Value of fallow farmlands as summer habitats for waterbirds in a Japanese rural area

Flooded rice fields, which occupy half of the total agricultural land in Japan, are known to be foraging habitats for waterbirds. We investigated the use of various fallow fields by birds in midsummer, when rice fields are generally full of grown rice plants and are of little use for foraging waterbirds. We distinguished four types of fallow fields based on the ground cover and vegetation: (i) tall-grass fields; (ii) wet short-grass fields; (iii) dry fields; and (iv) flooded open fields. In August 1998 we counted birds four times in 19 survey plots of fallow fields and in seven plots of rice fields in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, where 82% of the farmlands are devoted to rice production. We observed 590 individual birds of 22 species, of which 15 species were waterbirds, mostly herons and shorebirds. Flooded open fields supported the largest number of species and the highest bird density, while rice fields supported the fewest. Within flooded open fields, herons preferred open-water areas, while shorebirds used bare ground most often. Wet short-grass fields looked similar to flooded open fields, except for the amount of short grass, but supported far fewer birds than flooded open fields. The number of birds in dry fields was comparable to that in flooded open fields, but most of the birds were ground-foraging passerines. Our limited dataset suggests that fallow fields can serve as valuable supplemental habitats for waterbirds during summer, if they are appropriately managed to preserve flooded open fields and smaller areas of other habitats.     

稻田生物灾害生态调控的综合效益研究

单季稻田生物灾害生态调控的综合效益研究结果表明：综防田的蜘蛛群落和土壤动物群落的生物多样性均高于化防田。两类稻田蜘蛛群落物种数和个体数的差异性均达显著水平,而两类稻田土壤动物群落类群数和个体数均达极显著水平以上。综防田的杂草群落生物多样性显著低于化防田。综防田蛛虱数量存在正相关,说明稻田蜘蛛具有重要的生态调控作用。综防田农药用量、农药费用和农药残留均低于化防田。综防田的土地生产率、产值利税率和农副产品商品率均高于化防田。以综防田为代表的稻田生物灾害生态调控具有良好的生态、经济和社会效益。     

R~3中的一类拟齐次向量场的性质

利用三维拟齐次向量场和三维齐次向量场之间的等价关系并借鉴对齐次向量场的研究方法,把齐次向量场的一些结论推广到拟齐次向量场.并运用这些理论分析了具有不同增长率的三种群竞争模型的动力学性质和生物意义,得到增长率最大的种群在此竞争系统中占优,增长率最小的种群在此竞争系统中灭绝的结论.     

Nontarget effects of transgenic insecticidal crops: implications of source-sink population dynamics

Widespread planting of transgenic insecticidal (TI) crops for pest control has raised concerns about potential harm to nontarget arthropods. Because the first generation of TI crops produce single Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins causing little or no harm to most nontarget arthropods, they are not likely to cause such negative effects. However, varieties of transgenic crops with multiple Bt toxins or novel toxins might be more harmful to nontarget arthropods. Field studies assessing nontarget effects typically compare the relative abundance of nontarget arthropods in TI crop fields to non-TI crop fields. However, for nontarget arthropods that are killed by TI crops, such analyses may miss important effects. Results from simulations of a spatially explicit population dynamics model show that large-scale planting of TI crops could cause three types of negative effects on nontarget arthropods that suffer mortality caused by TI crops: (1) lower abundance in TI fields than non-TI fields with little or no effect on abundance in non-TI fields, (2) lower abundance in TI fields than non-TI fields and decreased abundance in non-TI fields, and (3) loss of the arthropod from TI and non-TI fields. Simulation results show that factors increasing the potential for negative effects of TI crops on nontarget arthropods in non-TI fields are low reproduction, high emigration, high adoption of TI crops, high mortality in TI fields, insecticide sprays, and rotation of TI and non-TI fields. The results suggest that risk assessment should consider the regional distribution of transgenic crops and the life history traits of nontarget arthropods to identify the most vulnerable regions and nontarget species.     

