Eld’s Deer Translocated to Human-Inhabited Areas Become Nocturnal

As human populations expand and nonhuman animals decline, understanding the interactions between people and wildlife is essential. For endangered species, appreciating the effect of human disturbance can be important for their conservation. However, a human disturbance angle is often absent from ecological research, despite growing evidence of the negative impact of nonfatal human interference. Here, we monitored Hainan Eld’s deer living within a reserve and translocated animals living amongst villagers. We show that translocated deer deviated from a crepuscular activity pattern and became increasingly nocturnal, and most active when villagers were not. It appears that translocated deer adapted over time to human disturbance and this pattern is similar to that of other species during periods of hunting. People do not pose an actual threat to Eld’s deer, but their presence triggered a response akin to predator avoidance and may be interfering with broader aspects of their biology and conservation.     

The impact of recreational boat traffic on Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus)

This study evaluated the impact of small boat traffic on reaction distances of Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), in the marine waters of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada. Observers on moving boats recorded the minimum distance the boat came to murrelets on the water, and any disturbance reaction (fly, dive, no reaction). Out of the 7500 interactions 11.7% flew, 30.8% dove and 58.1% exhibited no flushing reaction. Using a product-limit analysis, we developed curves for the proportion of Marbled Murrelets flushing (dive or flight) as a function of reaction distance. Overall, the majority of Marbled Murrelets waited until boats were within 40 m before reacting, with 25% of the population reacting at 29.2m. A stepwise Cox regression indicated that age, boat speed, and boat density (loaded in that order), significantly affected flushing response. More juveniles flushed than adults (70.1 versus 51.7%), but at closer distances. Faster boats caused a greater proportion of birds to flush, and at further distances (25% of birds flushed at 40 m at speeds > 29 kph versus 28m at speeds <12kph). A stepwise logistic regression on diving and flight responses indicated that birds tended to fly completely out of feeding areas at the approach of boats travelling >28.8 kph and later in the season (July and August). Other secondary variables included; boat density and time of day. Discussion focused on possible management actions such as the application of speed limits, set back distances, and exclusion of boat traffic to protect Marbled Murrelets.     

Bed Stability and Sedimentation Associated With Human Disturbances in Pacific Northwest Streams1

Abstract: To evaluate anthropogenic sedimentation in United States (U.S.) Pacific Northwest coastal streams, we applied an index of relative bed stability (LRBS*) to summer low flow survey data collected using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program field methods in a probability sample of 101 wadeable stream reaches. LRBS* is the log of the ratio of bed surface geometric mean particle diameter (D_gm) to critical diameter (D*_cbf) at bankfull flow, based on a modified Shield’s criterion for incipient motion. We used a formulation of LRBS* that explicitly accounts for reductions in bed shear stress that result from channel form roughness due to pools and wood. LRBS* ranged from ?1.9 to +0.5 in streams within the lower quartile of human riparian and basin disturbance, and was substantially lower (?4.2 to ?1.1) in streams within the upper quartile of human disturbance. Modeling results suggest that the expected range of LRBS* in streams without human disturbances in this region might be generally between ?0.7 and +0.5 in either sedimentary or volcanic lithology. However, streams draining relatively soft, erodible sedimentary lithology showed greater reductions in LRBS* associated with disturbance than did those having harder, more resistant volcanic (basalt) lithology with similar levels of basin and riparian disturbance. At any given level of disturbance, smaller streams had lower LRBS* than those with larger drainages. In sedimentary lithology (sandstone and siltstone), high‐gradient streams had higher LRBS* than did low‐gradient streams of the same size and level of human disturbance. High gradient streams in volcanic lithology, in contrast, had lower LRBS* than low‐gradient streams of similar size and disturbance. Correlations between D_gm and land disturbance were stronger than those observed between D*_cbf and land disturbance. This pattern suggests that land use has augmented sediment supplies and increased streambed fine sediments in the most disturbed streams. However, we also show evidence that some of the apparent reductions in LRBS*, particularly in steep streams draining small volcanic drainages, may have resulted in part from anthropogenic increases in bed shear stress. The synoptic survey methods and designs we use appear adequate to evaluate regional patterns in bed stability and sedimentation and their general relationship to human disturbances. More precise field measurements of channel slope, cross‐section geometry, and bed surface particle size would be required to use LRBS* in applications requiring a higher degree of accuracy and precision, such as site‐specific assessments at individual streams.     

气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响

人类活动所引起的温室效应及由此造成的气候变化和对全球生态环境的影响已受到国际社会的普遍关注。火干扰作为森林生态系统重要的干扰因子,对森林生态系统碳循环产生重要影响以及对未来气候变化的响应更是人们关注的重点。正确理解气候变暖、火干扰与森林生态系统碳循环之间的因果循环关系,了解气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响,对制定科学合理的林火管理策略、充分发挥林火管理在森林生态系统碳循环和碳平衡以及缓解碳排放中的作用均有重要的意义。系统论述了气候变暖、火干扰与森林生态系统碳循环之间的逻辑循环关系,并对相关的研究进展进行综述。重点剖析了气候变暖对火干扰的影响,气候变暖背景下火干扰对森林生态系统碳循环的影响,并提出了全球变暖背景下科学有效的林火管理策略与措施,以及今后需要加强的一些研究领域及方向。     

