Spatially mixed crops to control the stratified dispersal of airborne fungal diseases

Intraspecific crop diversification is thought to be a possible solution to the disease susceptibility of monocultured crops. We modelled the stratified dispersal of an airborne pathogen population in order to identify the spatial patterns of cultivar mixtures that could slow epidemic spread driven by dual dispersal mechanisms acting over both short and long distances. We developed a model to simulate the propagation of a fungal disease in a 2D field, including a reaction-diffusion model for short-distance disease dispersal, and a stochastic model for long-distance dispersal. The model was fitted to data for the spatio-temporal spread of faba bean rust (caused by Uromyces viciae-fabae) through a discontinuous field. The model was used to compare the effectiveness of eight different planting patterns of cultivar mixtures against a disease spread by short-distance and stratified dispersal. Our combined modelling approach provides a reasonably good fit with the observed data for the spread of faba bean rust. Similar predictive power could be expected for the management of resource-mediated invasions by other airborne fungi. If a disease spreads by short-distance dispersal, random mixtures can be used to slow the epidemic spread, since their spatial irregularity creates a natural barrier to the progression of a smooth epidemic wave. In the context of stratified dispersal, heterogeneous patterns should be used that include a minimum distance between susceptible units, which decreases the probability of infection by long-distance spore dispersal. We provide a simple framework for modelling the stratified dispersal of disease in a diversified crop. The model suggests that the spatial arrangement of components in cultivar mixtures has to accord with the dispersal characteristics of the pathogen in order to increase the efficiency of diversification strategies in agro-ecosystems and forestry. It can be applied in low input agriculture to manage pathogen invasion by intercropping and cultivar mixtures, and to design sustainable systems of land use.     

Determinants of the Willingness-to-Participate in an Environmental Intervention in a Beirut Neighborhood

Participatory environmental management can empower communities and enhance the sustainability of environmental interventions. However, existing power structures and inequalities along class, gender, or ethnic lines could prevent part of the community from accessing the full benefits of the intervention. An analysis of determinants of the willingness-to-participate in an environmental intervention in a Beirut neighborhood is conducted. Socioeconomic, health-risk distribution, and perception of community efficacy are used as predictors. A randomly selected sample of residents was surveyed. Respondents were asked to specify the frequency with which they were willing to be involved in an intervention to address priority environmental problems in the neighborhood. Bivariate and multivariate ordinal regression analyses were conducted. Tests of significance were based on the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the odds ratio (OR). Males versus females (OR = 4.89, P < 0.001), respiratory patients versus nonsufferers (OR = 5.65, P < 0.001), tenants versus house owners (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01), and the less educated versus the more educated (OR = 2.42, P < 0.05) were significantly more likely to be willing to participate. The reluctance of female community members to participate might be a major hindrance to community-based environmental protection and special strategies must be devised to overcome it. On the other hand, respondents suffering from an illness perceived to be related to environmental toxins are likely to be strong participants in environmental conservation efforts. Finally, the study yielded no evidence that belief or lack of it in the efficacy of community action is a good predictor of the willingness-to-participate in such action.     

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

The northern reef of Yongxing Island, the largest reef island of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, was in good condition with significant cover of scleractinian corals until 2002. Surveys in 2008 and 2010, however, found that coral coverage had declined rapidly and severely, implying that catastrophic coral mortality occurred during the past 8 years. A blackish mat was observed covering live and dead corals in both 2008 and 2010 that was identified as an encrusting sponge, Terpios hoshinota, by special surface morphology and spicule structure. In addition, spicule residues were found on the surface of long-dead corals, indicating a previous invasion of T. hosinota. T. hoshinota is referred to as the "black disease" because it rapidly overgrows and kills corals. Our evidence indicates that outbreaks of black disease are at least partially responsible for the massive coral mortality at the northern reef of Yongxing Island over the past 8 years, although human activities and heat-related coral bleaching cannot be discounted as minor causes for this coral decline.     

VA菌根菌与植物的抗病性

VA菌根菌（VAM菌）与植物土传病害的关系受到广泛的研究。本文从VAM菌对植物抗病性的影响及其可能性机理和相应的农业管理措施等方面进行了介绍和评述,同时提出问题和展望,并强调该方面的研究在可持续发展农业中的重要性。     

粉葛根腐病菌的生物学特性及防治研究

粉葛根腐病是粉葛生产上新发现的一种毁灭性土传病害。作者对病原作了人工分离和接菌试验，观测了温度、pH对病原菌菌丝体生长的影响；对防治药剂进行了筛选和试验，探讨了该病的有效防治药物及对策。     

