FREEDOM II: An improved methodology to assess domino effect frequency using simulation techniques

The uncertainty and the complexity associated with the domino effect is a barrier to assessing the frequency of such accidents analytically. The use of simulation techniques, such as Monte Carlo, to examine the domino effect instead of analytical techniques has shown great promise. In this paper, a new method to assess the frequency of domino accidents is proposed—FREEDOM II—which is an improvement on the recent algorithm proposed by the authors (FREEDOM). The modifications on FREEDOM were carried out to overcome a limitation of the method and to extend its capabilities. A key shortcoming of the earlier method was its inability to handle multiple failure scenarios. This shortcoming has been overcome in FREEDOM II. A new and improved algorithm has been developed that carries out the simulation in a significantly shorter run time. The applicability of the new model is shown by performing a multi-scenario case study.     

长江经济带涉矿生态环境协同治理对策

矿产资源开发生态环境保护与恢复治理是山水林田湖草生态保护修复的重要组成部分,也是区域/流域生态安全屏障建设的重要内容。本文面向长江保护修复的环境管理需求,梳理了第一批中央生态环境保护督察的长江经济带涉矿问题,探讨了矿产资源开发生态环境问题,提出了协同治理对策。结果表明:(1)长江经济带有8个省份发现涉矿生态环境问题,涉及石英砂矿、稀土矿、磷矿、锡矿、石灰石矿和石煤矿;有3个省份出现保护地采矿生态破坏严重问题,涉及自然保护区内违规设置的采矿权、探矿权和违法生产,以及国家级风景名胜区内以治理地质灾害之名开采磷矿。(2)11个省市中均发现了涉保护地违规管理问题,包括饮用水水源保护区、湖滨湿地、长江岸线和重要湿地、海洋保护区、风景名胜区。矿山生态环境协同治理对策包括:(1)科学制定矿山生态修复目标;(2)定期开展矿山生态保护修复成效评估;(3)提高矿山生态环境监管执行力。     

Vegetation dynamics in succession process from Stipa bungeana to Artemisia ordosica in the Ordos Plateau北大核心CSCD

Shrub invasion has a serious effect on the structure and function of grassland ecosystems and understanding vegetation dynamics is of great significance to control shrub invasion and recover shrub invaded grassland. In the Ordos Plateau, we selected representative communities in transition process from Stipa bungeana to Artemisia ordosica. By sampling, cutting, and root-drilling methods, plant coverage, density, biomass, litter, root, and species diversity of different communities were investigated and analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) the succession process had six vegetation types, S. bungeana communities, S. bungeana + Cleistogenes squarrosa communities, S. bungeana + Artemisia ordosica communities, A. ordosica + C. squarrosa communities, A. ordosica + Lespedeza davurica communities, and A. ordosica communities. (2) The community coverage decreased initially, and then increased. Whereas, the total density decreased initially, then increased, and then decreased. The aboveground, underground, and total biomasses, and the dry weight of litter showed an increasing trend. (3) The coverage, density, and biomass of S. bungeana decreased gradually, whereas A. ordosica showed an opposite trend. (4) With the increase in soil depth, the dry weight of root showed a decreasing trend. The roots were mainly distributed in the 0-30 cm soil layer. At VI stage, the root distribution of Artemisia community initially increased, and then decreased, and the root depth reached 80-90 cm. (5) The species richness, Simpson, Shannon-Winner, and Pielou evenness indexes initially increased, and then decreased. In summary, shrub encroachment is severe in the Ordos Plateau. Although the community coverage, biomass, and biodiversity during the moderate shrub encroachment stage were high, the shrub-invaded grassland should be restored to S. bungeana grassland due to the decreased grazing value of grassland after shrub invasion. Keywords. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Ecological stoichiometric characteristics of carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus in three forests in the Lüliang Mountainous Area of Shanxi Province北大核心CSCD

