Storm impacts along European coastlines. Part 1: The joint effort of the MICORE and ConHaz Projects

The current paper discusses the topic of marine storm impact along European coastlines, presenting results from two FP7 Projects currently focusing on this topic, one working on the physical aspects of the problem (MICORE) and the other one on the socio-economic implications (ConHaz).The MICORE Project aims to provide on-line predictions of storm-related physical hazards (hydrodynamic as well as morphodynamic). The ConHaz Project addresses the socio-economic implications should these (or other) hazards actually materialize. Together these projects aim to deliver crucial information for emergency response efforts, while realizing the practical limitations for information processing and dissemination during crisis situations.The MICORE Project has developed and demonstrated on-line tools for reliable predictions of the morphological impact of marine storm events in support of civil protection mitigation strategies. The project specifically targeted the development of early warning and information systems to support short term emergency response in case of an extreme storm event. The current paper discusses in detail the outcome of an activity of databasing historical storm data. No clear changes in storminess were observed, except for some storm proxies (e.g. surges) and only at some locations (e.g. northern Adriatic, southern Baltic, etc.).The ConHaz Project undertook a desktop study of the methods normally used for evaluating the impact of marine storms and the associated coastal hazards considering direct costs, costs due to disruption of production processes, indirect costs, intangible costs, and costs of adaptation and mitigation measures. Several methods for cost estimation were reviewed. From the review it emerged that normally end-users only evaluate direct costs after the storms, while the cost of adaptation and mitigation measures is only done strategically in the context of Integrated Coastal Zone Management plans. As there is no standardized method for cost evaluations in this field, it is suggested that clear guidelines should be produced on the basis of simplicity for use by end-users. The integration between historical databases of the physical parameters of storms and detailed cost evaluation information would support the development of a knowledge background in end-users and justify the development of adaptation strategies.     

Sustainability as an educational agenda

The mounting evidence about human-induced environmental change, and about its expected detrimental effects on humans and their societies ( [IPCC, 2007], [Reid et?al., 2010] and [Rockstr?m et?al., 2009]), has turned out to be exceedingly difficult to turn into political action to mitigate the change and adapt to its consequences. Economic self-interest creates friction between nation-states, within regional alliances like the EU, and across the divide between the developing and developed world. A significant factor is a vocal and well-funded group of climate skeptics, who question the credibility of mainstream earth system science, overemphasize the disagreements within the scientific community, argue for more research before any action is warranted, and in general create doubt to justify inaction or delay (Oreskes and Conway, 2010). A further problem is that both the decision-makers and the public have a very superficial understanding of the issues, cannot intellectually handle complex problems and uncertainty, and do not always know what and whom to believe. This constitutes a challenge to the education establishment.     

Matching knowledge brokering strategies to environmental policy problems and settings

The benefits of utilizing intermediaries to broker understanding between environmental scientists and policy makers have become widely touted. Yet little is known about the tasks boundary spanners undertake to develop environmental policy solutions and how these tasks fit into frameworks intended to advance public policy decision making. Such frameworks may be constructed to aid decision makers in differentiating between the types of environmental policy issues that confront them or the policy settings in which they are operating. Consequently, this paper examines how six different knowledge brokering strategies; informing, consulting, matchmaking, engaging, collaborating and building capacity might be employed in responding to different types of environmental policy problems or policy settings identified in decision aiding frameworks. Using real world examples, four frameworks are reviewed. They are; Lindquist's [Lindquist, E.A., 1988. What do decision models tell us about information use? Knowledge in Society 1 (2), 86–111; Lindquist, E.A., 1990. The third community, policy inquiry, and social scientists. In: Stephen Brooks, S., Gagnon, A. (Eds.), Social Scientists, Policy and the State. Praeger, New York; Lindquist, E.A., 2001. Discerning policy influence: framework for a strategic evaluation of IDRC-Supported research] decision regimes, Turnhout et al.’s [Turnhout, E., Hisschemoller, M., Eijsackers, H., 2007. Ecological indicators: between the two fires of science and policy. Ecological Indicators 7 (2), 215–228] science policy typology, Holling's [Holling, C.S., 1995. What barriers? What bridges? In: Gunderson, L.H., Holling, C.S. (Eds.), Barriers and Bridges to the Renewal of Ecosystems and Institutions. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 3–34] adaptive cycle and Kurtz and Snowden's [Kurtz, C.F., Snowden, D.J., 2003. The new dynamics of strategy: sense-making in a complex and complicated world. IBM Systems Journal 42 (3), 462–483] Cynefin domains. For the different problem types or policy settings described in the decision aiding frameworks primary knowledge brokering strategies are identified. While the frameworks differ in their conceptual constructions, the applicability of specific knowledge brokering strategies serve as a commonality across particular problem types and policy settings.     

