SPATIAL VARIATION OF NUTRIENT BALANCE IN THE TRUCKEE RIVER,CALIFORNIA‐NEVADA1

ABSTRACT: Because the Truckee River connects two lakes along the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains with different limiting nutrients, this research addresses whether the nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) balance of the river ecosystem changes longitudinally. Historical (1990 to 2000) total nitro‐gen:total phosphorus (TN:TP) ratios in river water exhibited the expected gradient from high N:P ratios upstream to low N:P ratios downstream, with the major gradient of the N:P balance occurring within the transition between montane and high desert terrain. During 2001, the river contained anomalously low total nitrogen concentrations in the far upper reaches and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the lower reaches, resulting in a less apparent longitudinal gradient of N:P ratios. Measurements of periphyton growth and physiology (nutrient bioassays and ectoenzyme activities) and stoichiometry during the summer of 2001 also exhibited a complex picture of the spatial variation of N:P balance that was not entirely consistent with a strong N:P gradient. However, the compendium of the indicators did support the overall picture of an overarching longitudinal gradient from high to low N:P ratios. The results suggest that periphyton management efforts in the Truckee River should consider the overall spatial gradient as well as the small‐scale dynamics of the stream ecosystem structure.     

MODELING THE EFFECTS OF VARIABLE ANNUAL FLOW ON RIVER CHANNEL MEANDER MIGRATION PATTERNS,SACRAMENTO RIVER,CALIFORNIA, USA1

ABSTRACT: Flow regulation impacts the ecology of major rivers in various ways, including altering river channel migration patterns. Many current meander migration models employ a constant annual flow or dominant discharge value. To assess how flow regulation alters river function, variable annual flows ‐ based on an empirical relationship between bank erosion rates and cumulative effective stream power ‐ were added into an existing migration model. This enhanced model was used to evaluate the potential geomorphic and ecological consequences of four regulated flow scenarios (i.e., different hydrographs) currently being proposed on the Sacramento River in California. The observed rate of land reworked correlated significantly with observed cumulative effective stream power during seven time increments from 1956 to 1975 (r²= 0.74, p = 0.02). The river was observed to rework 3.0 ha/yr of land (a mean channel migration rate of 7.7 m/yr) with rates ranging from 0.8 ha/yr to 5.1 ha/yr (2.0 to 13.3 m/yr), during the analyzed time periods. Modeled rates of land reworked correlated significantly with observed rates of land reworked for the variable flow model (r²= 0.78, p = 0.009). The meander migration scenario modeling predicted a difference of 1 to 8 percent between the four flow management scenarios and the base scenario.     

非人类存在物法律主体资格初探

现代生态伦理观将彻底改变传统人类中心主义伦理观,人类道德共同体的范围不断得到扩展。这是历史的必然,具有革命性和科学性,是对法学理论的创新和超越,也是对传统民法的突破,它以新的法哲学理念为坚实基础,是现代环境保护的必然要求,是现代环境法发展的必然趋势。     

The Role of the Concept of the Natural (Naturalness) in Organic Farming

Producers, traders, and consumers oforganic food regularly use the concept of thenatural (naturalness) to characterize organicagriculture and or organic food, in contrast tothe unnaturalness of conventional agriculture.Critics sometimes argue that such use lacks anyrational (scientific) basis and only refers tosentiment. In our project, we made an attemptto clarify the content and the use of theconcepts of nature and naturalness in organicagriculture, to relate this conception todiscussions within bioethical literature, andto draw the implications for agriculturalpractice and policy.Qualitative interviews were executed with arange of people in the field of organicagriculture and with consumers of organicproducts, on the basis of a list of statementsabout the meaning of the concept of naturalnessformulated by the authors. Based on the resultsof the interviews, we distinguished 3 aspectsof the concept of naturalness: natural as theorganic (life processes), natural as theecological, and natural as referring to thecharacteristic nature of an entity. We relatedthese conceptual aspects to three mainapproaches within the field of organicagriculture: the no chemicals approach, theagro-ecological approach, and the integrityapproach. It became clear that these approachescan also be recognized in the change ofattitude of farmers as they convert fromconventional to organic agriculture, and in theattitudes of consumers of organic foodproducts.We conclude that the idea of ``naturalness' canbe used to characterize organic agriculture andto distinguish it from conventionalagriculture, but only if naturalness not onlyrefers to not using chemicals but also toecological principles and respect for theintegrity of life. Thus perceived, theprinciple of naturalness can also serve as aguide to future developments in the field oforganic agriculture. As part of the holocentricethics of organic farming the value ofnaturalness has three dimensions: a cognitiveone, an emotive one, and a normative one.     

