Klimaanpassung in der landwirtschaftlichen Ausbildung : werden angehende Landwirtinnen und Landwirte auf die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels vorbereitet?

Die Auswirkungen der globalen Erwärmung sind für die Schweizer Landwirtschaft bereits heute spürbar. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Bachelorarbeit wurde untersucht, ob angehende Landwirt:innen mit Eidgenössischem Fähigkeitszeugnis EFZ während der landwirtschaftlichen Grundbildung auf die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels vorbereitet werden. Auf Grundlage der aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse wurden 31 Handlungskompetenzen formuliert, die angehende Landwirt:innen dazu befähigen, eine klimaangepasste Landwirtschaft zu betreiben. Die formulierten Handlungskompetenzen wurden mittels Einzelfallstudie an einem Landwirtschaftlichen Berufsbildungszentrum dem aktuellen Bildungsangebot gegenübergestellt. Die Einzelfallstudie beinhaltete eine Lehrmittelrecherche, fünf qualitative Befragungen mit Lehrpersonen und eine quantitative elektronische Befragung mit 24 Lernenden im letzten Lehrjahr. Durch die Gegenüberstellung der Handlungskompetenzen mit dem aktuellen Bildungsangebot konnten grosse Unterschiede bei der Abdeckung der einzelnen Handlungskompetenzen im Bildungsplan, in den Lehrmitteln sowie im individuellen Unterricht der Lehrpersonen festgestellt werden. Werden Handlungskompetenzen bereits umfangreich vermittelt, kann dies oft auf das persönliche Interesse der Lehrperson zurückgeführt werden. Die qualitativen Befragungen der Lehrpersonen ergaben, dass sich die begrenzte Unterrichtszeit oft limitierend auf den Einbezug von Themen im Bereich Klimaanpassung im Unterricht auswirkt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen auch, dass sowohl die Lehrpersonen als auch die Mehrheit der befragten Lernenden es als wichtig erachten, während der Ausbildung Informationen zur Klimaanpassung zu erhalten. Die vorliegende Arbeit weist darauf hin, dass es in der landwirtschaftlichen Grundbildung Ausbaupotential bei der Vermittlung von Kompetenzen im Bereich Klimaanpassung gibt. Die sich aktuell in Revision befindende landwirtschaftliche Grundbildung kann und muss Rahmenbedingungen schaffen, die es den Lehrpersonen ermöglichen, die Lernenden umfangreich auf die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels vorzubereiten.The effects of global warming are already being experienced by Swiss agriculture today. This bachelor's thesis investigated whether prospective farmers with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training are prepared for the effects of climate change during their agricultural apprenticeship. Based on current scientific knowledge, 31 action competences were formulated that enable prospective farmers to operate a climate-adapted agriculture. The formulated action competences were compared to the current educational offer by means of a single case study at an agricultural vocational training centre. The single case study included a research of teaching materials, five qualitative interviews with teachers and a quantitative electronic survey with 24 apprentices in their last year of apprenticeship. By comparing the action competences with the current educational offer, large differences in the coverage of the individual action competences in the Education Policy, in the teaching aids and in the individual teaching of the teachers could be determined. If action competences are already taught extensively, this can often be attributed to the personal interest of the teacher. The qualitative interviews with the teachers revealed that the lack of teaching time often has a limiting effect on the inclusion of topics in the field of climate adaptation. The results also show that both the teachers and the majority of the apprentices interviewed consider it important to receive information on climate adaptation during the apprenticeship. The present work indicates that there is potential for expansion in the teaching of competences in the area of climate adaptation in the agricultural apprenticeship. The agricultural basic education that is currently being revised can and must create framework conditions that enable teachers to prepare apprentices extensively for the effects of climate change

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur): a comparison of cat-free and cat-exposed populations

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan transmitted by felids and infection, morbidity, and mortality occur in numerous marsupial species. This study explores the relationship between cat exposure and Toxoplasma in burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) in the Arid Recovery Reserve (ARR), South Australia. We estimated seroprevalence, using a modified agglutination test for T. gondii-specific immunoglobulins, in cat-free and cat-exposed bettong populations. Tissue samples collected opportunistically from bettong carcasses and from cats within and around the reserve were screened for T. gondii DNA using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (M-qPCR). Two cats trapped inside the ARR tested positive (50.0%; 95% CI: 15.0–85.0%). All bettongs tested from the cat-free (n = 48) and cat-exposed (n = 19) exclosures were seronegative (95% CI: 0–7.41% and 0–16.82% respectively). We found no evidence of fatal toxoplasmosis, with all bettong carcasses negative on M-qPCR (n = 11). We propose that T. gondii was not detected in bettongs coexisting with cats primarily due to low exposure of bettongs at the time of sampling, possibly due to poor oocyst viability in arid conditions or low shedding by cats. Ongoing screening throughout high and low rainfall years should be conducted to better establish the risk of Toxoplasma to bettongs in the ARR