An alternative approach to reconstructing organic matter accumulation with contrasting watershed disturbance histories from lake sediments

A number of proxies, including carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) and stable isotopes (delta(13)C and delta(15)N), have been used to reconstruct organic matter (OM) profiles from lake sediments and these proxies individually or in combination cannot clearly discriminate different sources. Here we present an alternative approach to elucidate this problem from lake sediments as a function of watershed scale land use changes. Stable isotope signatures of defined OM sources from the study watersheds, Shawnigan Lake (SHL) and Elk Lake (ELL), were compared with sedimentary proxy records. Results from this study reveal that terrestrial inputs and catchment soil coinciding with the watershed disturbances histories probably contributed in recent trophic enrichment in SHL. In contrast, cultural eutrophication in ELL was partially a result of input from catchment soil (agricultural activities) with significant input from lake primary production as well. Results were consistent in both IsoSource (IsoSource version 1.2 is a Visual Basic program used for source separation, (http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/models/isosource/isosource.htm) and discriminant analysis (statistical classification technique).     

高海拔工程扰动区不同植物生态修复适应性研究

以砂生槐、白羊草、黑穗画眉草、狗尾草、白三叶草等5种先锋植物为研究对象,通过植物调查和土壤采样室内养分测定,结合主成分分析法,对不同试验区的植物群落结构和土壤肥力进行相关性分析。结果表明：与对照区相比,不同试验区Shannon Wiener指数（H）表现出显著差异,Simpson优势度指数（D）和Pielou均匀度指数（J）差异不明显,不同群落 H值依次为黑穗画眉草植物群落＞白羊草植物群落＞砂生槐植物群落＞白三叶草植物群落＞狗尾草植物群落;不同植物群落下土壤有效氮含量、含水率平均值明显高于对照区,砂生槐改良土壤肥力效果最好,白三叶草对土壤含水率影响最大。     

便携式气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器法测定低浓度总烃的氧气干扰特征研究

研究了采用便携式气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器法测定气体中的总烃浓度时,氧气浓度对测定结果的影响,并采用多元线性回归模型对总烃的测定结果进行了校准。当总烃的实际浓度不低于9 mg/m³时,氧气的干扰较小(相对标准偏差≤2%)。在试验的所有总烃实际浓度下(1~200 mg/m³),当氧气浓度为1%~7%时,也无需考虑氧气干扰的影响(相对标准偏差≤2%)。当总烃的实际浓度低于9 mg/m³且氧气浓度为9%~21%时,需依据多元线性回归分析原理并采用模型对测得的总烃浓度进行校准。线性回归方程分析结果显示,模型拟合情况良好(R²=0.999),可以用来修正测试结果,从而得到更加准确的总烃实际浓度。     

不同模拟条件下太湖沉积物-水界面磷行为的研究

随着大量的磷输入水体,太湖富营养化已经成为一个严重的环境问题。沉积物内源磷的释放是湖泊上覆水体磷浓度升高的重要因素之一。文章针对太湖特征,模拟影响沉积物内源磷释放过程因素中的扰动、溶解氧和pH条件研究表层沉积物的内源磷行为。结果表明,在厌氧环境下有利于磷的释放,且没有扰动条件要比有扰动的释放量大,达到0.297 mg/L;好氧条件不利于磷的释放,经过好氧培养的沉积物中有机磷平均减少了约50%,好氧-厌氧交替使得铁结合态磷提高了0.001 8 mg/g。pH 8.2~8.6有助于沉积物磷的释放,且不同pH值下沉积物磷的最大释放时间不同,pH 9.0沉积物磷在1 d时最大释放量达到0.162 mg/L;沉积物中磷在不同pH下的形态会发生不同程度的转变,其中铁结合态磷(Fe-P)的转变最大。可见扰动、溶解氧、pH对沉积物内源磷的释放有着显著影响。     

森林土壤呼吸对人为干扰因素的响应

森林土壤是大气CO₂重要的排放源。施肥、采伐、火烧、林下植被管理和土地利用方式改变等人为措施改变了土壤理化性质和土壤微气候,显著影响森林土壤CO₂的产生与排放。人为干扰对森林土壤呼吸的影响已积累了丰富的研究结果,但因森林类型、土壤状况、地域差异以及气候因素的不同,即使同一种干扰因素对土壤呼吸的影响也存在促进、降低或者未改变等不同的结论。论文利用相关论文数据库查询森林土壤呼吸的文献,在简要分析影响森林土壤呼吸自然因素（土壤温度、含水量）的基础上,重点论述了施肥、采伐、火烧、林下植被管理以及土地利用方式改变等人为因素对森林土壤呼吸的影响,系统揭示了人为干扰对森林土壤呼吸影响的作用机制,并探讨今后需要加强的研究方向,以期为气候变化背景下我国林地的合理、可持续经营起到借鉴和启示的作用。     

应对数字化地形变观测干扰分析与实践

文章在讨论、分析2010年5月初密封前后主要气象因素(大风、气压、强降水)对淮北台定点地形变观测影响的基础上,认为大风主要对倾斜仪产生干扰,气压主要对伸缩仪产生干扰,且密封后主要气象因素的干扰均得到改善。