Thesis (Ph. D.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Philip L. Bruckner. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Agricultural products are indispensable components of daily life. Nowadays, most cities in China, food supply is already setup, however the whole food supply chain is quite long with low efficiency. After the harvest of agricultural products, they have been transported to multi-hierarchical markets and go through plurality sales links by simple vehicles before meeting consumer. Due to the existence of an imperfect agricultural product supply system, specifically the inadequate infrastructure for cold-chain transportation and low-level storage technology, agricultural products and aquatic products, among others, suffer huge loss rates ranging from 15% to 30% during picking, transportation, and storage as well as during processing in other logistics sectors. Thus, some unscrupulous producers or agents add preservatives to the agricultural products in order to keep them looks with good quality. Besides, for the producers, though they do their utmost for farming and cultivating，they still living at the bottom of the social ladder with low income. For the consumer, owing to the increasing standard of living, the improvement of the logistical system and the structural adjustment of modern agricultural products, more and more consumers no longer just pursue the goal of having sufficient food to eat. Instead, they hope to eat better and healthier and prefer fresher or more diverse food options with high quality and nutrition. This thesis aims to study the existing agricultural product system in Guangzhou, focusing on the agricultural products supply model and discusses ways to revolutionize the “farm-to-table” agricultural products channel by proposing a new supply model in a regional scale to narrow the gap between consumer and producer in two main methods. On one hand, establish Agricultural Association to coordinate the whole system and guide the local farmer cultivate agricultural product and deliver their product to the consumer with high efficiency. On the other hand, attract the costumer come to productive area that they not only get the product directly but also understand the process of production. In these ways can guarantee the safety, freshness, and nutritional value of agricultural products, improve farmer’s income and satisfied consumer’s requirement by achieving a high-efficiency, low-pollution and energy-saving “farm-to-table” channel for local agricultural products. / published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, March, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-79)

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, March, 2005. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-79)

The purpose of this report was to determine whether the environmental support in the agricultural landscape has influenced the presence and spread of vascular plants. The study was performed by revisiting a total of 50 grasslands located in Västra Götalands county. The grasslands were last monitored in 2002-2008. Half of the grasslands had been given environmental support for special values during 2021 and half had not been given environmental support during 2020. Each grassland was searched for indicator species. The collected data was compared with the data collected in 2002-2008. Initial findings show that the presence and spread of positive indicator species had decreased for grasslands with environmental support. For grasslands without environmental support no significant change could be observed regarding the presence or spread of positive indicator species. The presence and spread of negative indicator species had increased for grasslands with and without environmental support. Further comparison of these findings suggests that grasslands without environmental support had a higher increase of the spread of negative indicator species compared with grasslands with environmental support. These findings suggests that the environmental support is not truly enough to preserve the biodiversity in flora at Västra Götalands county’s grasslands over time. However, the findings also show that the environmental support slows down the spreading of negative indicator plants.

O cultivo florestal do eucalipto foi introduzido no Brasil no início do século XX com o intuito de suprir de matéria prima as fornalhas e ferrovias em construção na época. A produção é destinada para os mais diversos propósitos e está ainda em ascensão, de tal forma que a área plantada ocupa atualmente mais de quatro milhões de hectares no país. Seu avanço, porém, traz consigo preocupações sobre os efeitos de seu cultivo sobre a fauna nativa, pois, embora possua perfil florestal, é ainda uma monocultura. A área do presente estudo localizase no município de Angatuba, Estado de São Paulo, na Bacia do Alto Paranapanema. O presente estudo abrangeu plantios com idades de um ano e quatro meses a quatro anos e dá continuidade ao estudo desenvolvido no início do plantio (0 a 2 anos e 11 meses) na mesma área por Martin et