Characteristics that make trophy hunting of giant pandas inconceivable

In November 1928, Theodore Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt led an expedition to China with the expressed purpose of being the first Westerners to kill the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The expedition lasted 8 months and resulted in the brothers shooting a giant panda in the mountains of Sichuan Province. Given the concurrent attention in the popular press describing this celebrated expedition, the giant panda was poised to be trophy hunted much like other large mammals around the world. Today, however, the killing of giant pandas, even for the generation of conservation revenue, is unthinkable for reasons related to the species itself and the context, in time and space, in which the species was popularized in the West. We found that the giant panda's status as a conservation symbol, exceptional charisma and gentle disposition, rarity, value as a nonconsumptive ecotourism attraction, and endemism are integral to the explanation of why the species is not trophy hunted. We compared these intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics with 20 of the most common trophy-hunted mammals to determine whether the principles applying to giant pandas are generalizable to other species. Although certain characteristics of the 20 trophy-hunted mammals aligned with the giant panda, many did not. Charisma, economic value, and endemism, in particular, were comparatively unique to the giant panda. Our analysis suggests that, at present, exceptional characteristics may be necessary for certain mammals to be excepted from trophy hunting. However, because discourse relating to the role of trophy hunting in supporting conservation outcomes is dynamic in both science and society, we suspect these valuations will also change in future.     

Evaluation of ecotourism development in rural regions of China

The current status of ecotourism in rural China was analyzed in this paper.Empirical surveys covering the whole country indicate that ecotourism in rural China has attracted a large number of tourists who,however,didn’t generate revenues that can match the number.Although the environmental quality of those rural ecotourism destinations is high with little negative impacts,several problems have already appeared,suggesting a need to monitor those areas.The current practice of interpretation in most rural ecotourism destinations did not provide environmental education opportunities to the tourists.And local communities need more effective ways to decide on the prospects of local ecotourism development by themselves.Finally,a few recommendations for improving the sustainability of ecotourism destinations were provided.     

江苏省2014-2016年臭氧污染区域特征分析

分析2014—2016年江苏省O₃污染状况，以及苏北、苏中和苏南3个典型区域O₃年度、季度、日变化和频度占比等分布特征。结果表明，江苏省的O₃空间分布呈现北低南高，2014—2016年的O₃超标占比由18.4%上升至34.9%；2016年苏北、苏中和苏南地区O₃-8h第90百分位数与2014年相比，上升2.7%，21.8%和3.3%；3个区域夏季O₃-8h均值最高，春、秋2季次之，冬季最低；O₃-1h日变化呈单峰状态，最低值出现在06:00—07:00，最高值出现在15:00—16:00；2016年3个地区的O₃频度占比均呈正态分布，主要集中在40~80 μg/m³，所占比例均>15%；苏中和苏南区域2016和2014年相比O₃频率占比的变化幅度较大，苏北地区变化幅度不大。指出，江苏省的O₃污染程度在逐年提高，污染范围从苏南逐渐往中部和北部城市扩大。     

Road traffic injuries among riders of electric bike/electric moped in southern China

Objective: Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries have become a burgeoning public health problem in China. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and potential risk factors of electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries among electric bike/moped riders in southern China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to interview 3,151 electric bike/moped riders in southern China. Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries that occurred from July 2014 to June 2015 were investigated. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews and analyzed between July 2015 and June 2017.

Results: The prevalence of electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries among the investigated riders was 15.99%. Electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries were significantly associated with category of electric bike (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.82), self-reported confusion (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI, 1.13–2.78), history of crashes (AOR = 6.14, 95% CI, 4.68–8.07), running red lights (AOR = 3.57, 95% CI, 2.42–5.25), carrying children while riding (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.37–2.85), carrying adults while riding (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI, 1.23–2.28), riding in the motor lane (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI, 1.05–3.93), and riding in the wrong traffic direction (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.13–2.35). In over 77.58% of electric bike/moped-related road traffic crashes, riders were determined by the police to be responsible for the crash. Major crash-causing factors included violating traffic signals or signs, careless riding, speeding, and riding in the wrong lane.

Conclusion: Traffic safety related to electric bikes/moped is becoming more problematic with growing popularity compared with other 2-wheeled vehicles. Programs need to be developed to prevent electric bike/moped-related road traffic injuries in this emerging country.     

"十三五"国家自然科学基金对能源环境管理领域的资助状况和趋势

能源环境管理是各界关注的热点话题,也是科学研究的重要方向.以国家自然科学基金资助能源环境管理领域的科研项目为基础数据信息,本文重点分析了"十三五"期间国家自然科学基金在该领域资助项目的总体特征、研究主题和热点变化,并结合新时代科学基金资助导向提出了可能的发展趋势.主要结论包括:①能源环境管理领域面上、青年、地区等自由探索类项目的立项绝对数和学科占比均呈上升趋势,并更多向青年学者倾斜,资助强度保持稳定;②碳、能源和环境是自由探索项目中出现频率最高的热词,与之相关的研究主题随着政策等调整具有动态变化特征;③能源环境管理领域重点、重大等引导类项目和优青、杰青、创新研究群体等人才类项目不断实现突破,增速明显,学科占比优势突出;④问题导向与本土情景、理论体系和一般规律、学科交叉融合,以及市场和微观主体作用是研究选题确立与项目申请时可能需要重点关注的方向.     

