Influence of fur trade,famine, and forest fires on moose and woodland caribou populations in northwestern Ontario from 1786 to 1911

Hudson’s Bay Company records were used to estimate the 1786–1911 annual number of moose (Alces alces andersonii) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) involved in trade by northern Ojibwa natives to the company post at Osnaburgh House (51°10′N 90°15′W) in northwest Ontario, Canada. The human population for the early 19th century, and the number and severity of human starvations from 1786 to 1911 were estimated. The extent of forest fires in the region around Osnaburgh was documented using a “fire-day” index computed from Hudson’s Bay Company journals and using qualitative archival information. It is argued that the human population was too small to have caused the observed early 19th century moose and caribou population decline solely through predation. Likewise, severe early 19th century famines were caused by climatic factors rather than by declines in moose and caribou numbers. Habitat change caused by increased forest fires correlates with the observed decline of caribou, while moose increased and subsequently collapsed as winter shelter was destroyed. A burgeoning human population, sustained during winter food shortages on potatoes donated by the Hudson’s Bay Company, then kept ungulate populations to low levels until the late 19th century. Only then did maturing forests and a new outbreak of fires provide renewed habitat for resurgences of, respectively, caribou and moose.     

The Manchester earthquake of 14th September 1111: A re-appraisal of contemporary reports

In September 1777 a strong shock of earthquake was widely experienced in the Manchester area. Thanks largely to the density of population in this area and to the fact that the shock occurred on a Sunday morning when many people were in church, the earthquake attracted considerable attention; despite its modest size, it is one of the best documented earthquakes recorded before the 19th century. Analysis of contemporary literature of the event reveals something of the outlook of the society affected and suggests how circumstances of time and place influence the level of information available about early earthquakes. The earthquake caused minor damage but no loss of life. It is nevertheless shown to be a larger event than previously identified.     

近50年新疆沙尘暴频率时空变化趋势分析

采用新疆54个气象站近50年的气象资料,分析新疆沙尘暴时空分布特征、年际和年内演变趋势及年际演变的影响因素。结果显示：新疆沙尘暴近50年以来空间分布特征是南疆多于北疆,沙尘暴主要出现在3～10月,其中4～7月为高发时段。年际演变趋势20世纪80年代以来较60、70年代都有所减少;80年代以后沙尘暴发生日数减少。     

皖北地区旅游产业竞争力综合评价及聚类分析

基于旅游业的行业特点和产业竞争力理论,遵循统计学指标选取的科学性、系统性、可比性和可行性原则构建了区域旅游产业竞争力的评价指标体系,运用因子分析法对皖北地区6个地级市旅游产业竞争力进行了综合评价及排序,并做了聚类分析,给出了相关建议：打造淮河风情与历史文化旅游区、打造亳州古城与养生文化旅游区、打造黄河故道与楚汉文化旅游区.     

新疆入境旅游发展的空间差异及其演变趋势分析

基于新疆2001-2010年旅游外汇收入指标,对新疆入境旅游发展的空间差异和演变趋势进行了定量分析.结果表明：近10年来新疆入境旅游发展的空间格局发生了较大变化,且存在明显的区域极化现象;新疆旅游外汇收入的“省域差异”、“地带内差异”和“北疆差异”变化趋势高度一致;自然条件的显著差异,旅游资源的空间集聚分布以及区位和交通条件的空间差异,是新疆入境旅游空间差异形成的主要影响因素.     

Sustainable coasts? Perceptions of change and livelihood vulnerability in Nordland,Norway

ABSTRACT

Northern coastal regions are facing multiple challenges from accelerating global environmental and socioeconomic changes, such as ecosystem degradation, climate change, intensified resource extraction, land use change and declining populations. Based on interviews with 13 farmers, fishers and aquaculture employees from coastal Nordland, northern Norway, this study demonstrates how the local stakeholders’ perceptions of change and experiences of vulnerability are closely linked to their livelihood values and worldviews. What the informants consider a sustainable and meaningful way of coastal living does not coincide with national goals for sustainable, natural resource dependent development of the region. The article demonstrates the importance of attending to local values if policymakers and managers are to ensure successful local mobilisation, reduce vulnerability to ongoing and future processes of change, and ensure legitimacy and consistency in development goals of coastal zone management. Insights from this study are useful for local and regional decision makers with responsibility for natural resource policies and development efforts.     

Arctic Wilderness Policy in the United States and Finland

The United States and Finland have passed laws to classify and manage Arctic wilderness areas, but their national policies are based on different nature ideologies. Finns tend to perceive wilderness as a human-centered idea, while Americans are inclined to see the same land from a nature-based point of view. Rural residents in the Arctic, and especially indigenous peoples, use motorized vehicles for hunting and gathering in wilderness areas. Attempts of southern-based environmental groups to restrict motor use by imposing a nature-based ideology on rural residents in northern Alaska will result in high levels of political conflict. Alaska land managers need to respect the minority rights of rural residents and a study of wilderness policies in Finnish Lapland is instructive toward this end.     

台湾南投7.6级地震与浙江省地倾斜异常特征分析

总结了 19990 92 1台湾 7.6级大震前浙江省地倾斜异常特征 ,并结合预报过程进行较深入的分析。认为这些前兆异常应属台湾 9.2 1大震引起。这对识别分析今后该区域出现同类型的前兆信息 ,为地震时空强预测提供了重要的参考依据。     

新疆牧草生产现状、市场分析与产业化途径

草业在国民经济和生态环境中具有重要的地位和作用。新疆草产业在技术水平、资金投入、经营方式与理念上,与兄弟行业相比都存在着较大差距,与兄弟省区和发达国家比较,差距更加明显。草产业的发展必须融入市场、必须走产业化道路。草业要提升发展层次,适应自治区发展现代畜牧业的新势头,应当强化草业行政管理;加大财政支持力度;制定优惠政策、扶持龙头企业;建立农牧民自己的合作组织;提高草业生产的科技含量,重视优良牧草种子的生产和推广。     

20世纪下半叶新疆洪水灾害的新趋向

受全球气候变暖和当地人类活动加剧的影响,20世纪下半叶以来,尤其80年代以来新疆洪灾在时空分布上,发生了比较明显的变化,呈现出一些新的趋向.这些新趋向突出表现在:与前30年(1950-1979年)相比,洪灾农田受灾面积增大、发生次数增多、直接经济损失明显上升以及洪灾多发区向北疆西部和天山南北麓集中.