Assessing protected area effectiveness using surrounding (buffer) areas environmentally similar to the target area

Many studies are based on the assumption that an area and its surrounding (buffer) area present similar environmental conditions and can be compared. For example, in order to assess the effectiveness of a protected area, the land use/cover changes are compared inside the park with its surroundings. However, the heterogeneity in spatial variables can bias this assessment: we have shown that most of the protected areas in Mexico present significant environmental differences between their interior and their surroundings. Therefore, a comparison that aims at assessing the effectiveness of conservation strategies, must be cautioned. In this paper, a simple method which allows the generation of a buffer area that presents similar conditions with respect to a set of environmental variables is presented. The method was used in order to assess the effectiveness of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, a protected area located in the south-eastern part of Mexico. The annual rate of deforestation inside the protected area, the standard buffer area (based upon distance from the protected area only) and the similar buffer area (taking into account distance along with some environmental variables) were 0.3, 1.3 and 0.6%, respectively. These results showed that the protected area was effective in preventing land clearing, but that the comparison with the standard buffer area gave an over-optimistic vision of its effectiveness.     

华南玄武岩红土化过程中微量元素地球化学

广东、海南的玄武岩．在强烈的红土化过程中．元素在红土剖面中发生迁移和残留、贫化和富集。根据红土化过程中元素的地球化学性状，将元素划分为活泼元素和不活泼元素两大类。并首次采用了元素它集因子这个概念来探讨红土化过程中微量元素的地球化学行为。最后讨论了红土化过程小金的表生富集作用。     

characteristics of PM2.5 in rural areas of southern Jiangsu Province, China

Introduction Anumberofstudiesabroadhavedemonstratedthat atmosphericfineparticulatematter(PM2.5,dp<2.5μm)is notonlyassociatedwithatmosphericvisibilityreductionbut alsohasaclearcorrelationwiththenumberofdailydeathsandhospitalizationsasaconsequenceofpulmonarydisease(Chan,1997;Christoforous,2000;Schwartz,1996;Wilson,1997).On18July,1997,theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA)promulgatednewandsevere standardsforfineparticulates(PM2.5)withthesizebelow2.5μm(15μg m3asannualaverage,65μg m…     

三峡库区长江水位变化条件下滑坡稳定性二元指标体系研究

安全系数是边坡稳定性评价中的常用方法,在长期的工程实践中积累了丰富的经验,其最大的缺点是不能考虑边坡岩土体中实际存在的不确定性。可靠性理论可有效地考虑边坡系统内实际存在的不确定性和相关性,但是缺乏丰富的工程实践经验,因此,将工程实践经验丰富的安全系数与先进的可靠性理论相结合,建立安全系数与可靠性相耦合的二元评价体系具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。以巴东县东壤口镇宋家屋场滑坡为实例,计算了长江水位从135 m至175 m变化过程中的平均安全系数(最大可能安全系数)和相应的可靠性。将最大可能安全系数与边坡可靠性相乘,对最大可能安全系数进行折减,得到边坡可靠的安全系数。设折减后安全系数的临界值为1．05,由此计算出不同最大可能安全系数的临界变异系数和临界破坏概率。根据不同的最大可能安全系数及它的临界破坏概率,绘制出边坡稳定性分区图。用均值安全系数和可靠性二元指标对宋家屋场滑坡的稳定性进行了评价,结果是可靠的安全系数为1．068,略大于临界值,处于基本稳定状态。文中论述了边坡稳定性二元指标体系的建立方法。     

浅淡西部地区可持续发展中的污水处理问题

西部地区水污染问题已经成为制约西部可持续发展因素之一.从环保意识、工艺适合性、资金的投入、经营体制、立法政策等5个方面分析了西部地区在污水处理上存在的问题,并提出了相应的对策和建议.     

论滇东北山区生态环境恢复与重建

分析了滇东北山区生态环境现状,提出了生态环境恢复与重建意见。     

滇池沿岸农村固体废物污染调查研究 --呈贡县大渔乡案例分析

以呈贡县大渔乡为案例,调查分析了区域农村固体废物的来源、产生量、成分和处理处置现状,引入了固体废弃物潜在污染负荷指数。     

小康居住区的水环境与水质净化工程

分析了小康居住区水环境的含义，组成，并对居住区水质净化工程中3个热点问题（优质饮水，污水处理和中水回用等）进行了较深入的分析，建议小康居住区优质饮水供应以小区纯水站净化，管理输送至用户方式为主；不居住区的污水处理应分3种情况区别对待，在居住区污水处理达到排放标准的基础上，进一步处理回用，是经济合理的。     

Alteration in Rhizosphere Soil Properties of Afforested <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamnus lycioides</Emphasis> Seedlings in Short-Term Response to Mycorrhizal Inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glomus intraradices</Emphasis> and Organic Amendment

The reestablisment of autochthonous plant species is an essential strategy for recovering degraded areas under semiarid conditions. A field experiment was carried out to assess the short-term effect of two reafforestation methods involving mycorrhizal inoculation and compost addition on soil quality parameters and Rhamnus lycioides seedling growth. The nutrient content (NPK) and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, urease, protease-BAA, acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase) increased and bulk density decreased in the rhizosphere soil with the organic amendment. Biomass C of rhizosphere soil increased by at least 240% with respect to the control soil after mycorrhizal inoculation and the combination of compost addition + mycorrhizal inoculation. Both mycorrhizal inoculation and composted organic residue addition increased R. lycioides seedling growth in the same proportion. In the short term, we conclude that the application of both reafforestation methods not only enhances the establishment of R. lycioides seedlings, but also improves soil quality.     

COLD WATER PATCHES IN WARM STREAMS: PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE INFLUENCE OF SHADING1

ABSTRACT: Discrete cold water patches within the surface waters of summer warm streams afford potential thermal refuge for cold water fishes during periods of heat stress. This analysis focused on reach scale heterogeneity in water temperatures as influenced by local influx of cooler subsurface waters. Using field thermal probes and recording thermistors, we identified and characterized cold water patches (at least 3°C colder than ambient streamflow temperatures) potentially serving as thermal refugia for cold water fishes. Among 37 study sites within alluvial valleys of the Grande Ronde basin in northeastern Oregon, we identified cold water patches associated with side channels, alcoves, lateral seeps, and floodplain spring brooks. These types differed with regard to within floodplain position, area, spatial thermal range, substrate, and availability of cover for fish. Experimental shading cooled daily maximum temperatures of surface waters within cold water patches 2 to 4°C, indicating a strong influence of riparian vegetation on the expression of cold water patch thermal characteristics. Strong vertical temperature gradients associated with heating of surface layers of cold water patches exposed to solar radiation, superimposed upon vertical gradients in dissolved oxygen, can partially restrict suitable refuge volumes for stream salmonids within cold water patches.