Annual nutrients budget for the grazed and ungrazed sites of an alpine expanse in North-West Himalaya,India

This work was undertaken to analyze nutrient contents of vegetation in an alpine meadow—Tungnath, North-West Himalaya, India. The study pertains to the uptake, transfer and release of four main macronutrients (organic carbon, total nitrogen, total potassium and total phosphorus) in grazed (exposed to extensive grazing by cattles) and ungrazed (grazing completely prohibited) communities. Mineral concentration was recorded higher for the ungrazed sites compared to the grazed sites, and maximum standing state of nutrients was found in roots. Belowground compartment (roots) contributed maximum share of mineral elements to soil. Litter nutrients release was low because of low microbial activity and continuous removal of phytomass. Observations reveal that there was very little amount of nutrient release from phytomass and vegetation in alpine are very poor source of mineral recycling. Low transfer rate of minerals from one compartment to other is adequate for greater amount of these minerals that are translocated back into the storage organs. A small proportion get removed through rain splash or through the removal of hay during grazing as relatively high release rates in ungrazed sites when compared to grazed sites was observed. This translocation can be considered as an important adaptation in alpine plants for survival during adverse environmental conditions, against all types of biotic pressures and also for regeneration in the forthcoming growing season.     

An assessment of ecosystem services of Corbett Tiger Reserve,India

This paper examines the economic value of selected ecosystem services of Corbett Tiger Reserve, India. The direct cost was derived from secondary sources, and indirect and opportunity costs through socioeconomic surveys. For recreational value the individual approach to travel cost method was used, and to assess carbon sequestration the replacement cost method was used. The maintenance cost of the reserve was estimated as US $2,153,174.3 year⁻¹. The indirect costs in terms of crop and livestock depredation by wild animals ranged from US $2,153,174.3 year⁻¹. The indirect costs in terms of crop and livestock depredation by wild animals ranged from US 2,408 to US $37,958 village⁻¹ over a period of 5 years. The dependence of local communities was for fuel wood (US $37,958 village⁻¹ over a period of 5 years. The dependence of local communities was for fuel wood (US 7,346 day⁻¹), fodder (US $5,290 day⁻¹), small timber, and other nontimber forest products. The recreational value of the reserve was estimated as US $5,290 day⁻¹), small timber, and other nontimber forest products. The recreational value of the reserve was estimated as US 167,619 year⁻¹. With the cost per visitor being US $2.5, the consumers’ surplus was large, showing the willingness of visitors to pay for wildlife recreation. The forests of the reserve mitigate carbon worth US $2.5, the consumers’ surplus was large, showing the willingness of visitors to pay for wildlife recreation. The forests of the reserve mitigate carbon worth US 63.6 million, with an annual flow of US $65.0 ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The other benefits of the reserve include US $65.0 ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The other benefits of the reserve include US 41 million through generation of electricity since 1972. The analysis reveals that, though the benefits outweigh costs, they need to be accrued to local communities so as to balance the distribution of benefits and costs.     

Challenges in assessing biological recovery from acidification in Swedish lakes

Since the 1980s, Swedish lakes have in general become less acidified. Assessment of biological recovery is, however, hampered by poor pre-acidification data, confounding effects of climate change, and few lakes with annual sampling of fish and other organisms. Only three critically acidified, but non-limed, lakes had two decades of fish monitoring. The lakes had not yet recovered to pre-industrial chemical targets. Fish had low species richness compared to other organism groups. Roach (Rutilus rutilus) and/or European perch (Perca fluviatilis) were the dominant fish species, and the acid-sensitive roach had been lost from one of the lakes. Calcium decreased, possibly approaching pre-acidification concentrations, but exceeded minimum levels needed to sustain some Daphnia species. High or increasing levels of total organic carbon, likely due to reduced acidification and climate change, might influence the biological communities in unexpected ways, for example, facilitating more frequent occurrence of the invasive algae Gonyostomum semen.     

Spatio-temporal trends of PCBs in the Swedish freshwater environment 1981–2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been monitored in perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in reference lakes since the late 1960s. Temporal trends and spatial patterns are currently monitored in nine and 32 lakes, respectively. Overall, PCB concentrations are decreasing. However, this is not consistent for all congeners across all lakes and species. Perch has comparatively low PCB concentrations relative to suggested target levels, but individual congener concentrations in some lakes are concerningly high. No temporal trend is seen for CB-118 and CB-153 in perch, but significant decreasing trends exist for Arctic char and pike, for which monitoring started earlier than for perch. The lower/higher chlorinated congener ratio decreased over time in most lakes, indicating fewer new emissions. CB-118 and CB-153 concentrations in perch show spatial gradients across Sweden, with higher concentrations found near urban/industrial areas.     