Lead exposure of mainland Australia\u27s top avian predator

Lead (Pb) toxicity, through ingestion of lead ammunition in carcasses, is a threat to scavenging birds worldwide, but has received little attention in Australia. We analyzed lead exposure in the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax), the largest raptor species found in mainland Australia and a facultative scavenger. Eagle carcasses were collected opportunistically throughout south-eastern mainland Australia between 1996 and 2022. Lead concentrations were measured in bone samples from 62 animals via portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Lead was detected (concentration \u3e 1 ppm) in 84% (n = 52) of the bone samples. The mean lead concentration of birds in which lead was detected was 9.10 ppm (±SE 1.66). Bone lead concentrations were elevated (10–20 ppm) in 12.9% of samples, and severe ( \u3e 20 ppm) in 4.8% of samples. These proportions are moderately higher than equivalent data for the same species from the island of Tasmania, and are comparable to data from threatened eagle species from other continents. Lead exposure at these levels is likely to have negative impacts on wedge-tailed eagles at the level of the individual and perhaps at a population level. Our results suggest that studies of lead exposure in other Australian avian scavenger species are warranted

Agroforst-Systeme: Anpassung und Minderung des Klimawandels - Planung, Anlage und Förderprogramme

In diesem Video führen Meinrad und Ramon Betschart zusammen mit Mareike Jäger durch ihre 1 ha grosse Agroforstanlage mit 50 Hochstamm Obstbäumen, 20 Nutzholzarten, Hecken und Weiden. Ausserdem werden unterschiedliche Agroforstansätze und deren Vorteile diskutiert sowie das Förderprogramm von Silvocultura (https://www.silvocultura.ch/programm) vorgestellt

Climate-Smart Farming - Keyline Design & Water Management - Experiences of the Katzhof farm

Many farms are already implementing climate-friendly measures. In this video, we present the example of the Katzhof farm, which has to deal with challenges such as uneven rainfall distribution and extreme weather events. To improve water management, Markus Schwegler has introduced the so-called Keyline design on his farm. Keyline advisor Katja Degonda (https://www.ondaka.ch/) summarises the principles of keylines as follows: The slowing down, retention, infiltration and distribution of the water. In addition, the farm combines keylines with agroforestry to diversify food production, support the water cycle and improve the microclimate. This demo event showcased important developments in climate-friendly agriculture. It also emphasised the importance of sharing practical experience between farmers

Keyline Design & Wassermanagement & Agroforst auf dem Katzhof - Anpassung an den Klimawandel

Seit Frühling 2023 werden auf dem Katzhof etappenweise Wässerungsgräben ausgehoben, Wasserspeicherbecken gebaut, sowie Bäume und Sträucher gepflanzt. Dies sind alles Elemente eines ganzheitlichen Wassermanagements, das basierend auf dem KeyLine Design geplant wurde. Ziel ist, das Wasser in der Landschaft zu verlangsamen und so die Verteilung und Versickerung des Wassers auf der Fläche zu optimieren. Im Rahmen eines ProBio Fachanlass lernten die Teilnehmenden das System des Katzhofes (www.wasserkultur.ch ) mit dem Betriebsleiter Markus Schwegler und der Beraterin Katja Degonda (https://www.ondaka.ch/) kennen

Ectoparasites are unlikely to be a primary cause of population declines of bent-winged bats in south-eastern Australia

While bats carry a diverse range of ectoparasites, little research has been conducted on the effects these organisms may have on bat populations. The southern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) is a critically endangered subspecies endemic to south-eastern Australia, whose numbers have declined over the past 50 years for unknown reasons. As part of a larger study to investigate the potential role of disease in these declines, southern bent-winged bats from four locations were captured and examined for the presence of bat flies, mites, ticks and the nematode Riouxgolvania beveridgei (previously associated with skin nodules in bent-winged bats). Results were compared with those obtained from the more common eastern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis), sampling animals from three different locations. All four types of parasite were found on both subspecies. There was no correlation between the presence of ectoparasites, body weight or any signs of disease. However, prevalence of tick and R. beveridgei infections were greater in Victorian southern bent-winged bats than South Australian southern bent-winged bats and eastern bent-winged bats, possibly indicative of some type of chronic stress impacting the immune system of this subspecies. Keywords: Bat fly, Miniopterus orianae bassanii, Miniopterus orianae oceanensis, Mite, Tick, Nematode, Riouxgolvania beveridge

Eimeria trichosuri: Phylogenetic position of a marsupial coccidium, based on 18S rDNA sequences

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Eimeria suggests that parasite and host have coevolved over broad evolutionary timescales. Here we extend this analysis by determining the 18S rDNA gene sequence of the marsupial coccidium, Eimeria trichosuri, and assessing its phylogenetic position relative to Eimeria from birds, reptiles and placental mammals. This analysis placed E. trichosuri clones in a clade that diverged before the major clade comprising species from placental mammals. The position of E. trichosuri is consistent with host phylogeny where marsupials represent an ancient evolutionary line that predates the placental mammal line.4 page(s