Landscape trajectory of natural boreal forest loss as an impediment to green infrastructure

Loss of natural forests by forest clearcutting has been identified as a critical conservation challenge worldwide. This study addressed forest fragmentation and loss in the context of the establishment of a functional green infrastructure as a spatiotemporally connected landscape-scale network of habitats enhancing biodiversity, favorable conservation status, and ecosystem services. Through retrospective analysis of satellite images, we assessed a 50- to 60-year spatiotemporal clearcutting impact trajectory on natural and near-natural boreal forests across a sizable and representative region from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Scandinavian Mountain Range in northern Fennoscandia. This period broadly covers the whole forest clearcutting period; thus, our approach and results can be applied to comprehensive impact assessment of industrial forest management. The entire study region covers close to 46,000 km² of forest-dominated landscape in a late phase of transition from a natural or near-natural to a land-use modified state. We found a substantial loss of intact forest, in particular of large, contiguous areas, a spatial polarization of remaining forest on regional scale where the inland has been more severely affected than the mountain and coastal zones, and a pronounced impact on interior forest core areas. Salient results were a decrease in area of the largest intact forest patch from 225,853 to 68,714 ha in the mountain zone and from 257,715 to 38,668 ha in the foothills zone, a decrease from 75% to 38% intact forest in the inland zones, a decrease in largest patch core area (assessed by considering 100-m patch edge disturbance) from 6114 to 351 ha in the coastal zone, and a geographic imbalance in protected forest with an evident predominance in the mountain zone. These results demonstrate profound disturbance of configuration of the natural forest landscape and disrupted connectivity, which challenges the establishment of functional green infrastructure. Our approach supports the identification of forests for expanded protection and conservation-oriented forest landscape restoration.     

内窥镜检查在电站锅炉内部检验中的应用

工业内窥镜是电站锅炉内部检验中不可或缺的设备,主要用来对集箱、减温器、受热面管等内部人眼无法观察到的地方进行检验,从而确定承压部件内部是否存在严重影响锅炉安全运行的缺陷.本文通过对锅炉内窥实例进行分析和总结,阐述内窥镜检查在锅炉内检中的重要性并给相关工作人员提供借鉴与参考.     

关于锅炉烟气脱硫除尘技术的探讨

目前国内能源结构仍以煤炭为主,大气污染非常的严重,尤其是酸雨和粉尘危害相对较大。在生态文明建设的时代背景下,我们应当加强锅炉脱硫以及除尘技术创新与改造,对燃煤烟尘以及二氧化硫等污染物的排放进行严格控制。本文先对锅炉烟气脱硫除尘现状进行了分析,并在此基础上就电厂锅炉如何进行烟气脱硫与除尘提出了一些观点与认识,以供参考。     

化肥厂爆炸事故的不安全动作分析

为了分析化肥厂爆炸事故背后的不安全动作。本文选取了2009-2018年间国内外发生的52起典型化肥厂爆炸事故。从发生时间的角度分析事故特性,发现白昼期间的事故发生概率相对较高。同时文章分析了运输卸料、车间操作、特种作业和管理人员4种作业类型的不安全动作,从发生频率和风险等级两个方面评估了不安全动作的综合危险度。结果表明13项不安全动作的综合危险度较高,需要重点预控。     

Meta-analysis of the differential effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is a key factor for population survival and evolution. However, anthropogenic habitat disturbance can erode it, making populations more prone to extinction. Aiming to assess the global effects of habitat disturbance on plant genetic variation, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 92 case studies obtained from published literature. We compared the effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on plant allelic richness and gene diversity (equivalent to expected heterozygosity) and tested whether such changes are sensitive to different life-forms, life spans, mating systems, and commonness. Anthropogenic disturbance had a negative effect on allelic richness, but not on gene diversity. Habitat fragmentation had a negative effect on genetic variation, whereas habitat degradation had no effect. When we examined the individual effects in fragmented habitats, allelic richness and gene diversity decreased, but this decrease was strongly dependent on certain plant traits. Specifically, common long-lived trees and self-incompatible species were more susceptible to allelic richness loss. Conversely, gene diversity decreased in common short-lived species (herbs) with self-compatible reproduction. In a wider geographical context, tropical plant communities were more sensitive to allelic richness loss, whereas temperate plant communities were more sensitive to gene diversity loss. Our synthesis showed complex responses to habitat disturbance among plant species. In many cases, the absence of effects could be the result of the time elapsed since the disturbance event or reproductive systems favoring self-pollination, but attention must be paid to those plant species that are more susceptible to losing genetic diversity, and appropriate conservation should be actions taken.     

