Decline of traditional rice farming constrains the recovery of the endangered Asian crested ibis (Nipponia nippon)

Traditional agriculture benefits a rich diversity of plants and animals. The winter-flooded rice fields in the Qinling Mountains, China, are the last refuge for the endangered Asian crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), and intensive efforts have been made to protect this anthropogenic habitat. Analyses of multi-temporal satellite data indicate that winter-flooded rice fields have been continuously reduced across the current range of crested ibis during the past two decades. The rate of loss of these fields in the core-protected areas has unexpectedly increased to a higher level than that in non-protected areas in the past decade. The best fit (R² = 0.87) numerical response model of the crested ibis population shows that a reduction of winter-flooded rice fields decreases population growth and predicts that the population growth will be constrained by the decline of traditional winter-flooded rice fields in the coming decades. Our findings suggest that the decline of traditional rice farming is likely to continue to pose a threat to the long-term survival and recovery of the crested ibis population in China.

Electronic supplementary material

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Beaver-mediated methane emission: The effects of population growth in Eurasia and the Americas

Globally, greenhouse gas budgets are dominated by natural sources, and aquatic ecosystems are a prominent source of methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere. Beaver (Castor canadensis and Castor fiber) populations have experienced human-driven change, and CH₄ emissions associated with their habitat remain uncertain. This study reports the effect of near extinction and recovery of beavers globally on aquatic CH₄ emissions and habitat. Resurgence of native beaver populations and their introduction in other regions accounts for emission of 0.18–0.80 Tg CH₄ year⁻¹ (year 2000). This flux is approximately 200 times larger than emissions from the same systems (ponds and flowing waters that became ponds) circa 1900. Beaver population recovery was estimated to have led to the creation of 9500–42 000 km² of ponded water, and increased riparian interface length of >200 000 km. Continued range expansion and population growth in South America and Europe could further increase CH₄ emissions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0575-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

光/电法氨氮降解过程中协同作用的研究

为了研究光/电法在氨氮降解过程中的协同作用,采用光/电法降解模拟工业循环冷却水中的氨氮,并对氨氮降解过程中的各影响因素进行了研究,考察了氯离子浓度和溶液p H对降解效率的影响。结果表明,与传统的光催化法和电化学法相比,光/电法在氨氮降解过程中存在良好的协同效应,因而具有更高的氨氮去除率,这主要归功于溶液氯离子的促进作用。另外,在酸性条件下,氨氮降解效率得到进一步加强。当p H在4~5之间,电流密度为10 m A/cm2,Na Cl浓度为100 mg/L时,在经过90 min光/电法处理后氨氮去除率高达95%,且N2占总氨氮降解产物的84.2%。     

好氧亚硝化颗粒污泥特性的研究

对在小试曝气上流式污泥床反应器中成功培养出的好氧亚硝化颗粒污泥的特性进行了研究.工艺稳定运行时,亚硝化颗粒污泥的VSS/SS稳定在80%左右,粒径大于1.0 mm的颗粒污泥约占总数的70%,粒径大于0.8 mm的颗粒污泥的湿密度约为1?022 kg/m³.荧光原位杂交结果表明,亚硝化细菌主要分布在颗粒污泥的表层,而硝化细菌则分布在表层之下;最大可能数结果显示,亚硝化工艺稳定运行时亚硝化细菌的数量远多于硝化细菌,甚至可高于硝化细菌4个数量级以上.上述结果表明,硝化细菌（AOB和NOB）以接种的产甲烷颗粒污泥或其碎片为载体,通过在其表层附着生长,最终形成好氧亚硝化颗粒污泥.     

基于多孔环形喷嘴的可燃爆粉尘分散特征的密度效应研究*

为了研究不同密度的可燃爆粉尘在内置多孔环形喷嘴的20 L爆炸特性测试装置中的分散特征,基于负载粒子流方法、耦合DPM动量平衡方程和时间平均 Navier Stokes控制方程组,实现3种不同密度的煤粉、铝粉和锆粉在20 L爆炸测试装置中粉尘分散全过程的数值模拟。研究结果表明:多孔环形喷嘴的分散较为均匀,但是约束管道末端存在局部粉尘残留区,致使爆炸仓内真实粉尘浓度远低于形式浓度;爆炸仓中心位置的最大湍动能随着粉尘密度的增加而减小,只有显著地变化粉尘密度才能展示区分度较高的浓度峰值和抵达浓度峰值的时间。     

基于视频分析的人群密集场所客流监控预警研究

为实现人群密集场所客流安全隐患早发现,辅助管理人员早决策,人群聚集风险区早疏散,提升对灾难的预见性和主动性。在国内外人群异常聚集监测预警现状分析基础上,对比分析得出监控视频分析技术是解决人群密集场所精准预警难题较为理想的解决方案;构建以视频智能分析的人群计数、密度估计、行人追踪、活动烈度识别为核心技术的人群密集场所风险预警技术框架;将该技术框架应用到某大型商圈的商业街区,获得监控区域内的人群总数、密度分布、行人轨迹和异常活动等特征。结果表明:提出的基于视频分析的人群密集场所风险预警技术框架可为城市大型商圈、交通枢纽、大型活动场所等城市公共场所的安全管理提供参考和借鉴。     

