Cost-Effective Suppression and Eradication of Invasive Predators

Abstract: Introduced predators can have pronounced effects on naïve prey species; thus, predator control is often essential for conservation of threatened native species. Complete eradication of the predator, although desirable, may be elusive in budget‐limited situations, whereas predator suppression is more feasible and may still achieve conservation goals. We used a stochastic predator–prey model based on a Lotka‐Volterra system to investigate the cost‐effectiveness of predator control to achieve prey conservation. We compared five control strategies: immediate eradication, removal of a constant number of predators (fixed‐number control), removal of a constant proportion of predators (fixed‐rate control), removal of predators that exceed a predetermined threshold (upper‐trigger harvest), and removal of predators whenever their population falls below a lower predetermined threshold (lower‐trigger harvest). We looked at the performance of these strategies when managers could always remove the full number of predators targeted by each strategy, subject to budget availability. Under this assumption immediate eradication reduced the threat to the prey population the most. We then examined the effect of reduced management success in meeting removal targets, assuming removal is more difficult at low predator densities. In this case there was a pronounced reduction in performance of the immediate eradication, fixed‐number, and lower‐trigger strategies. Although immediate eradication still yielded the highest expected minimum prey population size, upper‐trigger harvest yielded the lowest probability of prey extinction and the greatest return on investment (as measured by improvement in expected minimum population size per amount spent). Upper‐trigger harvest was relatively successful because it operated when predator density was highest, which is when predator removal targets can be more easily met and the effect of predators on the prey is most damaging. This suggests that controlling predators only when they are most abundant is the “best” strategy when financial resources are limited and eradication is unlikely.     

Eradication of Invasive Mammals on Islands Inhabited by Humans and Domestic Animals

Abstract: Non‐native invasive mammal species have caused major ecological change on many islands. To conserve native species diversity, invasive mammals have been eradicated from several islands not inhabited by humans. We reviewed the challenges associated with campaigns to eradicate invasive mammals from islands inhabited by humans and domestic animals. On these islands, detailed analyses of the social, cultural, and economic costs and benefits of eradication are required to increase the probability of local communities supporting the eradication campaign. The ecological benefits of eradication (e.g., improvement of endemic species’ probability of survival) are difficult to trade‐off against social and economic costs due to the lack of a common currency. Local communities may oppose an eradication campaign because of perceived health hazards, inconvenience, financial burdens, religious beliefs, or other cultural reasons. Besides these social challenges, the presence of humans and domestic animals also complicates eradication and biosecurity procedures (measures taken to reduce the probability of unwanted organisms colonizing an island to near zero). For example, houses, garbage‐disposal areas, and livestock‐feeding areas can provide refuges for certain mammals and therefore can decrease the probability of a successful eradication. Transport of humans and goods to an island increases the probability of inadvertent reintroduction of invasive mammals, and the establishment of permanent quarantine measures is required to minimize the probability of unwanted recolonization after eradication. We recommend a close collaboration between island communities, managers, and social scientists from the inception of an eradication campaign to increase the probability of achieving and maintaining an island permanently free of invasive mammals.     

Drivers of Seabird Population Recovery on New Zealand Islands after Predator Eradication

Eradication of introduced mammalian predators from islands has become increasingly common, with over 800 successful projects around the world. Historically, introduced predators extirpated or reduced the size of many seabird populations, changing the dynamics of entire island ecosystems. Although the primary outcome of many eradication projects is the restoration of affected seabird populations, natural population responses are rarely documented and mechanisms are poorly understood. We used a generic model of seabird colony growth to identify key predictor variables relevant to recovery or recolonization. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the importance of these variables in driving seabird population responses after predator eradication on islands around New Zealand. The most influential variable affecting recolonization of seabirds around New Zealand was the distance to a source population, with few cases of recolonization without a source population ≤25 km away. Colony growth was most affected by metapopulation status; there was little colony growth in species with a declining status. These characteristics may facilitate the prioritization of newly predator‐free islands for active management. Although we found some evidence documenting natural recovery, generally this topic was understudied. Our results suggest that in order to guide management strategies, more effort should be allocated to monitoring wildlife response after eradication. Conductores de la Recuperación de Poblaciones de Aves Marinas en Islas de Nueva Zelanda después de la Erradicación de Depredadores     

Quantifying Eradication Success: the Removal of Feral Pigs from Santa Cruz Island, California

Abstract:  A major challenge facing pest-eradication efforts is determining when eradication has been achieved. When the pest can no longer be detected, managers have to decide whether the pest has actually been eliminated and hence to decide when to terminate the eradication program. For most eradication programs, this decision entails considerable risk and is the largest single issue facing managers of such programs. We addressed this issue for an eradication program of feral pigs ( Sus scrofa ) from Santa Cruz Island, California. Using a Bayesian approach, we estimated the degree of confidence in the success of the eradication program at the point when monitoring failed to detect any more pigs. Catch-effort modeling of the hunting effort required to dispatch pigs during the eradication program was used to determine the relationship between detection probability and searching effort for different hunting methods. We then used these relationships to estimate the amount of monitoring effort required to declare eradication successful with criteria that either set a threshold for the probability that pigs remained undetected (type I error) or minimized the net expected costs of the eradication program (cost of type I and II errors). For aerial and ground-based monitoring techniques, the amount of search effort required to declare eradication successful on the basis of either criterion was highly dependent on the prior belief in the success of the program unless monitoring intensities exceeded 30 km of searching effort per square kilometer of search area for aerial monitoring and, equivalently, 38 km for ground monitoring. Calculation of these criteria to gauge the success of eradication should form an essential component of any eradication program as it allows for a transparent assessment of the risks inherent in the decision to terminate the program.     

