Effects of Short- and Long-Term Disturbance Resulting from Military Maneuvers on Vegetation and Soils in a Mixed Prairie Area

Loss of grassland species resulting from activities such as off-road vehicle use increases the need for models that predict effects of anthropogenic disturbance. The relationship of disturbance by military training to plant species richness and composition on two soils (Foard and Lawton) in a mixed prairie area was investigated. Track cover (cover of vehicle disturbance to the soil) and soil organic carbon were selected as measures of short- and long-term disturbance, respectively. Soil and vegetation data, collected in 1-m² quadrats, were analyzed at three spatial scales (60, 10, and 1 m²). Plant species richness peaked at intermediate levels of soil organic carbon at the 10-m² and 1-m² spatial scales on both the Lawton and Foard soils, and at intermediate levels of track cover at all three spatial scales on the Foard soil. Species composition differed across the disturbance gradient on the Foard soil but not on the Lawton soil. Disturbance increased total plant species richness on the Foard soil. The authors conclude that disturbance up to intermediate levels can be used to maintain biodiversity by enriching the plant species pool.     

ARE RURAL RESIDENTS WILLING TO PAY ENOUGH TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER QUALITY?1

ABSTRACT: The concentrations of iron and sulfate in community water supplies are a concern for a number of areas in southwestern Minnesota. This study used the contingent valuation method to determine how much consumers would be willing to pay to improve their drinking water quality. On average, individuals were willing to pay US$5.25 per month (in 1995 U.S. dollars) to reduce the level of iron and US$4.33 per month to reduce the level of sulfate in their water to the USEPA's secondary standards for drinking water quality. Respondents with negative perceptions of their drinking water quality were willing to pay more to improve water quality. The aggregate annual willingness to pay (WTP) for all consumers in community water systems in southwestern Minnesota that were out of compliance with water quality standards were estimated to be US$2.4 million and US$2.0 million (in 1995 dollars) for reducing the levels of iron and sulfate, respectively. Yet the total WTP of consumers who use small community water systems may not be enough to pay the full cost of providing improved water in those systems. Economies of scale in water treatment and difficulties in financing improvements mean that technical innovation, government assistance, or institutional changes may be needed to improve water quality in these areas.     

Robust technology policy against emission leakage: The case of upstream subsidies

Asymmetric regulation of a global pollutant between countries can alter the competitiveness of industries and lead to emissions leakage, which hampers countries’ welfare. In order to limit leakage, governments consider supporting domestic trade-exposed firms by subsidizing their investments in abatement technology. The suppliers of such technologies tend to be less than perfectly competitive, particularly when both emissions regulations and advanced technologies are new. In this context of twin market failures, we consider the relative effects and desirability of subsidies for abatement technology. We find a more robust recommendation for upstream subsidies than for downstream subsidies. Downstream subsidies tend to increase global abatement technology prices, reduce pollution abatement abroad and increase emission leakage. On the contrary, upstream subsidies reduce abatement technology prices, and hence also emissions leakage.     

Synthesis of branched,nano channeled,ultrafine and nano carbon tubes from PET wastes using the arc discharge method

Upcycling polymer wastes into useful, and valuable carbon based materials, is a challenging process. We report a novel catalyst-free and solvent-free technique for the formation of nano channeled ultrafine carbon tubes (NCUFCTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes, using rotating cathode arc discharge technique. The soot obtain from the anode contains ultrafine and nano-sized solid carbon spheres (SCS) with a mean diameter of 221 nm and 100 nm, respectively, formed at the lower temperature region of the anode where the temperature is approximately 1700 °C. The carbon spheres are converted into long “Y” type branched and non-branched NCUFCTs and MWCNTs at higher temperature regions where the temperature is approximately 2600 °C, with mean diameters of 364 nm and 95 nm, respectively. Soot deposited on the cathode is composed of MWCNTs with a mean diameter of 20 nm and other nanoparticles. The tubular structures present in the anode are longer, bent and often coiled with lesser graphitization compared to the nanotubes in the soot on the cathode.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

