Spatial and temporal distribution of forest fire frequency and forest area burnt in Jilin Province, Northeast China

Forest fires caused by natural forces or human activities are one of the major natural risks in Northeast China.The incidence and spatial distribution of these fires vary over time and across the forested areas in Jilin Province,Northeast China.In this study,the incidence and distribution of 6519 forest fires from 1969 to 2013 in the province were investigated.The results indicated that the spatiotemporal distribution of the burnt forest area and the fire frequency varied significantly by month,year,and region.Fire occurrence displayed notable temporal patterns in the years after forest fire prevention measures were strictly implemented by the provincial government.Generally,forest fires in Jilin occurred in months when stubble and straw were burned and human activities were intense during traditional Chinese festivals.Baishan city,Jilin city,and Yanbian were defined as fire-prone regions for their high fire frequency.Yanbian had the highest frequency,and the fires tended to be large with the highest burned area per fire.Yanbian should thus be listed as the key target area by the fire management agency in Jilin Province for better fire prevention.

Supercritical extracts of forest fuels in Great Xing＇an Mountains

Extracts are important components of fuels. Fatty-extracts with high heating value （HV） are hypothe- sized by researchers as positively related to the HV of fuels. The Soxhlet extractor is typically used to extract fatty-extracts but it has shortcomings, including long processing time （8-10 h） and the requirement for large amounts of organic solvent. Supercritical extraction is an alternate and useful technique for extraction of natural products. However, published studies rarely discuss the relationship between extracts and HV. In this study, we assessed the supercritical extracts （SUE） of forest fuels in the Great Xing＇an Mountains. Our results indicated that the optimum conditions for extraction of SuEs were 40-60 mesh, 40-50 MPa, 45℃, 80 min and a CO2 flow rate of 1.5-2.0 dm3/min. The Soxhlet extracts contents and the SuE contents were all related to HV. However, R2 of the coniferous samples （0.8499） and needle samples （0.9722） demonstrated that the correlation between HV and the SuE content was closer. We conclude that supercritical fatty-extracts provide a useful index of the HV of fuels, especially coniferous fuels. SuE data can be used in fire management, for example to estimate the rate of fire spread or fire intensity.

Migration routes of the endangered Oriental Stork(Ciconia boyciana)from Xingkai Lake,China,and their repeatability as revealed by GPS tracking

The Oriental Stork(Ciconia boyciana)is listed as'Endangered'on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)Red List of Threatened Species and is classified as a first category nationally protected bird species in China.Understanding this species'seasonal movements and migration will facilitate effective conservation to promote its population.We tagged 27 Oriental Stork nestlings at Xingkai Lake on the Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang Province,China,used GPS tracking to follow them over the periods of 2014-2017 and 2019-2022,and confirmed their detailed migratory routes using the spatial analysis function of ArcGIS 10.7.We discovered four migration routes during autumn migration:one common long-distance migration route in which the storks migrated along the coastline of Bohai Bay to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River for wintering,one short-distance migration route in which the storks wintered in Bohai Bay and two other migration routes in which the storks crossed the Bohai Strait around the Yellow River and wintered in South Korea.There were no significant differences in the number of migration days,residence days,migration distances,number of stopovers and average number of days spent at stopover sites between the autumn and spring migrations(P>0.05).However,the storks migrated significantly faster in spring than in autumn(P=0.03).The same individuals did not exhibit a high degree of repetition in their migration timing and route selection in either autumn or spring migration.Even storks from the same nest exhibited considerable between-individual variation in their migration routes.Some important stopover sites were identified,especially in the Bohai Rim Region and on the Songnen Plain,and we further explored the current conservation status at these two important sites.Overall,our results contribute to the understanding of the annual migration,dispersal and protection status of the endangered Oriental Stork and provide a scientific basis for conservation decisions and the development of action plans for this species.