兰州市空气污染对儿童呼吸疾病的影响

探讨兰州市空气污染对不同性别和年龄的儿童呼吸疾病就诊人数的影响以及季节性变化.通过收集2013~2017年兰州市空气污染物PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂、CO和O₃8h浓度数据、气象数据及3家三甲医院儿童呼吸疾病门诊资料,采用广义相加模型（GAM）控制星期几效应、气象因素、假期效应等混杂因素,分析空气污染物浓度与儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量的关系及滞后效应.研究期间,兰州市3家三甲医院儿童呼吸系统疾病日门诊量平均为387人次,范围1~1413人次.单污染物模型结果显示,PM_2.5、NO₂、SO₂、CO均在累积滞后一天（lag01）时效应量达到最大值,其浓度每增加10μg/m³（CO单位为1mg/m³）,儿童呼吸系统疾病就诊人次的超额危险度（ER）及95%可信区间（95% CI）分别为0.245%（95% CI：0.127%~0.363%）,0.568%（95% CI：0.327%~0.808%）,1.661%（95% CI：1.022%~2.302%）,2.245%（95% CI：1.610%~2.883%）;PM₁₀和O₃8h在各滞后天数均无统计学意义.对不同性别、年龄、季节分析发现,性别分层中PM_2.5对女童的影响略高于男童,NO₂、SO₂和CO的影响男童略高于女童;年龄分层发现PM_2.5、NO₂和CO的影响6~14岁组大于0~5岁组,SO₂的影响0~5岁组大于6~14岁组;季节分层中PM_2.5、NO₂、SO₂和CO对门诊量的影响只在冬季有意义,PM₁₀和O₃8h在各个季节均无意义.双污染物模型结果显示,分别调整其他5种污染物后,PM₁₀和O₃8h对儿童呼吸系统疾病门诊量的增加均无统计学意义;调整PM₁₀和O₃8h后,其他污染物呼吸系统疾病门诊量的增加均有统计学意义.兰州空气污染物（PM_2.5、NO₂、SO₂、CO）与呼吸系统疾病门诊量密切相关,并且SO₂和CO浓度增加更易增加儿童呼吸系统疾病的发病风险.性别、年龄和季节对空气污染物和呼吸系统疾病门诊就诊人次的关系有影响.     

室内空气污染对慢性阻塞性肺部疾病的影响

为了探讨室内空气污染与慢性阻塞性肺部疾病(COPD)的关系,对云南省宣威县使用不同生活燃料、年龄≥40岁的农民10892人进行了COPD及其症状的现患率调查,同时测定了调查对象的最大呼气流速(PEF).结果表明,不同燃料造成的室内空气污染对COPD及其症状和最大呼气流速的作用顺序依次为有烟煤>无烟煤>柴.在调整了年龄、性别、吸烟和改灶年限等因素后发现,使用有烟煤和使用无烟煤的人群患COPD的危险性分别是使用柴的4.63倍和1.55倍.改灶年限越长,COPD及其症状的现患率越低,最大呼气流速越高.室内燃煤空气污染是影响宣威慢性阻塞性肺部疾病(COPD)的主要危险因素,改炉改灶对控制COPD及其症状的现患水平,改善肺功能具有积极的作用.     

吉林省主要农作物病虫害风险防御区划

农作物病虫害风险的研究,对有效防御病虫害发生、制定相应的防御对策及有效评估病虫害造成的损失有重大意义。利用吉林省50个县市的玉米、水稻和大豆产量、面积资料,及相应各站1961-2009年主要病虫害——玉米螟、稻瘟病、大豆蚜资料,根据灾害发生的频数确定病虫害影响指数,分析了各因子的影响程度。通过将各因子极差化处理,计算出综合风险防御指数,对吉林省主要农作物病虫害高、中、低风险防御区进行了区划评估。     

Differences in sensitivity to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among amphibian populations

Contributing to the worldwide biodiversity crisis are emerging infectious diseases, which can lead to extirpations and extinctions of hosts. For example, the infectious fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is associated with worldwide amphibian population declines and extinctions. Sensitivity to Bd varies with species, season, and life stage. However, there is little information on whether sensitivity to Bd differs among populations, which is essential for understanding Bd‐infection dynamics and for formulating conservation strategies. We experimentally investigated intraspecific differences in host sensitivity to Bd across 10 populations of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) raised from eggs to metamorphosis. We exposed the post‐metamorphic wood frogs to Bd and monitored survival for 30 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Populations differed in overall survival and mortality rate. Infection load also differed among populations but was not correlated with population differences in risk of mortality. Such population‐level variation in sensitivity to Bd may result in reservoir populations that may be a source for the transmission of Bd to other sensitive populations or species. Alternatively, remnant populations that are less sensitive to Bd could serve as sources for recolonization after epidemic events.     

Effects of white‐nose syndrome on regional population patterns of 3 hibernating bat species

Hibernating bats have undergone severe recent declines across the eastern United States, but the cause of these regional‐scale declines has not been systematically evaluated. We assessed the influence of white‐nose syndrome (an emerging bat disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, formerly Geomyces destructans) on large‐scale, long‐term population patterns in the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), the northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). We modeled population trajectories for each species on the basis of an extensive data set of winter hibernacula counts of more than 1 million individual bats from a 4‐state region over 13 years and with data on locations of hibernacula and first detections of white‐nose syndrome at each hibernaculum. We used generalized additive mixed models to determine population change relative to expectations, that is, how population trajectories differed with a colony's infection status, how trajectories differed with distance from the point of introduction of white‐nose syndrome, and whether declines were concordant with first local observation of the disease. Population trajectories in all species met at least one of the 3 expectations, but none met all 3. Our results suggest, therefore, that white‐nose syndrome has affected regional populations differently than was previously understood and has not been the sole cause of declines. Specifically, our results suggest that in some areas and species, threats other than white‐nose syndrome are also contributing to population declines, declines linked to white‐nose syndrome have spread across large geographic areas with unexpected speed, and the disease or other threats led to declines in bat populations for years prior to disease detection. Effective conservation will require further research to mitigate impacts of white‐nose syndrome, renewed attention to other threats to bats, and improved surveillance efforts to ensure early detection of white‐nose syndrome.