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.     

The application of generalized linear mixed models to multi-level sampling for insect population monitoring

Iwao's quadratic regression or Taylor's Power Law (TPL) are commonly used to model the variance as a function of the mean for sample counts of insect populations which exhibit spatial aggregation. The modeled variance and distribution of the mean are typically used in pest management programs to decide if the population is above the action threshold in any management unit (MU) (e.g., orchard, forest compartment). For nested or multi-level sampling the usual two-stage modeling procedure first obtains the sample variance for each MU and sampling level using ANOVA and then fits a regression of variance on the mean for each level using either Iwao or TPL variance models. Here this approach is compared to the single-stage procedure of fitting a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) directly to the count data with both approaches demonstrated using 2-level sampling. GLMMs and additive GLMMs (AGLMMs) with conditional Poisson variance function as well as the extension to the negative binomial are described. Generalization to more than two sampling levels is outlined. Formulae for calculating optimal relative sample sizes (ORSS) and the operating characteristic curve for the control decision are given for each model. The ORSS are independent of the mean in the case of the AGLMMs. The application described is estimation of the variance of the mean number of leaves per shoot occupied by immature stages of a defoliator of eucalypts, the Tasmanian Eucalyptus leaf beetle, based on a sample of trees within plots from each forest compartment. Historical population monitoring data were fitted using the above approaches.     

论新《刑法》的破坏环境资源保护罪

修订后的《中华人民共和国刑法》增加了“破坏环境资源保护罪”。对“破坏环境资源保护罪”的设立、认定以及刑事处罚等方面进行了分析，分析其对保护环境的作用以及存在的不足之处。     

长三角城市群污染输送相互影响的敏感性试验

利用WRF-Chem模式,对2013年11月29日至12月11日长江三角洲地区的严重空气污染事件进行数值模拟,研究长三角核心区不同污染物本地源和外来输送所占比重。分析长三角核心区排放源对本地不同污染物浓度的污染贡献。结果表明,在2013年12月的这一次污染事件中,颗粒物平均本地贡献与外来输送基本比重相当;而SO_2、CO、NH_3、NO_x这4种气体污染物则以本地贡献为主,本地贡献的差异与气体的化学反应活性有关,活性越强本地贡献比重越大。污染过程中12月7日至12月9日00:00为污染最严重的时段,污染物的本地贡献有明显上升。区域间输送的方向和强度与地面风向、风速有紧密的联系。在边界层高度范围内,大部分污染物越往高空本地排放源的贡献越弱,外来输送主导作用增强,而硝酸盐在地面、1 km和1.5 km的本地贡献差异远小于其他污染物。     

我国实施清洁生产的法制建设的探讨

阐述了我国推行清洁生产的现状和所面临的特殊性和普遍性障碍,提出了推行清洁生产的方式选择,以及将清洁生产融入现行环境各项具体制度的内容,并建议我国制定环境政策应向“第二代环境政策”转变。     

三门火山盆地的层状矿床及其与盆地形成演化的关系

浙江三门中生代火山——沉积盆地的形成演化可分四个阶段。每一阶段均伴产有不同成因和各具特色的金属矿床,显示了陆相火山作用较为完整的成矿体系。其中层状矿床具有同生和后生的双重特征,多成因,多来源,是较典型的火山沉积——后期热液迭加改造型矿床。本文着重介绍它的主要特征及盆地的形成演化对火山成因矿床的控制。     

而今迈步从头越——《安全生产法》征求意见稿学习体会和修改建议

首先分析了我国《安全生产法》的发展沿革,且认真学习了目前发布的《安全生产法》征求意见稿,归纳了征求意见稿还应实现四个重点突破:必须体现以人为本的执政理念;职业危害防治应列为《安全生产法》的重要条款之一;安全生产执法监察应与公共安全及行政管理分离;应对工伤保险预防机制作出明确要求。此外,建议通过《安全生产法》的进一步修订实现我国安全生产的制度化建设:建议逐步建立安全生产分级监察管理体制;推进风险管理制度,对企业实行风险分级与分级监管;逐步提出建立安全生产监察员专业化制度;建立与国际接轨的生产安全事故统计报告系统;强化城市建设土地使用规划的风险管理和安全许可;生产安全事故应急管理应强化应急准备工作;建立独立生产安全事故调查机构和公开公正调查程序;应在《安全生产法》中明确"安全生产委员会"的组织形式和功能;生产安全事故责任追究应与激励政策相结合。     

尿素合成塔内衬腐蚀规律研究

本文归纳总结了水溶液全循环工艺尿素合成塔内衬腐蚀规律。研究表明使用超过13年的尿素合成塔内衬均匀腐蚀规律开始分化,个别塔内衬腐蚀加剧明显;而且尿素合成塔中偏上部筒节一般为剩余壁厚最薄的筒节,可通过适当调节该筒节塔盘间距或塔板筛孔数,减少该处局部反应时间,改善温度分布,延长整塔使用寿命。另外,多塔并联使用时,应注意管道分压导致各塔氧含量不均引发的不均匀腐蚀。     

论我国职业病诊断鉴定制度的缺陷及完善——兼评《职业病防治法修正案（草案）》的相关规定

我国现行职业病诊断鉴定法律制度存在较大缺陷,使得受害劳动者维权乏力,笔者在分析探讨职业病诊断鉴定制度所存相关问题的基础上,有针对性地提出改革完善的相应建议,同时对新出台的《职业病防治法修正案（草案）》的有关修订内容做出评议。     

试论国际环境民间组织在国际法中的法律地位

国际环境民间组织已成为国际社会中一种重要的行为体,它对全球环境保护和国际环境法发展有着巨大的推动作用.因此,有必要对国际民间组织在国际法中的法律地位进行研究.国际法律人格者与国际法主体之间的法理区别是国际环境民间组织获得国际法律地位的前提,无论从实证,还是理论方面进行分析国际环境民间组织在国际法中都具有一定的法律地位,在一定范围内可以成为国际法的主体.