Importance of Assessing Population Genetic Structure before Eradication of Invasive Species: Examples from Insular Norway Rat Populations

Abstract:  Determining the inter-island migration abilities of pest species and delimiting eradication units enable more viable long-term eradication campaigns because recurrent colonization from neighboring islands is avoided. We examined the genetic structure of the invasive Norway rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) to identify gene flow between islands and delimit population units at different geographical scales. We investigated variation in eight microsatellite loci in rat populations from 18 islands, representing five archipelagos off the Brittany coast (France). Although most of the islands are isolated from each other, short genetic distances, weak F_ST values between close islands, and a high level of cross-assignment showed that individuals collected on different islands could represent a single population unit. A Bayesian clustering method also supported the existence of high levels of gene flow between some neighboring islands. Thus, the statement "one island equals one population" can be false when inter-island distances are less than a few hundred meters. Genetic studies enable the definition of island clusters among which migration may occur that should be considered eradication units. To avoid reinvasion and to minimize ecological and economic costs, rats on all islands in an eradication unit should be eradicated simultaneously. We suggest that the genetic monitoring we performed here can be applied for management of any pest.     

Eradication via destratification: whole-lake mixing to selectively remove rainbow smelt, a cold-water invasive species

Invasive species can have severe effects on aquatic ecosystems. After invasions occur, eradication should be considered whenever the potential loss of ecosystem services outweighs the cost of the eradication method. Here we evaluate the possibility of destratifying Crystal Lake, Wisconsin, USA, to eradicate the invasive fish rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). We modeled the effects of three destratification scenarios (non-, low-, and high-mixing) using both physical and biological models. Field observations were used to calibrate the models. Water temperatures estimated from 18 unique DYRESM simulations were used in a bioenergetics model to estimate growth of five age classes of rainbow smelt under normal and destratified conditions. Our simulations indicate that destratification can eliminate optimal rainbow smelt thermal habitat resulting in mortality. Destratified lake temperatures also surpassed several physiological critical temperatures. Bioenergetics simulations predicted a weight loss of 45-55% in yearling and adult rainbow smelt. We found that destratification is potentially effective for eradicating cold-water species in temperate lakes.     

1株微小杆菌对4种蓝藻的生长影响

利用过滤的天然珍珠养殖水参照BG11配制加富培养液,将1株能促进鱼害微囊藻生长的微小杆菌属菌株(Exiguobacterium sp.013,简写为E.sp.013)进行纯化扩大培养后与铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)、水华微囊藻(Microcystis flosaquae)、平裂藻(Merismopedia sp.)和惠氏微囊藻(Microcystis wesenbergii)按一定菌、藻密度比例同时接种后进行为期24 d的培养试验,利用特定生长率和细胞密度等指标观察并检验E.sp.013菌株对4种蓝藻生长的影响,同时检测培养液中优势菌群的数量变化趋势.结果表明:E.sp.013菌对铜绿微囊藻、水华微囊藻和惠氏微囊藻具有显著促生长和延长稳定生长期作用,对平裂藻不具有显著促生长作用,但对延长其稳定生长期具有显著效果;试验培养过程中E.sp.013菌落数量占所有菌落总数的比例始终高于46％,处于绝对优势地位,表明E.sp.013菌具有调控其他菌群的能力.     

南京城市西部遗产廊道规划

南京城市西部历史时期是城市的重要边界,现在逐渐演变成老城与新区之间的核心地带,成为公共活动的重要地区,保护其自然、文化遗产和生态环境具有非常重要的意义。在对其现状调查分析的基础上,梳理遗产点的历史概况、现状及其分布情况,提出规划遗产廊道的意义,探讨规划的具体思路,为南京遗产保护提供了新的视角。     

利用回归分析确定降水入渗补给量

目前常用降水量乘以降水入渗补给系数的方法计算降水入渗补给量,此法不能表现降水特征、蒸发等因素对降水入渗补给的影响．为解决不同时间尺度、不同降水特征和蒸发情况下的降水入渗补给量,在分析郑州地下水均衡试验场地中渗透仪实测入渗量、降水和蒸发资料的基础上,利用均匀设计法选取最优的与降水入渗补给量关系密切的前期降水量和蒸发量的期次,然后利用回归分析建立各岩性和埋深的年、月和日尺度上的降水入渗函数,可以比较准确的计算降水入渗补给量．表3,参9．     

