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The intensification of agriculture has led to the loss of non-crop habitats, resulting in a sharp decline in farmland biodiversity and weakening the control of agricultural pests by their natural enemies. The resurgence of pests and the serious threat of pesticide residue contamination pose significant risks to food security. Conservation of farmland biodiversity through farmland habitat management and the utilization of ecological control of crop pests based on the balance among organisms are crucial for addressing the ecological and environmental issues in intensified farmland. It represents the fundamental approach to promoting green and sustainable agricultural development. This paper briefly outlines the development of ecological pest control in agriculture, systematically summarizes the concepts, principles, techniques, and advancements in farmland habitat management. It focuses on prospects for theoretical research, methodological advancements, and organizational practices in non-crop habitat management, aiming to provide insights for theoretical research and practical applications in ecological pest control of agricultural crops [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the expansion soil slope in the JiangHuai area before the disposal of the neglect of expansion of the weak defects and slope disposal after the poor long-term stability of the current situation. This study investigates the ability of ecological slope protection technology to cope with the destabilizing geohazard of expansive soil slopes. Analyzing the collapse reasons of weak expansive soil slopes in the JiangHuai region based on the reinforcement project of expansive soil slopes along highways in the JiangHuai region, combined with actual engineering research, a "storage-resistance" water regulation ecological prevention and control technology is proposed. The feasibility and sustainability of the ecological slope protection technology is discussed in terms of its principles and influencing factors, and the protection effect is verified by combining numerical simulation and field test methods. Research findings suggest that the "storage-resistance" technology effectively prevents rainwater infiltration, particularly under light rain conditions, with continuous blocking capability. Under rainstorm conditions, it can prevent infiltration for about 4 h, significantly enhancing slope stability. Slope rate variations show no significant impact on reinforced slope stability, with maximum deformation occurring at the slope's foot after rainfall. Reinforcement plans should prioritize strengthening support at the slope's base. Proper selection and optimization of technical parameters can lead to more economical and sustainable solutions while extending protection time. Field trials confirm the suitability of the "storage and blocking" water regulation ecological control technology for the JiangHuai region, particularly where light rain prevails. These findings suggest that ecological control techniques for expansive soil slopes can effectively regulate slope moisture changes and reduce the geohazard risk of expansive soil slope instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Land Geography is the property of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aphis gossypii Glover is an important pest in cotton plantations. Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is a host plant for the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch and may prove to be an important reservoir of natural enemies to combat this pest. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of different mowing frequencies of alfalfa traps on A. gossypii and their natural enemies, using both ground survey data and UAV remote sensing data. The alfalfa was mowed twice to facilitate the transfer of this primary natural enemy to the cotton fields. Ground surveys were carried out every five days to gather data, while temporal niche and niche overlap methods were used for further analysis. Findings collected over a period ranging from day 31 to day 91 indicated that compared to their counterparts with no alfalfa traps, the cotton fields containing these pest control measures demonstrated a reduction in the A. gossypii population of approximately 16%. A survey conducted 5 days after mowing the alfalfa on days 61 and 71 found that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps experienced a 24.14% and 26.09% reduction in A. gossypii numbers. In contrast, the cotton fields without alfalfa traps experienced a 76.92% and 55.08% increase in cotton aphid numbers during the same period. It is noteworthy that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps showed a delayed onset of cotton aphid damage of approximately 5 days compared to the fields without alfalfa traps. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the ecological control mechanism of A. gossypii within alfalfa traps. Planting alfalfa traps around fields in Xinjiang could be promoted as a method to prevent and control aphid damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the expansion soil slope in the JiangHuai area before the disposal of the neglect of expansion of the weak defects and slope disposal after the poor long-term stability of the current situation. This study investigates the ability of ecological slope protection technology to cope with the destabilizing geohazard of expansive soil slopes. Analyzing the collapse reasons of weak expansive soil slopes in the JiangHuai region based on the reinforcement project of expansive soil slopes along highways in the JiangHuai region, combined with actual engineering research, a “storage-resistance” water regulation ecological prevention and control technology is proposed. The feasibility and sustainability of the ecological slope protection technology is discussed in terms of its principles and influencing factors, and the protection effect is verified by combining numerical simulation and field test methods. Research findings suggest that the “storage-resistance” technology effectively prevents rainwater infiltration, particularly under light rain conditions, with continuous blocking capability. Under rainstorm conditions, it can prevent infiltration for about 4 h, significantly enhancing slope stability. Slope rate variations show no significant impact on reinforced slope stability, with maximum deformation occurring at the slope’s foot after rainfall. Reinforcement plans should prioritize strengthening support at the slope’s base. Proper selection and optimization of technical parameters can lead to more economical and sustainable solutions while extending protection time. Field trials confirm the suitability of the “storage and blocking” water regulation ecological control technology for the JiangHuai region, particularly where light rain prevails. These findings suggest that ecological control techniques for expansive soil slopes can effectively regulate slope moisture changes and reduce the geohazard risk of expansive soil slope instability.

