Sustainability in Spanish Extensive Farms (Dehesas): An Economic and Management Indicator-Based Evaluation     

P. Gaspar  F.J. Mesías  M. Escribano  F. Pulido 《Strength and Conditioning Journal》2009,62(2):153-162

The dehesa is defined as an agroforestry system that is characteristic of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, where grassland is combined with evergreen species of the genus Quercus. Those systems have been gradually transformed from the Mediterranean forest into a unique kind of pastoral woodland by means of an agricultural use. Dehesas occupy more than 6 million ha, and the livestock systems that are based in them are of vital importance for their sustainability. The present work classifies, describes, and evaluates the sustainability of these systems in the Spanish region of Extremadura (southwestern Spain). To this end, we apply a methodological adaptation of the Framework for the Evaluation of Management Systems incorporating Sustainability Index (MESMIS). MESMIS is based on the evaluation of basic attributes of sustainability from indicators that allow one to make a simultaneous and comparative analysis of different types of farms. For the study, 69 farms were selected at random, and were classified using multivariate techniques into four types according to their level of intensification and productive orientation. The results were used to obtain an overall value of sustainability from a technical economic perspective for each farm type present in the dehesa. The mixed systems (beef cattle–sheep–Iberian pigs) have been found to be the most sustainable in general terms. The high–stocking rate sheep dehesas are the least sustainable, although at present, they are the most profitable. The other two groups analyzed, “low–stocking rate sheep farms” and “beef cattle farms,” had intermediate and similar scores. Mixed livestock dehesa farms are the closest to the traditional systems with a highly diverse production, an optimal use of the system's resources, and little dependence on external subsidies. In the present context, with uncertainties about European Union subsidies, this type of farm should be a goal for dehesa farmers.  相似文献   

Double-bridge hybrids of Solanum bulbocastanum and cultivars of Solanum tuberosum   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

J. G. TH. Hermsen  M. S. Ramanna 《Euphytica》1973,22(3):457-466

Summary Solanum bulbocastanum (2n=2x=24) has valuable characters for potato breeding, but cannot be hybridized directly with S. tuberosum cultivars. Both S. acaule (2n=4x) and S. phureja (2n=2x) were used as bridging species. Triploid S. acaule × S. bulbocastanum were doubled with colchicine and the resulting fertile hexaploid F₁'s crossed with S. phureja. The triple hybrids obtained were tetraploid or nearly so. The two genomes of S. acaule in these triple hybrids probably pair preferentially, which may provoke pairing and possibly crossing over between the chromosomes of S. bulbocastanum and S. phureja.More than 20000 pollinations of the triple hybrids with four potato cultivars had to be made to produce 40 quadruple hybrids. These highly vigorous hybrids varied greatly in many morphological characters, resistance to Phytophthora infestans, fertility and crossability. The chromosome numbers are 48 (24 hybrids), 49 and 46, but some higher ploidy levels (65, 66, 72 chromosomes) were found as well. Their origin is to be sought in the fusion of an unreduced egg cell from triple hybrids (either euploid or hypoploid) and a reduced male gamete from the cultivars. This view is corroborated by their extreme resistance to Phytophthora. Also some 48-chromosome hybrids are highly resistant, which may indicate introgression from S. bulbocastanum.Most quadruple hybrids are readily inter-crossable and crossable as females with cultivars; several also as males. Two could be hybridized with S. bulbocastanum, but the few seeds dit not germinate.Studies of pachytene stage of meiosis revealed the presence of a S. bulbocastanum chromosome in at least one tetraploid hybrid, which is highly resistant to Phytophthora. At metaphase I of meiosis chromosome associations higher than quadrivalents were not found. Except in one hybrid, the frequency of quadrivalents did not exceed one per cell and the average proportion of chromosomes associated as bivalents amounted to 90%.The quadruple hybrids (double-bridge hybrids) appear good starting material for breeding programmes aimed at introducing genes from S. bulbocastanum into S. tuberosum cultivars.  相似文献   

Sulfur cycling in a dutch moorland pool under elevated atmospheric S-deposition     

T. C. Feijtel  Y. Salingar  C. A. Hordijk  J. P. R. A. Sweerts  N. Van Breemen  TH. E. Cappenberg 《Water, air, and soil pollution》1989,44(3-4):215-234