Effectiveness of Panama as an intercontinental land bridge for large mammals

Habitat fragmentation is a primary driver of wildlife loss, and establishment of biological corridors is a common strategy to mitigate this problem. A flagship example is the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC), which aims to connect protected forest areas between Mexico and Panama to allow dispersal and gene flow of forest organisms. Because forests across Central America have continued to degrade, the functioning of the MBC has been questioned, but reliable estimates of species occurrence were unavailable. Large mammals are suitable indicators of forest functioning, so we assessed their conservation status across the Isthmus of Panama, the narrowest section of the MBC. We used large-scale camera-trap surveys and hierarchical multispecies occupancy models in a Bayesian framework to estimate the occupancy of 9 medium to large mammals and developed an occupancy-weighted connectivity metric to evaluate species-specific functional connectivity. White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), jaguar (Panthera onca), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and tapir (Tapirus bairdii) had low expected occupancy along the MBC in Panama. Puma (Puma concolor), red brocket deer (Mazama temama), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), which are more adaptable, had higher occupancy, even in areas with low forest cover near infrastructure. However, the majority of species were subject to ≥1 gap that was larger than their known dispersal distances, suggesting poor connectivity along the MBC in Panama. Based on our results, forests in Darien, Donoso–Santa Fe, and La Amistad International Park are critical for survival of large terrestrial mammals in Panama and 2 areas need restoration.     

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas’ morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments’ creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old‐growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.     

工业搬迁区绿化带土壤铜污染及其在植物体内的迁移

老工业搬迁区主要道路两旁绿化带土壤由于历经老工业企业的变迁和环境的污染破坏,可在一定程度上对这一地区环境的历史变迁及重金属污染状况起到指示作用。采集沈阳铁西老工业搬迁区绿化带土壤及其绿化乔木和灌木植株样品,分析土壤中铜的总量及生物有效态含量,同时分别分析了绿化乔木(8种)和绿化灌木(6种)植株根、枝条和叶片的含铜量。结果表明,搬迁区绿化带土壤中含铜量为29.14~166.95mg/kg,显著高于沈阳市土壤铜元素的背景值;土壤有效态铜为0.23~1.72mg/kg,达到中等水平(0.3~1.0mg/kg)的占采样点总数的70.0%。数据还显示,绿化乔木和灌木对铜的蓄积能力依品种不同差异显著,同种植物不同部位(根、枝条和叶片)对铜的富集能力不同;总体上,绿化乔木植株体内含铜量的分布规律为根叶片枝条或叶片根枝条,绿化灌木植株体内含铜量的分布规律为根叶片枝条。对铜蓄积能力较强的绿化乔木为榆叶梅(Amygdalus triloba Lindl.)、垂柳(Salix babylonica Linn.)、旱柳(Salix matsudana Koidz.)和银杏(Ginkgo biloba),对铜蓄积能力较强的绿化灌木为大叶女贞(Ligustrum lucidum Ait.)、小叶女贞(Ligustrum quihoui Carr.)和紫叶小檗(Berberis thunbergii cv.Atropurpurea)。     

城市生活垃圾和污水处理厂剩余污泥混合发酵的原料配比优化研究

以城市生活垃圾和污水处理厂的剩余污泥为混合原料,研究了混合原料的不同配比对厌氧发酵过程及产气的影响。结果表明:城市生活垃圾与剩余污泥以挥发性固体(VS)质量比为2∶1混合后,厌氧发酵效果最好,累计产气量最高,达到8 721mL,发酵后的总固体(TS)、VS、COD去除率分别达43.65%、35.98%、47.88%;各实验组在发酵过程中的pH、氨氮浓度和碱度均在合理范围内,未对厌氧发酵反应造成影响;以适当配比的城市生活垃圾和剩余污泥为混合原料,进行中温联合厌氧发酵是可行的,联合厌氧发酵可以弥补单一原料的缺陷,在一定程度上改善厌氧发酵效果。