Boosting freshwater fish conservation with high-resolution distribution mapping across a large territory

The lack of high-resolution distribution maps for freshwater species across large extents fundamentally challenges biodiversity conservation worldwide. We devised a simple framework to delineate the distributions of freshwater fishes in a high-resolution drainage map based on stacked species distribution models and expert information. We applied this framework to the entire Chinese freshwater fish fauna (>1600 species) to examine high-resolution biodiversity patterns and reveal potential conflicts between freshwater biodiversity and anthropogenic disturbances. The correlations between spatial patterns of biodiversity facets (species richness, endemicity, and phylogenetic diversity) were all significant (r = 0.43–0.98, p < 0.001). Areas with high values of different biodiversity facets overlapped with anthropogenic disturbances. Existing protected areas (PAs), covering 22% of China's territory, protected 25–29% of fish habitats, 16–23% of species, and 30–31% of priority conservation areas. Moreover, 6–21% of the species were completely unprotected. These results suggest the need for extending the network of PAs to ensure the conservation of China's freshwater fishes and the goods and services they provide. Specifically, middle to low reaches of large rivers and their associated lakes from northeast to southwest China hosted the most diverse species assemblages and thus should be the target of future expansions of the network of PAs. More generally, our framework, which can be used to draw high-resolution freshwater biodiversity maps combining species occurrence data and expert knowledge on species distribution, provides an efficient way to design PAs regardless of the ecosystem, taxonomic group, or region considered.     

冬季黄东海颗粒有机碳的时空分布特征

根据2007年1～2月对黄东海大面调查的资料,分析研究了黄东海颗粒有机碳(POC)的时空分布特征。结果表明,冬季黄东海POC的浓度范围是2.49～1 658.96μg/L,平均浓度为125.88μg/L。在垂直方向上,POC由上而下随着水深的增加浓度逐渐降低,到底层后浓度又升高。在平面分布上,POC整体上呈现西部近岸浓度较高、东部离岸浓度较低的特点;POC的高值区集中在浙江近岸海区,特别是浙江舟山群岛南部近海,POC浓度非常高,这是受陆源输入和沉积物再悬浮的共同作用。在周日变化上,受潮汐作用和海区生物活动的影响,东海陆架中部海域除底层以外,其它各层POC在午后、傍晚、凌晨出现浓度的高峰值,而西南海域,除了底层外,其它各层均表现出全日周期变化。     

长江口海域近50a来营养盐的变化及其对浮游植物群落演替的影响

本文根据收集到的1960s到2000s年间东海长江口附近海域(30.5～32°N,122～123°E)的营养盐数据,分析了长江口海域营养盐的季节变化及历史变化趋势。其中根据1959～1960年,1985～1986年和2002～2003年长江口海域营养盐的季节变化数据,发现50 a来,营养盐的季节变化差异不大,均呈现出春夏低,秋冬高的季节变化趋势,其中2002～2003年四个季节之间营养盐含量的变化幅度较其它两年略小。从1960s～2000s年的历史变化可以看出,调查海域的DIN含量呈现出显著上升的趋势,但是在2000年以后,DIN的年平均含量略有降低但变化不大,基本保持在18μmol/L。DIP年平均浓度变化不明显,浓度范围维持在0.39～0.60μmol/L之间。SiO3-Si的年平均含量呈现出明显的降低趋势。就营养盐组成变化来说,DIN/P比例和Si/DIN比值的变化趋势相反,DIN/P比例呈现出升高的趋势而Si/DIN呈现出降低的趋势。生物数据表明从1980s以后该海域赤潮优势种有从硅藻演变为甲藻的趋势,结合营养盐的变化分析认为过量的DIN和持续升高的DIN/P是造成这一藻种长期演变现象的主要原因。     

中国主要水系沉积物中重金属分布特征及来源分析

本文简要综述了中国主要水系沉积物中重金属(Cd、As、Zn、Pb、Cu、Hg、Cr)的分布特征,系统讨论了区域城市化进程对水环境的影响,分析了重金属污染特征及其来源,并采用潜在生态风险指数法评价了中国主要水系沉积物中重金属的潜在生态危害系数和危害指数。结果显示,中国主要水系表层沉积物中重金属的复合污染状况评价结果是:Cd>Hg>Pb>As>Zn>Cr>Cu。其中,Cd元素的Eir值介于41.25～1755.00之间,属于轻微到极强生态危害,其中大部分样点属于强至极强生态危害。Hg元素的Eir值介于115.29～470.83之间,属于强到极强生态危害,其中大部分样点属于很强至极强生态危害。地区对比而言,综合污染状况以海河和珠江较为显著,长江污染最轻。就其来源来讲,海河流域和珠江流域污染来源主要为工业污染,长江和黄河主要是流域岩石风化和土壤侵蚀。     

浅析中国东海区海洋倾废管理现状与对策

实现对海洋倾废科学有效管理是保护海洋环境及海洋资源的一项重要内容和主要任务。东海是我国海洋生产力最大的海区,近年来,随着海洋经济和沿海区域经济的发展,向海上倾倒废弃物的数量和规模不断增加,在实际倾倒过程中出现了倾倒区选划利用不合理、违规倾倒和执法监管不力等问题,影响东海海洋生态环境平衡与可持续发展。因此,文章在对东海区海洋倾废活动现状进行全面客观梳理的基础上,就主要存在的问题进行实证分析,结合东海区海洋倾倒的实际需求,为实现合理有效的管理提出对策。