The influences of biotic and abiotic factors on the occurrence and severity of poplar canker disease in Qingfeng County, China and the management implications

Landscape pathology is a research approach that can provide validation of the effectiveness of regional controls of forest disease at a landscape scale. In this paper, we analyzed the effects of stand features, management approaches, and geographical locations on poplar canker disease incidence （DI） and disease severity index （DSI） of individual trees at a 10 km x 10 km mesoscale landscape in Qingfeng County, China. DI varied significantly with stand age, tree densities, and the degree of canopy closure. DI in stands younger than 4 years old was significantly lower than that in the stands over 6 years old and reached the highest value at a stand age of 8-10 years. Overall, DI was positively correlated with stand age, stand density, andthe degree of canopy closure. DI was significantly lower in agro-forest stand patches than in other three patch types, i.e. isolated patch, pure stand patch, and mixed stand patch. Poplar plantations distributed around and near to villages exhibited significantly higher DI mainly due to human activities and herbivores. Fragmentation or connectivity in this mesoscale landscape seemed not impact disease occurrence. DSI was not significantly correlated with stand density, but varied significantly with tree varieties and trees ages. DSI was highest in stands of 10-12 year trees for all poplar varieties we studied here. Plantation density and plantation age were thus critical factors in determining DI and DSI. A logistic predictive model of disease occurrence was developed for the study area, considering varieties, age, height, density, canopy cover, stand types, patch types, management status, and stand geographical locations. Our study here shows that adjustment of stand density by thinning at different plantation ages is an effective approach controlling the occurrence canker disease in short-rotation poplar plantations at the landscape scale.

The impact of climate change on fire risk in Daxing'anling,China

Daxing’anling is a key region for forest fire prevention in China. Assessing changes in fire risk in the future under multiple climatic scenarios will contribute to our understanding of the influences of climate change for the region and provide a reference for applying adaptive measures for fire management. This study analyzed the changes in fire weather indices and the fire season under four climate scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, RCP8.5) for 2021-2050 using data from five global climate models together with observation data. The results showed that the analog data could project the average state of the climate for a given period but were not effective for simulating extreme weather conditions. Compared with the baseline period (1971-2000), the period 2021-2050 was predicted to have an increase in average temperature of 2.02-2.65 °C and in annual precipitation 25.4-40.3 mm, while the fire weather index (FWI) was predicted to increase by 6.2-11.2% and seasonal severity rating (SSR) by 5.5-17.2%. The DMC (Duff moisture code), ISI (initial spread index), BUI (build-up index), FWI and SSR were predicted to increase significantly under scenarios RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5. Furthermore, days with high or higher fire danger rating were predicted to be prolonged by 3-6 days, with the change in the southern region being greater under scenarios RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5.

Population dynamics and habitat use of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin, Tibet, China

Background:The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis)is an internationally threatened crane living on the plateau, mainly in winter, in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin in Tibet,western China. In the past five years,some economic development projects have been conducted in this area,posing potential threats to the wintering populations of the cranes and their habitats. Therefore, the current population dynamics of wintering Black-necked Cranes and habitat suitability in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin were investigated. Methods: Twenty counties were surveyed using the line transect method in December 2017 and January 2018, and we recorded the location,flock size,number of individuals,habitat types and presence of human disturbance in which they occurred.We compared the results from the middle wintering period in this survey with those from 2014. Results: The highest number of cranes recorded was 8291,and the results showed that the cranes were mainly distributed in Lhaze, Namling, Samzhubze, and Lhunzub.A total of 577 and 495 flocks were recorded in the early and middle wintering periods, respectively. In the early wintering period,there were signi ficant differences in the number of individuals across the di fferent habitats,with crop stubble land and plowed land representing more than 30% of the total habitat utilization.In the middle wintering period, there were also signi ficant differences in the number of individuals, and the utilization of crop stubble land represented over 60% of the total. Conclusions: Wintering Black-necked Cranes mainly fed on spilled grains in stubble habitat after harvest. In the middle wintering period, some of the farmlands were plowed and irrigated,which resulted in food shortages in these areas,and the cranes tended to gather in mixed flocks of large size instead of as a single family.There were still considerable regional wintering populations decreases in Quxu,Nedong,and Sakya in 2018 compared with 2014,and these decreases were mainly due to some recently emerging threats,including farmlands being converted into areas of greenhouse cultivation,highway and railway construction, river dredging,the rapid development of the manufacturing and mining industries,and the lack of protection of important wintering sites.

