Native Resources Research Articles

Optimization of the Ultrasonic Extraction of Gypenoside III from Gynostemma pentaphyllum by Response Surface Methodology

Gypenosides III is a major bioactive component which is rich in Gynostemma pentaphyllum. For better utilization of the native resource, response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions of gypenosides III from G. pentaphyllum. The effects of three independent variables on the extraction yield of gypenosides III were investigated and the optimal conditions were evaluated by means of Box-Behnken design. The optimal conditions are as follows: ratio of ethanol to raw material 25, extraction temperature 58°C and ultrasonic time 25min. Under these conditions, the yield of gypenoside III is 1.216±0.05%, which is agreed closely with the predicted yield value.

Genetic diversity of maize landraces from lowland and highland agro‐ecosystems of Southern South America: implications for the conservation of native resources

AbstractThe North of Argentina is one of the southernmost areas of maize landrace cultivation. Two distinct centres of diversity have been distinguished within this region: Northwestern Argentina (NWA), and Northeastern Argentina (NEA). Nowadays, maize landraces from this area are faced with two main risks. On the one hand, significant structural and functional changes have modified the rural environment with the boundaries of cropland areas experiencing a rapid expansion at the expense of northern natural forests and rangelands; and on the other, native gene pools are increasingly threatened by hybrids and commercial varieties which are more attractive relative to landraces. The first step towards any conservational action is the acquisition of an inclusive knowledge of the biological resources. For this purpose, our study assesses the genetic diversity and population dynamics of maize landraces from Northern Argentina using microsatellite markers. The Northeastern lowland region (NEA) was represented by 12 landraces (19 populations). In addition, six landraces (eight populations) from the Northwestern highland region (NWA) were used for comparison. For the NEA data set, a total of 126 alleles were found, with an average of 10.5 alleles per locus. Mean Ho, He and Rs were 0.350, 0.467 and 2.72, respectively. Global fit to Hardy–Weinberg proportions was observed in 7 of 19 populations. Global estimates of FST revealed significant differentiation among populations. Bayesian analyses of population structure allowed the recognition of two main gene pools (popcorns versus floury landraces). When NWA was added to the analysis, three clusters were distinguished: NEA popcorns, NEA flours and NWA racial complexes. Additional information on the relationships among these groups was retrieved from cluster analyses. This study shows that lowland landraces from Northern Argentina harbour considerable levels of genetic diversity, with contributions from different gene pools. Further studies encompassing a larger number of populations from the NEA region will certainly help to detect additional genetic variation, which may prove highly valuable in germplasm conservation and management. Future conservation efforts should focus on preserving NEA popcorns, NEA floury and NWA racial complexes as different management units.

First Report of Abundant Rudd Populations in North America

Abstract The rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus was first introduced into U.S. waters about a century ago, and the species’ popularity as a baitfish in the 1980s has facilitated its spread to at least 21 states and the province of Ontario. Several established populations have been identified, but low abundances have led to little research and management attention. Rudds comprised 48.7% of the 14,130 fish captured in spring trap-netting surveys of Buffalo Harbor (northeastern Lake Erie) and the upper Niagara River during 2007–2008. Rudd was the most abundant species sampled, being captured at 11 of 12 locations and comprising 23.6% of the total catch in Buffalo Harbor and 70.3% of the catch in the upper Niagara River. Documented presences and absences in historical reports indicate that rudd became established in these waters between 1986 and 1991. Research is needed to understand the effects of rudds on native aquatic resources, especially nearshore macrophyte assemblages and the fish they support. Received...

