Utilization Characteristics and Importance of Woody Biomass Resources on the Rural-Urban Fringe in Botswana

This article examines the utilization characteristics and importance of woody biomass resources in the rural-urban fringe zones of Botswana. In the literature for Africa, attention has been given to the availability and utilization of biomass in either urban or rural environments, but the rural-urban fringe has been neglected. Within southern Africa, this neglect is not justified; the rural-urban fringe, not getting the full benefits available in urban environments in Botswana, has developed problems in woody biomass availability and utilization that require close attention. In this article, socioeconomic data on the importance of woody biomass in the Batlokwa Tribal Territory, on the rural-urban fringe of Gaborone, Botswana, were collected together with ecologic data that reveal the utilization characteristics and potential for regrowth of woody biomass. The analysis of these results show that local woody biomass is very important in the daily lives of communities in the rural-urban fringe zones and that there is a high level of harvesting. However, there is no effort in planning land use in the tribal territory to either conserve this resource or provide alternatives to its utilization. The future of woody biomass resources in Botswana’s rural-urban fringe is uncertain. The investigators recommend that a comprehensive policy for the development of the rural-urban fringe consider the importance of this resource. The neglect of this resource will have far-reaching implications on the livelihoods of residents as well as the environment in this zone.     

Comparing the Use of Indigenous Knowledge with Classification and Ordination Techniques for Assessing the Species Composition and Structure of Vegetation in a Tropical Forest

dentification of groups that are similar in their floristic composition and structure (habitat types) is essential for conservation and forest managers to allocate high priority areas and to designate areas for reserves, refuges, and other protected areas. In this study, the use of indigenous knowledge for the identification of habitat types in the field was compared against an ecological characterization of habitat types, including their species composition obtained by using classification and ordination techniques for a tropical landscape mosaic in a rural Mayan area of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Plant diversity data calculated from 141 sampled sites chosen randomly on a vegetation class’s thematic map obtained by multispectral satellite image classification were used for this propose. Results indicated high similarity in the categorization of vegetation types between the Mayan classification and those obtained by cluster and detrended correspondence analysis. This suggests that indigenous knowledge has a practical use and can be comparable to that obtained by using science-based methods. Finally, identification and mapping of vegetation classes (habitat types) using satellite image classification allowed us to discriminate significantly different species compositions, in such a way that they can provide a useful mechanism for interpolating diversity values over the entire landscape.     

城市污水处理厂特许权经营下的质量管制研究

首先探讨了特许权经营后政府对城市污水处理厂实行质量管制的必要性;然后,针对当前对污水处理服务进行质量管制存在的普遍问题,通过分析政府管制机构与污水处理厂基于质量的博弈行为,提出了对城市污水处理厂实行有效质量管制的几点建议。     

近40 a秦岭生境质量时空变化特征及驱动机制

运用InVEST模型,研究秦岭生境质量时空变化及驱动机制,以期为秦岭生态文明建设与秦岭区域可持续发展提供理论依据。结果表明：秦岭土地利用方式以林地和草地为主,主要分布于中、西部,耕地与建设用地主要分布在东、南部。人类对秦岭干扰程度在2000年后开始增加,土地利用变幅超过总面积的2%。1980年、1990年、2000年、2010年、2020年,秦岭的平均生境质量（范围0—?1）分别为0.7592、0.7594、0.7586、0.7585、0.7617,均处于“较高”等级。空间分布上,秦岭生境质量中、西部等级高,而东、南部等级低。在像元尺度上,秦岭生境质量较为稳定,显著变化的区域面积仅为2.74%。显著升高的区域主要集中在西南部略阳、勉县等区县,显著降低的区域主要集中在东部的洛南、商州等区县。秦岭的生境质量表现出显著的空间集聚特征,21世纪后,秦岭高质量生境集聚区域面积扩张,低质量的生境集聚区域面积降低。土地利用程度是影响秦岭生境质量最大的驱动因子,与之呈现显著的负相关关系,且影响范围分布于全域。秦岭生境质量的降低源于人类活动引起生境威胁源——建设用地与耕地的扩张,而生境质量的升高可能源于...     

