Economical sensitivity analysis of rice husk utilization in a 300 kW<Subscript>el</Subscript> Micro Thermal Power Plant

Production of rice husks in Rio Grande do Sul State, which is the major rice production state in Brazil, needs to be adequately managed to diminish environmental impacts. A Micro Thermal Power Plant (MTP), which is a compact and small-scale biomass thermal power plant technology, can be used in electricity generation in thermal power plants with a power capacity up to 800 kW_el. This paper presents a feasibility analysis of a 300 kW_el MTP that is fuelled by rice husks using two different scenarios: the autoproduction (Case 1) and the independent production (Case 2) of electricity. Both scenarios were found to be unfeasible. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the variables that affect feasibility, such as the electricity commercialization price, the value of certified emission reductions and the financial interest rates. According to sensitivity analysis, small-scale thermal power plants could have feasibility if they received incentives through government programmes, such as through the exemption of equipment taxes and/or the reduction or elimination of the financial interest rate.     

Regional differences and influencing factors in the CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions of China’s power industry based on the panel data models considering power-consuming efficiency factor

With the economic development, China has become the largest CO₂ emissions country. China’s power industry CO₂ emissions accounted for about 50% of total CO₂ emissions. Therefore, exploring major drivers of CO₂ emissions is critical to mitigating its CO₂ emissions in power industry. Many studies considered the time series model to analyze the national influences factors of CO₂ emissions. But this paper focuses on regional differences in CO₂ emissions and adopts panel data models to explore the major impact factors of CO₂ emissions in the power industry at the regional and provincial perspectives. The results indicate economic growth level plays a dominant role in reducing CO₂ emissions. The power-consuming efficiency on the demand side has large potential to mitigate CO₂ emissions, but its influences are different in three regions. The impacts of the electric power structure on CO₂ emissions decline from the eastern region to the central and western regions. The influence of urbanization and industrialization also has significant regional differences. Therefore, the governments should consider the influencing factors and regional differences and formulate appropriate policies to decrease CO₂ emissions in the power industry.     

Solar-driven technology for freshwater production from atmospheric air by using the composite desiccant material “CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>/floral foam”

In this communication, experiments have been performed to check the capability of the newly formed composite desiccant material (CaCl₂/floral) for the extraction of freshwater from atmospheric air. Three numbers of solar glass desiccant box type system (SGDBS) with a captured area of 0.36 m² each, have been used. The design parameters for the water production are height of glass from desiccant bed at 0.22 m, inclination in angle as 30°, the effective thickness of glass as 3 mm and number of glazing as single. The maximum yield by the new composite desiccant material is 0.35 ml/cm³/day. The efficiency of the system SGDBS with 37 % concentration of CaCl₂ is 76.44 %.     

Are ecological differences of irruptive bird species from typical migrants real? (The example of the long-tailed tit <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegithalos c. caudatus</Emphasis>)

Using the long-tailed tit (Aegithalos c. caudatus) as an example of the so-called irruptive species, the ecophysiological characteristics (body mass, fat reserves) and migration speed during autumn period were analyzed. The mean body mass and the median fat score did not depend on the number of migrating individuals. There was no evidence of the so-called stress in birds, participating in migration: migrants had even higher fat reserves than residents, while no significant difference in the body mass was recorded. The increase in fat reserves in the long-tailed tit during migration period was similar to the seasonal changes in energy reserves known for typical migrants. This makes it possible for late-migrating individuals to maintain higher total speed of migration compared to early-migrating ones. Basing on the obtained data, we conclude that the ecophysiological characteristics of the long-tailed tits migrating in autumn are similar to those of regular migrants.     

