Evaluating Conservation Effectiveness of Nature Reserves Established for Surrogate Species:Case of a Giant Panda Nature Reserve in Qinling Mountains,China

Many nature reserves are established to protect the habitat needs of particular endangered species of interest but their effectiveness for protecting other species is questionable.In this study,this effectiveness was evaluated in a nature reserve network located in the Qinling Mountains,Shaanxi Province,China.The network of reserves was established mainly for the conservation of the giant panda,a species considered as a surrogate for the conservation of many other endangered species in the region.The habitat suitability of nine protected species,including the giant panda,was modeled by using Maximum Entropy(MAXENT)and their spatial congruence was analyzed.Habitat suitability of these species was also overlapped with nature reserve boundaries and their management zones(i.e.,core,buffer and experimental zones).Results show that in general the habitat of the giant panda constitutes a reasonable surrogate of the habitat of other protected species,and giant panda reserves protect a relatively high proportion of the habitat of other protected species.Therefore,giant panda habitat conservation also allows the conservation of the habitat of other protected species in the region.However,a large area of suitable habitat was excluded from the nature reserve network.In addition,four species exhibited a low proportion of highly suitable habitat inside the core zones of nature reserves.It suggests that a high proportion of suitable habitat of protected species not targeted for conservation is located in the experimental and buffer zones,thus,is being affected by human activities.To increase their conservation effectiveness,nature reserves and their management zones need to be re-examined in order to include suitable habitat of more endangered species.The procedures described in this study can be easily implemented for the conservation of many endangered species not only in China but in many other parts of the world.

Yield Stability and Late Blight Resistance Analysis among Potato Clones Bred with Quantitative Resistance

Thirteen promising clones from population B3C2 potato genotypes （bred for quantitative resistance to late blight） obtained from the International Potato Center and three control cultivars were evaluated for four planting dates within two cropping seasons at Kalengyere Research Station in Southwestern Uganda in order to determine performance and yield stability. The analysis of variance of the relative area under disease progress curve （rAUDPC） revealed significant difference （P 〈 0.001） among genotype x planting date interaction, and significant difference （P 〈 0.001） among genotypes x fungicide treatments x planting date interaction. The analysis of variance （ANOVA） of yield revealed also significant difference among genotypes x planting date interaction and significant difference （P 〈 0.05） among genotypes x fungicide treatments x planting date interaction, showing the variable response of genotypes and the need for stability analysis. The additive main effects and multiplicative interactive （AMMI） statistical model showed that the most stable and high yielding genotypes were 396038.107, 396026.103 and 393280.82. The cultivars Victoria, Nakpot 5 and Cruza recorded low yields （below the average）, but Nakpot 5 was generally more variable, and is therefore highly adaptable to some environments.

Morphogenesis of Oil Palm （Elaeis guineensis Jacq.） Fruit in Seed Development

The place of the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq., in the market for fats of vegetable commodities makes it a strategic plant which requires continuous improvement. In this context, it seems appropriate to better describe the effects of the Sh gene in the developing fruit. This study aims to set a benchmark for the development of the seed in the natural palm （Elaeis guineensis var. dura） Thus the growth and development of the two major seed tissues were monitored every two weeks from pollination to maturity of the fruit. The results show that the endosperm is still liquid six weeks after pollination. It then begins an accelerated development which leads it, 11 weeks later, to completely fill the seed cavity, with an average mass of 0.81 g. This mass remains stable until the maturity of the fruit. The embryo is only visible when the endosperm is gelatinous, around 70 DPP （days post-pollination）. It then has an average length of 1.00 mm. At 126 DPP, the embryo has finished growing and measures 2.82 mm on average. This length also remains stable until 168 DPP （3.04 mm）. In perspective, a detailed follow-up of the development of the zygote from the pollination to 100 DPP is proposed. In parallel, the analysis of the chemical composition of the endosperm between 100 DPP and 168 DPP is necessary. These two complementary studies will allow to better specifying the benchmark of seed development in Elaeis guineensis var. dura.

