Geography and Recovery under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Abstract: The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) defines an endangered species as one “at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” The prevailing interpretation of this phrase, which focuses exclusively on the overall viability of listed species without regard to their geographic distribution, has led to development of listing and recovery criteria with fundamental conceptual, legal, and practical shortcomings. The ESA's concept of endangerment is broader than the biological concept of extinction risk in that the “esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific” values provided by species are not necessarily furthered by a species mere existence, but rather by a species presence across much of its former range. The concept of “significant portion of range” thus implies an additional geographic component to recovery that may enhance viability, but also offers independent benefits that Congress intended the act to achieve. Although the ESA differs from other major endangered‐species protection laws because it acknowledges the distinct contribution of geography to recovery, it resembles the “representation, resiliency, and redundancy” conservation‐planning framework commonly referenced in recovery plans. To address representation, listing and recovery standards should consider not only what proportion of its former range a species inhabits, but the types of habitats a species occupies and the ecological role it plays there. Recovery planning for formerly widely distributed species (e.g., the gray wolf [Canis lupus]) exemplifies how the geographic component implicit in the ESA's definition of endangerment should be considered in determining recovery goals through identification of ecologically significant types or niche variation within the extent of listed species, subspecies, or “distinct population segments.” By linking listing and recovery standards to niche and ecosystem concepts, the concept of ecologically significant type offers a scientific framework that promotes more coherent dialogue concerning the societal decisions surrounding recovery of endangered species.     

Combined Effects of Levels of Protection and Environmental Variables at Different Spatial Resolutions on Fish Assemblages in a Marine Protected Area

Abstract: The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear, but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design. The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered. We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m² (transect) and approximately 30,000 m² (seascape). We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type, bottom complexity, and depth. We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection. Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status. This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level. Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics, primarily depth, and bottom complexity. Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection, designing MPAs, and monitoring their effectiveness. It identified areas that provided natural shelter, areas acting as buffer zones, and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection. The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs.     

Understanding Interaction Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Bird Distributions through Combined Process and Habitat Models

Abstract: Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process‐based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf‐area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species’ use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.     

Source apportionment of PAHs and n-alkanes bound to PM1 collected near the Venice highway

n-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to atmospheric particulate matter (PM₁) were investigated in a traffic site located in an urban area of Venice Province (Eastern Po Valley, Italy) during the cold season. Considering the critical situation affecting the Veneto Region concerning the atmospheric pollution and the general lack of information on PM₁ composition and emission in this area, this experimental study aims at determining the source profile, their relative contributions and the dispersion of finer particles. Four sources were identified and quantified using the Positive Matrix Factorization receptor model: (1) mixed combustions related to the residential activities, (2) agricultural biomass burning in addition to the resuspension of anthropogenic and natural debris carried by the wind, (3) gasoline and (4) diesel traffic-related combustions. The role of local atmospheric circulation was also investigated to identify the pollutant sources.     

Pseudomonas sp. ZXY-1, a newly isolated and highly efficient atrazine-degrading bacterium, and optimization of biodegradation using response surface methodology

Atrazine, a widely used herbicide, is increasing the agricultural production effectively, while also causing great environmental concern. Efficient atrazine-degrading bacterium is necessary to removal atrazine rapidly to keep a safe environment. In the present study, a new atrazine-degrading strain ZXY-1, identified as Pseudomonas, was isolated. This new isolated strain has a strong ability to biodegrade atrazine with a high efficiency of 9.09 mg/L/hr.Temperature, p H, inoculum size and initial atrazine concentration were examined to further optimize the degradation of atrazine, and the synthetic effect of these factors were investigated by the response surface methodology. With a high quadratic polynomial mathematical model(R~2= 0.9821) being obtained, the highest biodegradation efficiency of 19.03 mg/L/hr was reached compared to previous reports under the optimal conditions(30.71°C, pH 7.14, 4.23%(V/V) inoculum size and 157.1 mg/L initial atrazine concentration).Overall, this study provided an efficient bacterium and approach that could be potentially useful for the bioremediation of wastewater containing atrazine.     