Non-timber forest product dependence among the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jah Hut</Emphasis> subgroup of Peninsular Malaysia’s Orang Asli

Non-timber forest products (NTFP) represent key sources of cash and subsistence income for millions of rural and indigenous peoples living in tropical developing countries throughout the world. The current study investigates the use and significance of NTFP within a sample of Peninsular Malaysia’s Orang Asli (indigenous people). Data collected via household surveys across three sampling phases reveals that more than 75% of the population is actively engaged in NTFP collection. Household responses indicate diversity in both the types and uses of products collected. NTFP collection participation, frequency of collection, and collection reliance are found to be significantly negatively related to village proximity to the market, as well as to income level relative to the Malaysian poverty line. When collection variables are examined by different product categories, relationships with market access and income group are variable. Implications for different approaches to forest conservation and rural development are discussed.     

Changes in the structure of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylorhiza incarnata</Emphasis> (L.) Soó population during the overgrowing of a meadow-bog community complex in the Moscow region

The overgrowing of meadow-bog communities by shrubs and trees (age 5–40 years, crown closure 0.4–0.9) leads to a decrease in incident illumination. As a consequence, juvenile and generative plants disappear from D. incarnata population loci, their average ecological density decreases, and the loci enter the state of regression. The digging activity of wild boars disrupts phytocenotically closed groups of longirhizomatous herbs, thereby creating favorable conditions for seed reproduction of D. incarnata. The species begins to form population loci with a complete ontogenetic spectrum and high ecological density, eventually restoring the normal (definitive) population structure.     

Chernov’s compensation principle and the effect of rodent community completeness on the variability of bank vole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clethrionomys glareolus</Emphasis>) population in the Middle Urals

Using methods of geometric morphometrics, significant differences have been revealed in manifestations of variability and morphological disparity in allochronous samples from the population of model species, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb. 1780), in the Middle Urals at different levels of rodent community (taxocene) completeness in different years. Two states of the taxocene—oligospecific (two species) and polyspecific (five species)—and the level of relative abundance of bank voles (high or low) have been taken into account. Comparative analysis of variation in the size and shape of the mandible in same-aged (late-summer) young of the year has shown that significant morphogenetic differences exist between the animals sampled from the rodent taxocene at its different states (oligospecific and polyspecific) and, to a lesser extent, at high and low levels of abundance. The level of variation and the parameter of intragroup morphological disparity (MNND) in the mandible shape reach a maximum when the community has a reduced composition and decrease to a minimum when its composition is complete (i.e., in the oligo- and polyspecific taxocene). A parallelism is observed in the manifestation of morphofunctional changes of the mandible in male and female voles under conditions when the taxocene has high abundance and oligospecific composition or low abundance but polyspecific composition. Different morphogenetic responses of the population to oligo- and polyspecific composition of the community are considered as a compensatory increase of morphological disparity in the dominant species (the bank vole) under conditions of incomplete composition of the taxocene and low population density, in accordance with Chernov’s ecological compensation principle.     

气候变化·城市化·长江三角洲

长江三角洲,是中国经济社会最发达、人口和产业最密集、发展最具活力的地区之一,正在成长为具有重要国际影响的世界级城市群,在中国经济社会发展中具有举足轻重的地位。长江三角洲的城市化与建设环境互为影响。一方面,用2008年数据概括了长江三角洲城市化现状特征,重点分析了长江三角洲城市化的发展趋势是城市化过程进一步加速;另一方面,综述了常见三角洲海平面上升研究,在未来20 a长江三角洲海平面上升估计将达到220～380 mm;在未来50 a,长江三角洲海平面上升保守的估计将达到270~610 mm。未来气候变化导致海平面上升,必然对长江三角洲城市化过程造成影响,主要是：土地淹没面积大,洪涝灾害加剧,影响生产和能源,以及进一步滋生环境问题。     

Effect of rise in spring air temperature on the arrival dates and reproductive success of the Song Thrush, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Turdus philomelos</Emphasis> (C.L. Brehm, 1831) in the forest–steppe of the Russian Plain

The effect of rise in spring air temperature on the breeding phenology and reproductive success of the Song Thrush in the Voronezh Nature Reserve have been studied over the periods of 1987 to 1990 and 2008 to 2012. The results show that relatively high air temperatures provide for earlier arrival of the birds from wintering grounds, earlier and more synchronous breeding of the majority of nesting pairs, and an increase in clutch size and proportion of pairs producing two broods per season. Predation pressure on bird nests decreases under such conditions, which markedly improves reproductive success. Climate warming is conducive to increasing breeding productivity of the Song Thrush population as a whole.     

