Impacts of Alternative Timber Harvest Practices on Leaf-Chewing Herbivores of Oak

Abstract:  Studies of the effects of logging on Lepidoptera rarely address landscape-level effects or effects on larval, leaf-feeding stages. We examined the impacts of uneven-aged and even-aged logging on the abundance, richness, and community structure of leaf-chewing insects of white ( Quercus alba L.) and black ( Q. velutina L.) oak trees remaining in unharvested areas by sampling 3 years before and 7 years after harvest. After harvest, white oaks in uneven-aged sites had 32% fewer species of leaf-chewing insects than control sites. This reduction in species richness may have resulted from changes in microclimate (reducing plant quality and/or changing leaf phenology) that affected a much larger total area of each site than did even-aged cuts. For black oak after harvest, species richness in uneven- and even-aged sites increased relative to levels before harvest. Harvesting did not alter total insect density or community structure in the unlogged habitat for either oak species with one exception: insect density on black oak increased in the oldest forest block. Community structure of herbivores of black and white oaks in clearcut gaps differed from that of oaks in intact areas of even-aged sites. Furthermore, both richness and total insect density of black oaks were reduced in clearcut gaps. We suggest that low-level harvests alter herbivore species richness at the landscape level. Treatment effects were subtle because we sampled untreated areas of logged landscapes, only one harvest had occurred, and large temporal and spatial variation in abundance and richness existed. Although the effects of logging were greater in uneven-aged sites, the effects of even-aged management are likely to increase as harvesting continues.     

Rating the Aggressivity of Australian Passenger Vehicles Towards Other Vehicle Occupants and Unprotected Road Users

Two measures of aggressivity of Australian passenger vehicles have been developed. The first measures the aggressivity to occupants of other cars. This type of aggressivity rating is based on two-car crashes between passenger vehicles and measures the injury risk each make/model in the collisions poses to the drivers of the other vehicles. The second measures aggressivity to unprotected road users. These aggressivity ratings reflect the threat of severe injury to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists by die make/model of vehicle colliding with them. This analysis was based on nearly 102,000 drivers involved in tow-away crashes with the makes/models which were the focus of the study and on nearly 22,000 injured pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. The results suggest that crasbworthiness and aggressivity are two different aspects of a vehicle's safety performance, with good performance on one dimension not necessarily being associated with good performance on the other.     

Use of Large‐Scale Acoustic Monitoring to Assess Anthropogenic Pressures on Orthoptera Communities

Biodiversity monitoring at large spatial and temporal scales is greatly needed in the context of global changes. Although insects are a species‐rich group and are important for ecosystem functioning, they have been largely neglected in conservation studies and policies, mainly due to technical and methodological constraints. Sound detection, a nondestructive method, is easily applied within a citizen‐science framework and could be an interesting solution for insect monitoring. However, it has not yet been tested at a large scale. We assessed the value of a citizen‐science program in which Orthoptera species (Tettigoniidae) were monitored acoustically along roads. We used Bayesian model‐averaging analyses to test whether we could detect widely known patterns of anthropogenic effects on insects, such as the negative effects of urbanization or intensive agriculture on Orthoptera populations and communities. We also examined site‐abundance correlations between years and estimated the biases in species detection to evaluate and improve the protocol. Urbanization and intensive agricultural landscapes negatively affected Orthoptera species richness, diversity, and abundance. This finding is consistent with results of previous studies of Orthoptera, vertebrates, carabids, and butterflies. The average mass of communities decreased as urbanization increased. The dispersal ability of communities increased as the percentage of agricultural land and, to a lesser extent, urban area increased. Despite changes in abundances over time, we found significant correlations between yearly abundances. We identified biases linked to the protocol (e.g., car speed or temperature) that can be accounted for ease in analyses. We argue that acoustic monitoring of Orthoptera along roads offers several advantages for assessing Orthoptera biodiversity at large spatial and temporal extents, particularly in a citizen science framework. El Uso de Monitoreos Acústicos a Gran Escala para Estudiar las Presiones Antropogénicas sobre Comunidades de Orthoptera     