Atmospheric S deposition, sulfate reduction and the accumulation of reduced S components were investigated in sediments of a Dutch moorland pool. Laboratory ³⁵SO42? tracer experiments indicated that the variation in reduction rate with depth in the sediment could be described by an exponential fit, suggesting first order kinetics. Sulfate reduction rates calculated from a kinetic transport model were highest in June and July (>0.6 mmol m^?2 day^?1), and decreased towards the end of the summer (<0.2 mmol m^?2 day^?1). Winter reduction rates were low, but increased towards the beginning of the spring. Concentrations of total, organic and inorganic S decreased with depth, consistent with an increasing depositional flux of S over the last century. Increased atmospheric sulfate deposition rates and consumption in the upper sedimentary layers caused a continuous increase in subsurface S concentrations. Present day S-immobilization rates were estimated between 25 to 30 mmol S in^?2 yr^?1, in the order of the annual input of S from wet atmospheric deposition. Sulfate metabolism in anaerobic moorland pool sediments may be the most important mechanism of long-term S-accumulation.  相似文献   

Aluminosilicate phases during initial clay formation: H⁺-Al³⁺–oxalic acid–silicic acid–Na⁺ system     

H. BILINSKI  L. HORVÁTH  N. INGRI  S. SJÖBERG 《European Journal of Soil Science》1990,41(1):119-132

The solid phases and the precipitation boundary characterizing the system H⁺-Al³⁺-oxalic acid-silicic acid-Na⁺ are discussed. Model experiments have been used to throw more light on two environmental problems: the formation of sparingly soluble aluminium silicates in oceans and alkaline lakes, which could be determining aluminium and silicate concentrations in pore waters of sediments, and the validity of inorganic and organic mechanisms of podzolization and their significance for soil science. pH and Tyndallometric measurements were performed at constant ionic strength of 0.6 M NaCl at 25°C. Three phases Al(OH)₄, H₄SiO₄ (phase Vi^a), Al₂, (OH)₆.H₄SiO₄ (phase VI^b) and NaAl(OH)₄.(H₄SiO₄), (phase VIII) determine the precipitation boundary. Phase NaAl(OH)₄.H₄SiO₄ (phase VII precipitates at 0.4pH units above NaAl(OH)₄.(H₄SiO₄)₂. Using a set of previously determined binary and ternary complexes, and phases of the subsystems, the following formation constants were deduced: Phases VI^a and VI^b are described as end-members of the allophane series with Si: Al ratios of 1:1 and 1.2. Phase VI^b was identified with protoimogolite allophane. These two phases are good model clays for podzolic soils and are extremely soluble at pH < 4. Sodium phases could be hydrous feldspathoids. These phases are possible in sediments of seawater or saline lakes. It is suggested that organic and inorganic mechanisms of podzolization operate sequentially and that neither of them alone can completely describe the process.  相似文献   

An unusual trematode infecting domestic chickens     

TH CRIBB  M O''CALLAGHAN 《Australian veterinary journal》1992,69(3):69-70

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Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) and C. magnus from the nasal lining of free-ranging quokkas (Setonix brachyurus)     

PA Martínez-Pérez  PA Fleming  TH Hyndman 《Australian veterinary journal》2020,98(12):610-615

Cryptococcus species are environmental yeasts, with a worldwide distribution and remarkable environmental adaptation. Although many species do not cause disease, C. neoformans and C. gattii are causative agents of cryptococcosis, a life threatening infection and a significant public health problem worldwide. Infection especially affects immunocompromised animals and humans. In wildlife, cryptococcosis appears to be more prevalent in captive populations. The objective of this study was to assess whether apparently healthy quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) harbor Cryptococcus spp. Using cultural and molecular methods, we studied yeasts isolated from nasal swabs collected from 130 free-ranging quokkas on Rottnest Island (RI, n = 97) and the mainland (n = 33) of Western Australia. Unspeciated Cryptococcus spp. (from four quokkas), C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) (two quokkas) and C. magnus (one quokka) were isolated from the nasal lining of apparently healthy quokkas from RI. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii was isolated from animals captured in a human-populated area on RI. There was no significant effect of the presence of Cryptococcus on the results of haematology, blood chemistry, peripheral blood cell morphology or clinical examination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented isolation of C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) and C. magnus in a free-ranging macropod in Western Australia. The public health implications of this finding should be further explored.  相似文献   

Leaves from grafted Meliaceae species affect survival and performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypsipyla grandella</Emphasis> (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae     

Julian Perez  Sanford Eigenbrode  Luko Hilje  Robert Tripepi  María Elena Aguilar  Francisco Mesén 《Journal of pest science》2010,83(2):95-104

