Lessons from Integrating Fishers of Arapaima in Small-Scale Fisheries Management at the Mamirauá Reserve,Amazon

Fishers and small-scale fisheries worldwide have been marginalized historically. Now it is clear that integrating fishers in management processes is key to resource conservation, but it is less clear how to do it. Here, based on a literature review and new information, we present and analyze a case in which the participation of fishers in the management process was crucial in recovering an overexploited small-scale fishery for the pirarucu (Arapaima spp.) in the Amazon Basin, Brazil. In 8 years of experimental management, from 1999 to 2006, the population of pirarucu increased 9-fold (from about 2200 to 20,650 individuals), harvest quotas increased 10-fold (from 120 to 1249 individuals), and fishers’ participation in the management process increased and they benefited from increased monetary returns. Additionally, the number of communities conducting the management scheme increased from 4 in 1999 to 108 in 2006, following the demands of fishers and regional government agencies. Based on our analysis, we suggest that the participation of fishers in the management of other small-scale fisheries in the world can be improved by focusing on (1) applying the knowledge and skills of fishers in resource monitoring and management, (2) bridging knowledge systems among all involved stakeholders, (3) collaborating with fishers that are interested in, and capable of conducting, resource conservation schemes, and (4) conducting management under conditions of uncertainty.     

Effects of Fireplace Use on Forest Vegetation and Amount of Woody Debris in Suburban Forests in Northwestern Switzerland

Urban forests are popular recreation areas in Europe. Several of these temperate broad-leaved forests also have a high conservation value due to sustainable management over many centuries. Recreational activities, particularly the use of fireplaces, can cause extensive damage to soil, ground vegetation, shrubs, and trees. Firewood collection depletes woody debris, leading to a loss of habitat for specialized organisms. We examined the effects of fireplace use on forest vegetation and the amount of woody debris by comparing disturbed and control plots in suburban forests in northwestern Switzerland. At frequently used fireplaces, we found reduced species densities in the ground vegetation and shrub layer and changes in plant species composition due to human trampling within an area of 150–200 m². Picnicking and grilling also reduced the height and changed the age structure of shrubs and young trees. The amount of woody debris was lower in disturbed plots than in control plots. Pieces of wood with a diameter of 0.6–7.6 cm were preferentially collected by fireplace users. The reduction in woody debris volume extended up to a distance of 16 m from the fire ring, covering an area of 800 m² at each picnic site. In order to preserve the ecological integrity of urban forests and to maintain their attractiveness as important recreation areas, we suggest depositing logging residues to be used as firewood and to restrict visitor movements near picnic sites.     

Review of Agri-Environment Indexes and Stewardship Payments

Agri-environment programs aim to secure environmental and social stewardship services through payments to farmers. A critical component of many agri-environment programs is an agri-environment index (AEI) used to quantify benefits and target investments. An AEI will typically comprise multiple indicators, which are weighted and combined using a utility function, to measure the benefit of investment options (e.g., projects, farms, regions). This article presents a review of AEIs with 11 case studies from agri-environment programs in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. We identify a generic procedure used to define AEIs and explore the implications of alternative methodological approaches. We conclude that AEIs have become an extremely important policy instrument and make suggestions for their improvement.     

CAST工艺处理低C/N生活污水的强化脱氮性能

研究了不同运行条件对CAST工艺处理低C/N实际生活污水脱氮性能的影响,并对pH值和ORP的变化规律进行了分析。结果表明,传统4 h运行模式下,提高原水C/N比,TN去除效果并无显著提高;对于低C/N生活污水,降低充水比有利于提高出水TN去除率,然而,充水比降至16%时,系统因低负荷运行发生污泥膨胀。在不投加外碳源的情况下,采用分段进水交替A/O运行模式可大幅改善系统脱氮性能,且TN去除率随着交替次数的增多而提高,交替4次平均去除率达87.23%。系统采用实时控制方式运行时,可根据有机物降解、氨氧化及反硝化时pH值和ORP曲线上是否出现拐点,来判断反应系统的曝气以及搅拌时间是否过长、适当或不足。     