巢湖水体散射和后向散射特性研究

湖泊水体散射特性的研究对湖泊水色要素遥感反演模型的发展具有重要的意义.本研究利用AC-S和ECO-BB9实测了巢湖水体的散射系数和后向散射系数,在分析光谱变化特性的基础上,构建了悬浮颗粒物散射系数和后向散射系数的幂函数光谱模型,获得的光谱指数分别为0.86和3.24.研究发现悬浮颗粒物散射系数与TSM和ISM都存在较好的线性函数关系,进而提出水体中总悬浮颗粒物的比散射系数为0.6364(10-3m2·mg-1),无机悬浮颗粒物的比散射系数为0.9108(10-3m2·mg-1).同时,分析了悬浮颗粒物后向散射率和折射指数的变化,其变化范围分别为0.003～0.026和1.02～1.06.     

国内外冶金行业安全标准对比研究与分析

本文重点介绍了《国内外冶金行业安全标准对比研究》项目开展的基本情况,阐述了我国与欧美国家冶金行业安全标准体系和相关专业安全标准条款的对比内容,分析了我国冶金行业安全标准同欧美发达国家之间存在的差距与不足,有针对性地提出了我国冶金行业安全标准实现与国际发达国家接轨的对策措施和工作方向。     

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

In 1979, all the non-OPEC less developed countries (LDCs) represented 8.1 per cent of world oil production and more than 10 per cent of the proven reserves. The position of the oil-importing LDCs was more modest, with 2 per cent of world production and only 1.2 per cent of the proved reserves. On the other hand, their reserves of natural gas were slightly larger and relatively little exploited. Considering the low level of exploration in the non-OPEC LDCs, which can at least partially be explained by economic and political conditions, their hydrocarbon potential is considerably higher than present discoveries, as confirmed by results obtained in new zones that have recently been prospected. Up until the last few years, exploration efforts in non-OPEC LDCs, measured in terms of seismic prospecting and drilling, have remained practically stable. On the contrary, since the 1973 crisis and its repercussions on the price of oil, there has been a sharp increase in exploration in the developed countries, especially in North America, due to the greater economic attractiveness of new discoveries. To encourage the same intensification of exploration in the LDCs incentives to promote activities must continue to be proposed. The situation of the some 70 oil-importing LDCs, in which exploration has been highly scattered to date and where petroleum potential exists, is extremely critical. En 1979, tous les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP représentaient 8.1 pour cent de la production mondiale de pétrole et plus de 10 pour cent des réverses prouvées. La situation des pays les moins développés importateurs de pétrole était plus que défavorable, avec 2 pour cent de la production mondiale et 1.2 pour cent seulement des réverves prouvées. D'autre part, leurs réverves de gaz naturel étaient plus grandes et relativement peu exploitées. Considérant le faible niveau d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP, niveau que l'on peut au moins attribue en partie aux conditions économiques et politiques, leur potentiel en hydrocarbures est considérablement plus élevé que les découvertes actuelles, tel que le confirment les résultats obtenus dans de nouvelles zones récemment prospectées. Jusqu'à ces dernières années, les efforts d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP en termes de prospection sismique et de forage sont restés pratiquement stables. Par contre, depuis la crise de 1973 et ses répercussions sur le prix du pétrole, il y a eu une augmentation marquante dans l'exploration des pays développés, en particulier en Amérique du nord, à cause des possibilités économiques plus intéressantes de ces nouvelles découvertes. Afin d'arriver à la méme intensification en matière d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés, on doit continuer à fournir des encouragements pour promouvoir les activités. La situation des quelque 70 pays les moins développés importateurs de pétrole dans lesquels l'exploration a été sporadique jusqu'à cette date et où le potentiel en pétrole existe est extrêmement critique. En 1979 todos los países de menor grado de desarrollo, no miembros de la OPEP, representaban 8.1 porciento de la producción mundial de petróleo y más del 10 porciento de las reservas probadas. La situación de esta categoría de países, importadores de petróleo era mas modesta: con 2 porciento de la producción mundial y solo 1.2 porciento de reservas probadas. Por otro lado sus reservas de gas natural eran ligeramente mayores y relativamente poco explotadas. Tomando en consideración el bajo nivel de exploración en los países de menor grado de desarrollo no pertenecientes a la OPEP, el potencial en hidrocarburos de estos países es considerablemente mayor que los descubrimientos presentes tal como se confirma por los resultados obtenidos en zonas nuevas recientemente exploradas. Hasta hace pocos años, los esfuerzos de exploración en estos países han permanecido practicamente estables. Por el contrario desde la crisis de 1973 ha ocurrido un aumento rápido en la exploración en los países desarrollados, especialmente en Norte América, debido al mayor atractivo económico de los nuevos descubrimientos. Para facilitar la misma intensificación de exploración en los países de menor grado de desarrollo se deben proponer incentivos que promuevan mayor actividad. La situación de algo asi como 70 países importadores de petróleo es crítica a pesar de que existe un potencial en hidrocarburos y donde poca exploración se ha realizado hasta ahora.     