Breeding Status, Nesting Densities ＆ Diet Trends of Two Endangered California Least Tern Colonies

The California least tern （Sternula antillarum browni） is an endangered species. The two largest colonies of this bird species in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA, are located 23 km apart at Alameda Point and Hayward Regional Shoreline. The Alameda Point colony, on the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, has grown at an average rate of 9.2% per year since its discovery in 1976 and has a nesting density ranging from 1-153 nests per ha. Long-term breeding success at Alameda has averaged 0.86 fledglings per breeding pair. Least tems began appearing in 2003, at an island in Hayward enhanced with substrate mediums and social attraction devices. Successful breeding attempts have been observed at the Hayward colony since 2006. The Hayward colony has grown at an average rate of 51.5% per year, has a nesting density ranging from 33-333 nests per ha and long-term breeding success average of 0.87 fledglings per breeding pair. Dropped fish have been collected from both colonies, and silversides （family Atherinopsidae） are the dominant prey. Alameda terns forage on a greater variety of species than the Hayward terns. The regression results indicate the importance of Northern anchovy （Engraulis mordax） to the breeding success of the Alameda colony.

A Study on the Evaluation System of Teaching Quality of Higher Education for Adults

Recently, the scale of higher education for adults is expanding and at the same time, the teaching quality is declining, which has been increasingly focused on. In order to improve the teaching quality, at first, it is necessary to build up a set of integrative and complete teaching quality evaluation system, which is composed of class, course major and college respectively from the aspects of learning and teaching because of the particularity of the students and teaching modes of higher education for adults.

The Breeding Status of the Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus in the Lebna Dam in Cap Bon, Tunisia

The study of the reproduction of the Glossy Ibis （Plegadisfalcinellus） in Tunisia was undertaken from 2008 to 2010. Until the discovery of nesting in 2008, this species had only been considered as wintering in Tunisia. The Tunisian breeding population resides in the Lebna Dam in the north east of the country where it forms a mixed nesting colony with other species of the family Ardeidae （（Bubulcus ibis （Bi）： 388 pairs, Ardeola ralloides （Ar）： 17 pairs, Egretta garzetta （Eg）： 27 pairs）, （Bi： 300 pairs, At： 25 pairs, Eg： 40 pairs） and （Bi： 400 pairs, Ar： 30 pairs, Eg： 10 pairs） recorded in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively）. All nests were constructed on Acacia horrida. Laying began in early May. The average clutch size over the three years of the study was 3.44 ± 0.73 eggs （N = 29 nests）. Hatching success was 83 % （2.86 ± 1.18 eggs hatched/nest） and 2.65 ± 1.17 hatchlings/nest survived until the age of 10 to 12 days. Egg mortality was 17% during the incubation phase and chick mortality was 7.2%. No interannual variation was detected in these parameters.

Effects of Plant Population on Growth, Development and Oil Yield of Safflower

Two field trials were clone to evaluate the effects of plant density on the growth, development and yield of safflower. The results showed that plant density and season of growth had significant （P ≤ 0.01） effects on growth, development, yield components, yield and oil content of safflower. Increasing safflower plant density from 100,000 to 250,000 plants ha^- significantly reduced plant height （13.2%-21.3%）, branch number plant^-1 （37%-54.7%）, leaf number plant^-1 （39%-39.2%）, leaf area （19.5%-53%）, plant spread （39.6%-54.4%）, root length （28.1%-54.4%）, plant biomass （17%-50%）, capitula size （12%-12.7%）, capitula number plant^-1 （39.5%-50.5%）, seed number capitula~ （39%-45%）, capitula weight （3.3%-3.6%）, seed yield （67.9%-69.8%） and seed oil content （14.7%-20.8%）. The reduction in vegetative growth, yield components, yield and oil content of safflower due to increased plant density was attributed to inter and intra-plant competition for light, nutrients and water necessary for growth and development. The differences between winter and summer grown safflower were attributed to difference in day and night temperature （DIF） and the average daily temperature which were optimum for safflower growth in winter. It was concluded that under Botswana conditions or in semi-arid areas, safflower should be planted at 50 cm × 20 cm or wider in order to maximize yield and oil content and allow the plants to express their maximum genetic potential.

