Mapping Human and Social Dimensions of Conservation Opportunity for the Scheduling of Conservation Action on Private Land

Abstract Spatial prioritization techniques are applied in conservation‐planning initiatives to allocate conservation resources. Although typically they are based on ecological data (e.g., species, habitats, ecological processes), increasingly they also include nonecological data, mostly on the vulnerability of valued features and economic costs of implementation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of conservation actions implemented through conservation‐planning initiatives is a function of the human and social dimensions of social‐ecological systems, such as stakeholders’ willingness and capacity to participate. We assessed human and social factors hypothesized to define opportunities for implementing effective conservation action by individual land managers (those responsible for making day‐to‐day decisions on land use) and mapped these to schedule implementation of a private land conservation program. We surveyed 48 land managers who owned 301 land parcels in the Makana Municipality of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. Psychometric statistical and cluster analyses were applied to the interview data so as to map human and social factors of conservation opportunity across a landscape of regional conservation importance. Four groups of landowners were identified, in rank order, for a phased implementation process. Furthermore, using psychometric statistical techniques, we reduced the number of interview questions from 165 to 45, which is a preliminary step toward developing surrogates for human and social factors that can be developed rapidly and complemented with measures of conservation value, vulnerability, and economic cost to more‐effectively schedule conservation actions. This work provides conservation and land management professionals direction on where and how implementation of local‐scale conservation should be undertaken to ensure it is feasible.     

Long-Term Relationship between Phosphorus Inputs and Wetland Phosphorus Concentrations in a Northern Everglades Marsh

Assessments of long-term relationships between changes innutrient inputs and wetland nutrient concentrations can becomplicated by fluctuations in other environmental factors aswell as by problems typical of long-term monitoring data.Consequently, statistical analysisof these types of data sets requirescareful consideration of environmental covariates, potentialbiases in the monitoring design, and irregularities caused bychanges in field sampling protocols. We evaluated therelationship between anthropogenic phosphorus (P) inputs andwater-column total P (TP) concentrations in a northernEverglades marsh by statistically analyzing available datacollected from several sampling programs over the past 20 years(1978–1997). Canal inputs of agricultural runoff contributemost of the P to the marsh and have produced a zone ofenrichment within the marsh during the past few decades.Regression analyses showed that both canal and marsh TPconcentrations increased during the 1980s and then decreased inthe 1990s. However, the statistical relationship between canal Pinputs and marsh TP, while significant, generally was weakexcept for marsh locations adjacent to the canal. Strongerrelationships existed between marsh TP and hydrologic parameterssuch as marsh water depth, which is controlled by changes inweather patterns and marsh management. In particular, dryconditions during the 1980s may have contributed to observedincreases in marsh P concentrations and the movement of a P`front' further into the marsh. Higher rainfall and water depthsand agricultural best management programs initiated during the1990s have been associated with reduced P concentrations incanal waters entering the marsh. While it is anticipated thatthis reduction eventually will result in lower marsh TPconcentrations, this effect is not yet evident, possibly due tointernal loading of P from enriched marsh soils. Our findingsillustrate some of the environmental factors that can complicateattempts to develop empirical relationships between P inputs andwetland P concentrations and to use such relationships to forecast changesin marsh concentrations based on past monitoring data alone.     

工业园区循环经济绩效评价方法研究

针对当前循环经济绩效内涵不明确,评价指标体系多局限于对循环经济发展水平等循环经济绩效评价中存在的问题,在系统归纳总结该领域研究现状基础上,明确了循环经济绩效的概念;进一步构建了基于生态效率-物质流分析的循环经济绩效评估指标体系,利用模糊数学和灰色聚类方法分别建立了循环经济绩效评估模型;最后,以上海化工园区和南通农药化学工业园为案例,对2个园区循环经济绩效进行评估。结果表明:从理论和方法上,构建的工业园区循环经济绩效评价指标体系是适用的;模糊综合评价和灰色聚类评价的结果存在一定的差异,模糊评价结果更为合理,而且该模型可以直观地表示出园区循环经济绩效的优劣势所在。进而,以上海化工园区作为标杆,针对南通农药化学工业园存在的资源效率偏低等问题,提出若干循环经济绩效改进措施。     

White clover clones as a cost-effective indicator of phytotoxic ozone: 10 years of experience from central Italy

Data collected at one site in central Italy using the NC-S/NC-R clover (Trifolium repens) biotype system during 1997-2007 were analysed in order to assess: (a) its performance under Mediterranean conditions; (b) variations of ozone damage linked with meteorological conditions; (c) if critical level approach is a good predictor of ozone risk on vegetation. NC-S dry biomasses were systematically lower than those of NC-R, the mean ratio being 0.7. Relevant relationship between ozone visible injury and cumulated values of AOT40 were also reported. Temperature and number of rainy days were the most important factors associated with ozone presence and, as a consequence, with leaf injury index. Photosynthetic gas exchange properties indicate that NC-S has higher values of stomatal conductance.     

Forecasting the outbreak of moorland wildfires in the English Peak District

Warmer, drier summers brought by climate change increase the potential risk of wildfires on the moorland of the Peak District of northern England. Fires are costly to fight, damage the ecosystem, harm water catchments, cause erosion scars and disrupt transport. Fires release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Accurate forecasts of the timing of fires help deployment of fire fighting resources.     

桥梁安全综合评价体系构建及重心法评价研究

目前桥梁安全综合评价研究并不成熟,在分析了桥梁安全综合评价应该考虑的主要因素的基础上,提出并确立了桥梁安全综合评价体系.探讨了应用模糊重心决策法进行桥梁安全综合评价的实现过程,为桥梁安全管理人员和安监部门理性决策提供理论依据.     

航空安全文化运行模式研究

依据安全文化基本原理,对航空安全文化模式进行系统化设计。将安全精神文化、制度文化、行为文化和物态文化4个子系统置于安全文化模式的大系统中,综合分析各子系统之间的互动关系及其对管理模式变革的影响。结合航空安全管理的特点,设计安全文化运行机制的结构框架。通过分析安全文化模式的运行过程和运行功能模块,实现航空安全文化模式的动态管理,使零散的安全文化模式得以系统化。航空安全文化模式的构建为航空运输企业建立了一个程序化、系统化、动态循环的管理过程,并以持续改进的思想指导企业系统地实现其安全目标。     

Toxic effects of Hydrilla verticillata exposed to toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene and safety assessment for protecting aquatic macrophytes

Little information is available about the toxicity of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene acting on macrophytes, and their toxicity data are rarely used in regulation and criteria decisions. The results extended the knowledge on toxic effects of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene on aquatic plants. The responses of Hydrilla verticillata to these pollutants were investigated. Chlorophyll levels, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase) showed diverse responses at different concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The linear regression analyses were performed respectively, suggesting the concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene expected to protect aquatic macrophytes were 7.30 mg L⁻¹, 1.15 mg L⁻¹ and 2.36 mg L⁻¹, respectively. This study emphasized that aquatic plants are also sensitive to organic pollutants as fishes and zooplanktons, indicating that macrophytes could be helpful in predicting the toxicity of these pollutants and should be considered in regulation and criteria decisions for aquatic environment protection.     

危险评价第三维矢量的定性分析

危险评价主要针对危险导致事故发生的可能性与后果严重性进行分析,目的是为拧制危险提供决策依据,但现有的评价矢量并不能完全实现这一目的.可控性的提出完善了评价内容,并在控制对象、控制方案、控制时机等多方面为决策者提供参考,提高了危险评价结果的实用性.