Prioritizing sites for conservation based on similarity to historical baselines and feasibility of protection

The concept of shifting baselines in conservation science implies advocacy for the use of historical knowledge to inform these baselines but does not address the feasibility of restoring sites to those baselines. In many regions, conservation feasibility varies among sites due to differences in resource availability, statutory power, and land‐owner participation. We used zooarchaeological records to identify a historical baseline of the freshwater mussel community's composition before Euro‐American influence at a river‐reach scale (i.e., a kilometer stretch of river that is abiotically similar) in the Leon River of central Texas (U.S.A.). We evaluated how the community reference position and the feasibility of conservation might enable identification of sites where conservation actions would preserve historically representative communities and be likely to succeed. We devised a conceptual model that incorporated community information and landscape factors to link the best conservation areas to potential cost and conservation benefits. Using fuzzy ordination, we identified modern mussel beds that were most like the historical baseline. We then quantified housing density and land use near each river reach identified to estimate feasibility of habitat restoration. Using our conceptual framework, we identified reaches of high conservation value (i.e., contain the best mussel beds) and where restoration actions would be most likely to succeed. Reaches above Lake Belton were most similar in species composition and relative abundance to zooarchaeological sites. A subset of these mussel beds occurred in locations where conservation actions appeared most feasible. Our results show how to use zooarchaeological data (biodiversity data often readily available) and estimates of conservation feasibility to inform conservation priorities at a local spatial scale.     

Credibility and advocacy in conservation science

Conservation policy sits at the nexus of natural science and politics. On the one hand, conservation scientists strive to maintain scientific credibility by emphasizing that their research findings are the result of disinterested observations of reality. On the other hand, conservation scientists are committed to conservation even if they do not advocate a particular policy. The professional conservation literature offers guidance on negotiating the relationship between scientific objectivity and political advocacy without damaging conservation science's credibility. The value of this guidance, however, may be restricted by limited recognition of credibility's multidimensionality and emergent nature: it emerges through perceptions of expertise, goodwill, and trustworthiness. We used content analysis of the literature to determine how credibility is framed in conservation science as it relates to apparent contradictions between science and advocacy. Credibility typically was framed as a static entity lacking dimensionality. Authors identified expertise or trustworthiness as important, but rarely mentioned goodwill. They usually did not identify expertise, goodwill, or trustworthiness as dimensions of credibility or recognize interactions among these 3 dimensions of credibility. This oversimplification may limit the ability of conservation scientists to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Accounting for the emergent quality and multidimensionality of credibility should enable conservation scientists to advance biodiversity conservation more effectively.     

Invasive Species Research to Meet the Needs of Resource Management and Planning

Abstract: As zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) continue to spread among inland lakes of the United States and Canada, there is growing interest from professionals, citizens, and other stakeholders to know which lakes are likely to be colonized by zebra mussels. Thus, we developed a classification of lake suitability for zebra mussels on the basis of measured or estimated concentrations of dissolved calcium in lake water and applied the classification to >11,500 lakes in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The majority of lakes (58%) were classified as unsuitable (<10 mg/L Ca) for survival and reproduction of zebra mussels, 27% were identified as suitable (≥21 mg/L Ca), and 15% were classified as borderline suitable (≥10 and <21 mg/L Ca). Of the 77 inland lakes with confirmed zebra mussel records for which data on dissolved calcium were available, our method classified 74 as suitable and 3 as borderline suitable. To communicate this lake‐specific suitability information and to help prioritize regional efforts to monitor and prevent the expansion of zebra mussels and other invasive species, we developed a web‐based interface (available from http://www.aissmartprevention.wisc.edu/ ). Although we are still uncertain of how access to suitability information ultimately affects decision making, we believe this is a useful case study of building communication channels among researchers, practitioners, and the public.     

