An Evaluation of the Effects of Soil Characteristics on Mitigation and Restoration Involving Blue Elderberry, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sambucus mexicana</Emphasis>

We conducted field surveys and laboratory analyses to test the effects of soil characteristics in habitat mitigation sites and natural sites on the growth and condition of blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), which is the sole host plant for the federally threatened Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus). Thirty mitigation and 16 natural sites were selected throughout the range of the beetle. We found that although plant relative growth rates were comparable between mitigation sites and a natural site, mitigation sites contained substantially less soil nutrients than mitigation sites. Within mitigation sites, elderberry health and growth were positively correlated with the amount of total nitrogen in soils and less strongly with other soil nutrients and soil moisture. Analyses demonstrated reductions in the relative growth rate of elderberry as mitigation sites aged, and that soil nutrients and soil moisture became depleted over time. For mitigation sites, it took approximately seven years to develop basal stem diameters that have been linked to successful beetle colonization. Mitigation sites have smaller shrubs than natural sites and growth slows as mitigation sites age, thus delaying convergence of conditions between natural and mitigation sites. Analyses of soil particle size and whether sites were within the 100-year floodplain (as an indicator of riparian conditions) were inconclusive. We recommend investigating fertilizing and optimum planting densities for elderberry at restoration and mitigation sites, as well as increasing the duration of irrigation and monitoring.     

Should Habitat Trading Be Based on Mitigation Ratios Derived from Landscape Indices? A Model-Based Analysis of Compensatory Restoration Options for the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Many species of conservation concern are spatially structured and require dispersal to be persistent. For such species, altering the distribution of suitable habitats on the landscape can affect population dynamics in ways that are difficult to predict from simple models. We argue that for such species, individual-based and spatially explicit population models (SEPMs) should be used to determine appropriate levels of off-site restoration to compensate for on-site loss of ecologic resources. Such approaches are necessary when interactions between biologic processes occur at different spatial scales (i.e., local [recruitment] and landscape [migration]). The sites of restoration and habitat loss may be linked to each other, but, more importantly, they may be linked to other resources in the landscape by regional biologic processes, primarily migration. The common management approach for determining appropriate levels of off-site restoration is to derive mitigation ratios based on best professional judgment or pre-existing data. Mitigation ratios assume that the ecologic benefits at the site of restoration are independent of the ecologic costs at the site of habitat loss. Using an SEPM for endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, we show that the spatial configuration of habitat restoration can simultaneously influence both the rate of recruitment within breeding groups and the rate of migration among groups, implying that simple mitigation ratios may be inadequate.     

青藏公路路堤边坡水土保持措施及效益分析

公路建设加速了区域的原有侵蚀，为了摸清公路边坡的侵蚀特征，寻找有效的防治措施，在青藏公路边坡布设不同水土保持措施的径流观测小区，进行了两年的观测（2003年和2004年），结果表明：（1）工程措施具有较好的水土保持效益，其减流（减沙）效益在第一年和第二年分别达到3883％（8189％）和48.72％（9581％），其中截排水措施的水土保持效益一方面说明公路路面来水也是边坡侵蚀的重要动力，有效拦截路面来水将会极大地减少径流和泥沙，另一方面也说明要提高公路边坡土壤侵蚀的预测能力，应该将路面来水作为重要的驱动力之一；（2）植被措施可以起到一定的减流减沙效果，其中人工植被措施有很大的潜力，其减蚀效益都在50％以上；（3）综合措施表现出了极好的水土保持效益（减流在40％以上，减沙在97％以上），尤其土工格室+植被措施，兼具水土保持与景观双重效益。该研究可以为青藏高原地区的水土保持设计和生态环境保护规划提供数据支持。〖     

Extended impacts of climate change on health and wellbeing

Anthropogenic climate change is progressively transforming the environment despite political and technological attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to tackle global warming. Here we propose that greater insight and understanding of the health-related impacts of climate change can be gained by integrating the positivist approaches used in public health and epidemiology, with holistic social science perspectives on health in which the concept of ‘wellbeing’ is more explicitly recognised. Such an approach enables us to acknowledge and explore a wide range of more subtle, yet important health-related outcomes of climate change. At the same time, incorporating notions of wellbeing enables recognition of both the health co-benefits and dis-benefits of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies across different population groups and geographical contexts. The paper recommends that future adaptation and mitigation policies seek to ensure that benefits are available for all since current evidence suggests that they are spatially and socially differentiated, and their accessibility is dependent on a range of contextually specific socio-cultural factors.     

