Mapping the stray domestic cat (Felis catus) population in New Zealand: Species distribution modelling with a climate change scenario and implications for protected areas

Species distribution models of stray cats were developed using two types of occurrence data: (i) a combined dataset of stray cats and cat colonies in Auckland and projected to the wider New Zealand area; and (ii) population density as an analogue for country-wide stray cat occurrence. These occurrence data, together with sets of environmental variables were used as input to the Maxent modelling tool to produce maps of suitability for the species. Environmental variables used in the models consist of current bioclimatic conditions, and a future climate scenario (RCP8.5 for year 2070 CCSM model). Commonly occurring bias in the modelling process due to latitude, the area for selecting background points in model evaluation, inherent spatial autocorrelation of occurrence points, and correlated bioclimatic variables were explicitly addressed. Results show that the North Island consistently provide more suitable areas for stray cats with increased suitability in a high emission climate change condition. Key protected areas at risk from the increased suitability to stray cats are also presented

Conservation Agriculture Mother Trials in Chipata, Lundazi, and Sinda, Zambia

This study contains data originated from on-farm trials that were conducted to test and demonstrate the crop yield and economic benefits derived from manual and animal traction conservation agriculture (CA) systems on smallholder farms where the ridge and furrow tillage system is the traditional practice. The farm trials were conducted at six farms in Chipata, Lundazi, and Sinda districts of the eastern province of Zambia. In each site, the trials were replicated four times and had two general treatment sets:1) manual CA; and 2) animal traction CA. The manual CA system trial consisted of three treatments and these treatments were compared with conventional ridge and furrow practice at each farmer's field. The four treatments including control were: Conventional ridge and furrow with continuous sole maize (CRF); No-tillage / Dibblestick CA system with continuous sole maize; Dibblestick CA system with maize intercropped with cowpea; Dibblestick CA with maize rotated with legumes The animal traction CA system consisted of two treatments that were compared with a conventional ridge and furrow practice at each farmer's field. The three treatments including control were: Conventional ridge and furrow with continuous sole maize (CRF); Animal traction (AT) ripline seeding with continuous sole maize; Animal traction (AT) ripline seeding with maize rotated with legumes </li

Doubled-Up Legume Systems Under Conservation Agriculture and Conventional Agriculture in Sinda, Chipata, and Lundazi, Zambia

This study contains data originated from on-farm trials that were conducted to test and demonstrate the crop yield and economic benefits derived from conservation agriculture (CA) systems on smallholder farms where the ridge and furrow tillage system is the traditional practice. The farm trials were conducted at six farms in Chipata, Lundazi, and Sinda districts of the eastern province of Zambia. In each site, the trials were replicated four times and had two general treatment sets:1)conservation agriculture; and 2) Conventional ridge and furrow systems. The sub-treatments were: Sole cropping groundnuts Sole cropping pigeonpea Full population of groundnuts + half population of pigeonpea Full population of groundnuts and pigeon The trials were conducted over multiple years: Year 1: Legume phase Year 2: Maize phase + legume phase Year 3: Legume phase + maize phase </p

The application of inverse-dispersion and gradient methods to estimate ammonia emissions from a penguin colony

Penguin colonies represent some of the most concentrated sources of ammonia emissions to the atmosphere in the world. The ammonia emitted into the atmosphere can have a large influence on the nitrogen cycling of ecosystems near the colonies. However, despite the ecological importance of the emissions, no measurements of ammonia emissions from penguin colonies have been made. The objective of this work was to determine the ammonia emission rate of a penguin colony using inverse-dispersion modelling and gradient methods. We measured meteorological variables and mean atmospheric concentrations of ammonia at seven locations near a colony of Adélie penguins in Antarctica to provide input data for inverse-dispersion modelling. Three different atmospheric dispersion models (ADMS, LADD and a Lagrangian stochastic model) were used to provide a robust emission estimate. The Lagrangian stochastic model was applied both in ‘forwards’ and ‘backwards’ mode to compare the difference between the two approaches. In addition, the aerodynamic gradient method was applied using vertical profiles of mean ammonia concentrations measured near the centre of the colony. The emission estimates derived from the simulations of the three dispersion models and the aerodynamic gradient method agreed quite well, giving a mean emission of 1.1 g ammonia per breeding pair per day (95% confidence interval: 0.4–2.5 g ammonia per breeding pair per day). This emission rate represents a volatilisation of 1.9% of the estimated nitrogen excretion of the penguins, which agrees well with that estimated from a temperature-dependent bioenergetics model. We found that, in this study, the Lagrangian stochastic model seemed to give more reliable emission estimates in ‘forwards’ mode than in ‘backwards’ mode due to the assumptions made

Port Curtis natural resource management strategy : draft

The strategy has been designed to provide all people living in the catchment with the framework to achieve their goals. It is designed to incorporate disparate views and issues. It is also designed to think about future issues today