Forgotten Crime Victims: The Need for a Comprehensive and Focused Reform Effort in Response to Domestic Violence in American Indian Communities

Those working on behalf of victims of domestic violence crimes in the United States have struggled for decades to create an effective response to victim needs. This movement has achieved some significant victories with respect to legal reform and the creation of effective resources at the local and national level. Yet, all victims are not the same. This article adds to the current discussion regarding American Indian victims of domestic violence by encouraging a more comprehensive and focused approach to reform. Academics and advocates have written on the statutory barriers currently in place and certain problems with United States Supreme Court jurisprudence regarding jurisdiction over crimes committed on Indian land against American Indian women. While an important and recognized part of reform, these issues are not the sole pitfalls in the response thus far. This article posits that, at the same time, any reform must also foster the development of Native prosecutorial resources and guidelines, as well as financial and educational opportunities for Native women. Moreover, a more culturally informed approach to solving the domestic violence plight in American Indian communities is needed and would ideally take into account other factors. By considering the unique social, historical, and cultural circumstances of American Indian victims, advocates and policymakers can create more well-tailored solutions to a complex problem. This article offers many of the factors that should ideally inform the debate surrounding recent legislation in the United States with a hope of spurring more comprehensive action on behalf of victims; however, this article does not represent a complete solution to a uniquely sensitive and complicated issue. More must be accomplished for all victims of domestic violence crimes in the United States and abroad with regard to creating culturally informed solutions.

Social impacts of the Regional Forest Agreement on members of the forest industry in north-eastern New South Wales

Summary Reduced access to publicly-owned native forests for timber harvesting affects businesses and workers whose livelihoods depend on this timber. We explored the social impacts experienced by members of the forest industry, defined here to encompass businesses and individuals involved in native forest management and the harvesting, hauling, sawmilling and processing of timber from publicly-owned native forests. The study focused on one region in Australia, upper north-eastern New South Wales, where policy and management changes both preceded and followed a Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) signed by the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments in 2000. The process of developing the RFA was protracted and signified the culmination of some 20 years of activism by the conservation movement which had progressively restricted the forest industry's access to public native forest resources. The area of publicly-owned native forest in reserve increased by about 190%, and further restrictions were placed on the harvesting of the remaining area, thus requiring reductions in timber harvesting so as to maintain a sustained yield. The RFA process included ex-ante social impact assessments, and a Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Package to assist members of the forest industry to mitigate negative impacts and take advantage of new opportunities. Since the agreement was concluded, little follow-up (ex-post facto) social impact assessment has been undertaken to assess the negative and positive social impacts experienced by members of the forest industry, the ways in which businesses and individuals responded, or the effectiveness of government mitigation measures to assist them. Our study investigated each of these topics. Our results suggest that members of the forest industry experienced multiple negative and positive impacts over four stages: the anticipatory, initial-response, longer-term and subsequent-change stages. Participants' experiences of change and of positive and negative social impacts were influenced by their individual motivations, fears, skills and responses. These factors were influenced by the extent to which participants were able to respond proactively, the changes and impacts they anticipated they would experience, and their access to information and support via mitigation measures.

Philosophical Perspectives on the Politics and Crisis of Sustainable Development in Africa

Philosophical Perspectives on the Politics and Crisis of Sustainable Development in Africa

The evolution of criminal interrogation rules in China

This paper presents a historical analysis of Chinese legal theories and the evolution of criminal interrogation rules from the pre-Han to the reform era. A fuller understanding of the evolution of rules is doubtless relevant to the present day’s controversy in China’s legal reforms surrounding the right to remain silent during interrogation and the privilege against self-incrimination. The historical analysis reveals that the imperial social context which once morally legitimized judicial torture in Chinese criminal justice is very much alive even today. For future legal reforms in China, there are barriers in the current social context, which seem to be unconducive for the right to remain silent and the privilege against self-incrimination. But, traditional native resources are also available to legal reformers to ensure better protection of the rights of the suspect subject to police interrogation, and to eliminate police-coerced confessions.

Distribution, Biology and Ecology of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Congress Grass) an invasive species in the North-Western Indian Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh)

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a native plant of sub-tropical America and it is rapidly invading in the North-Western Indian Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh), from last two decades onwards. Here, it invaded up-to 2000 m altitude from mean sea level and drastically effecting native plant resources in the invaded habitats. The density and dominance of the P. hsterophorus has been higher in the summer and was nearly absent during the winter season in the NW Himalaya. The average height of the plants of P. hysterophorus was recorded up-to 2.09 ± 0.27 m and its root system deep up-to 17.32 ± 4.03 cm below the ground level. It produced an enormous number of seeds which will help in its invasion in to various habitats. It was measured that one single plant of Parthenium produced more than 7397 ± 81.42 seeds during one season. The seeds were lighter in weight and were 2.31 ± 0.02 mm in length and 1.03 ± 0.01 mm in width. In the NW Himalaya P. hysterophorus completed its two life cycles in one year, that is, from March to June and from July to November. Key words: Invasive species, North-Western Himalaya, Parthenium hysterophorus

