Drivers of Seabird Population Recovery on New Zealand Islands after Predator Eradication

Eradication of introduced mammalian predators from islands has become increasingly common, with over 800 successful projects around the world. Historically, introduced predators extirpated or reduced the size of many seabird populations, changing the dynamics of entire island ecosystems. Although the primary outcome of many eradication projects is the restoration of affected seabird populations, natural population responses are rarely documented and mechanisms are poorly understood. We used a generic model of seabird colony growth to identify key predictor variables relevant to recovery or recolonization. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the importance of these variables in driving seabird population responses after predator eradication on islands around New Zealand. The most influential variable affecting recolonization of seabirds around New Zealand was the distance to a source population, with few cases of recolonization without a source population ≤25 km away. Colony growth was most affected by metapopulation status; there was little colony growth in species with a declining status. These characteristics may facilitate the prioritization of newly predator‐free islands for active management. Although we found some evidence documenting natural recovery, generally this topic was understudied. Our results suggest that in order to guide management strategies, more effort should be allocated to monitoring wildlife response after eradication. Conductores de la Recuperación de Poblaciones de Aves Marinas en Islas de Nueva Zelanda después de la Erradicación de Depredadores     

Mowers versus growers: Riparian buffer management in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains,USA

Despite long-standing knowledge of the benefits of riparian buffers for mitigating nonpoint source pollution, many streams are unprotected by buffers. Even landowners who understand ecological values of buffers mow riparian vegetation to the streambank. Do trends in rural riparian conditions reflect the development of riparian forest science? What motivates residential riparian management actions? Using high-resolution orthoimagery, we quantified riparian conditions and trends between 1998 and 2015 in the rural upper Little Tennessee River basin in Macon County, North Carolina and explored how landowners view riparian zone management and riparian restoration programs. Buffer composition in 2015 was as follows: no buffer (32.5%), narrow (19.3%), forested (26.7%), shrub (7.2%), and intermediate (7.0%). Relative to 1998, the greatest decrease occurred in the no buffer class (−17.7%, 46 km) and the largest increases occurred in the shrub (+72.5%, 20 km) and narrow (12.6%, 14 km) classes. Forested buffer marginally increased. Semi-structured interview data suggest that landowners prioritize recreational and scenic aspects of riparian buffers over ecological functions such as filtration and bank stabilization. Riparian restoration programs might be made more enticing to non-adopters if outreach language appealed to landowner priorities, design elements demonstrated intentional management, and program managers highlighted areas where ecological goals and landowner values align.     

Efficacy of created and restored nesting sites for the conservation of colonial Laridae in the South of France

By rapidly modifying key habitat components, habitat restoration is at risk of producing attractive cues for animals without providing habitats of sufficient quality. As such, individual fitness components, such as reproduction, could be reduced and restored habitats could become ecological traps. This risk notably appears by using artificial constructions in restoration projects, yet few studies have evaluated their efficacy in a robust way. We investigated this by analyzing 154 islets that were created or restored to improve the conservation status of 7 colonial Laridae species in the South of France. From 2007 to 2016, we compared occupancy dynamics and breeding parameters of these species between the restored sites and 846 unmanaged nesting sites. We also explored species’ preference for different nesting site characteristics and their respective effect on breeding parameters. Restored nesting sites were 2–9 times as attractive as unmanaged sites for all species except the Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Colonization probability was up to 100 times higher in sites already used by other species the previous year and increased with distance to the shore until >0.2 when distance was over 250 m. Abandonment probability was 29–70% lower when breeding was successful the previous year in all species except the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Productivity and breeding success probability were 2 times higher on managed sites. Distance from the shore was an important attractive characteristic of artificial nesting sites in all species. Other nesting site characteristics had species-specific effects on colonization, abandonment, and breeding success. Our results indicate that managed nesting sites are successful conservation tools for colonial Laridae in the Mediterranean and do not act as ecological traps. Our study showed that testing the ecological trap hypothesis is a robust way to evaluate the success of restoration projects of breeding habitats.     

Hydromorphological and socio-cultural assessment of urban rivers to promote nature-based solutions in Jarabacoa,Dominican Republic

In Latin America and the Caribbean, river restoration projects are increasing, but many lack strategic planning and monitoring. We tested the applicability of a rapid visual social–ecological stream assessment method for restoration planning, complemented by a citizen survey on perceptions and uses of blue and green infrastructure. We applied the method at three urban streams in Jarabacoa (Dominican Republic) to identify and prioritize preferred areas for nature-based solutions. The method provides spatially explicit information for strategic river restoration planning, and its efficiency makes it suitable for use in data-poor contexts. It identifies well-preserved, moderately altered, and critically impaired areas regarding their hydromorphological and socio-cultural conditions, as well as demands on green and blue infrastructure. The transferability of the method can be improved by defining reference states for assessing the hydromorphology of tropical rivers, refining socio-cultural parameters to better address river services and widespread urban challenges, and balancing trade-offs between ecological and social restoration goals.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01565-3.     

