Sound Survey Designs Can Facilitate Integrating Stream Monitoring Data Across Multiple Programs1

Abstract: Multiple agencies in the Pacific Northwest monitor the condition of stream networks or their watersheds. Some agencies use a stream “network” perspective to report on the fraction or length of the network that either meets or violates particular criteria. Other agencies use a “watershed” perspective to report on the health or condition of watersheds. The agencies often use the same indicators and measurement protocols for data collection and often conduct monitoring in overlapping geographic regions. In these situations, agencies would like to combine data across different monitoring studies in a statistically sound manner to make regional estimates of condition. Three statistical survey design principles will facilitate combining such studies: (1) a clearly specified statistical target population of interest, including elements that comprise the population, (2) a consistent representation of that target population (such as a digital map of the stream network and watersheds), and (3) rules that incorporate randomization to guide the selection of the sample of sites on which measurements will be made. A case study illustrates the application of these design principles using two agency monitoring programs interested in combining stream channel data for different purposes: one for making network summaries and the other for evaluating watershed condition.     

A contaminated site investigation: comparison of information gained from geophysical measurements and hydrogeological modeling

The investigation of contaminated sites is usually a long and expensive process. It is therefore desirable to use a combination of methodologies in an integrative approach that can reduce redundant information gathering. The objective of this study was to examine the usefulness of 2 non-intrusive exploration techniques in a contaminated site investigation. Borehole positioning based on geophysical measurements was compared to positioning based on the Bayesian expert system for flow-field modeling. The goal set at the field site was the assessment of the type and load of contaminants transported from the landfill site to the adjacent aquifer and the extent of leachate plumes within the groundwater. The two methods made different demands on information gathering and were found to be complementary. The geophysical approach focused attention on the waste compartments at the site and on mixing plumes in the adjacent aquifer but could not, without prior information, provided information on the flow field. The Bayesian approach to flow-field modeling determined areas of greatest model uncertainty at the model boundaries. The model highlighted areas of greatest uncertainty that might otherwise have been overlooked and provided information on the most likely mean direction of the leachate plumes. It was concluded that both methods contribute to a site investigation and should be used before additional drilling is carried out.     

北京市居民衣服消费处置及对其回收利用认识调查与分析

首先对北京市居民每年购买新衣服的数量、支出、穿着时间、淘汰原因,以及闲置衣服的处理方式、数量等进行了调查与分析,然后对北京市居民对旧衣物回收利用的认识、回收形式及其处理方式,对旧衣物如何处理回收、再利用的担忧,对希望旧衣物回收箱摆放的场所等进行了调查与分析。其研究结果对废旧纺织品回收体系建设、制度及政策制定具有一定的参考价值。     

The contribution of community wisdom to conservation ecology

Scientists have traditionally collected data on whether a population is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same, but such studies are often limited by geographic scale and time frame. This means that for many species, understanding of trends comes from only part of their ranges at particular periods. Working with citizen scientists has the potential to overcome these limits. Citizen science has the added benefit of exposing citizens to the scientific process and engaging them in management outcomes. We examined a different way of using citizen scientists (instead of data collection). We asked community members to answer a question directly and thus examined whether community wisdom can inform conservation. We reviewed the results of 3 mail‐in surveys that asked community members to say whether they thought koala populations were increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. We then compared the survey results with population trends derived from more traditional research. Population trends identified through community wisdom were similar to the trends identified by traditional research. The community wisdom surveys, however, allowed the question to be addressed at much broader geographical scales and time frames. Studies that apply community wisdom have the benefit of engaging a broad section of the community in conservation research and education and therefore in the political process of conserving species.     

