When all life counts in conservation

Conservation science involves the collection and analysis of data. These scientific practices emerge from values that shape who and what is counted. Currently, conservation data are filtered through a value system that considers native life the only appropriate subject of conservation concern. We examined how trends in species richness, distribution, and threats change when all wildlife count by adding so-called non-native and feral populations to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and local species richness assessments. We focused on vertebrate populations with founding members taken into and out of Australia by humans (i.e., migrants). We identified 87 immigrant and 47 emigrant vertebrate species. Formal conservation accounts underestimated global ranges by an average of 30% for immigrants and 7% for emigrants; immigrations surpassed extinctions in Australia by 52 species; migrants were disproportionately threatened (33% of immigrants and 29% of emigrants were threatened or decreasing in their native ranges); and incorporating migrant populations into risk assessments reduced global threat statuses for 15 of 18 species. Australian policies defined most immigrants as pests (76%), and conservation was the most commonly stated motivation for targeting these species in killing programs (37% of immigrants). Inclusive biodiversity data open space for dialogue on the ethical and empirical assumptions underlying conservation science.     

Impact of conservation areas on trophic interactions between apex predators and herbivores on coral reefs

Apex predators are declining at alarming rates due to exploitation by humans, but we have yet to fully discern the impacts of apex predator loss on ecosystem function. In a management context, it is critically important to clarify the role apex predators play in structuring populations of lower trophic levels. Thus, we examined the top‐down influence of reef sharks (an apex predator on coral reefs) and mesopredators on large‐bodied herbivores. We measured the abundance, size structure, and biomass of apex predators, mesopredators, and herbivores across fished, no‐take, and no‐entry management zones in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. Shark abundance and mesopredator size and biomass were higher in no‐entry zones than in fished and no‐take zones, which indicates the viability of strictly enforced human exclusion areas as tools for the conservation of predator communities. Changes in predator populations due to protection in no‐entry zones did not have a discernible influence on the density, size, or biomass of different functional groups of herbivorous fishes. The lack of a relationship between predators and herbivores suggests that top‐down forces may not play a strong role in regulating large‐bodied herbivorous coral reef fish populations. Given this inconsistency with traditional ecological theories of trophic cascades, trophic structures on coral reefs may need to be reassessed to enable the establishment of appropriate and effective management regimes. El Impacto de las Áreas de Conservación sobre las Interacciones Tróficas entre los Depredadores Dominantes y los Herbívoros en los Arrecifes de Coral     

系统聚类分析在农户生态系统类型划分中的应用

应用主成分分析法和系统聚类分析法，对湖北省京山县刘家岭村５０个农户进行了生态系统类型数值分类分析，结果表明，该村农户生态系统可分为农－牧业型、果－农－牧业型和渔－农－牧业型三类，与全村３３８个农户情况相符。     

徐州市生态环境问题及其自然、经济、社会原因分析

随着徐州工业化和城市化推进,不可持续的经济社会发展模式给原本脆弱的生态环境造成了极大压力,产生了诸多生态环境问题,区域人口、资源、环境之间的矛盾日趋尖锐。从区域整体角度,在对资源型城市徐州进行了大量调研的基础上,分析了徐州生态环境问题背后的自然、经济、社会原因,并提出相应对策建议。     

辽北四位一体庭院生态系统冬季增温保温效应研究

观测表明，辽北庭院生态系统中日光温室、养猪暖舍、厕所、沼气池四位一体模式具有较好的增温保温效应，效果明显优于单一日光温室，可创造良好的养殖业环境，保证模式中沼气池在冬季良好运行。     

中国陆地植被生态系统生产有机物质价值遥感估算

可持续发展的战略要求推进生态资产研究,对生态系统生产有机物质功能价值的估算则是生态资产评估的重要组成部分。利用改进的CASA模型对中国陆地生态系统1995年NPP进行了估算,它与实测数据和国内其他研究成果的比较验证证明了该方法的可靠性;进而对1995年全国陆地生态系统生产有机物质的价值进行了估算,结果表明,1995年中国陆地生态系统净第一性生产力生产有机物质的总价值为1.902049×1012元.a-1,其空间分布是从东部向西北递减、由中部向东北和南部递增;从类型上看,常绿阔叶林的单位面积值最高,裸地和极稀疏植被的单位面积值最低。     

福州市郊泉头村沼气生态工程建设及其效益分析

应用生态学和系统论的原理，把可利用的生物物质通过沼气厌氧发酵形成良性生态循环系统。这样既解决了农村能源，保护了森林资源和植被，又解决了环境保护等问题。同时，把种植业和养殖业有机地结合起来，取得了综合效益。福州市郊泉头村生态工程建设从１９８６年起经过８年的试点，采用了沼气多级发酵工艺，成功地建造了沼气生态系统工程，促进了生产的发展，１９９３年产值达６８００万元，人均产值９３４００元，成为福州市重点商品猪基地之一和菜篮子工程项目。     

北京城市生态系统的能值动态分析

采用能值理论与分析方法,对北京市1990~2001年间的能值结构动态进行了分析,并采用人均能值、能值密度、生态功能潜力、人口基本承载力、能值自给率、能值货币比率、环境负载率、输入能值比等重要能值指标对该时期北京市城市生态系统的能值状况作了详细分析。研究表明,北京城市生态系统正处于较高发展水平,已基本跨入发达国家水平的行列;但高强度、快速发展给本市带来了巨大的生态环境压力,未来北京的可持续能力建设已势在必行。文章也提出了北京城市生态系统可持续发展能力建设的基本方向。     

世界保护区事业发展的展望

当前,世界130个国家已建立了6500多个保护区,约占地球土地面积4.89％。但是,如何管理好它们,还存在许多问题。本文重点介绍这些问题,并提出一些解决措施,以促进保护区事业的发展。     

山一村山地生态系统结构功能和系统调控

本文对山－村山地生态系统的结构和功能、能量产投比、生物量等进行实地调查和研究。结果表明，通过多年生态建设，山地生态系统已显示较好的经济、环境和社会效益。