This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measure...This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.展开更多
Growing concern about the influence of climate change on flowering plants, pollinators, and the mutualistic interac- tions between them has led to a recent surge in research. Much of this research has addressed the co...Growing concern about the influence of climate change on flowering plants, pollinators, and the mutualistic interac- tions between them has led to a recent surge in research. Much of this research has addressed the consequences of warming for phenological and distributional shifts. In contrast, relatively little is known about the physiological responses of plants and insect pollinators to climate warming and, in particular, how these responses might affect plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we summa- rize the direct physiological effects of temperature on flowering plants and pollinating insects to highlight ways in which plant and pollinator responses could affect floral resources for pollinators, and pollination success for plants, respectively. We also con- sider the overall effects of these responses on plant-pollinator interaction networks. Plant responses to wanning, which include altered flower, nectar, and pollen production, could modify floral resource availability and reproductive output of pollinating in- sects. Similarly, pollinator responses, such as altered foraging activity, body size, and life span, could affect patterns of pollen flow and pollination success of flowering plants. As a result, network structure could be altered as interactions are gained and lost, weakened and strengthened, even without the gain or loss of species or temporal overlap. Future research that addresses not only how plant and pollinator physiology are affected by warming but also how responses scale up to affect interactions and networks should allow us to better understand and predict the effects of climate change on this important ecosystem service .展开更多
Aims We aimed to elucidate the driving forces underlying the geographical distribution of spruce forests,as well as the morphological and phylogenetic divergence among spruce species in China.Methods One hundred and s...Aims We aimed to elucidate the driving forces underlying the geographical distribution of spruce forests,as well as the morphological and phylogenetic divergence among spruce species in China.Methods One hundred and seventy two sites across the entire range of spruce forests in China(23°–53°N,75°–134°E,250–4300 m a.s.l.)were sampled for species composition,geographical coordinates,and topographic and climatic variables.Sixteen spruce taxa,which are naturally distributed in China,were respectively grouped into morphologically defined sections and phylogenetically distinct clades.Multivariate approaches,including two-way indicator species analysis,principal components analysis,detrended correspondence analysis,canonical correspondence analysis(CCA),and partial CCA,were used for data analysis.Important Findings The 172 samples grouped into 13 spruce forests,the geographical distributions of which were closely related to climate and geographical location.The variation in species composition explained by the geographical coordinates(32.01%)was significantly higher than that explained by the climatic(27.76%)and topographic variables(23.32%).Of the three morphologically defined sections,sect.Omorica occurred mainly in wetter habitats with a mean annual precipitation of ca.229 mm and 426 mm higher than the habitats of sect.Casicta and sect.Picea(P<0.01),respectively.Of the two phylogenetically distinct clades,Clade-II(an older clade)occurred in habitats with warm winters and cool summers whose mean temperature in the coldest month was ca.8–10℃ higher,yet accumulated temperature during the growing season(≥5℃)was ca.297–438℃ lower,than the habitats of Clade-III(a younger clade)(P<0.01).Our data support the hypothesis that geographical location may be a greater determinant of variation in species composition.In addition,moisture conditions tend to be the key determinants that account for the divergence among the morphologically defined sections,while the phylogenetic divergence among spruce species is mainly affected by temperature conditions.While the clades or sections of the spruce species in question carry strong climatic signals,their divergences are subject to different selective pressures.展开更多
Global climate change effects will vary geographically, and effects on estuaries should be independently considered. This review of the impacts of climate change on the ecotoxicology of chemical contaminants aims to s...Global climate change effects will vary geographically, and effects on estuaries should be independently considered. This review of the impacts of climate change on the ecotoxicology of chemical contaminants aims to summarize responses that are specific to estuafine species. Estuarine organisms are uniquely adapted to large fluctuations in temperature, salinity, oxygen, and pH, and yet future changes in climate may make them more susceptible to chemical contaminants. Recent research has hig- hlighted the interactive effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors on chemical uptake, metabolism, and organism survival. Assessments have revealed that the nature of the interaction between climate variables and chemical pollution will depend on es- tuarine species and life stage, duration and timing of exposure, prior stressor exposure, and contaminant class. A need for further research to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity under different abiotic conditions and to incorporate climate change factors into toxicity testing was identified. These efforts will improve environmental risk assessment of chemical contaminants and manage- ment capabilities under changing climate conditions [Current Zoology 61 （4）： 641-652, 2015].展开更多
文摘This paper discusses recent research findings together with management schemes in preventing and managing of thermal stress by handling external and internal factors in livestock production systems. Preventive measures against thermal stress are described as basic structural adjustments and the modifications that can be implemented readily, according to animal health and welfare requirements and refer to （1） environmental modification and thermal comfort in various housing systems; （2） action on animals, such as genetic selection for breeds resistant to infectious disease, parasites and climate extremes; （3） action on feed and （4） action on staff handling the animals. Moreover, measures to be taken both in situations of chronic thermal stress and heat or cold strokes are presented as they are applied to （1） limit stress, （2） monitor the temperature felt by animals, （3） adapt diet and drinking water supplies and （4） correct physiological imbalances. Examples are given for different farm species （cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and pigs） and different production systems （intensive, extensive and alternative）. The paper concludes with a practical guide for the effective handling of thermal stress at farm level, summarizing the results from recent research studies on the specific topic.