河北省钢铁工业主要大气污染物减排潜力分析

通过对河北省钢铁工业存在问题的分析,得出我省钢铁行业主要大气污染物为二氧化硫和粉尘.结合我省钢铁企业的实际情况,从工程技术、政策管理等方面提出相应治理措施,并对"十一五"期间我省钢铁行业二氧化硫和粉尘减排效益进行预测.预测结果显示:采用所建议的减排措施后,我省钢铁工业二氧化硫减排量对全省"十一五"减排计划的贡献率为81.4%;粉尘可减排60%.     

植物修复及强化调控系统根际土壤微生物研究综述

根际土壤微生物是植物修复及其强化修复技术的重要组成部分,了解根际土壤微生物生态效应有助于深入探索修复机制,从而进一步提高修复效率.微生物生态效应反映土壤生态变化,对于有效评估强化调控生态风险具有重要意义.在总结污染土壤植物修复根际微生物生态效应研究的基础上,综述强化调控措施与根际土壤微生物可能存在的相互影响,并分析利用微生物分子生态学技术评估强化调控措施施用风险的可行性.     

化工企业环境污染突发事件的预防与应急处置对策研究

预防和处置化工企业突发环境污染事件必须从项目建设上注重环境风险评估,科学预测评价环境污染突发性事件可能引发的环境风险,提出环境风险防范和应急措施,防患于未然;在项目建设中落实环境风险防范设施建设,加强建设项目施工全程的环境监管,严格执行"三同时"制度;企业要落实主体责任,加强突发污染事件的应急保障体系建设,建立有效的环境风险管控和应急救援体系,加强安全生产;环保、安监等职能部门要强化现场监管,加大宣传力度,提高环保和安全意识.     

广西“十二五”主要污染物总量减排现状分析与探讨

实施污染物总量减排是中国环境管理和污染控制的重大举措,“十二五”后期仍是中国环境保护的重点内容,为此科学分析和制定有效的减排对策措施意义重大。通过总结广西“十二五”前三年总量减排工作现状及实施成效,从大气污染物减排、城镇污水处理、畜禽养殖污染防治、机动车氮氧化物控制、环境监管能力建设等方面分析存在问题,提出科学合理的减排对策建议：第一,突出污染减排倒逼作用;第二,严格环境准入;第三,狠抓大气污染物减排;第四,加强环保基层能力建设;第五,加强环境监管能力建设。     

基于CI指数的祁东县干旱特征分析

利用衡阳市祁东县气象站1960~2013年逐日平均气温、降水观测数据,计算综合气象干旱指数。以国家标准《气象干旱等级GB/T20481~2006》为依据划分不同干旱等级、计算干旱日数、干旱强度等,在此基础上统计干旱日的年、年代际统计并作了线性分析,并为应对干旱提出了自己的建议:祁东县干旱日每年均有出现,但不同强度干旱日发生频率不同,在全球变暖大背景下,干旱日等级越高,其增幅愈明显;祁东县的平均干旱过程数为2.5次/a,一年出现2次干旱过程几率最大,无旱过程的几率为9.3%;在统计年干旱强度时,选用持续时间最长的一次有较好代表性。近54a来,干旱强度年变化可分为三高两低,目前处于干旱强度较高期;祁东县大部分年份有季节性干旱,单季旱以秋旱为主,在双季干旱中,夏秋连旱居多,历史上夏秋冬连旱出现了三次;为了应对日趋严重的干旱,需增强人们的防旱抗灾意识、加大水利设置投入、推广节水农业和提高干旱监测预警能力。     

Factors influencing the acceptance of nature conservation measures--a qualitative study in Switzerland

Landscapes fulfil a multitude of ecological and social functions. Due to the fact that both traditional and everyday landscapes today face many different threats, regulatory measures have been undertaken in many countries to protect and further sustainable landscape development. They include legislation as well as economic incentives. In recent years, however, it has become clear that just to have a few laws and to spend money on subsidies is not enough. Factors other than legislation are also essential to further the sustainable development of landscapes. One of the basic factors affecting the success or failure of landscape conservation measures is public acceptance of these measures. Our project took this as its starting point. The objective was to determine which conditions and factors influence acceptance positively or negatively. To this end 22 Swiss who are directly affected by nature conservation measures, in particular by mire landscape and dry meadow conservation measures, were interviewed using qualitative interview techniques. It is shown that perception, communication, and possibilities to participate are the most decisive driving factors influencing the formation of a long-lasting acceptance. Furthermore, acceptance may be based mainly on economic criteria, on usefulness, on ecological or even aesthetic aspects. It can be shown that not all of these motivations lead to a long-lasting acceptance. Ecologically based acceptance seems the most promising because it is founded on general convictions. Economic incentives--though important--seem to generate only superficial acceptance and do not seem to be as important as is usually assumed.