四姑娘山国家级自然保护区岷江冷杉枯落物及土壤的持水能力研究

通过对四姑娘山国家级自然保护区岷江冷杉林地表土壤和林下枯落物的实验分析,得出四姑娘山自然保护区岷江冷杉林0～40cm深度的土壤层最大贮水量为1694.8 t/hm2,林下枯落物最大持水量为233 t/hm2。四姑娘山自然保护区岷江冷杉林土壤及枯落物持水的最大值为1927.8 t/hm2。     

岷江流域面临的困境与建议

正岷江流域的生态环境危机并不是任何单一因素所造成的。因而,对岷江流域的环境保护也需要采取多种方式并行,才可能获得良好的保护效果。岷江是长江水量最大的一级支流。近年来,随着高强度的水电开发、城市扩张等人为活动影响,叠加原本不稳定的地质状况、自然灾害等,岷江流域的生态脆弱性表现日趋明显,周遭的生态环境和人们的生产生活也开始受到显著影响。一、人为活动对岷江的影响(一)岷江流域水电过度开发1.岷江上游干流开发情况岷江上游多为峡谷地段,水流湍急,自然落差大,水力资源丰富,是长江上游水电开发最超前的支流,也是我国水电开发起步最早的流域。据不完全统     

四川大熊猫栖息地“申遗”成功

本刊综合消息7月12日,在联合国教科文组织第30届世界遗产大会上,世界遗产委员会21个成员国代表一致决定,将中国四川大熊猫栖息地作为世界自然遗产列入《世界遗产名录》。世遗委员会表示,大熊猫不仅是中国的国宝,也是全世界的宝贝,是中国送给世界的一份礼物,也是世界自然保护的象征。据介绍,四川大熊猫栖息地世界自然遗产包括卧龙、四姑娘山和夹金山脉,面积9245平方公里,覆盖成都、阿坝、雅安和甘孜四市州12个县。它保存的野生大熊猫占全世界30%以上,是全球最大最完整的大熊猫栖息地,是全球所有温带区域(除热带雨林以外)中植物最丰富的区域。…     

四川森林资源的动态仿真及预测分析

一、系统辨识和因果关系图森林是最大、最复杂的陆地生物生态系统,在其内部有着自身的能量转化、物质循环规律。它是人类赖以生存的重要的自然资源。四川是一个少林省份,“五五”期间森林覆盖率为11.8％,低于全国平均水平,而且分布不均,西部高于东部,盆地周围高于盆地内     

都山林场不同林分下土壤有机碳的分布特征

以都山林场森林土壤为对象,研究了土壤有机碳在桦树林、柞树林、油松林和混交林四种林分下的分布特征及差异。结果表明:4种林分下表层土壤有机碳含量均显著高于下层土壤(p0.05),除混交林外,其他3种林分下土壤有机碳含量均随着土壤深度的增加而降低。混交林下土壤有机碳平均含量显著高于其他3种林分(p0.05),柞树林下土壤有机碳平均含量显著低于桦树林(p0.05)。油松林下土壤有机碳介于两者之间,且与两者没有显著差异。     

流域非点源分布式模型AnnAGNPS参数的不确定性研究

流域非点源分布式模型的不确定性研究成为目前的热点问题之一。本研究以宁波市章溪河流域为研究区，通过GIS软件AreView和AnnAGNPS模型，集成利用莫里斯分类筛选法，选取临界源面积、SCS曲线系数、水土保持因子、饱和导水率、氮磷吸收率、施肥量等6个因子进行敏感性分析。模拟结果表明，土壤饱和导水率、水土保持因子和径流曲线CN值对模型输出结果影响较大；水土保持因子对泥沙、总磷和总有机碳负荷的模拟结果影响最大，均呈显著负效应；径流曲线CN值对总氮负荷计算结果影响最大，呈显著正效应。     

以电代柴是保护川西森林资源的重要措施

四川西部的甘孜、阿坝、凉山地区是四川的主要林业基地。山高坡徒,地质结构疏松,气候变化剧烈。由于该区开荒、开矿、修路等,泥石流发生频繁,水土流失潜势很大。森林资源的破坏性消耗和烧柴消耗越来越严重,导致区内河流枯期径流减小,洪水历时缩短,洪水流量增大已成明显趋势。为拯救川西森林资源,保护生态环境,除在积极开展植树造林、以法治林的同时,还应积极开展以电代柴,保护川西森林资源。     

