Understanding Interaction Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Bird Distributions through Combined Process and Habitat Models

Abstract: Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process‐based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf‐area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species’ use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.     

Priorities for Improving the Scientific Foundation of Conservation Policy in North America

Abstract:  The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) can enhance conservation of biodiversity in North America by increasing its engagement in public policy. Toward this end, the North America Section of SCB is establishing partnerships with other professional organizations in order to speak more powerfully to decision makers and taking other actions—such as increasing interaction with chapters—geared to engage members more substantively in science-policy issues. Additionally, the section is developing a North American Biodiversity Blueprint, which spans the continental United States and Canada and is informed by natural and social science. This blueprint is intended to clarify the policy challenges for protecting continental biodiversity, to foster bilateral collaboration to resolve common problems, and to suggest rational alternative policies and practices that are more likely than current practices to sustain North America's natural heritage. Conservation scientists and practitioners can play a key role by drawing policy makers' attention to ultimate, as well as proximate, causes of biodiversity decline and to the ecological and economic consequences of not addressing these threats.     

No evidence of systematic pre-emptive loggings after notifying landowners of their lands’ conservation potential

Landowners can intentionally impair biodiversity values occurring on their land to pre-empt biodiversity protection. This often leads to significant negative effects on biodiversity. We studied whether landowners in Finland engaged in pre-emptive loggings after they were notified that their wooded mires are candidate sites for a mire protection program. After the notification, harvesting rates of the candidate wooded mires were significantly lower compared to harvesting rates of similar but non-candidate wooded mires. Annual and monthly harvesting rates indicated that notifying landowners of the conservation potential did not launch systematic pre-emptive logging behavior. Nevertheless, part of the candidate wooded mires were logged, so some landowners place more weight on other values than the biodiversity ones. Pre-emptive behavior has been observed in other studies suggesting that many country- or system-specific factors such as cultural background or level of compensation can affect landowners’ behavior.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01354-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

生态敏感性评价在生态文明建设中的运用研究——以四川省蓬安县为例

以四川省蓬安县为例,基于GIS空间分析技术,结合蓬安当地实际,选取水源涵养、土壤保持能力和生物多样性进行生态敏感性评价,获得蓬安县区域敏感性现状图,并以此为基础构建生态安全格局,该格局注重区域的内在机理与周围的相对联系,保证各生态环境功能区成为具有各自特点、功能和生命活力而又彼此联系的有机体,为其生态文明建设过程中重点领域和重点工程设计规划提供基础支撑,阐明了生态敏感性评价在生态文明建设中的运用,为县级生态文明建设规划做出了贡献.     

基于提升能源化工基地清洁生产水平的节能减排潜力分析

文章以榆林能源化工基地代表性的支柱产业为例,开展依靠科技进步提升清洁生产水平的节能减排潜力分析。分析结果表明,至"十二五"末期榆林能源化工基地的支柱产业分别将清洁生产水平提高至一级或二级,可减少的二氧化硫排放量是3 451.8吨/年和1 094.3吨/年,氮氧化物排放量是5 333.5吨/年和1 962.5吨/年。     

我国核电发展现状浅析

核电作为一种安全的清洁能源,对于优化能源结构、减少环境污染、具有重要意义。本文介绍了我国核电的现状,从安全性、环保性、经济性几方面对核电进行分析比较,说明积极推进核电发展是我国未来电力发展的选择。     

辽河保护区治理与保护能力建设研究

辽河保护区治理与保护能力的建设,通过界碑、围栏、标示牌、宣传牌等设施建设,重点区域的水质、生态监测站点建设,保护区综合管理平台建设,应急保障体系建设,形成保护区完善的综合监控网络体系,全面提高保护区基础设施与监控能力。同时,应使全民参与对＂母亲河＂的保护。     

赤水河流域生物多样性保护现状和对策

基于对赤水河流域生物多样性的综合调研,分析了赤水河流域生物多样性的主要特征、流域生物多样性保护的现状、面临的机遇和潜在的压力,探讨了赤水河流域生物多样性保护的基本对策。提出赤水河流域生物多样性保护应在国家政策框架内,在流域综合管理理念指导下兼顾重点区域保护和生态廊道建设,探索流域尺度上生物多样性保护与流域社会经济协调有序发展的新型管理模式。     

Relict communities and populations of petrophilous plant species in northern regions of Sverdlovsk oblast and problems in their conservation

An inventory of rock vegetation has been taken in river valleys on the eastern slope of the southern part of the Northern Urals and the northern part of the Middle Urals. New habitats of some rare plant species, relict communities of forest-steppe species at the northern limit of their distribution, and ultrasmall populations of petrophilous species growing in isolation for a long time have been revealed. In studies on a group of similar specially protected areas (e.g., within river valleys), it is proposed to identify key sites distinguished by the highest species richness of vegetation     

空调系统冷冻水循环水泵变频运行的变温差控制

在分析空调系统变流量运行调节的基础上,提出了变温差控制并给出了控制方案。变温差控制过程不仅具有负反馈,而且具有正反馈,能较好的适应空调负荷的变化。比较分析了变温差控制、定温差控制、定压差控制的节能性,变温差控制的节能潜力最大,是一种最佳控制方式。