Assessment of groundwater quality in Kavaratti Island in the Lakshadweep Archipelagos,India

This study attempts to address the processes controlling the chemical composition of the Kavaratti aquifer system of Lakshadweep Island in India. Major ions and other physico-chemical parameters were determined for the premonsoon period in the Kavaratti of the Lakshadweep Island system. The trilinear diagram confirms the ingress of sea water into the shallow lens of freshwater in the islands by the changing water types. The abundance of major cations varied in the order Na>Ca>Mg>K and anions in the order Cl>HCO₃>SO₄. The ionic relations suggest that the higher concentration Na and Cl are the results of ion exchange and evaporation. The plots of data on the Gibbs diagram suggest that chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals and evaporation are the dominant factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the area. The hydrochemistry concept was deduced by the multivariate analysis for better understanding on the dynamic and complexity of the groundwater chemical processes. By the multivariate analytical techniques, the samples were grouped into two: one with saline water dominance and the other with freshwater characteristics. Thus proper management of these aquifers should be assured to retain their freshwater yield in the future.     

上海海湾国家森林公园1 hm2样地群落结构特征及其动态监测意义

运用生态系统定位监测方法,于2011年在上海市奉贤区海湾国家森林公园内设置面积为100 m×100 m的样地,记录样地内的所有植物种类,定位调查高于1.3m的木本植物,分析其种类组成、区系成分、垂直结构和水平结构.结果表明,1 hm2样地内共记录有维管束植物31科68属73种,其中温带区系成分占总属数的51.8％,热带区系成分占46.4％.高于1.3m的木本植株3 094株,其中常绿树种6种,共1 670株,重要值占48.0％;落叶树种7种,共1 424株,重要值占52.0％.女贞(Ligustrum lucidum)、喜树(Camptotheca acuminata)、椤木石楠(Photinia davidsoniae)、乌桕(Sapium sebiferum)、黄山栾树(Koelreuteria integrifoliola)和香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)的重要值位居前6位,在垂直空间上呈分层结构.在0～50 m尺度范围内,女贞种群均呈集群分布,喜树种群呈均匀-随机-集群分布,椤木石楠和乌桕种群表现为集群-随机-均匀分布,黄山栾树和香樟种群表现为随机-集群-随机分布.从群落结构特征看,样地为以北温带成分、泛热带成分为主的常绿落叶阔叶混交林,表征了该地区自然植被的结构特征.建立长期固定样地可为长三角城市化地区平原地貌上城市森林的发生、发展和演替规律提供长期的数据基础.     

The use of replicated plot,line and point sampling for estimating species abundance and ecological diversity

The paper deals with the problem of estimating diversity indexes for an ecological community. First the species abundances are unbiasedly and consistently estimated using designs based on n random and independent selections of plots, points or lines over the study area. The problem of sampling elusive populations is also considered. Finally, the diversity index estimates are obtained as functions of the abundance estimates. The resulting estimators turn out to be asymptotically (n large) unbiased, even if a considerable bias may occur for a small n. Accordingly, the method of jackknifing is made use of in order to reduce bias.     

北京市和厦门市大气 CO2 浓度及 δ13C 值变化特征

本文对北京市和厦门市大气CO_2及δ~(13)C进行观测,研究内陆城市和沿海城市CO_2浓度及δ~(13)C的季节和昼夜变化规律及影响因素,以期为政府制定碳减排政策提供科学依据。北京市和厦门市CO_2浓度均呈现秋冬季高于春夏季,而δ~(13)C秋冬季低于春夏季,季节差异原因可能是秋冬大气边界层降低,化石燃料消耗增加,贫13C的CO_2气体大量排放。观测期间,两个城市日变化模式均表现为CO_2夜间高于白天,δ~(13)C夜间低于白天;且在早晚交通高峰时段,两地CO_2浓度均有不同程度升高,而δ~(13)C有不同程度降低。冬季,北京市由于受西、北部高山阻挡,在东南风条件下使得其夜间大气CO_2浓度显著增高,δ~(13)C值则显著降低。根据两地新增CO_2的δ~(13)C值(δs)推测,北京市受到煤炭燃烧贡献较大,厦门市季节差异较大,推测受植物排放CO_2速率及气象条件等共同影响。     

基于地块尺度的黑河中游地区农业结构变化及其驱动因素分析——以张掖市为例

黑河中游是我国西北干旱区重要的粮食基地,研究其农业结构变化及其驱动因素对农户种植决策及推动当地农业发展具有一定参考意义。论文以位于黑河中游地区的张掖市为例,基于统计年鉴和农户问卷调查数据,从地块尺度分析了研究区2001—2014年期间农业结构变化,并在定性分析的基础上,从地块与农户两个层面,运用二元Logistic模型及投入-产出法定量分析农业结构变化驱动因素。结果表明：1）研究区作物种植类型趋于多样化。2001年,研究区主要种植作物为小麦、玉米、大麦及“小麦和玉米套作”,其种植地块数占所调查总地块数的81%,2014年种植作物种类增多,且蔬菜、马铃薯、油菜等经济作物种植数量较2001年有所上升。2）由种植小麦为主（占总地块数的31%）转变为种植制种玉米为主（占总地块数的38.7%）;套作转单作。2001年,共有58个套作种植地块,占调查总地块数的22%,其中“小麦和玉米套作”最多,有47个地块;而在2014年,作物套作地块数锐减为2个,“小麦和玉米套作”全部转换为其他单作,其中51%转为制种玉米;水稻种植消失,主要转为普通玉米。3）地块层面上,种植地区的海拔、灌溉定额、河源来水量对农业结构变化影响非常显著（显著水平达到1%）,地下水对农业结构变化影响较为显著（显著水平达到5%）。4）农户层面上,农户作为理性经济人,“收益”是影响其种植行为的最关键因素,其次是政策因素（在5%的水平上显著）,务农劳动力与劳均耕地面积也有一定的驱动作用。     

