Increasing litter species richness reduces variability in a terrestrial decomposer system

Debate on the relationship between diversity and stability has been driven by the recognition that species loss may influence ecosystem properties and processes. We conducted a litterbag experiment in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom, to examine the effects of altering plant litter diversity on decomposition, microbial biomass, and microfaunal abundance. The design of treatments was fully factorial and included five species from an upland plant community (silver birch, Betula pendula; Scots' pine, Pinus sylvestris; heather, Calluna vulgaris; bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus; wavy-hair grass, Deschampsia flexuosa); species richness ranged from one to five species. We tested the effects of litter species richness and composition on variable means, whether increasing litter species richness reduced variability in the decomposer system, and whether any richness-variability relationships were maintained over time (196 vs. 564 days). While litter species composition effects controlled variable means, we revealed reductions in variability with increasing litter species richness, even after accounting for differences between litter types. These findings suggest that higher plant species richness per se may result in more stable ecosystem processes (e.g., decomposition) and decomposer communities. Negative richness-variation relationships generally relaxed over time, presumably because properties of litter mixtures became more homogeneous. However, given that plant litter inputs continue to enter the belowground system over time, we conclude that variation in ecosystem properties may be buffered by greater litter species richness.     

Supporting conservationists’ mental health through better working conditions

Biodiversity conservation work can be challenging but rewarding, and both aspects have potential consequences for conservationists’ mental health. Yet, little is known about patterns of mental health among conservationists and its associated workplace protective and risk factors. A better understanding might help improve working conditions, supporting conservationists’ job satisfaction, productivity, and engagement, while reducing costs from staff turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. We surveyed 2311 conservation professionals working in 122 countries through an internet survey shared via mailing lists, social media, and other channels. We asked them about experiences of psychological distress, working conditions, and personal characteristics. Over half were from and worked in Europe and North America, and most had a university-level education, were in desk-based academic and practitioner roles, and responded in English. Heavy workload, job demands, and organizational instability were linked to higher distress, but job stability and satisfaction with one's contributions to conservation were associated with lower distress. Respondents with low dispositional and conservation-specific optimism, poor physical health, and limited social support, women, and early-career professionals were most at risk of distress in our sample. Our results flag important risk factors that employers could consider, although further research is needed among groups underrepresented in our sample. Drawing on evidence-based occupational health interventions, we suggest measures that could promote better working conditions and thus may improve conservationists’ mental health and abilities to protect nature.     

湿度对使用便携式气相色谱—氢火焰离子化检测器监测苯系物的影响

由于湿度会对挥发性有机物（VOCs）的测定产生影响,因此针对现行常用的非甲烷总烃、苯系物分析方法,使用了干标气和加湿标气对便携式气相色谱仪［搭载氢火焰离子化检测器（FID）］进行了测试。实验发现,当存在一定湿度时,苯系物在FID上的响应略高于干气,湿度对测定结果影响不大,最多增大13.5%,而湿度在短时间（24 h）内基本不影响气袋对苯系物的保留效果。在VOCs的检测过程中,加湿气体稀释仪能够提供更为接近实际样品条件的标准气体,保证仪器在测量实际样品时数据更为可靠。     

PFOA与PFOS对厌氧氨氧化污泥特性和微生物群落的影响

通过序批实验研究了不同浓度(0.5,1mg/L)与不同类型的全氟化合物(PFCs)对厌氧氨氧化(anammox)污泥脱氮性能及微生物群落的影响.结果表明,0.5与1mg/L全氟辛酸(PFOA)和全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)对anammox污泥的脱氮性能无明显抑制作用;1mg/L PFOA(OA1)与PFOS(OS1)添加...     

川藏公路四川段泥石流灾害研究与治理

大量现场调查和观测发现,川藏公路四川段的泥石流灾害集中分布在4个区域,即龙胆溪泥石流区、雅江泥石流区、波戈溪泥石流区和巴塘—金沙江泥石流区。波戈溪泥石流区和巴塘—金沙江泥石流区是境内泥石流灾害最严重的地区,流域面积超过20 km~2的特大型泥石流有24条。自东向西,川藏公路四川段泥石流由水石流逐渐演变为稀性泥石流;复杂的地质构造环境、高山深谷地貌特征、强烈的地震活动、高强度的降雨和冰雪融水,构成泥石流灾害显著发育的环境条件。将公路沿线泥石流形成机理概括为4种,即降雨冲击机理、强度衰减机理、冲刷切割机理和沟床拖拽机理;2003年以来采用护岸结构、速流结构、抗冲击结构、拦渣坝、消能坎等技术实施了30余个大型泥石流灾害治理工程,治理效果显著。     