[Objective] To explore the invasion control effect of Eucalyptus spp. mixed forest on Mikania micrantha. [Method] This study compared pure Eucalyptus spp.forest with two mixed models: 1 row of Eucalyptus spp.+1 row of Acacia confusa (mixed mode A) and 2 rows of Eucalyptus spp. +2 rows of Acacia confusa (mixed mode B). The growth status, Mikania biomass, leaf biomass, stand transparency and Mikania micrantha coverage of the three afforestation models were analyzed and the key factors controlling Mikania micrantha were revealed. [Result] The results showed that in the mixed forest, the average height, average diameter at breast height, average crown width, and single leaf biomass of Acacia confusa were higher than those of pure Eucalyptus spp. forests; The order of stand transmittance and biomass of Mikania micrantha is as follows: pure Eucalyptus spp.forest>mixed mode B-mixed mode A (P<0.05). The order of total leaf biomass and Mikania micrantha biomass in the tree layer of the forest is as follows: mixed mode A-mixed mode B>pure eucalyptus forest; among the three afforestation modes, the coverage of Mikania micrantha reaches over 70% and only exists in the pure eucalyptus forest, with a coverage of only 5%-10% or only in the mixed forest without Mikania micrantha. Based on the above factors, the effectiveness of the three afforestation modes in controlling the invasion of Mikania micrantha is as follows: mixed mode A-mixed mode B>Eucalyptus spp. pure forest, indicating that factors such as forest density, degree of branch and leaf flourishing, and forest transparency are the key to controlling the invasion of Mikania micrantha. [Conclusion] The research results provide a reference basis for constructing Eucalyptus acacia mixed forests in the southeastern region of Guangxi to control the occurrence of Mikania micrantha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato silver scurf, caused by the fungus Helminthosporium solani, is an important storage disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), reducing the market value of tubers. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, the presented experiments aimed to determine the effect of selected essential oils (EOs: α-pinene, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, D-carvone, eucalyptol, L-linalool, L-menthol, L-menthone, (R)-(+)-limonene, and thymol) on H. solani growth. All EOs inhibited pathogen growth, but their antifungal activities differed significantly. Thymol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde had the strongest inhibitory effects on mycelial growth under in vitro conditions. (R)-(+)-limonene displayed the weakest inhibition. The effectiveness of those EOs with the greatest antifungal activity was confirmed by in vivo experiments. EOs were applied through dressing and fumigation, with EOs bound to a biopolymer for dressing. Dressing and fumigation brought a highly statistically significant reduction in H. solani infection intensity and sporulation intensity on tubers. Although EOs had an insignificant effect on potato cooking quality, the taste of EO-dressed tubers was degraded by an off-odor and off-taste. EOs could provide an ecological alternative for reducing H. solani tuber infection during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activities of ecological inspections are designed to serve as a regulator to ensure compliance with ecological standards by business entities and reduce the level of pollution. On the basis of this goal of functioning of ecological inspections, the purpose of the study has been formed, which is to confirm or refute the hypothesis that the efficiency of ecological inspections has a direct impact on the level of financing of measures related to the rational use of nature. Thus, to begin with, an analysis of modern foreign literature on related topics was carried out, which made it possible to confirm the relevance of our study, at the same time it was based on the absence of similar domestic developments. The further research was also based on the collection and processing of official data on the results of ecological inspections, the amount of ecological tax revenues and the financing of ecological protection measures. Using the collected data, a panel-regression analysis was carried out (based on Stata software). The assessment of the impact of ecological inspections on the financial support of rational use of natural resources was carried out in two stages. As a result of the first stage of the study (assessment of the impact of ecological inspections’ activities on ecological tax revenues), a partial statistical significance between the effective and factor variables was revealed. Thus, the activities of the ecological inspections can influence the filling of the budget in terms of the ecological tax, but such influence is insignificant in monetary terms, and this, in turn, hinders the implementation of all its functions by the ecological tax. As a result of the second stage of the study, which consisted in assessing the impact of ecological inspections on the financing of ecological protection measures, it was determined that the previously put forward hypothesis was partially confirmed. Proceeding from this, the second hypothesis was formed, the essence of which was that the relative indicators of efficiency of ecological inspections have a direct impact on the amount of ecological revenues and financing of ecological initiatives. This made it possible to confirm that the effectiveness of ecological inspections in some aspects has a direct impact on the amount of ecological tax revenues. Although, in general, the second hypothesis can be considered neither refuted nor confirmed, the results obtained can become the basis for further empirical research in this direction.

The quality of the habitats and ecosystem services are significantly impacted by ecological land fragmentation brought on by human activities. However, the specific driving mechanism of the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation on the habitat quality is still unclear. This study took the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou along the Taihu Lake basin as its research region. The spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality and their relationship with the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation were explored by the land-use dynamic rate, land-use transfer matrix, comprehensive landscape fragmentation indices, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) habitat quality model, and the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model during the 2000–2020 period. The findings revealed that: (1) On the whole, the ecological land area rose, and the northern and eastern areas of the research region had the greatest transformations in land use/land cover (LULC). (2) Within the research region in the study period, the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation index showed a fluctuating growth trend, and there were regions with large areas of high value clustered. (3) In the 2000–2020 period, the habitat quality as a whole deteriorated, with more concentrated habitat degradation seen around the woodland and construction land. (4) Numerous factors contributed to the regional and temporal changes in habitat quality and the effect of ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation on the quality of its habitats varied between regions. These findings could provide theoretical guidance for ecological land protection, habitat quality improvement, and ecosystem restoration in areas with similar environments.

