Acidification at Plastic Lake,Ontario: Has 20 Years Made a Difference?

In response to reduced sulphur emissions, there has been a large decrease in sulphate (; −0.97 μeq l⁻¹ year⁻¹) and hydrogen (−1.18 μeq l⁻¹ year⁻¹) ion concentration in bulk precipitation between 1980 and 2000 at Plastic Lake in central Ontario. The benefit of this large reduction in deposition on stream water chemistry was assessed using the gauged outflow from a conifer-forested catchment (PC1; 23.3 ha), which is influenced by a small wetland located immediately upstream of the outflow. Sulphate concentrations declined, but not significantly due to large inter-annual variation in concentration. Between 1980 and 2000, there were significant increases in dissolved organic carbon, ammonium and potassium concentration likely reflecting increased mineralisation in the wetland. Calcium concentrations in PC1 decreased during the two decade period (−2.24 μeq l⁻¹ year⁻¹), as a consequence there was no improvement in stream pH and the Ca:Al ratio in PC1 continued to decline. A similar response was noted in an upland-draining sub-catchment of PC1-08 that has been monitored since 1987. Despite large reductions in deposition and almost complete retention of nitrogen in soil, there has been no improvement (in terms of pH) in stream water at PC1 due to a combination of soil acidification and climatic (droughts, increased mineralisation) perturbations.     

Conceptual development of a harmonised method for tracking change and evaluating policy in the agri-environment: The Agri-environmental Footprint Index

An aggregated farm-level index, the Agri-environmental Footprint Index (AFI), based on multiple criteria methods and representing a harmonised approach to evaluation of EU agri-environmental schemes is described. The Index uses a common framework for the design and evaluation of policy that can be customised to locally relevant agri-environmental issues and circumstances. Evaluation can be strictly policy-focused, or broader and more holistic in that context-relevant assessment criteria that are not necessarily considered in the evaluated policy can nevertheless be incorporated. The Index structure is flexible, and can respond to diverse local needs. The process of Index construction is interactive, engaging farmers and other relevant stakeholders in a transparent decision-making process that can ensure acceptance of the outcome, help to forge an improved understanding of local agri-environmental priorities and potentially increase awareness of the critical role of farmers in environmental management. The structure of the AFI facilitates post-evaluation analysis of relative performance in different dimensions of the agri-environment, permitting identification of current strengths and weaknesses, and enabling future improvement in policy design. Quantification of the environmental impact of agriculture beyond the stated aims of policy using an ‘unweighted’ form of the AFI has potential as the basis of an ongoing system of environmental audit within a specified agricultural context.     

Concentrations,Cumulative Exposure and Critical Levels of Ozone in Ireland

Concentrations of tropospheric ozone(O₃) and exceedance of critical levels to vegetationhave been investigated and mapped for Ireland. Hourlyozone concentration data (1995–1997) at 7 sevenmonitoring stations and the CORINE landcover database,supported by a Geographical Information System, wereused. AOT40 (Accumulated exposure Over a Threshold of 40ppb) was calculated for daylight hours for each station,and mapped using surface interpolation. Average O₃concentrations vary from year to year, and were estimatedto be 28 ppb, 26 ppb and 24 ppb for 1995, 1996 and 1997respectively. Ozone concentrations show a large diurnalvariation, with a maximum in the afternoon and a minimumat night-time. The critical level for crops and (semi-)natural vegetation was exceeded in all years examined.The highest exceedance occurred in 1995, where thecritical level was exceeded for almost 35% of the mappedarea. Approximately 15% and 1% of the mapped area wasexposed to exceedance levels during 1996 and 1997respectively. The maximum cumulative exposures (AOT40)were approximately 5000, 3890 and 3230 ppbh in 1995, 1996and 1997 respectively. The critical level for forests wasnot exceeded during the period of investigation.     

Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Corallium rubrum</Emphasis>) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean)

