The ecological condition of Gulf of Mexico resources from Perdido Key to Port St. Joe, Florida: Part II near-shelf coastal resources

In 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency Gulf Ecology Division initiated a pilot study to assess the condition of nearshore coastal resources. Near-shelf areas associated with coastal beaches are susceptible to land based activities, but are not consistently monitored. Additionally, few or no marine water quality criteria exist for evaluating these waters. The goal of this pilot study was to assess the ecological condition of Gulf of Mexico near-shelf resources using a probability-based survey design. Data are used to generate a baseline assessment of condition in coastal nearshore areas and provide a comparative tool for evaluating future trends in condition. Water quality, sediment quality and benthic diversity data can provide a baseline assessment for managers to evaluate the potential for future problems such as nutrient over-enrichment, sediment contamination and degraded biological condition. We present results from a probability-based survey demonstration assessing near-shelf resources along the Florida panhandle.     

Community Production Practices and Desertification in the Sahelo-Sudanian Region of Cameroon at the Turn of the Millennium

The Sahelo-Sudanian region of Cameroon extends over 10 million hectares. Varied flora and soil types, a complex mosaic of vegetation and plant communities and a diversified wild animal population are the major natural resources of this region. Desertification in the region can be related to two major known causes: a. short or long-term drought due to short-term or long-term climatic trends toward aridity; b. human activities which degrade the biological environment. Globally, humans generally have less effect on desertification than climatic change in the short run. The only strategy to fight against this situation particularly in the developing countries is to withdraw populations from the areas and to settle them elsewhere. However, most local or regional desertification processes in general, and in the Sahelo-Sudanian region in particular, are due to the misuse or unsound exploitation of natural resources by humans and their animals. Often, comprehension of the complexity of even small interactions between parameters affecting our local environment remains limited. Poor economic assessments of the long-term benefits of proper natural resource conservation and management increase the extent of the exploitation, in turn increasing the degradation process. Yet ecologically sound management of natural resources integrating indigenous knowledge and basic population interest and concern can secure restoration in several areas and sustained productivity of Sahelo-Sudanian lands.     

基于灰色关联和系统聚类的大连市环境质量影响因素分析

采用灰色关联度和系统聚类分析方法,定量分析大连市社会、经济、自然、人口、能源资源和污染排放等有代表性的指标与生态环境质量的关联程度。结果表明,大连市社会经济发展与环境质量关联度为中等,经济指标与环境质量指标关联度较强,社会、人口、污染排放指标关联度中等,能源和自然指标关联度较弱。金普新区、甘井子区和长兴岛是潜在环境风险区域,需要重点关注环境质量变化趋势。普兰店区、瓦房店市和庄河市虽然属于低排放区域,但环境质量风险相对较大,应进一步加强环境风险管控。     

Assessment of urban sustainability efficiency based on general data envelopment analysis: a case study of two cities in western and eastern China

Sustainable urban development focuses on enhancing urban well-being, while also balancing the demands of urban social and economic development, natural resource consumption, and environmental pollution. This work used general data envelopment analysis to assess the urban sustainability efficiency (USE) and sustainability potential (SP) in Lanzhou and Xiamen, two cities that are characteristic of urban areas in western and eastern China. The assessment indicator system included important natural and urban welfare factors as input and output indices, respectively. The results showed that overall urban sustainability efficiency increased in Lanzhou and Xiamen from 1985 to 2010, but that the sustainability of natural resources clearly decreased. The urban sustainability efficiency of Xiamen was higher than that of Lanzhou, and the sustainability potential of Xiamen was lower than that of Lanzhou; this indicates that Xiamen performed better in terms of urban sustainable development. The urban sustainability efficiency in Xiamen has increased with increasing urban population, and the rate and scale of economic development have been higher than in Lanzhou. The assessment and analysis performed in this study show that cities with different natural resources and development characteristics have different forms, patterns, and trajectories of sustainable development.     

