The role of digital data entry in participatory environmental monitoring

Many argue that monitoring conducted exclusively by scientists is insufficient to address ongoing environmental challenges. One solution entails the use of mobile digital devices in participatory monitoring (PM) programs. But how digital data entry affects programs with varying levels of stakeholder participation, from nonscientists collecting field data to nonscientists administering every step of a monitoring program, remains unclear. We reviewed the successes, in terms of management interventions and sustainability, of 107 monitoring programs described in the literature (hereafter programs) and compared these with case studies from our PM experiences in Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greenland, and Vietnam (hereafter cases). Our literature review showed that participatory programs were less likely to use digital devices, and 2 of our 3 more participatory cases were also slow to adopt digital data entry. Programs that were participatory and used digital devices were more likely to report management actions, which was consistent with cases in Ethiopia, Greenland, and Australia. Programs engaging volunteers were more frequently reported as ongoing, but those involving digital data entry were less often sustained when data collectors were volunteers. For the Vietnamese and Canadian cases, sustainability was undermined by a mismatch in stakeholder objectives. In the Ghanaian case, complex field protocols diminished monitoring sustainability. Innovative technologies attract interest, but the foundation of effective participatory adaptive monitoring depends more on collaboratively defined questions, objectives, conceptual models, and monitoring approaches. When this foundation is built through effective partnerships, digital data entry can enable the collection of more data of higher quality. Without this foundation, or when implemented ineffectively or unnecessarily, digital data entry can be an additional expense that distracts from core monitoring objectives and undermines project sustainability. The appropriate role of digital data entry in PM likely depends more on the context in which it is used and less on the technology itself.     

Combined Effects of Levels of Protection and Environmental Variables at Different Spatial Resolutions on Fish Assemblages in a Marine Protected Area

Abstract: The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear, but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design. The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered. We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m² (transect) and approximately 30,000 m² (seascape). We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type, bottom complexity, and depth. We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection. Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status. This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level. Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics, primarily depth, and bottom complexity. Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection, designing MPAs, and monitoring their effectiveness. It identified areas that provided natural shelter, areas acting as buffer zones, and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection. The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs.     

Can we take the pulse of environmental governance the way we take the pulse of nature? Applying the Freshwater Health Index in Latin America

Quantitative assessments have long been used to evaluate the condition of the natural environment, providing information for standard setting, adaptive management, and monitoring. Similar approaches have been developed to measure environmental governance, however, the end result (e.g., numeric indicators) belies the subjective and normative judgments that are involved in evaluating governance. We demonstrate a framework that makes this information transparent, through an application of the Freshwater Health Index in three different river basins in Latin America. Water Governance is measured on a 0–100 scale, using data derived from perception-based surveys administered to stakeholders. Results suggest that water governance is a primary area of concern in all three places, with low overall scores (Guandu-26, Alto Mayo-38, Bogotá-43). We conclude that this approach to measuring governance at the river basin scale provides valuable information to support monitoring and decision making, and we offer suggestions on how it can be improved.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01407-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

协同治理理论视角下连云港湾长制试点存在的问题及对策

近岸海域环境综合治理是典型的公共产品和公共服务,需要多个主体协同治理。连云港湾长制已实施两年多,虽取得了一定成效,但从协同治理理论来看,仍存在治理主体相对单一、公众参与不足问题。因此,今后应以协同治理理论为指导,形成多元的治理主体,树立各个治理主体的权威性,加强各治理主体的协同性,充分发挥各治理主体的积极性,共同推进湾长制的实施。     

Structure and activity of thermophilic methanogenic microbial communities exposed to quaternary ammonium sanitizer

Food processing facilities often use antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) sanitizers to maintain cleanliness. These QACs can end up in wastewaters used as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of QAC contamination on biogas production and structure of microbial communities in thermophilic digester sludge. Methane production and biogas quality data were analyzed in batch anaerobic digesters containing QAC at 0, 15, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L. Increasing sanitizer concentration in the bioreactors negatively impacted methane production rate and biogas quality. Microbial community composition data was obtained through 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the QAC-contaminated sludges. Sequencing data showed no significant restructuring of the bacterial communities. However, significant restructuring was observed within the archaeal communities as QAC concentration increased. Further studies to confirm these effects on a larger scale and with a longer retention time are necessary.     