Long-term effects on nitrogen and benthic fauna of extreme weather events: Examples from two Swedish headwater streams

Climate change is expected to cause an increased frequency of extreme events such as heavy floods and major storms. Such stochastic events have an immediate impact on surface water quality, but the long-term effects are largely unknown. In this study, we assess long-term monitoring data from two Swedish headwater catchments affected by extreme weather events. At one site, where nitrogen effects in soil water, groundwater, and stream water were studied after storm-felling and subsequent forest dieback from bark beetle attack, long-term (>5 years) but relatively modest (generally <1 mg L^?1) increases in ammonium (NH₄-N) and nitrate (NO₃-N) concentrations were observed in the various aqueous media. At the other site, where effects on benthic fauna were studied in a stream impacted by extreme geophysical disturbances caused by rainstorm-induced flashflood, only short-term (1 year) effects were revealed both regarding diversity and composition of species.     

Assessing and managing freshwater ecosystems vulnerable to environmental change

Freshwater ecosystems are important for global biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services. There is consensus in the scientific literature that freshwater ecosystems are vulnerable to the impacts of environmental change, which may trigger irreversible regime shifts upon which biodiversity and ecosystem services may be lost. There are profound uncertainties regarding the management and assessment of the vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems to environmental change. Quantitative approaches are needed to reduce this uncertainty. We describe available statistical and modeling approaches along with case studies that demonstrate how resilience theory can be applied to aid decision-making in natural resources management. We highlight especially how long-term monitoring efforts combined with ecological theory can provide a novel nexus between ecological impact assessment and management, and the quantification of systemic vulnerability and thus the resilience of ecosystems to environmental change.     

Anthropogenic oligotrophication via liming: Long-term phosphorus trends in acidified,limed, and neutral reference lakes in Sweden

Restoration of acidified lakes by liming does not, in many cases, improve productivity to a pre-acidified state. We hypothesize that the poor recovery detected in many of these lakes is due to constrained in-lake phosphorous (P) cycling caused by enhanced precipitation of metals in higher pH, limed waters. Long-term (1990–2012) data for 65 limed, circum-neutral (pH 6–8), and acidified lakes in Sweden were analyzed to determine trends for P and potential drivers of these trends. Limed lakes not only had lower mean values and stronger decreasing trends for total P than non-limed lakes, but they also had the highest percentage of decreasing trends (85 %). A P release factor (Hypolimnetic P/Epilimnetic P) was developed to elucidate differences in internal P cycling between lake groups. Consistently, lower P release factors in limed lakes show limitation of internal P cycling during summer months that may be a factor limiting P bioavailability and thus productivity of these systems.     

用于磷吸附的载铁(β-FeOOH)沸石制备及特性简

以天然沸石为载体,采用FeCl₃水解法制备用于磷吸附的载铁沸石（β-FeOOH-Z）,优化β-FeOOH-Z的制备条件,包括FeCl₃溶液浓度、负载pH值、负载时间、负载温度和烘干温度,并利用X射线衍射（XRD）和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）对β-FeOOH-Z及其磷吸附特性进行分析。结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z的优化制备条件为：FeCl₃溶液浓度1 mol/L、负载pH值6、负载时间24 h、负载温度25℃和烘干温度60℃。优化制备条件下,100~120目沸石的载铁量为100.2 mg/g,铁的负载率为18%,其磷吸附量为7.68 mg/g,比天然沸石提高79.6%。XRD分析结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z中的杂质元素较天然沸石减少,并有效负载β-FeOOH;制备条件对β-FeOOH-Z的成分有较大影响,FeCl₃溶液浓度较低、负载温度和烘干温度过高均使β-FeOOH-Z中含有α-Fe₂O₃,并导致其磷吸附效率降低。FTIR分析结果表明,β-FeOOH-Z的表面羟基在其吸附磷过程中起重要作用,羟基与磷酸根离子的配位交换是β-FeOOH-Z吸附磷的主要作用机制。     

MCM-41介孔分子筛的合成及其对铜离子的吸附性能简

以微硅粉为硅源,CTAB和PEG-6000为模板剂,合成MCM-41介孔分子筛。采用XRD、N₂吸附-脱附曲线、FTIR以及TEM表征了其结构、比表面积、孔径分布及晶体形貌,并且以该样品为吸附剂,对含Cu²⁺的溶液进行了静态吸附实验。结果表明,以微硅粉为硅源成功合成了具有典型六方排列孔道结构的MCM-41,其比表面积为869.5 m²/g,孔容为0.97 cm³/g,平均孔径为3.3 nm;溶液pH为5~6时,MCM-41对Cu²⁺的去除效果最好;MCM-41对Cu²⁺的最大吸附吸附容量36.3 mg/g;MCM-41对Cu²⁺的吸附性能符合Langmuir吸附方程的特征。动力学研究表明,该过程符合准二级动力学模型。     

船舶塑料垃圾热解特性及动力学分析

利用热重分析(TGA)研究船舶塑料垃圾在不同升温速率和不同气氛下的热解特性,并得到了热解动力学参数。结果表明,船舶塑料垃圾的热解过程主要有3个阶段,比一般塑料热解复杂;随着升温速率增大,最大热解速率和最大热解速率温度等热解特性参数也增大,反应变得更剧烈;N2/CO2比为4∶1时,热解反应进行得最完全,固体残留率最少。动力学分析表明,采用3个连续一级反应模型能很好地拟合实验数据;不同的升温速率和气氛比对反应各阶段活化能均有不同程度的影响。