Risk assessment for sustainable food security in China according to integrated food security—taking Dongting Lake area for example

Integrated food security covers three aspects: food quantity security, food quality security, and sustainable food security. Because sustainable food security requires that food security must be compatible with sustainable development, the risk assessment of sustainable food security is becoming one of the most important issues. This paper mainly focuses on the characteristics of sustainable food security problems in the major grain-producing areas in China. We establish an index system based on land resources and eco-environmental conditions and apply a dynamic assessment method based on status assessments and trend analysis models to overcome the shortcomings of the static evaluation method. Using fuzzy mathematics, the risks are categorized into four grades: negligible risk, low risk, medium risk, and high risk. A case study was conducted in one of China’s major grain-producing areas: Dongting Lake area. The results predict that the status of the sustainable food security in the Dongting Lake area is unsatisfactory for the foreseeable future. The number of districts at the medium-risk range will increase from six to ten by 2015 due to increasing population pressure, a decrease in the cultivated area, and a decrease in the effective irrigation area. Therefore, appropriate policies and measures should be put forward to improve it. The results could also provide direct support for an early warning system—which could be used to monitor food security trends or nutritional status so to inform policy makers of impending food shortages—to prevent sustainable food security risk based on some classical systematic methods. This is the first research of sustainable food security in terms of risk assessment, from the perspective of resources and the environment, at the regional scale.     

The Ecological Footprint: an Indicator of Progress Toward Regional Sustainability

We define regional sustainability as the continuous support of human quality of life within a region's ecological carrying capacity. To achieve regional sustainability, one must first assess the current situation. That is, indicators of status and progress are required. The ecological footprint is an area-based indicator which quantifies the intensity of human resource use and waste discharge activity in relation to a region's ecological carrying capacity. If the ecological footprint of a human population is greater than the area which it occupies, the population must be doing at least one of the following: receiving resources from elsewhere, disposing of some of its waste outside of the area, or depleting the area's natural capital stocks. To achieve global sustainability, the sum of all regional footprints must not exceed the total area of the biosphere. This paper explains the mechanics of a footprint calculation method for nations and regions. As the method is standardized, the relative ecological load imposed by nations and regions can be compared. Further, a nation's or region's consumption can be contrasted with its local ecological production, providing an indicator of potential vulnerability and contribution to ecological decline.     

长江源区水生态系统健康研究进展

对截止至2021年6月报道的长江源区气候、水资源、水质、藻类、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类资源等水生态系统健康相关研究进行了综述,以期为进一步开展长江源区水生态系统健康研究与生态保护提供参考和依据。研究结果表明:①长江源区水生态相关研究主要关注于气候变化,其次为水资源变化和草地退化。②1948—2019年,长江源区全年平均气温呈上升趋势,增长速度为0.2~0.5℃/10 a;春季和冬季降水量呈增加趋势,增长速度分别为1.1~26.6 mm/10 a和0.2~9.1 mm/10 a;全年平均径流量呈增加趋势,增长速度为11.8~79.6 m³/(s·10 a);蒸发量呈增加趋势,增长速度为7.6~71.6 mm/10 a。③1969—2002年,冰川面积减少了68.1 km²,年均减少2.0 km²。1969—2015年,格拉丹东冰川面积减少了14.9~79.0 km²,减少速度为0.5~10.0 km²/a。1975—2015年,湖泊面积增加了2.7~831.6 km²,增速为0.3~96.2 km²/a。④1986—2015年,大部分河段水质为Ⅱ类及以上,且无明显年际变化。⑤针对水生生物的调查和研究非常匮乏。总体而言,长江源区水生态系统健康状况良好。近年来其气象因子以及水资源状况有所改变,未来气候变化可能会进一步影响长江源区水生态系统健康状况。今后亟须加强对长江源区的本底调查,完善基础数据,关注气候变化对水资源和水质的影响,并探索气候变化对水生生物的影响。     

上海市臭氧污染时空分布及影响因素

分析2006—2016年上海市的监测数据发现,臭氧(O_3)浓度存在逐年上升趋势,污染持续时间有所增加,但除水平风速有下降趋势外,其他相关气象因素的年际变化趋势并不显著。空间分析结果表明,上海市O_3超标主要集中在西南部郊区,但市区O_3超标潜势不容忽视。O_3污染高发季节的污染玫瑰图分析发现,上海市南部地区是影响上海市O_3污染的关键区域;对于NO_2减排的影响分析发现,尽管上海市O_3平均浓度总体处于上升趋势,但在NO_2下降幅度最为明显的内环市区和北部郊区,O_3上升幅度低于NO_2下降幅度较小的内外环区域和西部郊区,表明上海市的O_3污染控制仍需持续推进NOx的减排,并同步推进VOCs的减排。     