The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) Anoplophora glabripennis is one of the most successful and most feared invasive insect species worldwide. This review covers recent research concerning the distribution of and damage caused by ALB, as well as major efforts to control and manage ALB in China. The distribution and destruction range of ALB have continued to expand over the past decade worldwide, and the number of interceptions has remained high. Detection and monitoring methods for the early discovery of ALB have diversified, with advances in semiochemical research and using satellite remote sensing in China. Ecological control of ALB in China involves planting mixtures of preferred and resistant tree species, and this practice can prevent outbreaks. In addition, strategies for chemical and biological control of ALB have achieved promising results during the last decade in China, especially the development of insecticides targeting different stages of ALB, and applying Dastarcus helophoroides and Dendrocopos major as biocontrol agents. Finally, we analyze recommendations for ALB prevention and management strategies based on native range and invasive area research. This information will hopefully help some invaded areas where the target is containment of ALB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to learn the community structural diversity of pests and temporal dynamics in different management modes of pomelo orchard, we selected abandoned pomelo orchard (AM) and traditional pomelo orchard (TM) to investigate the characteristics of pest community structure by netting, observation and sticky board trapping methods and classified and identified through the methods of morphology and molecular biology from May to October in 2020. The results showed that the amount of species was larger in AM orchard, while the individuals of pests were less than those in the TM orchard.The values of Margalef's index, Shannon-wiener index and Pielou index were all showed bigger in TM than those in AM, while the Simpson index was smaller, all of which with significant differences (P<0.05). The absolute advantage insects were Dacus dorsalis (19.75%), Dialeurodes citri (13.28%) and Lucilia sericata (10.15%) in TM orchard and Dacus dorsalis (75.87%) and Rhynchocoris humeralis (14.51%) in AM orchard. There was significant difference between the two community relative stability indexes (P<0.05). The similarity index of insect communities in both orchards was in the range of 0.18 to 0.40, which indicated moderately dissimilar to extremely dissimilar. The richness, diversity and evenness of insect community in TM orchard were bigger than those in AM orchard, which demonstrated that the ecological environment was more stable with more reasonable insect community structure and less particularly advantageous pest occurrences. This also indicated that it is important to utilize scientific management measures to create a harmonious and stable ecological environment, maintain appropriate diversity of ground cover plants, avoid abuse of chemical pesticides, build pest populations at reasonable thresholds and achieve the goal of improving quality of fruits and increasing income for planters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activities of ecological inspections are designed to serve as a regulator to ensure compliance with ecological standards by business entities and reduce the level of pollution. On the basis of this goal of functioning of ecological inspections, the purpose of the study has been formed, which is to confirm or refute the hypothesis that the efficiency of ecological inspections has a direct impact on the level of financing of measures related to the rational use of nature. Thus, to begin with, an analysis of modern foreign literature on related topics was carried out, which made it possible to confirm the relevance of our study, at the same time it was based on the absence of similar domestic developments. The further research was also based on the collection and processing of official data on the results of ecological inspections, the amount of ecological tax revenues and the financing of ecological protection measures. Using the collected data, a panel-regression analysis was carried out (based on Stata software). The assessment of the impact of ecological inspections on the financial support of rational use of natural resources was carried out in two stages. As a result of the first stage of the study (assessment of the impact of ecological inspections’ activities on ecological tax revenues), a partial statistical significance between the effective and factor variables was revealed. Thus, the activities of the ecological inspections can influence the filling of the budget in terms of the ecological tax, but such influence is insignificant in monetary terms, and this, in turn, hinders the implementation of all its functions by the ecological tax. As a result of the second stage of the study, which consisted in assessing the impact of ecological inspections on the financing of ecological protection measures, it was determined that the previously put forward hypothesis was partially confirmed. Proceeding from this, the second hypothesis was formed, the essence of which was that the relative indicators of efficiency of ecological inspections have a direct impact on the amount of ecological revenues and financing of ecological initiatives. This made it possible to confirm that the effectiveness of ecological inspections in some aspects has a direct impact on the amount of ecological tax revenues. Although, in general, the second hypothesis can be considered neither refuted nor confirmed, the results obtained can become the basis for further empirical research in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphis gossypii Glover is an important pest in cotton plantations. Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is a host plant for the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch and may prove to be an important reservoir of natural enemies to combat this pest. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of different mowing frequencies of alfalfa traps on A. gossypii and their natural enemies, using both ground survey data and UAV remote sensing data. The alfalfa was mowed twice to facilitate the transfer of this primary natural enemy to the cotton fields. Ground surveys were carried out every five days to gather data, while temporal niche and niche overlap methods were used for further analysis. Findings collected over a period ranging from day 31 to day 91 indicated that compared to their counterparts with no alfalfa traps, the cotton fields containing these pest control measures demonstrated a reduction in the A. gossypii population of approximately 16%. A survey conducted 5 days after mowing the alfalfa on days 61 and 71 found that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps experienced a 24.14% and 26.09% reduction in A. gossypii numbers. In contrast, the cotton fields without alfalfa traps experienced a 76.92% and 55.08% increase in cotton aphid numbers during the same period. It is noteworthy that the cotton fields with alfalfa traps showed a delayed onset of cotton aphid damage of approximately 5 days compared to the fields without alfalfa traps. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the ecological control mechanism of A. gossypii within alfalfa traps. Planting alfalfa traps around fields in Xinjiang could be promoted as a method to prevent and control aphid damage.

The development of vehicle electrification and intelligent network technologies has led to a new type of mixed and power-heterogeneous traffic flow, comprised of regular vehicles (RVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), fuel vehicles (FVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). To reduce the energy consumption of mixed and power-heterogeneous traffic flow operating at a signalized intersection, the Ecological Control Unit–Cooperative Adaptive Control (ECU-CACC) is proposed in this paper. The vehicle platoon is divided into units which are named minimum ecological control units (min-ECUs). A bi-level control framework is designed to improve traffic efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The lower-level aims to plan the best ecological trajectory for every min-ECU, and the upper-level optimizes the passing strategies for efficiency through speed coordination. Scenario numerical experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness of the bi-level optimal control model and analyze the energy-saving effect of ECU-CACC under different vehicle mixing situations. The results from the experiment prove the excellent energy-saving potential of the proposed ECU-CACC, which helps the min-ECUs save about 10–20% energy consumption compared with a regular pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tagetes minuta L. is native to the temperate grasslands and relatively high-altitude areas of South America. In 1990, it was first discovered in the Beijing Botanical Garden in China. In 1994, Pema Dawa introduced the species as a Tibetan medicine from the mountains of northern India to his courtyard in Gangjiang Village, Wolong Town, Milin County. Around 2010, scholars discovered that Tagetes minuta L. was widely invasive, which aroused extensive social concern. Featuring small weight, large number, and awns, Tagetes minuta L., is easy to spread and has a high seed germination rate, with 20% of the reproductive investment. The plant is tolerant of barrenness and drought and adapts to climates with large diurnal temperature differences and strong light conditions. Rich in aromatic substances and essential oils, the leaves and flowers serve medicinal, food, flavoring, health care and cosmetic purposes. Thiophene in the roots and bioactive components in the essential oil have anti-inflammatory, sterilizing, insect-repellent, and fly control effects, with significant allelopathy on native species. The biological and ecological characteristics of Tagetes minuta L. lay the material basis for its population spread. According to Tibetan folklore, we suggest using physical methods or biological control techniques for ecological control and strengthening the research of development and application to guide its economic benefits in Tibetan Buddhist supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato silver scurf, caused by the fungus Helminthosporium solani, is an important storage disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), reducing the market value of tubers. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, the presented experiments aimed to determine the effect of selected essential oils (EOs: α-pinene, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, D-carvone, eucalyptol, L-linalool, L-menthol, L-menthone, (R)-(+)-limonene, and thymol) on H. solani growth. All EOs inhibited pathogen growth, but their antifungal activities differed significantly. Thymol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde had the strongest inhibitory effects on mycelial growth under in vitro conditions. (R)-(+)-limonene displayed the weakest inhibition. The effectiveness of those EOs with the greatest antifungal activity was confirmed by in vivo experiments. EOs were applied through dressing and fumigation, with EOs bound to a biopolymer for dressing. Dressing and fumigation brought a highly statistically significant reduction in H. solani infection intensity and sporulation intensity on tubers. Although EOs had an insignificant effect on potato cooking quality, the taste of EO-dressed tubers was degraded by an off-odor and off-taste. EOs could provide an ecological alternative for reducing H. solani tuber infection during storage.

