Toxicity of three halogenated flame retardants to nitrifying bacteria, red clover (Trifolium pratense), and a soil invertebrate (Enchytraeus crypticus)

Halogenated flame retardants have a high sorption affinity to particles, making soils and sediments important sinks. Here, three of the most commonly used flame retardants have been tested for sub-lethal toxicity towards soil nitrifying bacteria, a terrestrial plant (seed emergence and growth of the red clover, Trifolium pratense), and a soil invertebrate (survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus). Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was quite toxic to enchytraeids, with significant effects on reproduction detected already at the 10 mgkg(-1) exposure level (EC(10)=2.7 mgkg(-1)). In contrast, decabromodiphenyl ether (DeBDE) was not toxic at all, and short-chain chloroparaffins (CP(10-13)) only affected soil nitrifying bacteria at the highest test concentration (EC(10)=570 mgkg(-1)). Exposure concentrations were verified by chemical analysis for TBBPA and DeBDE, but not for CP(10-13), as a reliable method was not available. Based on the generated data, a PNEC for soil organisms can be estimated at 0.3 mgkg(-1) for TBBPA and 57 mgkg(-1) for short-chain chloroparaffins. No PNEC could be estimated for DeBDE. Measurements of TBBPA in soil are not available, but measured concentrations in Swedish sludge are all lower than the estimated threshold value for biological effects in soil.     

Exploring the possibility of a systematic and generic approach to social sustainability

There is a growing need to understand how existing concepts and tools for sustainability relate to each other and to a robust, trans-disciplinary systems perspective for sustainability. As a response, a group of scientists, including some of the authors, have developed a framework based on backcasting from sustainability principles over the last 20 years – the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD), also known as The Natural Step Framework. The intent of this study is to scrutinize the existing framework as regards its social dimension. The study demonstrates dichotomies and lack of robustness and proposes a way forward to make the social dimension of the FSSD more cohesive as well as operational.     

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

In 1979, all the non-OPEC less developed countries (LDCs) represented 8.1 per cent of world oil production and more than 10 per cent of the proven reserves. The position of the oil-importing LDCs was more modest, with 2 per cent of world production and only 1.2 per cent of the proved reserves. On the other hand, their reserves of natural gas were slightly larger and relatively little exploited. Considering the low level of exploration in the non-OPEC LDCs, which can at least partially be explained by economic and political conditions, their hydrocarbon potential is considerably higher than present discoveries, as confirmed by results obtained in new zones that have recently been prospected. Up until the last few years, exploration efforts in non-OPEC LDCs, measured in terms of seismic prospecting and drilling, have remained practically stable. On the contrary, since the 1973 crisis and its repercussions on the price of oil, there has been a sharp increase in exploration in the developed countries, especially in North America, due to the greater economic attractiveness of new discoveries. To encourage the same intensification of exploration in the LDCs incentives to promote activities must continue to be proposed. The situation of the some 70 oil-importing LDCs, in which exploration has been highly scattered to date and where petroleum potential exists, is extremely critical. En 1979, tous les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP représentaient 8.1 pour cent de la production mondiale de pétrole et plus de 10 pour cent des réverses prouvées. La situation des pays les moins développés importateurs de pétrole était plus que défavorable, avec 2 pour cent de la production mondiale et 1.2 pour cent seulement des réverves prouvées. D'autre part, leurs réverves de gaz naturel étaient plus grandes et relativement peu exploitées. Considérant le faible niveau d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP, niveau que l'on peut au moins attribue en partie aux conditions économiques et politiques, leur potentiel en hydrocarbures est considérablement plus élevé que les découvertes actuelles, tel que le confirment les résultats obtenus dans de nouvelles zones récemment prospectées. Jusqu'à ces dernières années, les efforts d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés en dehors de I'OPEP en termes de prospection sismique et de forage sont restés pratiquement stables. Par contre, depuis la crise de 1973 et ses répercussions sur le prix du pétrole, il y a eu une augmentation marquante dans l'exploration des pays développés, en particulier en Amérique du nord, à cause des possibilités économiques plus intéressantes de ces nouvelles découvertes. Afin d'arriver à la méme intensification en matière d'exploration dans les pays les moins développés, on doit continuer à fournir des encouragements pour promouvoir les activités. La situation des quelque 70 pays les moins développés importateurs de pétrole dans lesquels l'exploration a été sporadique jusqu'à cette date et où le potentiel en pétrole existe est extrêmement critique. En 1979 todos los países de menor grado de desarrollo, no miembros de la OPEP, representaban 8.1 porciento de la producción mundial de petróleo y más del 10 porciento de las reservas probadas. La situación de esta categoría de países, importadores de petróleo era mas modesta: con 2 porciento de la producción mundial y solo 1.2 porciento de reservas probadas. Por otro lado sus reservas de gas natural eran ligeramente mayores y relativamente poco explotadas. Tomando en consideración el bajo nivel de exploración en los países de menor grado de desarrollo no pertenecientes a la OPEP, el potencial en hidrocarburos de estos países es considerablemente mayor que los descubrimientos presentes tal como se confirma por los resultados obtenidos en zonas nuevas recientemente exploradas. Hasta hace pocos años, los esfuerzos de exploración en estos países han permanecido practicamente estables. Por el contrario desde la crisis de 1973 ha ocurrido un aumento rápido en la exploración en los países desarrollados, especialmente en Norte América, debido al mayor atractivo económico de los nuevos descubrimientos. Para facilitar la misma intensificación de exploración en los países de menor grado de desarrollo se deben proponer incentivos que promuevan mayor actividad. La situación de algo asi como 70 países importadores de petróleo es crítica a pesar de que existe un potencial en hidrocarburos y donde poca exploración se ha realizado hasta ahora.     

