Evaluating environmental education,citizen science,and stewardship through naturalist programs

Amateur naturalists have played an important role in the study and conservation of nature since the 17th century. Today, naturalist groups make important contributions to bridge the gap between conservation science and practice around the world. We examined data from 2 regional naturalist programs to understand participant motivations, barriers, and perspectives as well as the actions they take to advance science, stewardship, and community engagement. These programs provide certification‐based natural history and conservation science training for adults that is followed by volunteer service in citizen science, education, and stewardship. Studies in California and Virginia include quantitative and qualitative evaluation data collected through pre‐ and postcourse surveys, interviews, and long‐term tracking of volunteer hours. Motivations of participants focused on learning about the local environment and plants and animals, connecting with nature, becoming certified, and spending time with people who have similar interests. Over half the participants surveyed were over 50 years old, two‐thirds were women, and a majority reported household incomes of over $50,000 (60% in California, 85% in Virginia), and <20% of those surveyed in both states described themselves as nonwhite. Thus, these programs need to improve participation by a wider spectrum of the public. We interviewed younger and underrepresented adults to examine barriers to participation in citizen science. The primary barrier was lack of time due to the need to work and focus on career advancement. Survey data revealed that participants’ ecological knowledge, scientific skills, and belief in their ability to address environmental issues increased after training. Documented conservation actions taken by the participants include invasive plant management, habitat restoration, and cleanups of natural areas and streams. Long‐term data from Virginia on volunteer hours dedicated to environmental citizen science show an increase from 14% in 2007 to 32% in 2014. In general, participants in the naturalist programs we examined increased their content knowledge about ecosystems, had greater confidence in conserving them, and continued to engage as citizen scientists after completing the program.     

广东使用化肥88年的历史回顾

本文对广东使用化肥８８年（１９０５—１９９２）的历史及现状、肥效演变和存在问题等作了简要的回顾，并提出了有关建议。我省各种作物产量的不断增长与化肥用量的不断增加及其合理施用密切相关。如何利用好化肥仍是农业科技工作者今后的一种职责。     

安徽省环境经济政策评估分析:2016—2017

为了把握安徽省的环境经济政策整体绩效,本文先对安徽省环境经济政策的发展历程进行梳理,然后以安徽省2016—2017年执行的环境经济政策作为主要研究对象,利用内容分析法、层次分析法和德尔菲法等方法从政策完整性、明确性、可执行性、协调性、成果性五个维度对环境经济政策进行了绩效评估分析。评价结果显示,目前安徽省已基本建立了环境经济政策体系框架,公共财政政策等起步较早领域更为成熟,相关配套与监督措施也较为全面,但在绿色金融、排污权交易等方面仍需进一步完善。最后针对安徽省环境经济政策的不足,本文提出了相应的建议与展望。     

百朗地下河沉积柱芯有机氯农药的高分辨记录

测定了广西百朗地下河大石围天坑河段沉积柱芯中有机氯农药(OCPs)的质量分数,探讨了有机氯农药的垂直分布特征,结合210Pb定年研究了百朗地下河流域有机氯农药的污染历史。研究结果表明,沉积柱中总有机氯农药含量为0.42~10.63 ng/g,平均值为2.74 ng/g。百朗河流域历史上主要使用的有机氯农药有六氯苯、六六六(HCHs)、滴滴涕(DDTs)、狄氏剂和艾氏剂5种表层沉积物分析显示近年地下河流域仍有新的γ-HCH(林丹)和DDTs输入。有机氯农药的垂直分布表征百朗地下河流域在1955-1960年间六氯苯被最先使用,1961年替换为六六六,同时使用的有狄氏剂、艾氏剂农药,而滴滴涕使用可能稍晚,与我国有机氯农药的生产使用历史基本一致。研究提出了大石围天坑河段沉积柱芯中有机氯农药污的染峰值滞后于使用高峰期,与喀斯特山区土地利用方式和土壤颗粒在地下河中的迁移有关。     

Male Mutation Bias and Possible Long‐Term Effects of Human Activities

Abstract: The ability of a population to adapt to changing environments depends critically on the amount and kind of genetic variability it possesses. Mutations are an important source of new genetic variability and may lead to new adaptations, especially if the population size is large. Mutation rates are extremely variable between and within species, and males usually have higher mutation rates as a result of elevated rates of male germ cell division. This male bias affects the overall mutation rate. We examined the factors that influence male mutation bias, and focused on the effects of classical life‐history parameters, such as the average age at reproduction and elevated rates of sperm production in response to sexual selection and sperm competition. We argue that human‐induced changes in age at reproduction or in sexual selection will affect male mutation biases and hence overall mutation rates. Depending on the effective population size, these changes are likely to influence the long‐term persistence of a population.     