Soil Insect Diversity and Abundance Following Different Fertilizer Treatments on the Loess Plateau of China

The presence of abundant and diverse communities of macro-arthropods is considered an indicator of sustainability in agroecosystems. This study was designed to investigate the effects of different fertilizer treatments on abundance and diversity of insects of arable loess soil on the Loess Plateau of China. These regimes included a control with no fertilizer addition or manure, treatments with application of mineral fertilizers （N, NK, NP, PK, NPK）, treatments with NPK in combination with organic materials such as wheat straw or maize stalk, treatments with two rates of organic manure application; and different crop rotations （Rot. 1： winter wheat summer maize; Rot.2： winter wheat summer maize soybean intercropping; and Rot.3： winter wheat or rapeseed summer maize soybean intercropping）. Soil macro-arthropods were collected from the plough layer （0-20 cm） and sorted by hand after each harvest in June and October 2001 and 2002. A total of 3 132 individuals were collected, from 7 orders and 55 families, dominated by Formicidae （61.72%） and Staphylinidae （14.24%）. The results showed that individuals and groups were significantly influenced by sampling dates, while groups were significantly influenced by the fertilization treatments. Soil insect biodiversity, as determined by the Shannon index, was significantly influenced by fertilization and sampling dates. The abundance of soil insects was positively and significantly correlated with soil moisture content in October 2002. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and incorporation of organic materials were favorable factors for abundance and diversity in arable loess soil.

Classification of dendrocola nematode-trapping fungi

Pine wilt disease,caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Bursaphelenchus mucnatus,is a serious quarantined disease.Arboreal nematode-trapping fungi of P inus spp.are effective predators on nematodes and have strong host adaptability.The development of these fungal resources may be an effective way to control pine wood nematodes.We collected 515 samples of pine wilt disease from the areas of Ninghai City(Zhejiang province),Shuangbai County(Yunnan province),and Daxing'anling(Heilongjiang province),China.Through isolation,culture and identification,6 species of nematode-trapping fungi(A rthrobotrys cladodesr,A.oligospora,A.musiformis,A.dendroides,Dactylellina ellipsospora,Monacrosporium thaumasium)were identified for predation against B.xylophilus,and 9 species(Arthrobotrys dactyloides,A.cladodes r A.oligospora A.dendroides,Dactylellina ellipsospora,Dactylella asthenopaga,D.leptospora,Arthrobotrys superba,Monacrosporium drechseri)were identified for predation against B.mucnatus.This study provides information in the classification of arboreal predator nematodes and provides an important basis for future biological control of pine wood nematodes.

Autumn migration routes of fledgling Chinese Egrets(Egretta eulophotes)in Northeast China and their implications for conservation

The Chinese Egret(Egretta eulophotes)is a globally threatened bird species living on the coast and islands of Liaoning,northeastern China,mainly in summer.To further protect the breeding population of Chinese Egrets,it is important to understand the current protection status of their distribution sites at pre-migration period and migration routes.Thirty-three individuals were tagged with satellite transmitters at Fantuo Island in Changhai and Xingren Island in Zhuanghe,Liaoning Province,northeastern China,in July of 2016,2017,and 2018,to identify important distribution sites during the pre-migration period,as well as detailed migration routes.The results showed that coastal mudflats in Liaoning and the west coast of North Korea were important feeding and roosting sites for fledgling Chinese Egrets from August to September.The home range sizes in August were significantly larger than in September.The eastern coast from Shandong to Guangdong,as well as Taiwan,China,and Manila Bay and Galileo Islands in the Philippines,were important stopover sites during fall migration.Specifically,we found that the egrets’autumn migration could be divided into four routes,i.e.,sea-crossing migration(SCM),coastal migration(CM),inland migration(IM),and mixed migration(MM).The migration distance,timing,speed,and straightness of the four routes also differed.The SCM routes were the straightest,and had the fastest migration speed and shortest travel time,while the IM routes had the lowest straightness and speed,and the longest duration.Manila Bay and Bohol Island in the Philippines,the west coast of Tanintharyi in Myanmar,and the Zengwun River Estuary in Taiwan,China,were wintering sites.Our findings on the key distribution sites along pre-migration and fall migration routes,including some stopover sites,have important implications for the conservation of and global action plan development for the vulnerable Chinese Egret.

