Trace Element Concentrations and Bioindicator Responses in Tree Swallows from Northwestern Minnesota

Extremely high concentrations of cadmium (3.5 μg/g dry wgt.) and elevated concentrations of chromium (>10 μg/g dry wgt.) and mercury (1.6 μg/g dry wgt.) were reported in waterbird tissues at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota in 1994. Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were studied during 1998–2001 at three drainages into the Refuge, two pools on the Refuge, and at a nearby reference location to document whether high levels of contaminants were still present, and if so to quantify the source and severity of the contamination. Trace elements were measured in tree swallow eggs, livers, and diet. Reproductive success and bioindicator responses were monitored. In 2000, water was drawn down on Agassiz Pool, one of the main pools on the Refuge. This presented an opportunity to evaluate the response of trace element concentrations in the diet and tissues of tree swallows after reflooding. High concentrations of trace elements were not detected in swallow tissues, nor were there differences among locations. Less than 20% of swallow samples had detectable concentrations of cadmium or chromium. Mercury concentrations were low and averaged <0.25 μg/g dry wgt. in swallow tissues. Trace elements, including mercury, did not increase in tree swallows following the 2000 drawdown at Agassiz Pool. Hatching success and survival of nestlings to 12 days-of-age for tree swallows on the Refuge were similar to the national average and consistent with background trace element concentrations. Bioindicator measurements were within the normal ranges as well.     

Stand density index applied to timber and goshawk habitat objectives in Douglas-fir

Silvicultural guidelines are presented for the management of intermountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands for sawtimber production and goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nesting habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains. Data from 14 goshawk nest stands in Douglas-fir forests on the Targhee National Forest in Idaho (Patla 1991) were used to characterize the range of stand conditions considered suitable for goshawk nesting. A density management regime is presented using Reineke's stand density index that includes a technical rotation designed to produce sawlogs with a single commercial thinning. On average timber-growing sites, stands reach goshawk habitat suitability when site height is 25 m at age 75 and provide 65 years of goshawk nesting habitat until the final harvest at age 140. Approximately 1320 m³/ha are harvested over the rotation. On higher-quality sites, rotation length declines from 140 to 85 years, of which roughly 35 years are suitable for goshawk nesting.     

后德班时代环境保护部门开展应对气候变化工作的几点思考

2011年11月28日至12月11日,《联合国气候变化框架公约》第17次缔约方大会暨《京都议定书》第7次缔约方会议在南非德班召开。在平衡与妥协的激烈博弈q-,最终达成了一个各方均不满意,但都能接受的《德班协议》。全球减排合作进程进一步加快加严,我国在后德班时代面临的国际谈判与国内应对压力将更加严峻,环保部门在温室气体监测统计、污染物与温室气体协同控制、生态保护与适应气候变化等领域将发挥越来越重要的作用。     

硫磺和放线菌强化植物修复土壤镉污染

为了强化耐受重金属镉（Cd）的植物包心芥菜对土壤中Cd污染的富集及转运效率,以包心芥菜为研究对象,向土壤中添加0.3%的硫磺和接种不同数量的放线菌Act12（0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0g/kg）,通过盆栽实验,研究不同处理间根际土pH值的变化规律、包心芥菜地上和地下部分Cd的积累量、植物抗氧化酶系的变化以及根系活力.结果表明：添加0.3%硫磺和2.0g/kg放线菌Act12后,根际土pH值下降最大,相比对照下降了14.5%.而添加0.3%硫磺和1.5g/kg的放线菌Act12,包心芥菜地上部分Cd的含量最高,转运系数最大,相比对照,Cd含量提高了79%,并且植物地上部分的干重最大.添加放线菌Act12对植物的抗氧化系统有积极作用,CAT、POD、SOD含量均在0.3%硫磺和1.0g/kg放线菌Act12的添加组合下达到峰值,放线菌Act12还可提高植物的根系活力,降低丙二醛的含量.综上表明,添加硫磺和放线菌Act12均可强化包心芥菜吸收土壤中Cd的能力,其中0.3%硫磺和1.5g/kg放线菌Act12的添加组合强化效果最佳.     

Creation of the natural reserve of La Crau: implications for the creation and management of protected areas

Grasslands were once widespread and species-rich ecosystems. They have drastically decreased throughout the world, largely due to changes in land-uses. Remnant grasslands are often highly degraded and disconnected and require active conservation. In order for grasslands to be maintained worldwide, protected areas need to be created. While adequately creating and managing protected areas has proven difficult, this can be improved by following a three-point guideline: (1) consider many ecological groups (birds, insects, plants); (2) use conservation biology knowledge; (3) seek agreements with concerned parties by comprehending elements of economy, politics and sociology. Based on the example of La Crau, a steppe area in South-eastern France, this review aims at (i) illustrating that this guideline can facilitate creating and managing protected areas and (ii) proposing improvement to the guideline while keeping it simple. In La Crau, the need for conservation was first acknowledged in 1975. Between 1983, when a request for a protection decree was made and 1990, when the first concrete protection measure was taken, 20% of the steppe disappeared. It took another 8 years to reach a concerted management plan in 1998. The review shows how using ecological guidelines would have helped better and faster protection of the steppe. Improvements to the guideline drawn from the La Crau experience include: the protection of some traditional practices; the protection of some degraded habitats that can substitute for habitats that no longer exist; the restoration of degraded habitats that do not qualify for protection; and the flexibility of the management plan.     

浅析阳西县饮用水源地陂底水库的水质及管理状况

本文介绍了阳西县饮用水源地陂底水库的水质现状及污染来源,描述了水库的管理现状,并提出了处理对策。     

Coupling a 3D patch model and a rockfall module to assess rockfall protection in mountain forests

Many forests in the Alps are acknowledged for protecting objects, such as (rail) roads, against rockfall. However, there is a lack of knowledge on efficient silvicultural strategies and interventions to maintain these forests at optimal protection level. Therefore, assessment tools are required that quantify the rockfall protection effect of forest stands over time, and thereby provide the ability to evaluate the necessity and effect of management interventions. This paper introduces such a tool that consists of a 3D rockfall module embedded in the patch based forest simulator PICUS. The latter is extended for this study with a new regeneration module. In a series of experiments the new combined simulation tool is evaluated with regard to parameter sensitivity, model intercomparison experiments with recently proposed algorithms from the literature, and the ability to respond realistically to different management regimes in rockfall protection forests. Results confirm the potential of the new tool for realistic simulation of rockfall activity in heterogeneous mountain forests, but point at the urgent need to improve the knowledge base on the interaction of understory and rockfall activity. Further work will focus on model validation against empirical rockfall data, and include reduced tree vitality due to damage from boulder collisions as well as the explicit consideration of downed dead wood.     

护听器个人防护值验证技术

本文介绍了关于护听器实际防护值的研究数据,和用于护听器个人防护效果验证的方法,以及3ME-A-RfitTM听力防护验证系统。研究表明,护听器的标称降噪值对其实际防护值的指示性非常差,目前也还没有一个可靠的方法来使用护听器的标称值。3ME-A-RfitTM听力防护验证系统是使用实地真耳内置麦克风(F-MIRE)方法,在实际工作现场中快速、定量地测定护听器在具体使用者身上取得的个人声衰减值(PAR),让安全管理人员对员工实际获得的防护水平有清晰的了解。