Assessment of biodiversity based on morphological characteristics and RAPD markers among genotypes of wild rose species

Conservation and utilization of the native plant resources is essential for long term sustainability of biodiversity. Wild native resources are adapted to specific and diverse environmental conditions and therefore, these adaptive features can be introduced into modern cultivars either through conventional breeding or advanced molecular genetic techniques. Understanding the genetic make up of the wildly growing plant species and of target desirable genes is a prerequisite for this purpose. Five wild rose ( Rosa L.) genotypes were collected from different locations in northern hilly areas of Pakistan for this study. Different morphological characteristics and PCR based random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to find out the diversity and relationship among the genotypes. On morphological basis, Rosa webbiana collected from Muree and Nathia gali showed maximum (83%) similarity, whereas on DNA pattern basis, Rosa brunonii collected from Bansra gali and Sunny bank showed maximum (72%) similarity, while R. webbiana showed maximum diversity among all the species.

향토자원을 활용한 농촌마을 활성화 계획 - 가평군 운악산 포도향 권역을 대상으로 -

This study attempted to propose a space planning of rural villages having been connected by small-regions units as a plan of regional economic growth through cultivating native resources located in rural areas and then developing them. As research methods, this study carried out literature research and empirical study at the same time, and then was progressed to directions of deducing a basic plan by applying alternatives to actual object sites based on the results. Endogenous developments of areas through native resources' developments have been emphasized in Korea recently, and various policies and strategies are being appeared for making regional economic growth under these recognitions. However, rural village planning has directed to physical maintenances centering on functionality till now, and composed of facility repairs and experience projects of urban-rural interchanges mostly so as to solve living environments between cities and agricultural villages. Therefore, this study intended to pose discrimination with existing rural village planning, and set up a growth plan of rural villages by cultivating and developing tangible and intangible native resources having been kept in the rural villages and then commercializing them centering on indigenous native resources.

Recognizing Inland Expansion of Latte Period Agriculture From Multi-Disciplinary Data on Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

ABSTRACT Archaeological investigations at the West Tinian Airport in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have revealed evidence of inland forest clearing and associated occupation at approximately AD 1155, near the beginning of the prehistoric Latte Period. Radiocarbon dated charred Cocos nucifera nutshell from a shallow feature within a thin organic cultural horizon suggests short-term occupation of a low limestone bench above nearby clay loam soils. While direct evidence of cultivars was not encountered within the feature or on its ceramics, pollen in the soils from Cycas, Hibiscus, a non-Cocos palm family, and wetland sedge Pseudoschizaea suggest native limestone forest resources were being exploited. Clearing of this forest was suggested by the presence of macerated cellulose tissue, an unidentified starch granule, and multi-lobate fiber phytoliths on two polished basalt adzes, plus abundant charcoal in the pollen sample, one indicator of agriculture often cited in the Marianas. Three possible postholes perhaps from an insubstantial structure built on the clay loam nearby suggest this site represents a swidden field camp. The presence of quartzose hybrid sand temper in two ceramic sherds from the feature, and quartz-free volcanic sand temper in two other sherds, indicates early inland expansion of agriculture on Tinian occurred within an era of contact with Saipan and Guam, respectively.