水中内分泌干扰物-壬基酚的去除研究进展

壬基酚是一种内分泌干扰物,主要来源于NPEO,能通过生物富集作用进入生物体内并造成危害。当前检测水样中壬基酚的主要方法是采用GC—MS,预处理采用固相萃取。研究表明自来水厂的常规处理工艺对于壬基酚的去除有限;而活性炭、有机蒙脱土吸附等物理方法,超声声化、电化学氧化、光分解等化学方法可有效降解水中的壬基酚。     

A dynamic modelling approach for estimating critical loads of nitrogen based on plant community changes under a changing climate

A dynamic model of forest ecosystems was used to investigate the effects of climate change, atmospheric deposition and harvest intensity on 48 forest sites in Sweden (n = 16) and Switzerland (n = 32). The model was used to investigate the feasibility of deriving critical loads for nitrogen (N) deposition based on changes in plant community composition. The simulations show that climate and atmospheric deposition have comparably important effects on N mobilization in the soil, as climate triggers the release of organically bound nitrogen stored in the soil during the elevated deposition period. Climate has the most important effect on plant community composition, underlining the fact that this cannot be ignored in future simulations of vegetation dynamics. Harvest intensity has comparatively little effect on the plant community in the long term, while it may be detrimental in the short term following cutting. This study shows: that critical loads of N deposition can be estimated using the plant community as an indicator; that future climatic changes must be taken into account; and that the definition of the reference deposition is critical for the outcome of this estimate.     

基于PLUS-InVEST模型的江西省生态系统碳储量时空演变与预测

土地利用变化是影响陆地生态系统碳储量变化的重要因素,研究土地利用变化与碳储量之间关系对优化区域土地利用结构,维持区域碳平衡可提供可靠的数据支撑.以江西省为例,分析1990~2020年土地利用变化,基于PLUS模型,结合自然发展情景、生态优先情景和经济发展情景设置,对2030年江西省土地利用格局进行模拟分析,运用InVEST模型测算1990~2020年及未来不同情景下江西省碳储量变化,利用空间自相关分析探索江西省不同情景下陆地生态系统碳储量时空变化特征,并提出相应的政策建议.结果表明:①1990~2020年江西省碳储量整体呈下降趋势,共减少4.58×10⁷ t.其中,水域和建设用地的面积增加,耕地、林地、草地及未利用地面积减少是导致碳储量减少的主要原因.②2030年江西省陆地生态系统碳储量在自然发展情景、生态优先情景和经济发展情景下分别为2.20×10⁹、2.24×10⁹和2.19×10⁹ t.③3种情景下的碳储量值在空间分布上具有相似性,碳储量高值区域在江西省北部、西北部及西部区域出现集聚,低值区域则在中部区域聚集.研究结果可为江西省未来国土空间规划,提升陆地生态系统碳储量提供数据支撑.     

