Ecosystems emerging. 5: Constraints

Ecosystem constraints are both ontic and epistemic. They limit activity, and as problems to be solved they drive organization, which is our hypothesis:

The driver of organization is constraint.

Solutions proliferate further constraints in an unending spiral of problem (constraint) generation and solution. As constraints proliferate, behavior narrows, and species diversify to compensate (paradox of constraint). Resource enrichment reduces constraints, releases behavior, and reduction of challenges decreases diversity (paradox of enrichment)—high diversity is expressed in low-resource environments and low diversity in high-resource environments. A three-part model of constraints is formulated for non-living systems, and also for goal-directed, problem-solving biota. Mode 1: dynamical means behavior is co-determined by internal states and external inputs. Mode 2: cybernetic employs negative feedback to keep dynamics within goal-oriented operating limits. Mode 3: model-making entails ability to represent (model) physical reality and respond to both phenomenal (modeled) and physical inputs; this property distinguishes living from nonliving systems. Principal sections of the paper elaborate dynamical constraints (three classes), boundary constraints (expressed in edge effects and trophic dynamics), physical constraints (space, time, temperature), chemical constraints (environment fitness, ecological stoichiometry, chemical evolution, limiting factors), coding constraints (environmental vs. genetic coding), network and pathway constraints (connectivity), and natural selection constraints (fitting to the biosphere). Consideration of how the world would look without constraints suggests how fundamental these are in ecosystem emergence, and how the next property in this series, differentiation, would be unmotivated without them. We conclude that constraints as a category are under-studied in ecology, poorly understood in ecological phenomenology, and (our hypothesis) comprise a ubiquitous organizing force in nature.     

北京建成区道路绿化空间结构和行道树健康状况

采用实地普查测量方法,定量研究了北京建成区188条道路行道树的树种结构、径级分布、立木层次和健康状况。结果表明,国槐（Sophora japonica）、毛白杨（Populus alba）、银杏（Ginkgo biloba）是建成区主要行道树种,使用量分别占研究区树木总株数的54．7％、13．7％和7．4％。建成区树木...     

从安全防灾到韧性建设——国土空间治理背景下韧性规划的探索与展望

新形势下城市巨系统面临更多不确定性风险与未知扰动,要求安全防灾规划从目标对象、战略定位、技术手段与规划理念等方面做出适应调整,通过韧性城市建设引领区域安全稳定发展。对韧性城市的概念起源、理论发展与实践探索进行了梳理和评述,并结合我国“多规合一”后的国土空间规划体系改革,对空间治理背景下韧性规划的内涵特征、层级类型、流程形式与公共治理进行认识与思考;并从深化韧性城市的理论构建与机理研究、转变规划编制的设计思路和实践流程、完善韧性实践中的规划传导和尺度治理、关注韧性建设中的基层治理和公众参与四个方面,提出韧性规划的实践路径展望,力求有序推进我国城市公共安全现代化治理建设。     

Urban agriculture,civil interfaces and moving beyond difference: the experiences of plot holders in Dublin and Belfast

Recent literature suggests that a “shared politics of place” attained through joint activities fosters social integration and provides people with a means to practise co-operation [Baumann, G., 1996. Contesting culture: discourses of identity in multi-ethnic London. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Sanjek, R., 1998. The future of us all: race & neighbourhood policies in New York City. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press; Sennett, R., 2012. Together: the rituals, pleasures and politics of cooperation. UK: Penguin]. Such a “shared politics of place” is most likely to occur in the context of public space conceptualised broadly as “the setting for everyday spatial behaviour of individuals and communities, emphasizing ordinary activities of citizens” [Lownsbrough, H. and Beunderman, J., 2007. Equally spaced? Public space and interaction between diverse communities. London: Demos, p. 8]. Here we explore one element of such public space – urban agriculture sites – with a view to identifying the extent to which a “shared politics of place” can be created and nurtured among the cultivating citizenry. The paper draws on data collected on allotment gardening sites in two urban contexts: Dublin (Ireland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland) over the period 2009–2013. We demonstrate the centrality of allotment cultivation to the generation of solidarity, mutuality and trust among participating citizens. Individuals engaging in allotment gardening in both Dublin and Belfast create and sustain civil interfaces – dismantling barriers, exchanging knowledge, challenging stereotypes, generating empathy and getting on with the business of simply getting on with their lives. The modus operandi of allotment gardening is predicated on a willingness to disregard social and ethno-national categorisations while on site. This is not to deny that such differences exist and persist, but allotments offer a “space of potential” where those differences are, at least for a time, rendered less salient.     