A new species of the genus Coccophagus(Hymenoptera:Aphelinidae)associated with Sphaerolecanium prunastri(Hemiptera:Coccoidea)from the Tianshan Mountains,Xinjiang

To investigate the natural parasitoid enemies of Sphaerolecanium prunastri,a scale insect which harms wild fruit forests in western Tianshan,Xinjiang,branches seriously damaged by S.prunastri were collected and cultured in glass jars for obtaining natural parasitoids.Coccophagus tianshanensis Li&Yao sp.nov.,a new species of Coccophagus(Hymenoptera:Aphelinidae)was gained and identified based on the morphological and molecular data.Morphological characteristics of C.tianshanensis are described in detail,and COI and 28S sequences are determined.In addition,a key to species of the genus Coccophagus in the world parasitizing S.prunastri was established.This investigation has found a potential natural enemy of the S.prunastri in the wild fruit forests of the West Tianshan Mountains,Xinjiang,and establishes a new natural enemy for biocontrol of this pest.

Larvicidal activity and microencapsulation of tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum)extract on Malacosoma neustria testacea larvae

To understand and improve the stability of the insecticidal activity of tobacco extract,the 3 rd instar larvae of Malacosoma neustria testacea was determined by the leaf film method.Spectrophotometry identified extract effects on activities of several enzymes.In addition,to improve the stability of the extract,microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation and phase separation with the extract as core material,and gelatin and gum arabic as wall material.With the embedding rate as the evaluation index,the response surface method was used to optimize the preparation process of the microcapsules.The results show that the extract had a strong insecticidal activity on the larvae,with inhibitory effects on several enzymes examined of carboxylesterase,acetylcholinesterase,glutathione-S transferase,catalase,and superoxide dismutase.The inhibition rate increased with time.The best preparation process of tobacco extract microcapsules was 25% mass fraction of emulsifier,2.05% mass fraction of gelatin,3% mass fraction of gum arabic,1.34 wall core ratio,36 min of complex coacervation time.The embedding rate was 58.4% which is approximately the theoretical embedding rate(58.9%).The microcapsules prepared by this method have a smooth surface,good combining form and particle size distribution,and a median diameter of 8.6 μm.Infrared characteristic peaks of the extracts were preserved at 877.55 cm^(-1) and2922.13 cm^(-1).Microencapsulation can improve the thermal stability of the tobacco extract.Indoor toxicity tests showed that LC_(50) of extract microcapsules was 20.2 mg·mL^(-1),equivalent to the toxicity level of the tobacco extract itself,indicating that microencapsulation did not reduce extract insecticidal effects.This research may provide a reference for the optimization of the tobacco extract microcapsule preparation process.

A study of emissions and marker gases from smouldering combustion in Larix gmelinii plantations of the Daxing'an Mountains

Underground fires are characterized by smouldering combustion with a slow rate of spread rate and without flames.Although smouldering combustion releases large amounts of gaseous pollutants,it is difficult to discover by today's forest fire monitoring technologies.Carbon monoxide(CO),nitrogen oxides(NO_(x))and sulfur dioxide(SO_(2))were identified as high concentration marker gases of smouldering combustion-easily-be monitored.According to a two-way ANOVA,combustion time had a significant impact on CO and NO_(x) emissions;smoldering-depth also had a significant impact on NO_(x) emissions but not on CO emissions.Gas emission equations were established by multiple linear regression,C_(co)=156.989-16.626 t and C_(NOx)=3.637-0.252 t-0.039 h.