利用海上测量光谱进行赤潮监测

利用太平洋东海岸加拿大温哥华海域56个观测站位现场实测的海洋表面光谱（400-800hm）反射率值和叶绿索、泥沙浓度资料，研究了赤潮发生时海面水体光谱反射率的变化趋势，以了解清洁水体与赤潮水体的不同特征。经过多组数据的比较分析，发现相对于清洁海水的海面光谱反射率，赤潮发生时海面光谱反射率曲线的荧光峰从685nm波长向710hm的红光波长位移；清洁海水海洋表面光谱反射率平均值在400-588nm之间比赤潮海水的平均反射率值大，在波长588nm处两值相交后，清洁海水的反射率值小于赤潮水体的反射率值，而在688nm处清洁海水和赤潮水体反射率值大小相等（大约为0．25），其后保持赤潮海水的反射率值在688—756nm之间一直高于清洁海水的平均反射率值。清洁海水和赤潮水体不同的荧光峰值以及不同的光谱反射率特征之间的差异，可以用于监测赤潮的最佳波段选择。     

机场鸟击事故灾害的生态防治

从生态学角度分析了机场鸟击事故灾害发生的根源和特点，概述了鸟击灾害的生态防治措施，包括主动性防治和被动性防治，以及计算机和信息技术的应用。指出鸟击灾害已经成为机场飞行安全的主要威胁之一；生态综合防治是机场鸟击事故灾害防治的根本手段。     

动态条件下各形态内源磷释放动力学研究

实验在流量为3L/d,水通量变化率为1.17 L(水)/g(湿泥).d-1的动态条件下模拟自然条件下内源磷的释放过程,对内源磷的释放过程、形态变化以及释放速率进行考察。研究表明,内源磷释放可分为两个阶段:快速释放阶段,释放速率由铁磷释放决定;慢速释放阶段,释放速率由铁磷释放和钙磷释放共同决定。整个释放过程中内源磷形态分布有较大变化。动力学分析表明总内源磷释放在表观上符合4.5级动力学反应,铁磷释放在表观上符合5.4级动力学反应,钙磷释放在表观上符合一级动力学反应。     

Predicting Extinction Risk of Brazilian Atlantic Forest Angiosperms

Understanding how plant life history affects species vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances and environmental change is a major ecological challenge. We examined how vegetation type, growth form, and geographic range size relate to extinction risk throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain. We used a database containing species‐level information of 6,929 angiosperms within 112 families and a molecular‐based working phylogeny. We used decision trees, standard regression, and phylogenetic regression to explore the relationships between species attributes and extinction risk. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in extinction risk. Vegetation type, growth form, and geographic range size were related to species extinction risk, but the effect of growth form was not evident after phylogeny was controlled for. Species restricted to either rocky outcrops or scrub vegetation on sandy coastal plains exhibited the highest extinction risk among vegetation types, a finding that supports the hypothesis that species adapted to resource‐limited environments are more vulnerable to extinction. Among growth forms, epiphytes were associated with the highest extinction risk in non‐phylogenetic regression models, followed by trees, whereas shrubs and climbers were associated with lower extinction risk. However, the higher extinction risk of epiphytes was not significant after correcting for phylogenetic relatedness. Our findings provide new indicators of extinction risk and insights into the mechanisms governing plant vulnerability to extinction in a highly diverse flora where human disturbances are both frequent and widespread. Predicción del Riesgo de Extinción de Angiospermas del Bosque Atlántico Brasileño