Bird pollination of Canary Island endemic plants

The Canary Islands are home to a guild of endemic, threatened bird-pollinated plants. Previous work has suggested that these plants evolved floral traits as adaptations to pollination by flower specialist sunbirds, but subsequently, they appear to have co-opted generalist passerine birds as sub-optimal pollinators. To test this idea, we carried out a quantitative study of the pollination biology of three of the bird-pollinated plants, Canarina canariensis (Campanulaceae), Isoplexis canariensis (Veronicaceae) and Lotus berthelotii (Fabaceae), on the island of Tenerife. Using colour vision models, we predicted the detectability of flowers to bird and bee pollinators. We measured pollinator visitation rates, nectar standing crops as well as seed-set and pollen removal and deposition. These data showed that the plants are effectively pollinated by non-flower specialist passerine birds that only occasionally visit flowers. The large nectar standing crops and extended flower longevities (>10 days) of Canarina and Isoplexis suggests that they have evolved a bird pollination system that effectively exploits these low frequency non-specialist pollen vectors and is in no way sub-optimal. Seed set in two of the three species was high and was significantly reduced or zero in flowers where pollinator access was restricted. In L. berthelotii, however, no fruit set was observed, probably because the plants were self-incompatible horticultural clones of a single genet. We also show that, while all three species are easily detectable for birds, the orange Canarina and the red Lotus (but less so the yellow-orange Isoplexis) should be difficult to detect for insect pollinators without specialised red receptors, such as bumblebees. Contrary to expectations if we accept that the flowers are primarily adapted to sunbird pollination, the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis) was an effective pollinator of these species.     

长兴岛陆源排污总量控制

根据长兴岛规划布局,设定三种排污口排海方案.在此基础上,基于海洋环境容量的基本理论,对各种排放方案的COD、无机氮和活性磷酸盐允许排放量进行预测计算.计算结果将为长兴岛临港工业区排污口方案优化和排海污染物总量控制规划编制提供科学依据.     

崇明东滩景观格局的生态学分析与评价

在崇明岛功能区划的基础上,利用2006年的遥感影像对崇明东滩的景观类型进行解译,并对景观格局变化和植被覆盖度进行了分析与评价。结果表明:崇明东滩的景观面貌已经由原始潮滩演化出目前多达11种斑块类型。从景观空间形态指标和景观组分指标分析结果来看,崇明东滩的生境破碎化趋势已经显现,但从景观空间关系指标和Shannon均匀性指标分析结果来看,景观聚集度和连通度尚处于较高水平(分别为96.27和99.15),均匀度尚较大(0.59)。崇明东滩的植被覆盖度主要集中在0.3至0.9之间,植被覆盖度整体上尚处于较高水平。     

A 700-year record of mercury in avian eggshells of Guangjin Island, South China Sea

Ancient eggshells over the past 700 years were extracted from an ornithogenic sediment profile on Guangjin Island, South China Sea. Based on SEM and nitrogen isotope analyses, we determined that neither post-depositional processes nor seabirds’ dietary changes had a large influence on eggshell Hg levels. The historical change of Hg in these eggshells was reconstructed. Eggshell Hg was a marker for past Hg deposition in marine environment. The eggshell Hg showed three small peaks at around 1300AD, 1600 AD and 1700-1750AD and rapid increase since 1800 AD. Before 1970 AD the Hg deposition in the Xisha area had global distribution characteristics, with increased Hg emissions due to global anthropogenic activities in industrial times. However, after 1970 AD, a further sharp increase up to present day occurred, implying that the Hg production center had gradually shifted from Europe and America to Asia.     

Calibrating and monitoring the western gray whale mitigation zone and estimating acoustic transmission during a 3D seismic survey, Sakhalin Island, Russia

A 3D marine seismic survey of the Odoptu license area off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, was conducted by DalMorNefteGeofizika (DMNG) on behalf of Exxon Neftegas Limited and the Sakhalin-1 consortium during mid-August through early September 2001. The key environmental issue identified in an environmental impact assessment was protection of the critically endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), which spends the summer–fall open water period feeding off northeast Sakhalin Island in close proximity to the seismic survey area. Seismic mitigation and monitoring guidelines and recommendations were developed and implemented to reduce impacts on the feeding activity of western gray whales. Results of the acoustic monitoring program indicated that the noise monitoring and mitigation program was successful in reducing exposure of feeding western gray whales to seismic noise.     