海洋环境下ZL115-T5铸铝合金/C41500海军黄铜腐蚀行为研究

目的研究海军某型装备壳体结构材料在海洋环境下的腐蚀行为及规律。方法根据折算出的实验室加速腐蚀试验环境谱,开展了ZL115-T5铸铝合金试验件、ZL115-T5铸铝合金/C41500海军黄铜接触试验件、模拟实际涂抹黄油试验件以及模拟维护涂抹缓蚀剂试验件的实验室加速腐蚀试验。结果得到了该型铝合金在不同服役年限及服役状态下的腐蚀形貌、质量、平均腐蚀深度以及腐蚀损伤度变化规律。结论该型合金在不同服役状态下的腐蚀行为呈现差异化,ZL115-T5铸铝合金与C41500海军黄铜偶合接触会加速铸铝合金的腐蚀,黄油能够在一定程度上抑制电偶腐蚀,但效果并不明显。缓蚀剂能够延缓海洋环境下ZL115-T5铸铝合金腐蚀,其中THFS-10软膜缓蚀剂以及THFS-15长效硬膜缓蚀剂效果较好。     

热带海洋大气环境下X70管线钢的缝隙腐蚀行为研究

目的研究X70管线钢在热带海洋大气实海环境下的缝隙腐蚀行为。方法在距离湛江东海岛海岸50m和200 m处分别搭建楔型缝隙模型,安装大气环境Cl-收集装置和自动气象监测站。结果距离海岸越近,风速越大,大气中Cl-沉降速率也越大,X70管线钢缝隙腐蚀越严重。X70管线钢在距离海岸50 m处发生缝隙腐蚀的最大缝宽约为0.96 mm,200 m处最大缝宽约为3.75 mm,50 m处缝隙腐蚀更严重。结论缝隙腐蚀区域形成了氧浓差电池,同时随着缝隙液中Cl-向缝隙内迁移,发生闭塞区电池自催化过程,在二者共同作用下,缝隙腐蚀区域较非缝隙腐蚀区域腐蚀更严重。     

浅析舰载武器海洋环境适应性验证要求

基于舰载武器随航母服役寿命期海洋环境特点,从标准选用和剪裁的角度对其环境适应性试验验证要求进行了分析。综合考虑舰载武器所面临的气候环境和机械环境,全面提出了舰载武器海洋环境适应性验证要求的一些建议。由于目前我国对舰载导弹海洋环境研究尚不充分,依据标准也大多是国外不同渠道引进的,尚有不一致之处,标准剪裁是否合理有待商榷。同时,还指出了需要进一步研究的关键技术问题,以为更合理提出海洋环境适应性验证要求提供支撑。     

GJB 4239—2001在航空型号研制中的应用

结合GJB 4239—2001《装备环境工程通用要求》在航空重点型号研制中应用案例和工作经验,系统地阐述了环境工程技术体系在立项论证阶段、工程研制阶段和设计定型阶段的实现方式,并着重介绍了近几年以来GJB 4239—2001《装备环境工程通用要求》在重点航空型号项目研制中的应用情况。最后,分别在环境分析、环境设计、环境试验,以及环境工程管理等四个方面分析了实际型号研制工作中工作项目、开展时机、输出形式所存在的突出问题,并给出了今后改进完善的建议。     

水专项"十三五"时期辽河流域水环境管理研究思路初探

以水专项在辽河流域实施的阶段性成果及辽河流域水环境管理现状为基础,分析"十三五"时期辽河流域水环境管理的需求,提出构建成套流域水环境管理技术体系和管理大平台、全面建设并优化水生态环境监测网络、实行水环境管理的动态调节机制和建立健全流域水环境管理长效机制的水环境管理研究思路,并指出研究应密切结合地方管理,充分发挥地方环境管理的责任主体地位,为水专项第三阶段"综合调控"战略目标的实现提供有力支撑.