A giant spider from the Jurassic of China reveals greater diversity of the orbicularian stem group

A large female spider, Nephila jurassica, was described from Middle Jurassic strata of north-east China and placed in the modern genus Nephila (family Nephilidae) on the basis of many morphological similarities, but, as with many ancient fossils, the single specimen lacked synapomorphies of the family (Selden et al. 2011). In order to test the placement within the nephilid phylogenetic tree, Kuntner et al. (2013) calibrated the molecular phylogeny using N. jurassica in three different scenarios based on inferred mitochondrial substitution rates. They concluded that N. jurassica fitted better as a stem orbicularian than a nephilid. Now, a giant male spider has been discovered at the same locality that yielded N. jurassica. The two sexes are considered conspecific based on their similar morphological features, size, and provenance. The male cannot be accommodated in Nephilidae because of its pedipalp morphology, so the new genus Mongolarachne and family Mongolarachnidae are erected for the species. Comparison with possibly related families show that Mongolarachnidae is most likely on the orbicularian stem, close to other cribellate orbicularians (e.g., Deinopoidea), which suggests a greater diversity of cribellate orbicularians during the Middle Jurassic.     

城市生活垃圾焚烧处理厂的设计要求研究

焚烧工艺已开始成为我国城市处理生活垃圾的主要选择之一。但在建厂布置及重要的土木建筑、机械设备、电气仪控、消防安全等设施设计方面尚无具体规范。结合垃圾焚烧厂设计要求的具体制定过程、经验和相关资料的综合研究基础上，本文提供一些建议供大家参考。     

盐城海岸湿地资源环境压力与生态调控响应

江苏盐城海岸湿地拥有以保护丹顶鹤和麋鹿为特色的两个国家级自然保护区。然而强烈的人类活动贯穿于海岸湿地发育的每一个阶段,包括湿地围垦、资源酷取滥采以及环境污染等,使得该区资源环境面临的压力不断增大。通过对其资源环境特征、人口经济发展压力、湿地不合理开发利用压力以及水资源污染压力的分析,进而利用生态调控设计相应的政策措施响应方案,包括生态规划与设计---科学的生态功能区划,调整若干原缓冲区中生物多样性热点区为核心区;生态工程---生境更新与调整,建立人工湿地生态工程、芦苇生态工程、生态旅游等生态示范区;生态系统管理与能力建设---社区共管,与周围社区居民建立有效的伙伴关系。     

太阳风暴对短波电子装备性能的影响及应对措施

目的掌握太阳风暴对短波电子装备性能的影响及应对措施,为系统设计提供参考。方法分析太阳风暴的表现形式,并从作用距离、目标检测、定位精度等方面给出太阳风暴对短波超视距雷达、短波通信等装备的影响。结果电离层SID、电离层暴可造成短波通信中断,短波通信可用频段变窄。电离层强吸收可降低天波超视距雷达作用距离和目标定位精度,电子浓度、电离层虚高快速变化影响超视距雷达检测性能和定位精度,负相电离层暴使天波超视距雷达可用频段严重变窄。地球磁暴期间,电磁场突变产生的强电压和电流有可能烧毁用于天、地波超视距雷达的电子设备。电离层非规则现象对超视距雷达有严重影响。结论太阳风暴对电子装备性能有利有弊,要分别对待。系统设计时应充分考虑太阳风暴的影响,在出现太阳风暴时,采取针对性措施降低其影响。     

基于LID-BMPs的历史文化区降雨径流管理方案及模拟评估

历史文化区由于建设年代久远,早期排水系统不完善,后期工程改造限制较多,在降雨事件中时常面临积水和内涝问题。在国家大力推行海绵城市建设的大背景下,如何针对历史文化区的特征进行降雨径流管理是决策管理者及技术专家要解决的问题。以清华大学早期建筑大礼堂周边区域为研究对象,基于对其历史文化景观格局和场地自然现状的解析,筛选了4种基于自然功能的LID-BMPs （蓄水池、雨水花园、透水铺装和植草沟）设施,并设计了这些类型LID-BMPs设施的空间布置方案。随后采用SUSTAIN模型进行LID-BMPs方案的水量水质控制效果及成本效益分析。结果表明:LID-BMPs方案能够在设计降雨条件下中满足区域降雨径流控制目标,并且在典型年中实现径流量和污染负荷的显著削减。     

