Prediction of germination rates of weed species: Relationships between germination speed parameters and species traits

In fields, the timing of weed emergence flushes is mostly related to the timing and rate of seed germination, which depend on seed dormancy level, soil temperature and water potential conditions as well as soil tillage and crop sowing date. Seed germination parameters are essential in weed dynamics models to account for the effects of soil conditions on weed demography. Since these parameters are difficult to measure, our objective was to test the possibility of estimating them from easily accessible information. Seed germination parameters (germination lag-time, time to mid-germination and mid-germination rate) were measured or collected from the literature for 25 weed species with contrasted seed characteristics. Correlations were then searched for between these parameters and morphological, chemical and physiological seed traits as well as seed dormancy level. The dormancy level was positively correlated with speed of germination parameters. Earliness of germination was positively correlated with seed lipid content and the seed area to mass ratio. Germination was also earlier and faster in species with a high base temperature for germination. These relationships explained about half the observed variability in germination speed parameters but should be further tested before being used to predict the germination behaviour of weed species in the field in different seasons.     

半干旱黄土区退耕还林十年植被恢复变化分析——以陕西吴起县为例

黄土高原退耕还林（草）政策实施已逾10 a,了解植被恢复变化状况及存在的问题,对于制定和完善生态环境治理方略具有重要意义。以吴起县为例,基于实地调查及遥感等数据,对退耕还林（草）以来植被覆盖度、主要植被类型变化及不同立地条件下植被恢复变化的差异进行了定量分析。结果表明：2000年至2009年,植被覆盖度大于30%的面积在全县总面积中的比例由不足1%上升至91.96%;其中缓坡立地类型上的乔灌林地类型面积增长最为显著,而阳向陡坡等恶劣生境下的植被恢复缓慢;有林地、灌木林地及疏林地均呈现规模增大趋势,属扩张状态;中覆盖度草地、低覆盖度草地、坡耕地及耕地呈现规模减少趋势,属缩减状态。     

秸秆还田对连作棉田土壤酶活性的影响

新疆棉区普遍实行秸秆还田,棉田土壤酶活性受到连作障碍的负面效应与长期秸秆还田培肥地力的正面效应的双重影响;通过定点微区实验,对比秸秆还田和未秸秆还田土壤酶活性的变化趋势,研究连作条件下秸秆还田与否对棉田土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明：实行秸秆还田后,土壤脲酶活性随着连作年限的延长先降后升,连作不超过10 a,土壤脲酶活性呈现下降趋势,超过10 a逐渐上升;实行秸秆还田后蔗糖酶活性在R5和R10处理较R1有较大幅度的下降,降幅分别为48.4%和44.8%,连作10 a后蔗糖酶活性增强,土壤状况趋于好转;过氧化氢酶活性随连作年限的延长先降低后升高,短期连作土壤过氧化氢酶活性较低,过氧化氢分解受阻,影响棉花的正常生长,连作年限超过10 a过氧化氢酶活性升高,解毒能力较强,加快分解过氧化氢,有利于减轻过氧化氢的毒害作用;过氧化物酶活性随着连作年限的延长持续上升,其中R5、R10、R15和R20过氧化物酶活性分别比R1增加了4.8%、7.9%、19%和29.6%。     

东江干流浮游植物群落结构特征及与水质的关系

2009年7月,调查了东江干流浮游植物的属类组成、密度和生物多样性指数,并将水质理化参数与藻类的群落指标进行相关性分析。47个采样点中共发现7门78属藻类,浮游植物的密度范围在0.72×104~853.86×104 cells.L-1之间。其中蓝藻门、硅藻门、绿藻门和隐藻门占总浮游植物密度的96.12%,优势属为颤藻属、隐藻属、小环藻属、菱形藻属、栅藻属。根据藻类各项指标值显示,东江干流水质良好。相关分析结果表明：浮游植物密度以及属类数均与CODMn及电导率呈极显著的正相关关系（P〈0.01）。并且CCA分析表明CODMn浓度是影响这一区域物种分布格局的重要因素。     

三峡库区兰陵溪小流域养分流失特征

三峡库区蓄水后,库区部分支流速度变缓,小流域面源污染已经成为库区面临的重要环境问题.本文以兰陵溪小流域的一个封闭式集水区为研究对象,监测集水区尺度典型降雨条件下氮磷流失的过程和负荷,比较不同养分流失途径,结果表明:①TN的浓度随着径流量的增加的逐渐降低,降雨停止后缓慢上升,而TP的浓度随着径流量的增加而迅速升高,降雨停止后则迅速下降;②TN的负荷流失过程和降雨量关系较为密切,TP的负荷流失受降雨强度影响较大,N素的流失以溶解态为主,而P素则以颗粒态为主;③地表径流是研究区P素和N素流失主要途径,同时壤中流对N素流失的影响也非常大;④N和P各形态的流失负荷与径流量均呈显著的线性关系;⑤集水区TP的年流失负荷为28.94 kg·(a·km2)-1,TN的年流失负荷为1 040.41 kg·(a·km2)-1。     

