EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN1

ABSTRACT: As part of the National Assessment of Climate Change, the implications of future climate predictions derived from four global climate models (GCMs) were used to evaluate possible future changes to Pacific Northwest climate, the surface water response of the Columbia River basin, and the ability of the Columbia River reservoir system to meet regional water resources objectives. Two representative GCM simulations from the Hadley Centre (HC) and Max Planck Institute (MPI) were selected from a group of GCM simulations made available via the National Assessment for climate change. From these simulations, quasi-stationary, decadal mean temperature and precipitation changes were used to perturb historical records of precipitation and temperature data to create inferred conditions for 2025, 2045, and 2095. These perturbed records, which represent future climate in the experiments, were used to drive a macro-scale hydrology model of the Columbia River at 1/8 degree resolution. The altered streamflows simulated for each scenario were, in turn, used to drive a reservoir model, from which the ability of the system to meet water resources objectives was determined relative to a simulated hydrologic base case (current climate). Although the two GCM simulations showed somewhat different seasonal patterns for temperature change, in general the simulations show reasonably consistent basin average increases in temperature of about 1.8–2.1°C for 2025, and about 2.3–2.9°C for 2045. The HC simulations predict an annual average temperature increase of about 4.5°C for 2095. Changes in basin averaged winter precipitation range from -1 percent to + 20 percent for the HC and MPI scenarios, and summer precipitation is also variously affected. These changes in climate result in significant increases in winter runoff volumes due to increased winter precipitation and warmer winter temperatures, with resulting reductions in snowpack. Average March 1 basin average snow water equivalents are 75 to 85 percent of the base case for 2025, and 55 to 65 percent of the base case by 2045. By 2045 the reduced snowpack and earlier snow melt, coupled with higher evapotranspiration in early summer, would lead to earlier spring peak flows and reduced runoff volumes from April-September ranging from about 75 percent to 90 percent of the base case. Annual runoff volumes range from 85 percent to 110 percent of the base case in the simulations for 2045. These changes in streamflow create increased competition for water during the spring, summer, and early fall between non-firm energy production, irrigation, instream flow, and recreation. Flood control effectiveness is moderately reduced for most of the scenarios examined, and desirable navigation conditions on the Snake are generally enhanced or unchanged. Current levels of winter-dominated firm energy production are only significantly impacted for the MPI 2045 simulations.     

新疆艾比湖周边居民湿地生态系统健康保护意识调查分析

采用问卷调查的方法,试图真实反映艾比湖周边居民对艾比湖湿地生态系统退化的认知及对艾比湖湿地生态系统健康保护意识的强弱.结果表明：（1）艾比湖周边居民对湿地生态系统退化带来的危害有较为清晰地认识,99％被调查者意识到了艾比湖湿地生态系统退化对周边环境会带来不同程度的危害,78.2％调查对象认为艾比湖湿地生态系统的退化主要是由人类活动引发的,通过正规渠道获取艾比湖湿地生态系统退化信息不够通畅;（2）调查对象对艾比湖湿地生态系统退化情况持有较高的关注度,但支持度不高,85.6％的被调查者对退化湿地的生态恢复有支付意愿;（3）65.5％调查对象对艾比湖湿地生态恢复有信心,但对当地政府宣传和保护艾比湖湿地的力度满意度不高,因此政府部门还需进一步加强对艾比湖的宣传和保护力度.     

秦岭山地丹江流域土地利用变化的土壤侵蚀效应评价

论文采用ArcGIS 10.0及InVEST土壤保持模型,分析2000—2010年秦岭山地丹江流域土地利用类型变化特征,模拟流域不同时期不同土地利用类型土壤侵蚀及土壤保持量的变化规律,并着重探讨土地利用类型方式转变对流域土壤侵蚀的影响。结果表明：1）2000—2010年间,流域裸地大比例减少90.18%（831.06 hm²）,主要转移至水域,耕地大面积减少5 197.24 hm²（4.11%）,主要流向灌丛和城镇;坡耕地还林还草初见成效,湿地的保护与恢复成效显著。2）2000—2010年间,流域土壤侵蚀状况较为严重,整体处于中度侵蚀至强度侵蚀级别,但10 a间侵蚀状况有减缓趋势;在该研究时段内,耕地大面积转为灌丛是该流域由土地利用类型变化引起的土壤侵蚀减缓的主要原因;另外,耕地转为林地以及裸地面积的减少也起到了减轻土壤侵蚀的作用;以自然生态系统为主的林地、灌丛及草地转为耕地时,土壤侵蚀强度则会明显增加。3）生态系统土壤保持功能受多方因素共同影响;2000、2010年研究区实际土壤保持量分别为5.35×10⁸、5.47×10⁸ t;占全区面积一半以上的林地和灌丛单位面积土壤保持量较为稳定,全区土壤保持功能有所提高。保证一定面积的林地、在人工干预下合理安排坡耕地还林还草区域的空间分布是秦岭山地丹江流域减少土壤侵蚀的必要措施,同时应注重对可利用耕地的保护。     

