Integrated models to support multiobjective ecological restoration decisions

Many objectives motivate ecological restoration, including improving vegetation condition, increasing the range and abundance of threatened species, and improving species richness and diversity. Although models have been used to examine the outcomes of ecological restoration, few researchers have attempted to develop models to account for multiple, potentially competing objectives. We developed a combined state‐and‐transition, species‐distribution model to predict the effects of restoration actions on vegetation condition and extent, bird diversity, and the distribution of several bird species in southeastern Australian woodlands. The actions reflected several management objectives. We then validated the models against an independent data set and investigated how the best management decision might change when objectives were valued differently. We also used model results to identify effective restoration options for vegetation and bird species under a constrained budget. In the examples we evaluated, no one action (improving vegetation condition and extent, increasing bird diversity, or increasing the probability of occurrence for threatened species) provided the best outcome across all objectives. In agricultural lands, the optimal management actions for promoting the occurrence of the Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus), an iconic threatened species, resulted in little improvement in the extent of the vegetation and a high probability of decreased vegetation condition. This result highlights that the best management action in any situation depends on how much the different objectives are valued. In our example scenario, no management or weed control were most likely to be the best management options to satisfy multiple restoration objectives. Our approach to exploring trade‐offs in management outcomes through integrated modeling and structured decision‐support approaches has wide application for situations in which trade‐offs exist between competing conservation objectives.     

尼洋河不同河段浮游植物群落多样性差异研究

2009年8月对尼洋河流域浮游植物群落的种类组成、分布和数量特征进行了调查：共发现浮游植物共26属74种(变种)，以硅藻为主，大多数种类的相对丰富度较低，优势种不明显，平均相对丰富度大于5%的种类分别是极细微曲壳藻(90%)、弧型蛾眉藻线形变种(54%)、中型脆杆藻(53%)和尖针杆藻(5%)；其出现频次分别是19、20、17和20次。种类分布均匀，平均细胞密度为225×104 ind./L，远低于一般河流和湖泊。分析显示绝大多数样点浮游植物的多样性和均匀度指数都很高，其均值分别为364和095。以上结果表明该流域浮游植物群落结构比较复杂、处于较完整的稳定状态，体现了尼洋河流域贫营养河流水体的特征。TWINSPAN和DCA分析表明海拔高度和环境的稳定程度可能是影响该流域浮游植物群落多样性的主要因子     

长江常熟江段近岸小型鱼类群落结构及多样性探析

2009年3月～2010年2月,利用密目插网对长江常熟江段小型鱼类进行了连续监测，首次对该江段的小型鱼类群落组成、优势种组成及生物多样性进行了剖析。结果表明：该江段共有小型鱼类24种，隶属于5目7科，其中鲤形目最多。根据〖WTBX〗IRI〖WTBZ〗指数分析，贝氏〖FK（W1。1〗〖PS餐鱼1.eps〗〖FK）〗、刀鲚、窄体舌鳎、蛇鮈和光泽黄颡鱼为优势种，共占总数量的83.44%，占总重量的8202%；贝氏〖FK（W1。1〗〖PS餐鱼1.eps〗〖FK）〗和窄体舌鳎在各个季节中均为优势种，刀鲚在春、夏、秋3季为优势种。基于渔获数量的分析结果显示，常熟江段各月多样性特征值范围为：Shannon Wiener指数（H’） 118～176, Margalef指数（R）087 ～207,Pielou指数（J’）048～083,McNaughton指数(Dn) 057～086。Margalef指数和McNaughton指数春季最高，冬季最低；Shannon Wiener指数和Pielou指数冬季最高，夏季最低。最后探讨了影响该江段小型鱼类群落结构的各种因素，提出了合理开发和保护小型渔业资源的建议     

