Analysis of Lead Levels in Local Jordanian and Imported Sheep Meat and Organs Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A total of two hundred and forty random samples were collected equally from mutton, liver and kidney of 40 local (Jordanian) and 40 imported Australian sheep (40 each sub sample). Fresh samples were collected from 12–18 m old sheep slaughtered in abattoirs in Jordan in 2002. Besides, 40 fresh mutton samples of imported Chinese sheep were collected from different markets. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to estimate the lead (Pb) content of the samples. Results indicated that Australian mutton had significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean of lead pollution than that of the local and Chinese muttons. The mean concentration of lead (mg/kg) in Australian, local and Chinese muttons was 4.30, 3.15 and 2.17, respectively. The mean concentration of lead in Australian sheep liver was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that recorded in the local sheep liver. The mean concentration of Pb in Australian and local sheep liver was 5.69 and 4.52 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of Pb in the kidney of the Australian and local sheep were not significantly different (p > 0.05). They were 4.59 and 3.87 mg/kg, respectively.On the basis of the samples lead level, 85, 92 and 87.5% of local, Australian and Chinese mutton respectively, exceeded the international safe permissible limit of 1.0 mg/kg. Furthermore, the effect of Pb on animal and human health was discussed.     

How the loss of forest fauna undermines the achievement of the SDGs

The human-driven loss of biodiversity has numerous ecological, social, and economic impacts at the local and global levels, threatening important ecological functions and jeopardizing human well-being. In this perspective, we present an overview of how tropical defaunation—defined as the disappearance of fauna as a result of anthropogenic drivers such as hunting and habitat alteration in tropical forest ecosystems—is interlinked with four selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We discuss tropical defaunation related to nutrition and zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). We propose a range of options on how to study defaunation in future research and how to address the ongoing tropical defaunation crisis, including but not limited to recent insights from policy, conservation management, and development practice.     

利用天敌控制水葫芦疯长研究

从产地引入象甲,研究它在高海拔低纬度———昆明的生活习性,经安全性、适应性、控制效果的试验研究,证实水葫芦象甲对23个科、46种植物不产生危害,只取食水葫芦,是单食性昆虫。象甲对水葫芦重量控制率平均为54.3％,株高控制率为42.4％,根长控制率为19.2％,叶片控制率为10.6％,植株分蘖控制率达32％。象甲在昆明具有良好的生物学适应性。对控制滇池水葫芦疯长,恢复生物多样性、保持生态平衡具有重要价值。     

Temporal variability in 20 chemical elements content of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) collected from two sites over a few years

Mature specimens of Parasol Mushroom were collected annually in the outskirts of the Siemiany (2000–2003) and Rafa (2001–2003) sites in the northern part of Poland to examine temporal variations and similarities in the composition of 20 chemical elements. Analysis was done under the same condition and using well-validated analytical methods. Elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy and cold vapour–atomic absorption spectroscopy (Hg). The ranges of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn concentrations in the caps of fruiting bodies were similar (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test) for both geographically distant sites, and these specimens from Rafa were more contaminated with Pb (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test). The annual collections of caps in the Siemiany site varied in Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Na, Rb and Sr and contents (0.05 < p < 0.001), while they were similar in Cr, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb and Zn (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test). The annual collections of specimens from the Rafa site varied in contents of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, P, Rb and Zn (p > 0.05), while they were similar in Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Na, Ni, Pb and Sr (p < 0.05). The results of this study imply that metallic elements content of Parasol Mushroom collected at the same undisrupted sites, and hence keeping the same geochemical condition for mushroom development and fructification (the same stands and probably the same mycelia), can fluctuate over the years or the life-span of mycelium. Hence, when assessing the nutritional value of essential metallic elements and status of non-essential or toxic metallic elements in Parasol's Mushroom caps (and probably also of other mushrooms species) to man, the possible fluctuation in contents over time have to be taken into account.     

边坡生态防护用灌木植物耐旱性试验研究与应用

本论文针对我国公路各地野生植物资源的开发利用水平还较低的实际情况,低品味的掠夺式索取,严重地影响了野生植物资源的自然更新和可持续利用。通过优选六种野生植物进行试验,对胡颓子(Elaeagnus bockiiD iels)、三颗针(Berberis julianae Schneid)、金丝梅(Hypericum patulum Thum b)、十大功劳(Mahonia fortunei(B ind l)Fedde)、刺梨(Rosa roxburghiiTrau)和火棘(Pyracantha fortuneana(M axim)L i.)等六种野生灌木为研究材料的水分对渗透调节物质,电导率,丙二醛,叶绿素含量,光合性状等影响进行了研究。分析了干旱胁迫下六种野生植物的生理生化指标的变化情况,对六种野生植物抗旱性强弱进行了综合评价,研究成果应用于四川省二郎山至康定段公路,降低了公路绿化后期养护成本。     

The Wild Kangaroo Industry: Developing the Potential for Sustainability

Wildlife resources the world over have long been subject to harvest and management. As wildlife uses have grown, so too have the need and desire to ensure their sustainability. This new context of sustainability presents opportunities to merge ecological, economic and social elements to foster development. This paper presents the management and harvesting of wild kangaroos as an example of the potentially sustainable use of a natural resource. Some comparisons are drawn between the use of other wild living resources, deer in Europe and crayfish in Western Australia. However, sustainability of kangaroo species and the industry is not just a matter of market economics and ecology, it must also be socially sustainable. The public policy instrument of a statutory advisory board with a marketing function is proposed in order to integrate the cultural and social aspects of kangaroo management with the economic and ecological aspects. Through such integration, full sustainability of a wild resource then might be achieved.     

