Application of machine learning methods to palaeoecological data

A palaeoecological study was conducted to investigate past environmental conditions and vegetation dynamics around the southwestern Ljubljana Moor. In order to find potential regularities and/or dependencies among co-existent plant species through time, different machine learning methods were applied to pollen records from the cores taken at Bistra and Ho?evarica. The data comprised relative pollen frequencies of the most common plant genera/families at particular core depths that correspond to particular ages in the Early and Mid Holocene periods. The applied methods include equation discovery and hierarchical clustering. Both methods have found plausible and explainable relationships among identified plant genera/families.     

Human risk assessment of As,Cd, Cu and Zn in the abandoned metal mine site

The cancer risk and the non-cancer hazard index for inhabitants exposed to As, Cd, Cu and Zn in the soils and stream waters of the abandoned Songcheon Au–Ag mine area were evaluated. Mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in agricultural soils were 230, 2.5, 120, 160, and 164 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Mean concentrations of As, Cd and Zn of the water in the stream where drinking water was drawn was 246 μg L⁻¹, 161 μg L⁻¹ and 3899 μg L⁻¹, respectively. These levels are significantly higher than the permissible levels for drinking water quality recommended by Korea and WHO. The resulting human health risks to farmers who inhabited the surrounding areas due to drinking water were summarized as follows: (1) the non-cancer health hazard indices showed that the toxic risk due to As and Cd in drinking water were 10 and 4 times, respectively, greater than those induced by the safe average daily dosages of the respective chemicals. (2) the cancer risk of As for exposed individuals through the drinking water pathway was 5 in 1000, exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 set for regulatory purposes.     

Mercury in surface sediments and benthic organisms from Guaymas Bay,east coast of the Gulf of California

In order to know the concentration of mercury in surface sediments, macroalgae and clams from Guaymas Bay, Mexico, 20 surface sediment samples and several individuals of Codium amplivesciculatum (3), Enteromorpha clathrata (4), Gracilaria subsecundata (2), Ulva lactuca (2), Chione subrugosa (80) and Crassostrea gigas (40) were collected and their Hg concentration was measured by a cold vapor Hg analyzer, after acid digestion. In addition, granulometric analysis and quantification of total organic carbon, aluminum, iron and manganese contents in sediments were performed. A Pearsons correlation matrix was determined and, the enrichment factor, the geoaccumulation index and the biota-sediment accumulation factor were calculated. Mercury concentrations in sediments ranged from 0.3 to 2.3 μg g⁻¹, with the central and northern portions showing the highest values. Macroalgae had a content of Hg that oscillated from 0.058 to 0.134 μg g⁻¹, while the average concentrations of this metal for clams and oysters were 0.063 and 0.230 μg g⁻¹, respectively. A clear effect of Guaymas City and the anthropogenic activities carried out around the Guaymas Bay has been observed and the enrichment factor and the geochemical index suggest that sediments from this coastal ecosystem are moderately to strongly contaminated with Hg. However, according to the figure of the maximum human consumption of Hg per week recommended by the World Health Organization, people can ingest clams without risk to their health.     

城市绿地生态效果评价方法的改进

城市绿地在改善城市环境、为居民提供游憩服务等方面具有重要作用。目前衡量绿地效果的指标从总量上规定城市绿地应达到的指标，但缺乏绿地空间分布合理性的表征。本文采用景观生态学中的异质性指数和均一性指数，提出判断城市绿地分布合理程度的两种新指标。     

IsAmmophila arenaria (Marram grass) a threat to South African dune fields?

Ammophila arenaria (marram grass) was introduced to South Africa from Europe as a means of stabilizing the Cape Flats in the 1870s, but was only successfully established in the 1890s as it was found that seeds from the first introductions did not readily germinate. By the end of the last century, it was successfully used as a dune stabilizing grass. It is now widely used in stabilization projects along the Cape coastline, being established by planting cuttings or whole plants. Because of problems experienced of marram becoming invasive, especially on the west coast of North America, and the fact that we have many invasive species which threaten our indigenous dune fields, studies have been initiated on this plant in South Africa. Most work to date has involved investigating the methods used to establish the plant in stabilization sites, and very little has been done on the biology of the species in this country. Marram is generally thought not to seed in South Africa, and thus its spread has been limited. However, in the light of recent reports of successful germination of the seed, detailed studies on the phenology of seed production and establishment in natural areas will be undertaken. Studies on the natural control by fungal species and nematodes will be carried out in conjunction with work done in the Netherlands, so that a comparison of the biology of the species in South Africa can be made with that in Europe, where it is used extensively to stabilize dunes. Nomenclature: Arnold & de Wet (1993) for vascular plants.     

