Use of Descriptors of Ecosystem Functioning for Monitoring a National Park Network: A Remote Sensing Approach

Baseline assessments and monitoring of protected areas are essential for making management decisions, evaluating the effectiveness of management practices, and tracking the effects of global changes. For these purposes, the analysis of functional attributes of ecosystems (i.e., different aspects of the exchange of matter and energy) has advantages over the traditional use of structural attributes, like a quicker response to disturbances and the fact that they are easily monitored through remote sensing. In this study, we described the spatiotemporal patterns of different aspects of the ecosystem functioning of the Spanish national parks and their response to environmental changes between 1982 and 2006. To do so, we used the NOAA/AVHRR-GIMMS dataset of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a linear estimator of the fraction of photosynthetic active radiation intercepted by vegetation, which is the main control of carbon gains. Nearly all parks have significantly changed during the last 25 years: The radiation interception has increased, the contrast between the growing and nongrowing seasons has diminished, and the dates of maximum and minimum interception have advanced. Some parks concentrated more changes than others and the degree of change varied depending on their different environmental conditions, management, and conservation histories. Our approach identified reference conditions and temporal changes for different aspects of ecosystem functioning, which can be used for management purposes of protected areas in response to global changes.     

An Assessment of the Ecological Condition of Long Island Sound, 1990–1993

Data from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) from 1990 to 1993 were used to assess the condition of the Long Island Sound (LIS) estuary. Ambient water, sediment and biota were collected during the summer months from 53 LIS stations using an unbiased sampling design. The design consists of two LIS subunits, LIS proper, and small estuaries (<2.6 km2) at the margins of the Sound. Selected indicators of condition included: benthic species composition, abundance and biomass; fish species composition and gross external pathology; sediment physical and chemical characterization and sediment toxicity; and water clarity and quality. Results of the four-year sampling indicated that 28(±11)% of the areal extent of LIS proper had a benthic index < zero (impacted) and 51(±12)% of the area of small estuaries was impacted. Analysis of the results of other indicators also shows that small estuaries were particularly affected. For example, 42(±10)% of the areal extent of small estuaries exhibited sediment toxicity, and significant chemical contamination was evident in 22% of the area of small estuaries. Low dissolved oxygen (D.O.) concentrations (<5 ppm), however, appeared to affect only the deeper open waters of western LIS. Approximately 48(±12)% of the areal extent of LIS proper documented exposure to at least moderate D.O. stress (<5 ppm). The overall results of this monitoring study indicate that significant anthropogenic impacts have occurred in LIS and that if remediation was to take place, specific localized sediment problems would need attention. Point source and non-point source nutrient inputs to the Sound, which are believed to be the primary causative factor for the observed hypoxic conditions, would also need attention.     

河流型硅藻水华研究进展

通过对硅藻水华发生机制相关文献的研究分析,对硅藻水华发生机制做了一般性探讨,并重点关注了河流型水华的发生机制的独特点。河流水华种类主要为中心硅藻纲,静水生态系统水华种类除中心硅藻纲还包括部分羽纹硅藻纲种类。河流水华硅藻种类对营养盐浓度、温度和光照等环境因子具有一定的适应范围。与静水生态系统相比,河流硅藻水华受气象和水文等物理指标的影响更为明显。河流硅藻水华中常具有时滞现象,其中由气象和水文因素引起的时滞现象最为明显。目前河流硅藻水华的防治仍然以上游水库下泄稀释为主,但是这种方法会造成一定的水资源浪费。河流水华硅藻的生理属性、硅藻水华对生态系统的影响、节水与抑制水华的统筹以及其他控制水华的方法都是未来河流硅藻水华研究的重点。     

Specific features of seedage in Norway spruce (Picea abies karst.) in the northern Moscow region

Climatic characteristics of the northern Moscow region and the periodicity of seedage in Norway spruce were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between the intensity of seedage and weather conditions in the period before seedage was revealed.     

反渗透膜处理维生素C凝结水的最优工艺条件

针对维生素C生产工艺中产生的凝结水产量大、处理成本高、存储运输困难和营养物质含量偏低等问题，采用反渗透技术对VC凝结水进行处理。实验建立小试规模反渗透膜处理装置，采用无量纲化多元回归分析方法，分析了操作条件指标与渗透水评价指标两套指标体系之间的关系，定量评价了各个操作条件指标对渗透水评价指标的整体影响程度，并在此基础上研究了最佳操作条件的工艺参数。结果表明：建立的无量纲化多元回归分析方法切实有效，在正交实验设计水平范围内，压力、pH和回流比均是多目标系统的影响因子，操作条件指标对渗透水评价指标的整体影响程度大小顺序为：压力〉pH〉回流比〉温度，且各自影响程度所占比例分别为43．02％、29．01％、25．07％和2．89％。各个操作因子对多指标系统的影响是独立的。在只考虑系统收益而不考虑膜污染的情况下，最佳操作条件分别为：温度r=30．65，压力P=1．5MPa，回流比r=0．78，pH=7．475。     