中条山东段植被垂直带的数量分类研究

在野外调查的基础上,应用有序样方聚类法对中条山东段植 垂直带进行了数量分类研究,结果为：１．落叶阔叶林带,包括４个亚带：（１）侧柏林带（５００￣８００ｍ）,（２０松栎林带（８００￣１８００ｍ）,（３）栓皮林带（１４００￣２０００ｍ）和（４）杨桦林带（１９００￣２２００ｍ）;２．山地草甸带（２１００￣２３５８ｍ）。此外,与前人的划分结果进行了比较,结果表明,有序样方聚类法的结果更符合实际情况。     

Secondary succession on a high salt marsh at different grazing intensities

Succession occurs on a large part of German salt marshes following abandonment or reduction of grazing. Its speed and effect on the biodiversity of salt marshes has been discussed in the literature. Permanent plot studies show site-dependent differences in successional outcome. If grazing is to be continued, there is uncertainty about the stocking rates that are optimal for the conservation of plant diversity. We present an eight year permanent plot study with different grazing treatments on a high salt marsh at the marsh island of Hallig Langeness, Germany, which is enclosed by a summer dike. The study site is owned by WWF. Successional outcomes on the permanent plots depend on grazing intensity and depth of the groundwater table which is correlated with soil salinity. Intermediate stocking rates support a mixture of halophytes and glycophytes, the relative proportion of which depends on the depth of the groundwater table. Cattle grazing at stocking rates of 0.6 livestock units per ha were found to be optimal for plant diversity conservation. At sites with deeper groundwater tables and no grazing, dominantElymus spp. stands develop and diversity is strongly reduced. If the groundwater table is high, succession following grazing abandonment is retarded and small halophytes prevail.     

Twenty years of salt marsh succession on a Dutch coastal barrier island

After a formerly grazed salt marsh was released from cattle grazing, changes in plant species composition were monitored for 20 yr, using vegetation maps and permanent plots. Three areas, differing in age and nutrient status were compared. The number of plant species and plant communities decreased.Elymus athericus (Elytrigia pungens) became dominant in most plant communities after 5–20 yr on the oldest and most productive salt marsh. In younger areas it took more time forE. athericus to become dominant. At least 7 cm of clay seemed to be a prerequisite for this plant species to increase in dominance. The results from monitoring over decades are discussed in view of the knowledge on succession over centuries as derived from a chronosequence.     

Comparison of data from two vegetation monitoring methods in semi-natural grasslands

Two vegetation-monitoring methods were compared: subplot frequency analysis (SF) and visual estimation of percentage cover (VE). Two independent observers collected data from two semi-natural, species-rich grasslands on three different occasions during the growth-season. During the last data collection period, survey times were also recorded. The two different data sets from the two methods were compared using partial Redundancy Analyses. The purpose of the comparison was to identify the method that explains most of the relevant variation in biodiversity-monitoring (inter-and intra-site variation), and the variation irrelevant when evaluating data (systematic inter-observer variation and variation due to phenological changes). Compared with VE data, more variation in SF data could be explained by spatial variables, while less variation depended on the observer and time of year surveyed. SF also found more species per plot but took on average five times longer to complete than VE. In conclusion, the different methods are suitable for different purposes: SF is more suitable for purposes demanding high accuracy and high precision, such as long-term biodiversity-monitoring when the identification of small changes has high priority, while VE might be more suitable for a one-time mapping of a large area.     

Protocol for using compound‐specific isotope analysis in environmental forensics

Forensic arguments must be demonstrably objective. A protocol is proposed to supply a framework to achieve this when using data from compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) in developing forensic arguments about volatile organic carbon (VOC) contamination in groundwater. The protocol uses a “line of evidence” approach to reiteratively refine a hypothesis by testing it against each of three criteria, modifying the hypothesis if it fails or accumulating supporting evidence if it passes. The criteria are intended to organize data interpretation and to maximize use of both site data and supporting literature. Specifically, the criteria are: 1) degradation: enrichment factors and dual isotope plot (DIP) slopes; 2) hydrogeology: groundwater flow and plume shape; and 3) site history: VOC use and previous remediation work. Each of these criteria is described in detail and examples are provided for these criteria to show how each criterion can be used to identify the more plausible explanation when alternate hypotheses are presented. The protocol built upon these criteria is intended to maximize the use of supporting data and to document that support, as well as to ensure that interpretations are self consistent. The protocol is intended to be flexible and provides the framework to use exceptions as a line of evidence supporting an explanation.