Abstract Environmental Benefits John R. Falco, Aniruddha V.

Belsare, Matthew Gompper, Shibu

Jose Host Biodiversity and Tick-Borne Disease: Implications for Temperate Agroforestry Keywords:
biodiversity, ticks, lyme, reservoir, competence The extent at which biodiversity and community
composition affects ecosystem functioning becomes increasingly important as human impact on
the environment proliferates. Agroforestry has been shown to benefit biodiversity through
promotion of niche diversification. Variations in host biodiversity can alter the transmission
dynamics of certain infectious diseases; however, the relationships between agroforestry,
biodiversity and disease have not been researched. Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-born
infection throughout the Northern Hemisphere, is caused by the bacterial agent Borrelia
burgdorferi. Research has shown that alterations in host biodiversity can lead to reductions in
disease prevalence. The goal of this research is to predict the relationship between host
biodiversity and Lyme disease prevalence in silvopasture and open-pasture systems. NetLogo is a
multi-agent programmable modelling environment where it is possible to develop and manipulate
a simulated ecosystem. In this system, both conventional open-pasture and silvopasture
environments were used. In each of these environments white-footed mice, the most competent
reservoir hosts for transmission of B. burgdorferi are present. Simulations were then run to
demonstrate how the inclusion of a non-competent host species, cattle, effects mice population
dynamics and the overall prevalence of B. burgdorferi within the tick community. The outputs of
this model make it possible to predict how disease systems react to changes in biodiversity. Model
validation will occur through field data from silvopasture systems in Northeastern United States
and Germany. This study demonstrates the potential of agent-based modelling techniques for
demonstrating the relationship between agroforestry production practices, host biodiversity and
disease emergence.

John R. Falco University of Missouri 1105 Rollins Road Columbia, MO 65211, USA
jrfvfb@mail.missouri.edu; jfalco89@gmail.com.
Abstract Economic Insights and Financial Tools Zhang Pu, Fred Cubbage Economic Benefit and
Water Resource Utilization of Fruit Industry in Northwest China Keywords: fruit tree, arid and
semi-arid area. economic benefit, water resource The goal of this research is twofold: to conduct
an economic cost-benefit analysis of planting and managing various types of fruit trees in
Northwest China, and to evaluate the annual water consumption needed for these trees. Water is
an irreplaceable resource and a constraining factor in the social and economic development of
arid and semi-arid areas. One such area is the Ba Autonomous Prefecture within Xinjiang Province,
which is known to be highly favorable for bearing fruit trees such as apples, pears, grapes,
peaches, apricots and red dates. The local Chinese government has been promoting the planting
of fruit trees since 1990's. By 2015, the hectarage of fruit trees in the Xinjiang desert area has
increased to 1.5 million, and the total fruit production has reached 7 million tons. Because this
area has drought, the drip irrigation system of delivering water has proved very successful. Also,
the strategic square layout of fruit trees enclosed by a shelterbelt forest effectively prevents the
destruction of trees due to extreme weather conditions. In my research, I have investigated the
microeconomic costs of the production facility construction (the plan, design, planting placements,
etc.), the infrastructure construction (irrigation system and motor-pumped wells), and the
production techniques such as species selection, site preparation, planting, pest control, etc. I
have also collected macroeconomic data from the local government regarding total planting area
of different kinds of fruits and the fruit prices, in hopes of finding the optimal scaling of the fruit
industry of this region. Zhang Pu Chinese Academy of Forestry 1613 Gorman Street Raleigh, NC
27606, USA zhangbeilei.happy@163.com; zhangpuncsu@gmail.com
Abstract
Agroforestry is a modern and scientific farming practice. It is a sustainable land use system under which food
crops (annuals) with tree crops (perennials) and/or livestock are maintain simultaneously on the same piece of
land to increase the total yield and this management practices are economically and ecologically sound. It is
just a compromise between these two resources of forest trees and agricultural crops to maintain the need of
forest cover upto 33% as per given national forest policy. Agroforestry has the potential to alter the
microclimate under the tree canopy. It plays a major role in enhancement of overall farm productivity, soil
fertility through addition of litter and organic matter, climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration,
phytoremediation, watershed protection and biodiversity conservation. Upto some extent biodrainage
plantation might have improve the soil aeration, sulphide toxicity and nutrient use efficiency. Moreover, it
reduces the water logging condition and maintains the soil aeration property. Under the agroforestry system
multipurpose and N 2-fixing trees are played a valuable and significant role for upliftment of productivity and
combating the soil health problem. Generally, farmers are used N 2-fixing trees like some leguminosae family
comprises Acacia spp., Dalbergia sissoo etc. on their farmland for enhancement productivity with better soil
health and generating incomes through employment. Therefore, scope and potential of agroforestry are
envitable.