植被混凝土无侧限抗压强度的室内试验初探

通过对植被混凝土室内试验结果的归纳和分析,研究了水泥掺入比、龄期和浸水条件对植被混凝土无侧限抗压强度的影响。     

Plant and Soil System Responses to Ozone After 3 Years in a Lysimeter Study with Juvenile Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

A lysimeter study was performed to monitor effects of elevated ozone on juvenile trees of Fagus sylvatica L. as well as on the plant–soil system. During a fumigation period over almost three growing seasons, parameters related to plant growth, phenological development and physiology as well as soil functions were studied. The data analyses identified elevated ozone to delay leaf phenology at early and to accelerate it at late developmental stages, to reduce growth, some leaf nutrients (Ca, K) as well as some soluble phenolics (hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, total flavonol glycosides). No or very weak ozone effects were found in mobile carbon pools of leaves (starch, sucrose), and other phenolic compounds (flavans). Altered gene expression related to stress and carbon cycling corresponded well with findings from leaf phenology and chemical composition analyses indicating earlier senescence and oxidative stress in leaves under elevated ozone. Conversely in the soil system, no effects of ozone were detected on soil enzyme activities, rates of litter degradation and lysimeter water balances. Despite the fact that the three reported years 2003–2005 were climatically very contrasting including a hot and dry as well as an extremely wet summer, and also mild as well as cold winters, the influence of ozone on a number of plant parameters is remarkably consistent, further underlining the phytotoxic potential of elevated tropospheric ozone levels.     

Determination of explosion limits – Criterion for ignition under non-atmospheric conditions

Many industrial processes are run at non-atmospheric conditions (elevated temperatures and pressures, other oxidizers than air). To judge whether and if yes to what extent explosive gas(vapor)/air mixtures will occur or may be generated during malfunction it is necessary to know the safety characteristic data at the respective conditions. Safety characteristic data like explosion limits, are depending on pressure, temperature and the oxidizer. Most of the determination methods are standardized for ambient conditions. In order to obtain determination methods for non-atmospheric conditions, particularly for higher initial pressures, reliable ignition criteria were investigated. Ignition tests at the explosion limits were carried out for mixtures of methane, propane, n-butane, n-hexane, hydrogen, ammonia and acetone in air at initial pressures up to 20 bar. The tests have been evaluated according to different ignition criteria: visual flame propagation, temperature and pressure rising. It could be shown that flame propagation and occasionally self-sustained combustion for several seconds occurred together with remarkable temperature rise, although the pressure rise was below 3%. The results showed that the combination of a pressure rise criterion of 2% and a temperature rise criterion of 100 K seems to be a suitable ignition criterion for the determination of explosion limits and limiting oxidizer concentration at higher initial pressures and elevated temperatures. The tests were carried out within the framework of a R&D project founded by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology.     

餐厨垃圾混菌发酵制备燃料乙醇

以校园餐厨垃圾为原料,利用根霉和枯草芽胞杆菌进行糖化预处理,再接种啤酒酵母发酵产乙醇。通过单因素实验,以乙醇产量为响应值,对发酵条件进行优化。实验结果表明:乙醇产量最佳的发酵条件为:当底料含水率为22.79%,啤酒酵母接种量为15%,30℃培养条件下,经过5 d发酵,乙醇产量最高可达到6.67%。选用餐厨垃圾丰富了燃料乙醇的取材途径,实现了原材料的多元化,采用微生物预降解原材料为实现高产乙醇奠定了基础。     

青藏工程走廊(昆仑山口-清水湖段)地质灾害隐患点成因调查

通过野外实地调查发现,青藏工程走廊昆仑山口-清水河段发育的主要地质灾害隐患点有活断层儒移引起路基位错;活断裂作为导水通道,使冰丘穿刺路基;河岸坍塌导致铁路桥墩外露;铁路工程排水沟渗漏,铁路路基两侧水动力条件发生变化,导致铁路路基发生管涌;冻土冬季冻胀,夏季融沉导致路基裂缝、道路翻浆、管道变形;风力堆积作用导致青藏铁路护坡局部沙淤;风力吹蚀导致格拉输油管线外露。综合分析认为,青藏工程走廊昆仑山口-清水河段环境地质问题的产生是自然和人为因素复合作用的结果,应点、线、面结合考虑,综合治理。