The distribution and population structure of the eurybathic gorgonian Corallium rubrum were studied off Cap de Creus (Costa Brava, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Red coral is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent NE Atlantic coast, where it has been over exploited for centuries. This study presents, the first quantitative data on the spatial distribution and structure of a population extending between 50 (common SCUBA limits) and 230 m depth, and compared it with shallow populations previously studied in the same area. Different remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and two methodological approaches were employed during four cruises between 2002 and 2006: 1-Extensive surveys: sea to coast transects in which red coral density and patch frequency were recorded; 2-Intensive surveys, in which parameters describing colony morphology were recorded. Most of the hard substrate between 50 and 85 m depth was inhabited by red coral colonies, showing a patch frequency of 8.3 ± 7.9 SD patches per 100 m-transect (total transect area: 34 m²), and within-patch colony densities of 16–376 colonies m⁻² (mean of 43 ± 53 colonies m⁻²). Below 120 m depth red coral was less abundant, and rather than forming dense patches as in shallow water, isolated colonies were more common. The population structure differed between sites that are easily accessible to red coral fishermen, and remote ones (both at similar depth, 60–80 m), as colonies in easily accessible locations were smaller in height and diameter, and showed a less developed branching pattern. At shallower locations (10–50 m depth) the population structure was significantly different from those at deeper locations, due to the heavy harvesting pressure they are exposed to in the shallows. Twenty-five to forty-six percentage of the deeper colonies were taller than 6 cm, while only 7–16% of the shallow water colonies exceeded 6 cm colony height. Forty-six to seventy-nine percentage of the colonies in deeper waters were large enough to be legally harvested, while only 9–20% of the shallow water colonies met the 7 mm legal basal diameter to be collected. The branching pattern was also better developed in deeper colonies, as up to 16% of the colonies showed fourth order branches, compared to less than 1% of the shallow water colonies (of which 96% consisted of only one single branch). The results thus confirm that C. rubrum populations above 50 m depth are exposed to a higher harvesting intensity than deeper populations in the same area.     

Seasonal dependency of controlling factors on the phytoplankton production in Taihu Lake, China

In this study, 44 profiles of gross primary productivity(GPP) and sunlight, along with water temperature, Chlorophyll-a(Chla) and nutrients, were observed in Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake, China, in the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Effects of water temperature, light,and nutrient concentration were examined in relation to the GPP-unit-Chla(GPP of algae per Chla). The results showed that the optimum temperature for the GPP of phytoplankton was 27.9°C, the optimal PNA-unit-Chla(photon number absorbed by phytoplankton per Chla) was 0.25(mol), and the HSCN-unit-Chla and HSCP-unit-Chla(half-saturation constants of nitrogen and phosphorus of algae per Chla) were 0.005(mg/L) and 0.0004(mg/L), respectively. The seasonal dependency of the effect of different factors on the GPP was analyzed. Compared with temperature and nutrients, light was found to be the most important factor affecting the GPP during the three seasons. The effect of temperature and nutrients on the GPP of phytoplankton has obvious seasonal change. In spring, temperature was the secondary factor affecting the GPP of phytoplankton, and the effect of nutrients may be negligible in the eutrophic lake on account of temperature limit, which showed that the GPP of algae was only affected by the physical process. In summer and fall, temperature didn't affect the GPP of algae, and the presence of nutrients was the secondary factor affecting the GPP of phytoplankton. From summer to fall, effect of phosphorus was weakened and effect of nitrogen was enhanced.     

Expanding the motivations for altruism: A philosophical perspective

We argue that attempts to extrapolate moral motives for non‐egoistic behavior in organizational behavior often interpret results empathically or deontically, while leaving other moral motivational frames, such as the utilitarian and virtue ethical, under‐examined. We encourage the creation of experimental measures to distinguish various philosophical frames. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sprawl,Smart Growth and Sustainability

This paper examines the role of community-based management (CBM) in dealing with the problem of mine water pollution (MWP) in four ex-pit sites in northeast England. The outcomes of CBM can be divided into two categories: ecological (environmental improvement) and social (community improvement). The ecological outcomes range from problem recognition to investigation and remediation; the social outcomes range from community awareness to participation and enhanced cooperation. Both kinds of outcome were completely achieved in only one site (Quaking Houses). In the other three sites, varying degrees of success were achieved in each category. The main lessons learned are two-fold: first, even if CBM does not achieve its ecological aims, it may nonetheless be valuable in achieving social outcomes; second, its chances of achieving either ecological or social outcomes are linked to the resources (human, technical, financial, experiential, structural, legitimacy and network) that the community possesses.     

Achievements,challenges and global implications of China’s carbon neutral pledge

China has been committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality will play an essential role in galvanising global climate action, which has been largely deferred by the Covid-19 pandemic. China’s carbon neutrality could reduce global warming by approximately 0.2–0.3 °C and save around 1.8 million people from premature death due to air pollution. Along with domestic benefits, China’s pledge of carbon neutrality is a “game-changer” for global climate action and can inspire other large carbon emitters to contribute actively to mitigate carbon emissions, particularly countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) routes. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, it is necessary to decarbonise all sectors in China, including energy, industry, transportation, construction, and agriculture. However, this transition will be very challenging, because major technological breakthroughs and large-scale investments are required. Strong policies and implementation plans are essential, including sustainable demand, decarbonizing electricity, electrification, fuel switching, and negative emissions. In particular, if China can peak carbon emissions earlier, it can lower the costs of the carbon neutral transition and make it easier to do so over a longer time horizon. China’s pledge of carbon neutrality by 2060 and recent pledges at the 26^th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) are significant contributions and critical steps for global climate action. However, countries worldwide need to achieve carbon neutrality to keep the global temperature from growing beyond the level that will cause catastrophic damages globally.