黄海春夏季降水中常量离子化学特征分析

采集黄海千里岩岛春、夏季(2002年3月至8月)降水样品20个,测定了H 、F-、Cl-、NO 3、SO2-4、K 、Na 、Ca2 、Mg2 、NH 4,并对常量阴、阳离子的含量及组成特征进行了分析与探讨.应用相关性分析及典型相关分析方法分别对降水中常量阴、阳离子及常量阴、阳离子整体间关系进行分析;结果显示,常量阴、阳离子整体间具有较强相关性;因子分析结果显示,各常量离子化学特征可基本确定为两个因子,F因子(FA1)及Na-Cl因子(FA2),在主因子FA1-FA2空间,绝大多数样本点聚类,部分结果水平远离平均水平,样本点异常可归为两类,分别受F因子(FA1)及Na-Cl因子(FA2)影响.     

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programs: A Methodology for Estimating Effects on Biodiversity

We developed a methodology for biodiversity evaluations within the process of Strategic Environmental Assessment and we applied it to the estimation of the effect of two Regional Plans of Development on all bird species inhabiting the Castilla y León region (northwestern Spain). The methodology is based on the evaluation of the effects of main development actions on the habitat requirements of species. From these evaluations, and from data on the current distribution and population size (number of individuals) of each species, we estimated the most likely pattern of distribution and population size after the full implementation of the plans for each species. The impacts of the plans were quantified as the differences between the pre- and postproject patterns after codifying them to compensate for differences in the quality of the information available among species. Overall, we conclude that the proposed methodology fulfills the requirements for its use within the SEA process as it allows for the assessment of cumulative impacts on every species, highlighting the development directions and the habitat types with major impacts, and ascertaining whether impacts affect species with either low or high conservation and/or economic value. Generalization of the proposed methodology to other regions or species will require wildlife-habitat models adequate for SEA analyses, so that we also propose guidelines for the development and validation of these models.     

Microfinance institutions and a coastal community's disaster risk reduction,response, and recovery process: a case study of Hatiya,Bangladesh

Several researchers have examined the role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in poverty alleviation, but the part that they play in disaster risk reduction remains unaddressed. Through an empirical study of Hatiya Island, one of the most vulnerable coastal communities of Bangladesh, this research evaluates perceptions of MFI support for the disaster risk reduction, response, and recovery process. The findings reveal no change in relation to risk reduction and income and occupation aspects for more than one‐half of the clients of MFIs. In addition, only 26 per cent of them have witnessed less damage as a result of being members of MFIs. One can argue, though, that the longer the membership time period the better the disaster preparedness, response, and recovery process. The outcomes of this study could help to guide the current efforts of MFIs to enhance the ability of coastal communities to prepare for and to recover from disasters efficiently and effectively.     

GROUNDSURFACE WATER INTERACTION IN THE LONG ISLAND AQUIFER SYSTEM1

Steady state experimental studies with a viscous analog of the aquifer system in central Long Island, New York, have shown there to be significant interaction between surface accretion, stream base flow, well recharge, and the degree of salt water intrusion. Reductions in accretion are found to cause a proportionately larger decrease in stream base flow. The degree of intrusion is found to be related to the distribution of accretion and well recharge between stream base flow and submarine flow to the sea. This interaction poses a conflict between development of the groundwater resource and maintenance of the surface water resource. Well recharge apparently offers a potential solution to the conflict.     

生态破坏等级的自然度研究及应用——以海南岛为例

本文讨论了生态环境评价中的自然度方法,并考虑土壤的重要性,提出了土壤自然度的概念和综合自然度评价方法,为生态破坏研究提供了一种比较客观简捷的分析手段。