构建生态环境技术服务体系的基本定位与主要对策

四个方面的情况表明,我国必须高度重视生态环境技术服务体系建设问题:一是随着污染防治攻坚战在向纵深推进过程中,地方政府"不会管"、企业"不会治"的问题比较普遍,且日益突出;二是目前各级生态环境部门,特别是市、县两级生态环境技术支持力量薄弱、专业化能力不足,难以支撑当地政府和企业治理环境污染的技术需求;三是目前的生态环境技术服务市场尚满足不了实际需求;四是无论是从结构还是从作用看,生态环境技术服务体系已成为生态环境治理体系和治理能力的短板。因此,构建生态环境技术服务体系是推进生态环境治理体系和治理能力现代化的重要内容,其作用是,在要求环境责任主体做什么的同时,帮助和指导他们怎么做,解决"不会管"和"不会治"的问题。现阶段,政府推动构建生态环境技术服务体系的重点任务:一是明确职能,系统谋划,做好顶层设计;二是强化相关能力建设;三是建立和完善生态环境标准和重大规划与行动计划的配套技术方案制度;四是培育、壮大和规范生态环境技术服务市场;五是以生态环境科技成果转化为抓手,牵引技术服务体系建设。     

Critical success and limiting factors for eco-industrial parks: global trends and Egyptian context

The trend of clustering industries into regional estates or cities was adopted in the mid 1900’s. At present, the number of industrial estates in the world is estimated to be between 12,000 and 20,000 (UNEP, 1997) and this trend is continuing to rise in both developed and developing countries. The implementation of the EIP concept continues to evolve especially with the environmental threats and impact on climate change that industries pose. However, there is not yet a fully developed EIP that is operating; although some successful examples of regional by-product exchanges are functioning ( [Lowe, 2001], [Peck, 2002], [Lowe et?al., 1995] and [Chertow, 2000]). Actually, a significant number of projects have failed or have abandoned the goal of becoming an EIP. Furthermore the current body of knowledge on industrial ecology is not sufficient to provide practical solutions to the obstacles facing EIPs.This paper is based upon the Ph.D. Doctoral thesis research of D. Sakr. It was prepared to examine means to improve the uptake of cleaner production & industrial symbiosis in industrial areas in Middle East & North Africa Region focusing on Egypt as a case study. An extensive literature review was performed on eco-industrial development projects’ experiences around the world, in order to identify the critical driving and limiting factors for EIPs. This paper summarizes the lessons learned from worldwide EIP experiences as a basis for the planning and implementation of future EIPs. The paper reflects as well upon the Egyptian context for the identified EIP success and limiting factors. The identified key success and limiting factors are: the creation of symbiotic relationship, information sharing and awareness, financial benefits, organizational structure, and legal and regulatory framework.     

Developing industrial water reuse synergies in Port Melbourne: cost effectiveness, barriers and opportunities

Urban water scarcity from ongoing drought and an increasing population are driving a range of water saving options to be explored in Melbourne (Australia). This paper assesses the cost effectiveness of five water treatment and industrial reuse options in the Fishermans Bend industrial area at Port Melbourne. In consultation with industrial stakeholders and the local water utility, the study design began by identifying potential water sources and sinks in the area. Treatment technologies for each option - using a combination of membrane bioreactors (MBR) and in some cases reverse osmosis (RO) technologies - were developed. In evaluating the potential for future implementation, the cost effectiveness ($/kiloLitre) was assessed relative to water supply augmentation and water demand management options available in Melbourne. Additionally, the opportunities and barriers for option implementation in Port Melbourne were contrasted with the Kwinana Industrial Area, Western Australia where many regional synergy projects have been undertaken. This research identifies that the future implementation of industrial ecology opportunities requires strong and ongoing stakeholder involvement as described in this paper.     

对《大小兴安岭林区生态保护与经济转型规划》实施后的思考

在国家十二五规划开局之际,二期天保工程启动之时,国家发改委、国务院颁布出台了《大小兴安岭林区生态保护与经济转型规划》,为大小兴安岭林区带来了前所未有的机遇和挑战。《规划》的出台,对于加快推动大小兴安岭林区经济社会发展具有重大的现实意义和深远的历史意义。社会对生态建设的迫切需求,人们对生态改善的迫切渴望,市场对绿色产品、林特产品等需求的不断扩大,维护我国木材安全问题的提出,都为林业和林区的发展带来了机遇。另一方面,稳定粮食生产、经济发展对资源的过度依赖,又给保护生态带来巨大压力。《大小兴安岭林区生态保护与经济转型规划》和天保工程的延续,都为强化生态建设、加快科学发展步伐提供了很多的政策机遇。实现经济转型,体制机制转型是前提。在国家十二五规划中,已明确将森林覆盖率和森林蓄积量确定为约束指标。一定要从大局的高度充分认识和重视生态建设,要坚守基础,巩固成果,坚持生态优先的战略定位,将持续增加森林资源,发挥生态功能做为发展的主攻方向。     

西部大开发中的生态环境保护

西部大开发是一个系统工程,必须正确认识和处理好环境与发展之间的关系,在保护中开发,在开发中保护,大力发展绿色技术,发展循环经济,走可持续发展的道路。     

常州市住宅小区生态环境质量评价初探

建立了以大气环境质量、物理环境质量、建筑环境质量及生态环境质量4个评价指标和13个评价因子为主的住宅小区生态环境质量评价体系,通过对常州市6个典型住宅小区的监测评价,了解了目前常州市住宅小区生态环境质量状况,揭示了影响居民住宅小区生态环境质量的主要因素,并相应地提出了建议。