A critical appraisal of population viability analysis

Population viability analysis (PVA) is useful in management of imperiled species. Applications range from research design, threat assessment, and development of management frameworks. Given the importance of PVAs, it is essential that they be rigorous and adhere to widely accepted guidelines; however, the quality of published PVAs is rarely assessed. We evaluated the quality of 160 PVAs of 144 species of birds and mammals published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2017. We hypothesized that PVA quality would be lower with generic programs than with custom-built programs; be higher for those developed for imperiled species; change over time; and be higher for those published in journals with high impact factors (IFs). Each included study was evaluated based on answers to an evaluation framework containing 32 questions reflecting whether and to what extent the PVA study adhered to published PVA guidelines or contained important PVA components. All measures of PVA quality were generally lower for studies based on generic programs. Conservation status of the species did not affect any measure of PVA quality, but PVAs published in high IF journals were of higher quality. Quality generally declined over time, suggesting the quantitative literacy of PVA practitioners has not increased over time or that PVAs developed by unskilled users are being published in peer-reviewed journals. Only 18.1% of studies were of high quality (score >75%), which is troubling because poor-quality PVAs could misinform conservation decisions. We call for increased scrutiny of PVAs by journal editors and reviewers. Our evaluation framework can be used for this purpose. Because poor-quality PVAs continue to be published, we recommend caution while using PVA results in conservation decision making without thoroughly assessing the PVA quality.     

We should not allow dissection of animals

This essay argues against routine dissection exercises on animals under three headings. First, attaining goals of general scientific education does not require dissection. The training of specialists, in whose vocations dissection skills are essential, could then be accomplished without killing animals specifically for the purpose of acquiring those skills. Second, killing and dissecting animals for unnecessary exercises teaches students bad attitudes toward animal life. Third, moral principles cannot justify killing and dissecting animals but not humans; consequently, such treatment of animals is prejudiced exploitation of the weak by the strong.     

生态意识变迁的考察与草地畜牧业可持续发展--以内蒙古锡林郭勒退化草地为例

目前，内蒙古草地生态环境破坏严重。且总体上呈不断恶化的态势。这种状况的持续不仅严重影响和翻约着本地区经济和社会的总体发展。同时也威胁着包括北京在内的整个华北地区的生态安全。其内在的深层次的根源就在于包括生态意识在内的人们的文化价值观发生了“扭曲”。本文针对锡林郭勒退化草地现状与历史的分析．揭示了其中的文化特征与哲学内涵．并且指出生态意识的确立和生态文化的形成对于保护草地、建设草地的现实意义。     

青海省草地畜牧业可持续发展战略与对策

青海省有可利用草地3161×104hm₂,是我国五大牧区之一。在长期传统游牧畜牧业经营方式下 ,对草地缺乏有效的保护和科学的管理 ,片面追求牲畜存栏数 ,超载过牧现象普遍存在 ,导致草地退化问题严重 ,生态环境破坏 ,自然灾害频繁 ,畜牧业经济效益低下。在这样的基础上实施草地畜牧业可持续发展战略 ,需要执行科技兴牧 ,教育先行 ;强化畜牧业生产基础 ,经济效益和生态效益并重 ;大力促进畜牧业产业化 ,走商品化生产发展道路的方针。推行高效集约化经营的畜牧业生产模式 ,发展具有高原特色 ,具有市场竞争力的特色畜产品生产 ,在实现畜牧业向高效益产业转变的基础上顺利地实施生态环境治理和草地资源保护 ,从而达到畜牧业可持续发展的目的。     

畜牧业生产对生态环境的污染及其防治

畜禽粪尿、畜牧场的污水和臭气以及由排泄物残留而来的矿物元素和其它废充物给生态环境带来直接污染；由农畜产品残留而来的农药、重金属元素、抗生素、激素和霉菌素等给生态环境带来间接污染。这些污染物通过污染土壤、水源和大气而危害农作物生产和人畜健康，甚至诱发严重的畜产品污染事件。为防止畜牧业污染，必须制订一个正确的畜牧业发展战略。采取有效的防治对策，并开发应用防治技术，建立综合式生态农业生产体系，从而达到畜牧业的持续发展。     

景谷县森林生态系统保护研究

景谷县共有珍稀淑 植物４２种，其中１种为国家一级保护植物１０种为濒危种，３１种为稀有种，世界最广泛分布的观赏植物中的许多种类或近缘种在景谷均可找到。为保护森林生态系统不受破坏，必须在消耗林业资源的同时发展林业资源储备走可持续发展之路。     

Discrepancies in Reported Levels of International Wildlife Trade

Abstract:  The international wildlife trade is a principal cause of biodiversity loss, involving hundreds of millions of plants and animals each year, yet wildlife trade records are notoriously unreliable. We assessed the precision of wildlife trade reports for the United States, the world's largest consumer of endangered wildlife, by comparing data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) with U.S. Customs data. For both U.S. imports and exports, CITES and Customs reported substantially different trade volumes for all taxa in all years. Discrepancies ranged from a CITES-reported volume 376% greater than that reported by Customs (live coral imports, 2000) to a Customs' report 5202% greater than CITES (conch exports, 2000). These widely divergent data suggest widespread inaccuracies that may distort the perceived risk of targeted wildlife exploitation, leading to misallocation of management resources and less effective conservation strategies. Conservation scientists and practitioners should reexamine assumptions regarding the significance of the international wildlife trade.     

珍稀植物濒危机制及保育策略中的营养条件

首先简要论述了珍稀植物濒危的原因、濒危机制的各种理论和研究方法，包括就地保护和迁地保护两个方面的保育策略的制定与实践。然后着重从营养条件的角度对这些理论和现状进行了分析。认为濒危物种在其历史演化过程中存在的脆弱环节以及活植物迁地保护的评价标准均与营养条件密切相关，营养条件可能是某些物种濒危机制中的一个重要组成部分；营养条件方面的研究可以为保护区设立的大小提出指导性意见；珍稀植物迁地保护过程中应密切关注营养条件的影响；营养条件在一定程度上决定了对某些物种保育策略的制定；将分子生物学与植物营养学的研究方法相结合，将能成为珍稀植物濒危机制及保育策略研究中的一种有效手段。     

广西壮族自治区自然保护区建设与珍稀植物保护

广西地区自然分布有国家稀有濒危植物１２１种，是我国濒危植物资源最丰富的省份之一。本文在评价广西的自然保护区建设现状、保护区类型和结构布局以及对濒危植物资源保护情况的基础上，提出了广西的自然保护区建设和濒危植物资源有效保护的建议和对策。     

观山村畜牧业生态经济亚系统的畜种结构和生态效率

本文对位于亚热带丘岗区畜牧业生态经济亚系统的畜种结构和生态效率进行研究。因地制宜地调整和优化畜种结构,充分合理地利用当地饲料资源,改善饲料营养结构,增强亚系统的总体功能。