Inventaire préliminaire de la faune lombricienne dans la Réserve et Domaine de Chasse de Bombo-Lumene, plateaux Batéké (République Démocratique du Congo)

Preliminary Inventory of the Earthworm Fauna in the "Réserve et Domaine de chasse" of Bombo-Lumene Batéké Plateau (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The soil macrofauna is frequently cited for its important role in the physicochemical parameters of cultivated land. Moreover, the tillage frequency and the cropping intensity are key factors to be considered in the management of cropping systems. An inventory related to the changes in land use on the earthworm fauna was carried out. The diversity and the abundance of the harvested species were determined in savannah and in forest ecosystems. The study was conducted in the "Réserve et Domaine de chasse" of Bombo-Lumene located on Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six types of environments have been prospected: semi-deciduous dense forests, gallery forests, second-growth forests, grasslands, woodland savannas, and crop land. Collected earthworm species are presented according to their habitat, their feeding habit, the kind of prostomium, and their geographical distribution

Direct efficiency measurement and characterization of residential heating equipment. Annual report, fiscal year 1979

Preliminary characterization results for hydronic (hot water) oil-fired systems are presented along with the results of other work conducted to fulfill commitments made under an earlier phase of the project. The first results from the fully operational warm air furnace test facility are included with a brief description of the equipment and the technique used in measuring furnace efficiencies. The laboratory data are then used to determine annual fuel consumption and fuel-weighted seasonal efficiency for each heating unit based on typical operating parameters (size of residence, geographic location, and usage). The results of the study include the evaluation of a wide range of hydronic burner-boiler systems. The combination of direct, accurate efficiency measurement and calculation of annual fuel use provides a standard method for comparison of individual heating units and retrofit modifications on a common and realistic basis

Incidence de la déforestation sur les catégories écologiques des vers de terre dans le "Domaine et Réserve de Chasse" de Bombo-Lumene (Kinshasa)

Impact of deforestation on ecological categories of earthworms in the "Domaine et Réserve de Chasse" of Bombo-Lumene (Kinshasa). Earthworms improve soil productivity and contribute to sustainable functioning of all ecosystems where they can be found. The effect of different levels of degradation of the forest cover on the abundance and species diversity of earthworm populations was evaluated in the "domaine et réserve de chasse" of Bombo-Lumene. The results show a decrease in the average biomass of all ecological categories of earthworms with increasing degradation of forest cover. This degradation is also accompanied by a decrease of the relative frequency of epigeic earthworm populations of the investigated sites. Relations between earthworm fauna and soil fertility are discussed, particularly in the perspective of development of agroforestry systems