活性污泥体系中聚糖菌的富集与鉴定

活性污泥体系中,聚糖菌(GAOs)在厌氧环境下与聚磷菌(PAOs)形成对底物的竞争关系,对聚糖菌的研究对于优化生物除磷工艺有重要意义。以葡萄糖为惟一碳源,在磷限制条件下,利用特殊运行方式对活性污泥进行驯化培养出了稳定的聚糖菌颗粒污泥,厌氧阶段磷释放量与有机物吸收量浓度(mg/L)比从7.4%下降为0.25%。从培养好的活性污泥反应器中分离获得2株聚糖菌,经菌落PCR和16S rRNA序列分析确定了所得聚糖菌菌株G1和菌株G2分别是枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)和解鸟氨酸克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella ornithinolytica)。     

微生物絮凝剂改善城市污水厂浓缩污泥脱水性能的研究

采用酱油曲霉(Aspergillus sojae)产生的微生物絮凝剂(MBF)作为污泥絮凝脱水剂,对城市污水处理厂浓缩污泥进行调理,确定该絮凝剂对浓缩污泥脱水的处理工艺参数为：微生物絮凝液最佳投加体积为6%～8%（体积比）,发挥絮凝作用的最适污泥温度为28～32℃,最适pH为6～7。经微生物絮凝剂调理的污泥在3 000 r/min离心9 min,污泥脱水率高达82.7%,滤饼含水率降低至77.3%,污泥脱水后体积减至原来的1/5左右。     

好氧/缺氧消化降解污泥特征分析

为考察好氧/缺氧消化过程中污泥降解的特征,利用2个反应器进行对比试验,研究好氧/缺氧和好氧消化2个过程中VS的去除,pH和碱度变化,消化上清液中COD和氮元素变化等情况。试验结果表明:好氧/缺氧消化能够满足污泥稳定的要求,在常温条件下,消化16 d VS去除率即可达到38.2%,同时比好氧消化节约曝气能耗。好氧/缺氧消化对污泥中总氮的去除率高于传统的好氧消化,达到了36.4%,而且能够降低消化污泥上清液中的氨氮和硝态氮浓度。     

脉冲电晕反应器结构对乙硫醇消除效果的影响

研究了脉冲电晕等离子体反应器结构的变化对乙硫醇消除效果的影响规律。结果表明,在反应器内设置折流板,可以增加气流的湍动程度,有利于活性粒子与污染物的充分接触,从而提高消除率。高压电极间距对电晕区范围及消毒效果有较大影响,间距较小将导致各电极产生的电场相互干扰明显,消除率减小;而电极间距过大,虽然电极间电场分布相互干扰小,但是反应器内可排布的电极数减少,总电晕区减少,消除率也减小。根据实验结果,电极间距设置为50 mm比较合理。另外,在相同的电场强度和脉冲频率下,毛刺形高压电极比线电极结构能耗低,能量利用率高。     

酵母菌对厨余垃圾厌氧发酵产乙酸的影响

研究了酵母菌对厌氧发酵过程中垃圾水解速率、挥发性有机酸(VFA)产量、乙酸产量的影响。结果表明：控制反应器中pH值为7时,接种酵母菌后,垃圾的水解速率明显提高,产酸速率和产酸量都明显高于不接种酵母菌的反应器,乙酸浓度能够达到9 458 mg/L,占挥发性有机酸总量的58.2%。垃圾本身含有的微生物对产酸也有促进作用,酵母菌和垃圾本身含有的微生物共同作用才能使得乙酸的产生最大化。     

厌氧序批式反应器内挥发性脂肪酸积累特性研究

小试规模的厌氧序批式反应器（ASBR）,通过人工配水,研究了启动3个月时间以及一个运行周期内反应器内挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）的积累情况,并通过分析期间产甲烷活性的变化说明了控制VFA积累的重要性。经过近120 d的运行,乙酸和丙酸的最大比产甲烷活性分别提高了1.8和2.2倍,说明反应器的启动过程即是微生物群落的优化和选择的过程,ASBR的抗冲击的能力较强说明随启动的进行和种群的优化,活性污泥凝聚性能增强,对VFA的降解能力增强。