新平县生态民环境现状调查及评价

采用单因子评价和综合评价相结合的方法对新平县域的生态环境质量进行评价，根据本地区的自然生态特点，综合相关自然和社会因素，确定森林覆盖率，水土流人率，土地垦植率，人口密度等九项指标作为评价标准，评价表明，新平县域的生态环境质量为良，主要的生态问题是坡面积过大，人口密度偏高，应采取不同的措施加以解决。     

A comprehensive study of treatment of arsenic in water combining oxidation, coagulation, and filtration

Arsenic is one of the most common inorganic contaminants in groundwater worldwide, mainly due to the release of naturally occurring arsenic from aquifer sediments (Amini et al., 2008, Li and Cai, 2015 and Rahman et al., 2015). Naturally occurring arsenic exists predominantly in arsenate and arsenite species in groundwater.     

The role of indicator choice in quantifying the threat of atmospheric ammonia to the ‘Natura 2000’ network

New ‘critical levels’ (CLE) for assessing the effects of atmospheric ammonia on sensitive ecosystems have recently been adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) of 1 and 3 [2–4] μg NH₃ m^?3 of ambient air (including water vapour), for different species sensitivities and their associated habitats. Based on these values, we examined how indicator choice affects estimates of stock-at-risk in the European ‘Natura 2000’ network.We applied an atmospheric model, FRAME, to estimate surface air concentrations of ammonia at 5 km and 1 km resolution for the UK network of Natura sites, optionally including calibration with the National Ammonia Monitoring Network. As a base indicator, we estimated the overall percentage area of the UK Natura network that exceeded critical level thresholds (‘Area Weighted Indicator’, AWI). We compared this with an alternative approach, estimating the percentage number of Natura sites where the critical level was exceeded (‘Designation Weighted Indicator’, DWI), which we consider more relevant under the terms of the Habitats Directive.Using the AWI (with 1 km calibrated ammonia), we estimate that 11.2%, 1.3% and 0.2% area of the UK Natura network exceeds the critical level values of 1, 2 and 3 μg NH₃ m^?3, respectively. By contrast, using the DWI, the equivalent exceedances are 59.1%, 23.6% and 9.8%. The highest regional exceedance (DWI, critical level 1 μg NH₃ m^?3) was calculated for England (91.9% exceeded), and the lowest for Scotland (24.0% exceeded). High resolution maps show that the larger threat estimated by the DWI approach is explained by (i) an anti-correlation between NH₃ concentration and Natura site area and (ii) the fact that exceedance over part of a Natura site is considered to represent a threat to the integrity of the whole site.     

苯并[a]芘降解菌SL-1的筛选、鉴定及其降解特性

从土壤中筛选出一株以苯并[a]芘为唯一碳源的高效降解菌SL-1,经形态观察、生理生化分析以及16SrDNA基因序列分析,该菌株鉴定为假单胞菌（Pseudomonassp．）。28℃震荡培养10d后,菌株SL-1对5mg·L^-1苯并[a]芘的降解率为35．7％;同时测定该降解菌的生长曲线、降解率变化曲线、最佳培养条件;土壤修复试验表明,42d时,降解菌SL-1对苯并芘的降解率达到76．3％。     

Selection on worker honeybee responses to queen pheromone (Apis mellifera L.)

 Disruptive selection for responsiveness to queen mandibular gland pheromone (QMP) in the retinue bioassay resulted in the production of high and low QMP responding strains of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). Strains differed significantly in their retinue response to QMP after one generation of selection. By the third generation the high strain was on average at least nine times more responsive than the low strain. The strains showed seasonal phenotypic plasticity such that both strains were more responsive to the pheromone in the spring than in the fall. Directional selection for low seasonal variation indicated that phenotypic plasticity was an additional genetic component to retinue response to QMP. Selection for high and low retinue responsiveness to QMP was not an artifact of the synthetic blend because both strains were equally responsive or non-responsive to whole mandibular gland extracts compared with QMP. The use of these strains clearly pointed to an extra-mandibular source of retinue pheromones (Pankiw et al. 1995; Slessor et al. 1998; Keeling et al. 1999). Received: 2 March 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 4 September 2000     

A reply to panagos et al., 2016 (Environmental science & policy 59 (2016) 53–57

We respond to the article by Panagos et al. in Environmental Science & Policy 2016, 59, 53–57. We first outline the history of assessing water erosion of cultivated land in Britain, to place in context why a model approach has not been considered the best way to assess erosion in Britain. Since 1982 a field- based approach has been consistently chosen. We then consider three particular points of contention between ourselves and Panagos et al.—1) the importance of wash erosion, 2) the cost of carrying out a field-based assessment of erosion, and 3) that the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation should be the harmonized method to assess soil loss. Last, we respond to individual points made by Panagos et al. before drawing some conclusions. One conclusion is that a more harmonious way of assessing erosion was put forward in 2004 by Gobin et al. combining both field-based and model assessments, but unfortunately that route was not taken by researchers at the Joint Research Centre.     