三峡水库“水华”成因初探

2004年3月、5月、7月、8月、10月和2005年5月对长江干流29个站点进行了5次调查。2004年3月（旱季）在三峡库区坝前（秭归）发现藻类“水华”，藻类密度达2.73×106 cells/L，优势种类为拟多甲藻。2004年8月（雨季）和2005年4月（旱季）沿香溪河下游及河口区以及香溪河口到三峡大坝干流江段进行了2次6个断面分层调查，两次调查中在香溪河下游以及香溪河口区发现了严重的藻类“水华”，藻类密度高达1.87×107 cells/L 和1.67×107 cells/L，优势种分别为蓝隐藻（1.84×107 cells/L）和美丽星杆藻 (1.34×107 cells/L)。相关分析结果表明：三峡库区干流藻类数量和生物量与水库的出水流量有着显著的负相关(Spearman，r=-1.000, r=-0.900, p<0.05)，而与可溶性营养盐（NO3 N, PO4 P, SiO3 Si）的浓度无显著的相关性；在2004年7~8月（雨季）香溪河下游及河口区浮游植物生物量与主要营养盐（NO3 N, PO4 P,SiO3 Si）的浓度呈显著负相关（Spearman,p<0.01, p<0.05,p<0.01, n=21）；在2005年4月（旱季）该河段藻类密度与主要营养盐（NO3 N N,SiO3 Si）呈显著负相关 (Spearman, p<0.05，p<0.01,n=28)，但与PO4 P无显著的相关性。香溪河口到秭归的坝前库区河段藻类数量与主要营养盐（NO3 N, PO4 P,SiO3 Si）没有显著相关性(Spearman, │r│<0.2, n=20)。然而香溪河下游及河口区主要营养盐（NO3 N, PO4 P, SiO3 Si）浓度却低于长江干流。可以推断三峡库区蓄水后干流和支流发生“水华”的最主要原因是筑坝后库区内水动力条件的改变而非营养盐浓度较高。随着三峡工程的全面完工，库区内水体滞留时间的进一步延长，三峡库区水体富营养化趋势将会进一步加剧。     

三峡水库藻类“水华”预测

根据三峡库区江段16条一级支流以及重庆市35座大中型〖JP2〗水库的调查资料，分析天然河流与水库两种不同水流条件下，水体叶绿素a浓度与总磷和透明度的关系。结果发现,在水库环境中，水体叶绿素a的浓度与总磷以及与透明度都具有较好的相关性，但在河流条件下则没有明显的关系。由于三峡库区江段大多数支流的营养水平已达到富营养化状况，当三峡水库建成、水流条件发生变化后，在支流河口等水域存在爆发“水华”的风险。为此，我们根据1998年枯水期，在三峡库区长江江段流域面积大于100 km2的40条支流河口实测的总磷浓度，利用所建立的水库环境中总磷与叶绿素a 浓度的关系，对三峡成库后在局部水域爆发“水华”的可能性和程度进行了分析，并提出了相应的对策。     

Estimating ‘rhizosphere priming effect’: Comparison of the indirect <Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis>-intercept regression approach and direct bare plot Approach