基于灰色关联分析的岷江上游流域震后水质综合评价

汶川大地震是我国建国以来强度最大、破坏最严重的一次地震,使本就脆弱的岷江上游生态环境和水环境受到极大影响,岷江是成都市和都江堰市的主要水源,本次地震又发生在这两大城市的上游,震区中岷江水质直接关系到这两个城市的用水安全。本文根据跟岷江映秀段的水质监测结果,利用灰色关联分析法对水质进行综合评价分析,研究震后岷江水质特征,为岷江的水环境保护及成都与都江堰的饮用水安全提供参考。     

震后一年，卧龙大熊猫还好吗

毗邻“震中映秀”的四川卧龙国家级自然保护区，以“大熊猫之乡”而闻名于世。“5·12”地震发生后，保护区遭受重创，两只圈养的大熊猫死亡，两只怀孕的大熊猫受到惊吓流产，143只野生大熊猫至今情况不明。一年多来，这里的大熊猫生活情况吸引了海内外人士的目光。现在，再造一个新卧龙的规划已经出台，与大熊猫有关的灾后重建项目也将启动。按照规划，这个中国最大的大熊猫自然保护区将在3至5年后迎来“新生”。     

美丽中国建设和区域旅游化耦合协调研究——以丝绸之路经济带中国段为例

借助耦合协调模型、GM(1,1)模型和障碍度模型,探讨丝绸之路经济带中国段美丽中国建设和区域旅游化耦合协调发展的时空演变特征、未来发展趋势和障碍因素。结果表明:①2005年以来,丝绸之路经济带中国段两大系统的耦合协调度总体呈缓慢上升趋势,局部地区有下降态势,整体表现为"西低东高—南高北低"的空间格局。②2021年丝绸之路经济带中国段将会形成四川、陕西初级协调,云南、广西、重庆勉强协调,新疆濒临协调,青海、宁夏和甘肃失调的格局。③不同指标制约美丽中国建设和区域旅游化协调发展的程度存在显著差异,前五位指标分别为自然保护区面积占辖区面积比重、旅游外汇收入、入境旅游人数、艺术表演馆和全社会固定资产投资总额。     

Conversion of temperate forests into heaths: Role of ecosystem disturbance and ericaceous plants

Fire and logging in nutrient-poor temperate forests with certain ericaceous understory plants may convert the forests into heaths. The process of disturbance-induced heath formation is documented by using examples ofCalluna in western Europe,Kalmia in Newfoundland, andGaultheria (salal) in coastal British Columbia. In a cool, temperate climate, rapid vegetative growth ofCalluna, Kalmia, and salal following disturbance results in increasing organic accumulation (paludification), nutrient sequestration, soil acidification, and allelochemicals. These are thought to be the main reasons to conifer regeneration failure in disturbed habitats. If continuation in forest is a land-use objective, then temperate forests with an ericaceous understory should not be logged unless effective silvicultural methods are devised to control the ericaceous plants and restore forest regeneration. Preharvest vegetation control may be considered as an option. Failure to control the understory plants may lead to a long-term vegetation shift, from forest to heathland, particularly in nutrient-poor sites. Successful methods of controllingKalmia andGaultheria, however, have yet to be developed. While theKalmia- andGaultheria- dominated heathlands are undesirable in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a wide range ofCalluna heathlands of western Europe are being conserved as natural and seminatural vegetation.     

BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ESTUARINE/COASTAL POLLUTION1

ABSTRACT: Sustained interest in and concern about the health status of the aquatic environment has resulted in extensive research focused on (1) effects of pollution on survival, growth, and reproduction of resource species at all life stages; (2) diseases of fish and shellfish, as they may be related to pollution and as they may serve as indicators of environmental stress; and (3) contaminant body burdens in fish and shellfish - their effects on the aquatic animals and their potential effects on humans. Effects, lethal and sublethal, of pollutants on life history stages of fish and shellfish have been documented, as have impacts on local stocks in badly degraded habitats, but as yet there has been no adequate quantitative demonstration of effects on entire aquatic species - probably because of the difficulty in sorting out relative effects of the many environmental factors that influence abundance. Sublethal effects, especially those that result in disease, have been examined intensively, and some diseases and disease syndromes have been associated statistically with pollution. Other pollution indicators (biochemical, physiological, genetic, behavioral, and ecological) have also received some attention, as have body burdens of contaminants in aquatic species. Research, especially that conducted during the past decade, has done much to clarify the many pathways and toxic effects of contaminants on aquatic animals, and has also helped to identify mechanisms for survival of fish and shellfish in the presence of environmental changes caused by human activities.     

