An Analysis of Spatial Clustering and Implications for Wildlife Management: A Burrowing Owl Example

Analysis tools that combine large spatial and temporal scales are necessary for efficient management of wildlife species, such as the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). We assessed the ability of Ripley’s K-function analysis integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) to determine changes in burrowing owl nest clustering over two years at NASA Ames Research Center. Specifically, we used these tools to detect changes in spatial and temporal nest clustering before, during, and after conducting management by mowing to maintain low vegetation height at nest burrows. We found that the scale and timing of owl nest clustering matched the scale and timing of our conservation management actions over a short time frame. While this study could not determine a causal link between mowing and nest clustering, we did find that Ripley’s K and GIS were effective in detecting owl nest clustering and show promise for future conservation uses.     

Uneven Environmental Management: A Canadian Perspective

Advocates of community-based approaches to environmental management argue that by respecting local circumstances, skills, and concerns we may improve the prospects of achieving environmental sustainability; yet, within nation states such as Canada, environmental conditions, management and enforcement costs and capabilities, and power differentials within and among civic and public sectors may result in a highly differentiated capacity for environmental management across different localities and regions. This article draws on insights of political ecology to 1) create a conceptual framework that identifies key elements shaping regional environmental management regimes and to 2) undertake a comparative analysis to assess how elements interact to generate uneven management outcomes. I compare experiences of two Canadian biosphere reserves designated in 2000: Clayoquot Sound, BC; and Redberry Lake, SK. Analysis reveals that differences in governance and institutional capacities in the biosphere reserves are key to explaining uneven local outcomes. Where the public and civic sectors are strong, a robust and publicly vetted form of management will emerge. Where these sectors are weak and land is held as private property, environmental nongovernmental organizations can set the type and level of management, to the exclusion of effective civic and state involvement. This result may improve environmental sustainability but hinder social sustainability of a management regime and raises questions about the efficacy of community-based management.     

An Interpretive Study of Yosemite National Park Visitors’ Perspectives Toward Alternative Transportation in Yosemite Valley

The National Park Service (NPS) is increasingly focusing on alternative transportation systems in national parks to address environmental and social problems arising from a historical reliance on personal automobiles as the primary means of visitor access. Despite the potential advantages, alternative transportation may require a reorientation in the way that Americans have experienced national parks since the advent of auto-tourism in the early twentieth century. Little research exists, however, on visitor perspectives towards alternative transportation or the rationale underlying their perspectives. It remains unclear how transportation systems affect visitors’ experiences of the park landscape or the factors influencing their travel behavior in the parks. This report presents an interpretive study of visitor perspectives toward transportation management in the Yosemite Valley area of Yosemite National Park, California. Qualitative analysis of 160 semi-structured interviews identified individual psychological factors as well as situational influences that affect visitors’ behavior and perspectives. Individual psychological factors include perceived freedom, environmental values and beliefs, prior experience with Yosemite National Park and other national parks, prior experience with alternative transportation in national parks, and sensitivity to subjective perceptions of crowding. Situational factors included convenience, access, and flexibility of travel modes, as well as type of visit, type of group, and park use level. Interpretive communication designed to encourage voluntary visitor use of alternative transportation should focus on these psychological and situational factors. Although challenges remain, the results of this study suggest approaches for shaping the way Americans visit and experience their national parks to encourage environmental sustainability.     

Criteria for the Assessment of Sustainable Water Management

Pressure on the world’s water resources is increasing, restraining social and economic development in many countries, and threatening ecological values in others. In order to manage water resources in a more sustainable manner, new planning methodologies/processes for river basin management need to be developed. This study attempts to construct a set of useable normative criteria for the analysis and evaluation of such processes. The criteria were designed as a response to the lack of deductive approaches in the evaluation of methodologies and working procedures used in the context of river basin management, making it possible to highlight their potential for sustainable development. The criteria are based on the twin concepts of participation and integration. These concepts function as well-established dimensions of both sustainable development and sustainable river basin management, and they are of significant methodological relevance. A synthesis of the key aspects connected to the two concepts is undertaken, based on a broad literature review. Focus is laid on how in methodological terms, and in relation to regional water management, to achieve participation and integration in a decision-making or planning process. The criteria are concerned with how knowledge and values are integrated into the planning process and how commitment, legitimacy, or acceptance for the resulting plan is generated.     

长三角区域一体化高质量发展：问题与出路

长三角一体化高质量发展对于中国经济行稳致远有着不言而喻的重要意义。为了科学全面认识新时代长三角一体化高质量发展中存在的问题,厘清未来的发展出路,邀请来自不同领域的相关专家就长三角一体化高质量发展中的区域协调、产业协同、交通组织、城镇体系演变、跨区合作、要素配置、流域统筹、一体化路径、绿色低碳发展等研究前沿进行访谈。访谈结果表明：长三角作为我国经济发展最活跃、开放程度最高、创新能力最强的区域,其发展中仍然存在内部发展不平衡、区间交通割裂、行政壁垒尚存、流域生态协作不健全、产业协同发展不足、绿色经济体系较弱等突出问题。长三角在中国乃至世界发展格局中的战略地位,需要综合各学科各专业的理论知识,从不同视角持续关注长三角一体化高质量发展的重大科学命题。紧扣“一体化”和“高质量”,长三角一体化首先要创新机制缩小区域内部发展差异,强化综合交通一体化的基础支撑,更要突破行政边界的制约;其次要创新机制体制来保障生产要素的有效流动与配置,通过价值链、产业链、创新链的融合发展来夯实一体化;再次要促进土地要素向长三角集中使用,提高长三角地区土地承载能力,为长三角区域一体化高质量发展提供充足的土地要素保证;然后要优化人口就业空间结构,加强城际间环境污染联防联治,强化大江大河等重大流域的省际统筹与合作,共同提升长三角的生态系统服务功能,推动绿色一体化发展;最后更要贯彻五大新发展理念,通过科研突破与市场机制来实现低碳发展,在创新驱动引领下打造流空间世界级枢纽,以实现长三角区域一体化高质量发展的新局面。以上观点为长三角区域一体化高质量发展提供科学可行的理论和决策支持。     