al. (2012), seguindo a mesma metodologia. A coleta dos pequenos mamíferos foi realizada por meio de armadilhas de interceptação e queda (pitfall) distribuídas em grade em trinta unidades amostrais numa paisagem silvicultural, formada remanescentes florestais nativos, capoeira e eucaliptal a partir da metodologia amostral utilizada pelo Programa de Pesquisa em biodiversidade (PPBio), do Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT). Foram capturadas 11 espécies pertencentes às ordens Rodentia e Didelphimorphia comumente encontradas em ambientes alterados e paisagens agrícolas. Não houve diferença significativa entre os ambientes testados em termos de riqueza de espécies e abundância de indivíduos. Dessa forma, os eucaliptais atuaram como habitat para as espécies e não apenas como matriz permeável. Por esta razão, seu manejo, incluindo práticas culturais (e.g., adubação e controle de plantas \"daninhas\") deverá levar em conta seu uso pela fauna silvestre e não apenas sua rentabilidade. Pesquisas futuras nessa área devem ser por isso, priorizadas a fim de garantir a missão multifuncional da paisagem silvicultural. / Eucalyptus plantation was introduced in Brazil on early twentieth century and it aimed to supply with feedstock the furnaces and railroads under construction at the time. The production had various purposes and is still rising; therefore, currently eucalyptus plantation occupies more than four million hectares in Brazil. Its progress, however, highlights some concerns about the effects of cultivation on the native fauna because eucalyptus plantation is a monoculture although it has forestry profile. The present study area is located in the municipality of Angatuba, State of Sao Paulo, in the Upper Paranapanema Basin. This study sampled plantations aged between one year and four months and four years and continued the study developed on early planting (0-2 years and eleven months) by Martin et al. (2012) in the same area therefore the present study followed the same methodology. The capture of small mammals was conducted using pitfall traps distributed in a grid with thirty sample units in a silvicultural landscape formed by native forest remnants, \"capoeira\" and eucalyptus plantation. This method is based on the sampling methodology developed by Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT). We captured 11 species from the orders Rodentia and Didelphimorphia commonly found in disturbed habitats and agricultural landscapes. There was no significant difference between the tested environments in terms of species richness and abundance of individuals. Thus, the eucalyptus plantation acted as habitat to those species and not just as permeable matrix. For this reason, eucalyptus plantation management, including cultural practices (e.g., fertilization and weed control) should take into account its use by wildlife and not just its profitability. Future research in this area should therefore prioritize to ensure the multifunctional mission of silviculture landscapes.

Ecosystem services are natural environmental functions and ecological process that humans benefit from. In the present study, it was highlighted one of the services provided by bats: agricultural pest control. In Brazil, studies with insectivorous bats as potential pest suppressors are still scarce, despite the country being one of the biggest agricultural producers in the world and concentrating a high diversity of those animals. The use of heterogeneous landscapes, formed by native vegetation and crop fields, optimize the investment applied in this search. For that, it was described, for the first time, the bat assemblage in heterogeneous landscape in Piracicaba, at the campus \"Luiz de Queiroz\" that comprehends urbanized and agricultural areas, which provides many food resources for bats. Further, it was tested if there is difference in isotopic values (?13C and ?15N) between bat species related to diet, spatial foraging behavior, sex or taxonomic classification and which specie is a better pest suppressor. Bats were captured by mist nets and stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen (?13C e ?15N, respectively) were used to access its food source. Through the analysis of ?13C and ?15N of insects, we determined the proportion of plants with photosynthetic cycles of C3 and C4 in bats\' diet and its trophic level. It was captured 90 bats of 11 species, three families and four dietary categories, corresponding to 66% of the total local richness estimated. From those, five are insectivorous species. Molossus molossus were the most abundant specie, followed by Artibeus lituratus and Glossophaga soricina. Carbon values showed that insectivores, frugivores and nectarivores consume insects, including pests, in different proportions per specie and diet group. Besides, ?15N values showed that bat trophic level were very similar, so bats are more generalist than usually assumed. This study points a need to quantify this important ecosystem service provided by bats that can reduce diseases and crop damages / Serviços ecossistêmicos são funções dos ambientes naturais