Urban land use change in tropic regions has unique characteristics; its change and future development can be understood through multi-scenario simulation, so as to effectively guide the land planning and provide a basis for sustainable development of the region. In this study, FLUS model was used to simulate Sanya land use change based on land use data from Landsat in 2014 and 2018, and 14 driving factors including natural, traffic, social development and POI factors. Furthermore, three scenarios of natural development, cultivated land protection and ecological control were used to simulate and predict the Sanya land use change in 2030. The results show that the FLUS model has high accuracy in simulation, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.82 and an overall classification accuracy of 87.17%. Under the ecological control scenario, the ecological space such as forest and water area is protected, the total amount of cultivated land is guaranteed, and the expansion of construction land is effectively curbed. Therefore, the ecological control scenario based on FLUS model is more suitable for the future land use development strategy of Sanya city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The control and prevention of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases is often based on the reduction of host or vector populations, involving but not limited to preventative culling and use of insecticides. Yet, destructive interventions such as these have shown several limitations including ineffectiveness on arthropods and negative impacts on ecosystems. An alternative strategy would be to rely on the natural ecosystem functions and their careful management to regulate such diseases. The goal of our work was to evaluate existing scientific evidence on potential links between ecosystem components/functions and 14 vector-borne and zoonotic diseases impacting human health and answer the question: “What evidence exists on the impact of specific ecosystem components and functions on infectious diseases?”. Methods We searched for scientific articles published in English and French and screened them in a 3-round process (title, abstract and full-text). Articles were retained, without any geographical limitation, if they matched the following eligibility criteria: an exposure/intervention linked to changes in biological communities, habitats, or landscapes; an outcome consisting of any measure of infection in vector, animal or human hosts; and the presence of a comparator, in time and/or in space. The results are presented as a systematic map, followed by a narrative review where the amount of papers allowed for synthesis. Results Searches in 5 scientific publication databases allowed to retrieve 9723 unique articles, among which 207 were retained after the screening process. The amount of relevant literature was highly variable depending on diseases, and the types of exposures also varied greatly among studies focusing on the same disease. A hundred articles presented in the map were unique in their “disease x exposure” combination and thus not eligible for further narrative description. The remaining 107 articles were organized in 34 “disease x exposure” groups, encompassing 9 out of the 14 initial diseases. The groups were composed of 2 to 16 articles and were examined to provide a description of the current state of knowledge for those diseases. Conclusion Studies investigating the interaction between infectious diseases and ecosystems components and functions are still very scarce, and certain diseases are much more studied than others. Out of 14 diseases, 8 generated less than 10 relevant articles, while 2 diseases (Lyme disease and West Nile disease) represented 44% of all relevant studies. Although several vector-borne diseases included in the review represent a major health issue in the world, such as malaria or dengue, they have been exclusively studied under the prism of land-use, and we were unable to find relevant studies that tested the regulatory role of animal biodiversity-related functions. The role of predation in the regulation of vector and host populations has rarely been studied, with the exception of schistosomiasis. The dilution and amplification effects were addressed in several studies focusing on the composition of ecological communities. This map is a first step and could be upgraded in order to guide future research projects with the aim to conduct meta-analysis and build a robust evidence base to inform decision-making.