新疆卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区生物多样性保护研究

生物多样性具有多重价值,如生态价值、社会价值和经济价值。卡拉麦里山自然保护区生物多样性不但关系到当地经济发展和人民生存安全,而且关系到整个保护区、整个新疆的可持续发展。本文分析了卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区生物多样性特点及生物多样性遭受严重破坏的原因,提出了保护该区生物多样性的对策措施：①加强卡拉麦里山有蹄类自然保护区生物多样性的调查研究工作。②加强保护区的建设。③加大立法与执法制度。④加强生物多样性保护的宣传教育。⑤加强生物多样性保护的公众参与。⑥加强当地居民的基本生产、生活条件建设。⑦在保护区推行生态旅游。     

Stakeholder engagement in sustainable adventure tourism development in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,India

Stakeholder involvement is often cited as critical to sustainable tourism development, but there is limited documentation for niche areas, such as adventure tourism. The main purpose of our research was to understand stakeholder roles in adventure tourism in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Uttarakhand, India, to identify opportunities for achieving sustainable adventure tourism. Our interviews, treks and other activities revealed that organised adventure activities were still in the early development phase, with trekking being the most popular activity. The roles of various stakeholders are yet to be clearly defined, but the State Forest Department is playing a lead in the rapidly evolving network of relationships among adventure tourism stakeholders. Significant opportunity exists for a more systematic approach to adventure tourism planning that builds on the existing strengths of the various players.     

Human perspectives and conservation of grizzly bears in Banff National Park, Canada

Some conservation initiatives provoke intense conflict among stakeholders. The need for action, the nature of the conservation measures, and the effects of these measures on human interests may be disputed. Tools are needed to depolarize such situations, foster understanding of the perspectives of people involved, and find common ground. We used Q methodology to explore stakeholders' perspectives on conservation and management of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) in Banff National Park and the Bow River watershed of Alberta, Canada. Twenty-nine stakeholders participated in the study, including local residents, scientists, agency employees, and representatives of nongovernmental conservation organizations and other interest groups. Participants rank ordered a set of statements to express their opinions on the problems of grizzly bear management (I-IV) and a second set of statements on possible solutions to the problems (A-C). Factor analysis revealed that participants held 4 distinct views of the problems: individuals associated with factor I emphasized deficiencies in goals and plans; those associated with factor II believed that problems had been exaggerated; those associated with factor III blamed institutional flaws such as disjointed management and inadequate resources; and individuals associated with factor IV blamed politicized decision making. There were 3 distinct views about the best solutions to the problems: individuals associated with factor A called for increased conservation efforts; those associated with factor B wanted reforms in decision-making processes; and individuals associated with factor C supported active landscape management. We connected people's definitions of the problem with their preferred solutions to form 5 overall problem narratives espoused by groups in the study: the problem is deficient goals and plans, the solution is to prioritize conservation efforts (planning-oriented conservation advocates); the problem is flawed institutions, the solution is to prioritize conservation efforts (institutionally-oriented conservation advocates); the problems have been exaggerated, but there is a need to improve decision-making processes (optimistic decision-process reformers); the problems have been exaggerated, but managers should more actively manage the landscape (optimistic landscape managers); and the problem is politicized decision making, solutions vary (democratizers). Although these 5 groups differed on many issues, they agreed that the population of grizzly bears is vulnerable to extirpation, human use of the area should be designed around ecological constraints, and more inclusive decision-making processes are needed. We used our results to inform a series of workshops in which stakeholders developed and agreed on new management strategies that were implemented by Parks Canada. Our research demonstrates the usefulness of Q method to illuminate people's perspectives and identify common ground in settings where conservation is contested.     