Determined the contribution of root derived CO₂ efflux to total CO₂ efflux (including root and non-root derived CO₂ efflux) is import to grope the mechanism of CO₂ efflux, however, becaused of ‘rhizoshere priming effect’ (RPE), it is difficult to achieve in practice. In this study, we attempted to estimate the RPE via comparing basal soil respiration (R_b) achieved by two different methods namely, y-intercept regression and direct bare plot approach in an arid cotton field, central Asia. On the basis of the y-intercept of linear regressions between below-ground respiration (BGR) and root biomass, R_b was indirectly calculated. Comparing with the first approach, the second approach involved direct measurements of soil respiration from bare plots. R_b estimated by y-intercept method contained the component of RPE whereas direct bare plot did not. We found that RPE showed a phenological trend with highest value in flowering stage at 0.145 g CO₂ m^–2 h^–1 and lowest at budding stage (0.007 g CO₂ m^–2 s^–1), even after the data had been corrected for the influence of soil temperature. We concluded that RPE needed to be considered when R_b was estimated by y-intercept approach.     

Temperature conditions in burrows of the steppe marmot, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Marmota bobak</Emphasis> Müller (1776), in the hibernation period

Data published in the Handbook on the Climate of the Soviet Union have been used as a basis for estimating the temperature of the soil surrounding the nest chamber during the period of bobak marmot hibernation. Interspecific differences in the temperature conditions of hibernation have been revealed. The hypothesis is substantiated that the dates of hibernation onset in marmots depend on air temperature outside the burrow.     

重庆市“禁磷”绩效评估

国内外研究表明，水体中的磷16％左右来自使用含磷洗涤用品。为保护三峡水库水环境,防止库区水体富营养化，重庆市政府决定，从2003年１月１日起，在全市范围内禁止销售和使用含磷洗涤用品。含磷洗衣粉的磷含量平均为4%，无磷洗衣粉的磷含量平均为0.013%，“禁磷”后洗衣粉的磷削减率平均为99.7%。监测结果表明，“禁磷”前后主城区城市污水排放口总磷浓度平均降幅为15.12%、中等城市为18.36％、县城为33.66％；禁磷前，城市居民洗衣粉磷排放量占城市污水总磷的13.77％，禁磷后只占0.05％；禁磷前，农村居民洗衣粉磷排放量占农村生活污水总磷排放量的30.53％，禁磷后只占0.01％。按城市综合污水总磷浓度变化计算（考虑到城市公建商贸行业的洗涤剂用量），则禁磷后城镇削减磷排放量1 056.2 t/a；农村居民按洗衣粉实际使用量计算，入河生活污水削减磷1 203.8 t/a；城镇和农村共削减总磷排放量2 260 t/a，占重庆市磷污染负荷总量的6.0％。     

南京市“两规”编制成果协调评价

土地利用总体规划和城市总体规划（以下简称“两规”）编制成果是指导城市土地利用和管理的重要依据,两者的协调对于“两规”的协调编制和实施具有重要意义。通过分析“两规”的内在联系,基于“两规”编制成果,从经济、社会、资源和环境4个方面构建了“两规”编制成果的协调状况综合评价体系,先计算了“两规”规划目标年和基期年的指标计算增长率,再采用协调度模型计算各个指标增长率的协调值,运用层次分析法确定各个因子的权重,最后采用指标加权求和法进行综合计算;并进一步通过ArcGIS软件空间叠加分析确定“两规”空间布局的差异。以南京市为例,计算了该市“两规”编制成果协调程度分值和土地利用空间布局差异。评价结果表明：南京市“两规”编制成果协调分值为9158,协调类型为中级协调;指标准则层中经济与资源相关因子的协调程度较好,但社会与环境相关因子协调程度有待提高,其主要原因是“两规”土地利用数据率与规划率及基期年存在差异;因此南京市“两规”编制成果在实施和修编中应进一步加强基础数据库与规划年限的统一     

Invasion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mimosa pigra</Emphasis> on the cultivated Mekong River floodplains near Kratie,Cambodia: farmers’ coping strategies,perceptions, and outlooks