双台子河口湿地植被修复生境健康评价方法研究

以2014—2015年双台子河口滨海湿地植被修复20个站位调查资料为基础,对湿地修复结构指标、功能指标和环境指标进行研究,结合湿地生态系统健康理论,构建湿地生态环境健康评价指标体系。运用层次分析法(AHP)确定权重,对各个指标赋予权重,将健康评价分为3个等级,确立了生态健康评价方法,对近岸破损湿地翅碱蓬修复生境进行评价。进一步引用评价净影响值(EI)方法判断生境修复前、后的健康对比状态,从而确定翅碱蓬对该破损湿地的修复效果显著。从景观生态学和健康评价角度分析来看,建立此评价方法是可行的,可为今后湿地的管理与保护提供科学依据。     

大型采石废弃地弃渣边坡稳定技术设计研究

近年来,采石场大面积弃渣边坡无防护堆积和坡面水土流失等问题严重.文章基于"蓄水范式"理念,以山阴县小娘娘山采石场为例,采用理论研究与实用施工技术相结合的方法,提出一套因地制宜的弃渣边坡稳定技术,该技术包括蓄水稳定技术设计和配套措施设计,以研究区内的一处弃渣边坡为示范点进行了实际设计和施工.结果表明,弃渣边坡稳定技术能有效提高弃渣边坡的稳定性和蓄水能力,施工方便、成本低,在实际工程中具有广泛地推广性.     

西北干旱区煤炭基地生态蓄水模式研究

西北干旱区煤炭开采产生的矿井水大多就近排放,利用率低.同时,该地区水资源严重缺乏,尤其是生态用水紧缺,煤炭开采造成地下水资源浪费和生态用水紧缺的矛盾局面.为缓解这一矛盾,提出地面人工湿地及生态储水的设想,构建两种基于生态用水的地面处理储存矿井水的模式,该模式下矿井水通过下渗补给潜水含水层,进而供给地表植被;另一方面,利用干旱区蒸发量大的特点借助低空大气环流输送水份,增加局部降水量,从而实现改善生态环境的目的.     

废弃尾矿库15种植物对重金属Pb、Zn的积累和养分吸收

在废弃的铅锌尾矿库进行人工植被恢复试验.对3年生15种植物重金属积累和养分吸收特性的研究表明,植物对土壤重金属和养分的吸收积累因植物种类、部位、金属种类和种植时间的不同而有显著差异.树木不同器官Pb质量浓度高低的总趋势为根〉叶〉茎,部分树种Zn质量浓度表现为叶〉根和茎;在15种参试植物中,加拿大紫荆根系Pb和Zn质量浓度均处于最高水平（分别为1 803 mg.kg-1和2 120 mg.kg-1）,盐肤木具有最高的茎枝Pb、叶片Pb和Zn质量浓度（分别为280、546和1 507 mg.kg-1）,旱柳具有最高的茎枝Zn质量浓度（729 mg.kg-1）和较高的叶片Zn质量浓度（1 153 mg.kg-1）.枫香、紫花苜蓿对Pb,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿对Zn的转移系数TF值均〉1.植物Pb的富集系数BCF值均小于0.17,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿Zn的BCF值达0.37～0.43.固氮植物体内N含量显著高于其它植物,火炬树、臭椿对P和夹竹桃对K的吸收积累能力强.随着种植时间的增加,植株体内有重金属质量浓度增加、营养元素含量下降的趋势.盐肤木、旱柳等重金属积累树种及紫穗槐、紫花苜蓿、截叶胡枝子、桤木等固氮植物在铅锌尾矿治理中具有应用前景.     

温榆河氨氮污染控制措施的效果模拟

以城市退水为主要补给水源的北京市温榆河呈现以氨氮(18.68 mg·L-1)污染为主的特征.针对温榆河的水质改善需求,本研究以氨氮为目标污染物,采用QUAL2K河流水质模型和情景分析方法,对温榆河污染防治与水质改善措施的效果进行量化评估.模拟结果表明,提高污水厂的处理量和排放标准是改善温榆河水质的关键,可降低温榆河北关闸断面氨氮浓度29.66％;建设旁路离线河流净化器可削减5.57％的氨氮污染,是温榆河水质改善的有效措施.本研究提出的包括改善上游来水水质、干流截污、支流污染控制、污水厂提标改造、建设旁路离线河流净化器和生态河道等措施在内的综合实施方案,可使得温榆河的水质全程达到地表水V类标准.     

植穴控制体对盐渍土生态重建的可持续性评价

基于盐渍土生态重建过程影响因子的复杂性,采用综合指标评价方法,选取4类母指标和相应的13项子指标对植穴控制体生态重建技术进行可持续评价。4类母指标分别为土壤养分与结构改良程度、生产力持续水平、组分间关系协调性和生态、社会效益,对应的13项子指标分别为:土壤水分、土壤含盐量、土壤养分含量、土壤容重和水质;土地利用效果、土地生产力水平与稳定度、绿地结构与环境功能;生态重建年限、生物群落变化和生态景观效果;小气候效益和游憩的功能效益。经权重分析认为,植穴控制体生态重建技术评价分值为0.772,评价等级为Ⅳ级,表明植穴控制体模式的盐渍土生态重建技术具有较好的稳定性和可持续的功能效应。