e dos processos ecológicos dos quais humanos se beneficiam. Esses benefícios podem ser acessados por uma perspectiva econômica e ecológica. No presente estudo, nós destacamos um dos serviços ambientais fornecidos por morcegos: controle de pragas agrícolas. No Brasil, os estudos com morcegos insetívoros como potenciais supressores de pragas ainda são escassos, apesar de o país ser um dos maiores produtores agrícolas do mundo e abrigar uma alta diversidade desses animais. O uso de paisagens heterogêneas, formadas por vegetação nativa e lavouras agrícolas, otimiza o investimento aplicado nessa busca. Para tanto, descrevemos, pela primeira vez, a assembleia de morcegos em um ambiente heterogêneo de Piracicaba, o campus \"Luiz de Queiroz\", que possui desde áreas urbanizadas a agrícolas, disponibilizando diversos recursos alimentares para os morcegos. Ademais, testamos se há diferenças nos valores isotópicos (?13C e ?15N) entre as espécies de morcegos em relação à dieta, comportamento espacial de forrageamento, sexo ou classificação taxonômica para identificar quais grupos são os melhores supressores de pragas agrícolas. Utilizamos redes de neblina para a captura dos morcegos e análises de isótopos estáveis de carbono e nitrogênio (?13C e ?15N, respectivamente) para acessar sua fonte de dieta. Por meio das análises, determinamos a proporção de plantas com ciclos fotossintéticos do tipo C3 e C4 na dieta dos morcegos, bem como seu nível trófico. Capturamos 90 morcegos de 11 espécies, três famílias e quatro classes de dieta, correspondendo a 66% da riqueza estimada para o local. Destas, cinco são espécies classificadas insetívoras. Molossus molossus foi a espécie mais abundante, seguida por Artibeus lituratus e Glossophaga soricina. Valores de ?13C mostraram que insetívoros, frugívoros e nectarívoros consomem insetos, inclusive pragas, em diferentes proporções por espécie e grupo de dieta. O grupo mais efetivo no controle de pragas agrícolas foi M. molossus, seguido por A. planirostris. Os valores de ?15N mostraram que o nível trófico dos diferentes grupos alimentares de morcegos foi similar, de modo que eles são mais generalistas que previsto na literatura. Nosso estudo aponta a necessidade de quantificação desse importante serviço ecossistêmico promovido por morcegos, que podem reduzir doenças e prejuízos nas lavouras, além de combater vetores de doenças

Ecosystem services are natural environmental functions and ecological process that humans benefit from. In the present study, it was highlighted one of the services provided by bats: agricultural pest control. In Brazil, studies with insectivorous bats as potential pest suppressors are still scarce, despite the country being one of the biggest agricultural producers in the world and concentrating a high diversity of those animals. The use of heterogeneous landscapes, formed by native vegetation and crop fields, optimize the investment applied in this search. For that, it was described, for the first time, the bat assemblage in heterogeneous landscape in Piracicaba, at the campus \"Luiz de Queiroz\" that comprehends urbanized and agricultural areas, which provides many food resources for bats. Further, it was tested if there is difference in isotopic values (?13C and ?15N) between bat species related to diet, spatial foraging behavior, sex or taxonomic classification and which specie is a better pest suppressor. Bats were captured by mist nets and stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen (?13C e ?15N, respectively) were used to access its food source. Through the analysis of ?13C and ?15N of insects, we determined the proportion of plants with photosynthetic cycles of C3 and C4 in bats\' diet and its trophic level. It was captured 90 bats of 11 species, three families and four dietary categories, corresponding to 66% of the total local richness estimated. From those, five are insectivorous species. Molossus molossus were the most abundant specie, followed by Artibeus lituratus and Glossophaga soricina. Carbon values showed that insectivores, frugivores and nectarivores consume insects, including pests, in different proportions per specie and diet group. Besides, ?15N values showed that bat trophic level were very similar, so bats are more generalist than usually assumed. This study points a need to quantify this important ecosystem service provided by bats that can reduce diseases and crop damages / Serviços ecossistêmicos são funções dos ambientes naturais e dos processos ecológicos dos quais humanos se beneficiam. Esses benefícios podem ser acessados por uma perspectiva econômica e ecológica. No presente estudo, nós destacamos um dos serviços ambientais fornecidos por morcegos: controle de pragas agrícolas. No Brasil, os estudos com morcegos insetívoros como potenciais supressores de pragas ainda são escassos, apesar de o país ser um dos maiores produtores agrícolas do mundo e abrigar uma alta diversidade desses animais. O uso de paisagens heterogêneas, formadas por vegetação nativa e lavouras agrícolas, otimiza o investimento aplicado nessa busca. Para tanto, descrevemos, pela