Botanical characterisation of Mexican honeys from a subtropical region (Oaxaca) based on pollen analysis

Melissopalynological analysis of 39 honey samples from Oaxaca, Mexico, enabled us to establish the important plant sources exploited by bees during the principal harvest in four districts of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. A total of 64 taxa belonging to 29 families were recorded. These subtropical honeys were characterised by their botanical origin as follows: (a) monofloral honeys of Bursera simaruba, Clethra mexicana, Cordia alliodora, Lonchocarpus sp., Mangifera indica, Miconia argentea, Orbignya cohune and Quercus sp.; (b) bifloral honeys with an association of Heliocarpus donnell-smithii and Ceiba sp., Lonchocarpus sp. and Mimosa pudica, H. donnell-smithii and Mangifera indica, Miconia argentea and Miconia tenuiflora; (c) oligofloral honeys of Asteraceae; and (d) multifloral honeys with three or four species ≥10%. Monofloral honeys were placed in classes I, II, III, IV and V. Oligofloral were class II, bifloral were classes I and II, and polyfloral honeys were assigned to classes I, II and III. Honey samples of Apis mellifera had a diversity index range of 0.3 to 2.7. It is well known that this bee is polylectic and has a heterogeneous foraging behaviour. In the State of Oaxaca, it prefers resources of secondary vegetation from low deciduous forest, although taxa of economic importance were also utilised, for instance, Mangifera indica and Citrus sinensis. Oaxaca has important and diverse native resources, and beekeeping activity needs to be promoted because of its potential to develop new types of honey.

Desenvolvimento Local Sustentável: Projeto de Novos Modos Socioprodutivos e de Sistemas Alternativos de Produção e Emprego

A diagnosis was developed in the context social and environmental of the city Campo Limpo Paulista and region, for the creation of an incubator destined for the development of social entrepreneurs and technical support to the businessmen of the small sized company. Was based on empirical research carried out in accordance with grounded theory. The present survey there was consulted residents of the region, tourists and made an inventory of the infrastructure of native resources, cultural, historical, economic and social of the city. The results of the inquiry provided subsidies to the projection of the local sustainable development, centered in the creation of a social incubator, of installment of technical services to the entrepreneurs of the region.

Increasing Agricultural Complexity: An Approach for Integration of Trees in Cropped Landscapes

Temperate agricultural practices that lower external inputs, increase potential for carbon (C) storage, and augment system resilience, particularly through agrodiversity, remain crucial to productive landscapes. Agroforestry systems, the combination of trees and crops, achieve such shifts in agricultural management, predominantly when positive interspecific interactions are optimized. Although early growth competition between tree-crop systems has been well documented, little work has developed effective techniques to minimize residual antagonism with agroforestry systems. To mitigate such competition, we used a model tree-crop system to test the effectiveness of nutrient spiking the tree component [Pinus strobus L. (white pine)] on reducing belowground competition with the crop component [Zea mays L. (corn)]. Nutrient spiking is widely used in monoculture plantation systems, but no work has redirected this technique to multispecies agroforestry systems. We hypothesized that the internal accumulation and retention of nutrients associated with nutrient spiked pine seedlings will lower stress on native soil resources after out-planting, permitting increased nutrient availability for crop growth. Two levels of nutrient spiking [untreated (S0) and spiked (S1)] of white pine were intercropped with corn, as well as monoculture controls for each species, under greenhouse conditions. After 2 months, root biomass response of corn and pine was significantly higher (19% and 52% respectively as compared to monoculture growth) in the nutrient spiking treatment. Nutritionally, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) significantly increased in pine tissue with pre-transplant spiking. This presumably reduced stress on native soil nutrients and resulted in the steady or increased N, P, and K uptake in corn shoot tissue (increases of 19%, 0%, 49% respectively) intercropped with spiked pine in comparison to corn in monoculture. Our findings contribute a preliminary examination of pretransplant nutrient spiking practices to reduce resource stress and mitigate nutritional competition during early crop growth in an agroforestry context. Such specialized practices may be useful in order to promote integration of trees in cropped landscapes for the eventual benefits of nutrient and hydrological regulation as well as increased productivity and C storage capacity.