Using Paleo Reconstructions to Improve Streamflow Forecast Lead Time in the Western United States

In water stressed regions, water managers are exploring new horizons that would help in long‐range streamflow forecasts. Oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations have been shown to influence streamflow variability. In this study, long‐lead time streamflow forecasts are made using a multiclass kernel‐based data‐driven support vector machine (SVM) model. The extended streamflow records based on tree ring reconstructions were used to provide a longer time series data. Reconstructed data were used from 1658 to 1952 and the instrumental record was used from 1953 to 2007. Reconstructions for oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations included the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and North Atlantic Oscillation. Streamflow forecasts using all four oscillations were made with one‐year to five‐year lead times for 21 gages in the western United States. This is the first study that uses both instrumental and reconstructed data of oscillations in SVM model to improve streamflow forecast lead time. SVM model was able to provide “satisfactory” to “very good” forecasts with one‐ to five‐year lead time for the selected gages. The use of all the oscillation indices helped in achieving better predictability compared to using individual oscillations. The SVM modeling results are better when compared with multiple linear regression model forecasts. The findings are statistical in nature and are expected to be useful for long‐term water resources planning and management.     

Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress

Urban ecological studies, including focus on cities, suburbs, and exurbs, while having deep roots in the early to mid 20th century, have burgeoned in the last several decades. We use the state factor approach to highlight the role of important aspects of climate, substrate, organisms, relief, and time in differentiating urban from non-urban areas, and for determining heterogeneity within spatially extensive metropolitan areas. In addition to reviewing key findings relevant to each state factor, we note the emergence of tentative "urban syndromes" concerning soils, streams, wildlife and plants, and homogenization of certain ecosystem functions, such as soil organic carbon dynamics. We note the utility of the ecosystem approach, the human ecosystem framework, and watersheds as integrative tools to tie information about multiple state factors together. The organismal component of urban complexes includes the social organization of the human population, and we review key modes by which human populations within urban areas are differentiated, and how such differentiation affects environmentally relevant actions. Emerging syntheses in land change science and ecological urban design are also summarized. The multifaceted frameworks and the growing urban knowledge base do however identify some pressing research needs.     

Journalists' views of advertiser pressures on agricultural news

All major journalism ethical codes explicitly state that journalists should protect editorial copy from undue influence by outside sources. However, much of the previous research on agricultural information has concentrated on what information various media communicate (gatekeeping studies) or communication's role in increasing innovation adoption (diffusion studies). Few studies have concentrated specifically on organizational and structural constraints that might adversely affect agricultural journalists' ethical standards; those that have, focus largely on farm magazines. A study of newspaper reporters who cover agricultural news found that the most pressing ethical concern is the effect of advertiser (agri-business) pressure on editorial copy, and that their concerns in general parallel those of farm magazine writers and editors. The majority reported being in situations in which they might be exposed to advertiser pressure, including pressures to change or withhold editorial copy. Large minorities suggested that advertising pressures affect the overall environment in which agricultural journalists work, and more than one in ten said they allow advertiser pressures to influence editorial decisions. The newspaper reporters who cover agricultural beats showed slightly more resistance to advertiser pressure than did farm magazine editors in a parallel study.     

Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism,food production,infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Urban gardens are important sources of sustenance for communities with limited access to food. Hence, this study focuses on food production in gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area in Northwest Ohio. We administered surveys to 150 garden managers from November 2014 to February 2015 in our attempt to better understand how neighbourhood racial composition and poverty levels are related to staffing and voluntarism, food production and distribution, the development of infrastructure, and the adoption of sustainability practices in urban gardens. The results from 30 gardens are presented in this paper. We used Geographic Information Systems to map the gardens and overlay the map with 2010 census data so that we could conduct demographic analyses of the neighbourhoods in which the gardens were located. Though the gardens were small – two acres or less – up to 46 varieties of food were grown in a single garden. Gardens also operated on small budgets. Food from the gardens was gifted or shared with friends, family, and neighbourhood residents. Gardens in predominantly minority neighbourhoods tended to have fewer institutional partners, less garden infrastructure, and had adopted fewer sustainable practices than gardens in predominantly White neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, residents of predominantly minority and high-poverty neighbourhoods participated in garden activities and influenced garden operations. Volunteering and staffing were racialised and gendered.     