The aphids control (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) is one of the main challenges for its production. This obstacle becomes greater in agroecological production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the formation of winged individuals in colonies of B. brassicae aphids, when exposed to kale treated with homeopathic solutions. The treatments were resistant 5CH, susceptible attacked 5CH, aphid nosode 30CH, and the controls that are water (without dynamization) and distilled water + 70% ethanol 5CH, being applied every day for 15 days. Kale plants were inoculated with aphids and irrigated using homeopathic solutions. After 15 days of inoculation, the plants were removed from the bag and the number of winged forms and nymphs of B. brassicae was counted. Homeopathic preparation Resistant 5CH provided a smaller number of winged individuals and a larger number of nymphs per colony. The plants treated with the susceptible attacked 5CH homeopathy showed a higher number of winged aphids, but a reduced number of nymphs. Aphid nosode 30CH treatment was promising to Brevicoryne brassicae control in kale plants, as it induced polymorphism, presenting a greater number of winged aphids and a reduced number of nymphs per colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyzed oxidizing water is an eco-friendly emerging technology considered as a novel broad-spectrum sanitizer. The efficacy of electrolyzed oxidizing water against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium italicum at different concentrations of free chlorine (0.5, 1, 6, 12, and 30 ppm) was evaluated. The results showed that at concentrations of 6, 12, and 30 ppm of free chlorine the mycelial growth, sporulation and germination process were totally inhibited in the strains tested. The inoculated fruit application of treatments by applying 30 ppm of free chlorine presented the best results for fungus control on artificially inoculated banana, papaya, and Persian lime fruits. The fruit quality (weight loss, TSS, pH, titratable acidity) was also evaluated. The application of electrolyzed oxidizing water had not negative impact on fruit quality. The results obtained confirm the antifungal activity of electrolyzed oxidizing water against the strains tested, as well as its capacity to cure infected fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni / Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao is the property of Sun-Yat-Sen University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Weed suppression and increased production are objectives of intercropping systems. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mixed culture on weed suppression, yield and its components of sesame and cowpea. The experiment was arranged in a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Agriculture and Natural Resources Campus, University of Tehran, during 2019. The main plots included pure sesame culture, pure cowpea culture, 50% sesame: 50% cowpea, 65% sesame: 65% cowpea and 80% sesame: 80% cowpea and sub plots included weed control and no weed control treatments. Results showed that pure sesame culture had the highest weed density and dry weight and there was no significant difference in weed density and dry weight between mixed and pure cowpea cultivars. In the most studied traits, there was a significant difference between weed control and no weed control treatments. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was higher than one in all treatments and was higher in without weeding rather than weeding treatments. The intercropping of 50% sesame: 50% cowpea had the highest LER, in terms of weed control and noncontrol (1.15 and 1.72, respectively). In general, it is concluded that sesame and cowpea mixture increased the land use efficiency while avoiding weeds, especially compared to pure sesame cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the conditions of the development of organic agricultural production, to develop and substantiate the effective mechanism of its providing in Ukraine, to determine its main components. Methodology / approach. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the dialectical method of cognition, the systematic approach to the study of economic phenomena and processes, the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the problems of theory and practice of providing the development of organic agricultural production. From the special methods of research there have been used abstract-logical – for the generalization of the components of the mechanism for the development of organic agricultural production, the formulation of conclusions; economic-statistical – during the analysis of the current state and forecasting of the prospects of the development of organic production in Ukraine and the world); graphic – during the construction of graphic images of investigated processes. Results. As a result of the research, the mechanism for providing the development of organic agricultural production was substantiated and the main components of it were defined: principles and tools of the state policy that would promote the effective organization of organic agricultural production, its information support, the state system of certification of production certification and agroecological control, which enables to form the preconditions to provide an investment-innovative model for the development of agrarian enterprises, strengthening of competitive place on the market of organic products, deepening integration into the international economy. Originality / scientific novelty. The theoretical position on the development of organic agricultural production was further developed by substantiating the mechanism of its providing, the definition of its main components. It was established that if the overall trend of organic farming development is maintained, in 2020 the area of organic crops in Ukraine may increase to 507 thousand hectares, and the number of certified organic farms will increase to 575. Practical value / implications. The practical implications of the results are that their use will promote the development of organic agricultural production, increase the efficiency of existing enterprises and their competitiveness both in regional markets and in foreign markets with simultaneous economic growth, social development and increase the level of environmental security of the country.

Abstract Background Many infectious pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa, or by animals (especially arthropods) to humans. Such diseases are called zoonotic and/or vector-borne diseases. To control or prevent them, it is often recommended to target population reduction of host or vector species, through preventive culling or insecticide use for example. But these types of destructive interventions have shown several limits altering their efficiency, including acquired resistance of arthropods to insecticides, unpredicted change in the ecology of host populations, unexpected negative functional consequences on ecosystems, as well as economic embrittlement when livestock is concerned. An alternative pathway of action would be to rely on the functioning of ecosystems, and on their careful management, to regulate diseases and thus reduce their impact on human health. In this perspective, a thorough evaluation of the conditions that can potentially promote such a positive regulation of infectious pathogens by ecosystems, and their efficiency, is needed. Here, we present the protocol of a systematic review that will evaluate the scientific evidence existing on potential links between ecosystem components or functions and 14 vector-borne and zoonotic diseases impacting human health. Methods We will search for studies that tested the effect of changes in (i) biological communities, and (ii) habitats and landscapes, on diseases. Scientific literature from 5 publication databases will be screened in a 3-rounds process: title, abstract and full-text screening. At each stage, articles will be either rejected or kept for the next round, depending on whether they fall in the exclusion or inclusion criteria. We will present results in two parts: a systematic map and a systematic review. The systematic map will present, for the 14 diseases, the number of publications, their geographical distribution, the type of ecosystem component/function they studied, as well as the host(s) in which epidemiological measurements have been performed. From this systematic map, we will identify groups of articles that allow for critical appraisal, i.e. groups of articles that studied the effect of the same ecosystem component/function on the same disease. Only those articles will be included in the systematic review. The validity of these articles will be assessed by critical appraisal and presented as a narrative synthesis with confidence levels.