Expansion and Management Implications of Invasive Alien Spartina alterniflora in Yancheng Salt Marshes, China

Improved understanding of the spatial dynamics of invasive plant species is critical for effective land management and control of future invasion. The Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR), an internationally important wetland, has the largest distribution of alien Spartina alterniflora in China. This alien plant was intentionally introduced for erosion prevention and dike protection in China. However, it became an aggressive competitor with native salt marsh plants in the coastal regions in China. High resolution imagery, SPOT-5, was used to map plant communities including invasive species in the south core zone of YNNR with the natural ecosystem of salt marshes in 2003, 2005 and 2008. The fuzzy set assessment method significantly improved the classification accuracies over the conventional error matrix, i.e., from 73.8%, 73.5% and 81.4% to 91.5%, 91.6% and 93.4% in 2003, 2005 and 2008, respectively. It shows a great potential for mapping invasive plant species. Phragmites australis and S. alterniflora were the most accurately mapped classes, and sparse and dense Suaeda glauca were the least accurately mapped. From 2003 to 2008, S. alterniflora increased 28.8% from 1664.1 to 2142.6 ha in area size, and more than 2.5 times from 742 to 2608 patches. The highest increase in patch number occurred within the interval between 2001 and 3000 m from the eastern baseline. This increase was dominated by small patches with area less than 200 m2. During the study period, the mean spread width was 405 ± 80.7 m in the original large patch of area over 200 ha. The eastward/seaward spread was distinctively larger than the westward/landward. The results enhance the understanding of alien plant’s invasion patterns and help improve conservation efforts.

Spotting ignition of larch(Larix gmelinii)fuel bed by different firebrands

Spot fire increase the difficulty of fire-fighting and threaten public safety,and therefore it is important to study ignition probabilities of fuel bed by different firebrands,in order to understand ignition mechanisms and analyze the formation of spot fires.This will provide an important basis for further study to improve the fire-fighting efficiency and reduce casualties.In this study,the ignition probabilities of larch(Larix gmelinii)fuel beds with different moisture levels and packing ratios by diffreent firebrands,including cones and twigs of different sizes,was investigated.Ignition experiments were conducted at different wind speeds generated by fans.The results show that,regardless of moisture content and packing ratio,ignition probability is zero when there is no wind.Both moisture content and wind speed significantly infuence ignition probability,while packing ratio has almost no effect.The maximum moisture content at which firebrand ignition occurred was 50%,and ignition probability increased with wind speed and decreased with moisture content.Cones have the highest ignition probability,followed by large twigs and by small twigs.Ignition probability is also affected by firebrand shapes and sizes that determine their potential heat and contact area to the fuel bed.Two empirical models were established to link ignition probability with fuel properties and wind speed.This study will help clarify the mechanism of spot ignition and reduce corresponding losses.

Growth and decline of arboreal fungi that prey on Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and their predation rate

Pine wilt disease caused by pine wood nema-todes is a deadly disease of the genus Pinus requiring strong quarantine measures.Since its discovery,it has been widely distributed throughout the world.China is one of the coun-tries with a severe rate of infections due to its abundant pine resources.In this study,nematode-trapping fungi were collected from pine trees in Ninghai City,Zhejiang Prov-ince,which is the key area of pine wilt control in Febru-ary,May,September,October and November.The results showed that nematode-trapping fungi of pine are abundant,especially the number and species detected in each month and are quite different;species of fungi in July,Septem-ber and November were more numerous and had higher separation rates.The dominant species in November was Arthrobotrys oligospora followed by Arthrobotrys cladodes;July and September it was A.cladodes.In each part of the tree,A.cladodes was the most widely distributed with a high separation rate.Therefore,it is the dominant fungal species in the area.Arboreal Bursaphelenchus xylophilus-trapping fungi are dependent on pine wood nematodes,and none were isolated from healthy pine trees.More arboreal B.xylophilus-trapping fungi were found under the bark than in the xylem.There is a close relationship between arboreal B.xylophilus-trapping fungi and pine wood nematodes.How to make use of these resources to reduce the damage of pine wood nematode fusarium is the focus of future research.

Purification and structural analysis of the toxin AP-Ⅰ from the pathogen of Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis blight

Bambusa pervariabilis Dendrocalamopsis grandis blight is caused by a toxin from the fungus Arthrinium phaeospermum （corda） M. B. Ellis. We used shaking culture in a modified Fries culture medium and methanol extraction to isolate the toxin. The optimal developing solvent mixture （methanol： ethyl acetate： H20 at 7：1.5：3） was selected using thin layer chromatography and used as the eluent for toxin purification by silica gel column chromatography. Two toxic fractions were identi- fied in the bioassay. A flaxen oil substance, AP-I, showed higher toxicity than a toxic white powder, AP-II. The more toxic AP-I was determined to be dibutyl phthalate （C16H2204, molecular weight of 278） by mass spectrome- try, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectropho- tometry. Dibutyl phthalate might contribute to the pathogenesis of bamboo blight.

