Shifting Baselines and The Extinction of The Caribbean Monk Seal

The recent extnction of the Caribbean monk seal Monachus tropicalis has been considered an example of a human‐caused extinction in the marine environment, and this species was considered a driver of the changes that have occurred in the structure of Caribbean coral reef ecosystems since colonial times. I searched archaeological records, historical data, and geographic names (used as a proxy of the presence of seals) and evaluated the use and quality of these data to conclude that since prehistoric times the Caribbean monk seal was always rare and vulnerable to human predation. This finding supports the hypothesis that in AD 1500, the Caribbean monk seal persisted as a small fragmented population in which individuals were confined to small keys, banks, or isolated islands in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This hypothesis is contrary to the assumption that the species was widespread and abundant historically. The theory that the main driver of monk seal extinction was harvesting for its oil for use in the sugar cane industry of Jamaica during the 18th century is based primarily on anecdotal information and is overemphasized in the literature. An analysis of reported human encounters with this species indicates monk seal harvest was an occasional activity, rather than an ongoing enterprise. Nevertheless, given the rarity of this species and its restricted distribution, even small levels of hunting or specimen collecting must have contributed to its extinction, which was confirmed in the mid‐20th century. Some sources had been overlooked or only partially reviewed, others misinterpreted, and a considerable amount of anecdotal information had been uncritically used. Critical examination of archaeological and historical records is required to infer accurate estimations of the historical abundance of a species. In reconstructing the past to address the shifting baseline syndrome, it is important to avoid selecting evidence to confirm modern prejudices. Puntos de Referencia Cambiantes y la Extinción de la Foca Monje Caribeña     

浅析环境医学在环境保护中的应用与展望

环境医学是环境科学中-门新兴的前沿学科,必将对环境科学的发展产生越来越重要的作用,尤其在环境保护的实际应用中会发挥出更大的作用.本文就环境医学在环境保护中的应用与展望进行了浅析,对其在环境保护管理中的实际应用提出了具体的开展方法与应用展望.     

四川省环境污染经济损失与污染治理投资比例探讨

环境保护同经济建设和社会发展相协调,是我国环境保护的基本原则。本文从环境保护与经济发展的相互关系出发,比较实际地估计了我省各种污染排放物及造成的经济损失,探讨了环保治理资金社会投入的比例问题。     

新疆乡镇企业经济与生态环境保护协调发展战略的探讨（二）

文中论述了新疆地区乡镇企业发展与生态环境有关的产业结构特点和分布,分地区、分行业计算了乡镇工业1985—1988年的“三废”污染和生态破坏状况,并对1995年和2000年“三废”污染控制数量及生态—经济规划指标作了综合评述。提出了新疆乡镇企业经济与生态环境保护协调发展战略的主要对策和建议。     

ITERATIVE EVALUATION OF A LAKE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM1

ABSTRACT: Local governments often face environmental problems that cross political boundaries. The onus for solution usually falls on the moat severely affected jurisdiction, others do nothing until impacted. Resolution of these problems requires cooperation across political boundaries which means that local governments must be persuaded first that there is a problem, and second that action is required to solve it. This paper presents a method to supply low cost, credible information that can be used to achieve consensus on problem solution. A case study of a lake water quality management problem is described. Formative evaluation techniques was adapted to provide a minimum of evidence which was then used to persuade less impacted local jurisdictions to cooperate in the problem solution.     

城市环境水文问题分析

城市化对水环境污染是一个具有普遍性和严重性的问题.城市水环境污染分为点污染和面污染两类.本文针对城市降雨径流污染(城市面源污染)作了系统分析.其内容包括城市化对降雨径流的影响,城市面污染的积累和暴雨径流的冲刷,以及推求城市暴雨径流污染负荷过程的模拟途径.     

江西山地森林资源的保护与合理开发

江西省是我国南方山地森林资源丰富的省份之一。本文详细分析了江西山地森林资源的现状和存在的问题,并就山地森林的保护和合理开发利用提出了6项综合治理措施。     

成都府、南河航运的兴衰与复航展望

本文论述了府河航运的兴衰，讨论了复航的必要性、可能性和要解决的一些问题。