A Multilingual Approach to Languages and Literacy Education： What Can Synthesising Theories, Research, and Practice Achieve？

This paper reports on seven years of collaborative research with the Department for Education and Child Development. The longitudinal study examines the impact ofa multilingual literacy approach as it has been applied in the teaching of French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish across 12 different schools in South Australia. The move to introduce the study of additional languages in Australian primary schools has yet to establish wide-ranging and on-going student engagement and often fails to progress students beyond simple pragmatic language use. It is argued that a new approach integrates languages in daily classroom literacy practices can redress this situation： a multilingual literacy approach. The theoretical framework that drives this approach draws from the notions of universality and transfer that are established in the literature. A critical realist paradigm provided a framework for integrating research methods： employing contingency theory and pragmatic methods of philosophy also ensured that values and hermeneutics were not sidelined in the explanation of the study＇s acts and outcomes. This longitudinal study demonstrates that when the aforementioned theoretical notions bridge the research-practice divide and are adopted into daily classroom teaching and learning activities, there is a qualitative and quantitative improvement in students＇ literacy learning

The only purple-flower species in Actaea L.is pollinated by a hornet

Examining the pollination biology of plant species is not only crucial for enhancing our understanding of their reproductive biology,but also essential for elucidating their adaptation and evolutionary history.Here,we investigated the breeding system and pollination biology of two closely related species in Actaea.The flower of A.purpurea is unique in the genus with purple and chartaceous(paper-like)sepals,fewer stamens with yellow anthers and purple filaments.Through three seasons of field observation and exclusion experiments,we determined that A.purpurea was primarily pollinated by a hornet species,Vespa bicolor,which also served as the most efficient pollinator.In contrast,A.japonica was primarily pollinated by large flies.Actaea purpurea exhibited a significantly higher cumulative nectar volume than A.japonica,which could be a crucial factor in attracting V.bicolor.A control experiment further demonstrated that removing the nectar leaf(petal)significantly decreased the visiting frequency of V.bicolor.Breeding system studies revealed that both species were self-compatible,yet they primarily underwent outcrossing in natural habitats.Our study presents a compelling case of possible pollinator shift in A.purpurea accompanied by morphological divergence.A more in-depth investigation of this system would offer crucial insights into the extent to which pollinators are involved in the plant speciation process and whether they contribute to reproductive isolation between closely related species.

澳大利亚种子现状与企业管理

应澳大利亚农业部及迪肯大学的邀请,宁夏农牧厅、宁夏种子协会组织有关各县市人员一行12人,于2004年7月13日-8月2日赴澳培训、考察,考察期间在澳大利亚农业部及迪肯大学等有关部门的精心安排下,先后深入到维多利亚州、

Gene editing: an instrument for practical application of gene biology to plant breeding

Plant breeding is well recognized as one of the most important means to meet food security challenges caused by the ever-increasing world population. During the past three decades, plant breeding has been empowered by both new knowledge on trait development and regulation(e.g., functional genomics) and new technologies(e.g., biotechnologies and phenomics). Gene editing, particularly by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas) and its variants, has become a powerful technology in plant research and may become a game-changer in plant breeding. Traits are conferred by coding and non-coding genes. From this perspective, we propose different editing strategies for these two types of genes. The activity of an encoded enzyme and its quantity are regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional, as well as translational and post-translational, levels. Different strategies are proposed to intervene to generate gene functional variations and consequently phenotype changes. For non-coding genes, trait modification could be achieved by regulating transcription of their own or target genes via gene editing. Also included is a scheme of protoplast editing to make gene editing more applicable in plant breeding. In summary, this review provides breeders with a host of options to translate gene biology into practical breeding strategies, i.e., to use gene editing as a mechanism to commercialize gene biology in plant breeding.