Exploring the risks and benefits of flexibility in biodiversity offset location in a case study of migratory shorebirds

Biodiversity offsets aim to counterbalance the residual impacts of development on species and ecosystems. Guidance documents explicitly recommend that biodiversity offset actions be located close to the location of impact because of higher potential for similar ecological conditions, but allowing greater spatial flexibility has been proposed. We examined the circumstances under which offsets distant from the impact location could be more likely to achieve no net loss or provide better ecological outcomes than offsets close to the impact area. We applied a graphical model for migratory shorebirds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway as a case study to explore the problems that arise when incorporating spatial flexibility into offset planning. Spatially flexible offsets may alleviate impacts more effectively than local offsets; however, the risks involved can be substantial. For our case study, there were inadequate data to make robust conclusions about the effectiveness and equivalence of distant habitat-based offsets for migratory shorebirds. Decisions around offset placement should be driven by the potential to achieve equivalent ecological outcomes; however, when considering more distant offsets, there is a need to evaluate the likely increased risks alongside the potential benefits. Although spatially flexible offsets have the potential to provide more cost-effective biodiversity outcomes and more cobenefits, our case study showed the difficulty of demonstrating these benefits in practice and the potential risks that need to be considered to ensure effective offset placement.     

A comparison analysis of the decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth in three industries of Heilongjiang province in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Growing environmental pressure urges China to develop in a sustainable and low carbon way, and thus China strives to achieve a carbon peak by 2030 and...     

《环境监测 分析方法标准制修订技术导则》(HJ 168—2010)对土壤环境监测标准制修订适用性探讨

针对土壤环境监测的复杂性和特殊性,从空白试验、检出限、方法验证、质量控制和标准文本等方面,指出了《环境监测分析方法标准制修订技术导则》《HJ 168—2010》对土壤环境监测标准制修订工作的适用性和执行中存在的问题。提出,为保证土壤标准制修订质量和标准执行质量,应研究适宜土壤监测方法标准的质量控制指标体系和评价体系,及时修订《HJ 168—2010》或发布补充要求;对现有土壤监测方法标准进行技术评估,加强对于土壤标准制修订工作的指导和监管。     

Contamination characteristics of trace metals in dust from different levels of roads of a heavily air-polluted city in north China

Concentrations of eight trace metals (TMs) in road dust (RD) (particles?<?25 μm) from urban areas of Xinxiang, China, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The geometric mean concentrations of Zn, Mn, Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Ni and Cd were 489, 350, 114, 101, 60.0, 39.7, 31.6, and 5.1 mg kg^?1, respectively. When compared with TM levels in background soil, the samples generally display elevated TM concentrations, except for Cr and Mn, and for Cd the enrichment value was 69.6. Spatial variations indicated TMs in RD from park path would have similar sources with main roads, collector streets and bypasses. Average daily exposure doses of the studied TMs were about three orders of magnitude higher for hand-to-mouth ingestion than dermal contact, and the exposure doses for children were 9.33 times higher than that for adults. The decreasing trend of calculated hazard indexes (HI) for the eight elements was As?>?Pb?>?Cr?>?Mn?>?Cd?>?Zn?>?Ni?>?Cu for both children and adults.     

近53 a来长江流域极端降水指数特征

利用1963~2015年长江流域115个气象站点逐日降水数据，分析了不同极端降水指标的空间变化特点和时间变化趋势。结果表明，近53 a来，长江流域多年平均年极端降水量与年降水量从下游到上游逐渐递减，两者变化趋势大致呈现“增-减-增”的空间分布格局。年极端降水量对年降水量贡献（PEP）存在明显的空间分布差异，但贡献比例在流域内普遍呈现增加的趋势。持续1 d的极端降水事件的降水量分布及其变化趋势与年极端降水量的分布特征类似，其对年极端降水量的贡献比例高达65%以上，说明长江流域极端降水以持续1 d的极端降水事件为主。持续2 d及以上的极端降水事件主要集在中皖苏赣局部地区和四川中部地区，但其降水量对年极端降水量的贡献比例较小。从上游到下游，年最大日降水量（MDP）逐渐增大。其中，上游源头地区的沱沱河、曲麻莱和玉树3个站点MDP主要集中在0~25 mm之间，其他站点均以25~50 mm量级为主；长江流域中部地区的MDP大部分以50~100 mm的量级为主，处于100~150 mm之间的次之；长江流域东部地区主要以100~150 mm量级的MDP为主。 关键词： 极端降水；降水贡献；不同历时；长江流域     