2013年长江丰水期河水化学特征及控制因素

为掌握长江河水化学组成特征及其控制因素,笔者运用Gibbs图、多种离子比例系数法和主成分分析法综合分析了长江流域丰水期河水化学及氢氧同位素特征。结果表明,长江丰水期河水主要来源为大气降水,河水化学类型主要为HCO₃·SO₄-Ca型,化学成分主要受流域内广泛分布的碳酸盐岩等岩石风化作用控制;河水pH值、HCO₃^-浓度沿长江径流方向降低,SO₄^2-、Ca²⁺浓度沿长江径流方向升高。2013年丰水期,长江河水化学组成特征变化的主要影响因子,是易溶盐岩溶解和人类活动(贡献率40%),其次为川贵及长江三角洲地区的酸雨沉降以及人为酸性废水排放促进了流域内石灰岩和富含碳酸盐的三叠系砂页岩溶解(贡献率20%),最后为硅酸盐矿物及其风化产物的溶解(贡献率19%)。为了解长江河水水质状况及其演变趋势,合理评价长江流域水资源提供很好的科学依据。     

Using DNA barcoding to track seafood mislabeling in Los Angeles restaurants

Seafood mislabeling is common in both domestic and international markets. Studies on seafood fraud often report high rates of mislabeling (e.g., >70%), but these studies have been limited to a single sampling year, which means it is difficult to assess the impact of stricter governmental truth‐in‐labeling regulations. We used DNA barcoding to assess seafood labeling in 26 sushi restaurants in Los Angeles over 4 years. Seafood from 3 high‐end grocery stores were also sampled (n = 16) in 2014. We ordered 9 common sushi fish from menus, preserved tissue samples in 95% ethanol, extracted the genomic DNA, amplified and sequenced a portion of the mtDNA COI gene, and identified the resulting sequence to known fish sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide database. We compared DNA results with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) list of acceptable market names and retail names. We considered sushi‐sample labels that were inconsistent with FDA names mislabeled. Sushi restaurants had a consistently high percentage of mislabeling (47%; 151 of 323) from 2012 to 2015, yet mislabeling was not homogenous across species. Halibut, red snapper, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail had consistently high (<77%) occurrences of mislabeling on menus, whereas mislabeling of salmon and mackerel were typically low (>15%). All sampled sushi restaurants had at least one case of mislabeling. Mislabeling of sushi‐grade fish from high‐end grocery stores was also identified in red snapper, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail, but at a slightly lower frequency (42%) than sushi restaurants. Despite increased regulatory measures and media attention, we found seafood mislabeling continues to be prevalent.     

Whose Discourse Is It Anyway? Understanding Resistance through the Rise of “Barstool Biology” in Nature Conservation

This study examines what happens when contentious lay citizens harness the technical-ecological repertoire of experts as means of challenging nature conservation policy. The causes, manifestations, and implications of this phenomenon are elucidated through a critical discourse analysis. The case study is based on the wolf reintroduction project in Europe, with particular focus on Sweden, using illegal hunting discussions as a point of entry within the hunting community. It reveals the deployment of three topoi, which are defined as stock arguments situated within a discourse. Analysis shows how while some topoi often incur short-term gains in the debate because of their scientific guise, they are fundamentally relegated as folk science (or “barstool biology”) by government experts and, in some cases, contribute to the further marginalization of other knowledges. Acquiescence to this discourse is shown to greatly impede the debate. Finally, the study shows how lack of trust in the public dialog, which hunters openly recognize to be colonized by ecological expertise, results in increasingly noncommunicative forms of resistance toward policy.     

Using adsorption and sulphide precipitation as the principal removal mechanisms of arsenic from a constructed wetland – a critical review

This review has been undertaken to understand the role of various parameters such as redox potential, microbes, and organic matters on the fate and transport of arsenic in the constructed wetland. A conceptual diagram of arsenic fate and transport in the constructed wetland was developed. Role of various minerals which are produced due to microbial activities are described. The role of these minerals on arsenic adsorption is discussed. It was envisaged that iron sulphide would be the main adsorbent for arsenic in microbe-mediated adsorption process. Beside microbe-mediated arsenic adsorption, roles of various microbes, such as sulphate reducers and methane producers, on arsenic transformation are discussed. Role of various organic carbon sources and electron acceptors on the proliferation of the above mentioned microbes with respect to arsenic transformation was envisaged. Role of dissolved organic matters on arsenic transformation and transport was also discussed in details. To strengthen the review, laboratory studies and modelling of arsenic adsorption and transformation using the Visual Minteq were appended.     

