Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China     

Ying CHEN  Yakuan SUN  Mei HUA  Kun SHI  David DUDGEON 《Integrative zoology》2023,18(3):453-468

A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek, motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park. However, planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China. We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure. We identified 237 unique genotypes (153 females, 84 males), representing 81% of the known population. However, the effective population size was small (28, range 25–32). Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.235), but moderate nucleotide and nuclear diversity (π = 0.6%, H_e = 0.55) was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters, with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations (F_ST = 0.23); elephants from Mengyang, Simao, and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population (henceforth, MSJ), and differed from the Shangyong population (F_ST = 0.11). Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isolation by distance and female-biased dispersal. Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units: Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ; their long-term viability will require restoring gene flow between Shangyong and MSJ, and between elephants in China and neighboring countries. Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.  相似文献   

Effect of plasma transfusion on serum amyloid A concentration in healthy neonatal foals and foals with failure of transfer of passive immunity     

Megan Palmisano  Laura Javsicas  Justin McNaughten  Lisa Gamsjäger  David L. Renaud  Diego E. Gomez 《Journal of veterinary internal medicine / American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine》2023,37(2):697-702

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The effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on rapeseed (Brassica napus) production in South-Eastern Australia   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

C. J. Smith  G. C. Wright  M. R. Woodroofe 《Irrigation Science》1988,9(1):15-25

Summary A field trial was conducted to determine the response of rapeseed (Brassica napus cv. Marnoo) to two irrigation treatments and six nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Response to nitrogen was greater with than without irrigation. Oil content was increased with irrigation but decreased under increasing nitrogen application, and was inversely related to seed nitrogen concentration. Oil yields averaged 1,168 kg ha^–1 under irrigated treatments compared with 835 kg ha^–1 under rainfed treatments. Maximum oil yield (approx. 1,557 kg ha^–1) was obtained from the irrigated treatment fertilized with 100 kg N ha^–1 applied at sowing.  相似文献   

Managing secondary dryland salinity: Options and challenges   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

David J. Pannell  Michael A. Ewing 《Agricultural Water Management》2006,80(1-3):41-56

Salt occurs naturally at high levels in the subsoils of most Australian agricultural land. As a result of clearing native vegetation, groundwater tables have risen, mobilising the stored salt and causing adverse impacts on farmland, infrastructure, water resources, and biodiversity. The main action required to prevent groundwater tables from rising is establishment of perennial plants, either herbaceous (pastures or crops) or woody (trees and shrubs). Recent technical and economic research has emphasised how difficult it will be to establish sufficient perennials to get control of groundwater tables. Where watertables are already shallow, the options for farmers are salt-tolerant plants (e.g. saltbush for grazing) or engineering (e.g. deep open drains). The existing options for farm-level salinity management are reviewed, with mixed but somewhat disappointing findings regarding their suitability for addressing salinity. However, there are also a number of good prospects for development of new and better options for plant-based management of salinity, and these are described.  相似文献   

Assessing the options for upland livestock systems under CAP reform: Developing and applying a livestock systems model within whole-farm systems analysis     

K.B. Matthews  I.A. Wright  K. Buchan  D.A. Davies  G. Schwarz   《Agricultural Systems》2006,90(1-3):32-61

This paper presents a scenario-based analysis of the impacts of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform for upland agriculture using a Welsh case-study. Specifically the paper examines the impacts of the introduction of the single-farm payment (SFP), the modulation of direct payments under Pillar I of the CAP and the increase in agri-environment payments under Pillar II. Three enterprises are examined, upland sheep rearing with lamb finishing, spring- and autumn-calving suckler-cattle with calf rearing. These enterprises are modelled under conditions in 2002/3, 2004/5 and for the reformed CAP in 2005/6. To support this analysis a livestock system model (LSM) was implemented. The model assesses alternative management regimen using a flexible state-transition approach. This simplifies the realisation and parameterisation of potentially complex management regimen. The model tracks fodder requirements to achieve targets based on defined diets. The LSM underpins whole-farm analyses of stocking-rates, labour and other resource requirements and net-farm income. From the case study the paper concludes that the impacts of the introduction of the CAP reform on the financial performance of the systems are small but negative (a net reduction of around 5% in support). The larger reduction in direct payments (15–18%) is partially offset by agri-environment measures. The paper concludes that while SFP encourages a more market-oriented outlook, the adaptive capacity within systems as they stand is very limited. There are a range of possible adaptation strategies, but for the uplands the extensification of cattle systems by reducing stock numbers and cutting back on labour seems most probable.  相似文献   

