Epidemiologic Analysis of Factors Associated with Local Disappearances of Native Ranid Frogs in Arizona

Abstract:  We examined factors that may independently or synergistically contribute to amphibian population declines. We used epidemiologic case–control methodology to sample and analyze a large database developed and maintained by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that describes historical and currently known ranid frog localities in Arizona, U.S.A. Sites with historical documentation of target ranid species ( n = 324) were evaluated to identify locations where frogs had disappeared during the study period (case sites) and locations where frog populations persisted (control sites). Between 1986 and 2003, 117 (36%) of the 324 sites became case sites, of which 105 were used in the analyses. An equal number of control sites were sampled to control for the effects of time. Risk factors, or predictor variables, were defined from environmental data summarized during site surveys and geographic information system data layers. We evaluated risk factors with univariate and multifactorial logistic-regression analyses to derive odds ratios (OR). Odds for local population disappearance were significantly related to 4 factors in the multifactorial model. Disappearance of frog populations increased with increasing elevation (OR = 2.7 for every 500 m, p < 0.01). Sites where disappearances occurred were 4.3 times more likely to have other nearby sites that also experienced disappearances (OR = 4.3, p < 0.01), whereas the odds of disappearance were 6.7 times less (OR = 0.15, p < 0.01) when there was a source population nearby. Sites with disappearances were 2.6 times more likely to have introduced crayfish than were control sites (OR = 2.6, p = 0.04). The identification of factors associated with frog disappearances increases understanding of declines occurring in natural populations and aids in conservation efforts to reestablish and protect native ranids by identifying and prioritizing implicated threats.     

Destruction of Forests and Wildlife in the Kashmir Wilderness

Much of the forest wealth on the plains and in the hilly areas of India has been foolishly destroyed, and the rich heritage of wildlife has been slaughtered mostly for only temporary gain. The wanton axing of the larger indigenous trees and the uprooting of other floristic elements in the hills and on the lower slopes of the mountains, gradually impoverishes them, and may be followed by erosion that ultimately leaves the slopes barren. These alarming threats to the chir (Pinus roxburghii) and fir (Abies pindrow) forests of Kashmir will have disastrous consequences. Once densely-forested, the mountain slopes in Kashmir have become largely naked through too-heavy tapping and cutting of the trees; with concomitant landslides, frequent floods, and loss of fertile topsoil. Unfortunately, the people living in the areas of the chir and fir trees, do not play a proper part in their protection, and the last two decades have witnessed, year by year, the rapid march of urbanization and manifold destructive activities which have taken a heavy toll on these precious species. Urgent conservation measures are essential to preserve these endangered trees in Kashmir.     

Human Diets and Animal Welfare: the Illogic of the Larder

Few moral arguments have been made against vegetarian diets. One exception is the “Logic of the Larder:” We do animals a favor by purchasing their meat, eggs, and milk, for if we did not purchase these products, fewer animals would exist. This argument fails because many farm animals have lives that are probably not worth living, while others prevent a significant number of wild animals from existing. Even if this were not so, the purchase of animal products uses resources that could otherwise be used to bring a much greater number of animals into existence.     

粘性泥石流运动模型的实验研究

粘性泥石流运动模型的研究因受实验条件的限制,还很不完善。国内外学者应用较多的５种模型都有一定的适用性,但也都存在不同的缺陷。本文应用粘性泥石流土样中的细颗粒和粗颗粒进行流变实验,不仅得到了粗颗粒在浆体中的沉降特性和泥石流体的流变特性,还研究了粘性泥石流运动模型及其参数。所提模型能很好地反映泥石流体的流变特性,较现有的５种模型能更好地描述粘性泥石流。     

长沙地区樟树林土壤水稳定同位素特征及其对土壤水分运动的指示

为研究长沙地区林地土壤水分运动规律,基于2017年3月-2018年2月长沙地区樟树林土壤水分及0~130 cm土壤水、地下水和降水中稳定同位素监测数据,分析了土壤水中稳定同位素特征及其与降水中稳定同位素的关系.结果表明:①土壤水分季节变化表现为丰水期（3-6月,土壤蓄水量大而稳定）、耗水期（7-10月,土壤水分以消耗为主）、补水期（11月-翌年2月,土壤水分以补给为主）3个阶段,土壤含水量由表层至深层呈增加趋势,稳定性增强,土壤含水量的垂向差异依次为耗水期 > 补水期 > 丰水期.②受到冠层截留和地表枯枝落叶吸持的影响,林地的有效降水为降水量（P）>3.3 mm,并且LMWL_{P > 3.3 mm}（降水量>3.3 mm时的当地大气水线）较LMWL的斜率和截距显著增加,与各深度SWL（土壤水线）更接近.③由表层至深层,土壤水稳定同位素受降水入渗、新旧水混合和蒸发的影响减小,0~40 cm土壤水中δ18O均表现为丰水期 > 补水期 > 耗水期,而40~130 cm土壤水中δ18O的季节变化不显著.④观测期间不同水体中lc-excess（δD与LMWL的差值）的平均值依次为降水（0） > 地下水（-2.80‰） > 土壤水（-5.00‰）,土壤水中lc-excess随深度的增加而增大.研究显示:土壤水下渗时新旧水混合是一个持续累积的过程,旧的土壤水逐渐被降水替代;受土壤结构、质地等性质的差异及不同降水事件的影响,土壤水分的补给在剖面上存在时滞.      

