牧而农”式地实行农牧结合;重“料”于粮草,相应改变传统农业的格局,以大幅度地提高黄土高原地区的系统生产力,探索走出一条生态重建和支柱产业协调发展新路的可能性。     

Metagenomics in animal gastrointestinal ecosystem: a microbiological and biotechnological perspective

Metagenomics- the application of the genomics technologies to nonculturable microbial communities, is coming of age. These approaches can be used for the screening and selection of nonculturable rumen microbiota for assessing their role in gastrointestinal (GI) nutrition, plant material fermentation and the health of the host. The technologies designed to access this wealth of genetic information through environmental nucleic acid extraction have provided a means of overcoming the limitations of culture-dependent microbial genetic exploitation. The molecular procedures and techniques will result in reliable insights into the GI microbial structure and activity of the livestock gut microbes in relation to functional interactions, temporal and spatial relationships among different microbial consortia and dietary ingredients. Future developments and applications of these methods promise to provide the first opportunity to link distribution and identity of rumen microbes in their natural habitats with their genetic potential and in situ activities.     

Effects of livestock grazing on aboveground insect communities in semi-arid grasslands of southeastern Arizona

Despite the importance of invertebrates in grassland ecosystems, few studies have examined how grassland invertebrates have been impacted by disturbances in the southwestern United States. These grasslands may be particularly sensitive to one common disturbance, livestock grazing, because they have not recently evolved in the presence of large herds of bison, an important mammalian herbivore. This study examined how livestock grazing influenced vegetation-associated insect communities in southeastern Arizona. Insect abundance, richness, diversity, community composition, and key environmental variables were compared between sites on active cattle ranches and sites on a 3160 ha sanctuary that has not been grazed by cattle for over 25 years. Vegetation-associated insect communities were found to be sensitive to livestock grazing. Overall abundance of these insects was lower on grazed grasslands, and certain insect orders appeared to be negatively affected by livestock grazing; beetles were less rich, flies were less diverse, and Hymenoptera were less rich and diverse on grazed sites. Conversely, Hemiptera were more diverse on grazed sites. Species composition of vegetation-associated insect communities also differed and was significantly correlated with percent vegetation cover and number of shrubs. Insect species responsible for these differences were taxonomically diverse, and included herbivores and predators/parasites. When compared to other studies conducted in areas of the United States that fall within the historic range of bison, this study suggests that invertebrates in areas outside this range may be more sensitive to grazing pressure.     

西花蓟马和花蓟马在温度逆境下的存活率比较

以外来入侵害虫西花蓟马(Frankliniella occidentalis)和本地种花蓟马(F.intonsa)为对象,研究了高温和低温逆境下两种蓟马各虫态存活率的差异.结果表明:在36℃～44℃高温下暴露2h和4h,不论是西花蓟马还是花蓟马,各虫态的存活率均随温度的升高而降低,但在相同高温处理条件下,同一虫态西花蓟马的存活率要高于花蓟马;在-2℃～-10℃低温下暴露2h和4h,西花蓟马和花蓟马各虫态的存活率均随随温度的降低而下降;在相同低温处理条件下,同一虫态西花蓟马的存活率也要高于花蓟马.由此表明,2种蓟马对高温和低温的适应能力不同,本地种花蓟马对高温和低温均比较敏感,而外来入侵害虫西花蓟马对极端温度具有较强的适应性.     

The importance of monkey beetle (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) pollination for Aizoaceae and Asteraceae in grazed and ungrazed areas at Paulshoek, Succulent Karoo, South Africa

The relative importance of monkey beetles (Hopliini, Scarabeidae) as pollinators of Asteraceae and Aizoaceae in the Succulent Karoo as well as the influence of livestock grazing on their abundance and diversity was investigated. Hopliine beetles proved to be the, or among the, most abundant flower visitors of 12 investigated plant species. However, during single flower observations at three Aizoaceae species, bees (Apoidea), bee flies (Bombyliidae) and pollen wasps (Masaridae) were the most frequent flower visitors. However, monkey beetles carried the highest Asteraceae and Aizoaceae pollen loads, and are therefore considered to play a vital role in the pollination of these two families. Abundance, species richness and diversity of Hopliini did not appear to be heavily affected by livestock grazing. Annual variation in the composition of monkey beetle populations was more dramatic. Still, some species showed higher abundances on heavily grazed rangeland while others only occurred under low grazing pressure. It is presumed that changes in the composition of the vegetation, especially the observed decrease of perennial plants in favour of annuals and geophytes (Todd and Hoffman 1999) could in turn affect the composition of monkey beetle assemblages.     