Natural forest regrowth as a proxy variable for agricultural land abandonment in the Swiss mountains: a spatial statistical model based on geophysical and socio-economic variables

In many European mountain regions, natural forest regrowth on abandoned agricultural land and the related consequences for the environment are issues of increasing concern. We developed a spatial statistical model based on multiple geophysical and socio-economic variables to investigate the pattern of natural forest regrowth in the Swiss mountain area between the 1980s and 1990s. Results show that forest regrowth occurred primarily in areas with low temperature sum, intermediate steepness and soil stoniness as well as close to forest edges and relatively close to roads. Model results suggest that regions with weak labor markets are favored in terms of land abandonment and forest regrowth. We could not find an effect of population change on land abandonment and forest regrowth. Therefore, we conclude that decision makers should consider non-linearities in the pattern of forest regrowth and the fact that labor markets have an effect on land abandonment and forest regrowth when designing measures to prevent agricultural land abandonment and natural forest regrowth in the Swiss mountains.     

Contaminated drinking water and rural health perspectives in Rajasthan, India: an overview of recent case studies

Access to safe drinking water is an important issue of health and development at national, regional, and local levels. The concept of safe drinking water assumes greater significance in countries like India where the majority of the population lives in villages with bare infrastructures and poor sanitation facilities. This review presents an overview of drinking water quality in rural habitations of northern Rajasthan, India. Although fluoride is an endemic problem to the groundwater of this region, recently, other anthropogenic chemicals has also been reported in the local groundwater. Recent case studies indicate that about 95% of sites of this region contain a higher fluoride level in groundwater than the maximum permissible limit as decided by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Nitrate (as NO $_{3}^{\,\,-})$ contamination has appeared as another anthropogenic threat to some intensively cultivable rural habitations of this region. Biological contamination has appeared as another issue of unsafe drinking water resources in rural areas of the state. Recent studies have claimed a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria including members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in local drinking water resources. Overall, the quality of drinking water in this area is not up to the safe level, and much work is still required to establish a safe drinking water supply program in this area.     

Evaluation of potential habitat with an integrated analysis of a spatial conservation strategy for David's deer, Elaphurus davidians

How to assess the potential habitat integrating landscape dynamics and population research, and how to reintroduce animals to potential habitats in environments highly human disturbed are still questions to be answered in conservation biology. According to behavioral research on Elaphurus davidians, we have developed a suitability index and a risk index to evaluate the potential habitats for the deer. With these indices, we conducted two transect assessments to evaluate the gradient change of the target region. Then, taking rivers as border lines, we tabulated the forest areas, high grassland area and total area and then compared the forest and high grassland area in each subregion. Furthermore, we computed the land use transfer matrix for the whole Yancheng coast during 1987-2000. We also computed human modified index (HMI) in six subregions. Lastly with a geographical information system support we obtained the spatial distribution of the indices and evaluation of the whole potential habitats from a neighborhood analysis. The transect assessment showed that the suitability of the coastal area was higher than that of the inland area for the deer, while the southern area was higher than the northern. Landscape metrics and HMI analysis showed that different landscape patterns and different anthropogenic disturbance existed within the region, and the increasing human disturbance was the key factor causing the pattern dynamics. The evaluation of potential habitats showed that there was an estimated carrying capacity of no more than 10,000 for David's deer reintroduction into the natural area. Also the reintroduction strategy was discussed. This integrated approach linked the population research and the landscape metrics, and the dataset with different scale; thus, it is an approach likely to be useful for the protection of other large animal in a landscape highly disturbed by humans.     

Short-term accumulative signatures of heavy metals in river bed sediments in the industrial area, Tehran, Iran

In modern civilization, numerous anthropogenic activities release a variety of pollutants into the environment and with anomalous enrichment of heavy metals it causes surface and subsurface contamination. The aquatic sediments provide pertinent tools for the quality assessment of urban and industrial environments in large cities. The present study reveals short-term accumulative trends of heavy metals (Co, Cd, and Pb) in the sand and silt dominated riverbed sediments from Chitgar industrial area (Tehran, Iran) between the period of May 2007 and May 2008. Lead demonstrates highest concentration in residential areas, cadmium in and around industrial areas, whereas cobalt shows least variability. Geo-accumulation index implies moderately to highly polluted sediments with respect to Cd and Pb. With few exceptions, all three metals at different sampling stations display short-term increasing trends, independent of seasonal variability with urban and industrial distends along the river being the chief sources of contamination.     

