Detecting pattern in biological stressor response relationships using model based cluster analysis

Environmental monitoring of aquatic systems is needed to estimate the quality of the systems, to evaluate standards and to study stressor–response relationships. Monitoring programs often focus on the collection of biological, chemical and physical measures of the system. An important concern is the effect of chemical and physical stressors on the biological community. Evaluation of relationships may be difficult as the extent of the relationship is not known. From a management perspective, interest is on what factors affect the biological community and where these factors have an influence. The focus of this paper is on the use of regression based cluster analysis as a tool for finding relationships between a single biological response and a suite of environmental stressors. The approach to cluster analysis uses a penalized regression classification likelihood and Markov Chain Model Composition Monte Carlo. This approach allows for simultaneous development of regression models and clustering of the regression models. The method is applied to the analysis of a data set describing stressors/response relationship in Ohio.     

A finite element method to solve a population dynamics stage-structured model of intertidal barnacles

Many marine organisms are fixed or highly sedentary as adults but the adult population may be strongly dependent on the oceanic transport of planktonic larvae. In order to assess interactions between oceanographic and biological processes that determine the population dynamics of marine organisms with a sessile adult phase restricted to the coastline and a planktonic larval phase, we present a stage-structured finite element model for the barnacle Balanus glandula that inhabits the rocky intertidal zone of central California, USA.     

National Responsibilities in European Species Conservation: a Methodological Review

Abstract: One particular challenge in reducing the loss of biodiversity by 2010, as agreed on at the Earth Summit in 2002, is to assign conservation tasks to geographic or administrative entities (e.g., countries or regions) on different geographical scales. To identify conservation tasks, it is imperative to determine the importance of a specific area for the global survival of a species. So far, these national or subnational responsibilities for the conservation of species have been included differently in methods prioritizing conservation. We reviewed how 12 European and 3 non‐European methods determined national conservation responsibilities and evaluated the international importance of a biological population. Different countries used different methodologies, which made a direct comparison of assessments of national responsibilities among countries extremely difficult. Differences existed in the importance criteria used. Criteria included population decline, range reduction, rarity status, degree of isolation of a population, endemism, proportional distribution, and geographic location. To increase comparability, it is imperative to develop criteria for which data are generally available and to standardize the methodology among countries. A standardized method would allow conservation decisions to be based on the conservation status of a species and on the responsibility of a geographic or administrative entity for the survival of a species. We suggest that such a method should use a scalable index of proportional distribution, taxonomic status, and the distribution pattern of a taxon or species as key elements. Such a method would allow for the creation of hierarchical lists and would be highly relevant for parts of the world with multiple political jurisdictions or state unions and for nations with regional governmental structures. Conservation priorities could then be reasonably set by combining national responsibility assessments with the international conservation status of a species.     

森林碳汇的估算方法及其发展趋势

森林生态系统是地球陆地生物圈的主体,也是陆地表面最大的碳库,在全球碳循环研究中扮演着重要角色,它通过同化作用吸收固定大气中的CO_2,抑制其浓度上升的功能对于应对气候变化问题具有积极的现实意义.准确地估算森林生态系统的碳汇储量,不仅有利于解释全球碳收支不平衡的问题,也有利于促进林业碳汇交易的快速发展.但是目前的估算方法在具有一定适用性的同时也都存在着各自的不足.评述了目前国内外应用最为广泛的样地清查法、涡度相关法及应用遥感技术的模型模拟法三种森林碳汇估算方法的发展历史和应用现状,并分析了各方法的优点与局限性.最后指出:应根据实际情况选择适合的单一方法或几种方法的结合来估算森林碳汇,以便提高估算精度;应加强森林生态系统内部联系及数据时空转换、插补的研究,并充分发挥各方法的优势,采取多种方法相结合的方式完善连续观测系统和区域监测网络的建设,降低估算方法中的不确定性,为大尺度估算提供合理的参数和数据分析基础.     

德阳市主要农作物生产潜力

本文在简述了农业生产潜力定量测度方法的基础上,计算和分析了德阳市主要作物生产潜力。得出光能利用率低是造成该区作物产量不高的主要原因,各种作物中水稻生产力、生产潜力最大,不同种植制度中水旱轮作生产力、生产潜力最大     

目前企业安全管理之我见

指出了当前企业安全管理工作中存在的问题,并提出了解决措施。     

蒸散量测定与估算方法的对比研究

以涡度相关法的实测资料为标准,对波文比-能量平衡法、空气动力学法、Penman-Monteith模型、Shuttleworth-Wallace模型进行对比研究,并分析了各种方法的精度和灵敏度。结果表明:Penman-Monteith模型和波文比-能量平衡法的精度最高,Shuttleworth-Wallace模型和空气动力学法的精度较差。Penman-Monteith模型的稳定性较好,波文比-能量平衡法受Δe和ΔT观测精度的影响大,风温湿观测高度以及下垫面是否均一对空气动力学法影响较大,Shuttleworth-Wallace模型对各类阻抗较为敏感。     

城市轻型车实际道路瞬态排放的特征

采用清华大学环境科学与工程系构建的车载排放测试系统对北京市8辆轻型车的实际道路瞬态排放进行测试,分别解析了速度、加速度与排放的数理规律,引入“排放增量”概念,建立一套可用于研究交通流特征对机动车排放影响的轻型车瞬态排放数学模拟模式.验证结果表明,污染物排放总量模拟值与实测值相差±20%以内,瞬态排放速率的模拟值与实测值较接近,体现出排放变化趋势及排放峰值.     

柴达木盆地环境问题及对策建议

柴达木盆地连接西藏、新疆南疆、河西走廊,在西部大开发中处于重要的战略地位。本文对盆地的地貌,森林、草地、水矿藏等环境的现状,存在的主要环境问题进行了详细论述,提出了防治对策建议。     

环境激素对鱼的影响

环境激素是存在于环境之中,以某种方式干扰正常内分泌功能的天然或合成的化合物。鱼在水生生态系统之中分布广泛,是在食物链中具有重要位置的物种,在毒理学和生态风险评价中具有重要的实验价值。文中对鱼暴露于一些常见环境激素时,受激素调节的生殖和发育过程所受到的影响及相应机理进行了探讨。同时介绍了鱼应用于水环境中激素的筛选与监测评价的方法。