Ethical Challenges for Livestock Production:Meeting Consumer Concerns about Meat Safety and AnimalWelfare

Livestock production today faces thedifficult task of effectively meeting emergingconsumer concerns while remaining competitive on majortarget markets. Meeting consumer concerns aboutproduct safety and animal welfare are identified askey attention points for future livestock production.The relevance of these issues pertains to productionefficiency and economic benefits and tore-establishing meat sector image and consumer trust.The current paper analyses consumer concerns about theethical issues of meat safety and animal welfare fromcurrent livestock production. The research methodologyis based on literature review, secondary data sources,and primary research through focus group discussionsand a survey of 320 meat consumers in Belgium.Objectives were to assess importance attached byconsumers to product safety and animal welfare asethical issues in commercial livestock production, andto evaluate consumer perception of these issues forbeef, pork, and poultry. Significant differences inissue importance and perception are identified amongconsumer groups based on socio-demographic andbehavioral characteristics. From the analysis, meatsafety emerges as an absolute but minimum requirementfor future success of livestock and meat production.Additionally, animal welfare can be expected to becomea critical theme especially for pork and poultryacceptance.     

水生野生动物自然保护区环境规划指标体系的建立

从水生野生动物自然保护区的特点和实际情况出发,分析了水生野生动物自然保护区环境规划指标体系建立的原则,采用层次分析法筛选指标,建立了基于PSR框架模型的水生野生动物自然保护区环境规划指标体系.应用该指标体系对怀沙河、怀九河水生野生动物保护区进行环境功能区划,得到与实际情况较为符合的区划结果.说明该指标体系能够较为全面、准确地描述保护区的实际情况.     

Effects of Recent Environmental Change on Accuracy of Inferences of Extinction Status

Correctly classifying a species as extinct or extant is of critical importance if current rates of biodiversity loss are to be accurately quantified. Observing an extinction event is rare, so in many cases extinction status is inferred using methods based on the analysis of records of historic sighting events. The accuracy of such methods is difficult to test. However, results of recent experiments with microcosm communities suggest that the rate at which a population declines to extinction, potentially driven by varying environmental conditions, may alter one's ability accurately to infer extinction status. We tested how the rate of population decline, driven by historic environmental change, alters the accuracy of 6 commonly applied sighting‐based methods used to infer extinction. We used data from small‐scale experimental communities and recorded wild population extirpations. We assessed how accuracy of the different methods was affected by rate of population decline, search effort, and number of sighting events recorded. Rate of population decline and historic population size of the species affected the accuracy of inferred extinction dates; however, faster declines produced more accurate inferred dates of extinction, but only when population sizes were higher. Optimal linear estimation (OLE) offered the most reliable and robust estimates, though no single method performed best in all situations, and it may be appropriate to use a different method if information regarding historic search efforts is available. OLE provided the most accurate estimates of extinction when the number of sighting events used was >10, and future use of this method should take this into account. Data from experimental populations provide added insight into testing techniques to discern wild extirpation events. Care should be taken designing such experiments so that they mirror closely the abundance dynamics of populations affected by real‐world extirpation events. Efectos del Cambio Ambiental Reciente sobre la Precisión de las Inferencias sobre el Estado de Extinción     

中国县域肉类生产的时空演变及影响因素

随着人均收入的增加和城镇化的推进,促进了居民肉类消费增加。厘清肉类生产格局的变化对肉类可持续供给具有重要意义。基于中国县域视角,以2000—2016年的肉类产量数据为基础,运用标准差椭圆、空间自相关、地理探测器等方法,揭示我国肉类生产的时空演变规律及其影响因素。结果表明:（1）2000—2016年的全国肉类产量呈增加态势,增幅为43.5%,不同区域肉类产量差异较大。（2）全国肉类高产县数量增加显著,范围扩大,空间上呈条带状集聚特点,重心整体北移;其生产的集聚特征显著且相对稳定,但局部表现出一定差异。（3）自然资源禀赋、社会经济及农业技术在不同阶段都影响肉类生产空间格局的演变。粮食产量和第一产业增加值是主要因素,农业机械总动力影响逐年增大,不同因子间的交互作用会强化肉类生产空间分异的效果。