流域横向生态补偿政策的水环境效益评估

基于2000~2019年浙江和安徽26个地级市的面板数据,使用合成控制法定量分析新安江3轮横向生态补偿试点政策对其水环境效益的总体性和结构性影响结果表明:政策效果在时间上存在异质性。第1、2轮政策试点显著的提升了新安江流域整体的水环境,但第3轮试点对上游水环境的影响是负的。政策效果在空间上存在异质性。流域横向生态补偿政策使下游的生物多样性价值平均提高了0.068亿元,但使上游生物多样性价值平均降低了0.015亿元。政策效果在结构上存在异质性。通过对水环境效益的结构性分解,发现横向生态补偿政策使新安江流域的水质净化能力价值平均提高了31.874亿元,但使其产品供给价值平均下降了13.402亿元。政策效果存在预期效益。流域横向生态补偿的政策效果在政策正式实施前2年已经出现。     

Effects of artificially induced complete mixing on dissolved organic matter in a stratified source water reservoir

Naturally complete mixing promotes the spontaneous redistribution of dissolved oxygen(DO), representing an ideal state for maintaining good water quality, and conducive to the biomineralization of organic matter. Water lifting aerators(WLAs) can extend the periods of complete mixing and increase the initial mixing temperature. To evaluate the influence of artificial-induced continuously mixing on dissolved organic matter(DOM) removal performance, the variations of DOM concentrations, optical cha...     

壬基酚的环境生物地球化学研究进展及对新污染物管理的建议

近年来,我国大气环境、水环境和土壤环境质量得到一定的改善,“碧水蓝天”已经成为常态.但随着持久性有机污染物、内分泌干扰物、抗生素和微塑料等新污染物在环境中不断被检出,新污染物正逐步受到广泛的关注,壬基酚作为一种典型的内分泌干扰物也备受研究人员的关注.系统地概括了我国水体中壬基酚的环境行为和暴露水平,并基于风险商法和联合概率曲线法对壬基酚可能造成的生态风险进行了评估.结果表明,壬基酚对水生生物的毒性效应主要包括急性毒性、生长发育毒性、雌激素效应和繁殖毒性;壬基酚在我国主要流域水体中普遍存在,其浓度平均值在60～1 000 ng·L^-1,浓度最高值可达4 628 ng·L^-1;基于风险商法和联合概率曲线法的风险评估结果表明,壬基酚对我国主要流域里的水生生物均存在一定的风险.最后,总结了目前比较常用的壬基酚处理处置和风险管控技术,比较了国际上内分泌干扰物的监管方法,针对我国在新污染物环境管理中存在的问题,提出了针对性政策建议,研究结果可以为我国新污染物管理和管控提供参考.     

流域开发的外部性及其内部化

流域是地表水的集水区域。流域问题的本质是水。水是可持续发展的基础和条件，是环境与发展问题的核心。流域开发是以水资源为先导和主体的综合资源开发。实现流域经济可持续发展实质就是实现流域水资源可持续开发和利用。外部性是流域开发的基本特征，水资源的特性决定了流域开发的外部性。实现流域开发的外部性内部化是流域经济可持续发展的关键。实现流域开发外部性内部化，必须界定流域资源产权，明确流域开发主体；建立税收－补贴体系，对水资源合理定价；坚持“排污者付费原则”；建立流域水资源市场，实现水资源资产化管理。同时，政府要加强流域的管理；建立健全水资源保护与流域开发的法律体系；普及保护环境和水资源的教育，建立节水观念；支持和鼓励流域开发企业实行外部成本内部化措施；调整产业结构，深化国有企业改革。     

乌江流域梯级水库入出库河流中总汞和甲基汞的时空分布

2006年1~12月，每月采集乌江流域梯级水库入出库河流水样，用两次金汞齐-冷原子荧光光谱法和蒸馏-乙基化结合GC CVAFS法测定了水中总汞和甲基汞的浓度。结果表明：（1）入出库河流中总汞年均加权浓度分别为317和 2.34 ng/L，甲基汞为014和 0.18 ng/L。（2）不同水库入出库河流中总汞和甲基汞的时空分布特征不同，位于上游第一级的普定和洪家渡水库入库河流中总汞有明显的季节变化趋势，且显著低于出库河流；而甲基汞的季节变化在出库河流中较为明显，而且库龄大的普定、东风、乌江渡水库出库河流中甲基汞浓度显著高于入库河流。（3）相关分析发现水库入库河流中总汞、甲基汞浓度主要受悬浮颗粒物的影响，而与水量间的相关性因水库所处位置的不同而有差异，上游的普定和洪家渡水库中呈显著正相关，其它水库中呈负相关。