Determination of respiration, gross nitrification and denitrification in soil profile using BaPS system

A facility of BaPS （Barometric Process Separation） was used to determine soil respiration, gross nitrification and denitrification in a winter wheat field with depths of 0-7, 7--14 and 14-21 cm. N2O production was determined by a gas chromatograph. Crop root mass and relevant soil parameters were measured. Results showed that soil respiration and gross nitrification decreased with the increase of soil depth, while denitrification did not change significantly. In comparison with no-plowing plot, soil respiration increased significantly in plowing plot, especially in the surface soil of 0-7 cm, while gross nitrification and denitrification rates were not affected by plowing. Cropping practice in previous season was found to affect soil gross nitrification in the following wheat-growing season. Higher gross nitrification rate occurred in the filed plot with preceding crop of rice compared with that of maize for all the three depths of 0-7, 7-14 and 14-21 cm. A further investigation indicated that the nitrification for all the cases accounted for about 76% of the total nitrogen transformation processes of nitrification and denitrification and the N2O production correlated with nitrification significantly, suggesting that nitrification is a key process of soil N2O production in the wheat field. In addition, the variations of soil respiration and gross nitrification were exponentially dependent on root mass （p〈0.00l）.     

Determination of trichloroacetic acid in environmental studies using carbon 14 and chlorine 36

Radioisotopes carbon 14 and chlorine 36 were used to elucidate the environmental role of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) formerly taken to be a herbicide and a secondary air pollutant with phytotoxic effects. However, use of ¹⁴C-labeling posed again known analytical problems, especially in TCA extraction from the sample matrix. Therefore—after evaluation of available methods—a new procedure using decarboxylation of [1,2-¹⁴C]TCA combined with extraction of the resultant ¹⁴C-chloroform with a non-polar solvent and its subsequent radiometric measurement was developed. The method solves previous difficulties and permits an easy determination of amounts between 0.4 and 20 kBq (10–500 ng g⁻¹) of carrier-less [1,2-¹⁴C]TCA in samples from environmental investigations. The procedure is, however, not suitable for direct [³⁶Cl]TCA determination in chlorination studies with ³⁶Cl. Because TCA might be microbially degraded in soil during extraction and sample storage and its extraction from soil or needles is never complete, the decarboxylation method—i.e. 2 h TCA decomposition to chloroform and CO₂ in aqueous solution or suspension in closed vial at 90 °C and pH 4.6 with subsequent CHCl₃ extraction—is recommended here, estimated V < 7%. Moreover, the influence of pH and temperature on the decarboxylation of TCA in aqueous solution was studied in a broad range and its environmental relevance is shown in the case of TCA decarboxylation in spruce needles which takes place also at ambient temperatures and might amount more than 10–20% after a growing season. A study of TCA distribution in spruce needles after below-ground uptake shows the highest uptake rate into current needles which have, however, a lower TCA content than older needle-year classes, TCA biodegradation in forest soil leads predominatingly to CO₂.     

Scientific research, stakeholders, and policy: continuing dialogue during research on radionuclides on Amchitka Island, Alaska

It is increasingly clear that a wide range of stakeholders should be included in the problem formulation phase of research aimed at solving environmental problems; indeed the inclusion of stakeholders at this stage has been formalized as an integral part of ecological risk assessment. In this paper, we advocate the additional inclusion of stakeholders in the refinement of research methods and protocols and in the execution of the research, rather than just at the final communication and reporting phase. We use a large study of potential radionuclide levels in marine biota around Amchitka Island as a case study. Amchitka Island, in the Aleutian Island Chain of Alaska, was the site of three underground nuclear tests (1965-1971). The overall objective of the biological component of the study was to collect a range of marine biota for radionuclide analysis that could provide data for assessing current food safety and provide a baseline for developing a plan to monitor human and ecosystem health in perpetuity. Stakeholders, including regulators (State of Alaska), resource trustees (US Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Alaska), representatives of the Aleut and Pribilof Island communities, the Department of Energy (DOE), and others, were essential for plan development. While these stakeholders were included in the initial problem formulation and approved science plan, we also included them in the refinement of protocols, selection of bioindicators, selection of a reference site, choice of methods of collection, and in the execution of the study itself. Meetings with stakeholders resulted in adding (or deleting) bioindicator species and tissues, prioritizing target species, refining sampling methods, and recruiting collection personnel. Some species were added because they were important subsistence foods for the Aleuts, and others were added because they were ecological equivalents to replace species deleted because of low population numbers. Two major refinements that changed the research thrust were (1) the inclusion of Aleut hunters and fishers on the biological expedition itself to ensure that subsistence foods and methods were represented, and (2) the addition of a fisheries biologist on a NOAA research trawler to allow sampling of commercial fishes. Although the original research design called for the collection of biota by Aleut subsistence fishermen, and by a commercial fishing boat, the research was modified with continued stakeholder input to actually include Aleuts and a fisheries biologist on the expeditions to ensure their representation. The inclusion of stakeholders during the development of protocols and the research itself improved the overall quality of the investigation, while making it more relevant to the interested and affected parties. Final responsibility for the design and execution of the research and radionuclide analysis rested with the researchers, but the process of stakeholder inclusion made the research more valuable as a source of credible information and for public policy decisions.     

