Using GIS to Generate Spatially Balanced Random Survey Designs for Natural Resource Applications

Sampling of a population is frequently required to understand trends and patterns in natural resource management because financial and time constraints preclude a complete census. A rigorous probability-based survey design specifies where to sample so that inferences from the sample apply to the entire population. Probability survey designs should be used in natural resource and environmental management situations because they provide the mathematical foundation for statistical inference. Development of long-term monitoring designs demand survey designs that achieve statistical rigor and are efficient but remain flexible to inevitable logistical or practical constraints during field data collection. Here we describe an approach to probability-based survey design, called the Reversed Randomized Quadrant-Recursive Raster, based on the concept of spatially balanced sampling and implemented in a geographic information system. This provides environmental managers a practical tool to generate flexible and efficient survey designs for natural resource applications. Factors commonly used to modify sampling intensity, such as categories, gradients, or accessibility, can be readily incorporated into the spatially balanced sample design.     

To roll or not to roll: nyctinastic behavior in young leaves of sacred lotus,Nelumbo nucifera

The Science of Nature -     

基于生物膜序批式反应器工艺的城市污水磷酸盐富集实验研究

基于生物膜序批式反应器（BSBR）工艺,对模拟城市污水中的磷酸盐进行高效去除、回收.实验在探究不同蓄磷量和碳源对反应器效能、磷回收效率影响的基础上,进一步分析了两者的共同作用对厌氧释磷速率和释磷量的影响.结果表明,在反应器低碳源投加(仅厌氧投加200mg·L^-1)和低磷进水(10 mg·L^-1)工况下,磷回收液浓度随着蓄磷量增加而增大,磷回收液浓度最高可达到225.5 mg·L^-1,蓄磷量可达159.6mg·g^-1;同时探究了磷回收液浓度与平均磷回收效率间的关系,在以（6±1）d为回收周期的循环下,磷富集液浓度达到（106.6±10）mg·L^-1,此时平均磷回收效率为78.62%±2.3%;而且提高3.6倍蓄磷量可提高1.9倍释磷量,较之4倍碳源投加量时的1.79倍释磷量更为高效.因此,本反应器能基于更低碳源投加量获取高浓度磷回收液,从而为未来废水处理厂中磷的回收提供新的方向.     

中国兜兰属宽瓣亚属植物生存现状及保护成效

为明确兜兰属(Paphiopedilum)宽瓣亚属(Subgenus.Brachypetalum)植物各物种在我国的生存现状与濒危状况,在大量的野外调查和文献、标本数据收集的基础上,对其种群分布、数量、生境特征、市场贸易、受威胁因素、保护现状与保护成效进行统计分析,并依据《IUCN红色名录等级和标准(3.1版)》对该类群的濒危等级进行重新评估.结果表明,野外调查到硬叶兜兰(Paphiopedilum.micranthum)、麻栗坡兜兰(P.malipoense)、杏黄兜兰(P.armeniacum)、白花兜兰(P.emersonii)、巨瓣兜兰(P.bellatulum)、文山兜兰(P.wenshanense)、同色兜兰(P.concolor)7个目标物种,已知分布于我国50个县(市、区),共计194个自然分布点.宽瓣亚属植物在我国水平方向上主要分布于滇东南、黔西南、黔东北、滇西北、桂北与黔南交界处以及桂西北至桂西南等地区;垂直方向上集中分布于中高海拔段(780~1267m),平均海拔997m;在全国大尺度上,该亚属整体呈零散分布,区域小尺度上个体呈聚集生长;其小生境具有高海拔、透水、透气、喜阴、喜钙的特点.市场调查的贸易率为36.67%,贸易价格高低不等,具有较强的随机性;贸易来源主要为野外采挖,占贸易数量的88.32%,具有较强的地域性;贸易方式为现场和线上网络交易,具有较强的灵活性.该类群主要受到采挖和生境退化的威胁,分别占所有分布点的44.85%、29.83%.宽瓣亚属整体就地保率仅为34.53%,保护成效为一般保护;调查的29个保育地中,有20个保育地对该类群累计保育98次,除文山兜兰和绿叶兜兰外,其他7种迁地保护成效被评估为合适.巨瓣兜兰、文山兜兰由原来的濒危(EN)评估为极危(CR);麻栗坡兜兰、白花兜兰、杏黄兜兰评估等级未发生变化,仍为极危(CR);硬叶兜兰和同色兜兰由原来的易危(VU)评估为濒危(EN);德氏兜兰、绿叶兜兰被评为数据缺乏(DD).     

