Climatic and stream-flow controls on tree growth in a Western montane riparian forest

Humans have severely impacted riparian ecosystems through water diversions, impoundments, and consumptive uses. Effective management of these important areas is becoming an increasingly high priority of land managers, particularly as municipal, industrial, and recreational demands for water increase. We examined radial tree growth of four riparian tree species (Pinus jeffreyi, Populus trichocarpa, Betula occidentalis, and Pinus monophylla) along Bishop Creek, California, and developed models relating basal area increment (BAI) and relative basal area increment (RBAI) to climatic and stream flow variables. Between years 1995–1999, univariate regression analysis with stream flow explained 29 to 61% of the variation in BAI and RBAI among all species except P. trichocarpa; growth by P. trichocarpa was not significantly related to stream flows over this period. Stepwise linear regression indicated that species responded differently to climatic variables, and models based on these variables explained between 33 to 86% of variation in BAI and RBAI during the decade of the 1990s. We examined branch growth of P. trichocarpa for sensitivity to differences in stream flow regimes and found that annual branch growth did not vary between a high- and low-flow site, but that annual branch growth was significantly higher in wet years with greater stream flows. Our results support the establishment of site-specific management goals by land managers that take into account all of the important tree species present in riparian ecosystems and their differential responses to altered hydrologic condition. Instream flow requirements for maintaining tree growth and vigor are only one of the species-specific responses that need to be evaluated, and these assessments should attempt to separate experimentally stream-flow (managed) controls from climatic (unmanaged) controls on growth.     

Trail erosion patterns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

All the maintained trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park were surveyed for width, depth, and a variety of types of erosion. Trail erosion is related to a number of environmental variables, including vegetation type, elevation, trail slope, and section of the park. Open grass balds and spruce-fir forest are the most erosion-sensitive plant communities, and the xeric oak and pine types are the least sensitive. Trails in virgin or mature forest tend to be in poorer condition than those in successional areas. The most important physical factor is the slope of the trail.Trails in the Tennessee district are in slightly poorer condition, on the average, than those in the North Carolina district, but the Appalachian Trail is more eroded than either. A poor section of the park may have ten times the erosion of a good section. On an allpark basis, water erosion is the most important problem, with 15% of the trail surface affected.A comparison of visitation patterns with trail condition indicates that redistribution of use would help to mitigate some erosion problems. Because trail condition is correlated to physical environmental factors, however, some sites will require intensive maintenance, even if visitation is low.The data from this survey have already been used in environmental analysis of proposed developments within the park and can be applied to long-range planning for the park trail system as a whole.     

Grassy balds of the Great Smoky Mountains: Their history and flora in relation to potential management

The origin of the grassy balds of the Great Smoky Mountains is examined. Some of the areas were cleared by settlers. Grazing by sheep and cattle and the cutting of trees were probably the most important factors in maintaining the grass sward; fire apparently was not used.Vegetation survey plots indicated that little of the original balds' area was still grassy and that most of the invading trees and shrubs could be expected to sprout if cut or burned. Areas presently trampled or mowed had a flora similar to a bald that was still grazed. High-elevation burn scars had many species in common with the grassy balds but had dissimilar community structures; therefore, a policy favoring natural fires would be unlikely to encourage maintanence or formation of grassy balds.The management of open grassy areas on National Forest lands was investigated. Burning was the favored technique, although hand cutting, mowing, and grazing were used. The results of testing various management practices on Gregory Bald are reviewed in terms of cost, impact, and historical authenticity. Implications for park management are discussed.     

A quantitative succession model for nine montana forest communities

A quantitative succession model was developed both to meet resource management needs in Montana's Lewis and Clark National Forest and to develop a modeling methodology. It builds upon previous concepts and incudes three new features: quantitative prediction of all tree species and seedlings; quantitative predictions of important understory species; and successional pathways determined by fire intensity and scorch height. The method is described and demonstrated for selected Montana habitat (community) types. It is also available in managerial guidelines and has been programmed as a new module in theforplan simulator. Weaknesses of this and other models are discussed. Conclusions relate succession modeling to resource management needs.     

“绿水青山就是金山银山”的浙江实践与转化路径

"两山"理论,即"绿水青山就是金山银山",是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要内容。浙江是"两山"理论的发源地,思考探寻基于浙江情境的"两山"转化路径,意义重大且十分迫切。本研究从顶层设计、高质量发展、营商环境、协同治理、技术创新等方面,总结浙江"两山"转化的实践经验及其实践特征,探讨其"两山"转化路径,以期为在全国范围内推广"两山"转化与践行提供参考。     

基于RIAM模型的生态旅游开发环境影响评价研究

RIAM (Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix)是进行环境影响快速识别的半定量评价方法,能综合考虑项目对自然环境-生物生态-社会文化-经济发展的影响,评价过程较传统评价方法更为透明公开.以武夷山生态旅游开发项目为例,应用RIAM模型进行生态环评,可以明确地表达项目的综合环境影响,使各种替代方案环境影响对比清晰明了,且还能快速判断出生态旅游开发的主要负环境影响排序.RIAM环评方法使环评过程透明,环评结果表达直观,能更好服务于环境决策和管理.     