Use of multivariate indicator kriging methods for assessing groundwater contamination extents for irrigation

Multivariate geostatistical approaches have been applied extensively in characterizing risks and uncertainty of pollutant concentrations exceeding anthropogenic regulatory limits. Spatially delineating an extent of contamination potential is considerably critical for regional groundwater resources protection and utilization. This study used multivariate indicator kriging (MVIK) to determine spatial patterns of contamination extents in groundwater for irrigation and made a predicted comparison between two types of MVIK, including MVIK of multiplying indicator variables (MVIK-M) and of averaging indicator variables (MVIK-A). A cross-validation procedure was adopted to examine the performance of predicted errors, and various probability thresholds used to calculate ratios of declared pollution area to total area were explored for the two MVIK methods. The assessed results reveal that the northern and central aquifers have excellent groundwater quality for irrigation use. Results obtained through a cross-validation procedure indicate that MVIK-M is more robust than MVIK-A. Furthermore, a low ratio of declared pollution area to total area in MVIK-A may result in an unrealistic and unreliable probability used to determine extents of pollutants. Therefore, this study suggests using MVIK-M to probabilistically determine extents of pollutants in groundwater.     

A Spatial Model to Estimate Habitat Fragmentation and Its Consequences on Long-Term Persistence of Animal Populations

The increasing use of the landscape by humans has led to important diminutions of natural surfaces. The remaining patches of wild habitat are small and isolated from each other among a matrix of inhospitable land-uses. This habitat fragmentation, by disabling population movements and stopping their spread to new habitats, is a major threat to the survival of numerous plant and animal species. We developed a general model, adaptable for specific species, capable of identifying suitable habitat patches within fragmented landscapes and investigating the capacity of populations to move between these patches. This approach combines GIS analysis of a landscape, with spatial dynamic modeling. Suitable habitat is identified using a threshold area to perimeter ratio. Potential movement pathways of species between habitat patches are modeled using a cellular automaton. Habitat connectivity is estimated by overlaying habitat patches with movement pathways. The maximum potential population is calculated within and between connected habitat patches and potential risk of inbreeding within meta-populations is considered. The model was tested on a sample map and applied to scenario maps of predicted land-use change in the Peoria Tri-county region (IL). It (1) showed area of natural area alone was insufficient to estimate the consequences on animal populations; (2) underscored the necessity to use approaches investigating the effect of land-use change spatially through the landscape and the importance of considering species-specific life history characteristics; and (3) highlighted the model's potential utility as an indicator of species likelihood to be affected negatively by land-use scenarios and therefore requiring detailed investigation.     

Evaluation of groundwater resources in a tiny Andrott Island, Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India

Lakshadweep is a group of 36 coral islands scattered in the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India. On such small tiny islands, groundwater is the only source of fresh water for the islanders. Due to the growing population on these islands, demand for fresh water is also increasing and on the other side the peculiar hydrologic, geologic and geomorphic features restrict the availability of groundwater. Therefore, a proper understanding of the groundwater condition is important in order to meet this increasing demand and also to formulate future development and management strategies. Detailed hydrogeological, geophysical and hydrochemical studies have been carried out to identify potential fresh groundwater resources and quantify vulnerable parts of Andrott Island, Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Systematic collection and analysis of hydrological, geophysical and hydrochemical data reveal that fresh groundwater is only available between 2.5 to 5.0 m depths and provide an early sign of deterioration in groundwater quality in the peripheral parts of eastern and western coasts of this island. It suggests immediate measures for arresting the deterioration in groundwater quality as well as augmentation for restoration of aquifer in some parts of the island.     