Comparative study of movement patterns of Mastomys natalensis in irrigated rice and fallow fields in eastern Tanzania

A 2‐year capture–mark–recapture study was conducted to estimate home ranges and weekly travel distance of Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834) in an irrigated rice ecosystem and fallow fields. We found that adults have larger home ranges than subadults in fallow fields but not in rice fields, indicating that fallow fields are more suitable for breeding. Travel distances were larger in rice fields, especially in the transplanting stage, during which rice fields are flooded and provide less food, causing movements into neighbouring fallow fields that then temporarily experience higher population density. A decrease in travel distance was observed in rice fields during the maturity stage, which can be explained by higher food availability and a more suitable, nonflooded situation. Movement of M. natalensis in rice‐fallow mosaic landscapes thus seems to be driven by food availability and flooding status of the rice fields, which can be attributed to land use practices.     

The diversity of earthworms in 200 Scottish fields and the possible effect of New Zealand land flatworms (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) on earthworm populations

Earthworm populations from 200 fields (132 pasture and 68 arable) in Scotland are compared. Earthworms populations from two pasture fields at a Scottish farm infested with the New Zealand terrestrial planarian, Arthurdendyus triangulates (a predator of earthworms), are compared with a subset of these 200 fields (none of which had planarians at the time of the survey). A variety of univariate and multivariate methods are used for comparison. Results from the 200 fields show that the number of individuals, number of species, richness and diversity decline eastwards and northwards across Scotland. There is an overall difference between pasture and arable fields at the same farm, with fewer anecic earthworms (Aporrectodea longa and Lumbricus terrestris), but more Aporrectodea rosea, in arable fields. Conversely, species richness and cumulative species diversity is greater in arable fields, and sample similarity is less. The planarian‐infested fields show differences from the subset of western Scottish pasture fields and from each other. Both have fewer Aporrectodea caliginosa (and endogeic total) and A. longa (and anecic total) than the western pasture fields. One field has fewer L. terrestris and fewer earthworms in total. Univariate factors show no significant differences between the infested fields and similar non‐infested fields, but multivariate analysis suggests differences. Waterlogging and recent growth of rushes in the infested fields are discussed in relation to the reduced population of earthworms and to rainfall.     

蚜虱净对苜蓿主要害虫及天敌种群数量的影响

在甘肃省定西市九华沟系统研究了喷施蚜虱净对苜蓿主要害虫及天敌种群数量动态的影响。结果表明,施药田蚜虫和蓟马的季节平均数量极显著高于对照田,而盲蝽和瓢虫、小花蝽、蜘蛛等大多数天敌的季节平均数量则极显著低于对照田,寄生蜂与对照田没有湿著差异。喷施蚜虱净对种群数量时序动态的影响在不同害虫和天敌种类中表现不同,5月底施药后7d对照田蚜虫和蓟马的种群数量分别为施药田的4．13倍和5．2倍,此后施药田害虫的种群数量开始迅速增加,到6月底2种害虫的种群数量均与对照田无显著差异,到7月中旬以后反而显著高于对照田。施药对盲蝽种群数量时序动态的影响与蚜虫和蓟马不同,5月底施药后盲蝽的种群数量一直显著低于对照田,直到7月下旬以后,种群数量才恢复到对照田的水平。喷施蚜虱净对天敌种群数量的时序动态有极显著的影响,大多数天敌的种群数量在5月底施药后到7月底都一直显著低于对照田,直到8月上旬才恢复到对照田的水平。施用杀虫剂在防治害虫的同时杀伤大量天敌,使害虫的种群数量迅速增加,甚至造成更严重的为害。因此在菖蓿上使用对天敌杀伤力小的杀虫剂对保持天敌的自然控制能力有重要作用。     