Background: The control and prevention of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases is often based on the reduction of host or vector populations, involving but not limited to preventative culling and use of insecticides. Yet, destructive interventions such as these have shown several limitations including ineffectiveness on arthropods and negative impacts on ecosystems. An alternative strategy would be to rely on the natural ecosystem functions and their careful management to regulate such diseases. The goal of our work was to evaluate existing scientific evidence on potential links between ecosystem components/functions and 14 vector-borne and zoonotic diseases impacting human health and answer the question: "What evidence exists on the impact of specific ecosystem components and functions on infectious diseases?". Methods: We searched for scientific articles published in English and French and screened them in a 3-round process (title, abstract and full-text). Articles were retained, without any geographical limitation, if they matched the following eligibility criteria: an exposure/intervention linked to changes in biological communities, habitats, or landscapes; an outcome consisting of any measure of infection in vector, animal or human hosts; and the presence of a comparator, in time and/or in space. The results are presented as a systematic map, followed by a narrative review where the amount of papers allowed for synthesis. Results: Searches in 5 scientific publication databases allowed to retrieve 9723 unique articles, among which 207 were retained after the screening process. The amount of relevant literature was highly variable depending on diseases, and the types of exposures also varied greatly among studies focusing on the same disease. A hundred articles presented in the map were unique in their "disease x exposure" combination and thus not eligible for further narrative description. The remaining 107 articles were organized in 34 "disease x exposure" groups, encompassing 9 out of the 14 initial diseases. The groups were composed of 2 to 16 articles and were examined to provide a description of the current state of knowledge for those diseases. Conclusion: Studies investigating the interaction between infectious diseases and ecosystems components and functions are still very scarce, and certain diseases are much more studied than others. Out of 14 diseases, 8 generated less than 10 relevant articles, while 2 diseases (Lyme disease and West Nile disease) represented 44% of all relevant studies. Although several vector-borne diseases included in the review represent a major health issue in the world, such as malaria or dengue, they have been exclusively studied under the prism of land-use, and we were unable to find relevant studies that tested the regulatory role of animal biodiversity-related functions. The role of predation in the regulation of vector and host populations has rarely been studied, with the exception of schistosomiasis. The dilution and amplification effects were addressed in several studies focusing on the composition of ecological communities. This map is a first step and could be upgraded in order to guide future research projects with the aim to conduct meta-analysis and build a robust evidence base to inform decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of South China Agricultural University is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The delay and network are incorporated to describe the spatiotemporal behavior of a food-limited population dynamical system. By using the standard approach of upper and lower solutions, we have shown the global existence and uniqueness of solutions to the system. By analyzing eigenvalue spectrum, we show that the delay can cause the long-term behavior of the system from stability to instability, that is, the positive equilibrium is asymptotically stable in the absence of delay, but loses its stability such that the Hopf bifurcation occurs when the time delay increases beyond a threshold. By the norm form and the center manifold theory, we study the stability and direction of the Hopf bifurcation. We propose some formulas to control the stability and period of the bifurcating periodic solutions. Moreover, numerical simulations reveal that the network structure can switch the type of spatiotemporal patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding pesticide impacts on populations of target/non‐target species and communities is a challenge to applied ecology. When predators that otherwise regulate pest densities ingest prey contaminated with pesticides, this can suppress predator populations by secondary poisoning. It is, however, unknown how species relationships and protocols of treatments (e.g. anticoagulant rodenticide [AR]) interact to affect pest regulation.To tackle this issue, we modelled a heuristic non‐spatialized system including montane water voles, specialist vole predators (stoats, weasels) and a generalist predator (red fox) which consumes voles, mustelids and other prey. By carrying out a broad‐range sensitivity analysis on poorly known toxicological parameters, we explored the impact of five farmer functional responses (defined by both AR quantity and threshold vole density above which AR spreading is prohibited) on predator–prey interactions, AR transfer across the trophic chain and population effects.Spreading AR to maintain low vole densities suppressed mustelid and fox populations, leading to vole population dynamics being entirely regulated by AR use. Such vole‐suppression treatment regimes inhibited predation ecosystem services and promoted pesticide dependence.Keeping vole density below acceptable bounds by spreading AR while maintaining sufficient voles as prey resources led to less AR being applied and extended periods without AR in the environment, benefiting predators while avoiding episodes with high vole density. This may meet farm production interests while minimizing the impact on mustelid and fox populations and associated ecosystem processes. These alternating phases of mustelids and farmer regulation highlight the consequence of intraguild relationship where mustelids may rescue foxes from poisoning. Both global and wide‐range sensitivity analysis illustrate the tightrope between predator–prey regulation and pesticide–pest regulation.Synthesis and applications. Different pesticide protocols lead to a rich variety of predator–prey dynamics in agro‐ecosystems. Our model reveals the need to maintain refuges with sufficient non‐poisoned voles for sustaining specialist mustelids, to conserve the predator community given the potential of secondary poisoning with rodenticides. We suggest that long periods without pesticide treatment are essential to maintain predator populations, and that practices of pesticides use that attempt to permanently suppress a pest over a large scale are counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] • Ecological land fragmentation shows a fluctuating growth trend. • The expansion of construction land significantly affects habitat quality. • Ecological land fragmentation governance can help improve habitat quality. • Urban development and ecological protection should be coordinated in lakeside areas. The quality of the habitats and ecosystem services are significantly impacted by ecological land fragmentation brought on by human activities. However, the specific driving mechanism of the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation on the habitat quality is still unclear. This study took the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou along the Taihu Lake basin as its research region. The spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality and their relationship with the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation were explored by the land-use dynamic rate, land-use transfer matrix, comprehensive landscape fragmentation indices, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) habitat quality model, and the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model during the 2000–2020 period. The findings revealed that: (1) On the whole, the ecological land area rose, and the northern and eastern areas of the research region had the greatest transformations in land use/land cover (LULC). (2) Within the research region in the study period, the ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation index showed a fluctuating growth trend, and there were regions with large areas of high value clustered. (3) In the 2000–2020 period, the habitat quality as a whole deteriorated, with more concentrated habitat degradation seen around the woodland and construction land. (4) Numerous factors contributed to the regional and temporal changes in habitat quality and the effect of ecological land comprehensive landscape fragmentation on the quality of its habitats varied between regions. These findings could provide theoretical guidance for ecological land protection, habitat quality improvement, and ecosystem restoration in areas with similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Weed infestation causes an extremely reduction of crops yield. On the other hand, increasing