Invasive species impacts on ecosystem structure and function: A comparison of Oneida Lake, New York, USA, before and after zebra mussel invasion

Exotic species invasion is widely considered to affect ecosystem structure and function. Yet, few contemporary approaches can assess the effects of exotic species invasion at such an inclusive level. Our research presents one of the first attempts to examine the effects of an exotic species at the ecosystem level in a quantifiable manner. We used ecological network analysis (ENA) and a social network analysis (SNA) method called cohesion analysis to examine the effect of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion on the Oneida Lake, New York, USA, food web. We used ENA to quantify ecosystem function through an analysis of food web carbon transfer that explicitly incorporated flow over all food web paths (direct and indirect). The cohesion analysis assessed ecosystem structure through an organization of food web members into subgroups of strongly interacting predators and prey. Our analysis detected effects of zebra mussel invasion throughout the entire Oneida Lake food web, including changes in trophic flow efficiency (i.e., carbon flow among trophic levels) and alterations of food web organization (i.e., paths of carbon flow) and ecosystem activity (i.e., total carbon flow). ENA indicated that zebra mussels altered food web function by shunting carbon from pelagic to benthic pathways, increasing dissipative flow loss, and decreasing ecosystem activity. SNA revealed the strength of zebra mussel perturbation as evidenced by a reorganization of food web subgroup structure, with a decrease in importance of pelagic pathways, a concomitant rise of benthic pathways, and a reorganization of interactions between top predator fish. Together, these analyses allowed for a holistic understanding of the effects of zebra mussel invasion on the Oneida Lake food web.     

The pattern of species turnover resulting from stochastic population dynamics: The model and field data

The model of random population dynamics in a sampling site returns geometric distribution of longevities of continuous presence (=persistence) and Poisson distribution of the presence–absence transitions. This discrete-time stochastic process describes the presence–absence pattern observed in the beetles surveyed 6 years on Mount Carmel, Israel. Homogeneous pools of species mostly on the Families rank, exhibit the predicted by the model patterns. Conformity to an ergodic hypothesis is the criterion of ecological homogeneity. This criterion assumes the equivalence of short-term behavior of entire pool and long-term behavior of any species from this pool. The pool of all 801 species of Order Coleoptera does not match the model. Thus a taxon of an arbitrary rank may not be considered a priory as a unit of ecological study. Determined from field data parameters of the model are biased and magnitude of the bias depends on longevity of the survey. Parameter of distribution depends also on species tolerance, which is the level adaptation of given species to given environment in given time interval. Random process of species turnover may be considered as a game of species to gain their presence against deteriorative fluctuations of environmental conditions.     

Safety climate factors, group differences and safety behaviour in road construction

This study determines the factor structure of safety climate within a road construction organization using a modified version of the safety climate questionnaire (SCQ). It also investigates the relationship between safety climate and safety performance. The SCQ was administered to 192 employees from two districts and in two job categories — construction and maintenance. A behavioural observation measure of safety performance was also developed. Factor analysis derived six factors, which were similar to those obtained in an earlier study using the SCQ. Differences in the safety climate of job sub-groups were found on two of the factors. No differences between the two districts were found. No relationship was found between safety climate and the safety performance measure. While identical safety climate factors cannot apply to all organizations, some general safety climate factors may emerge. Discussion focuses upon the measurement of safety climate.     

计算机辅助事故树分析中的图形输入法

笔者提出计算机辅助事故树分析中事故树数据的图形输入法。通过详细讨论数据采集过程中数据结构的选用和算法设计 ,不但能方便地实现计算机辅助事故树绘图 ,而且在绘图的同时得到事故树的全部数据 ,进而可对事故树进行全部定性和定量分析。这种方法是计算机辅助事故树分析中绘图和数据输入方法的重要补充 ,同时也将有益于其他类型树及图的绘制和分析。最后 ,给出了一个实例 ,应用图形输入法得到满意的结果。该方法不仅是事故树的新绘制方法 ,也是全新的事故树数据输入法 ,是事故树算法的拓展和补充     

系统安全预测的本质与组合预测

详细分析了系统安全预测的内在规律性、有效时间长度及有效性等方面的问题 ,提出了安全预测的本质就是建立系统安全可预测的思想。并针对目前的安全预测方法 ,提出了组合预测法 ,以提高安全预测的精度和准确性     

关于安全逻辑的综合研究及技术探讨

逻辑是一门工具性基础学科 ,在职业安全卫生领域占有重要位置并得到广泛应用 ,从而出现了安全逻辑。笔者概要分析并阐述了安全逻辑所涉及的理论和方法 ;指出安全逻辑学已成为安全科学的一个重要组成部分 ;强调安全逻辑的推广及应用对安全生产有着重要的实用价值和指导意义 ,具有良好的发展前景。笔者通过对安全逻辑的长期研究 ,认为我国“安全逻辑学”的框架及学科理论已基本形成     

安全工程本科教学改革探讨

讨论安全工程本科教学计划改革问题 ;建议修改了安全工程专业的培养模式与目标 ;强调了安全工程这样的综合学科教育更应重基础、淡专业 ;提出了为适应社会需要 ,拓宽专业口径 ,应把信息安全列入安全学科培养体系的之中。     

计算机硬盘驱动器的振动安全性分析

硬盘驱动器是计算机重要的外存储设备。它对随机振动环境较为敏感 ,是控制计算机系统工作安全性和进行信息处理的薄弱环节之一。笔者对计算机硬盘驱动器在随机振动环境下的工作安全性进行了分析 ,提出了导致硬盘工作失效的基本形式 ,针对读写过程中头盘振动响应位置偏移与读写模式间的关系给出了硬盘工作失效的判定方法。有关结果对计算机系统的振动安全分析和评估是有益的探讨。     

建立我国安全工程专业执业资格制度的研究

论述了在市场经济体制下建立安全工程专业执业资格的必要性和可行性 ,介绍了国外开展安全专业执业资格的情况以及在我国建立安全工程专业执业资格的有利条件     

产业安全文化建设途径探讨

对国际海运安全文化建设及其得失进行了全面阐述和深入剖析 ,据此提出了建设我国产业安全文化的宏观途径。指出强制性推行安全管理体系认证是安全文化建设的关键 ,宣传教育应贯穿安全文化建设的全过程 ,两者须同步进行。强调安全文化建设必须系统和有效 ,真正使人们普遍认同安全是一种生活方式而非额外负担