Comparing environmental influences on coral bleaching across and within species using clustered binomial regression

Differential susceptibility among reef-building coral species can lead to community shifts and loss of diversity as a result of temperature-induced mass bleaching events. We evaluate environmental influences on coral colony bleaching over an 8-year period in the Florida Keys, USA. Clustered binomial regression is used to develop models incorporating taxon-specific responses to the environment in order to identify conditions and species for which bleaching is likely to be severe. By building three separate models incorporating environment, community composition, and taxon-specific responses to environment, we show observed prevalence of bleaching reflects an interaction between community composition and local environmental conditions. Environmental variables, including elevated sea temperature, solar radiation, and reef depth, explained 90% and 78% of variability in colony bleaching across space and time, respectively. The effects of environmental variables were only partially explained (33% of variability) by corresponding differences in community composition. Taxon-specific models indicated individual coral species responded differently to local environmental conditions and had different sensitivities to temperature-induced bleaching. For many coral species, but not all, bleaching was exacerbated by high solar radiation. A 25% reduction in the probability of bleaching in shallow locations for one species may reflect an ability to acclimatize to local conditions. Overall, model results indicate predictions of coral bleaching require knowledge of not just the environmental conditions or community composition, but the responses of individual species to the environment. Model development provides a useful tool for coral reef management by quantifying the influence of the local environment on individual species bleaching sensitivities, identifying susceptible species, and predicting the likelihood of mass bleaching events with changing environmental conditions.     

Simulated potential effects of ecological factors on a hypothetical population of Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis)

Simulations provide an opportunity to examine how single or multiple perturbations may impact a specific species. The objectives of this study were to identify thresholds at which changes in stream peak flow, stream base flow, and/or chytrid fungus presence alter long-term Rana chiricahuensis populations. We used scenarios with varying peak flow mortality rates, base flow mortality rates, and chytrid fungus mortality rates. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted. Over 50 years, populations in six scenarios increased and 13 scenarios decreased. Eight scenarios resulting with fewer than 100 individuals included stochastic effects for at least two of three perturbations and the remaining scenarios included chronic effects of 30% or higher. Scenarios with population increases had either no chytrid fungus effect or chronic effects from perturbations totaling less than 30%. In the absence of chytrid fungus, populations increased and became stable. At a 10% annual death rate caused by chytrid fungus, the R. chiricahuensis population decreased 46.8%. At a 20% death rate, the population decreased 98.6%. Model scenarios were sensitive to peak flow death rates. As peak flow mortality increased to 10 and 20%, extinction rates increased to 91.7 and 99.9%, respectively. With model parameters and the no base flow mortality, R. chiricahuensis populations declined by 92% with a 3.2% extinction rate at 50 years. Models with base flow mortality rates of 10 and 20% resulted in population extinction rates of 48.7 and 96.1%, respectively. Scenario analysis of perturbations on a hypothetical R. chiricahuensis population provided a framework in which to view combined effects on a species. Analysis supports supposition that chytrid fungus is the proximate cause of many amphibian declines, but the added effect of base flow and peak flow has the potential to hasten declines.     

Male lagoon gobies, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Knipowitschia panizzae</Emphasis>, prefer more ornamented to larger females

Female ornamentation may be directly sexually selected, by male choice or female competition, or occurs as the result of a genetic correlation, arising from sexual selection on males. However, increasing evidence supports the former hypothesis, suggesting that males actively choose their partner preferring traits indicative of female quality. In the lagoon goby, Knipowitschia panizzae, a polygynous species whose males perform parental care to eggs, body length and the size of a sex-specific yellow patch on the belly are known to be reliable indicators of female fecundity. In this paper, we tested, using dummies, the male’s mating preferences for female body and yellow belly patch sizes. The two experimental trials in which a single female trait was variable showed that males prefer a larger belly patch and a larger body size, indicating that both these characters are selected by male mate choice. However, when faced with dummies exhibiting an inverse combination of body and belly patch sizes (experiment 3), males significantly preferred the smaller ones with larger yellow belly patches. A calculation of dummy theoretical fecundity reveals that in the first two experiments, males would have received an immediate benefit from their choice in terms of egg number, whereas in the third one, males chose partners that would have provided them with fewer eggs. The male lagoon goby preference for females with larger belly patches, regardless of their size, suggests that this trait, in addition to indicating fecundity, conveys information about other aspects of female and/or egg quality.     