Interannual fluctuations in acoustic biomass estimates and in landings of small pelagic fish populations in relation to hydrology in the Strait of Sicily

The main results of research work carried out since 1998 with regard to the application of hydro-acoustic technologies for the evaluation of biomass and distribution of small pelagic fish species off the southern coast of Sicily are presented, taking into account information from hydrology and from ecology of the fish populations targeted. The biomass estimates and the population-density charts presented concern the two main species, i.e. sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758). Both the sardine and anchovy populations experienced large inter-annual fluctuations, with biomass estimates ranging from 6000 to over 36,000 tonnes (t) (sardine) and from about 7000 to 23,000 t (anchovy). Acoustic estimates are largely consistent with landings recorded in Sciacca (the main fishing port for small pelagic species in the study area) during the year following the evaluation surveys. In addition, trends in sardine and anchovy biomass estimates appears to be negatively correlated with the mean sea surface temperature calculated over the time intervals January-September (sardine) and June-November (anchovy) of the preceding year, which correspond to larval and juvenile growth periods of target species. Observed patterns would suggest the importance of enrichment processes relevant to the survival of early stages, so determining recruitment success and finally higher population sizes.     

初中生环境意识现状调查及提升对策分析

环境保护教育为本,环境教育在基础教育中意义重大。为了了解焦作市中学环境教育的现状,推动焦作市中学环境教育的开展,探讨今后中学环境教育的重点和方向,对焦作市区的两所中学的环境教育进行了抽样问卷调查,获取了初一、初二年级学生的环境意识现状资料,综合分析调查对象在环境知识、环境教育、环境意愿等方面的现状,针对其中存在的问题,从教育方法、教育手段、教学模式、知识获取途径、教育系统资源等方面提出若干提升对策。     

校园一次性废电池回收关键环节的问卷调研

如何从分散的大量用户手中回收一次性废电池是目前一次性废电池回收体系构建中的关键环节。文章采用问卷调查方法,以华东师范大学中山北路校区在校本科生为对象,研究了针对校园大学生用户回收一次性废电池环节中的存在问题和解决。提出了"以旧换新"的回收方式,初步确定了该方式运行所需的几个关键参数:回收的"旧新电池回收比例"为5:1,回收地点在各宿舍管理员处,回收时间为每月定期进行一次。文章结果对于构建废电池回收体系具有一定的参考意义。     

Environmental pollution by persistent toxic substances and health risk in an industrial area of China

Soil is an important environmental medium that is closely associated with humans and their health. Despite this, very few studies have measured toxicants in soils, and associated them with health risks in humans. An assessment of health effects from exposure to contaminants in soils surrounding industrial areas of chemical production and storage is important. This article aims at determining pollution characteristics of persistent toxic substances (PTS) in an industrial area in China to unravel the relationship between soil pollution by PTS and human health. One hundred and five soil samples were collected and 742 questionnaires were handed out to residents living in and around an industrial area around Bohai Bay, Tianjin in Northern China. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in soil. Mann-Whitney U and binary multivariate nonconditional logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between health indicators of local residents and contaminant levels. Odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) for health incidences were also calculated. The average concentrations of DDT (73.9 ng/g), HCH (654 ng/g) and PAHs (1225 ng/g) were relatively high in the industrial area. Residents living in the chemical industry parks were exposed to a higher levels of PTS than those living outside the chemical industry parks. This exposure was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer (OR 1.87, 95% CI 0.12–30.06), stomach cancer (OR 1.87, 95% CI 0.26– 13.41), dermatitis (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.05–2.80), gastroenteritis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.94–2.68), and pneumonia (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.58–1.89).     

山西省城市居民环境意识调查分析

山西省城市环境质量状况虽有了较大的改善,但任务仍十分艰巨,保护当地的环境资源改善人们的环境生存状况是当前的重要任务之一。本研究通过问卷调查的形式,从环境认知、环境意向、环境行为等方面,调查了解山西省城市居民的环境意识现状及存在的主要问题,并在此基础上进行了深入的分析,提出了提高居民环境意识,促进环境质量改善的建议。     

企业员工安全感影响因素的问卷调查设计研究

企业员工的安全感直接影响着员工安全行为的改变,在当前更加注重员工个体安全的形势下,更有必要对员工安全感影响因素进行研究。本文在国内外相关文献的研究基础上,从安全文化渗透力和安全生产标准制度执行力两个方面入手,设计了企业员工安全感调查问卷,并使用SPSS统计软件对调查问卷的有效度和可信度进行评价,通过对调查问卷的各题项进行修整,剔除了异常题项,完善了安全知识和经验的积累这一影响因素,从而设计了一套较为科学有效的企业员工安全感的调查问卷,以为衡量企业员工安全感提供理论依据。