How farmers develop local ecological knowledge for on-farm tree management: The perspectives of some farming communities of Ghana

Scientific insights into what it means to manage on-farm trees by local farmers, is an essential step towards documenting local ecological knowledge for sustainable landscape management. A study was therefore conducted in the Kumawu Forest District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to assess how farmers conceptualise on-farm tree management and develop local knowledge for it. Using a case study approach, data were collected through informal interviews and focus group discussions with 120 farmers drawn from 15 communities who were involved in the management of three cropping systems; cocoa, maize and cassava-cocoyam-plantain mix. It was observed that the farmers regard on-farm tree management as a continuous process which occurs in three phases of the farming cycle; land preparation, crop cultivation and fallow management. For each of the three phases, farmers are guided by specific principles that ensure enough light penetration in-between tree crowns in the land preparation phase, suitable spacing between trees and crops in the crop cultivation phase and adequate tree regeneration in the fallow phase. The decisions made during the selection of tree species, spacing of trees adjudged suitable for any particular cropping system and recruitment of saplings prior to the fallow phase of farming constitute tree management. Farmers develop tree management knowledge by studying the physical characteristics of species, matching them to ecological functions they could perform and how they are likely to respond to treatments meant to control or enhance their development. Species are then subjected to trial and recommended or otherwise.     

基于缓冲区重采样的LSTM林火预测模型*

为提高林火风险预测精度,挖掘地图上隐含的空间信息、时间序列上隐含的长期趋势和循环波动,提出1种基于缓冲区重采样的长短期记忆（LSTM）林火预测模型,选取15个与林火相关的影响因素,以方差膨胀因子为评价指标对其进行多重共线性检验,方差膨胀因子大于10的因素具有共线性,并采用信息增益率验证筛选结果的合理性。考虑到火灾的空间聚集特性,采用缓冲区分析与过采样相结合方法减少样本不均衡现象的影响,最终得到176 732条样本。对12个影响因素和研究时间段的火点建立LSTM预测模型,对森林火灾发生风险进行预测。研究结果表明:基于缓冲区重采样的LSTM林火预测模型有效考虑时空上隐含的信息,预测模型准确率为87.06%,特异性为97.99%,敏感度为76.12%,阳性预测率为97.43%,阴性预测率为80.41%,ROC曲线与AUC值均优于随机森林（RF）和支持向量机（SVM）这2种基准算法。维尔克松秩和检验发现,本文提出的模型与基准算法结果具有显著性差异。研究结果可为提高林火风险预测精度提供参考。     

中亚热带针阔混交林土壤-大气界面释汞通量研究

为了揭示不同气候条件下森林与大气间汞交换的规律,应用动力学通量箱与Lumex RA 915+测汞仪联用技术,选择重庆缙云山国家级自然保护区为研究地点,于2011年4月~2012年3月对针阔混交林土/气界面释汞通量进行了为期1 a的连续监测,并考察了各环境因子对土壤释汞通量的影响.结果表明,缙云山针阔混交林林地土壤年平均释汞通量值为(16.82±6.70)ng·(m2·h)-1,明显高于欧美国家自然背景区;受光照、温度、相对湿度等气象因素以及亚热带地区森林植被生长变化规律影响,缙云山地区林地土壤释汞通量存在显著的季节性差异,暖季林地土壤释汞通量[(22.23±13.19)ng·(m2·h)-1]明显高于冷季[(6.01±4.05)ng·(m2·h)-1];通径分析结果表明林地土壤释汞通量的日变化特征和1 d中光照强度变化有密切关系,土温、气温和相对湿度与土壤释汞通量之间的显著相关关系可能是光照强度与土壤释汞通量相关关系的表象.     

模拟氮沉降对太岳山油松林土壤呼吸的影响及其持续效应

以太岳山油松林为研究对象,对林地分别作3种凋落物处理:对照(C)、去凋(B)、去凋+切根(A),并设计了4个氮水平:对照(CK,0 kg·hm-2·a-1,以N计,下同)、低氮(LN,50 kg·hm-2·a-1)、中氮(MN,100 kg·hm-2·a-1)和高氮(HN,150 kg·hm-2·a-1),研究了土壤呼吸速率在施氮后的连续变化,以及与温度、湿度、微生物生物量C、N、土壤酶活性的关系.结果表明:去凋+切根、去凋、对照样方不同施氮水平下土壤呼吸速率基本都在施N后的第1 d处在最高峰,随即下降,切根+去凋、去凋处理样方的土壤呼吸速率在施氮后第3 d趋于稳定,而对照处理样方的土壤呼吸速率一直处于下降状态.施氮在一定程度上抑制了切根+去凋处理的土壤呼吸速率,而促进了去凋处理、对照处理的土壤呼吸速率,并且土壤微生物生物量C、N的变化与土壤呼吸速率变化一致,土壤呼吸速率与土壤酶活性、土壤湿度的拟合关系不显著(p0.05),而与土壤温度的拟合关系显著(p0.05).以土壤温度、土壤湿度构建的复合模型R s=aebTWc预测土壤呼吸的准确性高于单因子模型,施氮降低了每种凋落物处理指数关系模型(R s=aebT)的决定系数R2,并且施氮降低了切根+去凋、去凋处理的温度敏感性指数Q10,而对对照处理的Q10无明显影响.     