洞庭湖生态环境承载力分析

洞庭湖湖内冬枯水季节，有芦苇面积530km^2，草地面积800余km^2，泥滩地面积367km^2，天然水域面积约993km^2。湖洲之间隔水相望，河沟水系纵横交错，具“水浸皆湖，水落为洲”的地貌特征，呈现出支离破碎的形态面貌和典型的自然湿地景观。文章在大量调查的基础上，从自然和人文两个方面对洞庭湖的生态环境承载力或环境压力进行分析。     

‘香玲’核桃试管苗生长条件的优化

为优化核桃试管苗生长条件,向核桃优良品种规模化栽培提供大量优良的种植材料,以‘香玲’核桃实生苗为材料,对基本培养基的类型(MS,DKW,WPM)和凝固剂种类(琼脂,Phytagel,二者结合)进行了筛选,并采用完全随机试验设计研究了细胞分裂素种类和浓度对其试管苗生长的影响.试验结果表明:基本培养基与凝固剂的种类,以及细胞分裂素的种类与浓度对芽苗生长的影响很大.以DKW为基本培养基,2.2 g/L Phytagel为凝固剂,激素配比为0.8 mg/L BA+0.01 mg/L IBA,有利于芽苗增殖,增殖可达4.70;后在0.8 mg/L KT+0.01 mg/L IBA进行壮苗,即可进行生根培养.不同基因型对基本培养基中无机盐成分的需求不同,含有较丰富矿物质的Phytagel有利于芽苗生长.BA促进腋芽的萌动和增殖,而KT则有利于壮苗.图4表3参22     

城市污泥超声波处理技术

较全面的介绍了超声波处理污泥的效果，以及目前取得的研究进展，并简要讨论了今后的发展趋势。在适当的操作条件下，超声波可以迅速改变污泥结构，释放菌胶团包含水，从而促进污泥减量化和稳定化。高强度的处理也可以加快污泥水解、提高污泥可生化性、提高沼气产量。同时可消毒有害病菌。     

Potential environmental impact of dissolution of raw phosphate in sea water of the Gulf of Aqaba

Dissolution of raw phosphate (apatite) in sea water of the Gulf of Aqaba was investigated through lab incubation experiments. Three types from three different sources (Al-Hasa, Al-Abyad and Esh-Shydiya) have been used for these experiments. Impact of quantity, grain size, and source (type) of raw phosphate on dissolution rate were studied. Statistical analysis shows significant differences between the results obtained from comparing each two weights; as weight of apatite increased, dissolved inorganic phosphate-phosphorus (DIP) and fluoride in sea water solution increased. The differences between the dissolution rates of raw phosphate from the three sites were not significant while the differences between the different grain size fractions were significant. Dissolution rates were inversely related to particle size. Using a worst-case scenario, a conservative estimate of the maximum increase in DIP in seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba due to the apatite particles lost to the sea during ship loading resulted in DIP concentrations of 0.03 μM per year. As the residence time of the water in the Gulf of Aqaba is about one year, the DIP concentration will not increase by more than 0.03 μM under the estimated annual quantity of exported phosphate. Fluoride will not increase by more than 0.03 mg/l under the same conditions.     

不同饲粮对生猪产污情况的影响

研究了精饲料和精青配合饲料饲养下育肥猪排污量和主要污染物含量的差异.结果表明,与饲喂精饲料相比,饲喂精青配合饲料的生猪产粪量降低18.97%,产尿量降低38.56%.精饲料饲养50d后,生猪体质量仅比精青配合饲料饲养平均增加1.5kg,采用精青配合饲料饲养的生猪体质量每增加lkg饲料成本投入比精饲料饲养减少21.68%.精青配合饲料喂养生猪不仅可减少污染物的排放量,还可节约饲料投入成本,提高养猪效益.     

大气甲醛卫生检验方法的分析条件

对《居住区大气中甲醛卫生检验标准方法分光光度法》(GB／T16129-1995)中实验条件进行了实验研究，研究表明进口和天津显色剂的灵敏度有差别，但对测定结果无影响；最佳显色时间为2-8min；样品在0℃～4℃条件下保存4d对测定无影响。     

基于RS和GIS的嫩江下游土地沙漠化景观格局变化特征分析

以2004、2008年的MODIS数据为主要数据源,在ArcGIS 9.0、ERDAS IMAGE 9.0等软件支持下,利用FRAGSTATS软件分析土地沙漠化的景观格局变化.结果表明,研究区域沙漠化土地以轻度和中度沙漠化土地为主;各景观要素的边缘密度和斑块密度呈现一致性的减少,表明斑块形状趋向简单,景观整体破碎化程度降低,边缘效应影响减小;除水域景观外,其他景观要素的形状指数和分维数都呈现一致性的下降,表明整体景观的形状都向着简单化和稳定性方向发展,各景观要素的散布与并列指数和聚集度指数都呈现一致性的增加,反映出各要素斑块趋向大型化发展,景观整体连接度增强,破碎化程度降低,景观相互作用和空间关系增强.