Edible biomass production from some important browse species in the Sahelian zone of West Africa

Acacia senegal, Guiera senegalensis and Pterocarpus lucens, browse species important in the Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso were studied by the estimation of their phenological variation over time and the evaluation of edible biomass production, total and accessible directly to animals. Biomass production was also estimated using dendrometric parameters. All the three species started the foliation phase as soon as the rains started. A. senegal and P. lucens flowered before G. senegalensis and A. senegal lost leaves earlier. The fruiting phase lasted 6–7 months for all species. Accessible edible biomass varied according to the animal species, the plant species and the height of plants. G. senegalensis showed the highest proportion of accessible biomass, but P. lucens had higher total edible biomass. Goats browsing at higher height had more edible biomass at their disposal. The accessible edible biomass was weakly correlated with tree parameters, while crown diameter was the best parameter to predict total edible biomass production, with R² varying from 90% (G. senegalensis) to 98% (P. lucens) in log₁₀ transformation of dependent and independent variables. The single species models developed could be applied in similar agro-ecological zones, taking into account the height stratification of plants. Further investigations on others species are needed to be able to estimate total biomass available for browsing.     

利用AVHRR植被指数数据集分析中国东部季风区的物候季节特征

利用ＮＯＡＡ／ＮＡＳＡＰａｔｈｆｉｎｄｅｒＡＶＨＲＲ陆地数据集,建立了中国东部季风区（１０８°－１２３°Ｅ,２１°－４５°Ｎ）的１９８６年归一化植被指数（ＮＤＶＩ）距平图像序列。对此数据集进行主成分分析（ＰＣＡ）,前２个主成分的时间序列和空间场展示了中国东部季风区植被物候季节性特征和地域差异。南岭一五夷山以南的华南地区,植被生长季的物候季节性变化不明显。在南岭－五夷山以北地区,植被生长季的物候季节性特征明显,可以比较清晰地确定生长季的变化过程。以淮河流域为界,植被生长季的物候季节性特征又存在明显差异。华北平原表现出强烈的双峰植被物候过程。淮河以南地区,虽然也存在这种双峰物候过程,但比较华北平原的植被,还具有持续性的植被生长特征。淮河流域构成一条区分南北物候季节特征差异的过渡带。     

竺可桢对我国物候学的贡献

竺可桢是中国物候学研究的开创者和领导者,他研究物候学可分为三个时期:(1)研究古今物候学,个人开始物候观测时期(1921—1931年);(2)领导组织中国物候观测时期(1931—1940年);(3)领导建立物候观测网,开展中国物候学研究,并完成北京24年物候观测记录时期(1950—1973年)。本文详述了他对物候学的贡献。