Bird sensitivity to disturbance as an indicator of forest patch conditions: An issue in environmental assessments

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is one of the steps within the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Birds are often used in EA to help decision makers evaluate potential human impacts from proposed development activities. A “sensitivity to human disturbance” index, created by Parker III et al. (1996) for all Neotropical species, is commonly considered an ecological indicator. However, this parameter was created subjectively and, for most species, there have been no rigorous field test to validate its effectiveness as such. Therefore, in this study, we aim to: (1) evaluate if, at the local scale, birds from forest patches in a human-modified landscape (HML) may differ in sensitivity from Parker's sensitivity classification; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the species richness value at each sensitivity level as an ecological indicator; (3) gather information on how often and in which manner Parker's classification has been used in EA. To do so, bird sampling was performed in eight forest patches in a HML over one year. Then, we created a local sensitivity to disturbance using information about threat, endemism, spatial distribution and relative abundance of all species in the study area. We found that 37% of the forest birds showed different local sensitivity levels when compared with Parker's classification. Our results show that only the richness of high-sensitivity species from our local classification fitted the ecological indicator assumptions helping the environmental conditions evaluation of the studied patches. We conclude that species richness of each Parker's bird sensitivity levels do not necessarily perform as an ecological indicator at the local scale, and particularly in HML. Nevertheless, Parker's Neotropical bird sensitivity classification was used in 50% of EA we reviewed. In these, 76% assumed that it was an accurate ecological indicator of the local forest conditions for birds. The lack of clear criteria used in Parker's classification allows diverse interpretations by ornithologists, and there is no agreement about the ecological meaning of each sensitivity level and what environmental conditions each level may indicate of. Therefore, the use of Parker's classification in EA may jeopardize accurate interpretations of proposed anthropogenic impacts. Furthermore, because a bird species’ sensitivity often varies between locations, we argue that Parker's generalized classification of bird sensitivity should not be used as an indicator of forest environmental conditions in EA throughout HMLs in Neotropics. Rather, local bird ecological indices should be explored, otherwise, erroneous predictions of the anthropogenic impacts will continue to be common.     

The impacts of agricultural payments on groundwater quality: Spatial analysis on the case of Slovenia

The European Common Agricultural Policy still follows its primary goals, i.e. quality food at affordable prices and a decent standard of living for farmers, fifty years after its adoption. Moreover, this policy adapts to the changing needs of society and the new challenges, mostly preservation of the environment, nature and biodiversity in rural areas. Although the Common Agricultural Policy receives the largest share of European budget, the funds are decreasing over time, especially direct payments, which aim to provide basic income support to farmers in the European Union. On the other hand, agri-environmental payments are gaining importance. Policy decision-makers should be interested in the question of impacts of growing eco-conditionality of agricultural spending. New insights would help them to be successful in achieving the goals of sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the impacts of production support payments and rural development payments on the quality of groundwater. We use the small EU country Slovenia as an example. The baseline indicators are the level of nitrates and pesticides in groundwater, while the impacts were estimated using spatial error model. The results show that direct payments, coupled subsidies and investment grants raise the level of pesticides in groundwater, but do not have any statistically significant impact on the level of nitrates in groundwater. Furthermore, we did not find any statistically significant effects of agri-environmental payments on decrease of groundwater pollution with nitrates. However, our findings revealed that agri-environmental payments are effective in reducing pesticides in groundwater, although only to a limited extent. These results imply a problem of insufficient targeting of agri-environmental measures on the one hand, and suggest that greening of direct payments is necessary and entirely justified.     

云南省(虫齿)目二新种和灰背蛇(虫齿)的记述((虫齿)目:厚(虫齿)科、叉(虫齿)科、围(虫齿)科)

本文记述了云南省(虫齿)目二新种,Tapinella bannana sp.n.和Peripsocus plurimaculatus sp.n.及一新种记录种Ophiodopelma semicets Lee and Thornton,其雄虫为首次记载。     

海河流域14种农作物对土壤库中磷的输出量和输入量初步研究

 海河流域14种农作物平均含磷量为0.127±0.053%,变化范围0.023—0.214%,不同器官中最高可达0.419%,最低仅为0.019%。对土壤库中磷输出量最大者为谷子,磷可达99.758±56.931kg·ha-1·a-1,其次是玉米和棉花;磷输入量以白薯为最大,为12.557±5.020kg·ha-1·a-1(但包括可食部分块根的输出部分在内),然后是谷子和花生,其余作物均较低,<2kg·ha-1·a-1。具高输出量的作物的部位有玉米、谷子、花生、棉花等果实,谷子、花生、白薯等茎叶;就输入量而言,除白薯为高输入和谷子为低输入类型外,其余均属很低输入型,上述特点揭示了海河流域因作物的收获而大量损失土壤库中的磷,如种植谷子、玉米、棉花等分别以99.758、32.661和26.591kg·ha-1·a-1的速率损失有效态磷。并对不同子流域作物磷的输出(入)量差异以及针对上述问题应采取的对策作了探讨。     

Optimizing conditions for cryopreservation of an insect cell line

A cell line (UM-BGE-2) derived from embryos of the cockroach Blattella germanica was frozen to ?196 °C under a variety of conditions and cell viability was assayed after warming. It was found that cell viability was affected by the cooling rate, the warming rate, the controlled cooling endpoint temperature, and the type and concentration of cryoprotectant. The best survival for cells suspended in Grace's tissue culture medium containing 1 M Me₂SO was obtained when cells were cooled at 1 °C/ min to at least ?90 °C before being placed in liquid nitrogen and warmed at more than 900 °C/min. Cultures initiated from these frozen cells produce typical growth curves and appear normal after several passages.     