缙云山3种典型森林降雨过程及其氮素输入

选取重庆缙云山的常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林为研究对象,于2012年5~10月对大气降水、穿透雨和树干径流等降水过程及其氮素输入进行研究.结果表明:①研究期间总降雨量564.88 mm,常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林的穿透雨量占总降雨量的比例分别为74.0%、85.0%和71.6%,且树干径流量所占比例分别为1.9%、10.3%和1.6%;3种林分的穿透雨量、树干径流量与林外降雨量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05),且穿透雨率、树干径流率与林外降雨量之间都呈对数关系(P<0.05).②与大气降水相比,穿透雨和树干径流的NO-3和NH+4浓度要高,且3种林分的大小关系为针阔混交林>常绿阔叶林>毛竹林;穿透雨和树干径流的总无机氮输入量(以N计)分别为针阔混交林(18.93 kg·hm-2)、常绿阔叶林(14.93 kg·hm-2)和毛竹林(15.31 kg·hm-2).③3种林分的无机氮输入量与穿透雨量、树干径流量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05).     

A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem‐based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature. Una Perspectiva Micótica de la Biología de la Conservación     

龙山县生态公益林建设与管理现状及对策

简述了龙山县生态公益林建设与管理的现状,剖析了新时期发挥生态公益林的生态、社会效益与提高林农收入矛盾,分析了龙山县生态公益林建设与管理中存在的问题,提出了龙山县实现生态公益林生态、社会效益与提高林农收入的措施.参4.     

华西雨屏区典型人工林对降雨过程中NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N的过滤作用

氮沉降已成为河流、湖泊及城市等生态系统的主要污染威胁因素之一,森林生态系统能从林冠、地被和土壤自上而下截留过滤大气降雨中的NH+4-N和NO-3-N,是区域大气环境污染生态防治的重要途径.选取华西雨屏区几种典型人工林森林生态系统为研究对象,采用定位监测与室内分析相结合的研究方法,于2011年4—12月对大气降水、穿透雨、树干茎流、地表径流和地下渗滤NH+4-N和NO-3-N的含量与分配进行了研究.结果表明:观测期内40次降雨总雨量为492.72 mm,NH+4-N和NO-3-N的总沉降量分别为13.248 kg·hm-2和16.320 kg·hm-2;3种人工林林冠层对NH+4-N和NO-3-N的过滤能力表现为香樟林混交林柳杉林,而地表和土壤层均表现为混交林香樟林柳杉林;无林地、香樟林、柳杉林和混交林生态系统无机氮截留过滤净输入量分别为19.557、44.079、42.331、64.896 kg·hm-2,对无机氮的综合过滤作用表现为混交林香樟林柳杉林无林地.这些结果说明华西雨屏区合理配置混交林能更加有效地降低大气氮沉降对生态系统的影响.     

The multiple communities of low-carbon transition: an assessment of communities involved in forest carbon measurement

In recent writing on sociotechnical transitions theory communities are mostly conceived of as being local and place-based (“grassroots”). In this paper the implications for sociotechnical transitions theory of having multiple communities operating at different geographical scales, and with different objectives, are examined through a case study of low-carbon innovation in forests. The focus of analysis is the communities promoting sociotechnical innovations in the measurement of forest carbon. Innovation is being driven by the international United Nations climate policy initiative “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation” (REDD+). The rise of REDD+ policy has prompted a flurry of activity in related scientific research, especially in the field of remote sensing. But other types of community are also actively positioning themselves as experts in forest carbon measurement: there are multiple communities at work, each with varying claims to innovation and expertise, from local (place-based) forest communities to international communities of foresters and forest ecologists. Recognition of the multiple communities operating within sociotechnical systems usefully draws our attention to the politics of innovation.     

Streamside Management Zones Compromised by Stream Crossings,Legacy Gullies,and Over‐Harvest in the Piedmont

Streamside management zone (SMZ) breakthroughs were identified and characterized to determine frequency and potential causes, in order to provide enhanced guidance for future water quality protection. Ten kilometers of SMZs were carefully examined for partial or complete breakthroughs. With partial breakthroughs the SMZ trapped sediment before it reached the stream, while complete breakthroughs appeared to have allowed sediment to have passed through with minimal restriction. A total of 41 breakthroughs occurred (33 complete, 8 partial) across 16 sites, averaging 1 complete breakthrough per 0.3 km of SMZ length. The most common complete breakthroughs were caused by stream crossings (42%), reactivation of legacy agricultural gullies (27%), and harvest related soil disturbances near/within SMZs (24%). Pearson correlations of site characteristics at breakthroughs indicated no strong relationships between breakthrough sites, representing the variable nature of these unique circumstances. Stream crossings are an intentional breakthrough for access purposes, but resulting environmental impacts can be reduced with best management practice implementation. Current recommendations for SMZs tend to work in most situations, yet further research is needed to identify causal factors and quantify breakthrough severity.