田埂留草控制稻飞虱效果及对捕食性天敌多样性影响

为探讨稻田田埂保留杂草控制稻飞虱的效果及对捕食性天敌多样性的影响,以稻田田埂周年性保留杂草为处理,以稻田田埂不保留杂草为对照,对处理区和对照区稻田稻飞虱成若虫、捕食性天敌种类和数量进行系统调查和分析。结果表明,在调查期内(6—10月),田埂留草稻田百丛稻株稻飞虱数量为(891.11±133.12)头,较非留草稻田减少35.31%;田埂留草稻田捕食性天敌隶属5目23科35种,而田埂非留草稻田隶属5目21科33种;田埂非留草稻田捕食性天敌优势种为食虫沟瘤蛛Ummeliata insecticepsBoes.etStr.、拟水狼蛛Pirata subpiraticus Boes.etStr.和黑肩绿盲蝽Cyrtorrhinus livdipennis Reuter,而田埂留草后优势种为食虫沟瘤蛛U.insecticeps、草间小黑蛛Erigonidium graminicolum(Sundevall)、拟水狼蛛和拟环纹狼蛛Lycosa pseudoamulata(Bose.etStr.);田埂留草稻田捕食性天敌的个体数量、丰富度、多样性指数分别为(128.89±13.52)、(33.67±0.50)、(4.53±0.04)头/百丛,较田埂非留草稻田分别增加31.96%、25.73%、5.59%,而优势度指数和均匀性指数没有显著变化。研究结果为发展稻田景观多样化控害提供依据。     

Influence of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the pulse rate of human heart

This investigation studied the effects of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the pulse rate of the human heart. The ECG (electrocardiograms) of 41 male volunteers were recorded with a Holter recorder. Twenty-six subjects were measured in and outside real fields, and 15 subjects were measured in and outside “sham” fields. The blood pressure and EEG (electroencephalogram) were also measured, but this article presents only the results of ECG recordings. The measurements took 3 h. The subjects were first sitting for 1 h outside the fields, then 1 h in the real or “sham” fields, and then, again, 1 h outside the fields. The electric field strength varied from 3.5 to 4.3 kV/m and the magnetic flux density from 1.4 to 6.6 μT. An analysis of the ECG recordings showed that the subjects' pulse rates were the same in and outside the fields. No response occurred when the subjects were exposed to real or “sham” fields. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of weak and superweak magnetic fields on intensity and asexual reproduction of the planarian Dugesia tigrina

It was shown that the exposure to combined weak and extraweak magnetic fields (permanent component 42 microT; variable component of an amplitude of 100 nT, frequency 1-60 Hz) increases the intensity of asexual propagation of planarians Dugesia tigrina. The effect of combined magnetic fields is most pronounced at frequencies of 1, 3.7, and 32 Hz. The presence of concomitant technogeneous fields (50 Hz, 30 nT) does not markedly influence the effects of weak magnetic fields with a small variable component. Upon realization of effects of weak magnetic fields, their both components are of great importance; the absence of one (permanent) component changes the sing of the effect to the opposite. The transfer of the effect to planarians through water pretreated with magnetic fields probably indicates that aqueous medium is involved in the realization of biological effects of weak magnetic fields.     

Interhemispheric connections of the parietal area of the cat cerebral cortex

The interhemispheric connections of the temporal cortical area in the cat cerebrum have been investigated after electrolytic coagulation of separate fields with subsequent study of the degenerated fibers course after Nauta--Gygax method. The fields 5 and 7 give origin mainly to homotopic fibers, terminating in symmetrical fields of the contralateral hemisphere. These fields also give origin to a small number of heterotopic commissural fibers, that provide bilateral connection of the fields 5 and 7 and do not get beyond the limits of the temporal cortex. The commissural fibers of the temporal cortex get into the contralateral hemisphere through the corpus callosum. In the latter, the commissural fibers of the field 5 are situated more rostral of the fibers running from the field. 7. This corresponds to topographic arrangement of the fields on the cortical surface.     

Estimation of 50-Hz Electrically Vs. Magnetically Generated Body Currents in Sleeping Subjects

The exposure from low-frequency electric and magnetic fields to sleeping subjects was analyzed at 343 sites. To establish the exposure due to electric fields, a new method was used to measure the current density on the body surface of the test subjects lying in their beds. The exposure due to magnetic fields was determined by short-term measurements of the magnetic flux density using induction coils. The exposures from the electric and magnetic fields were compared. The result was that, in general, the electric fields contribute much more to the total exposure than the magnetic fields.     

