Cautioning against overemphasis of normative constructs in conservation decision making

Questions around how to conserve nature are increasingly leading to dissonance in conservation planning and action. While science can assist in unraveling the nature of conservation challenges, conservation responses rely heavily on normative positions and constructs to order actions, aid interpretations, and provide motivation. However, problems can arise when norms are mistaken for science or when they stymy scientific rigor. To highlight these potential pitfalls, we used the ethics-based tool of argument analysis to assess a controversial conservation intervention, the Pelorus Island Goat Control Program. The program proponents' argument for restorative justice was unsound because it relied on weak logical construction overly entrenched in normative assumptions. Overreliance on normative constructs, particularly the invocation of tragedy, creates a sense of urgency that can subvert scientific and ethical integrity, obscure values and assumptions, and increase the propensity for flawed logic. This example demonstrates how the same constructs that drive biodiversity conservation can also drive poor decision making, spur public backlash, and justify poor animal welfare outcomes. To provide clarity, a decision-making flowchart we devised demonstrates how values, norms, and ethics influence one another. We recommend practitioners follow 3 key points to improve decision making: be aware of values, as well as normative constructs and ethical theories that those values inform; be mindful of overreliance on either normative constructs or ethics when deciding action is justified; and be logically sound and transparent when building justifications. We also recommend 5 key attributes that practitioners should be attentive to when making conservation decisions: clarity, transparency, scientific integrity, adaptiveness, and compassion. Greater attention to the role of norms in decision making will improve conservation outcomes and garner greater public support for actions.     

基于SD和CLUE-S模型的区域土地利用变化对土壤有机碳储量影响研究

土地利用/土地覆被变化改变土壤呼吸条件,进而对土壤有机碳储量变化产生影响,而土壤有机碳储量则是影响农业可持续发展和全球碳平衡领域的重要因素。以上海市崇明岛为例,运用系统动力学模型(System Dynamics Model)预测2020、2030年土地利用需求变化,结合CLUE-S模型(Conversion of Land Use and its Effects at Small region extent Model)得出各种用地类型的空间分布,并引用碳密度法估算三种发展幕景下土地利用变化对土壤有机碳储量的影响。结果表明:2030年三种发展幕景土壤有机碳储量分别为:低速发展幕景为3 093.03×106kg,惯性发展幕景为3 079.47×106kg,高速发展幕景为3 059.81×106kg;研究期内土壤有机碳储量呈现缓慢下降趋势,但人类活动对其扰动较小;SD和CLUE-S耦合模型可以从时间和空间两方面对土壤有机碳储量进行模拟,具有可行性;建议通过加强城镇用地集约利用、农田保护、林地建设来减少人为活动对土壤有机碳储量的影响。     

人工湖的营建及其水质改善措施——以沈阳市丁香湖为例

以沈阳市建设的第一座大型人工湖泊丁香湖为研究对象,针对丁香湖在基础设施建设、生态系统功能恢复等方面存在诸多现实问题为例,通过依势修整、科学引蓄、补水调换、人工生态浮岛和水生植物布设、局部复氧曝气和辅助的抑藻手段等综合治理措施,使丁香湖水质得到有效改善、生物多样性得到恢复。     

Variation of soil fertility and carbon sequestration by planting Hevea brasiliensis in Hainan Island, China

The development of rubber industry depends on the sustainable management of rubber plantation. To evaluate the environmental effects of planting Hevea brasiliensis on a subsystem of tropical forest ecosystem, the variation of soil fertility and carbon sequestration under rubber plantation within 30-year life period were investigated in Hainan Island. Results showed that （1） with the increase of stand age of rubber plantation, soil fertility decreased all along. From 1954 to 1995, soil organic matter, total N, available K and available P decreased by 48.2%, 54.1%, 56.7% and 64.1%, respectively. （2） If the complete return of litters was considered without additional fertilizer application to the soil of the rubber plantations, the consumption periods for P, N, K, Mg were only 825 years, 329 years, 94 years and 65 years, respectively~ To improve soil fertility is essential for rubber plantation development. （3） The C sequestration of rubber trees per hectare accounts for 272.08 t within 30-year life period and 57.91% of them was fixed in litters. In comparison with C sequestration by rain forest （234.305 t/hm^2） and by secondary rain forest （150.203 t/hm^2）, rubber forest has more potentials for C fixation. On the base of above results, the following measures would benefit the maintenance of soil fertility and the development of rubber industry, including applying fertilizer to maintain the balance of soil nutrients, intercropping leguminous plant to improve soil fertility, reducing the collection of litters, optimizing soil properties to improve element P availability such as applying CaCO3. The information gathered from the study can be used as baseline data for the sustainable management of rubber plantation elsewhere.     

崇明岛生态风险源分析及其防范对策研究

上海市城市总体规划（1999~2020年）中提出了要将崇明岛建成生态岛的发展目标,而保障崇明岛的生态安全,规避生态风险是实现这一目标以及实现经济可持续发展的重要内容。崇明岛地处长江的河口和经济最发达的长江三角洲,而且东邻东海,地理位置十分特殊,区域生态风险来源十分复杂。因此,深入分析崇明岛的生态风险源类型、来源和特征,是进一步开展生态风险评价和正确制定风险防范对策的基础。通过对崇明历史资料的分析和现状的评价,辨识出26种生态风险源,这些风险源按性质分可分为自然风险源和人为风险源两类,按来源分可分为来自流域、来自周边区域、来自海洋和来自岛屿内部4类;通过对风险源的发生概率、强度分析结果,结合各风险源的特点,筛选出咸水入侵、台风、暴雨、风暴潮、生物入侵为崇明岛的主要风险源,并分析了其对生态系统的干扰和危害。在上述分析的基础上,提出了具体的风险防范对策。     

基于GIS的海岛生态脆弱性评价研究与实践——以海坛岛为例

基于生态敏感度、生态弹性度和生态压力度,构建了海岛生态脆弱性评价的指标体系,采用综合指数法和GIS相结合的方法对海坛岛的生态脆弱性进行了定量评价,并绘制了生态脆弱性等级分布图,分析了生态脆弱度的空间差异和不同区域生态脆弱性的主导成因.评价结果与该区域的生态环境状况较为一致,对于海坛岛的生态保护和资源利用具有一定的指导意...     

