Exploring long-term land cover changes in an urban region of southern Europe

This paper addresses two important issues for large Mediterranean city regions: the differential impact of compact urban ‘growth’ and low-density ‘sprawl’ on land cover changes (LCCs), and their final effect on changing land cover relationships (LCRs). The urban expansion of Rome (Italy) during the last 50 years and the related LCCs were investigated as a paradigmatic example of compact versus dispersed urban development. LCCs were assessed over 5 years (1960, 1974, 1990, 2000, 2006) by analysing diachronically the distribution of 12 land cover categories derived from digital land cover maps covering the entire Nuts-3 prefecture of Rome (5353 km²). LCRs were studied using multi-way data analysis. LCCs were found to have relative differences during ‘growth’ (1960–1990) and ‘sprawl’ (1990–2006) phases. Conversion to urban land uses concentrated in the 1960s and 1970s at the urban fringe, while expanding progressively far from the city in the 1990s and 2000s. During the ‘growth’ phase, the land cover classes with the highest probability of being converted to urban uses were arable lands, annual crops, vineyards and pastures. During the ‘sprawl’ phase, olive groves, orchards and forest surfaces also decreased due to the development of low-density built-up areas and infrastructure. Planning suggestions aimed at mitigating the alteration of the rural landscape through sprawl conditions are discussed.     

Nest site selection and induced response in a dominant arboreal ant species

It is well known that arboreal ants, both territorially dominant species and plant ants (e.g., species associated with myrmecophytes or plants housing them in hollow structures), protect their host trees from defoliators. Nevertheless, the presence of an induced defense, suggested by the fact that the workers discovering a leaf wound recruit nestmates, is only known for plant ants. Based on the results from a field study, we show here (1) that colonies of Azteca chartifex, a territorially dominant, neotropical arboreal ant species, mostly selected Goupia glabra (Goupiaceae) trees in which to build their principal carton nests and (2) that plant signals induced workers to recruit nestmates, which patrol the leaves, likely providing the plant with a biotic defense. Furthermore, the number of recruited workers was clearly higher on G. glabra, their most frequently selected host tree species, than on other tree species. These results show that contrary to what was previously believed, induced responses are also found in territorially dominant arboreal ants and so are not limited to the specific associations between myrmecophytes and plant ants.     

Does the risk of encountering lions influence African herbivore behaviour at waterholes?

A central question in the study of predator–prey relationships is to what extent prey behaviour is determined by avoidance of predators. Here, we test whether the long-term risk of encountering lions and the presence of lions in the vicinity influence the behaviour of large African herbivores at waterholes through avoidance of high-risk areas, increases in group size, changes in temporal niche or changes in the time spent in waterhole areas. In Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, we monitored waterholes to study the behaviour of nine herbivore species under different risks of encountering lions. We radio-collared 26 lions in the study area which provided the opportunity to monitor whether lions were present during observation sessions and to map longer-term seasonal landscapes of risk of encountering lions. Our results show that the preferred prey species for lions (buffalo, kudu and giraffe) avoided risky waterholes. Group size increased as encounter risk increased for only two species (wildebeest and zebra), but this effect was not strong. Interestingly, buffalo avoided the hours of the day which are dangerous when the long-term and short-term risks of encountering lions were high, and all species showed avoidance of waterhole use at night times when lions were in the vicinity. This illustrates well how prey can make temporal adjustments to avoid dangerous periods coinciding with predator hunting. Additionally, many herbivores spent more time accessing water to drink when the long- and short-term risks of encountering lions were high, and they showed longer potential drinking time when the long-term risk of encountering lions was high, suggesting higher levels of vigilance. This study illustrates the diversity of behavioural adjustments to the risk of encountering a predator and how prey respond differently to temporal variations in this risk.     

Study of Cause-and-Effect Relationships in the Formation of Biocenoses: Their Use for the Control of Eutrophication

The cause-and-effect relationships existing in freshwater biogeocenoses and changing with time are conventionally divided into three groups: direct, directly mediated, and indirect. The possibility of using the indirect relationships for the control over natural systems is exemplified by a new scheme of eutrophication control and water quality improvement.     