the diversity of crops in agro-ecosystems will change the biomass distribution of weeds community, thereby reducing the number and density of different weed species. Weed management in the past few decades has been in conflict with ecological principles and sustainability of the production systems. As well as, it has changed from the one dimensional methods to integrated techniques based on the various non-chemical methods. Generally, weed management is possible through agronomical, mechanical and biological techniques in addition to chemical methods. One of these non-chemical methods is intercropping which has been used in farming systems since many years ago. The ability of intercropping systems to compete with weeds and proper control of weeds depends on various factors, including the composition of plants, varieties, density or proportion of intercropping and soil fertility. Besides, reduction of vacant niches and available resources for the growth of weeds are also reduce the ability of weeds invasion. So, the weed control in intercropping is much more effective than when the plants are planted alone. Majority of studies in recent years show that most of these researches have been performed in order to achieve maximum crops yield and its environmental effects is not considered. So, this research was aimed to investigate the effect of Sesame and Mung bean intercropping on yield, yield components, weed control, and determination of the best intercropping proportion in comparison with sole cropping in Mashhad, Iran. Materials and Methods This research was carried out to investigate the ecological aspects of substitution intercropping of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and Mung bean (Vignaradiata L.) in the presence and absence of weed control. The experiment was arranged as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm of faculty of agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. The main plots included five treatments: sole Sesame, sole Mung bean, 3:1 intercropping (75% sesame-25% Mung bean), 1:1 intercropping (50% sesame-50% Mung bean), 1:3 intercropping (25% sesame-75% Mung bean), and sub plots were two levels of weed control (Weedy and weed-free). In order to implement an ecological and low input system, no chemicalinputs (fertilizers and pesticides) was applied. Weeds were harvested every 15 days corresponding to 4 harvests during the days after sowingand after separating were counted based on the type of species. To determine the variation of weeds, Shannon index was used, according to below equation: H'=-Σni/N×Ln ni/N H': Shannon index, ni: the number of the desired weed species and N: total number of weeds. At the end of the growing season plant height,number of inflorescences per plant, number of grains per inflorescence and 1000 grain weight were determined for each plant. Grain yield, biological yield and harvest index were also calculated. To compare the performance of intercropping treatments, land equivalent ratio (LER) was used, according to below equation: LER= Ʃ Ypi/Ymi Ypi: yield of each plant in intercropping, Ymi: yield of each plant in sole cropping. The data statistical analysis and draw the figures were performed by SAS, Version 9.1 and Excel. Means were also compared by Duncan’s multiple range test at the 5% probability level. Results and Discussion Results indicated that 3:1 intercropping treatment (75% sesame-25% Mung bean) had the lowest relative weed density. Shannon index was the lowest for 3:1 treatment (75% sesame-25% Mung bean). Plant height, number of inflorescence per plant, number of seeds per inflorescence, seed yield, biological yield, and harvest index represented a significant difference between weedy and weed-free treatments in both plants. Land equivalent ratio (LER) among the different patterns of intercropping showed that the amount of this ratio in weed-free treatments was greater than one, especially in comparison with weedy treatments. Results of the weedy treatments also showed that the amount of LER was only in 3:1 intercropping treatment (75% sesame-25% Mung bean) greater than one (1/04 in 2013 and 1/38 in 2014). Conclusion Therefore, intercropping systems can be used as an ecological approach to reduce the use of herbicides in agriculture. It also can be as a suitable alternative to prevent the accumulation of chemical inputs in the environment. Key words: Ecological control, Evaluation of diversity, Land equivalent ratio, Weed density

In this paper, the ecological control technology of bolt and lattice beam is used to effectively control the slope of Highway Mountain. According to the engineering geological characteristics of the slope, the cause of the possible failure of the slope is analyzed. The code for design of building slopes is used to optimize the reasonable design parameters. The ecological treatment scheme of the shrubs planted in the bolt + lattice beam + sorghum trough is proposed. The scheme can effectively reduce the destruction of the masonry construction to the surrounding environment, reduce the erosion and infiltration of the slope surface, and effectively enhance the stability of the slope. The vegetation in the sorghum groove of the slope can be well coordinated with the surrounding vegetation. It is an effective plan for the new ecological control of the mountain slope, which can provide some reference for the reinforcement of the same kind of slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panonychus citri and Diaphorina citri are serious citrus pests (mites) in many countries. The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris can prey on both P. citri and D. citri. It is necessary to develop a strategy using predatory mites and selective pesticides that can simultaneously control both pests effectively and sustainably. The toxicities of matrine and abamectin to P. citri, D. citri and N. cucumeris were evaluated in the laboratory. Matrine was highly lethal to D. citri and relatively less toxic to P. citri and N. cucumeris. Abamectin was relatively less toxic to D. citri. The results of the field trials demonstrated the ecological control strategy that combined the release of predatory mites and applications of four matrine sprays from June 2011 to November 2011, which provided better control over P. citri than pesticide applications alone with six sprays during the same period. It achieved similar control levels for D. citri. In Matrine + N. cucumeris orchard, the total number of spiders was significantly larger than that in the Pesticides Only orchard, but the total number of predatory mites was lower. It is inferred that primarily natural enemies and matrine together play a role in controlling citrus pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested whether soil-applied biochar can impact the seed germination and attachment of root parasitic weeds. Three hypotheses were evaluated: (i) biochar adsorbs host-exuded signaling molecules; (ii) biochar activates plants’ innate system-wide defenses against invasion by the parasite; and (iii) biochar has a systemic influence on the amount of seed germination stimulant produced or released by the host plant. Three types of experiments were performed: (I) pot trials with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) infested with Phelipanche aegyptiaca PERS. (Egyptian broomrape) and three different types of biochar at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1.5% weight, wherein tomato plant biomass, P. aegyptiaca biomass, and number of P. aegyptiaca-tomato root attachments were quantified; (II) split-root biochar/no-biochar experiments under hydroponic growing conditions performed in polyethylene bags with tomato plant rootings, wherein P. aegyptiaca seed germination percentage and radicle attachment numbers were quantified; and (III) germination trials, wherein the effect of biochar adsorption of GR-24 (artificial germination stimulant) on P. aegyptiaca seed germination was quantified. Addition of biochar to the pot soil (Experiment I) resulted in lower levels of P. aegyptiaca infection in the tomato plants, mainly through a decrease in the number of P. aegyptiaca attachments. This led to improved tomato plant growth. In Experiment II, P. aegyptiaca seed germination percentage decreased in the biochar-treated root zone as compared with the no-biochar control root zone; P. aegyptiaca radicle attachment numbers decreased accordingly. This experiment showed that biochar did not induce a systemic change in the activity of the stimulant molecules exuded by the tomato roots, toxicity to the radicles, or a change in the ability of the radicles to penetrate the tomato roots. The major cause for the decrease in germination percentage was physical adsorption of the stimulant molecule by the biochar (Experiment III). Adding biochar to soil to reduce infections by root parasitic weeds is an innovative means of control with the potential to become an important strategy both for non-chemical treatment of this family of pests, and for enhancing the economic feasibility of the pyrolysis/biochar platform. This platform is often viewed as one of a handful of credible strategies for helping to mitigate climate change.