文摘Growing concern about the influence of climate change on flowering plants, pollinators, and the mutualistic interac- tions between them has led to a recent surge in research. Much of this research has addressed the consequences of warming for phenological and distributional shifts. In contrast, relatively little is known about the physiological responses of plants and insect pollinators to climate warming and, in particular, how these responses might affect plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we summa- rize the direct physiological effects of temperature on flowering plants and pollinating insects to highlight ways in which plant and pollinator responses could affect floral resources for pollinators, and pollination success for plants, respectively. We also con- sider the overall effects of these responses on plant-pollinator interaction networks. Plant responses to wanning, which include altered flower, nectar, and pollen production, could modify floral resource availability and reproductive output of pollinating in- sects. Similarly, pollinator responses, such as altered foraging activity, body size, and life span, could affect patterns of pollen flow and pollination success of flowering plants. As a result, network structure could be altered as interactions are gained and lost, weakened and strengthened, even without the gain or loss of species or temporal overlap. Future research that addresses not only how plant and pollinator physiology are affected by warming but also how responses scale up to affect interactions and networks should allow us to better understand and predict the effects of climate change on this important ecosystem service .
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(41571045).
文摘Aims We aimed to elucidate the driving forces underlying the geographical distribution of spruce forests,as well as the morphological and phylogenetic divergence among spruce species in China.Methods One hundred and seventy two sites across the entire range of spruce forests in China(23°–53°N,75°–134°E,250–4300 m a.s.l.)were sampled for species composition,geographical coordinates,and topographic and climatic variables.Sixteen spruce taxa,which are naturally distributed in China,were respectively grouped into morphologically defined sections and phylogenetically distinct clades.Multivariate approaches,including two-way indicator species analysis,principal components analysis,detrended correspondence analysis,canonical correspondence analysis(CCA),and partial CCA,were used for data analysis.Important Findings The 172 samples grouped into 13 spruce forests,the geographical distributions of which were closely related to climate and geographical location.The variation in species composition explained by the geographical coordinates(32.01%)was significantly higher than that explained by the climatic(27.76%)and topographic variables(23.32%).Of the three morphologically defined sections,sect.Omorica occurred mainly in wetter habitats with a mean annual precipitation of ca.229 mm and 426 mm higher than the habitats of sect.Casicta and sect.Picea(P<0.01),respectively.Of the two phylogenetically distinct clades,Clade-II(an older clade)occurred in habitats with warm winters and cool summers whose mean temperature in the coldest month was ca.8–10℃ higher,yet accumulated temperature during the growing season(≥5℃)was ca.297–438℃ lower,than the habitats of Clade-III(a younger clade)(P<0.01).Our data support the hypothesis that geographical location may be a greater determinant of variation in species composition.In addition,moisture conditions tend to be the key determinants that account for the divergence among the morphologically defined sections,while the phylogenetic divergence among spruce species is mainly affected by temperature conditions.While the clades or sections of the spruce species in question carry strong climatic signals,their divergences are subject to different selective pressures.
文摘Global climate change effects will vary geographically, and effects on estuaries should be independently considered. This review of the impacts of climate change on the ecotoxicology of chemical contaminants aims to summarize responses that are specific to estuafine species. Estuarine organisms are uniquely adapted to large fluctuations in temperature, salinity, oxygen, and pH, and yet future changes in climate may make them more susceptible to chemical contaminants. Recent research has hig- hlighted the interactive effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors on chemical uptake, metabolism, and organism survival. Assessments have revealed that the nature of the interaction between climate variables and chemical pollution will depend on es- tuarine species and life stage, duration and timing of exposure, prior stressor exposure, and contaminant class. A need for further research to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity under different abiotic conditions and to incorporate climate change factors into toxicity testing was identified. These efforts will improve environmental risk assessment of chemical contaminants and manage- ment capabilities under changing climate conditions [Current Zoology 61 （4）： 641-652, 2015].