Definition Procedures Have Little Effect on Performance of Environmental Classifications of Streams and Rivers

Mapped environmental classifications are defined using various procedures, but there has been little evaluation of the differences in their ability to discriminate variation in independent ecological characteristics. We tested the performance of environmental classifications of the streams and rivers of France that had been defined from the same environmental data using geographic regionalization and numerical classification of individual river valley segments. Test data comprised invertebrate assemblages, water chemistry, and hydrological indexes obtained from sites throughout France. Classification performance was measured by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM). Geometric regions defined by a regular grid and without regard to environmental variables and a posteriori classifications based on clustering the test datasets defined lower and upper bounds of performance for a given number of classes. Differences in classification performances were generally small. The ANOSIM statistics for the a posteriori classifications were around twice that of all environmental classifications, including geometrically defined regions. The hydro-ecoregions performed slightly better for the invertebrate data and the network classification performed slightly better for the chemistry and hydrological data. Our results indicate that environmental classifications that are defined using different procedures can be comparable in terms of their ability to discriminate variation of ecological characteristics and that alleged differences in performance arising from different classification procedures can be small relative to unexplained variation. We conclude that definition procedures might have little effect on the performance of large-scale environmental classifications and decisions over which procedures to use should be based primarily on pragmatic considerations.     

Predicting deer-vehicle collisions in an urban area

Collisions with deer and other large animals are increasing, and the resulting economic costs and risks to public safety have made mitigation measures a priority for both city and wildlife managers. We created landscape models to describe and predict deer-vehicle collision (DVCs) within the City of Edmonton, Alberta. Models based on roadside characteristics revealed that DVCs occurred frequently where roadside vegetation was both denser and more diverse, and that DVCs were more likely to occur when the groomed width of roadside right-of-ways was smaller. No DVCs occurred where the width of the vegetation-free or manicured roadside buffer was greater than 40 m. Landscape-based models showed that DVCs were more likely in more heterogeneous landscapes where road densities were lower and speed limits were higher, and where non-forested vegetation such as farmland was in closer proximity to larger tracts of forest. These models can help wildlife and transportation managers to identify locations of high collision frequency for mitigation. Modifying certain landscape and roadside habitats can be an effective way to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.     

MANGANESE CYCLE IN IMPOUNDMENT WATER

Manganese entering impounded water will undergo a cyclic transformation. Oxidation precipitates manganese from top waters. At the bottom of the lake, biological activity will render manganese soluble by both intracellular as well as extracellular activity. The study was made to demonstrate that biological reduction and transformation, organometallic complexation, together with the presence of carbon dioxide and the lowering of pH all have some effect on the solubility of manganese. Dissolved manganese may be brought back to top waters during the lake overturn and therefore deteriorates the water quality.     

Effect of Light on Biodegradation of Estrone, 17β‐Estradiol,and 17α‐Ethinylestradiol in Stream Sediment

Biodegradation of [A‐ring ¹⁴C] Estrone (E1), 17β‐estradiol (E2), and 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2) to ¹⁴CO₂ was investigated under light and dark conditions in microcosms containing epilithon or sediment collected from Boulder Creek, Colorado. Mineralization of the estrogen A‐ring was observed in all sediment treatments, but not epilithon treatments. No difference in net mineralization between light and dark treatments was observed for ¹⁴C‐E2. Net mineralization of ¹⁴C‐E1 and ¹⁴C‐EE2 was enhanced in light treatments. Extents of ¹⁴CO₂ accumulation and rates of mineralization were significantly greater for E2 than E1 under dark conditions, but were comparable under light conditions. These results indicate substantial differences in the uptake and metabolism of E1 and E2 in the environment and suggest biorecalcitrance of E1 relative to E2 in light‐limited environments. The extent of ¹⁴CO₂ accumulation and rate of mineralization for EE2 in dark treatments were less than half of that observed for E2 and generally lower than for E1, consistent with previous reports of EE2 biorecalcitrance. However, ¹⁴CO₂ accumulation and rates of mineralization were comparable for EE2, E2, and E1 under light conditions. These results indicate photoactivation and/or phototransformation/photodegradation processes can substantially enhance heterotrophic biodegradation of estrogens in sunlit environments and may play an important role in estrogen transport and attenuation.