A new species of Galloromma Schlüter(Hymenoptera: Gallorommatidae) from the Cretaceous amber in Myanmar

A new species,Galloromma hukawugensis Cao&Yang sp.nov.belonging to Gallorommatidae Gibson et al.,2007,is described.This specimen was collected from mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar.Photos and illustrations of habitus,antenna,legs,wings,metasoma and other structures are provided to facilitate recognition of this little-known genus and this new species.

Forest fire danger ratings in the 2040s for northeastern China

The average temperature of northeastern China is expected to increase 2.22 and 2.55℃ under two scenarios selected from the Intergovemmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC）, i.e., A2 and B2, during the 2040s （2041-2050）, which will have an impact on fire activities in those areas. We calculated the output of regional climate models, using the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index （FWI） on a scale of 50 km × 50 km. Meteorological data and fire weather index were interpolated to a scale of 1 km × 1 km by using ANUSPLIN software. The results show that the model of Providing Regional Climate for Impacts Studies （PRECIS） had the ability to provide good temperature and precipitation estimates of the study area in the baseline period, by simulation. In the 2040s the mean FWI values of the study area will increase during most of the fire seasons under both selected scenarios, compared with the baseline period. Under scenario B2 the peak fire season will appear in advance. The changes of FWI ratio （2×CO2/l ×CO2） show that the potential burned areas will increase 20% under scenario B2 and lightly increase under scenario A2 in 2040s. The days of high, very high and extreme fire danger classes will add 5 and 18 d under scenarios A2 and B2, respectively. It suggests adapting the climate change through improving fuel management and enhancing the fighting abilities.

The Community Abundance and Diversity of Arable Soil Insect Community Following Different Fertilizer Treatments in Xinjiang, China

The soil insect community was studied in grey desert soil district in September 2004. 90 soil samples and 100 pitfalls were collected from 10 treatments, i.e., abandonment （Aband.）, CK, N, NP, NK, PK, NPK, MNPK （fertilizer N：organic N = 3：7）, 1.5MNPK, and SNPK. 4915 soil insects （128 unknown）, as individuals belonging to 9 orders and 33 families, were obtained by pitfall traps and modified Tullgren methods. The results showed that, based on the number of individuals and groups, the macro fauna in total reached their peaks in abandonment, whereas meso and micro fauna in N and PK, respectively. Of the 10 treatments, the most dominant of soil insect composition was in MNPK and most evenness was N. The result by Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that the distribution of the arable soil insect was significantly impacted by different fertilizer treatments （X0.05（9） = 23.38, P 〈 0.005）, and soil insect group of the abandonment was significantly different from that of other fertilizer treatments. The soil insect community was divided into five groups by non-metric- MDS analysis： （1） NPK, MNPK, 1.5MNPK, CK, （2） NP and PK, （3） NK and N, （4） SNPK, and （5） abandonment, which indicated that distribution of soil insect was related to the character of the fertilizer. In the principal component analysis, two factors explained 98.51% of the total variation among the 10 treatments, and the factor one explained that N and SNPK positively affected soil insect community, whereas factor two explained that 1.5MNPK positively affected soil insect community, which showed that the diversified fertilizer did not evenly affect the soil insect community.

Exploration of Waterscape Design Techniques on Campus

The important role of modern campus waterscapes in adjusting micro climate, enhancing landscape sustainability, enriching university cultures and improving overall environmental image was introduced, principles and laws of campus waterscape design explored. Outstanding waterscape designs were introduced from the perspectives of waterscape space design, embankment and waterfront landscape, aquatic animals and plants, ambience expression of campus waterscapes. Key points of maintaining water environment and water system were elaborated, and new ecological means of campus waterscape design were recommended, for example, artificial wetland and rainwater collection.