利用餐厨废油制取生物柴油的影响因素研究

为了有效提高餐厨废油制取生物柴油(脂肪酸甲酯)的产率,降低生产成本,通过正交试验和单因素实验,系统分析醇油比、催化剂浓度、反应时间、反应温度等主要因素对利用餐厨废油制取生物柴油的影响.结果表明,醇油比、催化剂浓度、反应时间、反应温度等因素对餐厨废油制取生物柴油均具有显著影响,各因素影响显著性大小顺序为搅拌速度＞催化剂投加量＞反应时间＞醇油比＞温度;利用餐厨废油生产生物柴油的较佳工艺条件为搅拌强度为60 r·min-1,醇油质量比为0.22∶1,催化剂质量浓度1.0％,反应时间3h,反应温度60 ℃.     

Residents'''' Willingness to Pay for Improving Air Quality in Jinan, China

Along with the progress of urbanization and environmental deterioration, residents' desire for improved air quality is increasing. In order to quantify an individual's willingness-to-pay (WTP) for improved air quality in Jinan of eastern China, a contingent valuation method (CVM) was employed. A sample of 1,500 residents was chosen on the basis of multistage sampling methods with face-to-face interviews by using a series of hypothetical, open-ended scenario questions which were designed to elicit the respondents' WTP. Results showed that 59.7% of respondents were able to express their WTP and the mean WTP is 100 Chinese Yuan (CNY) per person per year. A probit model on the probability of a positive WTP and a regression model were developed to find the relationship between endogenous variables and WTP. Most parameters in the econometric analysis had the expected sign. Annual household income and expenditure on treating respiratory diseases significantly influence WTP. The rates of positive WTP and the monetary amount are larger for men than for women. Results also showed that people who lived in more polluted areas were willing to pay more for clean air. Unlike developed countries, clean air may only be considered as a public good in China in that more than 40% of respondents had no incentive to bear the costs of attempting to achieve better air quality, which indicates the relatively low environmental consciousness.     

Is the EU WFD suitable to support IWRM planning in non-European countries? Lessons learnt from the introduction of IWRM and River Basin Management in Mongolia

The Water Framework Directive (EU WFD, 2000/60EC, European Commission, 2000) is a comprehensive tool for water management taking Europe’s diverse national and local policy contexts into account. This has positioned the EU WFD as a potential tool to enhance the implementation of the globally-promoted integrated water resources management concept (IWRM) in developing and transition countries that to date lack comparable regulations. Using the case of Mongolia, a country that has shown interest in using aspects of the EU WFD for implementing its IWRM concept, we will discuss the extent to which the EU WFD also provides a framework for IWRM outside Europe. We find that the EU WFD may provide guidance for the implementation of ecosystem-based River Basin Management (RBM) within an existing national IWRM concept, in terms of public participation and in terms of economic analysis. However, the application of concepts EU WFD is easier if strong political will, good monitoring capacities and a legislative backbone covering key IWRM principles and the capacity for enforcement are in place. Also, the EU-WFD does not provide guidance in terms of water-related issues that are e.g. addressing gender, poverty and capacity development. Thus, the EU WFD cannot serve as a blueprint, as it requires adaptation to the different socio-economic, cultural and political contexts of the implementing country and it does not inform all aspects of IWRM.     

Is there a common metals demand curve?

Previous studies have identified a single, stable and strong correlation between the price of metals and their consumption, such that low priced metals are always used in large amounts and visa versa. Some have interpreted this as evidence that metals share a common demand curve so that a single price elasticity of demand exists. This paper reviews and tests this hypothesis against a number of other possible explanations, including the idea that the relationship is an empirical curiosity. Modifications to the demand curve were tested by allowing metals to have different intercepts and price elasticities. The results from this analysis suggest that metals do not share a common demand curve and that the correlation identified between the price of metals and their level of consumption is an empirical curiosity. As such, the singular price elasticities published in past papers should not be used for assessing future rates of metals substitution.     

中国PM2.5人口暴露风险时空格局

采用PM_2.5和人口格网数据，计算了2000~2016年中国PM_2.5人口暴露风险值，并利用Theil-Sen Median趋势分析、标准偏差和Hurst指数等，分析了17a间中国PM_2.5人口暴露风险的时空变化特征.结果表明：①17a间PM_2.5人口暴露风险在胡焕庸线两侧差异巨大，东部高、西部低，东部多年风险均值为2.787，西部为0.065；②17a间PM_2.5人口暴露风险在胡焕庸线两侧的变化幅度具有较显著差异，西部整体呈下降趋势，而在2011年和2015年有明显回升，东部自2001年迅速增加且保持平稳状态，直至2015年出现大幅度回落.③PM_2.5人口暴露风险的稳定性与持续性差异显著，东部以不稳定与弱反持续性为主，西部则以稳定与强反持续性为主要特征.④暴露等级为危险与极危险水平下的人口总量与人口密度在空间上呈现出东部高西部低的分布状态.