Effects of land use on concentrations of metals in surface soils and ecological risk around Guanting Reservoir,China

It is accepted that the historical routine use of agrochemicals may have resulted in undesirable concentrations of metals in the environment. To investigate and assess the effects of land use on concentrations of heavy metals around the Guanting Reservoir in China, 52 surface soil samples (depth of 2–10 cm) were taken from areas where four types of land use were practiced (including arable land, woodland, bare land, orchard land). The metals and metalloids (As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Significant accumulation of As, Cd, and Cr was found in soils of arable land. Based on correlation and cluster analysis, it can be concluded that Cd and Zn originate mainly from phosphate fertilizer, Pb from the use of insecticides, fertilizers, and sewage sludge as well as air deposition, and Cu from copper-based fungicides, while As, Ni and Cr might come from parent soil material. According to an ecological risk analysis of metals based on the ecological index suggested by Hakanson, the four types of land can be ranked by severity of ecological risk as follows: arable land > woodland > bare land > orchard land, with a high ecological risk of Cd for all four types. Management measures for land use planners for avoiding water, soil, and sediment pollution caused by metals around the Guanting Reservoir are presented.     

河流生态基流量整合计算模型

针对北方地区流域水域生态系统人工化明显和河流断流的现状,提出了河流生态基流量的概念,并分析了其内涵．河流生态基流量包括河道生态基流量、河口生态基流量和湿地生态基流量．河流生态基流量计算应考虑流域内不同水系、不同河段生态环境的差异性和时空变化规律．通过改进生态环境需水量的计算方法,分析河流的空间结构特征、各河段的相互关系以及流域的水特征,提出了整合计算模型．整合计算模型分为2类：不同水系和同一水系的整合．同一水系整合计算模型又分为：河流生态基流量整合模型、河流与湿地生态基流量的整合以及河道生态基流量的整合模型．其中最为复杂的河道生态基流量的整合模型共分为6种形式：简单式、汇流式、分流式、组合式、交叉式和河口式．研究结果表明：各子系统的生态基流量是河流生态基流量整合计算的基础;河流生态基流量保证系数是计算的重要参数,其值在确定基数的基础上,通过恢复模式和空间优化配置这2个影响因子进行调整而得到,取值范围为[0,1];整合计算模型需要明确消耗性生态基流量和非消耗性生态基流量,消耗性生态基流量不受保证系数的影响,非消耗性生态基流量因保证系数取值的不同而变化．     

济南南部山区水源涵养生态功能保护区生态环境评价指标体系研究

根据国家相关的生态考核指标,结合南部山区生态功能保护区实际情况,建立了该区域的评价指标体系,选取多层次权重分析决策法(AHP法),对区域的生态环境质量现状及可持续发展情况做出了定量评价。     

城市生态环境与可持续发展评价指标体系研究

本文从探讨城市生态环境与可持续发展的战略关系入手,在进行调查研究的基础上,提出了城市生态环境与可持续发展评价指标体系,旨在为城市的全面、协调、可持续发展提供一点科学管理依据。     

草原区煤炭开发的生态问题及其税费改革对策

锡林郭勒盟是我国重要的煤炭能源基地,近年来,煤电一体化开发为地区带来经济效益的同时也给环境带来巨大压力,大面积的草原受到破坏和威胁,引发了一系列生态问题,需要在锡盟未来的地区经济发展中引起注意。应该借鉴国际上对煤炭业开征环境保护税的经验,进行我国草原区煤炭业环境保护税费改革的制度设计和政策落实。     

钦州湾沉积物有机氯农药赋存特征与生态风险

利用GC-ECD测定了钦州湾沉积物中17种有机氯农药的含量,并对其组分分布和来源进行了分析。结果表明,样品中有机氯农药的总量为1.50～129ng/g,滴滴涕(DDTs)浓度为0.59～126ng/g,六六六(HCHs)的浓度为nd～2.65ng/g。有机氯农药的分布特征为茅尾海>钦州外湾,茅尾海东岸>西岸。组分分布特征分析显示,DDTs主要来自于历史积累,林丹在某些采样区域内有近期输入。与国内外不同地区沉积物中有机氯农药残留相比,钦州湾沉积物中有机氯农药污染处于低到中等水平。以沉积物生态风险评估值为基准的分析表明,研究区内DDT含量存在较大的生态风险。     

走低碳发展之路实现生态文明之梦

低碳发展是一种以低耗能,低污染,低排放为特征的可持续发展模式。本文简述了走低碳发展之路既是可持续发展的要求,也是实现发展与环保双赢的保证。