A comparative study of vocational education and occupational safety and health training in China and the UK

In order to enhance Chinese workers’ occupational safety awareness, it is essential to learn from developed countries’ experiences. This article investigates thoroughly occupational safety and health (OSH) in China and the UK; moreover, the article performs a comparison of Chinese and British OSH training-related laws, regulations and education system. The following conclusions are drawn: China’s work safety continues to improve, but there is still a large gap compared with the UK. In China a relatively complete vocational education and training (VET) system has been established. However, there exist some defects in OSH. In the UK, the employer will not only pay attention to employees’ physiological health, but also to their mental health. The UK’s VET is characterized by classification and grading management, which helps integrate OSH into the whole education system. China can learn from the UK in the development of policies, VET and OSH training.     

都市边缘区田园综合体建设能力测算——以南京市高淳区为例

从田园综合体概念出发，量化评价乡镇田园综合体建设能力，为农地综合利用提供理论支撑。该研究以南京市高淳区为例，构建了涵盖现代农业、休闲旅游、田园社区的评价指标体系定量测算，以镇级尺度，综合运用GIS空间分析、TOPSIS、障碍度模型等探析田园综合体建设能力及其阻碍因素，在此基础上提炼差异化的发展路径。结果表明：（1)现代农业、休闲旅游、田园社区建设能力空间差异显著；（2)休闲旅游、田园社区、现代农业等3个维度对田园综合体建设作用程度和方向不一；（3)影响各乡镇田园综合体建设能力主要障碍因子互有差异，各因子间具复合制约功效；(4）研究针对东部慢城生态区、中南部环湖湿地区、西部水乡圩网区、中北部中心老城区的土地利用提出相应的建设路径。     

Effects of T-2 toxin on histopathology,fatty acid and water distribution of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) muscle

T-2 toxin (T-2), one of the naturally occurring mycotoxins, often accumulates in aquatic animals from contaminated feed. Shrimp (n?=?30 per group) were fed with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5, 4.5 and 13.5?mg kg^?1) of T-2 for 20?days. Changes in histopathology, fatty acid and water distribution of shrimp muscle were analyzed. Histopathology of shrimp muscle showed dose-dependent marked degenerative and necrotic changes on exposure to dietary T-2. The T-2 significantly (P?<?0.05) affected the muscle fatty acid composition. ∑SFA, ∑MUFA and ∑PUFA initially decreased and then increased slowly in the high-dosed groups. C16:0, C18:1n-9 and C18:2n-6 were the main saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), respectively. Also, T-2 significantly affected water distribution in shrimp muscle. High doses of T-2 reduced free water content, resulting in a reduction in the water holding capacity and hence changes to the shrimp muscle quality. Collectively, these results illustrated that T-2 significantly affects the fatty acid and water distribution, and also muscle histopathology, all of which would result in a reduction in the quality and nutritional value of shrimp.     

异龙湖沉水植物分布格局与水环境因子相关性研究

异龙湖为中国云南九大高原湖泊之一,是处于草型向藻型湖泊转化节点上的典型高原湖泊,因历史原因,异龙湖东西湖区水环境条件差异较大,可较好的代表云南高原草型及藻型湖泊类型,因此研究异龙湖的沉水植物时空分布与水环境因子关系,对于我国高原湖泊的保护具有重要意义,且自1980年以来异龙湖沉水植物相关研究成果较少,因此,本研究在异龙湖开展为期一周年的水环境因子及沉水植物调查,对沉水植物分布格局及其与水环境因子之间相互关系进行了研究,以期为异龙湖的沉水植物研究留下珍贵的历史资料,并探索异龙湖沉水植物分布格局及其影响因子,为沉水植物恢复提供数据及技术支撑.结果表明:东西湖区沉水植物的群落结构具有显著差异,西湖区小茨藻(Najas minor All.)、狸藻(Utricularia vulgaris L)、轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)等为优势种,东湖区篦齿眼子菜(Potamogeton pectinatus L)、狐尾藻(Myriophyllum verticilla-tum L)为优势种,且西湖区沉水植物的生物量及物种丰度显著高于东湖区.通过相关性分析看出水深、透明度、溶解氧是影响异龙湖沉水植物分布的主要环境因子,总氮、总磷、氨氮及pH是次要影响因子,异龙湖在现状条件下恢复沉水植物应针对不同湖区恢复采用不同的恢复策略,选择不同的沉水植物种类开展恢复工作.