不同抗性品种稻田捕食性节肢动物的群落结构

对3个类型稻田早、晚稻捕食性节肢动物群落调查,结果表明:共有捕食性节肢动物67种,丰富度以蜘蛛高于捕食性昆虫类;早稻高于晚稻;中抗品种高于抗虫和感虫品种。早稻以皿蛛科Linyphiidae的食虫沟瘤蛛UlmmeliatainsecticepesBoes.etStr.占优势,晚稻则以狼蛛科Lycosidae的相对丰盛度最高。早稻捕食性天敌数量动态以中抗品种峰期最长;感性样田中天敌平均密度与中抗样田差异不显著,与抗虫品种差异显著;捕食性节肢动物多样性随着品种抗性的增强呈降低趋势,优势度随着品种抗性的增强而增强。晚稻3个品种样田中天敌的平均密度差异不显著;各品种样田的多样性明显高于早稻,且波动幅度小于早稻,品种之间多样性差异较小,晚稻群落可能具有较高的稳定性。     

Effects of crop field characteristics on nocturnal winter use by American woodcock

Since the late 1960s, American woodcock (Scolopax minor) have undergone population declines because of habitat loss. Previous research suggested ridge and furrow topography in conventionally tilled soybean fields provided critical nocturnal cover as birds foraged on earthworms. However, the use of no-till technology has increased and many fields now lack ridge and furrow topography. We assessed woodcock winter nocturnal foraging habitat use given recent changes in agricultural technology, and investigated how field treatment, earthworm abundance, and environmental variables affect the selection of nocturnal foraging sites. We counted woodcock along transects in 5 field treatments twice in each of 67 fields during December–March 2008–2009 and 72 fields during December–March 2009–2010. During both seasons, we collected earthworm and soil samples from a subset of fields of each field treatment. Woodcock densities were at least twice as high in no-till soybean fields planted after corn and in undisked corn fields with mowed stalks than in other field treatments. No-till soybean planted after corn and undisked corn fields contained ridge and furrow topography, whereas other crops did not, and earthworms were at least 1.5 times more abundant in no-till soybean fields than other field treatments. Ridges and furrows in no-till soybean fields planted after corn and undisked corn fields may provide wintering woodcock with thermal protection and concealment from predators. No-till soybean fields planted after corn offered the additional benefit of relatively high food availability. The presence of ridge and furrow topography can be used to predict woodcock field use on the wintering grounds in agricultural areas. Farmers can provide nocturnal winter foraging sites for woodcock by delaying field disking and leaving ridge and furrow topography in crop fields. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

化学防治对不同类型棉田害虫和捕食性天敌群落多样性的影响

分析比较了化学防治对8种不同类型棉田害虫、捕食性天敌群落多样性的影响。研究结果表明,化学防治对棉田害虫、捕食性天敌群落的多样性指数、均匀性指数、丰富度及个体数的变化有较大的影响,尤其对捕食性天敌群落的影响显著。但这种作用依不同类型棉田或棉花不同生育阶段而异：化学防治对套作棉田害虫、捕食性天敌群落的影响较小,而对单作棉田和豆间棉棉田害虫、捕食性天敌群落的影响较大;晚播棉田害虫与捕食性天敌群落较早播棉田受化学防治的影响更大;化学防治对免耕棉田害虫、天敌群落的影响更大,非免耕棉田害虫、捕食性天敌群落受其干扰较小;春套棉边害虫、捕食性天敌群落与其它棉田类型相比,受化学防治的影响较少;棉花害虫在棉花生育前期对化学防治较棉花生育后期敏感,而捕食性天敌在棉花整个生育期均对化学防治敏感。     

Receptive fields of the cat corpus geniculatum laterale

Leads were used to determine the activity of the optical radiation fibers, studying the responses of the cat's CGL receptive fields to changes in the surface size and illumination of a testing light spot and the illumination of the background. Three types of receptive fields were found. The receptive fields type I are characterized by a reduction in the zone of central summation as illumination of the spot increases. For fields of types II and III this zone remains unchanged when the illumination changes; however in fields of type II the response increases with an increase in lighting while in the type III fields the response does not depend on illuminance of the spot. There also exist differences in responses of the various fields to changes in the background. All the receptive fields can be described by a single model. Changes in individual parameters of the model permit transition from one field type to the other.I. P. Pavlov Physiological Institute of Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 131–137, March–April, 1971.     