不同粒径垃圾焚烧飞灰金属形态分布比较研究

研究了华南地区某垃圾焚烧厂的除尘器飞灰的化学组成和粒径分布,并采用分级提取法对不同粒径飞灰中的重金属化学形态进行了研究。同时比较了华南、华东、西南地区以及台湾地区垃圾焚烧飞灰的筛下累积分布和不同粒径飞灰中各重金属组成。结果表明,飞灰的组要成分为：CaO、SiO2和SO3等;各地区75%的飞灰粒径都主要集中在38.5～75μm。华南地区各粒径飞灰中挥发性金属（Zn和Pb）含量明显高于其他金属。除Ni和Cr外,Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd含量随粒径减小呈先减少后增大的趋势。华南地区Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb和Cd的含量均高于其他地区（台湾地区除外）。Cu、Zn和Cd的弱酸提取态和可还原态含量较高。高于40%的水溶态Pb表明其对环境有较大潜在危害;40%Ni和Cr主要以残渣态存在,对环境的潜在影响较小。     

Relation between extinction and assisted colonization of plants in the arctic‐alpine and boreal regions

Assisted colonization of vascular plants is considered by many ecologists an important tool to preserve biodiversity threatened by climate change. I argue that assisted colonization may have negative consequences in arctic‐alpine and boreal regions. The observed slow movement of plants toward the north has been an argument for assisted colonization. However, these range shifts may be slow because for many plants microclimatic warming (ignored by advocates of assisted colonization) has been smaller than macroclimatic warming. Arctic‐alpine and boreal plants may have limited possibilities to disperse farther north or to higher elevations. I suggest that arctic‐alpine species are more likely to be driven to extinction because of competitive exclusion by southern species than by increasing temperatures. If so, the future existence of arctic‐alpine and boreal flora may depend on delaying or preventing the migration of plants toward the north to allow northern species to evolve to survive in a warmer climate. In the arctic‐alpine region, preventing the dispersal of trees and shrubs may be the most important method to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The purported conservation benefits of assisted colonization should not be used to promote the migration of invasive species by forestry.     

Integrating archaeology and ancient DNA analysis to address invasive species colonization in the Gulf of Alaska

The intentional and unintentional movement of plants and animals by humans has transformed ecosystems and landscapes globally. Assessing when and how a species was introduced are central to managing these transformed landscapes, particularly in island environments. In the Gulf of Alaska, there is considerable interest in the history of mammal introductions and rehabilitating Gulf of Alaska island environments by eradicating mammals classified as invasive species. The Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii) is of concern because it affects vegetation and seabirds on Gulf of Alaska islands. This animal is assumed to have been introduced by historic settlers; however, ground squirrel remains in the prehistoric archaeological record of Chirikof Island, Alaska, challenge this timeline and suggest they colonized the islands long ago. We used 3 lines of evidence to address this problem: direct radiocarbon dating of archaeological squirrel remains; evidence of prehistoric human use of squirrels; and ancient DNA analysis of dated squirrel remains. Chirikof squirrels dated to at least 2000 years ago, and cut marks on squirrel bones suggested prehistoric use by people. Ancient squirrels also shared a mitochondrial haplotype with modern Chirikof squirrels. These results suggest that squirrels have been on Chirikof longer than previously assumed and that the current population of squirrels is closely related to the ancient population. Thus, it appears ground squirrels are not a recent, human‐mediated introduction and may have colonized the island via a natural dispersal event or an ancient human translocation.