Predicting the Spatial Distribution of a Seabird Community to Identify Priority Conservation Areas in the Timor Sea

Understanding spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of species is fundamental to the conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. To support strategic decision making aimed at sustainable management of the oceans, such as the establishment of protected areas for marine wildlife, we identified areas predicted to support multispecies seabird aggregations in the Timor Sea. We developed species distribution models for 21 seabird species based on at‐sea survey observations from 2000–2013 and oceanographic variables (e.g., bathymetry). We applied 4 statistical modeling techniques and combined the results into an ensemble model with robust performance. The ensemble model predicted the probability of seabird occurrence in areas where few or no surveys had been conducted and demonstrated 3 areas of high seabird richness that varied little between seasons. These were located within 150 km of Adele Island, Ashmore Reef, and the Lacepede Islands, 3 of the largest aggregations of breeding seabirds in Australia. Although these breeding islands were foci for high species richness, model performance was greatest for 3 nonbreeding migratory species that would have been overlooked had regional monitoring been restricted to islands. Our results indicate many seabird hotspots in the Timor Sea occur outside existing reserves (e.g., Ashmore Reef Marine Reserve), where shipping, fisheries, and offshore development likely pose a threat to resident and migratory populations. Our results highlight the need to expand marine spatial planning efforts to ensure biodiversity assets are appropriately represented in marine reserves. Correspondingly, our results support the designation of at least 4 new important bird areas, for example, surrounding Adele Island and Ashmore Reef. Pronostico de la Distribución Espacial de una Comunidad de Aves Marinas para Identificar Áreas Prioritarias de Conservación en el Mar de Timor     

云母类矿物钾肥的施用效应

我国钾资源贫乏，目前使用的钾肥主要靠国外进口．通过物理、化学和生物的方法，对云母类矿石进行活化而制成云母类矿物钾肥，不失为解决我国南方土壤钾素缺乏问题的一条有效途径．本文对中科院地化所提供的通过活化处理制取的云母类矿物钾肥进行了肥效试验．结果表明，施用云母类矿物钾肥与施用等钾量的氯化钾相比，无论是作物的吸钾能力，还是土壤的供钾能力．前者都比后者显著提高．因此，开发云母类矿物钾肥资源具有广阔的前景．     

Metals in edible fish from Vistula River and Dead Vistula River channel,Baltic Sea

Metals including Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn were determined in muscle tissue of 12 fish species by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and cold vapour-atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS). Fish were collected from Vistula River at lower course and Dead Vistula River channel in south of Baltic Sea in Poland. The fish species examined include Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus), Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius), Bull-rout (Myoxocephalus scorpius), Tench (Tinca tinca), Bream (Abramis brama), Burbot (Lota lot), Perch (Perca perca), Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Pikeperch (Stizostediun lucioperca), Brown salmon (Salmo trutta m. Trutta) and Eel (Anguilla anguilla). The median values of metal concentrations in fresh muscle tissue of 11 fish species varied as follows: Al < 0.5–60; Ba < 0.05–0.31; Ca 120–1800; Cd < 0.05–0.096; Co < 0.10; Cr < 0.10–0.50; Cu < 0.15–0.77; Fe 1.5–21; Hg 0.0058–0.65; K 1800–4200; Mg 130–560; Mn 0.12–0.59; Na 350–840; Ni < 0.2–0.31; Pb < 0.75; Sr 0.079–2.9; Zn 3.3–23 μg/g fresh weight. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values calculated in this study for Cd and Hg from muscles of fish species collected from Vistula River were low in the range of 0.4 for Hg and 0.8 for Cd. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B to view the free supplemental file.     