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program – Monitoring Effectiveness of Sustainable Forest Management Planning

A conceptual model of sustainable forest management is described based on three connected and necessary components: Policy/Strategic Planning, Operational Planning, and EffectivenessMonitoring/Science.Alberta’s proposed Forest Management Planning Standard is described as an example of operational planning. The standard utilizes coarse and fine filter approaches to conserving biodiversity and sets requirements for implementation monitoring.The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Program (ABMP) is described as an example of effectiveness monitoring supporting Operational Planning. The ABMP is a rigorous science-based initiative that is being developed to monitor and report on biodiversity status and trends throughout the province of Alberta, Canada. The basic survey design consists of 1656 sites, 20 km apart, evenly spaced on a grid pattern across Alberta. Sites will be sampled over a five-year period at a rate of 350 sites/year. Standardized sampling protocols will be used to cover a broad range of species and habitat elements within terrestrial and aquatic environments, as well as broader landscape-level features.Trends and associations detected by ABMP products will be validated through cause-effect research. ABMP focuses research on critical issues and informs both operational planning and the development of policy and strategic-level plans. The Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard and the ABMP are described as key components to implementing resource planning based on ecosystem management principles.     

Biogeographical distribution of acidophiles and their effects around the Zijinshan heap bioleaching plant

The Zijin heap bioleaching plant started operation by the end of 2005; due to the proximity of the Ting River, concerns rose about the migration of acidophiles outside of the heap. In this study, 53 soil samples and 51 liquid samples were collected, and the biogeographical distribution of acidophiles was investigated using clone libraries and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the physicochemical characteristics were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP). The results indicated the bioleaching system had some influence on the surrounding environment. Both microbial community and physiochemical index emerged correlation with distance of sampling sites from bioleaching system, mainly limited in the zone 30?m outside bioleaching system. Correlation analysis indicated the migration of different acidophiles was influenced by different factors. Leptospirillum had higher migration capability than the other acidophiles, and such migration capability was one of the important influence factors for its distribution. Environment factors and survival ability were the key influence factors for Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus and Ferroplasma to survive in the surrounding environment.     

DNA宏条形码（metabarcoding）技术在浮游植物群落监测研究中的应用

保护生物多样性和生态系统健康是维持生态系统功能和实现人类可持续发展的必要条件。浮游植物作为水生生态系统的初级生产者发挥着重要的生态功能,同时有毒藻类的爆发也会威胁水生态安全。然而,基于形态学的物种鉴定方法难以满足日益增长的水生态环境监测的需求。DNA条形码技术利用基因组特定基因上、短的DNA序列来鉴别生物物种,目前已广泛用于快速物种鉴别。然而其在水生生态系统浮游植物群落的监测中才刚刚起步。由于浮游植物物种多样性高,单基因DNA条形码往往不足以识别所有浮游植物种类;近年来,采用多基因条形码、全叶绿体基因组序列的超级条形码,以及特定DNA条形码方法在单物种和群落水平上区分浮游植物种类的潜力很大。本文综述了浮游植物DNA条形码技术在物种鉴别研究方面的进展,以及DNA宏条形码技术（DNA metabarcoding）在水生浮游植物环境监测的应用现状及前景。     

黄河三角洲生物多样性保护与可持续利用的研究

根据1996-1998年对黄河三角洲环境质量、生物多样性等进行的全面、系统的调查与监测结果.重点研究了该区域大气、河流、湖泊、水库、浅海滩涂环境质量,海洋生物多样性、淡水生物多样性、陆生和海岛高等植物多样性、陆栖动物多样性与特点,分析了其破坏状况和原因,提出了生物多样性保护对策和可持续利用途径.黄河三角洲生物多样性调查研究结果显示:近海海域共鉴定出浮游植物116种、浮游动物79种、底栖动物222种、潮间带动物192种、鱼类112种,其他重要海洋动物11种;淡水水域共鉴定出浮游植物291种、浮游动物144种、底栖动物69种、鱼类102种;陆域和海岛共鉴定出高等植物608种、无脊椎动物922种、脊椎动物325种,有4种动物为山东新记录种.该区域湿地植被群丛多样,鸟类多样性丰富,重点保护鸟类种类多、种群数量大.      

