Spatial information in ecosystem service assessment: data applicability in the cascade model context

Spatial information and geographical information systems (GISs) are widely used in ecosystem service research, but both the information and the methods need to be properly understood in order to make coherent analyses. We discuss the practical challenges of incorporating spatial data to ecosystem service assessment in an agricultural landscape and apply the ecosystem service cascade model to put different data into context. We review the prerequisites and practices for successful ‘ecosystem service GIS’ and provide a structured view of the information and data needed in the assessment of ecosystem services at a regional scale. Due to the heterogeneity of the spatial data, the regional characteristics should be considered in environmental decision-making through ethnographic research on local expertise to make optimal choices in using spatial information.     

Genetic and color morph differentiation in the Caribbean sea anemone<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Condylactis gigantea</Emphasis>

The distribution of phenotypic and genetic variation across environments can provide insights into local adaptation. The tropical sea anemone Condylactis gigantea inhabits a broad spectrum of coral-reef habitats and displays a variety of phenotypes, particularly with respect to color. At the coast of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, individuals with either pink or green tentacle tips show distinct distributions. Pink morphs are more abundant in the lagoon and in deeper areas, while green morphs are more abundant in the forereef and in shallower areas. We use DNA sequence data (ITS1-5.8S) to investigate if variation in color is associated with genetic differentiation in lagoon and forereef habitats about 5 km apart. Population genetic analyses reveal two distinct ITS1-5.8S variants, which differ in relative frequency. The two variants are present in both habitats, but a dearth of intermediates suggests reduced gene flow. In the lagoon, but not the forereef, ITS variants show an association with color. In order to address the potential ecological significance of color, we study UV absorbance and UV acclimatization capacities of pink and green color morphs in the lagoon. Color morphs differed significantly in UV-B absorbance. These results suggest genetic and ecological differentiation in the face of gene flow over short distances.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

The wartbiter spermatophore and its effect on female reproductive output (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae,Decticus verrucivorus)

Summary Male wartbiters Decticus verrucivorus transfer elaborate spermatophores to females during copulation. The spermatophore is attached externally to the female's genitalia and consists of two parts: a large, gelatinous, sperm-free portion, the spermatophylax, eaten by the female after mating; and a sperm-containing ampulla, eaten after the spermatophylax has been consumed. Since females take longer to eat larger spermatophylaxes, the duration of ampulla attachment is positively correlated with spermatophylax size. Two series of experiments were carried out, one in which the size of the spermatophylax consumed by females and the duration of ampulla attachment were manipulated in concert and another in which they were manipulated independently. Some females were also maintained on a protein-free diet and either supplied with or deprived of spermatophylax material. The amount of protein in the diet, but not the amount of spermatophylax material consumed, influenced female longevity, lifetime fecundity, and egg weight. When females were deprived of the spermatophylax, an experimental increase in the duration of ampulla attachment induced longer periods of unreceptivity in females after mating, a more rapid onset of oviposition, and an increased oviposition rate. Consequently, the number of eggs laid by females during their nonreceptive refractory periods increased significantly with increasing duration of ampulla attachment up to 180 min; however, there was no significant increase in the number of eggs laid beyond 180 min of ampulla attachment. This closely corresponds to an ampulla attachment duration of 188 min expected when a male transfers a natural spermatophylax of mean size to the female. These results suggest that the amount of ejaculate transferred to the female, and not the amount of spermatophylax material per se, is the factor controlling female receptivity and oviposition behavior. Since we did not detect any effect of spermatophylax consumption on female fecundity or egg weight, we conclude that the spermatophylax of D. verrucivorus functions primarily as a sperm protection device rather than as a form of male parental investment.     

Sharing developed countries’ post-2012 greenhouse gas emission reductions based on comparable efforts

The Bali Action Plan as adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2007, states that Annex I (developed) countries should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, based on comparable efforts. Within this context, we have explored various comparable effort approaches (for example, equal marginal abatement costs for all countries) for reducing emissions by the year 2020 for individual countries and regions. In all calculations, the total reduction for Annex I countries as a group is assumed to be 30% below 1990 levels. In the analysis, we compare the reduction targets as calculated from the different approaches with the emission reductions as pledged by these countries as part of the Copenhagen Accord, as drafted under the UNFCCC in 2009. Our analysis indicates that the different elements in these calculations may cause a diversity in outcomes and that, therefore, individual countries may favour certain elements over others. These elements include (a) the choice of the approach itself (the same approach may produce very different outcomes for countries with diverging national circumstances, such as Canada and Russia); (b) the reference year (such as 1990 or 2006 emissions, is very important for countries with an increase in emissions since 1990 (e.g. the United States, Canada) or for those that have lower emission levels (e.g. Russia, the Ukraine)); and (c) rules on land use (these are important for countries with large forest areas). It should be noted that the stringency of the individual countries’ reductions as pledged, differs substantially from the stringency of the reduction targets calculated from the effort-sharing approaches. The current pledges by both the European Union and the United States, are lower than the reductions that would be obtained in the effort-sharing approaches for a 30% overall reduction in Annex I countries.     

农村生活污水处理技术

农村城市化发展迅速,而农村水污染情况日益严重,已对农村地区的水体、土地等自然环境产生严重影响。为建立和谐新农村,保障农村生活质量提高,缩小城乡差距,必须重视农村水源安全。本文就农村生活污水处理技术进行讨论,为农村发展提供参考。