中国森林资源的过去、现在与未来发展趋势

中国是少林国家。在20世纪70年代中期进行“四五”清查以前,中国只掌握一些局部性的调查数据。在1978—1981年间又进行了以省为总体的宏观抽样调查,即“五五”清查。两次清查结果很接近,但都表明中国森林太少,远低于世界平均水平和有代表性的国家。 古代中国的林区远比现在为大。森林面积则比现在大若干倍。中国缺林少材的现状是几千年来农业社会发展进程中火烧、滥伐、滥垦、滥牧的结果。其中,置森林于万劫不复的是滥垦和滥牧。这一过程至今尚未停止。 根据中国的自然条件和宜林地资源的状况,有条件大幅度扩大森林面积和增加森林蓄积量。经过努力,森林面积可达到2.53×10⁸ha,蓄积量可达到210×10⁸m³以上。都是现在的2倍多。但对保护生态环境和向国民经济提供木材和林产品来说,仍然不能完全满足需要。     

基于网络SBM-DEA模型和GML指数的中国各省工业用水效率研究

近年来,中国工业用水占全部用水的比例在20%~30%左右,提升工业用水效率、节约集约利用水资源已经成为影响中国国民经济可持续发展的重要问题之一。本文基于网络SBM-DEA模型和GML指数,研究了2007-2015年中国各省工业用水效率,实证结果发现：（1） 从年度平均值来看,与污水治理阶段相比,生产阶段处于前沿面的省份更多,各省份与前沿面的差距相对较小。北京、天津、内蒙古、山东、广东、海南等省份生产阶段工业用水效率较高,但是污水治理阶段的效率值却较低;辽宁、吉林、安徽、福建、江西、湖北、湖南、广西、贵州、云南、青海等省份生产阶段效率值较低,但是污水治理阶段的效率值却较高。（2） 从各时间段的几何平均值来看,大部分省份网络和污水治理阶段的GML指数值小于1,但是生产阶段的GML指数值大于1。因此,在提升生产阶段的工业用水效率的同时,需要加大工业污水的治理力度,提升污水治理阶段的效率,并树立工业生产和治污同步进行的意识,特别是北京、天津、内蒙古、山东、广东、海南等污水治理效率较低的省份。     

论中—下扬子“一盖多底”格局与演化

本文是“长江中小下游及邻区构造地质图1／100万”（85－901－03）的研究成果。在区内划分出4种变质基底，结合深部资料确定4个构造—地层地体．讨论了各自组成、历史和相互拼接时代，强调了晚元古代普宁运动在地质发展中的重大意义。认为晋宁运动Ⅰ幕（1000－900Ma）是杨子区内各地体向崆岭—董岭古陆拼贴的增生期．扬子地块形成；晋宁运动Ⅱ幕（800－700Ma）是华北—扬子—华夏地块对接时代．形成古中国大陆。古生代以来为盖层发育阶段。提出中下扬子的“一盖多底”的地壳结构。纵览扬子地块地质发展和演化．可分为四个历史时期：基底发育与古中国大陆形成期；盖层发育与加里东运动；欧亚大陆形成与印支运动；陆缘—板内变形与燕山运动。     

规划环境影响评价指标体系的建立与应用

以沈阳市浑南新区规划为案例,研究和探讨了规划环境影响评价指标的确定原则、理论依据、方法和程序,建立了以目标层、准则层、指标层三个层次,包括社会生态、经济生态、环境生态和环境资源支撑四大类三十项指标构成的规划环境影响评价指标体系,利用这三十项评价指标对规划进行了定量评价。     

Meadow management and occurrence of corncrake Crex crex

The aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence of corncrakes in two Swedish meadow sites managed by mowing and grazing, but also with abandoned meadows. Most corncrakes (58%) on meadows were found in unmanaged areas without subsidies to the farmers (i.e. areas with tall vegetation). Several corncrakes (62%) were found in restored areas, managed for less than 10 of the last 40 years, fewer (38%) in areas under continuous management. Vegetation height was negatively associated with number of years of management the last 40 years, and the continuously managed areas were avoided by corncrakes. Sites where corncrake territories occur regularly should be managed to maintain tall vegetation suitable for the species, which requires increased use of mowing. However, the results from our study also suggest that yearly mowing might result in a vegetation structure that is avoided by corncrakes. To achieve a balance between tall grassy vegetation and prevention of succession to scrub a possible management regime would therefore be mowing at intervals of a few years.