Risk Assessment of Riparian Plant Invasions into Protected Areas

Abstract:  Protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated. River corridors represent crucial links to the surrounding landscape but are also major conduits for invasion of alien species. We developed a framework to assess the risk that alien plants in watersheds adjacent to a protected area will invade the protected area along rivers. The framework combines species- and landscape-level approaches and has five key components: (1) definition of the geographical area of interest, (2) delineation of the domain into ecologically meaningful zones, (3) identification of the appropriate landscape units, (4) categorization of alien species and mapping of their distribution and abundance, and (5) definition of management options. The framework guides the determination of species distribution and abundance through successive, easily followed steps, providing the means for the assessment of areas of concern. We applied the framework to Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa. We recorded 231 invasive alien plant species (of which 79 were major invaders) in the domain. The KNP is facing increasing pressure from alien species in the upper regions of the drainage areas of neighboring watersheds. On the basis of the climatic modeling, we showed that most major riparian invaders have the ability to spread across the KNP should they be transported down the rivers. With this information, KNP managers can identify areas for proactive intervention, monitoring, and resource allocation. Even for a very large protected area such as the KNP, sustainable management of biodiversity will depend heavily on the response of land managers upstream managing alien plants. We suggest that this framework is applicable to plants and other passively dispersed species that invade protected areas situated at the end of a drainage basin.     

Response of Savanna Fire Regimes to Changing Fire-Management Policies in a Large African National Park

Abstract:  Approaches to fire management in the savanna ecosystems of the 2-million ha Kruger National Park, South Africa, have changed several times over the past six decades. These approaches have included regular and flexible prescribed burning on fixed areas and a policy that sought to establish a lightning-dominated fire regime. We sought to establish whether changes in management induced the desired variability in fire regimes over a large area. We used a spatial database of information on all fires in the park between 1957 and 2002 to determine elements of the fire regime associated with each management policy. The area that burned in any given year was independent of the management approach and was strongly related to rainfall (and therefore grass fuels) in the preceding 2 years. On the other hand, management did affect the spatial heterogeneity of fires and their seasonal distribution. Heterogeneity was higher at all scales during the era of prescribed burning, compared with the lightning-fire interval. The lightning-fire interval also resulted in a greater proportion (72% vs. 38%) of the area burning in the dry season. Mean fire-return intervals varied between 5.6 and 7.3 years, and variability in fire-return intervals was strongly influenced by the sequencing of annual rainfall rather than by management. The attempt at creating a lightning-dominated fire regime failed because most fires were ignited by humans, and the policy has been replaced by a more pragmatic approach that combines flexible prescribed burning with lightning-ignited fires.     

Diapycnal Mixing in the Thermocline of Lakes: Estimations by Different Methods

In order to evaluate the performance of different methods for estimation of the vertical eddy diffusivity in thermally stratified lakes, two field studies were conducted in Lake Biwa, Japan and Lake Kinneret, Israel. Lake Biwa experienced three typhoons during the campaign while Lake Kinneret experienced high winds in the afternoons. Microstructure profiles were collected by a portable flux profiler (PFP) during calm and disturbed periods. Then, the vertical eddy diffusivity was estimated by three indirect methods. The estimated vertical eddy diffusivities varied more than one order of magnitude, from 4.7× 10⁻⁷ to 7.7× 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹. The comparison of results with previous buoyancy flux measurements and scaling arguments showed that the Dillon–Park’s method is not appropriate and Osborn–Cox method performs better than Osborn method in the studied case. Furthermore, the low value of vertical eddy diffusivity within the thermocline suggests that within the thermocline of these lakes, diffusive vertical transport can be neglected.     

生态工业园保障体系的建设与完善

本文分析了目前生态工业因的保障体系建设存在的问题,从运行机制、政策法规、科学技术、人力资源、意识能力培养五个方面,分析和探讨了生态工业因保障体系建设的具体内容,构建并完善了生态工业因建设的保障体系框架和内容,为生态工业因的建设提供了有效的保障和支撑.     

辽宁省湿地生态环境监测指标探讨

根据辽宁省湿地生态环境特点 ,研究讨论了建立湿地生态环境监测指标体系应遵循的原则 ,并提出了优先监测项目     

典型内分泌干扰物对人工湿地运行效果的影响

研究构建了2组表流人工湿地模拟系统和3组潜流人工湿地模拟系统,种植菖蒲、芦苇,在平均进水COD、TN、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N、NO_2~--N浓度分别为110、21、6、9以及6 mg/L,进水流速为42 m L/min,水力停留时间为6 h的条件下,研究典型内分泌物双酚A(BPA)和2,4-二氯苯酚在浓度为2 mg/L时对人工湿地的运行效果影响。结果表明,两种内分泌干扰物对人工湿地的污染物去除均有抑制作用。在COD去除上,两种内分泌干扰物对表流人工湿地的负面影响要高于潜流人工湿地。在各类N元素的去除上,在潜流人工湿地中,添加BPA的负面影响要高于添加2,4-二氯苯酚。     