自然保护区景观结构设计与物种保护——以卧龙自然保护区为例

以卧龙自然保护区大熊猫保护为实例,提出了自然保护区中景观结构设计的一些基本原则和方法。认为在进行景观要素设计之前,应先进行景观适宜性评价,之后进行核心斑块、缓冲区和廊道的设计。①核心斑块 :不仅要考虑斑块的景观适宜性,而且斑块的面积应能维持一定物种数量 ;②缓冲区 :在考虑距离对目标物种影响的同时,还应考虑缓冲区的范围应该覆盖所有的核心斑块 ;③廊道 :需要辨识两种情况,其一是对现存生境廊道的保护,为了避免不同核心斑块被隔离,必须严格保护现存的生境廊道。其二是对潜在生境廊道的建设,在条件允许时,通过植被重建,建立适宜的生境廊道。     

多学科交叉的危化品运输安全保障技术及动态演示

针对我国危化品运输事故多发,运输安全形势依然严峻的现状,依托多学科交叉的教学改革和科技计划项目研究,以"不倾翻、泄漏收集、全方位监控"为技术目标,从事故防控和过程监控两个方面出发,介绍了危化品运输安全智能化管控的四大关键技术,即重点区域车路协同监控技术、车辆识别跟踪及安全预警技术、侧翻事故主动防控技术和泄漏事故主动防控...     

Projecting biodiversity benefits of conservation behavior-change programs

Biodiversity loss is driven by human behavior, but there is uncertainty about the effectiveness of behavior-change programs in delivering benefits to biodiversity. To demonstrate their value, the biodiversity benefits and cost-effectiveness of behavior changes that directly or indirectly affect biodiversity need to be quantified. We adapted a structured decision-making prioritization tool to determine the potential biodiversity benefits of behavior changes. As a case study, we examined two hypothetical behavior-change programs––wildlife gardening and cat containment––by asking experts to consider the behaviors associated with these programs that directly and indirectly affect biodiversity. We assessed benefits to southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) and superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) by eliciting from experts estimates of the probability of each species persisting in the landscape given a range of behavior-change scenarios in which uptake of the behaviors varied. We then compared these estimates to a business-as-usual scenario to determine the relative biodiversity benefit and cost-effectiveness of each scenario. Experts projected that the behavior-change programs would benefit biodiversity and that benefits would rise with increasing uptake of the target behaviors. Biodiversity benefits were also predicted to accrue through indirect behaviors, although experts disagreed about the magnitude of additional benefit provided. Scenarios that combined the two behavior-change programs were estimated to provide the greatest benefits to species and be most cost-effective. Our method could be used in other contexts and potentially at different scales and advances the use of prioritization tools to guide conservation behavior-change programs.     

The distribution of molybdenum in the tissues of wild ducks

The Mo contents and the relations between Mo and Cu or Crcontents were investigated in the organs of Japanese wild ducks(spotbill duck, pintail, wigeon, scaup and tufted duck). Thehighest Mo content in kidney and liver of the dabbling duckswere more than 30 g g^-1 dry weight (g g^-1 d.wt.), though that of diving ducks were less than 11 gg^-1 d. wt. The contents were lower in the ducks migratingwithin Japan, Eurasia and North America than those in the birdsmigrating between Japan and Eurasia. The contents of liver inall species were more than 50 and less than 5 g g^-1 d.wt. for Cu and Cr, respectively. Significant correlations werefound between Mo and both elements in pintail and scaup, and Moand Cr in tufted duck. These results suggest that thecontamination of wild ducks reflects the reproductive area, andnot the collected area. Mo contents closely correlated with theCu and/or Cr contaminations.     

防烟空气幕防烟有效性模拟实验研究

利用火灾模拟软件FDS,以四川消防研究所高层实验塔二层为原型建立模型,对防烟空气幕的防烟有效性进行研究。本次实验在前室内设置测点,测定前室内的温度及CO浓度。实验结果表明:在未设置防烟空气幕时,前室内1.25m高度以上的测点温度稳定后均在35～45℃之间,CO浓度最大达到180ppm;在设置风幕后,前室内1.25m高度以上的测点温度稳定后在20～30℃之间,CO浓度最大为75.7ppm。因此,防烟空气幕能有效的减少烟气的进入量,降低进入前室的烟气的温度及有害气体浓度,为人员的安全疏散赢得时间。