Assessing the efficacy and impact of management of an invasive species in a protected area: Poa annua on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island

Plant eradication is difficult, particularly in remote, protected areas. The Southern Ocean Islands are very isolated and highly protected, but the flora contains many alien plants. Small restricted populations have been eradicated, but eradication of established species has proven difficult. A better understanding of the efficacy of control methods at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and their off‐target impacts may increase eradication success. With interest in controlling non‐native Poa annua in the region, we aimed to determine if physical and chemical methods can control P. annua (the sub‐Antarctic biotype) in sub‐Antarctic conditions and examined their impact on native plants. We quantified the effectiveness of physical control methods on P. annua in situ on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island through field‐based experiments and assessed their selectivity on P. annua compared with native grasses. We also quantified the effectiveness of several herbicides on P. annua at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and assessed their selectivity on native grasses. Of the four physical disturbance methods tested, none effectively reduced P. annua cover as one‐off treatments. Of the herbicide treatments, glyphosate and trifloxysulfuron sodium were effective and were less damaging to native grass species, indicating potential selectivity. Physical control was of limited effectiveness, but did not affect native species richness. An integrated weed management programme utilising the strategic use of selective herbicides with follow‐up chemical and physical intervention may balance control and biodiversity outcomes. This research highlights the importance of site‐specific testing of control methods and understanding off‐target impacts of control when managing alien plant species in protected areas.     

华南型黄瓜新品种优胜的选育

优胜是以自交系H16-5-4-1为母本,H9-3-2-7为父本配制而成的杂交一代黄瓜新品种。植株生长势强,以主蔓结瓜为主;瓜条棒形,瓜长16 cm,瓜皮油绿,皮薄肉厚;口味清香,口感甜脆,品质佳;抗逆性强,适应性广,适合全国各地区春秋露地及保护地种植。     

Effects of Natural and Artificial Colorants on Hot Smoked Garfish—Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761)—Stored at 4 ± 1ºC

In this study, the effects of natural and artificial colorants on the shelf life of hot smoked garfish were investigated in terms of its chemical, microbiological, and sensory quality. Turmeric and Sunset Yellow FCF were used as the natural and artificial colorants, respectively. The amount of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA), counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, total psychrophilic aerobic bacteria, total yeast and molds increased during the storage (p < 0.05). The results showed that turmeric and Sunset Yellow FCF had a significant effect on pH value and salt content of hot smoked garfish samples during storage (p < 0.05). According to the sensory analysis results, the shelf life of hot smoked garfish stored at 4 ± 1ºC was determined as 17 days.     

基于PSR模型的黄河陕西段鱼类增殖放流生态安全评价

基于压力、状态、响应模型(PSR)和层次分析法(AHP),确定17项指标通过数据的标准化处理,指标权重赋值、权重一致性检验、评价等级确定以及评价模型的构建,用生态安全评价黄河陕西段鱼类增殖放流效果,分析生态安全所面临的主要问题。结果表明:黄河陕西段2013年增殖放流生态安全度(ESI)评价等级为Ⅱ级,为良好状态;2014年评价等级为Ⅲ级,处于一般状态;2015年评价等级为Ⅳ级,处于较差状态,属于临界不安全状态以下水平。生态安全形势呈现出逐年下降局势。不安全状态受到影响较大的前3个指标是:黄河径流量变化影响、重要生境保持率和公众资源环境保护意识的影响,3个指标下降值占到下降ESI值的64.93%。其次还受到污水排放达标率、鱼类增殖放流量、政策和管理水平、鱼类生物多样性指数、保护区建设、水质综合污染指数、群落结构等诸多因素影响。研究显示,现阶段增殖放流对黄河生态安全有一定影响,还存在一定提升空间。     

A century of fishery data documenting the collapse of smooth‐hounds (Mustelus spp.) in the Mediterranean Sea

1. Conservation and management of shark populations is increasingly becoming important in many marine regions, since there is a growing body of evidence showing that several species are threatened and continuing to decline because of unregulated fishing. Quantifying the extent of sharks' decline, the risk of species extinction, and the consequences for marine ecosystems have been challenging and controversial, mostly due to data limitations.
2. In this study, more than one century of multiple‐sources of bibliographic records on presence and frequency of occurrence of three species of commercial sharks, the smooth‐hounds Mustelus spp., in the Mediterranean Sea were compiled and analysed. Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) were used to estimate the rate of change of two of these species, Mustelus mustelus and Mustelus punctulatus, in four Mediterranean regions.
3. Model results showed that smooth‐hounds have declined by 80–90% since the beginning of last century to almost disappear in a large part of their original distributional range during the 1980s and 1990s.
4. Based on modelling results, a revision of the current International Union for Conservation of Nature classification of Mediterranean smooth‐hounds would be advisable along with the application of urgent conservation measures.