The Silent Mass Extinction of Insect Herbivores in Biodiversity Hotspots

Abstract: Habitat loss is silently leading numerous insects to extinction. Conservation efforts, however, have not been designed specifically to protect these organisms, despite their ecological and evolutionary significance. On the basis of species–host area equations, parameterized with data from the literature and interviews with botanical experts, I estimated the number of specialized plant‐feeding insects (i.e., monophages) that live in 34 biodiversity hotspots and the number committed to extinction because of habitat loss. I estimated that 795,971–1,602,423 monophagous insect species live in biodiversity hotspots on 150,371 endemic plant species, which is 5.3–10.6 monophages per plant species. I calculated that 213,830–547,500 monophagous species are committed to extinction in biodiversity hotspots because of reduction of the geographic range size of their endemic hosts. I provided rankings of biodiversity hotspots on the basis of estimated richness of monophagous insects and on estimated number of extinctions of monophagous species. Extinction rates were predicted to be higher in biodiversity hotspots located along strong environmental gradients and on archipelagos, where high spatial turnover of monophagous species along the geographic distribution of their endemic plants is likely. The results strongly support the overall strategy of selecting priority conservation areas worldwide primarily on the basis of richness of endemic plants. To face the global decline of insect herbivores, one must expand the coverage of the network of protected areas and improve the richness of native plants on private lands.     

Effects of climatic data low-pass filtering on the ICBM temperature- and moisture-based soil biological activity factors in a cool and humid climate

The air temperature (T_air), total precipitation (TP) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) are standard input data for soil carbon dynamic models, i.e., for calculating temperature and moisture effects on soil biological activity. The resolution needed depends on objectives, the complexity of models and inbuilt pedotransfer functions. The Introductory Carbon Balance Model (ICBM) soil climate front end model calculates a multiplicative soil-temperature (r_{e_temp}) and -moisture (r_{e_wat}) factor with a daily time-step to estimate soil biological activity, i.e., r_{e_crop} = r_{e_temp} × r_{e_wat}. Our objective was to determine how much r_{e_temp}, r_{e_wat} and r_{e_crop} are affected by low-pass filtering of the climatic input data for a cool, humid temperate region. To achieve this we conducted spectral analysis on T_air, TP, PET and r_{e_crop} in the frequency domain. Thereafter we applied Fourier low-pass filters of 5, 15, 30, 60 and 180 days on T_air, TP, PET and tracked their effects through the soil climate model's state variables and outputs. This was done using a sandy and a heavy clay soil and an 89-year daily time-series from a meteorological station in Quebec (Canada). The Fourier spectra showed that the variance for T_air, PET and r_{e_crop} was dominated by an annual cycle, as could be expected. There was no yearly cycle for TP. The variation in r_{e_temp} explained most of the variance in r_{e_crop}. The soil climate module outputs were not sensitive to low-pass filtering of PET. A daily time-step was needed to avoid overestimating r_{e_crop} for the sandy soil. Using a weekly time-step for TP and T_air allowed us to explain about 80% of the variance in r_{e_crop} for the heavy clay soil. This study also indicates that the standard leaf (and green) area index functions for calculating transpiration should receive more attention, since they have significant effects on the state and output variables.     

汶川地震灾区小流域洪水计算方法初探

汶川地震灾区小流域山洪不仅造成巨大损失,同时也是泥石流等灾害的激发因素,探寻一种准确且可操作的洪水峰值流量计算方法对防灾减灾具有重要意义。本文选择不同产流和汇流计算方法,组合成不同水文模型,进行小流域洪水过程计算,对模拟结果和参数选择进行对比,旨在探究最适合该地区的小流域水文计算方法。分别选择SCS曲线法、Green-Ampt入渗法、初损稳渗法进行坡面产流计算,应用SCS单位线法、Snyder单位线法和运动波方程进行坡面和沟道汇流计算,组合成5种小流域产汇流计算模型,利用6场洪水进行参数率定和结果验证。模拟结果对比分析,得出SCS曲线法是最适宜的产流模型,其与SCS单位线、运动波汇流计算方法组合而成的SCS和SKK模型,峰现时间的模拟误差最小,在0~25 min之间;洪峰流量模拟的相对误差较小,平均误差不超过4%;洪水总量模拟误差在10%左右。另外,这两种模型参数设置及确定较简单,更适合在数据稀缺的小流域中进行洪水模拟应用。研究可为汶川地震灾区小流域山洪和泥石流等灾害的流量估算提供方法和参数借鉴。     

Can area managers connect policy and tenants? Implementation and diffusion of a new waste management system in Linköping,Sweden

Recycling and reducing household waste are political goals internationally, nationally and locally. In Sweden, households in apartment buildings seem to sort their waste to a lesser extent than households in single-family houses. This paper analyses the challenges of the diffusion of a new waste management system in apartment buildings, and focuses on a municipal housing company and the actions of its area managers. It is argued that area managers can be regarded as street-level bureaucrats who act as ‘collectors’ of tenants’ everyday practices in the studied implementation process. The study is based on interviews, document analysis and observations.     