Guizhou Province of China is a key karst area and is facing serious rocky desertification. Controlling the rocky desertification in karst areas in Guizhou has been formally established as a national goal. After decades of experience, some control modes are now recognized for their ability to reduce desertification and to provide income for the local community. However, a unified, integrated ecological and economic evaluation of these modes is lacking. The current study evaluated three modes (planting systems) and compared these modes with the planting of corn (CP), a traditional crop in this region. The three typical modes were pepper planting (PP), pitaya cultivation (PC), and honeysuckle-plum inter-planting (HPIP). Furthermore, the ecological and economic effects of adding livestock and biogas subsystems to the PP mode were quantified. The results showed that the PP mode provided the highest ecological-economic benefits, while the HPIP mode provided the highest ecological benefits. The addition of the livestock subsystem to the PP mode could improve the economic benefit density of the system with a tradeoff of environmental loading, while the addition of the biogas subsystem could partially correct for this. We suggest that local governments to strength the technology support for these modes in order to expand the production chains; this will include the development of processing facilities for livestock, biogas, and crops. Local governments should also help farmers maintain markets, create new markets (by branding the products, for example), and establish a short-term labor supply for crop harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management / Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie is the property of Silesian Technical University, Organisation & Management Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study tested whether soil-applied biochar can impact the seed germination and attachment of root parasitic weeds. Three hypotheses were evaluated: (i) biochar adsorbs host-exuded signaling molecules; (ii) biochar activates plants' innate systemwide defenses against invasion by the parasite; and (iii) biochar has a systemic influence on the amount of seed germination stimulant produced or released by the host plant. Three types of experiments were performed: (I) pot trials with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) infested with Phelipanche aegyptiaca PERS. (Egyptian broomrape) and three different types of biochar at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1.5% weight, wherein tomato plant biomass, P. aegyptiaca biomass, and number of P. aegyptiacatomato root attachments were quantified; (II) split-root biochar/no-biochar experiments under hydroponic growing conditions performed in polyethylene bags with tomato plant rootings, wherein P. aegyptiaca seed germination percentage and radicle attachment numbers were quantified; and (III) germination trials, wherein the effect of biochar adsorption of GR-24 (artificial germination stimulant) on P. aegyptiaca seed germination was quantified. Addition of biochar to the pot soil (Experiment I) resulted in lower levels of P. aegyptiaca infection in the tomato plants, mainly through a decrease in the number of P. aegyptiaca attachments. This led to improved tomato plant growth. In Experiment II, P. aegyptiaca seed germination percentage decreased in the biochar-treated root zone as compared with the no-biochar control root zone; P. aegyptiaca radicle attachment numbers decreased accordingly. This experiment showed that biochar did not induce a systemic change in the activity of the stimulant molecules exuded by the tomato roots, toxicity to the radicles, or a change in the ability of the radicles to penetrate the tomato roots. The major cause for the decrease in germination percentage was physical adsorption of the stimulant molecule by the biochar (Experiment III). Adding biochar to soil to reduce infections by root parasitic weeds is an innovative means of control with the potential to become an important strategy both for non-chemical treatment of this family of pests, and for enhancing the economic feasibility of the pyrolysis/biochar platform. This platform is often viewed as one of a handful of credible strategies for helping to mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current models of traditional livestock and poultry breeding emphasize the expansion of the development scale and increasing the economic benefits of stockbreeding, which have caused severe environmental pollution and waste of resources. Moreover, few laws and regulations have been developed to control livestock and poultry breeding pollution. Different places have set up different standards for pollution and the ecological control rules are not feasible. These facts further increase the hazards of livestock and poultry breeding pollution. In order to further analyse the pollution hazards caused by the livestock and poultry breeding, this study summarizes the categories of pollution hazards caused by the livestock and poultry breeding, and explores the causes for these hazards, with Guangdong Province in China as an example. It further proposes legal measures for ecological control of livestock and poultry breeding pollution. Results show that livestock and poultry breeding pollution can be reflected from three aspects, namely, soil pollution, water pollution and air pollution, and that unreasonable traditional livestock and poultry breeding layout, extensive breeding mode, backward disposal of breeding waste, and weak prevention and control of livestock and poultry breeding pollution are four major causes for such kind of pollution. The ecological control of livestock and poultry breeding pollution hazards can be achieved by implementing specific legal measures, such as: improving the legislation for controlling livestock and poultry breeding pollution in rural areas; establishing a rural environment enforcement agency of uniform power, authority and responsibility; strengthening the supervision mechanism for rural environmental law enforcement; improving the damage compensation system for rural environmental pollution; enhancing the legal construction of agricultural industry organizations. These findings are of great practical significance to the adjustment and optimization of livestock and poultry breeding layouts, the promotion and application of ecological livestock and poultry breeding models, the harmless treatments of livestock and poultry excrements, the improvement of the rural environment and the promotion of sustainable development of animal husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies regarding the spatial orientation of social insects (bees, termites and ants) concerning their search for food, foraging and transporting it have received considerable attention during the last few years. Such studies have been aimed at learning so as to apply it to robotics (multiagents) and ecological pest control. However, little is known about the types of orientation mechanism and their integration in such insects. This article presents some geomagnetic field detection studies dealing with controlling them by magnetotaxis or orientation experiments in Sasaima (Cundinamarca) to formulate an ecological management proposal for ants from this species which greatly affect Colombian agriculture.