The value of virtual conferencing for ecology and conservation

The objectives of conservation science and dissemination of its research create a paradox: Conservation is about preserving the environment, yet scientists spread this message at conferences with heavy carbon footprints. Ecology and conservation science depend on global knowledge exchange—getting the best science to the places it is most needed. However, conference attendance from developed countries typically outweighs that from developing countries that are biodiversity and conservation hotspots. If any branch of science should be trying to maximize participation while minimizing carbon emissions, it is conservation. Virtual conferencing is common in other disciplines, such as education and humanities, but it is surprisingly underused in ecology and conservation. Adopting virtual conferencing entails a number of challenges, including logistics and unified acceptance, which we argue can be overcome through planning and technology. We examined 4 conference models: a pure‐virtual model and 3 hybrid hub‐and‐node models, where hubs stream content to local nodes. These models collectively aim to mitigate the logistical and administrative challenges of global knowledge transfer. Embracing virtual conferencing addresses 2 essential prerequisites of modern conferences: lowering carbon emissions and increasing accessibility for remote, time‐ and resource‐poor researchers, particularly those from developing countries.     

北京电动出租车与燃油出租车生命周期环境影响比较研究

燃油机动车尾气排放是导致城市包括雾霾在内的大气环境问题的主要来源之一.以电动汽车替代传统燃油车是当前各国解决城市大气污染问题的重要举措.北京于2011年启动了电动出租车推广计划.为比较北京市迷迪电动汽车和现代燃油车生命周期的环境影响,运用生命周期评价方法,基于Ga Bi4.4软件,选用CML2001和EI99影响评价模型对两款车的生产、使用和报废回收全生命周期过程的环境影响进行了定量评价,并针对汽车报废里程和电力能源结构进行了敏感性分析.结果表明,从全生命周期视角,根据EI99评价模型,迷迪电动汽车环境影响总体上优于现代燃油车,尤其在削减化石能源消耗方面优势凸显,但在生态系统质量影响及人体健康影响方面却略有增大的趋势;利用CML2001模型对比分析得出迷迪电动汽车比燃油出租车在对非生物资源消耗、全球变暖以及臭氧层损耗等方面有明显改善;但在生产阶段尤其是动力系统生产方面在非生物资源消耗、酸化、富营养化、全球变暖、光化学臭氧合成、臭氧层损耗、生态毒性等生态环境影响却均有增大趋势.使用阶段电力生产是迷迪电动汽车非生物资源消耗、酸化、富营养化、全球变暖、光化学臭氧合成、生态毒性等环境影响的主要来源;而现代燃油出租车使用阶段的环境影响主要来源于尾气排放和汽油生产,其中尾气排放是造成现代燃油车在富营养化和全球变暖等方面影响潜值较大的主要原因;基于清单数据库,针对致霾因子影响分析得出,在2010年北京市电力能源驱动下,迷迪电动车明显增加了超细颗粒物(PM2.5)、氮氧化物(NOx)、硫氧化物(SOx)、挥发性有机物(volatile organic compouds,VOCs)等因子的全生命周期的排放,而同时降低了氨气(NH3)的排放量,使用阶段排放的差别是造成上述趋势的主要原因.对关键因素敏感性分析发现,随着报废里程以及清洁能源比例的增加,迷迪电动汽车相对现代燃油车的单位里程碳减排量呈现增加的趋势.清洁电力能源的使用可大幅降低迷迪电动汽车致霾污染物的排放量.根据分析结果,为北京市电动车的推广提出了对策建议.     