利用海上测量光谱进行赤潮监测

利用太平洋东海岸加拿大温哥华海域56个观测站位现场实测的海洋表面光谱（400-800hm）反射率值和叶绿索、泥沙浓度资料，研究了赤潮发生时海面水体光谱反射率的变化趋势，以了解清洁水体与赤潮水体的不同特征。经过多组数据的比较分析，发现相对于清洁海水的海面光谱反射率，赤潮发生时海面光谱反射率曲线的荧光峰从685nm波长向710hm的红光波长位移；清洁海水海洋表面光谱反射率平均值在400-588nm之间比赤潮海水的平均反射率值大，在波长588nm处两值相交后，清洁海水的反射率值小于赤潮水体的反射率值，而在688nm处清洁海水和赤潮水体反射率值大小相等（大约为0．25），其后保持赤潮海水的反射率值在688—756nm之间一直高于清洁海水的平均反射率值。清洁海水和赤潮水体不同的荧光峰值以及不同的光谱反射率特征之间的差异，可以用于监测赤潮的最佳波段选择。     

机场鸟击事故灾害的生态防治

从生态学角度分析了机场鸟击事故灾害发生的根源和特点，概述了鸟击灾害的生态防治措施，包括主动性防治和被动性防治，以及计算机和信息技术的应用。指出鸟击灾害已经成为机场飞行安全的主要威胁之一；生态综合防治是机场鸟击事故灾害防治的根本手段。     

动态条件下各形态内源磷释放动力学研究

实验在流量为3L/d,水通量变化率为1.17 L(水)/g(湿泥).d-1的动态条件下模拟自然条件下内源磷的释放过程,对内源磷的释放过程、形态变化以及释放速率进行考察。研究表明,内源磷释放可分为两个阶段:快速释放阶段,释放速率由铁磷释放决定;慢速释放阶段,释放速率由铁磷释放和钙磷释放共同决定。整个释放过程中内源磷形态分布有较大变化。动力学分析表明总内源磷释放在表观上符合4.5级动力学反应,铁磷释放在表观上符合5.4级动力学反应,钙磷释放在表观上符合一级动力学反应。     

Predicting Extinction Risk of Brazilian Atlantic Forest Angiosperms

Understanding how plant life history affects species vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances and environmental change is a major ecological challenge. We examined how vegetation type, growth form, and geographic range size relate to extinction risk throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain. We used a database containing species‐level information of 6,929 angiosperms within 112 families and a molecular‐based working phylogeny. We used decision trees, standard regression, and phylogenetic regression to explore the relationships between species attributes and extinction risk. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in extinction risk. Vegetation type, growth form, and geographic range size were related to species extinction risk, but the effect of growth form was not evident after phylogeny was controlled for. Species restricted to either rocky outcrops or scrub vegetation on sandy coastal plains exhibited the highest extinction risk among vegetation types, a finding that supports the hypothesis that species adapted to resource‐limited environments are more vulnerable to extinction. Among growth forms, epiphytes were associated with the highest extinction risk in non‐phylogenetic regression models, followed by trees, whereas shrubs and climbers were associated with lower extinction risk. However, the higher extinction risk of epiphytes was not significant after correcting for phylogenetic relatedness. Our findings provide new indicators of extinction risk and insights into the mechanisms governing plant vulnerability to extinction in a highly diverse flora where human disturbances are both frequent and widespread. Predicción del Riesgo de Extinción de Angiospermas del Bosque Atlántico Brasileño