The Success of a Rotational Grazing System in Conserving the Diversity of Chalk Grassland Auchenorrhyncha

A complex rotational grazing trial on a south-facing slope of chalk grassland at the Old Winchester Hill National Nature Reserve is briefly introduced. The responses of 23 numerous species of Auchenorrhyncha, and of species richness (S) and total abundance (N), from 1981 to 1985 are described. The greatest effects were those of variation between years, between positions on the hillside (top, middle and bottom) and between grazing plots within these positions. 10 (of the total of 23) species favoured the top of the slope, where the vegetation was significantly taller than in the middle or at the bottom. S, N and the numbers of 8 species were significantly lower on plots grazed in the year of sampling compared with ungrazed plots. Early (vs. late) grazing significantly reduced S, N and the abundance of two species, but increased the numbers of Macrosteles laevis. S, N and the abundance of 13 species was significantly and positively correlated with vegetation height measured early (May–June) and late (July–October); the numbers of 4 other species were so correlated with the latter height only. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the management of grassland nature reserves for the maintenance of high invertebrate diversity. It is concluded that rotational management is an important and valuable system, but suggested that such systems should be as simple as possible whilst remaining adequate to achieve conservation objectives.     

The dual role of bacteriocins as anti- and probiotics

Bacteria employed in probiotic applications help to maintain or restore a host’s natural microbial floral. The ability of probiotic bacteria to successfully outcompete undesired species is often due to, or enhanced by, the production of potent antimicrobial toxins. The most commonly encountered of these are bacteriocins, a large and functionally diverse family of antimicrobials found in all major lineages of Bacteria. Recent studies reveal that these proteinaceous toxins play a critical role in mediating competitive dynamics between bacterial strains and closely related species. The potential use of bacteriocin-producing strains as probiotic and bioprotective agents has recently received increased attention. This review will report on recent efforts involving the use of such strains, with a particular focus on emerging probiotic therapies for humans, livestock, and aquaculture.     

The kinetics of local cytokine and galectin expression after challenge infection with the gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus

Gastrointestinal nematode parasites undergo several developmental stages within their mammalian host, each presenting different antigenic challenges to the immune system. To examine the expression of different immune mediators over time, biopsy samples were collected from the cannulated abomasum (true stomach) of immune sheep at several times after a challenge infection with Haemonchus contortus L3s. IL-5 and IL-13 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased above saline-challenged control levels at 5 and 7 days post challenge, while IL-4 showed an earlier peak at day 2 post challenge. IL-5, IL-13 and IL-4, as well as IFN-γ mRNA levels, peaked at 7 days before decreasing to non-significant levels at 28 days post challenge. TNF-α followed a similar profile while there was a slight increase in TGF-β in both control and challenged sheep. There was a significant increase in galectin-14 mRNA in the L3 challenged compared with the saline challenged group at 7 days while both galectin-11 protein and mRNA levels increased significantly by day 3 post challenge, peaking at 5-7 days post challenge. Distinct correlations were observed between these immune parameters at different times after L3 challenge. The galectin-14 protein level at day 2 post challenge was the only measured mediator significantly negatively correlated with worm burden. These studies highlight the dynamic nature of the immune response during parasite infection and the need to consider the different life cycle stages involved.     

The population dynamics of Ostertagia gruehneri in reindeer: a model for the seasonal and intensity dependent variation in nematode fecundity

The gastrointestinal nematode Ostertagia gruehneri is a parasite of reindeer that can have a significant impact on host population dynamics. To gain a better understanding of the population dynamics of O. gruehneri, we parameterise a model for its fecundity that describes the observed seasonal and intensity dependent pattern of faecal egg counts well. The faecal egg count model is combined with a model for the seasonal faecal production rate of Svalbard reindeer to obtain quantitative estimates of the fecundity of O. gruehneri. The model is used to evaluate the relative contribution to pasture contamination of variation in the abundance of O. gruehneri and variation in reindeer densities. It is concluded that due to the intensity dependence in nematode fecundity, variation in reindeer population densities is likely to be the most important of these factors for pasture contamination.     

短期围封对西藏北部高寒草甸土壤线虫群落的影响

为了解放牧对高寒草甸的影响,以及围封对高寒草甸的恢复作用,2013年5月、8月、10月,分别对藏北短期围封高寒草甸和自由放牧高寒草甸不同深度土层的土壤线虫群落及土壤理化性质等进行了调查。调查结果表明,3a围封提高了土壤全氮、磷、钾及土壤有机质含量,土壤保水能力也明显提高;围封使土壤线虫个体密度下降,但物种多样性和丰富度却提高了;围封使土壤线虫群落中的植食性线虫所占比重呈下降趋势,食真菌线虫比重加大。短期围封有利于高寒草甸生态系统的正向演替,使之向更稳定的方向发展,同时,土壤线虫数量对土壤理化性质变化有明显的响应,通过土壤线虫群落的群落特征可以反映放牧干扰及围封对高寒草甸生态系统的影响。