Impact on sward composition and stock performance of grazing Molinia-dominant grassland

A comparative experiment was conducted to test the extent to which grazing of rank Molinia caerulea-dominated grassland increases botanical diversity and improves animal performance. The study was carried out on an area of under-grazed Molinia-dominant pasture that had not been stocked for 20 years. Three treatments were compared from 2001 until 2008: (1) no grazing, (2) grazing by Welsh Mountain sheep and (3) grazing by Welsh Black heifers. Patterns of change in sward surface composition across the grazing season were consistent with greater consumption of Molinia by the cattle, but there was little evidence of management regime influencing changes in sward composition year-on-year. There was a significant effect of year on animal performance (P < 0.001). Although the growth rates of the heifers improved over the course of the first three years of the experiment, this performance was not sustained. In contrast, any weight changes for the sheep were positive. The results highlight the slow pace of change within upland swards, and the need to develop site-specific grazing guidelines.     

The exposure risks associated with pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in bioaerosol from municipal landfill and surrounding area

Pathogenic microbes with antibiotic resistance can thrive on municipal solid waste as nutrients and be aerosolized and transported to vicinities during waste disposal processes. However, the characterization of pathogenic bioaerosols and assessment of their exposure risks are lacking. Herein, particle size, concentration, activity, antibiotic resistance, and pathogenicity of airborne microorganisms were assessed in different sectors of a typical landfill. Results showed that active sector in downwind direction has the highest bioaerosol level (1234 CFU/m³), while residential area has the highest activity (14.82 mg/L). Botanical deodorizer from mist cannon can effectively remove bioaerosol. Most bioaerosols can be inhaled into respiratory system till bronchi with sizes ranging from 2.1−3.3 and 3.3−4.7 µm. Pathogenic bacteria (Bacilli, Bacillus, and Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia) and allergenic fungi (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Curvularia) prevailed in landfill. Although high abundance of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) producing bioaerosols were detected, these mVOCs contributed little to odor issues in landfill. Notably, surrounding areas have higher levels of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) than inner landfill with tetC, acrB, acrF, mdtF, and bacA as dominant ones. Most ARGs were significantly correlated with bacterial community, while environmental parameters mainly influenced fungal prevalence. These findings can assist in reducing and preventing respiratory allergy or infection risks in occupational environments relating to waste management.     

Postfire Regeneration in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinea</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Aiton in Andalucia (Spain)

The objective of this study was to examine postfire regeneration of tree, shrub, and dwarf shrub species, in relation to levels of damage in four planted pine forests (Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster) in Andalusia. A prefire vegetation map was used for detailing species composition, vertical structure, and density and another for detailing the extent and intensity of fire damage. Between 3 and 7 years after the fires, an inventory was made of the vegetation in each area, using the step-point method. The information thus obtained was used to determine the amount of cover in the dwarf/shrub and tree layers, the frequency of species in each of the layers, floristic richness, and diversity (Shannon index). The botanical composition of the dwarf and shrub layer was analyzed using TWINSPAN. Variables were poorly correlated with level of fire damage, which suggests that the forests in this study followed the autosuccession model. Because of the artificial origin or seminatural condition, regeneration of the dominant tree species is poor, and it seems unlikely that forests will recover to their prefire state. Therefore action is recommended to restore these ecosystems.     

微生物除臭剂的筛选、复配及其除臭条件的优化

为了获取作为除臭微生物制剂的候选菌株,从垃圾渗滤液中分离筛选了4株具有对NH3和H2S高效降解菌株,分别标记为CC3、CC7、CC13和CC16.通过形态、生理生化和16S r DNA序列分析,分别鉴定为乳酸片球菌(Pediococcus acidilactici)、巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium)、嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)、粪产碱杆菌(Alcaligenes faecalis).菌株CC7、CC13和CC16组成的复配组合除臭效率最优,其复配比例为1∶1.5∶0.5,对NH3和H2S的去除率分别为83.56%和70.25%.通过单因素实验,确定微生物除臭剂最佳除臭条件:除臭时间为60 h,菌剂使用量为5%,除臭温度为30℃,初始培养基p H值为6.5.     