太阳风暴对短波电子装备性能的影响及应对措施

目的掌握太阳风暴对短波电子装备性能的影响及应对措施,为系统设计提供参考。方法分析太阳风暴的表现形式,并从作用距离、目标检测、定位精度等方面给出太阳风暴对短波超视距雷达、短波通信等装备的影响。结果电离层SID、电离层暴可造成短波通信中断,短波通信可用频段变窄。电离层强吸收可降低天波超视距雷达作用距离和目标定位精度,电子浓度、电离层虚高快速变化影响超视距雷达检测性能和定位精度,负相电离层暴使天波超视距雷达可用频段严重变窄。地球磁暴期间,电磁场突变产生的强电压和电流有可能烧毁用于天、地波超视距雷达的电子设备。电离层非规则现象对超视距雷达有严重影响。结论太阳风暴对电子装备性能有利有弊,要分别对待。系统设计时应充分考虑太阳风暴的影响,在出现太阳风暴时,采取针对性措施降低其影响。     

基于转运站满负荷的北京市新东西城区生活垃圾物流优化方案研究

北京市新东城和新西城成立后迫切需要对现有生活垃圾物流方案进行优化,实现生活垃圾资源化处理.以北京市东西城区生活垃圾为研究对象,利用统计预测模型和GIS空间分析技术与方法,在分析了4个老城区生活垃圾产生量及所属密闭清洁站垃圾流向和流量基础上,提出了基于满负荷运行的三大转运站(马家楼、小武基和大屯)生活垃圾等距离收集运输优化物流模式,分析了现状及新物流模式下生活垃圾物料平衡.结果表明,与现状收集模式相比,等距离优化物流模式可使清运距离减少约9.3×105km.a-1,与现状相比减少10%;同时,基于三大转运站满负荷运转的,部分考虑海淀、丰台和朝阳区跨区运行的生活垃圾优化物流模式下,且充分利用现有的处理处置设施,可减少原生垃圾填埋量约28.3%.在优化模式的基础上若北京市正筹建的3座垃圾焚烧厂建成后,可使新东西城区生活垃圾焚烧、生化、填埋比例由现状1∶4.8∶4.2,达到3.8∶4.5∶1.7,可基本接近北京市2015年生活垃圾焚烧、堆肥和填埋比例达到4∶3∶3规划目标.     

舰载短波天线现存问题及对策

从多年工作经验出发,综述了某测量船舰载短波天线使用过程中出现的主要问题及潜在严重后果,从材料、结构等方面对其进行了深入分析,指出环境考虑不足、材料选择不当、结构存在缺陷是引发以上问题的根本原因。同时,结合工程实践,就如何在现有条件下提高舰载短波天线的可靠性,分别从如何选用合适材料、改进结构设计给出了意见建议。     

电站运营对北溪下游水质影响探讨及改进建议

文章通过对利水电站坝上、坝下布设监测断面,进行为期近一个月的枯水期水质监测,分析上下游水质的变化以期对梯级电站的建设与运营对北溪下游水质的影响进行研究,认为梯级电站的建设运行,形成梯级水库,流速变缓,大气覆氧能力降低,水中溶解氧下降,导致水体自净能力减弱,使水环境容量降低,对污染物的稀释、混合和降解能力减弱,湖库富营养化是水库的主要生态环境问题。为此,提出污染防治对策,并提出当上游污染水团下泄时,作为补救和改善水质时电站应采取的运行方式,为今后河流的突发污染防治、水质保护与改善提供经验借鉴。     

佳木斯市老工业基地改造及新型生态工业的探讨

鉴于佳木斯工业的发展现状,借鉴国外老工业基地改造的经验,普遍认为生态工业是一种新兴的可持续的工业发展模式,是工业界解决老工业改造问题、实现可持续发展的有效途径。但其发展过程中仍存在着废物再生利用困难以及工业生态链网的稳定性等问题,为了克服这些不足,应提倡建立一种新型生态工业。     

移动通信基站电磁环境监测浅析

根据国家现有监测技术规范,结合移动通信基站建设和监测工作实践的实际,阐述监测工作的要点及监测设备要求。