Editorial- The Role of Complex Agroecosystems in Climate Change Mitigation

Editorial- The Role of Complex Agroecosystems in Climate Change Mitigation

A Coqui Frog in the Well: Why the Akaka Bill is a Hollow Echo of Native Hawaiian Self-Determination

Part I of this paper provides a brief history of the U.S. occupation and annexation of Hawaii. Part II explores Native Hawaiian land rights in the contexts of both domestic and international law. Part III concludes that the Akaka bill fails to recognize the legal landscape of Native Hawaiian land and natural resource rights. By denying the de jure posture of the relevant parties in favor of their de facto relations, the Akaka bill unlawfully constricts Native Hawaiians’ rights of self-determination and sets a troubling precedent for future relations between the Kanaka Maoli and the U.S. Moreover, the bill indulges in a colonial narrative of the disposition of land and natural resource rights that threatens all indigenous groups in the United States.

“A happy excursion” and freedom

In modern times, academics have used the perspective of political liberty and spiritual freedom to interpret and explain Zhuang Zi’s “happy excursion” as well as the substance of all his other thoughts. The starting point of the former is the political idea of laissez-faire; the latter involves the unique character of Zhuang Zi’s philosophy on life. But it misses the spiritual deficiency contained in Zhuang Zi, and so it is difficult to respond to criticism from modern liberals. This article argues that it is not quite accurate to use “happy excursion” to express modern freedom, but the spiritual tradition of “happy excursion” as a kind of native resource could still serve as a way to introduce the idea of liberalism at the level of a life philosophy based on independence, individual consciousness and the personal conscience and virtues embraced by the “happy excursion” thought of Zhuang Zi.

Local Perception of Environmental Change in a Semi-Arid Area of Northeast Brazil: A New Approach for the Use of Participatory Methods at the Level of Family Units

The diversity of plant resources in the Brazilian semi-arid region is being compromised by practices related to agriculture, pastures, and forest harvesting, especially in areas containing Caatinga vegetation (xeric shrublands and thorn forests). The impact of these practices constitutes a series of complex factors involving local issues, creating a need for further scientific studies on the social-environmental dynamics of natural resource use. Through participatory methods, the present study analyzed people’s representations about local environmental change processes in the Brazilian semi-arid region, taking into consideration local production systems, natural resources, and their importance. Environmental historical graphs were developed with nine local families to analyze landscape changes with regard to cultivated areas and pastures, and their relationship with the availability of native vegetation. Punctuation exercises were performed to observe the importance of each unit that supplied native and cultivated resources. The availability of native resources in the environment is subject to stability, as observed by a majority of the local families. The role of the production units (crops and pastures) was emphasized by most families in the study, especially because of the need for products for subsistence needs and income generation. The current decline of such practices is a consequence of an exodus of field workers and also relates to the conservation of native species that otherwise would have been deforested in favor of agricultural practices.

RECOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CHESTNUT GERMPLASM ON THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE ASPROMONTE IN SOUTHERN CALABRIA

For a considerable period of time chestnuts were a fundamental source of food and economy for the people in the Aspromonte area. After decades in which chestnut cultivation has been neglected as a result of depopulation in mountainous zones, the production capacity in this area has reduced resulting in an erosion of the native germplasm. A survey has been carried out to improve the knowledge about the chestnut germplasm present in this area and to evaluate its qualities with the objective of preserving native genetic resources, safeguarding them from genetic erosion phenomenon and individuating local genotypes of market value which could be used to promote a re-launch of local chestnut cultivation. The research, which was carried out in 2008 on the western slopes of the Aspromonte, has led to the identification of 38 genotypes. The germplasm which was individuated has a considerable rate of variability in that it has different phenological and morphological characteristics. Overall, the 38 genotypes have a ripening period extending from the last 10 days of September until the end of October. With regard to the valuable characteristics of the nuts, the genetic material which was analysed was overall found to be of market value. Most of the genotypes have the characteristics of an episperm which can be easily removed, a seed coat which fails to penetrate the inner kernel or penetrates minimally, and a single embryo. Genotypes with these characteristics will be studied furthermore for creating new chestnut plantations in Calabria.

Climate change and land clearing: a short note

The article offers information on climate change as a multi-dimensional issue where forces affect climate system. It states that the modification and conversions of terrestrial ecosystems through human land use is acknowledged as second order that force behind climate changes. Modelling studies have significant implications for native vegetation and Natural Resource Management in Australia.