primeira vez, a assembleia de morcegos em um ambiente heterogêneo de Piracicaba, o campus \"Luiz de Queiroz\", que possui desde áreas urbanizadas a agrícolas, disponibilizando diversos recursos alimentares para os morcegos. Ademais, testamos se há diferenças nos valores isotópicos (?13C e ?15N) entre as espécies de morcegos em relação à dieta, comportamento espacial de forrageamento, sexo ou classificação taxonômica para identificar quais grupos são os melhores supressores de pragas agrícolas. Utilizamos redes de neblina para a captura dos morcegos e análises de isótopos estáveis de carbono e nitrogênio (?13C e ?15N, respectivamente) para acessar sua fonte de dieta. Por meio das análises, determinamos a proporção de plantas com ciclos fotossintéticos do tipo C3 e C4 na dieta dos morcegos, bem como seu nível trófico. Capturamos 90 morcegos de 11 espécies, três famílias e quatro classes de dieta, correspondendo a 66% da riqueza estimada para o local. Destas, cinco são espécies classificadas insetívoras. Molossus molossus foi a espécie mais abundante, seguida por Artibeus lituratus e Glossophaga soricina. Valores de ?13C mostraram que insetívoros, frugívoros e nectarívoros consomem insetos, inclusive pragas, em diferentes proporções por espécie e grupo de dieta. O grupo mais efetivo no controle de pragas agrícolas foi M. molossus, seguido por A. planirostris. Os valores de ?15N mostraram que o nível trófico dos diferentes grupos alimentares de morcegos foi similar, de modo que eles são mais generalistas que previsto na literatura. Nosso estudo aponta a necessidade de quantificação desse importante serviço ecossistêmico promovido por morcegos, que podem reduzir doenças e prejuízos nas lavouras, além de combater vetores de doenças

L’évolution historique des types et techniques de production agricole a causé celle de l’organisation paysagère, via les parcellaires notamment. Les bordures de parcelles créent des discontinuités dans les processus d’érosion-dépôt de sol. L’objectif est ici de comprendre l’effet du parcellaire et de son évolution sur la distribution actuelle des sols et la morphologie des versants. Un versant cultivé (16 ha) dans le SW du Bassin Parisien a été étudié. La distribution spatiale de figures morphologiques linéaires et de l’épaisseur des sols a été analysée. Les deux types de figures identifiés correspondent à des épaississements de sols (dépôts) induits par des bordures de parcelles, pérennes depuis plusieurs siècles pour les premières, et disparues en 1967 (remembrement) pour les secondes. Ces épaississements ont été cartographiés grâce à une analyse statistique (CART) de la morphologie du versant. L’étude de traceurs granulométriques et minéralogiques (SEDI) a permis d’identifier les processus d’érosion-dépôt impliqués. La solifluxion périglaciaire puis le ruissellement auraient affecté l’ensemble du versant avant la pérennisation d’un parcellaire. Puis, des processus hydriques et aratoires ont agi dans des unités (parcelles) fixées par des bordures : les plus pérennes (1000 ans) montrent les dépôts les plus marqués (banquettes). La distribution spatiale du 137Cs et sa conversion en taux d’érosion (modélisation numérique) ont permis d’évaluer l’implication relative des processus hydriques (15%) et aratoires (85%) depuis 1954. Le remembrement parcellaire de 1967 s’avère avoir favorisé l’érosion des sols, convertissant des zones de rétention en zones sources (ondulations). / The historical evolution of agricultural practices is associated with a concomitent evolution of landscape spatial organisation, especially through field-border networks. Field borders create discontinuities of soil erosion-deposition processes. The aim of this PhD is to understand the effects of field-border networks and their evolution on the present spatial distribution of soils and hillslope morphology. A cultivated hillslope (16 ha) of the SW Parisian Basin was studied. The spatial distribution of linear landforms and soil thickness was analyzed. The two types of identified landforms correspond to soil thickenings (deposition) induced by field borders, that have existed for several centuries in the case of the first ones, and disappeared during a land consolidation (1967) in the case of the second ones. These soil thickenings were mapped through a statistical analysis (CART) of the hillslope morphology. The study of granulometric and mineralogical tracers (SEDI) led to identify the involved soil redistribution processes. Periglacial solifluxion, followed by runoff, probably occured over the whole hillslope before the establishment of perennial field borders. Then, water and tillage processes occured within areas delimited by field borders. The more developed soil depositions (lynchets) are linked with the most perennial borders (i.e., 1000 yrs). The spatial distribution of 137Cs and its conversion into erosion rates (numerical modeling) allowed to assess the relative implication of water (15%) and tillage processes (85%) since 1954. The land consolidation that occured in 1967 rised soil erosion when converting soil retention areas to sources (undulations).