In order to determine their effects on growth and mortality of instar II Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller), larvae were fed with leaf disks taken from shoots of susceptible species (Cedrela odorata L. and Swietenia macrophylla King) scions grafted onto resistant ones (Khaya senegalensis Desr. A. Juss and Toona ciliata M. Roem.), from their reciprocal grafts, and from both intact and autografted plants. In addition, crude leaf extracts from the susceptible and resistant plants, as well as from C. odorata grafted onto T. ciliata plants, were tested on C. odorata leaf disks. Mortality was evaluated 2, 10, and 25 days after starting the bioassay. Leaf area consumed and weight gain per larva were assessed 2 days after starting bioassay. Time to reach pupation, pupal weight and length 1 day after pupation, and time to adult stage and appearance of wings were determined at the end of the bioassay. Plant species significantly affected mortality (P ≤ 0.04) throughout the test. Eighty to 100% of larvae fed leaf disks from intact T. ciliata and its autograft, or C. odorata onto T. ciliata and its reciprocal graft died in the first 2 days of evaluation. All other factors measured, except pupal weight and length, were also affected (P ≤ 0.01) by the leaf disks. Intact resistant plants and reciprocal grafted plants reduced leaf consumption and caused larval weight loss. Larvae fed on K. senegalensis grafted onto S. macrophylla extended by 8 days the time to pupa and to adult stages and induced abnormal wing formation compared to larvae fed intact leaves of C. odorata. Crude extracts from resistant plants equally affected larval survival and performance compared to crude extract from C. odorata grafted onto T. ciliata plants, and these extracts were more detrimental to larvae than those from susceptible species. This study demonstrated that grafting borer-susceptible species on resistant rootstocks can affect the survival and performance of instar II H. grandella larvae.  相似文献   

Economic and management characterization of dehesa farms: implications for their sustainability     

P. Gaspar  F. J. Mesías  M. Escribano  A. Rodriguez de Ledesma  F. Pulido 《Agroforestry Systems》2007,71(3):151-162

Dehesa agroforestry systems occupy around 6 million ha in the Iberian Peninsula. Their economic and environmental sustainability depends on the maintenance of the extensive livestock farms which created this typical ecosystem. This work analyzes dehesa farms in the Extremadura region (SW Spain) using technical and economic indicators of 69 randomly selected holdings. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed us to establish a valid model explaining 65.8% of the variance. The two principal components having most weight were Iberian pig production (explaining 20% of the variance of the model), and which ruminant species were raised on the farm (15% of the variance). A cluster analysis distinguished five types of farms: sheep farms at high and low stocking rates, beef cattle farms, wooded farms with mixed livestock, and farms with a high level of cropping activity. The most profitable farms were those with either high overall livestock density or a high level of Iberian pig production. While high stocking density has historically attracted high levels of subsidy, production of Iberian pigs was profitable because of the high value of the product. In the light of CAP reform, Iberian pig production seems the most readily sustainable type of farming for the dehesa system.

F. J. MesíasEmail:

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Impacts of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on model terrestrial ecosystems   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

TH Jones  LJ Thompson  JH Lawton  TM Bezemer  RD Bardgett  TM Blackburn  KD Bruce  PF Cannon  GS Hall  SE Hartley  G Howson  CG Jones  C Kampichler  E Kandeler  DA Ritchie 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1998,280(5362):441-443

In model terrestrial ecosystems maintained for three plant generations at elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, increases in photosynthetically fixed carbon were allocated below ground, raising concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil. These effects were then transmitted up the decomposer food chain. Soil microbial biomass was unaffected, but the composition of soil fungal species changed, with increases in rates of cellulose decomposition. There were also changes in the abundance and species composition of Collembola, fungal-feeding arthropods. These results have implications for long-term feedback processes in soil ecosystems that are subject to rising global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.  相似文献   

Spontaneous emission spectrum in double quantum dot devices     

T Fujisawa  TH Oosterkamp  van der Wiel WG  BW Broer  R Aguado  S Tarucha  LP Kouwenhoven 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1998,282(5390):932-935

A double quantum dot device is a tunable two-level system for electronic energy states. A dc electron current was used to directly measure the rates for elastic and inelastic transitions between the two levels. For inelastic transitions, energy is exchanged with bosonic degrees of freedom in the environment. The inelastic transition rates are well described by the Einstein coefficients, relating absorption with stimulated and spontaneous emission. The most effectively coupled bosons in the specific environment of the semiconductor device used here were acoustic phonons. The experiments demonstrate the importance of vacuum fluctuations in the environment for quantum dot devices and potential design constraints for their use for preparing long-lived quantum states.  相似文献