沉水植被构建对上海辰山植物园景观湖水质的影响

以辰山植物园景观湖为研究对象,研究了景观湖建成初期沉水植物群落构建对水体水质因子的影响;并应用相关性分析(correlation analysis)和主成分分析(principal components analysis)对各水质和生态因子之间的相互关系进行了研究。结果表明,景观湖沉水植被建成1年后,水体水质处于Ⅲ类,其中叶绿素a含量5.48±1.930μg/L、总氮1.40±0.136mg/L、总磷0.080±0.015 mg/L、透明度108±20 cm、高锰酸盐指数5.50±1.26 mg/L;除高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)外,其他水质指标均较构建前有显著改善;并且景观湖水质显著优于外河道补充水源水质。相关性分析表明,景观湖水体叶绿素a含量与N、P营养盐呈显著正相关,但却与水温呈极显著负相关,这显示了草型景观湖水质的显著特征;主成分分析显示,第一主成分包含硝态氮、亚硝态氮、总磷、活性磷、叶绿素、水温、透明度和pH等变量,第二主成分包括高锰酸盐指数和氨氮等变量;第一主成分中的水质参数可作为辰山植物园景观湖后续水生态管理中的主要监测对象;此外,主成分分析还显示TP对水体叶绿素的增加具有很高正权重。     

Antifungal efficacy of some natural phenolic compounds against significant pathogenic and toxinogenic filamentous fungi

In terms of food safety, species of the Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium genera are considered the most significant because they produce the great majority of known mycotoxins. Developing resistance against commonly used fungicides have become a critical problem in area such as agriculture, the storage and production of food and even in human medicines. The need for research and development of new alternative antifungal treatment based on natural antifungal substances is obvious. Here, the antifungal efficacy of 21 phenolic components of essential oils and plant substances were tested against these filamentous fungi with respect to their different molecular structures. Minimum inhibitory concentration values MIC₅₀ and MIC₁₀₀ were successfully estimated for 15 substances by means of probit analysis. Thymol and carvacrol were evaluated as the most effective. The MIC₅₀ values for thymol ranged from 30 to 52 μg mL⁻¹. The MIC₁₀₀ values for thymol ranged from 76 to 255 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. For carvacrol, the MIC₅₀ values ranged from 37 to 76 μg mL⁻¹, and the MIC₁₀₀ ranged from 131 to 262 μg mL⁻¹. The results also revealed differences in the efficacy of phenols depending on molecular structures and different inter-species sensitivity.     

Lethal and sublethal effects of four essential oils on the egg parasitoids Trissolcus basalis

The essential oils from leaves of Schinus molle var. areira, Aloysia citriodora, Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris have showed potential as phytoinsecticides against the green stink bug, Nezara viridula. In this work were evaluated their toxicological and behavioral effects on the parasitoid Trissolcus basalis, a biological control agent of this pest insect. Essential oils were obtained via hydrodestillation from fresh leaves. Insecticide activity in T. basalis females was evaluated in direct contact and fumigation bioassays. Behavioral effects were evaluated in olfactometer bioassays. To evaluate the residual toxicity, females of the parasitoids were exposed to oil residues; in these insects, the sublethal effects were evaluated (potential parasitism and survivorship of immature stages). The essential oils from O. vulgare and T. vulgaris proved to be highly selective when used as fumigant and did not change parasitoid behavior. After one week, the residues of these oils were harmless and did not show sublethal effects against T. basalis. According with these results, essential oils have potential applications for the integrated management of N. viridula.     

贵州省植物园旅游开发探讨

根据贵州省植物园的资源条件、优势与现状，以及贵州省发展旅游业的方针，提出了该园开发旅游资源的思路和总体设计。     

Botanical composition, soil and forage quality under different management regimes in Russian grasslands

Little is known on how management of Russian native grasslands affects botanical composition, soil and forage properties. Three fields were sampled in the V.V. Alekhin Central-Chernozem Biosphere State Reserve in the Kursk region of Russia: a native grassland (not cultivated for at least 300 years), a grazed/hay field with 4 years of annual harvest followed by 1 year of rest (periodically-cut grazed/hay field), and a yearly-cut grazed/hay field. Soil samples were collected from the top 10 cm and analyzed. Plant species were identified at the sampling sites and this plant material was used to determine total elemental analysis of forage, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and lignin concentrations. Above-ground live and dead plant material and roots were analyzed for C, N and lignin. Soil sample analysis showed that fields were comparable in terms of soil chemical and physical properties. SOC and N contents were not statistically different in the native and yearly grazed/hay fields. Soil bulk density significantly increased as a result of utilization, from 0.80±0.09 Mg m⁻³ for the native grassland to 0.97±0.06 Mg m⁻³ for the yearly grazed/hay field. A total of 107 different plant species were recorded at the three fields. There were changes in plant composition among the fields. The native grassland field had the least number of plant species (41) followed by the yearly-cut grazed/hay field (68), and the periodically-cut grazed/hay field (87). There was a greater proportion of grass species (20%) in the native grassland field. Dead plant biomass and roots from the grazed/hay fields were higher in N and lignin concentrations. Forage mineral concentration was highest in the periodically-cut hay field. No significant differences were observed in terms of forage properties.