湿地土壤有机碳及其活性组分分布特征影响因素研究

红碱淖湖泊湿地是西北半干旱荒漠区重要的生态屏障,随着湖泊面积的减少以及土壤退化程度的加剧,逐渐形成5种典型的景观类型(盐碱沼泽、沼泽化草甸、草地、草原化沙地、沙地)。基于野外实地调查,选取红碱淖湖泊湿地流域蟒盖兔和尔林兔2个典型子流域,研究湖泊退化后不同景观类型土壤有机碳及其活性组分的分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明,5种景观类型土壤有机碳(SOC)、土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)、土壤易氧化态有机碳(EOC)含量均较低。土壤SOC和EOC在垂直剖面上分布特征一致,土壤EOC与土壤有机质动态变化密切相关,土壤砂砾含量高是研究区土壤有机碳含量较低的主要原因。     

Protected‐Area Boundaries as Filters of Plant Invasions

Abstract: Human land uses surrounding protected areas provide propagules for colonization of these areas by non‐native species, and corridors between protected‐area networks and drainage systems of rivers provide pathways for long‐distance dispersal of non‐native species. Nevertheless, the influence of protected‐area boundaries on colonization of protected areas by invasive non‐native species is unknown. We drew on a spatially explicit data set of more than 27,000 non‐native plant presence records for South Africa's Kruger National Park to examine the role of boundaries in preventing colonization of protected areas by non‐native species. The number of records of non‐native invasive plants declined rapidly beyond 1500 m inside the park; thus, we believe that the park boundary limited the spread of non‐native plants. The number of non‐native invasive plants inside the park was a function of the amount of water runoff, density of major roads, and the presence of natural vegetation outside the park. Of the types of human‐induced disturbance, only the density of major roads outside the protected area significantly increased the number of non‐native plant records. Our findings suggest that the probability of incursion of invasive plants into protected areas can be quantified reliably.     

Emergy evaluation and economic analysis of three wetland fish farming systems in Nansi Lake area,China

Emergy and economic methods were used to evaluate and compare three fish production models, i.e., cage fish farming system, pond intensive fish rearing system and semi-natural extensive pond fish rearing system, in Nansi Lake area in China in the year 2007. The goal of this study was to understand the benefits and driving forces of selected fish production models from ecological and economic points of view. The study considered input structure, production efficiency, environmental impacts, economic viability and sustainability. Results show that the main difference among the three production systems was the emergy cost for fish feed associated with their feeding system, i.e., feeding on natural biomass such as plankton and grass or on commercial feedstock. As indicated by EYR, ELR and ESI, it can be clearly shown that the intensive production model with commercial feed is not a sustainable pattern. However, the point is that more environmentally sound patterns do not seem able to provide a competitive net profit in the short run. The intensive pond fish farming system had a net profit of 2.57E+03 $/ha, much higher than 1.27E+03 $/ha for cage fish farming system and slightly higher than 2.37E+03 $/ha for semi-natural fish farming system. With regard to the drivers of local farmer’s decisions, the accessibility of land for the required use and investment ability determine the farmer’s choice of the production model and the scale of operation, while other factors seem to have little effect. Theoretically, the development of environmentally sustainable production patterns, namely water and land conservation measures, greener feed as well as low waste systems is urgently needed, to keep production activities within the carrying capacity of ecosystems. Coupled emergy and economic analyses can provide better insight into the environmental and economic benefits of fish production systems and help solve the problems encountered during policy making.     

Fertility status and management implications of wetland soils for sustainable crop production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Fertility status of soils of three wetland types in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, was investigated. The wetland types are Inland Valley (IV), Flood Plain (FP) and Mangrove (MG). The soils have silt-clay ratios above 0.15 and 0.25 indicating that they are of young parent materials with low degree of weathering and possible weatherable minerals for plant nutrition. The pH of the soils was near neutral (>6.4) when wet but extremely acid (>3.5) when dried indicating that the soils are potential acid sulphate soils. Organic matter content was high with mean values of 12.59, 6.03 and 3.20% for IV, FP and MG soils, respectively. Total N (nitrogen) was low except in IV soils where the value was above the 0.30% critical level. The C:N ratios were narrow with mean of 20.90, 12.17 and 12.12 for IV, FP and MG soils, respectively. The contents of basic cations [Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potasium (K) and Sodium (Na)] were low while acidic cations [Aluminium (Al) and Hydrogen (H)] were high. The Ca:Mg ratios were below the optimum range of 3:1 to 4:1 required for most crops. The Mg:K ratios were above 1.2, below which yields of crops like corn and soybean may be reduced. Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was below the 20 cmol/kg. Percent base saturation was low (<38) indicating that the soils are potentially less fertile. Exchangeable Al and percent Al saturation were high, above 60% in IV and FP soils. Electrical conductivity was above the critical value of 2 dsm⁻¹ while exchangeable sodium percentage was less than 15. Available Phosphorus (P) and low, <10 ppm and free Fe₂O₃/clay ratios were <0.15. Positive correlation existed between silt and ECEC, implying that silt contributed to nutrient status of the soils. Generally, fertility status of the soil is low and would require maintenance of adequate organic matter, application of lime and organic and inorganic fertilizers, drainage and irrigation if the land is to be used for intensive/sustainable crop production. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.