The ATP method for rapid assessment of the efficacy of a single application of a fumigant against Globodera spp. in field soils

Population estimates were carried out for Globodera pallida by both visual egg counts and measurement of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content of cysts from 26 fields in Northern England. The two methods agreed for seven non-fumigated fields but covariance analysis suggested that the visual assessment underestimated mortality for all 19 fields shortly after a single treatment with a fumigant nematicide. Both methods indicated that three fields were safe for cropping for potatoes but the ATP method suggested that cropping was possible on a further eight fields considered unsuitable by visual assessments. The results indicated that a high peat content contributed to the low efficacy of the fumigants in three fields. Comparison with previous results for the ATP method using cysts from 40 Dutch fields suggested that fumigation in early autumn was required for a satisfactory single treatment. The results show that the ATP method can assess the efficacy of a single application of a fumigant for economic control in time to allow retreatment when necessary or a change in the decision to plant potatoes the following season.     

High gene flow promotes the genetic homogeneity of arable weed populations at the landscape level

To determine whether weed populations growing in neighbouring fields were genetically isolated, we investigated the genetic contamination of Alopecurus myosuroides populations in organic fields by populations in conventional fields. Herbicide resistance was used as a marker for gene flow to organic populations, which are not under herbicide selective pressure. Organic fields contained on average 74.5% herbicide-resistant plants (80.1% in conventional fields). Identical resistance alleles were found in neighbouring organic and conventional fields. AFLP analysis revealed that populations from organic and conventional fields had similar neutral genetic diversity. Massive pollen flow from conventional fields is likely chiefly responsible for the genetic makeup of A. myosuroides populations from organic fields. Using a demo-genetic model, we propose that demographic collapses of populations due to effective weed control enhance gene flow towards these populations. Fields with a low weed density could act as ‘genetic sinks’ that would facilitate the diffusion of genes from neighbouring, dense weed populations. Populations of allogamous wind-pollinated weed species like A. myosuroides occurring in neighbouring fields are therefore clearly not independent units. Adaptive evolution and management of such weeds should thus be considered on a scale broader than the field.     

小麦收割对新疆北部集约化棉区主要天敌昆虫种群数量的影响

于2009年6—8月小麦成熟至收割期对新疆北部奎屯垦区124团集约化棉区进行了调查,通过扫网法采集了棉区麦田和棉田的昆虫,并对其种群数量进行了统计分析。结果表明:随着小麦逐渐成熟,麦田中的天敌昆虫数量持续下降;当小麦全部收割后,麦田中只有极少数天敌昆虫生存。而与麦田相邻的棉田中的天敌昆虫数量在小麦收割后迅速上升,平均百网虫量达到59.23头,高于对照组连片棉田(平均百网虫量15.33头);小麦的收割比例与棉田天敌昆虫的种群数量存在显著正相关关系(P<0.05),4类主要天敌昆虫(草蛉科、姬蜂科、瓢虫科、食蚜蝇科)种群数量变化趋势之间没有显著差异。小麦收割会驱使失去生境的天敌昆虫转移进入相邻的棉田,姬蜂科、瓢虫科、食蚜蝇科等活动能力强的天敌昆虫类群更容易进入新的生境,而活动能力相对较弱的类群(草蛉科)则难以转移至棉田中。深入研究集约化棉区麦田与棉田中天敌昆虫的库源关系,将有助于集约化农业体系的进一步发展。     

Patterns of bird abundance and habitat use in rice fields of the Kanto Plain, central Japan

Rice fields, the most widespread cropland in Japan, provide important habitat for birds, but few studies have examined bird communities that are influenced by agriculture in rice fields. I studied the seasonal pattern of bird abundance and their habitat preferences in terms of agricultural habitats in the rice fields of the central Kanto Plain, central Japan. In total, 19 waterbird species and 31 landbird species were recorded over the study year. Waterbird occurrence was largely restricted to the cultivation season (i.e. the flooded season, May–August), with maximum abundance in August. Rice fields dried up during winter and supported few waterbirds except for irregular occurrences of little egrets (Egretta garzetta) and common snipes (Gallinago gallinago), which selectively used ditches with shallow water. Landbird abundance increased after the start of cultivation (May) to August, but more birds were attracted to the rice fields in midwinter (around January). For both waterbirds and landbirds, most species preferred levees and fallow grass fields, but avoided fields with rice vegetation. Unplowed fields after harvest were preferred by several species including skylarks (Alauda arvensis), while plowed fields were less attractive to most species. These results suggest the need for advanced agricultural practices to include improvement in habitat quality for birds.