Developing an Ecosystem Perspective from Experimental Monitoring Programs: I. Demographic Responses of a Rare Geothermal Grass to Soil Temperature

The geysers panic grass [Dichanthelium lanuginosum Spellenberg var. thermale (Bol.) Spellenberg or DILA] is exclusively associated with surface geothermal manifestations in Sonoma County, California, USA (38°46′N, 122°38′W). Steam extraction by power plants could alter the subsurface distribution of heat and water to the site, potentially impacting subpopulations of this rare plant. The purpose of this study was to use demographic monitoring to determine: (1) temporal and spatial patterns of soil temperature in relation to the distribution of established DILA individuals at Little Geysers, (2) in situ response of experimental populations of DILA to spatial variations in soil temperature, and (3) habitat requirements of DILA as an indicator of its tolerance to variations in surficial geothermal features. Thermocouple transects and a datalogger provided data for characterizing the spatial and temporal patterns of soil temperature in four microhabitats (fumarole, DILA stand, Andropogon stand, and cleared). Experimental populations were established by precisely sowing and monitoring DILA seeds in these microhabitats. The results indicated that spatial and temporal variations in soil temperature had significant effects on the processes of germination, growth, survivorship, and reproduction, thus producing a readily observed metapopulation patch dynamic in relation to geothermal activity. Seasonal depressions of soil temperature near the fumaroles by cold air and prolonged rainfall events also promoted the emergence and survival of DILA seedlings in a microhabitat that was previously too hot to occupy. Over longer periods of time, DILA metapopulation dynamism reflected climatic and geothermal variation. Drought years inhibited germination for lack of water, but more importantly for the lack of requisite soil temperature depressions in the fumarole microhabitat. Wet years promoted subpopulation expansion into transition areas that were once too hot and dry. There have also been shifts in the underground distribution of steam into areas distant from known geothermal features. The demographic responses of DILA to spatial and temporal variations in soil temperature indicate that heat is an absolutely essential component of the steam resource. In its absence, germination, seeding survivorship, growth, and maturation are significantly inhibited even if soil conditions are favorable and potential competitors are controlled. Ultimately, persistence of the species depends on maintaining the ecosystem dynamic of colonization and extirpation in response to variations in surficial geothermal features over long spatial and temporal scales. This should shift management perspective from its narrow focus on individual plants to a wider focus on monitoring the essential habitat component of steam.     

长白山毛赤杨和白桦/沼泽交错带植物多样性分布格局

采用样带网格调查方法和香农-威纳多样性指数分析方法,研究长白山毛赤杨、白桦/沼泽交错带和干扰白桦/沼泽交错带植物多样性水平分布和垂直分布格局。结果表明:①毛赤杨、白桦/沼泽交错群落植物多样性随着交错区环境梯度变化呈现出凸型水平分布格局,其植物多样性指数为相应地段森林群落的1.5倍,沼泽群落的2～3倍。干扰白桦/沼泽交错群落植物多样性随着交错区环境梯度变化呈现出凹型水平分布格局,其植物多样性指数仅相当于相应地段沼泽群落或森林群落的80%左右,仅为毛赤杨、白桦/沼泽交错群落的70%;②毛赤杨、白桦/沼泽交错群落植物多样性呈现“金字塔型”垂直分布格局,其垂直分布格局是草本层(5):灌木层(3):乔木层(1)。而干扰白桦/沼泽交错群落植物多样性垂直分布格局为草本层(5):灌木层(0.4):乔木层(1),并未呈现典型“金字塔型”分布。因此,人为经营活动不仅降低了森林/沼泽交错带植物多样性水平,也改变了其分布格局。