Using a standard plot method, the stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in leaves, litter, and soil (0-20 cm depth) was investigated for three forest types: Populus davidiana, Larix principis-rupprechtii, and Pinus tabuliformis. The results showed that the stoichiometry of C, N, and P of the same component in the three forests were significantly different. The C and N contents in leaves, litter, and soil in P. davidiana forest were higher than those in L. principis-rupprechtii and P. tabuliformis forests were. However, P in the L. principis-rupprechtii forest was higher than that in the P. davidiana forest and P. tabuliformis forests were. The C, N, and P contents of the components in the three forests were, in order, leaves > litter > soil, and the three nutrient contents were significantly higher in leaves and litter than they were in soil. C:N and C:P in the three forests exhibited a trend of litter > leaves > soil, whereas that for N:P was leaves > soil > litter. There were highly significant positive relationships in N:P between the litter and the soil in the P. davidiana forest. Leaf C:N and litter C:P in the L. principis-rupprechtii forest were significantly negatively correlated, whereas N:P in the leaves and soil was positively correlated. There was a significant positive correlation in N:P between the leaves and the soil in the P. tabuliformis forest. In conclusion, the N contents in leaves and soil exhibited a significant positive correlation, whereas there was no significant correlation between C, N, and P in litter or soil. Environmental factors had a large influence on the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in soil. In particular, latitude and altitude had the most significant effects on C, N, P, C:N, and C:P and were significantly p ositively correlated. T hese results provide a scientific basis for f urther studies on nutrient utilization a nd t he cyclic characteristics of different forests in this area. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Assessment of ecological risks induced by land use and land cover changes in Xiamen City,China

The landscape ecological risk (LER) in Xiamen City, China, from 1990 to 2030 was studied using an urban land use and land cover change (LUCC) model and LER analysis. The LUCC model was used to predict the LUCC of Xiamen from 2020 to 2030. We analyzed the characteristics of LUCC and landscape pattern changes and, finally, evaluated the effect of rapid LUCC on LER. Of the six landscape types investigated, built-up land and farmland demonstrated the most significant changes. The area of built-up land increased by 1.5 times in 2010 and is predicted to increase by 2.7 times in 2030 than that in 1990. The area of farmland increased from 34.5% in 1990 to 24.5% in 2010 and is predicted to decrease to 15.1% in 2030. The number of patches (NP) of built-up land decreased with increasing area, which promoted the dominance of built-up land over other landscape types. Five landscape types, those other than built-up land, increased in NP, landscape fragmentation, segmentation, and disturbance but decreased in dominance. The LER of Xiamen in 2010 was slightly lower than that in 1990. However, with the acceleration of urbanization, the LER in 2020 and 2030 will increase by 7.6% and 12.5% than that in 2010. The LER will significantly increase in areas such as the Huandong sea area, the second urban core of Xiamen, and northern Xiang'an. For the areas, some measures (e.g. optimum urban spatial growth patterns and control of coastal reclamation) must inevitably increase to reduce the LER posed by rapid urbanization.     

Characteristics associated with high and low levels of ecological literacy in a western society

The integrity of the relationship between humanity and nature is fundamental to the health and survival of our species. Humans have always required knowledge and understanding of the planet’s life-supporting systems. Such knowledge and understanding form the basis of ecological literacy which, we suggest, is fundamental to the sustainability of human settlements. An assessment of South Australian adults showed positive correlations between ecological literacy and a number of socio-demographic and psychographic factors. An analysis of the most and least eco-literate individuals within a sample of over 1000 adults revealed significant distinguishing characteristics. Our findings indicate that high ecological literacy is strongly correlated with gender, age, education (and in particular, science-based education), employment status, engagement with nature both as children and adults, growing food, outdoor experiences and lifestyles, growing up in small communities and relational learning. In contrast, low ecological literacy is associated with a different set of socio-demographic and psychographic characteristics such as lower levels of education, growing up in large urban communities, and spending little time outdoors or in natural settings. In addition, perceptions about the major contributors to ecological knowledge and understanding were markedly different within the two groups. These patterns of difference between those with high and low ecological literacy among South Australian adults invite serious consideration for a society that aspires to cultivate an informed citizenry with capacity for making effective environmental decisions.     

Anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria: ecological distribution,metabolism, and microbial interactions

The unique characteristics of anammox bacteria were reviewed. Ecological distribution and nitrogen loss contributions were well documented. Ecological interactions between anammox bacteria and other organisms were discussed. Anammox (ANaerobic AMMonia OXidation) is a newly discovered pathway in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery has increased our knowledge of the global nitrogen cycle and triggered intense interest for anammox-based applications. Anammox bacteria are almost ubiquitous in the suboxic zones of almost all types of natural ecosystems and contribute significant to the global total nitrogen loss. In this paper, their ecological distributions and contributions to the nitrogen loss in marine, wetland, terrestrial ecosystems, and even extreme environments were reviewed. The unique metabolic mechanism of anammox bacteria was well described, including the particular cellular structures and genome compositions, which indicate the special evolutionary status of anammox bacteria. Finally, the ecological interactions among anammox bacteria and other organisms were discussed based on substrate availability and spatial organizations. This review attempts to summarize the fundamental understanding of anammox, provide an up-to-date summary of the knowledge of the overall anammox status, and propose future prospects for anammox. Based on novel findings, the metagenome has become a powerful tool for the genomic analysis of communities containing anammox bacteria; the metabolic diversity and biogeochemistry in the global nitrogen budget require more comprehensive studies.     

金门的生态环境

介绍了金门的自然环境、生物资源及生态旅游资源，提出了福建与金门应进一步加强环境保护方面合作与交流，共同营造海峡两岸良好的生态环境。     

Using Ecological Risk Assessment to Identify the Major Anthropogenic Stressor in the Waquoit Bay Watershed,Cape Cod,Massachusetts

The Waquoit Bay Watershed ecological risk assessment was performed by an interdisciplinary and interagency workgroup. This paper focuses on the steps taken to formulate the analysis plan for this watershed assessment. The workgroup initially conducted a series of meetings with the general public and local and state managers to determine environmental management objectives for the watershed. The workgroup then decided that more information was needed on the impacts of six stressors: nutrient enrichment, physical alteration of habitat, altered freshwater flow, toxic chemicals, pathogens, and fisheries harvesting. Assessment endpoints were selected to establish the link between environmental management objectives, impacts of stressors, and scientifically measurable endpoints. The following assessment endpoints were selected: estuarine eelgrass cover, scallop abundance, finfish diversity and abundance, wetland bird distribution and abundance, piping plover distribution and abundance, tissue contaminant levels, and brook trout distribution and abundance in streams. A conceptual model was developed to show the pathways between human activities, stressors, and ecological effects. The workgroup analyzed comparative risks, by first ranking stressors in terms of their potential risk to biotic resources in the watershed. Then stressors were evaluated by considering the components of stressors (e.g., the stressor chemical pollution included both heavy metals and chlorinated solvents components) in terms of intensity and extensiveness. The workgroup identified nutrient enrichment as the major stressor. Nutrient enrichment comprised both phosphorus enrichment in freshwater ponds and nitrogen enrichment within estuaries. Because phosphorus impacts were being analyzed and mitigated by the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, this assessment focused on nitrogen. The process followed to identify the predominant stressor and focus the analyses on nitrogen impacts on eelgrass and scallops will serve as an example of how to increase the use of the findings of a watershed assessment in decision making.     

A Framework for Net Environmental Benefit Analysis for Remediation or Restoration of Contaminated Sites

Net environmental benefits are gains in value of environmental services or other ecological properties attained by remediation or ecological restoration minus the value of adverse environmental effects caused by those actions. Net environmental benefit analysis (NEBA) is a methodology for comparing and ranking net environmental benefits associated with multiple management alternatives. A NEBA for chemically contaminated sites typically involves comparison of several management alternatives: (1) leaving contamination in place; (2) physically, chemically, or biologically remediating the site through traditional means; (3) improving ecological value through onsite and offsite restoration alternatives that do not directly focus on removal of chemical contamination; or (4) a combination of those alternatives. NEBA involves activities that are common to remedial alternatives analysis for state regulations and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, post-closure and corrective action permits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, evaluation of generic types of response actions pertinent to the Oil Pollution Act, and land management actions that are negotiated with regulatory agencies in flexible regulatory environments (i.e., valuing environmental services or other ecological properties, assessing adverse impacts, and evaluating remediation or restoration options). This article presents a high-level framework for NEBA at contaminated sites with subframeworks for natural attenuation (the contaminated reference state), remediation, and ecological restoration alternatives. Primary information gaps related to NEBA include nonmonetary valuation methods, exposure–response models for all stressors, the temporal dynamics of ecological recovery, and optimal strategies for ecological restoration.Published online