Enhancing Sustainability of the International Trade in Seahorses with a Single Minimum Size Limit

Abstract:  Management tools are needed to help regulate the international trade in seahorses (  Hippocampus spp.) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. Given the limited understanding of seahorse population dynamics and fishing mortality, a single minimum size limit for all seahorse species appears to be a useful initial step toward adaptive management, both biologically and socially. We collected data on maximum height and size at first maturity for 32 seahorse species and cross-validated the data with results from an analysis across marine teleosts. A minimum height restriction of 10 cm would permit, based on calculated data, reproduction in 15 species before they recruited to the fishery. Of the remaining 17 species, 16 were essentially not in international trade, were safeguarded under domestic legislation, or were partly protected by this size limit. Only one species, H. kelloggi , was not well served by the 10-cm minimum size limit. The CITES technical committee on animals has now decided to propose this single size limit to all 167 signatory nations as one option toward sustainable trade. Complementary management measures for seahorses are also required, particularly for populations primarily exploited in bycatch.     

Pillar building in the fiddler crab Uca beebei: evidence for a condition-dependent ornament

In the fiddler crab (Uca beebei) males build a small mud pillar next to their burrow which increases their attractiveness to females. Three hypotheses were tested to explain inter-male variation in pillar-building. (1) The benefits of pillar-building are density dependent. The experimental addition of vertical structures did not support this hypothesis as there was no change in the level of pillar-building. (2) There are two classes of males (pillar-builders and non-pillar-builders). This could either be due to an alternative mating strategy, or because pillar building is age or size-dependent. There was also no support for this hypothesis. (3) Pillar-building is an honest signal of male quality dependent on body condition. A food supplementation experiment was performed. Addition of food affected several aspects of male behaviour and resulted in a two fold increase in the number of pillars built between control and food treatments (P < 0.001). However, the percentage of males building pillars did not increase significantly. Pillar building in this species has been attributed to sensory exploitation. Our results indicate that a trait which may well have evolved through sensory exploitation also appears to be condition-dependent. We emphasise that showing that an ornament or behaviour is condition-dependent does not necessarily mean that it evolved through good gene processes. However, in terms of its current selective value, pillar building may be maintained through female choice because it acts as a signal of male condition.     

攀西地区水资源及可持续利用探讨

在分析攀西地区水资源特点的基础上,从资源开发结构调整、可持续发展和区域经济发展的角度阐述了该区水资源开发的迫切性。根据攀西地区水资源开发利用存在的问题,提出了该区水资源可持续利用的对策:统筹兼顾,综合利用;把建设全国能源基地与实现地方电气化相结合,因地制宜开发水能资源;以安宁河流域为重点,加快骨干水利工程建设;抓住机遇,多渠道、多途径开发水资源。     

河南焦作云台山世界地质公园资源特色及综合评价

河南焦作云台山世界地质公园。以山体雄伟、长崖险峻、峡谷幽深、水体秀美为特色；其地质景观资源具有种类多样性、独特性、较高的科学价值和美学观赏性等特点。公园主要地质遗迹景观质量高。资源优势突出。区位优势明显．具有良好的开发价值和市场前景。云台山世界地质公园的建立．对合理利用自然地质资源。促进旅游和地方经济、文化和自然环境的可持续发展将发挥重要作用。     

油田高压注汽盐析及预防研究

本文分析研究了油田注汽系统盐析现象及其成因和危害,并根据盐析成因探索了预防注汽盐析方法以减少甚至消除其危害。通过研究确定,采用高压旋流饱和蒸发与低压闪蒸和多效蒸集成技术是预防注汽系统盐析并减少甚至消除盐析及其造成的危害较为有效的方法。     

面向流域水质安全预警的土地开发压力源评估方法及其应用

为适应水环境风险管理中压力源风险的快速识别需求,构建了土地开发压力源评估方法,并以三峡库区为案例区进行应用研究. 土地开发压力源评估方法首先是基于不同土地利用类型的排污参数来确定敏感土地利用类型和不利转移方向,再采用状态和趋势兼顾的原则筛选流域内敏感单元,然后根据各单元的实际特征逐一确定预警指标,以进行压力源评估和预警级别划分. 案例研究结果表明:重庆市辖区控制单元、涪陵区万州区控制单元和澎溪河开县控制单元是库区水质安全预警的3个敏感单元;其中,重庆市辖区控制单元和涪陵区万州区控制单元的预警指标均为敏感土地类型面积比例和发生不利转移的土地面积比例,其中重庆市辖区控制单元的2个预警指标值分别为42.17%、3.43%;涪陵区万州区控制单元分别为32.86%、1.74%;而澎溪河开县控制单元的预警指标仅为敏感土地类型面积比例,其值为32.31%. ③重庆市辖区控制单元、涪陵区万州区控制单元和澎溪河开县控制单元的预警指标最大超标率分别为163%、33%和19%,相应各单元土地开发压力分别为红色预警(重警)、橙色预警(中警)和黄色预警(轻警)级别. 从管理意义上,重庆市辖区控制单元和涪陵区万州区控制单元未来需要从优化当前土地利用方式、合理控制未来土地开发的双重角度来降低压力;澎溪河开县控制单元未来应重点关注和降低当前土地利用状况对水质安全的压力. 研究认为,所提出的面向流域水质安全预警的土地开发压力源评估方法具有可操作性,其案例研究结果可为三峡库区案例区水环境风险管理提供决策支撑.      

PPP 模式在荒漠治理中的应用研究

作为世界上荒漠化最严重的国家之一,中国的土地荒漠化已经呈现出不断蔓延的趋势,而现有的荒漠化治理在虽然取得了一定的成果,但并未能从根本上遏制荒漠化地蔓延,主要问题在于治理的方式和投资资金的管理能力不足。在荒漠化治理中引入PPP模式,使政府部门和私营部门之间实现优势互补,风险共担,将政府在治理荒漠化中的社会责任感和私营企业高效的运营能力相结合,实现荒漠化治理中的共赢,才能够有效的解决当前面临的荒漠化形势。     

江苏沿海开发与城市化协同发展研究

2009年江苏沿海开发上升为国家战略，江苏沿海地区城市化已站在新的起点上。阐述了江苏沿海城市化的发展状况，指出了在沿海开发过程中城市化发展存在的问题，提出了江苏沿海开发与城市化协同发展的战略思考。     

秦皇岛地区地热资源开发利用中出现的问题与对策

秦皇岛地区地热资源丰富,地下热水被广泛开发利用。地下热水开发利用过程中出现的环境问题,表现在高矿化热水上涌引起的土壤盐碱化和局部地区水温逐年下降。为解决这些环境问题,必须加强管理,制订合理的地下水开采方案;改进落后的成井工艺,由专业队伍施工水井,采取必要措施切断冷热水的水力联系;在高矿化热水井附近打回灌井,阻止土壤盐碱化。     

小灵猫的资源、开发利用现状与分布

小灵猫系国家二级保护动物,是一种毛皮、医药与天然香料兼用的珍贵兽类,经济价值很高,在全国现有10万只以上。小灵猫有四个亚种,仪分布于非洲、地中海沿岸和亚洲,在我国主要分布秦岭、长江流域以南地区。