Irrigation and food security in the 21st century   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Ian Carruthers  Mark W. Rosegrant  David Seckler 《Irrigation and Drainage Systems》1997,11(2):83-101

Global food projections indicate that food prices in the next threedecades will likely be stable or decline, but progress inreducing malnutrition in developing countries will be slow. Smallshortfalls in crop productivity growth would lead to rising foodprices and worsening malnutrition. Increased food production fromirrigation is essential, and will require expansion of irrigatedarea and water supplies, and improved efficiency of use of existingwater supplies. Neither of these growth factors will prove easy, andboth will require complex institutional and policy reforms. Failureto meet food production needs through efficient expansion andintensification of irrigated agriculture would increase pressure onland resources and hasten the process of environmental degradation.Irrigation and water development strategies have been hampered bya lack of understanding of the links between water scarcity, foodproduction, food security, and environmental sustainability.Research to improve this understanding would have high payoffs.  相似文献   

The effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on rapeseed (Brassica napes) production in South-Eastern Australia     

G. C. Wright  C. J. Smith  M. R. Woodroofe 《Irrigation Science》1988,9(1):1-13

Summary A field trial was conducted to determine the response of rapeseed (Brassica napus cv. Marnoo) to two irrigation treatments and six nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Dry matter accumulation, leaf area development and seed yield were measured. The dry matter and seed yield response to applied nitrogen was greater under irrigated compared to rainfed conditions. Maximum seed yield (approx. 3.8 t ha^–1) was obtained from the irrigated treatment receiving 100 kg N ha^–1 applied at sowing. This high rate of N application at sowing led to more rapid leaf area development and higher maximum LAI compared to treatments supplied with split application of the same amount of N at sowing and rosette stages. Greater partitioning of dry matter into the leaf component and higher specific leaf areas under the higher N regime were largely responsible for this increase. Higher maximum LAI's were associated with greater numbers of pods per plant, which combined with longer leaf area duration led to higher final seed yields.  相似文献   

Evaluating the Impact of Irrigation and Drainage Policies on Agricultural Sustainability   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Dennis Wichelns  David Cone  Garrick Stuhr 《Irrigation and Drainage Systems》2002,16(1):1-14

Farmers in the Broadview Water District in central Californiahave been improving irrigation practices in response to risingirrigation water prices and reductions in water supply since1989, when incentive policies were first implemented to reducethe volume of subsurface drain water generated in theDistrict. The average salinity of water deliveries hasincreased, over time, as the District has recycled largeamounts of drainage water to achieve regional restrictions ondrainage water discharge. We review irrigation and drainageactivities in Broadview since 1986 with an emphasis on thesustainability of crop production when drainage discharge islimited. Average cotton yields in Broadview have declined inrecent years, both nominally and in comparison with averageyields reported for the large county in which Broadview islocated. Average tomato yields in Broadview have increased inrecent years, but county-wide yields have exceeded Broadviewyields with greater frequency than in the late 1980s. Theseobservations suggest that average crop yields in Broadview maybe starting to reflect the increasing salinity of soil andwater resources, which may be due in part to persistentrestrictions on drainage water discharge.  相似文献   

Visits to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from South Asia and the Middle East, 1946–1990: An indicator of changing international programs and politics     

James L. Wescoat Jr.  Roger Smith  David Schaad 《Irrigation and Drainage Systems》1992,6(1):55-67

International study programs have contributed to the diffusion of modern irrigation technologies, approaches, and problems. But the patterns and processes of international travel have received little attention to date. This paper examines foreign visits to the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) from South Asia and the Middle East from 1946 to 1990. Using data from the Foreign Activities Branch of the USBR, we compare the participation rates from 16 countries in South Asia and the Middle East. India, Turkey, and Egypt had the highest rates of participation, followed by Pakistan, Iran, and Israel. The frequency of visits is influenced by political, economic, cultural, and institutional factors. But the most important factors appear to be foreign relations and geopolitics. Given the problems faced by national irrigation bureaucracies around the world, there is a need to focus more directly on political factors than in the past.  相似文献   

Drivers of recent forest cover change in southern South America are linked to climate and CO2     

Ogunkoya  Ayodele  Kaplan  Jed  Whitlock  Cathy  Nanavati  William  Roberts  David W.  Poulter  Benjamin 《Landscape Ecology》2021,36(12):3591-3606

Landscape Ecology - Widespread changes in forest structure and distribution have been documented in northern Patagonia over the past century. We employed LPJ-GUESS, a dynamic global...  相似文献