二氧化碳水合物储气特性的实验研究

利用二氧化碳水合物小型实验装置分别在恒容和恒压条件下,研究了机械搅拌对二氧化碳气体溶解的影响以及温度与水-气比对二氧化碳水合物形成和储气密度的影响。通过实验结果发现,机械搅拌对二氧化碳的溶解有非常明显的促进作用,可以在3 min内完成溶解过程,促进溶解作用好于添加剂SDS。研究还发现,反应温度越低,二氧化碳水合物的生成速率越快,总的储气量越大,而水-气比越大,储气密度越小。在实验压力3 MPa、反应温度273.55 K的条件下,1体积的水生成水合物后可储存157体积的二氧化碳。     

中国城镇建设用地经济密度的区位差异及影响因素——基于273个地级及以上城市的分析

以全国地级及以上城市中的273个样本城市为研究对象,分别从全国、沿海地区、内陆地区三个层次考察了样本城市城镇建设用地经济密度的区位差异。根据柯布-道格拉斯生产函数的理论与分析方法建立模型,分析了资本、劳动力、土地三大投入要素和城市全要素生产率等对城镇建设用地的影响,并在控制以上变量的条件下侧重考察了城市区位差异的影响。发现我国城镇建设用地经济密度的区位差异明显,具有区位优势的城市土地效益平均高于缺乏区位优势的城市;沿海水陆口岸的区位优势十分显著,建设用地经济密度相对较高,而内陆地区水陆口岸的区位优势有待发掘;航空口岸对提高城镇建设用地经济密度未发挥积极作用。分析结果表明,生产要素投入、科技水平、市场环境和城市发展阶段是影响土地效益的主要因素,但不同区位条件下城镇建设用地经济密度的影响因素有所不同,为提高城镇建设用地经济密度,不同区位条件的城市着力点应各有侧重。     

Inverse modeling of Asian Rn flux using surface air Rn concentration

When used with an atmospheric transport model, the ²²²Rn flux distribution estimated in our previous study using soil transport theory caused underestimation of atmospheric ²²²Rn concentrations as compared with measurements in East Asia. In this study, we applied a Bayesian synthesis inverse method to produce revised estimates of the annual ²²²Rn flux density in Asia by using atmospheric ²²²Rn concentrations measured at seven sites in East Asia. The Bayesian synthesis inverse method requires a prior estimate of the flux distribution and its uncertainties. The atmospheric transport model MM5/HIRAT and our previous estimate of the ²²²Rn flux distribution as the prior value were used to generate new flux estimates for the eastern half of the Eurasian continent dividing into 10 regions.The ²²²Rn flux densities estimated using the Bayesian inversion technique were generally higher than the prior flux densities. The area-weighted average ²²²Rn flux density for Asia was estimated to be 33.0 mBq m⁻² s⁻¹, which is substantially higher than the prior value (16.7 mBq m⁻² s⁻¹). The estimated ²²²Rn flux densities decrease with increasing latitude as follows: Southeast Asia (36.7 mBq m⁻² s⁻¹); East Asia (28.6 mBq m⁻² s⁻¹) including China, Korean Peninsula and Japan; and Siberia (14.1 mBq m⁻² s⁻¹). Increase of the newly estimated fluxes in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and the southern part of Eastern Siberia from the prior ones contributed most significantly to improved agreement of the model-calculated concentrations with the atmospheric measurements. The sensitivity analysis of prior flux errors and effects of locally exhaled ²²²Rn showed that the estimated fluxes in Northern and Central China, Korea, Japan, and the southern part of Eastern Siberia were robust, but that in Central Asia had a large uncertainty.     

Ganges River Dolphin: An Overview of Biology,Ecology, and Conservation Status in India

Ganges River dolphin, Platanista gangetica gangetica, is one of the three obligatory freshwater dolphins in the world and is distributed in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna and Sangu–Karnaphuli River systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This species is facing considerable threats to its survival, and its population has dwindled from 4000 to 5000 in the early 1980s to 3500 in 2014 in the distribution range. This article reviews current status of the sub-species, habitat use, and the potential threats that the dolphins face for their survival (details of taxonomic status and genetics, evolutionary adaptations and anatomical peculiarities, physical adaptation, primitive characteristics, biology, behavior, surfacing behavior and dive times, mating and birth, and life span/age have been placed as Electronic Supplementary Materials). Recommendations have been made for the protection and developing strategies for the conservation of this Endangered and endemic sub-species.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0534-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.