崇明典型水生生物中雌激素含量和分布特征

采用超高效液相色谱串联质谱系统(UHPLC-MS2)检测崇明岛9种典型水生生物体中5种典型雌激素的含量,包括雌酮(E1)、雌二醇(E2)、雌三醇(E3)、炔雌醇(EE2)和双酚A(BPA).并探讨其分布特征,进行初步健康风险评价.结果表明,9种典型水生生物中雌激素总量(以dw计)为1.1~7.38 ng·g-1,平均为4.25 ng·g-1.雌激素脂肪含量(以lw计)在5.01~83.41 ng·g-1之间,平均值为40.75 ng·g-1,雌激素脂肪含量水平表现为鱼类>虾类>蟹类.鱼类和蟹类,虾类之间雌激素脂肪含量差异性显著,蟹类和虾类之间不存在显著差异性.从检出率和检出含量看,甾醇类雌激素(E1、E2、E3和EE2)的残留明显低于酚类雌激素(BPA).E1、E2、E3和EE2的检出率小于66.67%,平均干重含量为0.17~0.69ng·g-1,而BPA的检出率高达100%,检出的平均干重含量为2.60 ng·g-1.健康风险评估结果表明,崇明岛水产品中雌激素对健康影响不大.     

上海崇明地区大气分形态汞污染特征

2014年3月~2015年2月对上海崇明东滩湿地公园的气态零价汞(GEM)、活性气态汞(RGM)和颗粒态汞(PBM)分别进行了为期1a的连续监测.GEM、RGM和PBM的年平均浓度分别为(2.75±1.13)ng·m~(-3)、(13.39±15.95)pg·m~(-3)和(21.89±40.42)pg·m~(-3),明显高于对应北半球背景值浓度.GEM浓度在夏季最高(3.65 ng·m~(-3)),受自然源排放影响较大,秋冬季较低,受人为源排放影响较大;RGM浓度在春季最高,冬季最低,主要受风速风向的影响;PBM浓度在秋冬季节明显高于其他季节,受秋冬季节较多的细颗粒物重污染过程的影响.GEM和PBM浓度均夜间较高,白天较低,主要受空气气团混合作用影响.RGM浓度在下午较高,主要是由于GEM在下午的光氧化作用加强,利于RGM的生成.GEM和PBM浓度在偏西风向上浓度较高,受上海、江苏等地人为源排放影响较大.RGM浓度在东南风向上浓度明显高于其他方向,这是因为RGM主要来源为人为排放,其浓度受风速影响较大,东南风向上平均风速较小,持续的弱风及停滞的空气不利于RGM的扩散.     

Info-gap theory and robust design of surveillance for invasive species: The case study of Barrow Island

Surveillance for invasive non-indigenous species (NIS) is an integral part of a quarantine system. Estimating the efficiency of a surveillance strategy relies on many uncertain parameters estimated by experts, such as the efficiency of its components in face of the specific NIS, the ability of the NIS to inhabit different environments, and so on. Due to the importance of detecting an invasive NIS within a critical period of time, it is crucial that these uncertainties be accounted for in the design of the surveillance system. We formulate a detection model that takes into account, in addition to structured sampling for incursive NIS, incidental detection by untrained workers. We use info-gap theory for satisficing (not minimizing) the probability of detection, while at the same time maximizing the robustness to uncertainty. We demonstrate the trade-off between robustness to uncertainty, and an increase in the required probability of detection. An empirical example based on the detection of Pheidole megacephala on Barrow Island demonstrates the use of info-gap analysis to select a surveillance strategy.     

Occurrence, sources, and inventory of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in soils from Chongming Island, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is a concern due to their large usage combining with physico-chemical properties and toxicity to wildlife and human. However, very limited data were reported on HBCDs in soils, especially from rural area. In this study, 22 soil samples were collected from Chongming Island at estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, to investigate the level, diasteroisomer profile, potential sources, and mass inventory of HBCDs. The total concentrations ranged from not detected to 93.8 pg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) with a mean of 23.3 pg g⁻¹ dw, which was at the low end of the global levels. The wide distribution of HBCDs in soils suggested that the local emissions of HBCD-containing materials and/or the inputs via atmospheric transport from other regions were two possible sources. Variation of HBCDs levels was observed in different types of soils. Woodland, tideland and road soils contained slightly higher HBCDs than those of farmland and grassland. Overall, γ-HBCD was the dominant diasteroisomer in soils, followed by α-HBCD and β-HBCD. Significant but weak correlations were only found between α-HBCD and β-HBCD versus TOC content in soils. Currently, the mass inventory of HBCDs in soils of Chongming Island was 5.3 kg. Based on these data, we gave perspective on human intake of HBCDs via soil ingestion by age. Local resident’s intakes ranged from 15.5 to 97.8 fg kg body weight⁻¹ d⁻¹, in which children are exposed more than adults.