Efficacy of Land-Cover Models in Predicting Isolation of Marbled Salamander Populations in a Fragmented Landscape

Abstract:  Amphibians worldwide are facing rapid declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, and other causes. Where habitat alteration is implicated, there is a need for spatially explicit conservation plans. Models built with geographic information systems (GIS) are frequently used to inform such planning. We explored the potential for using GIS models of functional landscape connectivity as a reliable proxy for genetically derived measures of population isolation. We used genetic assignment tests to characterize isolation of marbled salamander populations and evaluated whether the relative amount of modified habitat around breeding ponds was a reliable indicator of population isolation. Using a resampling analysis, we determined whether certain land-cover variables consistently described population isolation. We randomly drew half the data for model building and tested the performance of the best models on the other half 100 times. Deciduous forest was consistently associated with lower levels of population isolation, whereas salamander populations in regions of agriculture and anthropogenic development were more isolated. Models that included these variables and pond size explained 65–70% of variation in genetically inferred isolation across sites. The resampling analysis confirmed that these habitat variables were consistently good predictors of isolation. Used judiciously, simple GIS models with key land-cover variables can be used to estimate population isolation if field sampling and genetic analysis are not possible.     

信息化机房与网络改造方案设计

工厂信息化总体结构可分为2个网络,1个数据平台,3个层次,可为工厂的高层决策、生产经营管理提供安全可靠的信息化支撑平台,提高企业的综合竞争力,根据实际工程案例详细论述了机房与网络改造方案的设计,对工厂信息化机房的设计具有指导性意义,图1,参3．     

四溴双酚A对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性及抗氧化防御系统酶的影响

以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)为研究对象,根据OECD指南中的滤纸接触法和人工土壤法研究了四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的急性毒性和对蚯蚓体内抗氧化防御系统酶的影响.结果表明,滤纸接触法和人工土壤法检测TBBPA对蚯蚓的半致死浓度LC50分别为4.90mg·L-(148h)和16.7mg·kg-(114d),TBBPA对蚯蚓具有低等毒性.当TBBPA的浓度在0.05和0.1mg·kg-1时对蚯蚓超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)产生显著诱导;在0.05mg·kg-1时,对过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)也产生显著诱导;脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)随TBBPA浓度的升高逐渐增加,呈良好的剂量效应关系(R2=0.97,p<0.01).SOD、CAT、GST和MDA可以作为土壤生态早期预警中潜在的敏感的生物标志物.     

The effectiveness of cluster approach to improve environmental corporate performance in an industrial district of SMEs: a case study

This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the so-called ‘Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) cluster approach’ when applied to environmental policies, by focusing on the case history of the industrial paper production cluster located in the Province of Lucca (Italy). The Lucca cluster represents approximately 20% of Italian paper production, and Italy is the fourth leading paper producer in Europe. In the last 10 years, environmental policies have been developed under the common ‘umbrella’ of a strong public and private partnership based on stakeholder networking within the application of the EU EMAS Regulation. This article evaluates the outcome of such an approach, by comparing the environmental performance indicators for the Lucca’s paper industry using data collected from more than 40 plants before and after the adoption of this voluntary tool. The results show considerable improvements for many environmental performance indicators, consistently with the implementation of the cluster approach.     

Effects of cucl2 on UV‐mutagenesis and on DNA damage in a restriction fragment of E. Coli gpt∗

CuCl₂ does not cause Trp⁺ reversion in E. coli WP2. However, when the bacteria are exposed to CuCl₂ and UV‐irradiated, a greater than 3‐fold enhancement of mutagenesis (compared to UV alone) is seen at 30 μMCuCl₂, and significant enhancement is seen even at 3 μM. The mechanism for this comutagenic effect was studied using a restriction fragment of the E. coli gpt gene. Whereas UV or CuCl₂ alone caused few strand breaks, UV + CuCl₂ induced breaks at every site. This reaction was blocked by KI, a free radical scavenger. While UV alone induced alkali‐labile sites, UV+ CuCl₂ induced many more such sites and altered the sequence specificity. We suggest that at least some of the comutagenic effect might be due to hydroxyl radical formed via a Fenton reaction.     

Septic tank and agricultural non‐point source pollution within a rural watershed

This investigation addresses the problem of Non‐Point Source (NPS) pollution in the rural Lake Weatherford watershed in Parker County, Texas. This reservoir is the primary municipal water supply for the City of Weatherford, Texas. The principal method of wastewater disposal is the on‐site system or septic tanks for the small residential areas surrounding the reservoir.