一种低功耗高性能数据采集数字处理平台的设计

目的构建一套基于中频信号基带数字信号处理的软件无线电平台。方法通过选择芯片设计硬件电路设计出合适的PCB板。结果主要依据软件无线电平台,提出了一种基于A/D+FPGA+D/A的硬件设计方案,该系统包括了前端的A/D数据采集和后端的D/A模拟数据恢复的详细收发电路原理设计。结论构建了一个从前端数据接收到后端模拟发送的高速基带数字信号处理平台。     

再生水灌溉土壤人工合成麝香累积模型模拟

人工合成麝香(HHCB/AHTN)是近几年来受关注较多的药品与个人护理品(PPCPs)类新型污染物之一,再生水灌溉是HHCB/AHTN输入土壤的主要途径.本研究结合再生水灌溉土壤的实地检测结果,采用HYDRUS-1D模型,模拟了长期灌溉再生水条件下土壤中HHCB和AHTN的迁移转化和累积趋势.结果表明,尽管土壤中这两种麝香的含量极低,但是再生水灌溉土壤中的含量是自来水灌溉土壤的5倍;再生水灌溉下HHCB/AHTN累积趋势从lgKoc较低为3.44时的指数型增加,到lgKoc较高为4.12和4.86时的线性增加;半衰期的变化对再生水灌溉途径输入土壤的HHCB/AHTN的表层累积影响并不明显;再生水灌溉下土壤中HHCB/AHTN的垂直迁移能力较小,灌溉40 a以后最大迁移距离只有53 cm,且受Koc变化的影响较大;通过灌溉水途径进入土壤的HHCB和AHTN通过生物降解与植物吸收途径消解的比例较低,最高只占输入总量的7.69%,但是随着lgKoc的减小和灌溉时间增加,通过生物降解和根系吸收的消解率增加.本研究结果能够为准确评估再生水灌溉途径引起的土壤中人工合成麝香HHCB/AHTN的生态风险提供依据.     

天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川区气溶胶水溶性离子变化特征及来源分析

基于2007年4、8和10月这3个时段不同季节的野外考察取样和实验室分析测试,探讨了天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川区气溶胶样品中水溶性离子成分的浓度组成、变化特征及其可能来源.结果表明,气溶胶水溶性离子平均浓度为2.76μg·m-3,化学组成以Ca2+、NO-3和SO2-4为主.Ca2+、SO2-4、NH+4、Na+、Mg2+、Cl-在春、夏、秋这3个季节的变化趋势与总离子浓度的变化趋势一致,均为夏季最高、秋季次之、春季最低,而K+与NO-3却呈现出秋季最高、夏季和春季浓度次之的季节变化特征.分析认为,气溶胶中Ca2+、Na+、Mg2+、K+和Cl-主要可能来自陆源矿物;而NO-3和NH+4则很大程度上以人为源为主.并且发现,SO2-4可能同时受陆地源与人类活动来源的影响.     

ASM1耦合曝气模型对污水处理厂的模拟研究

为了更好地模拟污水处理厂实际的曝气方式及溶解氧浓度,采用更加精确的曝气模型对某污水处理厂进行了模拟研究.该模型考虑了污泥浓度、堵塞及温度等因素对氧传质的影响,并将该曝气模型与ASM1相耦合.首先,通过灵敏度分析确定了对该污水处理厂出水指标影响较大的参数,分别为异养菌产率系数YH、异养菌最大比增长速率μH、自养菌最大比增长速率μA及自养菌氧利用半饱和系数KOA.然后,测定部分灵敏度较高的参数并使用测量结果对模型进行校正,校正结果使用希尔系数表征.最后,使用另一批数据对校正参数进行验证.模拟的COD、氨氮、总氮和好氧池末端溶解氧的希尔不等系数分别是0.13、0.23、0.20和0.15,而通过控制溶解氧浓度或理论氧转移效率模型模拟则出现氨氮、溶解氧、总氮及COD的希尔不等系数不同程度上升的结果.校验后的ASM1/曝气耦合模型参数可以很好地应用于污水处理厂的模拟当中,对于优化污水厂曝气控制具有重要意义.     

用AGMP-1M阴离子交换树脂直接分离Zn的实验方法改进

针对原有用于铜、铁、锌同位素分析的提纯步骤方法,我们专门对锌的提纯进行了改进,即在1mol/LHCl的介质条件下,采用200~400目AGMP-1M树脂提纯锌,大大简化了锌的提纯方法。在改进的实验条件下,地质样品的回收率接近100%;标准溶液在离子交换分离前后同位素组成一致,表明分离前后无Zn同位素分馏;全流程Zn的空白小于0.7ng/mL。此法可作为用于高精度Zn同位素分析的前处理方法。