Aquatic resource conservation - The first Yangtze finless porpoise successfully born in captivity

Background. As the sole freshwater subspecies of finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. p. asiaeorientalis) lives only in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its appended Poyang and Dongting Lakes. As a result of human activity on the river, including over and illegal fishing, pollution, transportation and dam construction, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing during the past several decades, which leads the animal to be endangered. Methods. For saving this unique animal from extinction, three corresponding measures, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, and intensifying breeding research in captivity, were proposed and have been implemented since the 1980s. Results. After successfully rearing the animals in captivity for almost nine years, the first Yangtze finless porpoise was successfully born in captivity on July 5, 2005. The calf is male, with a body length of 69 cm. This is the first freshwater cetacean ever born in captivity. Conclusion. The successful birth of this calf confirms that it is possible to breed the Yangtze finless porpoise in captivity. Furthermore, this will greatly benefit the conservation efforts, and also greatly bolster our on-going efforts to study the reproductive biology of these animals. Recommendation. More studies and efforts are expected to establish a sustainable, captive colony of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which will not only greatly expand our knowledge about the reproduction biology of this animal, but also help to redeem the wild population through a careful yearly 'soft releasing' process.

陕西省汉台区1978年至2006年耕地数量变化及驱动力分析

汉台区是陕西省农业产业结构调整典型示范区,近年来,由于农业产业结构调整、退耕还林还草和建设占用耕地,汉台区耕地数量大量减少,耕地供需矛盾突出。本文利用1978年以来汉台区耕地长序列统计资料和近9年的土地详查与变更数据,研究汉台区土地利用现状及其结构变化、分析汉台区耕地数量变化的基本过程及空间差异、探讨耕地数量变化的主要驱动力。研究结果表明:①1978年～2006年全区耕地共减少5600hm2,平均每年减少200hm2,人均耕地减少0.027hm2,耕地递减率曲线与人均耕地递减率曲线走势基本一致;②建设占用耕地、退耕还林还草和农业结构调整等直接影响因子在4种类型区影响耕地变化差异明显;总体上,农业产业结构调整是全区耕地减少的主导因素,经济发展较快的城镇,建设占用耕地较多;③耕地面积与社会经济发展各因素间的相关系数约低于累计耕地面积与各因素之间的相关系数,说明全区耕地减少与社会经济发展存在时间上的错位性,即经济和社会发展滞后于对耕地资源的占用。