南水北调中线水源地不同植被类型坡地土壤水分特征研究

为了解不同植被类型土壤水资源的变化规律，选择南水北调中线水源区宁陕县寨沟区域典型植被针阔混交林、针叶林、板栗林、灌木林、荒坡草地和坡耕地为研究对象，通过样地调查与实验分析的方法对其土壤水分物理特征及有机质含量进行测定研究。结果表明，各种有林地的土壤容重、孔隙度和有机质等理化特征均优于荒坡和坡耕地；针阔混交林土壤含水量最高，蓄水能力明显好于其它植被类型；在垂直剖面上，各种植被类型坡地土壤含水量和饱和蓄水量随土壤深度的增加基本呈递减趋势，但有林地下降幅度较大，表层含水量明显高于荒坡与坡耕地表层。由此可见，在涵养水源方面，针阔混交林最好，针叶林、板栗林与灌木林次之，荒坡与坡耕地较差。     

TREE RING RECONSTRUCTIONS OF STREAMFLOW FOR THREE CANADIAN PRAIRIE RIVERS1

ABSTRACT: Information regarding long term hydrological variability is critical for the effective management of surface water resources. In the Canadian Prairie region, growing dependence on major river systems for irrigation and other consumptive uses has resulted in an increasing vulnerability to hydrological drought and growing interprovincial tension. This study presents the first dendrochronological records of streamflow for Canadian Prairie rivers. We present 1,113‐year, 522‐year, and 325‐year reconstructions of total water year (October to September) streamflow for the North Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan Rivers, respectively. The reconstructions indicate relatively high flows during the 20th Century and provide evidence of past prolonged droughts. Low flows during the 1840s correspond with aridity that extended over much of the western United States. Similarly, an exceptional period of prolonged low flow conditions, approximately 900 A.D. to 1300 A.D., is coincident with evidence of sustained drought across central and western North America. The 16th Century megadrought of the western United States and Mexico, however, does not appear to have had a major impact on the Canadian rivers. The dendrohydrological records illustrate the risks involved if future water policy and infrastructure development in the Canadian Prairies are based solely on records of streamflow variability over the historical record.     

2016~2018年采暖季太行山沿线城市PM2.5污染特征分析

对2016年、2017年采暖季太行山沿线传输通道城市大气中PM_2.5的OC、EC和水溶性离子进行分析,并利用特征组分比值和元素富集因子变化研究该传输通道的污染特征.结果表明,2017年采暖季通道整体较2016年同期空气质量改善良好,PM_2.5浓度由2016年的171.86μg/m³下降为123.90μg/m³.太行山中部城市2017年采暖季较2016年同期PM_2.5浓度下降显著,2a采暖季SNA离子（SO^2-,NO₃^-,NH₄⁺ 3种离子总称）浓度与占比呈现"北低南高",加之SNA/EC比值"北低南高",表明南部城市二次无机生成较为严重.而OC、EC浓度与占比呈现"北高南低",Cl^-/K⁺比值和元素Zn、Ba的富集因子北部均高于南部,表明北部城市可能受燃煤和机动车源等一次排放影响较大;各城市2017年采暖季SO₂、NO₂、CO浓度有所下降,且均呈现"北高南低"趋势,进一步表明北部城市一次排放较为严重.     

太行山脉不同量级降雨侵蚀力时空变化特征

基于太行山脉及其周边地区76个气象监测站点1954-2016年逐日降雨数据,建立了基于不同量级侵蚀性年降雨量模拟年降雨侵蚀力的简易模型,并采用气候倾向率、小波周期分析、重心模型、Co-Kriging插值、Mann-kendall非参数趋势检验以及突变分析等方法,分析了不同量级降雨侵蚀力时空变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明：（1）太行山脉地区年降雨侵蚀力简易模型为y=0.182x₁^1.095+5.463x₂^0.982+9.401x₃^1.017+15.258x₄-26.753,且多年降雨侵蚀力呈小幅上升趋势,10年间上升了2.4 MJ·mm·hm^-2·h^-1·a^-1,同时存在约20年的主周期和6年的小周期变化,并在1996年发生显著突变;中雨和大雨侵蚀力63年间均呈上升趋势,而暴雨和特大降雨侵蚀力呈下降趋势;春秋两季主要受中雨和大雨侵蚀力的影响,而夏季则主要受特大降雨侵蚀力的影响。（2）太行山脉地区各量级降雨侵蚀力最大值主要分布于太行山脉东南部以及五台山地区,最小值主要分布于地区的东北部;运用重心模型发现各量级降雨侵蚀力重心在春夏季节整体向东部以及东北部地区进行迁移,而秋冬季节则向南部以及西南地区迁移,形成一个循环,且与冬夏季风的控制时间相符。（3）太行山脉地区不同量级降雨侵蚀力与侵蚀性降雨量均呈显著正相关（P<0.01）,大雨和特大降雨侵蚀力分别与纬度、海拔呈显著负相关（P<0.05）,这主要与副热带高压移动、地形、海拔以及自然地理环境等因素有关。