The effects of size-dependent predation risk on the interaction between behavioral and life history traits in a stream-dwelling isopod

In field surveys, laboratory observations and field-based assays of behavior, I examined the effects of size-dependent predation risk on the interaction between size at reproductive maturity and maternal care behavior in the stream-dwelling isopod, Lirceus fontinalis. L. fontinalis exhibit population-specific sizes at reproductive maturity which result in population differences in predation risk during the adult phase. Females from streams containing salamander larvae (that prefer small prey) mature at large sizes and then become relatively safe from predation. Females from streams containing fish (that consume all size classes of prey equally) mature at small sizes and remain at risk. I tested whether these differences in expected survival were reflected in the behavior of females during the maternal phase (i.e., the period during which females exhibit maternal care). Female L. fontinalis carry developing juveniles inside a brood pouch. I simulated predatory attacks on gravid female L. fontinalis from the different population types and found that female behavior correlated with population differences in risk. When “attacked”, females from streams with predatory fish (that experience high risk to adult females) released juveniles from the brood pouch, whereas females from populations with predatory salamander larvae (that pose relatively little risk to adult females) did not release juveniles. I discuss the results with reference to the joint evolution of behavioral and life history traits. Received: 6 March 1996 /Accepted after revision: 12 August 1996     

Some of the Nineteenth Century Origins of the Sustainability Concept

Interpreting and applying the concept of sustainable development is increasingly viewed as being the way to promulgate just and practicable economic, environmental and social policy. It is thus important that there be increased public and political awareness concerning the origins of economic theory, and its early relationship to sustainability concepts. While the term 'sustainable development' was popularised by the World Commission on Environment and Development report Our Common Future in 1987, it is generally recognised that notions of sustainability were promoted in `limits to growth' and 'green' discourses in the early 1970s (Meadows et al.: 1974, The Limits to Growth: A Report for the Club of Rome, Potomac Associates and Pan Books, London and Sydney). However, there is little acknowledgement of the way in which nineteenth century intellectuals, from a range of disciplines, conceptualised the importance of balancing economic, social and environmental sustainability in their quest for justice and the conservation of nature.There was a considerable exchange of ideas on `political economy' and nature across Europe, and later the Americas, from the middle of the eighteenth century. This discourse reached its intellectual peak in the nineteenth century. During that era there was a proliferation of literature that was aimed at improving the human condition and recognising humanity's dependence upon nature. In Europe and the USA the participants in the debate included Cantillon, Quesnay, Condorcet, Galiani, Von Hayek, Marx and George. Due to the breadth of this influential body of work, we focus here on the British Victorian thinkers such as Darwin, Malthus, Martineau and Mill. These thinkers influenced each other in developing their theories and ideas in science, politics, economics and philosophy, and were influenced in turn by an earlier generation of intellectuals, such as Adam Smith. For the Victorian thinkers, conserving nature while trying to improve the distribution of wealth was a not a paradox, but a moral duty, and for them Smith's `rational' pursuit of self-interest could only be followed if it did not interfere with 'the rules of justice'. We argue that the manner in which these thinkers conceptualised their theories and ideas represents the nineteenth century origins of sustainability concepts.     

Phylogenetic Comparative Methods Strengthen Evidence for Reduced Genetic Diversity among Endangered Tetrapods

Abstract: The fitness of species with little genetic diversity is expected to be affected by inbreeding and an inability to respond to environmental change. Conservation theory suggests that endangered species will generally demonstrate lower genetic diversity than taxa that are not threatened. This hypothesis has been challenged because the time frame of anthropogenic extinction may be too fast to expect genetic factors to significantly contribute. I conducted a meta‐analysis to examine how genetic diversity in 894 tetrapods correlates with extinction threat level. Because species are not evolutionarily independent, I used a phylogenetic regression framework to address this issue. Mean genetic diversity of tetrapods, as assessed by protein heterozygosity, was 29.7–31.5% lower on average in threatened species than in their nonthreatened relatives, a highly significant reduction. Within amphibians as diversity decreased extinction risk increased in phylogenetic models, but not in nonphylogenetic regressions. The effects of threatened status on diversity also remained significant after accounting for body size in mammals. These results support the hypothesis that genetic effects on population fitness are important in the extinction process.     

For the quality of life — evolution of and lessons learnt from water and sanitation services in Porvoo, Finland, 1900–2000

The paper describes and analyses the 100 year development of water supply and sanitation and the lessons learnt in Porvoo, a municipality of 46,000 people on the southern coast of Finland. In urban areas the municipality‐owned utility has always dominated. Over 90 per cent of the investments for the recent wastewater treatment plant went into services, equipment and goods bought from the private sector through 12 tenders, all based on competition. In the neighbouring rural areas, recently merged with the city, there are nine consumer‐managed, non‐profit water cooperatives that buy water in bulk from the city water utility. Although the solutions are based on local conditions and subsidiarity, some more general principles are also highlighted and discussed. Past decisions inevitably also affect future development options.