Mimosa pigra, an alien woody weed, invaded the Mekong River Basin since ~1970 and now covers vast floodplain areas in virtual monocultures. The prickly plants produce abundant seeds which are dispersed annually by the floods. Mimosa thus represents a burden to farming communities in Cambodia where agricultural capacities are weak. To obtain information on infestations as well as farmers’ management practices and perceptions, 81 farmers were interviewed on their fields (using questionnaires) in affected areas near Kratie municipality. Data on infestations were collected at landscape and field levels. Furthermore, villagers’ groups and key informants were interviewed (open questions). Infestations covered ~30 % of the land near fields. On average, farmers spent 11 days per hectare annually clearing mimosa. The weed represented a major cost, but other issues (animal pests, water shortages, lack of resources) were equally important; these may be connected with mimosa invasion. Farmers mostly expressed support for ideas to combat surrounding infestations, but support depended on experiences and assets at stake. Most were unconvinced that mimosa could be eliminated from the study site. Conceivable benefits of mimosa were regarded as insignificant. Given the currently few realistic options for significantly improving management, further research is suggested within adaptive management frameworks.     

“十一五”期间贵州省大气污染减排绩效评估

利用环境经济学方法,对贵州省“十一五”大气污染减排的成本和效益进行定量分析的基础上,对其“十一五”期间大气污染SO2减排绩效进行评估。结果显示：（1）贵州省“十一五”期间SO2减排政策实施后,大气环境质量有所改善,尤其是酸雨pH值上升明显,许多城市的酸雨频率已降低到零;（2）“十一五”期间,贵州省SO2的减排成本为228亿元,SO2的减排收益为27亿元,SO2减排效益大于成本,污染减排约束性指标的倒逼、引导、推动作用开始显现,能源利用效率有所提高,经济结构趋于优化和升级;（3）贵州省火力发电的脱硫装置安装率已达90%以上,表明其大气污染SO2的工程减排空间有限,今后要实现贵州省大气污染减排的刚性约束目标,更多的要从结构减排和管理减排的角度进行     

“红三角”地区城镇体系结构分形研究

分形维数是刻画城镇体系结构的有效参数。将“红三角”地区分成韶关、郴州、赣州三个城镇体系，分别测算各个城镇体系的Hausdorff维数、空间关联维数及牛鸦维数比、随机集聚维数。测算结果表明:①赣州、郴州两市的中等位序城市较多，人口分布比较均衡，而韶关市城镇体系等级规模差异明显，人口分布差异程度较大，韶关市区人口规模大，具有较强的垄断性；②各城镇体系中的城镇有集中到某一地理线上的趋势，具有轴线特征，同时整个地区的交通网络比较完善，整体通达性好，但城镇体系空间关联程度不够紧密；③各城镇体系空间分布呈现集聚性特征。最后对“红三角”地区城镇体系建设提出了发展次级中心城镇、加强区域空间结构轴建设、适当调整行政区划和加快交通基础设施建设的建议。     

长江经济带城镇化对工业用水的脱钩研究 ——基于“十一五”和“十二五”时期的对比分析

长江经济带城镇化的发展为工业化提供了强劲动力,但同时工业用水的猛增促使水资源供需矛盾更加尖锐以及水环境污染愈发严重。通过建立工业用水与城镇化之间的脱钩模型,利用“十一五”和“十二五”时期的面板数据,研究长江经济带各省市工业用水与城镇化的脱钩状态,并在此基础上借助对数迪氏指数法考察工业用水量的具体影响因素。研究发现：(1）2006~2015年长江经济带城镇化对工业用水总体呈现脱钩状态,但“十一五”期间表现为弱脱钩状态,而“十二五”期间表现为强脱钩状态;（2)长江经济带各省市脱钩关系存在较大的时空差异,长江三角洲经济区、长江中游经济区以及长江上游经济区明显处于不同的脱钩状态;(3）城镇化影响工业用水的四大效应中,技术效应抑制工业耗水,产出效应则促进工业耗水,而结构效应和人口效应对工业用水的影响随时空变化而变化。据此,提出通过技术节水提高工业用水的利用效率,因地制宜促进区域平衡发展等建议。 关键词： 城镇化;工业用水;脱钩模型;LMDI模型;长江经济带