江西九连山阔叶林雪灾后主要树种残存量的恢复时间

2008年初的南方冰雪灾害对江西九连山自然保护区常绿阔叶林生态系统造成了巨大损失.对受灾4 hm2样地中的1 5901株林木(DBH≥1 cm)进行了统计分析,其中对枫香、马尾松、米槠、木荷、拟赤杨、丝栗栲这6个代表树种进行了残存率恢复研究.结果显示:6种植物残存率为木荷>拟赤杨>米槠>枫香>马尾松>丝栗栲;恢复时间为枫香>丝栗栲>马尾松>木荷>米槠和拟赤杨.恢复时间最长的为枫香(33年),最短的为米槠和拟赤杨(15年左右),种群恢复到受灾前.同时对残存率和恢复时间的关系进行了Logistic非线性曲线模拟.样地中植物种群残存率恢复时间由受灾状况和物种生长速度决定,采用Logistic模型拟合的相关度非常显著.     

基于RS和GIS的西藏察雅县土壤侵蚀动态监测与分析

西藏土壤侵蚀类型多样,且以水力侵蚀和冻融侵蚀为主,其动态监测属于难点问题。研究基于水力侵蚀和冻融侵蚀各自的基本特点,综合运用TM影像、土地利用图、地形图(DEM)和植被覆盖度图,构建了基于RS和GIS的藏东横断山区土壤侵蚀分类分级动态监测方法,并借助ENVI和ArcGIS软件,分析了察雅县1995年到2000年的土壤侵蚀动态变化情况。结果表明:察雅县土壤侵蚀以微度、轻度和中度侵蚀为主,其中冻融侵蚀主要分布在西部的高山峡谷区,所占比重为2.06%;在人类的土地开发活动和温度、降水变化等自然因素的综合作用下,察雅县土壤侵蚀加剧,东部大面积的轻度侵蚀区转化为中度侵蚀区。     

太白山植被指数时空变化及其对区域温度的响应

太白山地处陕西秦岭腹地中段,是秦岭最高峰。基于5月的遥感影像提取研究区NDVI数据,结合实际调查,对太白山自然保护区1979-2009年植被指数变化特征进行分析,研究不同植被带NDVI对温度变化的响应。结果表明:近30 a来,太白山5月植被指数NDVI平均值达0.2以上的面积占研究区面积的89.5%,植被整体覆盖较高;但NDVI表现出明显的垂直性差异,中低海拔区NDVI大多分布在0.2以上,而较高海拔区NDVI则主要分布在0.2~0.5区间。有56%以上的区域NDVI基本没有发生变化;NDVI增加极显著和减少极显著区占总面积的4.88%和3.92%。近30 a来,研究区年平均温度呈明显上升趋势,线性增加趋势为0.35 ℃/10 a;随着海拔的升高,各植被带NDVI对温度的变化更为敏感,高海拔植被对温度变化的敏感性远大于低海拔植被,即人为影响相对较小、但海拔相差巨大的太白山植被生态系统,已成为气候变化影响的敏感场所。     

How humans shape wolf behavior in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Canada

This paper describes the conceptualization and implementation of an agent-based model to investigate how varying levels of human presence could affect elements of wolf behavior, including highway crossings; use of areas in proximity to roads and trails; size of home ranges; activities, such as hunting, patrolling, resting, and feeding pups; and survival of individuals in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Canada. The model consists of a wolf module as the primary component with five packs represented as cognitive agents, and grizzly bear, elk, and human modules that represent dynamic components of the environment. A set of environmental data layers was used to develop a friction model that serves as a base map representing the landscape over which wolves moved. A decision model was built to simulate the sequence of wolf activities. The model was implemented in a Java Programming Language using RePast, an agent-based modeling library. Six months of wolf activities were simulated from April 16 to October 15 (i.e., a season coherent with regard to known wolf behaviors), and calibrated with GPS data from wolf radiocollars (n = 15) deployed from 2002 to 2004. Results showed that the simulated trajectories of wolf movements were correlated with the observed trajectories (Spearman's rho 0.566, P < 0.001); other critical behaviors, such as time spent at the den and not traveling were also correlated. The simulations revealed that wolf movements and behaviors were noticeably affected by the intensity of human presence. The packs’ home ranges shrank and wolves crossed highways less frequently with increased human presence. In an extreme example, a wolf pack whose home range is traversed by a high-traffic-volume highway was extirpated due to inability to hunt successfully under a scenario wherein human presence levels were increased 10-fold. The modeling prototype developed in this study may serve as a tool to test hypotheses about human effects on wolves and on other mammals, and guide decision-makers in designing management strategies that minimize impacts on wolves and on other species functionally related to wolves in the ecosystem.