低NOx环境异戊二烯促进甲苯生成甲基丁烯二醛的模拟实验

在低NO_x浓度条件下开展甲苯和异戊二烯复合体系的烟雾箱模拟实验,使用高时间分辨率的在线质子转移反应飞行时间质谱(PTR-TOF-MS)实时监测混合体系中反应物与产物的浓度变化情况,探究人为源与天然源交汇过程中, 自然源挥发性有机物 (BVOCs)对人为挥发性有机物(AVOCs)化学降解的影响.结果表明,异戊二烯与甲苯竞争OH自由基,从而抑制了甲苯的化学降解,该竞争反应开始得越早,抑制效果越显著.研究还发现异戊二烯会增强甲苯RO₂降解途径产物的产量,生成更多1,4不饱和-二羰基化合物(如丁烯二醛和甲基丁烯二醛)与二羰基化合物(如乙二醛和甲基乙二醛),其中甲基丁烯二醛增量最高可达38.6%.此外,异戊二烯快速氧化生成的RO₂自由基碳数更少,可能与甲苯氧化生成的RO₂自由基发生了快速的交叉反应,有利于甲苯RO自由基的生成及裂解,最终导致甲苯RO₂途径裂解产物的增加.     

Dosing low-level ferrous iron in coagulation enhances the removal of micropollutants, chlorite and chlorate during advanced water treatment

Drinking water utilities are interested in upgrading their treatment facilities to enhance micropollutant removal and byproduct control. Pre-oxidation by chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) followed by coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is one of the promising solutions. However, the chlorite (ClO₂^–) formed from the ClO₂ pre-oxidation stage cannot be removed by the conventional coagulation process using aluminum sulfate. ClO₂^– negatively affects the post-UV/chlorine process due to its strong radical scavenging effect, and it also enhances the formation of chlorate (ClO₃^–). In this study, dosing micromolar-level ferrous iron (Fe(II)) into aluminum-based coagulants was proposed to eliminate the ClO₂^– generated from ClO₂ pre-oxidation and benefit the post-UV/chlorine process in radical production and ClO₃^– reduction. Results showed that the addition of 52.1-µmol/L FeSO₄ effectively eliminated the ClO₂^– generated from the pre-oxidation using 1.0 mg/L (14.8 µmol/L) of ClO₂. Reduction of ClO₂^– increased the degradation rate constant of a model micropollutant (carbamazepine) by 55.0% in the post-UV/chlorine process. The enhanced degradation was verified to be attributed to the increased steady-state concentrations of HO^· and ClO^· by Fe(II) addition. Moreover, Fe(II) addition also decreased the ClO₃^– formation by 53.8% in the UV/chlorine process and its impact on the formation of chloro-organic byproducts was rather minor. The findings demonstrated a promising strategy to improve the drinking water quality and safety by adding low-level Fe(II) in coagulation in an advanced drinking water treatment train.     

MoS2 quantum dots based MoS2/HKUST-1 composites for the highly efficient catalytic oxidation of elementary mercury

Due to the ever-tightening regulation on mercury emission in recent decades, there is an urgent need to develop novel materials for the removal of elemental mercury at coal-fired power plants. In this study, a series of MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs)-based MoS₂/HKUST-1 composite materials were prepared. It is found that MoS₂ QDs were encapsulated by HKUST-1 and enhanced the crystallinity and specific surface area of HKUST-1. The MoS₂/HKUST-1 showed excellent performance in catalytic oxidation of Hg⁰ as compared with pristine HKUST-1. It is found that surface layer of lattice oxygens is active and participates in Hg⁰ oxidation, while the consumption of surface oxygens then leads to the formation of oxygen vacancies on the surface. These vacancies are effective in the adsorption and dissociation of O₂, which subsequently participates in the oxidation of Hg⁰. Moreover, the study on the influence of commonly seen gas components, such as SO₂, NO, NH₃ and H₂O, etc., on Hg⁰ oxidation demonstrated that synergistic effects exist among these gas species. It is found that the presence of NO promotes the oxidation of Hg⁰ using oxygen as the oxidant.