     

Otolith elemental characteristics of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) from brackish waters of the Gulf of Bothnia,Baltic Sea

To investigate whether European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) groups in the brackish (≤7%) Gulf of Bothnia (Baltic Sea) express specific otolith elemental characteristics, concentrations of elements (Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn, Mn, Fe) in whole otoliths were studied by inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry. Whitefish (N = 67) were sampled from six different latitudinal sites; four in the sea and two in rivers along the west coast of Finland, and from a fresh water lake for comparison. The concentration of several elements showed significant differences among sampling sites. Otolith Ba concentrations were higher at the northern sampling sites compared to the southern ones, thereby showing negative association to capture‐habitat salinity. In contrast, otolith Sr and Zn concentrations were lower at the northern sampling sites, thereby associating positively to capture‐habitat salinity. Otolith Mn concentrations did not associate with latitude or salinity but markedly varied between sampling sites. Elevated Fe concentrations occurred in fish otoliths from the two northernmost sites. Ca concentrations were at the same levels in otoliths from all whitefish samples. Otoliths of whitefish from the lake had very high Ba and low Sr concentrations compared to concentrations in otoliths from whitefish in the sea and rivers. Our results show that otolith elemental characteristics of whitefish vary considerably at various geographic scales showing high potential for population identification using elemental fingerprints. Analysis of otolith elemental characteristics may therefore provide an efficient tool for the identification of main areas of residence, spawning locations, and migration routes, thus contributing towards the sustainable management of whitefish stocks.     

山西南部苹果花期冻害时空分布特征及综合防御技术

利用1997—2016年山西南部苹果主产县(市、区)苹果花期逐日最低气温及日平均气温观测资料，根据苹果花期冻害等级划分指标，采用最小二乘法对花期冻害日数进行线性倾向估计，并用Mann-Kendall非参数检验方法对花期冻害日数的变化趋势进行显著性检验，分析山西南部苹果花期冻害的时空分布特征。结果表明: 山西省南部苹果产区发生花期冻害日数年均为3.1 d，各县花期均温介于13.0℃~13.8℃之间。运城地区4月中上旬易发生冻害，临汾地区吉县与隰县4月下旬易发生冻害；山西南部苹果花期冻害日数近20 a气候倾向率为-0.666 d·（10 a）^-1（P≤0.01），花期极端最低气温气候倾向率为0.165 d·（10 a）^-1（P≤0.01），花期极端最低气温与冻害日数具有极显著负相关关系。山西南部苹果花期冻害日数突变点在2008年，且在2015年之后苹果花期冻害日数突破α=0.05显著性水平下限。对于苹果花期冻害的综合防御措施，可采用“以防为主，抗补结合”策略。     

南疆植被总初级生产力对区域降水的响应规律

为研究总初级生产力(Gross primary productivity,GPP)对区域降水的响应规律,本研究通过对南疆地区喀什、阿克苏、和田3个市2000—2014年的GPP进行分析,得出GPP的时空分布规律,进而与2000—2011年同期的降水进行耦合分析,以探寻植被GPP与降水之间的响应关系,从而为南疆地区植被生态保持和可持续发展提供依据。结果表明:1)从时间尺度来看,GPP呈现出与季节相关的波动性,年均GPP的极值点基本出现在每年的7月;2)在空间分布上,和田地区的GPP在空间上呈现北低南高的空间格局,阿克苏地区的GPP呈现北高南低的空间格局,并且在数值上存在较大的差异性,喀什地区的GPP呈现北高南低的空间格局,西北部GPP分布比较集中并有较高的值;3)变化趋势上,和田地区呈现上升趋势、阿克苏地区整体比较稳定、喀什地区呈现上升的趋势;4)研究区域内GPP与降水之间均为正相关关系。当降水滞后1个月时,和田及喀什GPP与降水之间的相关系数显著提高,但是阿克苏地区没有表现出时滞性,说明响应关系更加明显。     

用综合污染指数法分析评价黄河陕西段的水环境

2013年-2015年,逐月监测分析了黄河陕西段府谷、吴堡、龙门、洽川、港口、汾河入黄口和渭河入黄口7个段面22项水质指标,并用综合污染指数法进行评价。结果显示:黄河陕西段处于4级中度污染水平,5级较重污染段面汾河入黄口(P=9.26)1个,其余6个段面处于4级中度污染水平(2.04≤P≤4.67)。主要污染物为总氮、总磷和有机物,部分段面还受到重金属汞、砷、铜、锌的影响,所有段面未受有机氯和有机磷的污染。同期断面比较,上游污染轻于下游,污染逐年下降。     

The quality of compliance: investigating fishers’ responses towards regulation and authorities

A substantial amount of scientific effort goes into understanding and measuring compliance in fisheries. Understanding why, how and when fishers follow or violate rules is crucial for designing effective fishery policies that can halt overfishing. Non‐compliance was initially explained almost exclusively with reference to economic and self‐interested motivations. More recently, however, most explanations involve a combination of economic, social, political and environmental factors. Despite this recent development towards more holistic explanations, many scientists continue to frame the issue in binary terms: fishers either follow rules, or they don't. In this article we challenge this binary interpretation and focus attention on the diversity of fishers’ dispositions and perceptions that underpin compliant behaviour. To this aim we construct a typology of fishers’ responses towards regulation and authorities, thereby developing conceptual tools to understand different motivations and attitudes that underlie compliance outcomes. For this purpose, we identify the motivational postures of ‘creativity’ and ‘reluctance’, and then highlight their empirical relevance with an interview study of Swedish fishers. Reasons for studying the quality and diversity of fishers’ motivations and responses are not purely academic. Conceptualizing and observing the quality of compliance can help policymakers and managers gauge and anticipate the potentiality of non‐compliant fishing practices that may threaten the resilience of marine ecosystems.