International consensus principles for ethical wildlife control

Human–wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread acknowledgment of the need for ethical and evidence‐based approaches to managing such conflicts. We explored international perspectives on and experiences with human–wildlife conflicts to develop principles for ethical wildlife control. A diverse panel of 20 experts convened at a 2‐day workshop and developed the principles through a facilitated engagement process and discussion. They determined that efforts to control wildlife should begin wherever possible by altering the human practices that cause human–wildlife conflict and by developing a culture of coexistence; be justified by evidence that significant harms are being caused to people, property, livelihoods, ecosystems, and/or other animals; have measurable outcome‐based objectives that are clear, achievable, monitored, and adaptive; predictably minimize animal welfare harms to the fewest number of animals; be informed by community values as well as scientific, technical, and practical information; be integrated into plans for systematic long‐term management; and be based on the specifics of the situation rather than negative labels (pest, overabundant) applied to the target species. We recommend that these principles guide development of international, national, and local standards and control decisions and implementation.     

Cr(VI) reduction capability of humic acid extracted from the organic component of municipal solid waste

The capacity of humic acid extracted from organic waste (HAw) to reduce Cr(Ⅵ) was tested at pH 2.5,4 and 6 and compared with coal-derived humic acid (HAc).HAw was more effective than HAc in reducing Cr(Ⅵ).The kinetics of Cr(Ⅵ) reductions depended strongly on pH.The calculation of the apparent rate coefficients indicated that HAw was more efficient at reducing Cr(Ⅵ) than HAc,but was also more efficient than HAs from soil and peat.The reduction capability of HAs depends on the type of functional groups (i.e.,thiols and phenols) present,rather than the free radicals.HAw was more efficient at reducing Cr(Ⅵ) than HAc because more reactive phenols were present,i.e.,methoxy-and methyl-phenols.     

波兰农业转型对大波兰地区的生态影响

20世纪90年代波兰的政局发生了变革,由此所带来的农业转型对农业土地利用结构产生了根本性的改变.随着饲料作物比例的下降,粮食作物的比重相应地增加.此外,化学肥料的使用也相应减少了.在畜牧业中,牲畜存栏数表现出了急剧下降,这也导致了有机肥使用量的降低.耕作模式的改变和较低的肥料使用水平使土壤中的有机物含量下降,这有可能使土壤质量下降.由于在大波兰地区广泛存在轻质土壤,而且这类土壤中的养分可以很容易地被淋溶到地下水中,因此上述现象在该地区表现得极为突出.研究发现,在农业景观中的许多负面影响可以通过建立农田防护林带予以缓和.我们的结论是农田防护林带可以有效地控制流域的养分流失.     

Short communications prenatal detection of the autosomal recessive type of polycystic kidney disease by trehalase assay in amniotic fluid

We report relatively high trehalase activity in amniotic fluid of a fetus affected with the autosomal recessive type of polycystic kidney disease (type II), suggesting that prenatal detection of this condition could be done on this basis in conjunction with ultrasonography.