Assessing Sustainability at Multiple Scales in a Rotational Bushmeat Hunting System

Abstract: Results of many studies show unsustainable levels of bushmeat hunting across West/Central Africa. Nevertheless, these results are usually derived from snapshot sustainability indices in which critical parameters are often taken from the literature. Simple, more informative tools for assessing sustainability are needed. We evaluated the impact of bushmeat hunting across a range of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic scales in a comparison of different measures of sustainability. Over 15 months in 2002–2004 in and around a village close to Equatorial Guinea's Monte Alén National Park, we collected data via a village offtake survey, hunter‐camp bushmeat‐consumption diaries, hunter interviews, and following hunters during hunts. We compared 2003 data with a previous offtake survey (1998–1999) and interview reports back to 1990. In the past 14 years, average distance from the village at which hunters operated remained constant, with hunters switching back and forth between long‐established camps, although trapping effort increased. In the past 5 years, overall offtake and number of active hunters did not change substantially, although catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased slightly. Although the proportion of the two most commonly trapped species (Cephalophus monticola and Atherurus africanus) and gun‐hunted primates increased in the offtake, species presumably less robust to trapping decreased slightly. Apparent sustainability in economic terms may be masking gradual local extirpation of more vulnerable species before and during this study. Our results suggest that changes in prey profiles and CPUE may be the most accurate indicators of actual sustainability; these indices can be monitored with simple village‐based offtake surveys and hunter interviews to improve community management of bushmeat hunting.     

Effectiveness of Scat‐Detection Dogs in Determining Species Presence in a Tropical Savanna Landscape

Abstract: Most protected areas are too small to sustain populations of wide‐ranging mammals; thus, identification and conservation of high‐quality habitat for those animals outside parks is often a high priority, particularly for regions where extensive land conversion is occurring. This is the case in the vicinity of Emas National Park, a small protected area in the Brazilian Cerrado. Over the last 40 years the native vegetation surrounding the park has been converted to agriculture, but the region still supports virtually all of the animals native to the area. We determined the effectiveness of scat‐detection dogs in detecting presence of five species of mammals threatened with extinction by habitat loss: maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), puma (Puma concolor), jaguar (Panthera onca), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), and giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus). The probability of scat detection varied among the five species and among survey quadrats of different size, but was consistent across team, season, and year. The probability of occurrence, determined from the presence of scat, in a randomly selected site within the study area ranged from 0.14 for jaguars, which occur primarily in the forested areas of the park, to 0.91 for maned wolves, the most widely distributed species in our study area. Most occurrences of giant armadillos in the park were in open grasslands, but in the agricultural matrix they tended to occur in riparian woodlands. At least one target species occurred in every survey quadrat, and giant armadillos, jaguars, and maned wolves were more likely to be present in quadrats located inside than outside the park. The effort required for detection of scats was highest for the two felids. We were able to detect the presence for each of five wide‐ranging species inside and outside the park and to assign occurrence probabilities to specific survey sites. Thus, scat dogs provide an effective survey tool for rare species even when accurate detection likelihoods are required. We believe the way we used scat‐detection dogs to determine the presence of species can be applied to the detection of other mammalian species in other ecosystems.     

Planning nature-based solutions: Principles,steps, and insights

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our framework relates to three key criteria that define NBS, and consists of six steps of planning: Co-define setting, Understand challenges, Create visions and scenarios, Assess potential impacts, Develop solution strategies, and Realize and monitor. Its implementation is guided by five principles, namely Place-specificity, Evidence base, Integration, Equity, and Transdisciplinarity. Drawing on the empirical insights from the case study, we suggest suitable methods and a checklist of supportive procedures for applying the framework in practice. Taken together, our framework can facilitate planning NBS and provides further steps towards mainstreaming.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01365-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

河流CO2与CH4排放研究进展

河流作为连接海-陆两大碳库的主要通道,其水-气界面二氧化碳(CO_2)与甲烷(CH_4)排放构成全球碳循环的重要环节,对全球气候变暖的贡献不容小觑.明确河流水体CO_2与CH_4产排过程、时空特征以及控制因素是认识河流生态学功能以及其对变化环境响应的重要内容.基于当前河流CO_2与CH_4排放研究进展,构建河流碳排放动力学概念框架(内源代谢、陆源输入),并从全球尺度、区域尺度、流域尺度综述了河流碳排放时空变异性特征以及存在的研究不足.在理解碳排放动力学概念框架和时空变异特征的基础上,构建了河流CO_2与CH_4动力学控制因子分层框架(内部因子:有机质、温度、营养盐;外部因子:水文、地貌、人类活动),深入探讨了河流碳排放的关键影响因素.最后,根据当前研究中存在的不足,提出河流碳排放应将纳入区域陆地碳平衡过程,今后研究重点应包括流域尺度上河流CO_2与CH_4内源产生与陆源输入相对贡献的量化研究、不同界面CO_2与CH_4产生与排放过程研究、高时空分辨率的监测数据的补充以及变化环境与人类活动干扰下河流碳排放的响应过程等,为理解河流生态学过程及生态系统功能提供基础,同时为我国进一步深入开展相关研究提供借鉴.     