Naltrexone partially inhibits the estrogen-induced increase in prolactin secretion and anterior pituitary weight

The effects of naltrexone, a specific opiate antagonist, on stimulation by estradiol benzoate (EB) of prolactin (PRL) release and anterior pituitary (AP) weight, were studied in gonadectomized female and male Sprague-Dawley rats. One week after castration, rats were injected for 10 days once daily with 2 μg EB alone, or together with twice daily injections of 2 mg naltrexone/kg body weight (BW). Blood was collected for radioimmunoassay of PRL by orbital sinus puncture on days 0 and 6, and by decapitation on day 11, at which time the AP was quickly removed, weighed and assayed for PRL.Serum PRL concentrations and AP weights were significantly increased by EB administration. These effects of EB were partially but significantly inhibited by naltrexone. These results suggest that endegenous opiates may be involved in the estrogen-induced rise in serum PRL and increase in pituatary weight.     

土地流转背景下不同经营规模青田稻鱼共生系统的环境影响差异——基于碳足迹的实证研究

在快速工业化和城镇化的影响下,农业文化遗产的保护与管理正面临着适龄劳动力大量外流、土地抛荒、传统知识体系难以维持等诸多威胁与挑战。推动土地流转、进行适度规模经营,可在农业文化遗产的保护中产生积极作用。土地流转在给遗产地带来经济效益的同时,对当地生态环境产生的影响变化同样值得关注,但现有研究却少有涉及。本研究以全球重要农业文化遗产——浙江青田稻鱼共生系统为例,将不同经营规模的稻鱼共生系统分为小农户经营模式和规模化经营模式,运用生命周期法对两种模式的碳足迹进行核算。结果表明: 小农户经营模式和规模化经营模式的碳足迹分别为6510.80和5917.00 kg CO₂-eq·hm^-2,单位产值碳足迹分别为0.13和0.10 kg CO₂-eq·yuan^-1。与小农户经营模式相比,规模化经营模式温室气体排放更少,单位产值的环境影响更小。农户扩大经营规模后,当地温室气体排放减少了4097.20 kg CO₂-eq。农业生产过程中积累的CH₄在碳足迹中占比最大,农业生产资料中复合肥是仅次于CH₄的第二大温室气体排放来源。对于小农户经营模式,饲料中使用的玉米和小麦也对温室气体排放有重要的影响。因此,推动土地适度规模经营,有利于传统农业系统实现经济效益和环境效益的双赢,对于农业文化遗产保护具有重要作用。     

Effect of photoperiod on winter and summer diapause of the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

To understand the geographical differences between diapause systems and synchronization of adult occurrence in the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), we examined the timing of winter diapause termination and intensity of summer diapause using univoltine and potentially bivoltine individuals in Iwate, Japan. In laboratory rearing experiments of mature larvae maintained at constant temperature (20 °C), winter diapause intensity weakened by January without photoperiodic responses. Meanwhile, summer diapause was maintained by the long day length and presumably terminated with the photoperiodic transition from long to short day length. The intensity of summer diapause was stronger for cocoons that transitioned from a 16 h light to 8 h dark (LD 16:8) to a LD 15:9 photoperiod than for those that transitioned from LD 15:9 to LD 14:10. These results suggest that populations distributed in relatively low-latitude areas, with partly or potentially bivoltine individuals, would have a weaker summer diapause or none at all. Moreover, sexual differences in the number of days to emergence were not detected when individuals experienced a photoperiodic transition from long to short day length, suggesting that the summer diapause system may function to synchronize the emergence of males and females in the population examined.     

Reduction of Nitrate in Agricultural Soils by Bio-electrokinetics

High nitrate concentration in surface soils is a serious concern for the agricultural industry throughout the world. Nitrate reduction can be achieved by chemical or biological processes; however, these processes are difficult to achieve in-situ because of the low permeability of clays. This study evaluates bio-electrokinetic processes for nitrate treatment in low-permeability soils. The concept is based on using iron electrodes to generate an electric field and a reducing environment in the soil to facilitate nitrate reduction by existing bacteria. Experiments were conducted using starch as an additive for microbial activity in the anolyte. Three sets of experiments were conducted under 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 V cm^?1 voltage gradient, and using starch as an anolyte for enhancing existing microbial activity in the soil. Initial nitrate concentration in the soil (agricultural soil collected from Jinju, Korea) was between 782 and 800 mg kg^?1. Removal of 100% nitrate was achieved in the soil under 0.5 and 1.0 V cm^?1 due to the combined effect of biological and iron reduction. A control experiment with iron electrodes, but without starch, was not as effective. Ammonium was also effectively removed by the combined action of starch and iron under 0.5 and 1.0 V cm^?1. The role of starch with iron on the nitrate and ammonium removal process is evaluated along with the role of transport by electro-osmosis and electro-migration. The bacterial action on denitrification and nitrification is assessed and the relationship between pH and the efficiency of nitrate reduction in the bio-EK systems is evaluated.     

云南及周边地区农作物野生近缘植物

"云南及周边地区生物资源调查"项目是国家科技部基础性工作专项,现已通过国家验收。云南及周边地区是低纬度高海拔地区,也是我国少数民族聚居区,农作物的种类和物种多样性及遗传多样性都十分丰富,并且孕育了丰富的农作物野生近缘植物。本文仅介绍云南及周边地区粮食作物、经济作物、蔬菜作物、果树作物的野生近缘植物,旨在为这些野生近缘植物的研究和开发,制定国家野生植物多样性保护政策提供基础数据和相关信息。