京津冀地区重污染天气过程的污染气象条件数值模拟研究

通过采用全球再分析格点资料的统计分析和WRF中尺度数值模拟,从天气学和大气边界层气象学角度分析了2013年12月和2014年2月两次重污染过程中京津冀地区天气尺度大气停滞气象条件和大气污染扩散气象条件的特征及其作用,并根据WRF模式精细化模拟结果分析了太行山和燕山对京津冀地区城市大气污染形成的作用.研究结果表明,两次重污染天气过程中京津冀地区500 h Pa等压面上的平均风速均表现为明显的气候异常特征,500 h Pa平均风速较近10年同期分别下降了约30.8%和50.4%,大气停滞系数较近5年同期分别偏高10%和20%以上;京津冀地区发生严重污染时,WRF模式模拟的日平均混合层高度低于200 m,日平均地面10 m风速低于2 m·s-1,日平均通风量可降低到1000 m2·s-1以下,空气质量指数与日平均通风量成负相关,重污染期间的平均通风量比近5年同期平均通风量偏低29.3%~52.8%,这些不利于污染扩散的天气条件持续数日,导致了重污染天气的发生.此外,太行山对西风气流的阻挡是河北中南部地区大气污染加剧的一个重要原因,而当主导风向为偏南风时,偏南气流遇燕山后或转向回流、或爬坡,导致近地面风速减小,不利于污染物扩散,亦加剧了京津冀地区中南部城市的大气污染.     

凤眼莲、稻草和污泥制备生物炭的特性表征与环境影响解析

有机废弃物限氧热解制备生物炭可在减缓温室气体排放的同时改善土壤和水体环境质量,但同时生物炭在环境中的应用具有潜在生态毒理风险.因此,在将生物炭大规模应用于各类环境介质前,对其关键物理-化学性质进行系统分析与评价是极为必要的.本文选择对我国水生生态环境危害最大的入侵植物凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)和我国产量最高的农业废弃物稻草,以及市政污水处理厂剩余污泥3种生物质前体,于250~550℃进行低温慢热解,对所制备生物炭的表面形貌、元素组成、矿物形态和一系列关键化学特性进行了全面表征与比较分析.在此基础上,深入探讨了此3类生物炭应用于土壤改良、重金属污染修复和水体富营养化控制的潜力与风险.结果表明,凤眼莲生物炭中K、Ca、Na、Mg含量最为丰富,指示其对于缓解土壤酸化具有重要应用价值,而其中P主要以AlPO_4晶体态存在,水溶性较低,这有利于降低此类生物炭引起水体富营养化的风险;水稻秸秆生物炭阳离子交换量(CEC)相对较高,达到33.7 cmol·kg~(-1),表明其在提高土壤保肥能力和降低重金属生物有效性方面具有较大潜力;SEM-EDX显示,凤眼莲生物炭和稻草秸秆生物炭均具有发达的束筒结构,可优先考虑用于改善土壤通气性;但是,部分生物炭中水溶性Cd、As含量超出安全阈值,表明对有机质前体和热解产物进行严格检测和筛选是实现生物炭在环境与农业中安全利用的必要环节.     

An experimental and modeling study of continuous liquid fuel spill fires on water

The spread of burning fuel spilled from oil product containers during offshore storage and transportation may cause large damage and trigger further accidents. Some analytical models already exist to predict the spread and burning behavior of liquid fuel spill fires, however, few experimental studies have been conducted to verify the model results. In this paper, continuous n-heptane spill fire experiments were conducted in a rectangular trench covered with water. The burning area, fuel spread rate, and thermal flux with different discharge flow rates and ignition delay times were investigated by both experimental and modeling means. The spill fire burning area, with 5 typical phases during burning, has a quasi-steady value which is directly proportional to the discharge rate but irrelevant to the ignition delay times. The steady burning rate, as the ratio of discharge rate over burning area, was estimated. A spread model was modified to simulate the spread of continuous liquid fuel spill fires in a one-dimensional channel, based on the balance between gravity and viscous forces. A cuboid solid flame model was used to compute the thermal flux from spill fires. The burning fuel spread and the heat flux calculated by the models agree with the experimental results.