Application of a Sediment Quality Index to the Lower Laurentian Great Lakes

A sediment quality index (SQI) was developed using an equation incorporating three elements; scope--the % of variables that did not meet guidelines; area frequency--the % of failed tests divided by the total number of tests in a group of sites; and amplitude - the magnitude by which failed variables exceeded guidelines. The SQI calculation produces a numerical score with a maximum value of 100 representing the highest sediment quality. A modified SQI was also developed using only the scope and amplitude elements, which computed a score per site with no grouping. The SQI was applied to assessment of sediment quality in Lakes Erie and Ontario using Canadian Federal and Ontario Provincial guidelines for 34 compounds, Spatial trends in sediment quality in both lakes reflected overall trends for most individual contaminant classes, including mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. In Lake Erie, there was a trend toward lower SQI values from the eastern basin to the western basin, and from the northern area to the southern area of the central basin. Sediment quality in the eastern basin and the northern area of the central basin was classified as excellent (>95); sediments in other areas of Lake Erie ranged from fair to good. In Lake Ontario, the poorest sediment quality was associated with the three major depositional basins; sediment quality among the three basins was quite consistent. The SQI values based on all three elements (scope, frequency and amplitude) for the Niagara basin. Mississauga Basin and Rochester Basin were 67 (fair), 65 (fair) and 70 (fair), respectively. Comparison of SQI values for all lower lake basins showed generally poorer sediment quality in Lake Ontario, compared to Lake Erie.     

A framework for combining social impact assessment and risk assessment

An increasing focus on integrative approaches is one of the current trends in impact assessment. There is potential to combine impact assessment with various other forms of assessment, such as risk assessment, to make impact assessment and the management of social risks more effective. We identify the common features of social impact assessment (SIA) and social risk assessment (SRA), and discuss the merits of a combined approach. A hybrid model combining SIA and SRA to form a new approach called, ‘risk and social impact assessment’ (RSIA) is introduced. RSIA expands the capacity of SIA to evaluate and manage the social impacts of risky projects such as nuclear energy as well as natural hazards and disasters such as droughts and floods. We outline the three stages of RSIA, namely: impact identification, impact assessment, and impact management.     

Vertical profile,contamination assessment of mercury and arsenic in sediment cores from typical intertidal zones of China

The vertical profiles, contamination levels, and potential ecological risks of mercury and arsenic were studied from the sediment cores of seven typical intertidal zones, including the Liaohe River Estuary, the Jianhe River Estuary, the Dagu River Estuary, Yancheng Shoal, the Dongtan Yangtze River Estuary, Hangzhou Bay, and the Pearl River Estuary. Marine sediment quality standards, the threshold effect level (TEL), and the probable effect level (PEL) were used as guidelines to evaluate sediment quality. In addition, the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and potential ecological risk index (\( {E}_r^i \)) were used to assess contamination and potential ecological risks from mercury and arsenic. The results showed that the Pearl River Estuary was moderately polluted by mercury and represented a high potential ecological risk, while other areas were uncontaminated or mildly contaminated with low or moderate potential ecological risks. The Pearl River Estuary was mildly polluted by arsenic and represented a mild potential ecological risk, while other areas were unpolluted and also posed a mild potential ecological risk.     

Mining and environmental change in Sierra Leone, West Africa: a remote sensing and hydrogeomorphological study

This paper evaluates the environmental changes in southwestern Sierra Leone, West Africa from rutile (titanium dioxide) between 1967 and 1995. Mining in peripheral parts of the world economy is a consequence of larger global economic interests. Historically, long-distance trade and export production of minerals and other natural resources primarily for the benefit of core countries are responsible for transforming the natural environment and landscapes of peripheral sectors of the world economy. Tracking environmental change in developing countries such as Sierra Leone is challenging because of financial and infrastructural constraints on the use of ground methods of evaluation and monitoring. Remote sensing data are invaluable in assessing the human dimensions of Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) with implications for political ecology. Using available multi-date infrared Landsat images supplemented with field hydrological and biophysical data, we monitored the rapid temporal and spatial dynamic characteristic of mining areas in the study area with a focus on physical changes to the landscape. Reservoir construction for mining has caused flooding of alluvial lowlands, deforestation, and the creation of tailings and stockpiles over mined-out portions of the lease. Although the study was conducted at a local scale, it represents the broad, regional, past-to-present manner by which global economic interests exploit natural resources and impact the environment in distant places.