一种多介质层波形潜流人工湿地处理重污染河水试验

我国河流污染严重,城市黑臭水体的比率日益增加。人工湿地作为一种高效低耗能的绿色处理技术,已被广泛应用于污染河水的治理。通过对比分析分层装填复合填料的多介质层波形潜流人工湿地和单一砾石填料的普通人工湿地处理重污染河水的效果,研究了特种基质填料强化脱氮除磷作用以及不同水力负荷条件的影响。试验结果表明:在水力负荷为0.2 m~3/(m~2·d)时,普通湿地对COD、NH3-N、TN和TP的去除率分别达到55.95%、77.85%、39.80%和54.94%;多介质层湿地对COD、NH3-N、TN和TP的去除率分别达到58.52%、75.99%、67.08%和57.31%。在水力负荷为0.5 m~3/(m~2·d)时,普通湿地对COD、NH3-N、TN和TP的去除率分别达到68.46%、90.73%、42.13%和53.70%;多介质层湿地对COD、NH3-N、TN和TP的去除率分别达到69.61%、89.94%、77.58%和68.63%,其脱氮效果明显好于普通湿地。以复合填料包分层装填的波形潜流人工湿地系统具有良好的脱氮除磷效果,有很好的推广应用价值。     

基于WebGIS的水环境模拟关键技术研究

近年来随着水环境模拟领域的发展出现了较多水环境数学模型,目前日益成熟的WebGIS技术是使模型使用变得简单化和直观化的一大途径.是在通过Flex和ArcGIS Server搭建WebGIS系统平台的基础上,利用PHP进行WebGIS和水环境模拟模型的数据交互,实现系统平台和数值模型的松散耦合.用户在浏览器端进行模型输入条件的设置,模型在远程服务器端进行运行计算,反馈的模拟结果通过RIA在WebGIS中进行多元化动态展示.该方法对一般模型具有适用性,可降低模型使用门槛,提高模拟结果展示和分析能力.     

Occurrence and distribution of hexabromocyclododecane in sediments from seven major river drainage basins in China

The concentrations and geographical distribution of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were investigated in 37 composite surface sediments from seven major river drainage basins in China, including Yangtze River, Yellow River, Pearl River, Liaohe River, Haihe River, Tarim River and Ertix River. The detection frequency of HBCD was 54%, with the concentrations ranged from below limit of detection (LOD) to 206 ng/g dry weight. In general, the geographical distribution showed increasing trends from the upper reaches to the lower reaches of the rivers and from North China to Southeast China. Compared to other regions in the world, the average concentration of HBCD in sediments from Yangtze River drainage basin was at relatively high level, whereas those from other six river drainage basins were at lower or similar level. The highest HBCD concentration in sediment from Yangtze River Delta and the highest detection frequency of HBCD in Pearl River drainage basins suggested that the industrial and urban activities could evidently affect the HBCD distribution. HBCD diastereoisomer profiles showed that γ-HBCD dominated in most of the sediment samples, followed by α- and β-HBCD, which was consistent with those in the commercial HBCD mixtures. Further risk assessment reflected that the average inventories of HBCD were 18.3, 5.87, 3.92, 2.50, 1.77 ng/cm 2 in sediments from Pearl River, Haihe River, Tarim River, Yellow River and Yangtze River, respectively.     

河流健康评估的研究与应用进展研究

自20世纪50年代以来,河流健康越来越受到社会的广泛关注。河流健康的概念、评估方法、范围、内容和指标体系得到不断拓展和完善。目前常用的两类河流健康评估方法是综合指标评估法和指示生物评估法。综合指标评估法采用河流水文、水质、生态系统等多个指标,能较全面地反映河流生态系统的健康状况,但是存在指标数量不易精简、部分指标难以量化等不足支出。在实际应用中更为常用的是指示生物评估法,采用鱼类、大型无脊椎动物、浮游藻类等指示生物的动态变化反映河流健康状况,方法更为简单直观。     

河流健康评价标准研究——以贾鲁河流域郑州段为例

阐述了河流健康以及河流健康评价的概念,论述了河流健康评价的发展以及标准制定的原则和依据。并以贾鲁河流域(郑州段)为例,从生境状况、生物状况、生态功能三方面着手构建河流健康评价指标体系,并论述了该体系中各指标变量标准建立的过程。     

河道溢油事故环境风险评价中若干关键问题探讨

河道溢油事故已成为内河道突发性水环境污染的主要问题之一,尤其水源地突发性污染事件日益增多,对社会、经济和河道生态环境造成严重的不良影响。新建的水上项目必须通过溢油风险评价来分析项目建设投产后对周边的环境影响,目前溢油风险评价尚无统一的方法,且风险分析不够深入。本文基于国内外经典的油膜动力学模型及统计学等理论,明确溢油事故环境风险评价中事故源强、事故概率、溢油油膜影响范围、风险应急时间以及水厂吸水口关闭时间等几个关键问题的分析方法,以期进一步提高河道溢油事故的环境风险评价水平。