锆-十六烷基三甲基氯化铵改性活性炭对水中硝酸盐和磷酸盐的吸附特性

采用锆(Zr)和阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基氯化铵(CTAC)对活性炭进行联合改性,考察了所制备的Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对水中硝酸盐和磷酸盐的吸附去除作用,并探讨了相关的吸附去除机制.结果表明,Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对水中硝酸盐和磷酸盐均具备较好的吸附去除能力.Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对硝酸盐和磷酸盐吸附动力学过程满足准二级动力学模型.Langmuir、Freundlich和Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)等温吸附模型可以较好地描述Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对水中硝酸盐的等温吸附过程,Langmuir和D-R等温吸附模型可以较好地描述Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对水中磷酸盐等温吸附过程,通过Langmuir模型计算得到吸附剂对硝酸盐和磷酸盐的最大单位吸附量分别为7.58 mg·g-1和10.9 mg·g-1.高的p H会抑制Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对水中硝酸盐和磷酸盐的吸附.水中共存的Cl-、HCO-3和SO2-4等阴离子均会抑制Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对硝酸盐和磷酸盐的吸附,且对吸附硝酸盐的抑制作用较强而对吸附磷酸盐的抑制作用较弱.水中共存的磷酸盐对Zr-CTAC改性活性炭吸附硝酸盐的抑制作用较强,而水中共存的硝酸盐对Zr-CTAC改性活性炭吸附磷酸盐的抑制作用较弱.1 mol·L-1Na Cl溶液可以使90%左右被吸附到Zr-CTAC改性活性炭表面上的硝酸盐解吸下来.1 mol·L-1的Na OH溶液可以使78%左右被吸附到Zr-CTAC改性活性炭表面上的磷酸盐解吸下来.Zr-CTAC改性活性炭对硝酸盐的吸附机制主要包括阴离子交换作用和静电吸引作用,对磷酸盐的吸附机制主要包括配位体交换作用、阴离子交换作用和静电吸引作用.上述结果说明Zr-CTAC改性活性炭适合作为一种吸附剂去除废水中的硝酸盐和磷酸盐.     

基于移动监测和土地利用回归模型的上海市近地面黑碳浓度空间模拟

黑碳(BC)是大气污染物的重要组成部分,对空气质量与人类生活健康产生重要的影响.本研究采用移动样带手段开展上海市近地面BC浓度监测,分析其基本统计特征和空间分异性.在此基础上,利用土地利用回归模型(LUR),探讨人口密度、经济产值和交通道路网密度等因素对上海市近地面BC浓度空间分异的影响.结果表明上海市近地面BC平均浓度为(9.86±8.68)μg·m~(-3),空间差异明显,郊区[(10.47±2.04)μg·m~(-3)]比市中心地区[(7.93±2.79)μg·m~(-3)]高32.03%(2.54μg·m~(-3)).气象要素(风速和相对湿度)和交通道路变量(路网长度、省道距离、高速距离等)显著影响上海市近地面BC浓度(r为0.5~0.7,P0.01).基于气象和交通道路变量的LUR模型能较好模拟上海近地面BC浓度(调整后R2为0.62~0.75,交叉验证R2为0.54~0.69,RMSE为0.15~0.20μg·m~(-3)),其中100 m和5 km缓冲距离的LUR模型相对较优,在一定程度上表明上海市近地面BC浓度主要受气象要素和交通源的影响.本研究有利于加深对上海市BC浓度空间分布格局及其影响因素的客观认识,可为模拟和预测BC对人类活动和自然环境的响应机制提供科学依据和理论支撑.     

SBR加载不同粒径磁性活性炭对其污泥颗粒化进程的影响机制

在相同序批式活性污泥反应器(SBR)中分别加载1.5 g·L~(-1)的80、140、200、和300目不同粒径的磁性活性炭(反应器编号依次为2、3、4、5号),同时以不投加磁性活性炭的SBR反应器(1号)作为对照组,研究各反应器污泥体积指数(SVI)、粒径分布特征、胞外聚合物(EPS)中胞外蛋白(PN)、胞外多糖(PS)的含量变化规律以及除污性能.结果表明,不同粒径磁性活性炭对污泥颗粒化进程有一定的影响,粒径过大、过小对促进污泥颗粒化进程的强化作用不明显,当磁性活性炭的粒径为140目和200目时,活性污泥很容易以其作为"成核"载体快速形成好氧颗粒污泥,并且形成的颗粒污泥结构紧密,沉降速率快.采用高斯函数分析污泥粒径分布和标准偏差发现,反应器运行的第50 d,3号和4号反应器内污泥平均粒径均达到了780μm以上,明显高于其他反应器,标准偏差分别为318.9μm和362.3μm,两反应器内形成的颗粒污泥粒径较均匀,处理系统较稳定.与此同时,投加不同粒径的磁性活性炭均有利于促进污泥胞外蛋白质PN含量的增加,对胞外多糖PS的含量影响不大;但合适的磁性活性炭粒径(140目和200目)越有利于污泥PN的分泌,颗粒化程度明显的3号和4号反应器的PN/PS比值均高于其他3个反应器.磁性炭基好氧颗粒污泥的形成符合"惰性内核模型".此外,3号、4号反应器对废水TN和TP的去除率分别达到50%和60%以上,均高于其他反应器.