Effectiveness of conservation easements in agricultural regions

Conservation easements are a standard technique for preventing habitat loss, particularly in agricultural regions with extensive cropland cultivation, yet little is known about their effectiveness. I developed a spatial econometric approach to propensity‐score matching and used the approach to estimate the amount of habitat loss prevented by a grassland conservation easement program of the U.S. federal government. I used a spatial autoregressive probit model to predict tract enrollment in the easement program as of 2001 based on tract agricultural suitability, habitat quality, and spatial interactions among neighboring tracts. Using the predicted values from the model, I matched enrolled tracts with similar unenrolled tracts to form a treatment group and a control group. To measure the program's impact on subsequent grassland loss, I estimated cropland cultivation rates for both groups in 2014 with a second spatial probit model. Between 2001 and 2014, approximately 14.9% of control tracts were cultivated and 0.3% of treated tracts were cultivated. Therefore, approximately 14.6% of the protected land would have been cultivated in the absence of the program. My results demonstrate that conservation easements can significantly reduce habitat loss in agricultural regions; however, the enrollment of tracts with low cropland suitability may constrain the amount of habitat loss they prevent. My results also show that spatial econometric models can improve the validity of control groups and thereby strengthen causal inferences about program effectiveness in situations when spatial interactions influence conservation decisions.     

Implications of Macroalgal Isolation by Distance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas

The global extent of macroalgal forests is declining, greatly affecting marine biodiversity at broad scales through the effects macroalgae have on ecosystem processes, habitat provision, and food web support. Networks of marine protected areas comprise one potential tool that may safeguard gene flow among macroalgal populations in the face of increasing population fragmentation caused by pollution, habitat modification, climate change, algal harvesting, trophic cascades, and other anthropogenic stressors. Optimal design of protected area networks requires knowledge of effective dispersal distances for a range of macroalgae. We conducted a global meta‐analysis based on data in the published literature to determine the generality of relation between genetic differentiation and geographic distance among macroalgal populations. We also examined whether spatial genetic variation differed significantly with respect to higher taxon, life history, and habitat characteristics. We found clear evidence of population isolation by distance across a multitude of macroalgal species. Genetic and geographic distance were positively correlated across 49 studies; a modal distance of 50–100 km maintained F_ST < 0.2. This relation was consistent for all algal divisions, life cycles, habitats, and molecular marker classes investigated. Incorporating knowledge of the spatial scales of gene flow into the design of marine protected area networks will help moderate anthropogenic increases in population isolation and inbreeding and contribute to the resilience of macroalgal forests. Implicaciones del Aislamiento por Distancia de Macroalgas para Redes de Áreas Marinas Protegidas     

大庆市草原和湖泊生态保护建设研究

通过对大庆草甸草原和湖泊湿地发生发展自然生态过程的分析,以大庆生态环境的整体性特征为基础,提出草甸草原是大庆生态环境的基础,湖泊湿地是大庆生态环境的特色.以保护和恢复为主巩固草原生态基础地位,以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色.对生态功能正常发挥的草原,以生态保护为主,对生态功能退化草原,以生态恢复为主.对油田生产区的草原,重视生态功能和景观效应.以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色,通过地表水结构的调整增加生态系统的活力和生态服务功能.草甸草原和湖泊湿地的保护与利用要扬长补短、协同并进.     

Effects of physical and chemical characteristics of surface sediments in the formation of shallow lake algae-induced black bloom

Surface sediments are closely related to lake black blooms. The dissolved oxygen （DO） distribution and its penetration depth in surface sediments as well as the migration and transformation of redox sensitive elements such as Fe and S at the sediment-water interface are important factors that could influence the formation of the black bloom. In this study, dredged and undredged sediment cores with different surface properties were used to simulate black blooms in the laboratory. The Micro Profiling System was employed to explore features of the DO and ∑H2S distribution at the sediment-water interface. Physical and chemical characteristics in sediments and pore waters were also analyzed. The results showed that sediment dredging effectively suppressed the black blooms. In the undredged treatment, DO penetration depth was only 50 μm. Fe^2＋ concentrations, ∑H2S concentrations, and ∑H2S production rates were remarkably higher in surface sediments and pore waters compared to control and dredged treatments. Furthermore, depletion of DO and accumulation of Fe^2＋ and ∑H2S in surface sediments and pore waters provided favorable redox environments and necessary material sources for the blooms. The study results proved that physical and chemical characteristics in surface sediments are important factors in the formation of the black bloom, and could provide scientific guidance for emergency treatment and long-term pre-control of black blooms.     