Sources of NPS pollution of interest in this watershed include agricultural operations as well as the residential areas. These sites were identified with the aid of aerial photography and field investigation. Suspected NPS problems were substantiated through a sampling program involving chemical and biological testing of the reservoir. Results indicate that there is significant NPS pollution contamination of Lake Weatherford from agricultural sources and seepage from on‐site wastewater disposal systems. Excessive fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus counts (>500 bacteria/100 ml) were generally associated with rainfall events and several samples showed values > 100000 bacteria/100 ml. The fecal coliform/fecal streptococcus ratios indicated contamination from human sources, animal sources, and a combination of both. Nutrient concentrations fluctuated from quite low to high with ammonia as the most consistent problem. High ammonia values were also associated with rainfall events.     

Assessment of opium-based farming systems: a case study in the Nahom area,Oudomxay Province in Northern Laos

SUMMARY

An interdisciplinary team of 10 completed an exploratory one-month survey of villages in Nahom, Oudomxay Province, Laos, an area representative of upland farming systems based on opium and shifting cultivation. The study included investigation of the physical and socioeconomic environments and assessment of the farming systems. Due to the relatively low population density, there is enough land for villagers to practice shifting cultivation with a one year cultivation cycle, followed by 10–12 years of fallow. The soil degradation commonly caused by shifting cultivation was not significant in this area and the soil fertility is still relatively high. However, most of the original forests had been cut down and used for shifting cultivation and some degradation of the vegetation has occurred, showing that the ecological sustainability has been threatened by prevailing practices. Thirty-six percent of the households had food supply problems for more than three months of each year. The extremely low return for labour from upland rice cultivation, only 5.64 kg per labour-day, was the critical factor that caused the food shortage. Because of poor technique, rice yield from paddy fields was also low, thus shifting cultivators have no enthusiasm to expand their paddy fields. Income from opium provided 80.5% of household income. Opium was extremely tempting to local people due to the very high return for labour, 5700 kip (US$6) per labour-day, low investment, and good labour availability (mostly during the off-season of rice cultivation). However, opium was also a ‘two-edged sword’. It did not bring real wealth, health and happiness but instead brings poverty, poor health and disappointment.     

Methodological integration for sustainable natural resource management beyond field/farm level: lessons from the ecoregional initiative for the humid and sub-humid tropics of Asia

SUMMARY

Integrated natural resources management (INRM) has to address both the livelihood goals of farmers and the ecological sustainability of agroecosystems and natural resources. Under the Ecoregional Initiative for the Humid and Sub-Humid Tropics of Asia — Ecor(1)Asia — one major set of activities has been the development of approaches, methodologies, and tools to meet the challenges of INRM research for sustainable agricultural development. Examples provided illustrate the role of these methodologies in the three main phases of knowledge development for improving INRM impact: knowledge generation, knowledge capitalization, and knowledge mobilization. The methodologies are designed for better integration across disciplines, spatial scales, and hierarchical levels of social organization. Attempts are made to quantify trade-offs between biophysical sustainability and socio-economic considerations. The case is made for using these methodologies in a more complementary manner to help bridge the topdown and bottom-up approaches in INRM. Inherent in the developing and implementing of these methodologies is the forging of partnerships and fostering linkages with multiple stakeholders, as well as using the knowledge base and integrative tools as communication platforms.     

我国碳排放权交易机制试点地区的ETS管理效率评价

以我国7个碳排放权交易机制试点地区的碳交易体系(ETS)和19个地区模拟ETS的设计方案、调研数据为基础,采用C2GS2模型作为基本工具构建数据包络分析模型(DEA)对碳交易机制的管理效率进行评价.结果显示,在7个试点地区中,北京、广东、深圳和重庆ETS机制的管理效率为DEA有效;上海和天津ETS处于规模递增阶段,湖北处于规模递减阶段,通过其在有效生产前沿面上的“投影”提出调整方案.建议:ETS覆盖的碳排放量低于地区总排放量的50%;下调中国核证自愿减排量(CCER)的碳抵消比例;紧紧围绕机制所覆盖的企业特征,进行投入要素规模设计;惩罚机制必不可少,但惩罚力度需根据本地区ETS投入要素特点进行设计;对ETS的碳排放上限(减排率)不宜设计过紧,否则可能对地区经济可持续发展能力造成损害.     

Establishing conversation spaces in hastily formed networks: the worst fire in modern Swedish history

In presenting examples from the most extensive and demanding fire in modern Swedish history, this paper describes challenges facing hastily formed networks in exceptional situations. Two concepts that have been used in the analysis of the socio‐technical systems that make up a response are conversation space and sensemaking. This paper argues that a framework designed to promote understanding of the sensemaking process must take into consideration the time and the location at which an individual is engaged in an event. In hastily formed networks, location is partly mediated through physical systems that form conversation spaces of players and their interaction practices. This paper identifies and discusses four challenges to the formation of shared conversation spaces. It is based on the case study of the 2006 Bodträskfors forest fire in Sweden and draws on the experiences of organised volunteers and firefighters who participated in a hastily formed network created to combat the fire.