人尿中1-羟基芘浓度与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系

采集并分析了 10 0名不吸烟成人 2 4h的呼吸带空气 (PM10 和气相 )、食物及尿液样品 ,建立了尿中1 羟基芘与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系 结果表明 :晨尿 1 羟基芘 (μmol·mol肌酐 -1)浓度与芘、苯并 (a )芘等 13种多环芳烃日暴露量的对数线性回归方程拟合度R2 达 0 12— 0 6 7,方程各项参数也均达到了显著性水平 (P <0 0 0 1)     

黄土高原磷湿沉降特征及其对坝系流域磷输出影响-以羊圈沟为例

对黄土高原坝系流域磷(P)的湿沉降过程进行动态监测,分析了降雨-径流过程中各形态磷的输出变化,探讨了黄土高原坝系流域磷湿输出分异特征及其对水体的影响.结果表明:2015年湿季(7、8月)共11场降雨,产生的磷湿沉降负荷为30.8 kg,磷湿沉降通量为0.16kg·hm~(-2),干季(9月)共3场降雨,产生的磷湿沉降负荷为20.51 kg,磷湿沉降通量为0.11 kg·hm~(-2),干湿季磷湿沉降负荷呈现出明显差异性;选取3场降雨过程(降雨量从小到大)进行动态分析发现,流域磷湿沉降负荷分别为3.33、7.51和6.35 kg,相应的本地区磷湿沉降通量依次为0.02、0.04、0.03 kg·hm~(-2),3场降雨总磷(TP)的输出负荷为1.5×10-3kg,溶解性总磷(DTP)的输出负荷为1.24×10~(-3)kg,PO_4~(3-)-P的输出负荷为7×10-4kg,表明该地区磷湿沉降以可溶性磷为主.根据单因子评价方法中的标准指数法,发现流域水质不能满足Ⅴ类水质标准,应对流域水体加强管理.     

下凹式绿地对城市降雨径流污染的削减效应

以现场7次降雨14组径流污染监测数据为基础,探讨了下凹式绿地对城市降雨径流污染的削减效应,分析了径流污染负荷、绿地土壤与覆被植物、降雨历时等因素对污染削减率的影响.结果表明,当COD,NH4+-N和TP的浓度分别为56.0~216.0,0.27~2.97,0.20~0.95mg/L时,下凹式绿地对COD,NH4+-N和TP的平均削减率为52.21%,48.98%和47.35%.下凹式绿地对径流污染的削减过程可分为2个阶段:初期1h的径流污染削减率符合一级动力学模式,后期径流污染削减规律可用二级动力学模式表示.降雨历时增加可提高污染物削减率,当降雨历时约从3h增加到20h时,径流污染的综合削减率可从40%上升到65%.     

三峡库区典型小流域氮磷流失特征

为揭示三峡库区农业非点源物氮、磷流失的一般规律,以三峡库区秭归县的张家冲小流域为研究对象,自2005年1月至2006年4月,在自然降雨条件下,同步观测降雨、地表径流量,并对2次降雨径流的全过程进行了氮、磷浓度的测定,对降雨过程中径流量及污染物浓度随降雨-径流变化过程进行了监测研究.结果表明,长期干旱后的初期降雨径流中的氮、磷浓度明显高于雨季径流中的浓度,且氮、磷浓度变化与流量变化呈现出大致相同的趋势.降雨初期,氮、磷浓度随径流量的增大而升高;随着流量的继续增大,浓度呈现出下降趋势.对浓度随流量变化过程的监测表明,与基流中的浓度相比,总氮和硝态氮的浓度变化幅度较小,而氨氮和总磷浓度变化的幅度较大,其最大值分别是其最小值的10和67.5倍.溶解性的氨氮排放主要受降雨条件的制约,而径流中的磷主要是以颗粒态存在通过对径流量和氮、磷排放负荷的多项式回归分析表明,TN、TP、NH4 -N和NO3--N的排放负荷和径流量之间存在着多项式关系,R2分别为0.9545、0.9740、0.9677和0.9504.     

城市合流制管网降雨径流污染特征分析

对北京市老城区合流制管网排除系统下游干管进行降雨径流监测,分析降雨径流和生活污水混合后的水质变化特征,以便为合流制管网污染控制提供数据依据。结果表明北京市合流制管网污染程度较高,其污染过程受降雨过程、管道汇流过程、地表径流污染特征和管道沉积物冲刷等综合影响。