城市污水氮污染排放特征及来源探讨——以北京市海淀区为例

污水处理厂是城市重要的氮移除系统,同时也是潜在的氮污染源.研究城市污水处理过程中的点源氮污染物排放特征及其潜在可能性来源,有助于理解城市化过程中污染性氮素的循环过程.本文选择北京市城市化程度较高的海淀区,对服务此区域的污水处理厂进行为期1年的定点采样,分析区域污水处理过程中氮污染排放规律,并探讨其可能来源.研究结果表明,研究区城市污水中氮浓度具有显著的月变化特征,城市污水TN浓度呈现缓慢增长后递减趋势,变化范围在34.975~59.987 mg·L-1之间;从四季整体来看,TN在中午11:00—13:00和傍晚18:00—21:00浓度值较高.城市污水氮污染物主要以NH+4-N形态存在,而排河尾水中以NO-3-N形态为主.月均每人导致的污水氮污染排放量为0.95kg,峰值出现在12月;污水处理过程中氮污染排放率在寒冷季较高;更为先进的污水处理技术有助于减少处理过程中产生的氮污染排放.寒冷季是1年中控制污水氮污染排放的重要时期.稳定氮同位素溯源方法初步表明,城市污水氮来源呈现季节差异,春、夏、冬季潜在来源包括生活黑水及大气降雨,而当年秋季主要来源是生活黑水.从源头上提高生活黑水的资源化率,有助于城市污水氮污染排放的实际削减.     

坡耕地薄层紫色土-岩石系统中氮磷的迁移特征

于2015年两场代表性降雨事件下研究了紫色土坡耕地(1 500 m~2)水文过程驱动的氮磷地表和地下迁移特征.结果表明:(1)前期土壤水饱和度和降雨量决定地表径流和裂隙潜流的产流深度和胶体浓度的基本水平;降雨强度则控制产流量的变化趋势和胶体浓度的峰值水平.(2)氮素主要以溶解态随裂隙潜流迁移;磷素则主要以细颗粒结合态通过地表径流流失.(3)氮磷迁移过程的水文驱动特征明显,氮素迁移主要受裂隙潜流的驱动作用影响,而磷素迁移则主要受地表径流的驱动作用影响.该研究结果丰富了对坡耕地薄层土壤-裂隙母岩二元系统中氮磷迁移对降雨响应规律的认识,可为农业氮磷非点源污染防治提供可靠的田间数据支持并明确关键的水文调控环节.     

马兰黄土中Laschamp地磁漂移的10^Be记录与古地磁测试结果的初步对比

Laschamp地磁场漂移事件发生的确切年代(~42kaBP)已通过相对独立的同位素定年手段确定,并被证实具有全球性特征.但这一事件在我国马兰黄土地层中的记录存在着明显的空间差异.本文初步对比了最近发表的黄土高原洛川剖面mBe4L录的Laschamp漂移信息和前人根据该44面古地磁参数异常结合Heinrich冷事件所确...     

A spatial analysis of pit latrine density and groundwater source contamination

This study aims to assess the relationship between chemical and microbial contamination of groundwater sources and a range of potential hazards in two peri-urban areas of Kisumu, Kenya where shallow wells and pit latrines are widely used. From 1998 to 2004, 263 samples were taken from 61 groundwater sources and tested for thermotolerant coliforms. Eighteen of these sources were also tested for chemical contaminants, including nitrate, chloride and fluoride. The locations of all water sources, buildings and pit latrines in the study area were surveyed. Local pit latrine densities were calculated using a geographic information system. Ten out 18 samples were above the World Health Organization guideline values for nitrate, 236 out of 263 were positive for thermotolerant coliforms, and all were above the guideline values for fluoride. There was neither a relationship between thermotolerant coliform levels and daily rainfall patterns nor with sanitary risk inspection scores for samples from shallow wells (r?=?0.01, p?=?0.91, n?=?191). The density of pit latrines within a 100-m radius was significantly correlated with nitrate and chloride levels (r?=?0.64, p?=?0.004 and r?=?0.46, p?=?0.05, respectively) but not with thermotolerant coliforms (r?=?0.22, p?=?0.11). These results illustrate both the public health risks associated with shallow groundwater sources, on-site sanitation and high population density. These findings have implications for current policies that promote latrine construction, especially in peri-urban areas of high population density. More comprehensive studies of larger communities should be commissioned to extend this analysis of the links between latrine density and groundwater contamination and so identify the contingent policy risks.     

太湖梅梁湾磷化氢气体浓度和通量日变化

以太湖梅梁湾湖区为研究对象,考察水面上空磷化氢浓度和水-气界面磷化氢释放通量的习变化.结果表明,白天大气中磷化氢浓度(7.39±7.00)ng·m-3显著低于夜间(37.05±22.74)ng·m-3,光照是影响大气中磷化氢浓度的主要因素.磷化氢通量全天正负交替,白天平均通量(11.41±23.76)ng·m-2·h-1,水体为磷化氢的释放源;夜间平均通量为(-37.62±26.45)ng·m-2·h-1,水体表现为磷化氢的汇;一天内平均日变化为(-13.11±35.04)ng·m-2·h-1,磷化氢总体为从大气向水体迁移的过程.磷化氢通量与水温显著正相关,而与大气中磷化氢浓度显著负相关.相关性分析表明磷化氢与温室气体(甲烷、二氧化碳和氧化亚氮)均呈现负相关.