Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia, available soil P and nodulation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in Zimbabwe

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization and nodulation of groundnut were examined in nine soils collected from subsistence farmers’ fields in Zimbabwe. Nodule number, shoot dry weight, shoot N and P contents, and AMF colonization were assessed after 6 weeks growth. Both nodule number and AMF colonization differed by an order of magnitude among the nine soils. Soil available P explained almost all the variability in nodule number (r² = 0.98), but had no significant effect on percent AMF colonization. By adding P to one soil, nodule numbers increased four-fold resulting in a significantly higher N content in the shoots. Similar, but smaller, effects were obtained by increasing the abundance of AMF through an inoculation with Glomus intraradices, suggesting that nodulation in this soil was limited by AMF abundance and that the fungi could, to a limited extent, substitute for P fertilizer.     

The Problems of Fishermen in the Southern Aral Sea Region

The main objective of this paper is the presentation of water scarcity and water quality problems of fishery and fishermen in the southern Aral Sea region Kazakhstan. We tried in the past to inform interested people about our suggestions how to rehabilitate the situation, how to produce relatively enough fish for the functioning of local fish processing industry and to give people jobs, but we were unable so far to convince decision makers about innovations needed. It is essential therefore to reiterate some of the well-known problems of the region, called the Aral Sea crisis, but we concentrate mostly on the problems for the fishermen. While we do this, we understand, however, that the problem requires solution within the concept of a socioeconomic sustainable development for which we suggest the development of a decision support system based upon a computer simulation model providing optimal solutions.     

Stakeholder perspectives on land-use conflicts in the South African section of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area

ABSTRACT

Land-use conflict has become a topical issue due to an increase in the number of stakeholders having incompatible interests related to particular land uses. Competing land-uses include those for conservation, irrigation, game and livestock farming, settlements and mining. These groupings of land-uses have different interests and objectives. This study aims to investigate the basis for the land-use conflict, and to get insights into how various stakeholders perceive and interpret existing conflicts. Empirical results were drawn from observation, interviews and documents collected between 2011 and 2018. The interviews were held with various stakeholders involved in land-use decisions. Qualitative data were analysed through thematic content analysis, and observations assisted with the corroboration of information collected through interviews. The study recorded four central land-use conflicts: irrigation farming with conservation; game farming with conservation; settlements/livestock farming with conservation; and mining with conservation/game farming/irrigation farming. The study also explains how local stakeholders understand these conflicts.     

The paradox of risk assessment: comparing responses of fathead minnows to capture-released and diet-released alarm cues from two different predators

Summary. Many aquatic prey are known to use chemical alarm cues to assess their risk of predation. In fishes, such alarm cues can be released either through damage of the epidermis during a predatory attack (capture-released) or through release from the predator feces (diet-released). In our study, we compared the importance of capture- versus diet-released alarm cues in risk assessment by fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) that were na?ve to fish predators. We utilized two different fish predators: a specialized piscivore, the northern pike (Esox lucius) and a generalist predator, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Handling time of pike consuming minnows was much shorter than for trout consuming minnows, likely resulting in less epidermal damage to the minnows during attacks by pike. In accordance with this, minnows showed a less intense antipredator response to capture-released cues from pike than capture-released cues from trout. This represents a paradox in risk assessment for the minnows as they respond to the specialized piscivore, the more dangerous predator, with a less intense antipredator response. In contrast, the minnows showed a stronger antipredator response to the specialized piscivore than to the generalist when given diet cues. This work highlights the need for researchers to carefully consider the nature of the information available to prey in risk assessment.     

土地利用变化对城郊农业区生态效益的影响——以四川省南充市高坪区为例

借鉴生态效益综合评价的有关理论和数学模型,以四川省南充市高坪区为例,选取生物多样性指数、植被覆盖指数、水土保持效益指数、土壤改良指数、涵养水源指数、拦截径流指数和湿度指数7个指标作为评价因子,建立生态效益评价体系,对该区域1996和2005年2个时期综合生态效益进行评估和比较.结果表明,该区域综合生态效益值分别为7.85和7.95,2005年比1996年略为升高;基于GIS的图层叠置、分割等分析功能,就区域土地利用变化对其内部生态效益造成的变化进行了分析,该区域可被划分为生态效益显著增强区、增强区、保持区、减弱区和显著减弱区5个等级.     