深圳市土地开发和景观生态演变特征分析

本文在探讨深圳市上地资源的利用与开发的基础上，研究分析了其内部景观生态系统类型的结构，功能和组成快速演变的机制和特征。认为深圳市特殊的地理位置，经济发展模式，区位特征和大规模的土地开发是区域景观生态系统类型结构和组成快速演变的根本因素。     

Biodiversity and Saving the Earth

The challenges for reversing course in our stewardship of the earth's ecosystems has never been greater. Biodiversity is in decline on an unprecedented scale and it is tempting to use this as an indicator of the health of the earth's ecosystems. In fact it is one of a number of indicators that collectively provides information on trends in the condition of ecosystems. But the larger problem is the lack of integration between the social and natural sciences. Mainstream scientists continue to reject the notion that solving environmental problems requires an integration of values and processes. A conceptual model shows how these facets may be brought together. A holistic vision requires the integration of natural, social and health sciences. From this perspective the linkage between biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and management options is more clearly articulated.     

土地利用变化对洞庭湖区生态系统服务价值的影响

土地利用变化对区域生态系统服务价值动态变化研究具有重要意义，为区域土地利用规划、生态环境保护和生态恢复提供了科学依据。近年来洞庭湖区土地利用状况波动频繁,研究其生态系统服务价值的变化情况,可以为该区正在进行的生态重建提供依据。参照中国陆地生态系统单位面积服务价值表， 在土地利用类型划分的基础上将洞庭湖区生态资产划分为7类，利用洞庭湖区两期土地利用数据,估算了土地利用变化引起的生态系统服务价值的变化，结果表明：①20世纪80年代末为中点，前10年湖区生态系统服务价值亏损，后10年生态价值回升并有所提高，表明湖区生态建设出现一定成效；②虽然水域生态系统服务价值是湖区生态系统价值的主要构成部分，但湿地生态系统价值变化决定湖区生态系统总价值的变化趋势。     

森林对污染物（SO2-4）的过滤器效应研究

森林的过滤器效应是指森林对污染物所具有的净化缓冲作用，这是森林生态系统所具有的重要生态服务功能之一。森林生态系统对污染物的截留、吸附与净化一般是通过污染物在森林生态系统中的乔木层与灌草层植物、枯落物和土壤（微生物）等组分间的转化过程来实现，阐明森林生态系统各组分对污染物的净化效应是正确评估森林过滤器效应的关键。系统综述了森林生态系统各组分对污染物净化效应的国内外主要研究成果，指明了目前该方面研究存在的问题和努力的方向,并指出目前国内已有的大多数研究还处于实验观测与现象揭示阶段，缺乏对过程与机理的深入研究，很少进行多因素的动态综合研究和系统分析，这都限制了我们对森林生态系统对污染物净化过程内在运行机制和客观规律的正确认识和评估。把整个森林生态系统当作一个过滤器，从植物、凋落物、土壤、微生物几个亚系统方面介绍了森林过滤器对污染物净化缓冲作用方面的主要研究进展。     

乌苏-奎屯-独山子地区生态系统服务功能变化研究

在3S技术的支持下,以1990年和2005年的TM图像解译数据为基础,采用谢高地的评价方法分析了乌苏-奎屯-独山子地区景观类型与生态系统服务功能的变化特征,为研究该地区水土开发与生态环境演变提供了依据。结果表明,1990-2005年,乌苏-奎屯-独山子地区农田、灌木林地、城镇及工业用地、盐碱地、水域和未利用地面积增加,其他乔木林地、草地、冰川和沼泽面积均减少;区域生态系统服务功能从1990年的9 182.84×106元减少到2005年的8 627.96×106元,减少量为554.87×106元,减少率为6.04%。保护区域生态环境,恢复和提高区域生态系统服务功能是该区域生态环境建设的重要任务。     

基于生产可能性边界的黄河三角洲湿地生态系统服务权衡强度

提出了一种基于生产可能性边界（PPF）的湿地生态系统服务权衡强度计算方法,包括湿地生态系统服务定量评估、权衡关系判定、PPF曲线绘制和权衡强度计算四个步骤。以黄河三角洲湿地为研究对象,对保护情景、现状发展情景及开发情景三种土地利用发展模式下的主导生态系统服务进行了定量化权衡分析。结果表明：各生态系统服务间呈现显著相关关系（R²≥0.9,P<0.01）,各发展情景下,栖息地质量与碳储量之间均为协同关系;物质生产与栖息地质量间均为权衡关系,排序为保护情景<基期<现状发展情景<开发情景;而对于物质生产与碳储量之间,在保护及现状发展情景下存在协同关系;而开发情景下转变为权衡关系。该模型通过灵活比较不同生态服务间权衡关系分析进行系列管理规划的方案优选,为实现区域可持续发展提供科学依据。     

Luoyang Dual Spatial Criterion Ecological City Construction

The construction of an ecological city has two foundational platforms： the small platform, namely urban district or simply called as ＂city ecosystem＂; and the big platform, namely around city district in certain region scope or also referred to as ＂city-region ecosystem＂. The construction of an ecological city must be launched in the dual spatial criteria： in city （urban district） criterion--optimizing the city ecosystem; in city-region （city territory） criterion-optimizing the city-region ecosystem. Luoyang has the bright characteristic and the typical image within cities Of China, and even in the world. The construction of an ecological city in dual spatial criteria--the city and the cityregion has the vital significance to urbanization advancement and sustainable development in Luoyang. In city-region criterion, the primary mission of Luoyang＇s ecological city construction is to create a fine ecological environment platform in its city territory. In city criterion, the basic duty of Luoyang＇s ecologic city construction is to enhance the ecological capacity and benefit of the central city.