贵州关岭晚三叠世早期海生爬行动物Neosinasaurusnom.nov.

笔者在研究关岭晚三叠世早期海生爬行动物(见本刊上期1～23页)时曾命名中国龙属Sinasaurus Zhou (2000).现发现,"Sinasaurus"这个属名早在1940年就已被杨钟健教授研究描述肉食恐龙类Sinosaurus Young (1940)(见Young Z.J., Bull. Geol. Soc. China, 1940,XX (3～4):235～240)时所占用,Sinasaurus是晚出名,应废弃不用,现给与新名Neosinasaurus Zhou, nom. nov. 而替代Sinasaurus Zhou (2000).因Sinasaurus Zhou (2000) 为中国龙科的模式属,故将Sinasauridae Zhou (2000) 更名为新中国龙科(新名)Neosinasauridae Zhou nom.nov..现将Neosinasaurus和Xinpusaurus的分类位置列述如下     

真菌对土壤中苯并[a]芘的共代谢降解

研究了模拟生物泥浆法修复多环芳烃污染土壤.选择了几种从石油污染土壤中分离出来的真菌,研究它们对土壤内苯并[a]芘的降解,并研究了土壤内共存底物:菲、芘、邻苯二甲酸对苯并[a]芘降解的影响,及其之间的共代谢过程.结果表明,芘可以促进镰刀菌、毛霉对苯并[a]芘的降解,并认为这是共代谢作用的结果;菲也可以促进镰刀菌对苯并[a]芘的降解,但抑制了毛霉和青霉对苯并[a]芘的降解;而邻苯二甲酸对青霉和毛霉降解苯并[a]芘的过程均有抑制作用.      

Ant-gardens of tropical Asian rainforests

Ant-garden (AG) associations are systems of epiphytic plants and arboricolous (i.e., tree-living) ants, in which the ants build fragile carton nests containing organic material. They collect and incorporate seeds or fruits of epiphytes that then germinate and grow on the nest [sensu Corbara et al. (1999) 38:73–89]. The plant roots stabilize the nest carton. AGs have been well-known in the neotropics for more than 100 years. In contrast, reports on similar associations in the paleotropics are scarce so far. After discovering a first common AG system on giant bamboo [Kaufmann et al. (2001) 48:125–133], we started a large-scale survey for AGs in Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, and southern Thailand. A great variety of AG systems (altogether including 18 ant species and 51 plant species) was discovered and is described in the present paper. The high number of species participating in AG associations was reflected by a great variability in the specific appearances of the nest gardens. Frequently, further groups of organisms (e.g., hemipteran trophobionts, fungi) were also involved. Preference patterns of particular ant and epiphyte species for each other and for particular phorophytes (carrier trees) were detected. We integrate domatia-producing, so-called ant-house epiphytes in our study and compare their phases of establishment, as well as other characteristics, to “classical” AGs, coming to the conclusion that they should be regarded only as a special type of AG epiphyte and not as a separate ecological category.Electronic Supplementary Materials  Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Distribution and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from an urban river basin at the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Brazil

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surface sediment samples from nine sites located at the Iguac?u River Basin in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Brazil to evaluate their distribution and sources. The total concentration of the PAHs was greater for sediments from highly urbanized areas, while the sediments from the Ira′? Environmental Protection Area (Ira′? EPA) showed significantly low concentrations. The sediments from the Iguac?u and Barigui rivers were classified as highly contaminated, while those from the Cercado and Curralinho rivers were classified as moderately contaminated. The predominance of PAHs containing two to four aromatic rings in most of the samples suggested the direct input of raw sewage into the water resources evaluated. Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were predominant in sediments from the areas under the greatest urban and industrial development. The correlation between thermodynamic stability and the kinetics of evolution presented by the isomeric pairs indicated that combustion is the predominant source of PAHs in the sediments because the combustion of fossil fuels affected most of the points evaluated, followed by combustion of biomass and eventually combustion of oil product inputs. In general, the results showed that areas under strong urban influence, as well as the Ira′? EPA, receive contributions of PAHs from similar sources.