三元空间融合视阈下的安全态势感知模型研究*

为全面辨识系统风险并准确评估系统安全状况,从3元空间（信息-物理-社会）融合视角出发,界定安全态势感知概念并解读其内涵,提出安全态势感知概念模型和理论模型,并解析安全态势数据采集层、觉察层、理解层、投射层和预警层的具体内涵和功能。研究结果表明:3元空间融合视阈下的安全态势感知,能够通过物联网和互联网同步采集安全态势数据,在现有安全态势感知（安全态势信息输入、处理、输出）基础上,实现对人、机、物及其相互关系的整体感知,有效应对当前复杂多变的安全态势,为安全态势感知体系优化提供理论指导。     

Control system approaches to ecological systems analysis: Invariants and frequency response

The steady-state assumption is a mainstay for the analysis of ecological systems with more than three or four states. However, it is well accepted in ecology that inputs to large systems come in pulses assumed to have a reasonably constant magnitude and frequency. Steady pulse inputs and the use of electro-chemical–mechanical control systems methodology enables limited short term dynamic responses of ecological systems of a scale often occurring in systems of potential engineering importance to be analyzed. This paper explores and presents a survey of multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) control systems analysis of ecosystem network models to better understand pulse frequency issues and further develop experimentally verifiable approaches to testing the MIMO concept. The analysis process is demonstrated using two network model exemplars. Two aspects of MIMO analyses appear relevant to understanding ecological systems: (1) Eigenvalue invariant analyses and singular value decomposition (SVD) analyses enable assessment of stability and relative strength of states. Eigenvalues reflect time constants and provide a check on experimentally determined system matrices. (2) Analysis of SVD versus frequency for each output indicates maximum pulse frequencies that allow system components to benefit from pulsing. As a group, MIMO analyses complement other analytical methods and provide a theoretical systems focus convenient for analyzing ecosystems from an engineering perspective.     

基于SBR工艺的活性污泥呼吸速率在线软测量的研究

呼吸速率是表征活性污泥处理过程的主要变量,它直接反映了好氧生物处理过程中生物的活性和有机物的降解速率。本研究通过对呼吸速率测定原理的探讨,提出了基于SBR工艺的呼吸速率在线软测量模型,并通过实验室搭建的控制平台实现了微生物呼吸速率的在线测量。     

基于CDEM露天煤矿顺倾软岩边坡三维稳定性分析

为解决露天煤矿顺倾层状软岩边坡稳定性这一技术难题,基于连续介质离散元数值模拟方法,从理论上探讨了降深与清帮至不同位置对顺倾软岩边坡稳定性的影响。结合白音华一号矿南帮工程实例,针对各煤层降深及清帮方案,基于CDEM数值算法对边坡稳定性进行计算,对比分析了坡体位移、应力分布及演化特征,进而阐明多个弱层对复合边坡产生的叠加效应,以及清帮减载对边坡稳定性的影响。结果表明,白音华一号矿首采区南帮边坡变形不会对南排土场稳定性造成影响,揭露多个弱层对边坡变形与稳定性下降有一定的叠加效应,清帮不能显著提高边坡稳定性,但可减小作用在弱层上的法向应力和剪切应力,进而减缓滑坡发生的过程,提高边坡动态发展过程中的安全性。     

典型喀斯特地区国土空间生态修复分区研究——以贵州猫跳河流域为例

国土空间生态修复是实现生态系统服务可持续供给的重要保障,明确其空间分区是开展生态修复的前提条件。针对现有生态修复分区方法的层级单一、结果针对性欠佳等问题,以典型喀斯特地区贵州猫跳河流域为研究区,构建“自然立地条件—主导生态功能—生态胁迫问题”生态修复分区框架。选取海拔、坡度、地形起伏度、植被类型等自然立地条件指标分析流域内地域分异规律,进而划定生态修复一级分区;基于水源涵养、土壤保持、生物多样性维护、粮食供给等主要生态系统服务功能评价结果识别区域主导生态功能,据此划定生态修复二级分区;结合石漠化敏感性、水土流失敏感性及生态退化度等关键生态胁迫问题指标构建生态修复分区指数识别生态修复重点区域,进而开展生态修复三级分区划分。最终,将猫跳河流域划分为3个生态修复一级分区、10个生态修复二级分区及30个生态修复三级分区,并提出了相应的生态修复策略。研究可为猫跳河流域生态修复实践提供参考,并为西南喀斯特地区生态修复分区提供理论借鉴。     

采用颜色空间表征ANAMMOX启动与冲击过程

厌氧氨氧化(ANAMMOX)是一种高效、节能的脱氮技术,但是其启动过程和稳定状态的表征目前仍缺乏一个简单易行的方法.针对这一问题,在水质分析的基础上,采用颜色空间重点监测ANAMMOX启动过程中污泥的颜色变化,并借助高通量测序技术对微生物菌群的种类和数量等进行分析.结果表明:(1)根据水质特征,整个启动过程可分为活性迟滞期、活性增强期、负荷提高期、稳定运行期.与此同时,HSV、CIELAB颜色空间的指标,整体上呈现先降低后升高的趋势,然后保持稳定.污泥颜色的变化与水质的变化以及分子生物学特征中优势菌群的变迁一致,因此,三者之间具有相关性,进而表明,采用颜色空间可对ANAMMOX启动过程进行准确表征;(2)当遇到高负荷引起的冲击时,H、S、a~*、b~*、C_(ab)~*等指标与总无机氮(TIN)容积去除速率均呈现降低的趋势,而H_(ab)出现了突升,但均能准确反映出系统的冲击特性.提出了基于颜色空间表征ANAMMOX启动各阶段的方法并建立了一套冲击过程指标体系,为颜色空间在ANAMMOX系统中的应用提供了理论基础.