不同类型湖泊沉积物中氮释放规律研究

通过对武汉市东湖子湖郭郑湖、庙湖以及南湖这3个不同类型的湖泊进行释氮模拟实验,结果表明:(1)在厌氧条件下,不同污染程度的湖泊中沉积物释氮作用均比较明显。为了抑制沉积物向上覆水释氮,控制湖泊富营养化,保持湖泊较高的溶解氧水平是必要的。(2)在厌氧条件下,高温对不同类型湖泊总氮和氨氮的释放均能起到促进作用。(3)沉积物与上覆水间污染物的浓度梯度越大,总氮和氨氮的释放速率与释氮量也越大,此时温度的影响不明显。(4)通过比较3类湖泊沉积物上覆水中总氮和氨氮两者的释放浓度可知,氨氮的释放贡献十分显著,因此控制氨氮的释放量对于控制湖泊氮释放量具有显著效果。     

富营养化湖泊中微囊藻毒素及其控制去除技术

微囊藻水华是湖泊水体中产生最频繁、危害最严重的一类。微囊藻毒素作为富营养化水体中最常见的藻类毒素,获得了国内外的广泛关注与研究报道。我国淡水水体受微囊藻毒素污染的程度已经相当严重,尤其是饮用水水源的污染,对人们的健康构成了极大的危害。因此当前急需确认藻类毒素对我国水环境影响的程度,研究蓝藻水华产毒的生态条件及控制去除途径,探索毒素对人体健康的影响和防治对策,目前关于微囊藻毒素的健康效应的研究多是从饮用水角度出发,今后的研究可收集详细的数据以建立危险性评估模型,并评价各种降低微囊藻毒素危险性措施的效果。文章就微囊藻毒素的产生、性质与结构、对环境与人类健康的危害、以及微囊藻毒素在水处理过程中的控制方法等方面的研究进展进行了综述,并提出了研究展望。     

1990年代以来武汉城市湖泊的保护利用问题研究

湖泊作为城市发展的有机组成部分,它不仅为城市提供了赖以生存发展的生态环境,而且还深刻地影响了城市的发展。但自1990年代以来,武汉在快速城市化进程中,因对湖泊生态作用、保护利用的认识不足和城市建设者多度的利益追求,致使"百湖之城"的城区湖泊不断被填埋而消失,不断上演"湖殇"悲剧,从而严重地影响了武汉两型社会的建设,弱化了武汉的城市名片效应。因此,武汉城市发展必须高度重视珍贵的湖泊资源的科学保护与利用。     

北方冬季农村供暖对PM2.5的影响及解决方案研究

为研究北方冬季农村供暖对PM2.5的影响,我们在北方的部分乡镇农村进行了为期一年半的调查走访,结果表明,北方冬季农村供暖用煤总量大,利用效率低,其生活用煤产生的烟尘总量相当于工业用煤的2.7倍,加之村落人口密集,室内通风条件差,故现有的供暖形式对人体健康危害很大。针对供暖方式的研究,我们提出了在农村推行集中供暖的方案。     

农村发展中水污染成因调查研究——以江苏省为例

在中国农村发展过程中,水环境污染已严重制约了当前农村经济的健康持续发展,探究农村地区水污染的成因,寻求解决污染的对策已十分迫切。本文在对江苏省农村水环境污染现状进行调查的基础上,运用AHP层次分析法分析现阶段江苏农村发展过程中水污染的形成机理,包括经济发展因素、社会公众因素、政策法规因素,并提出相关结论与建议。     

大纵湖水环境污染分析及防治对策研究

大纵湖是江苏省里下河地区的重要湖泊之一,该文介绍了大纵湖自然概况,分析了大纵湖污染现状,如对水环境状况,出、入湖河流水质状况,底泥污染状况以及污染源状况进行了分析,并剖析了大纵湖水环境和污染源特征。针对存在的氮磷超标导致湖体富营养化、生态退化以及入境客水污染等主要环境问题,提出了控制污染物排放总量、修复湖泊生态、治理客水和强化水质监控等措施,为有效地改善大纵湖水环境质量,遏制湖泊富营养化趋势提供科学支撑。