Evaluating Effects of Habitat Loss and Land-Use Continuity on Ant Species Richness in Seminatural Grassland Remnants

Abstract:  Seminatural grasslands in Europe are susceptible to habitat destruction and fragmentation that result in negative effects on biodiversity because of increased isolation and area effects on extinction rate. However, even small habitat patches of seminatural grasslands might be of value for conservation and restoration of species richness in a landscape with a long history of management, which has been argued to lead to high species richness. We tested whether ant communities have been negatively affected by habitat loss and increased isolation of seminatural grasslands during the twentieth century. We examined species richness and community composition in seminatural grasslands of different size in a mosaic landscape in Central Sweden. Grasslands managed continuously over centuries harbored species-rich and ecologically diverse ant communities. Grassland remnant size had no effect on ant species richness. Small grassland remnants did not harbor a nested subset of the ant species of larger habitats. Community composition of ants was mainly affected by habitat conditions. Our results suggest that the abandonment of traditional land use and the encroachment of trees, rather than the effects of fragmentation, are important for species composition in seminatural grasslands. Our results highlight the importance of considering land-use continuity and dispersal ability of the focal organisms when examining the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity. Landscape history should be considered in conservation programs focusing on effects of land-use change.     

上海郊区旱作农田氮素流失研究

通过测坑和大田小区试验,研究了上海郊区旱作农田氮素降雨径流和降雨渗漏流失的特征、相关因素和流失负荷。结果表明:平水年重质土麦地总氮流失负荷为18. 38 kg·hm-2,其中降雨径流总氮流失负荷为4. 4kg·hm-2,渗漏为13. 98kg·hm-2;菜地总氮流失量为55. 65kg·hm-2,其中降雨径流总氮流失负荷为21. 6kg·hm-2,渗漏为34. 05kg·hm-2;旱田氮素流失以硝态氮为主,占总氮90%左右。施用有机肥可较大幅度地减少旱田的氮素渗漏流失。     

浅论大理州畜禽养殖业污染及其防治对策

主要分析大理州畜禽养殖业污染排放情况,与工业废水、生活污水进行对比分析,提出加强畜禽养殖业环境管理的必要性以及污染防治的重要性,提出加强畜禽养殖业污染防治的对策措施及建议。     

从“治”到“化”的规模化养殖场废物处理的循环经济模式

首先讨论了“治”字思维模式下,我国禽畜养殖业规模化养殖场存在污染物既不经济又不环保的严峻现实问题。事实上,规模化禽畜养殖场产生的“废物”,既是严重的污染源,又是一种必须利用的资源。因此,针对规模化养殖场的污染物“治”字思维问题,在立足于粪便及污水的综合利用100%“资源化”的“化”字思维指导下,遵循循环经济原则,建立无废无污开放式闭合循环的生态经济新模式。一方面,养殖业所有流程按循环利用原则,实行生态工艺或无废工艺的改造;另一方面,在一个大的区域里把畜禽养殖业与其它产业,特别是大农业中的种植业以生态经济循环链锁关系配置成首尾相接的“废料—原料”的循环经济新模式,在达到边际成本最低的同时取得边际效益的最大化。     

Relationships between Danish organic farming and landscape composition

This article presents an investigation of relationships between organic farming and landscape composition in Denmark. Landscape composition was analysed in terms of density of uncultivated landscape elements (I), number of land uses per hectare (II), diversity of land use (III) and mean field size (IV). Two analytical approaches were used. The first was based on an examination of the national agricultural registers for 1998, 2001 and 2004. The second approach used aerial photo interpretation for an analysis of 72 conventional and 40 organic farms within three sample areas for 1982, 1995 and 2002. The national analysis indicated that organic farming has a direct effect on landscape composition. In 2001, organic farms were characterised by a higher number of land uses per ha, a higher land use diversity and smaller mean field sizes. From 1998 to 2004, conversion to organic farming was related to an increasing number of land uses per ha, increasing land-use diversity and decreasing mean field sizes. Relationships between organic farming and landscape composition were independent of variations in regional location, farm size or farm size change. At the level of sample areas, a significant relationship between organic farming and landscape composition was only found for densities of small biotopes. However, when differences in farm size and physical geographical conditions between conventional and organic farms were taken into account, several significant differences in landscape composition were clarified in two of the three sample areas. Furthermore, changes in landscape composition following conversion to organic farming were largely biased by the characteristics of the sample areas. Thus, in contrast to the national level, the sample area study indicated that differences in landscape composition between organic and conventional farms were not a direct implication of organic farming practices, but were related to variations within other parameters and to the location of organically farmed land.