Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas’ morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments’ creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old‐growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.     

Climate change and soil salinity: The case of coastal Bangladesh

This paper estimates location-specific soil salinity in coastal Bangladesh for 2050. The analysis was conducted in two stages: First, changes in soil salinity for the period 2001–2009 were assessed using information recorded at 41 soil monitoring stations by the Soil Research Development Institute. Using these data, a spatial econometric model was estimated linking soil salinity with the salinity of nearby rivers, land elevation, temperature, and rainfall. Second, future soil salinity for 69 coastal sub-districts was projected from climate-induced changes in river salinity and projections of rainfall and temperature based on time trends for 20 Bangladesh Meteorological Department weather stations in the coastal region. The findings indicate that climate change poses a major soil salinization risk in coastal Bangladesh. Across 41 monitoring stations, the annual median projected change in soil salinity is 39 % by 2050. Above the median, 25 % of all stations have projected changes of 51 % or higher.     

Structural change and sustainable development

In this paper, we show that the commonly observed decline in primary (natural resource using) sector output and employment shares, often termed structural change, can be explained as an endogenous response to the presence of nature's constraint. Structural change takes place even if consumer preferences are homothetic, and technological progress does not discriminate against the primary sector. Under certain conditions, structural change allows an open economy to grow with natural resource sustainability. Sustained and environmentally sustainable economic growth is possible even if the natural resource is exploited under open access. Well-defined property rights are neither necessary, nor sufficient for sustainable growth. We show that there is no unique relationship between natural resource endowment and the rate of economic growth over the long run. Resource-rich economies may grow faster or slower than resource-poor ones.     

广州城市生态环境变化

对广州城市生态环境因子的大气，水，固体废弃物和噪声污染状况近十年数据结合广州城市发展，分析其环境污染变化特征，结果表明，广州市大气环境污染已由煤烟型向石油型转变;环境中有机污染严重，主要表现为氨氮，BOD5，砷化物和汞化物污染，固体垃圾产出量逐年增加，声环境在逐步好转。     

用热分析法研究鼎湖山土壤的粘粒矿物

广东鼎湖山自然保护区的土壤主要为山地黄壤和赤红壤。本文用差热-热重-微商热重(DTA-TG-DTG)联合热分析法,对两种土壤的粘粒矿物进行了初步研究,确认两种土壤的粘粒矿物组成主要为伊利石、高岭石、三水铝石、蛭石、针铁矿等。伊利石、三水铝石、蛭石的含量山地黄壤多于赤红壤,而高岭石则相反。两种土壤的风化程度不高,土壤矿物风化主要处于幼年阶段,山地黄壤尤其明显。另外,对不同林型下的赤红壤也进行了对比研究,其粘粒矿物组成和数量差异不大。     

广西涠洲岛沉凝灰岩土壤粘粒矿物的研究

用X射线衍射分析和电子显微镜分析,对涠洲岛沉凝灰岩母质发育土壤的两个典型剖面八个土样的粘粒矿物进行分析研究。结果表明,离火山口距离不同的两个剖面土壤粘粒矿物组成不同,1号剖面以2:1型粘粒矿物为主,2号剖面则以1:1型粘粒矿物为主;结合其它分析结果,讨论了两个剖面土壤粘粒矿物组成不同的原因、对土壤有关特性的影响及其与土壤形成和分类的关系。     

Modelling the impacts of land-use and drainage density on the water balance of a lowland–floodplain landscape in northeast Germany

This study presents the modelling approach and impact assessment of different strategies for managing wetland water resources and groundwater dynamics of landscapes which are characterised by the hydrological interactions of floodplains and the adjacent lowlands. The assessment of such impacts is based on the analysis of simulation results of complex scenarios of land-use changes and changes of the density of the drainage-network. The method has been applied to the 198 km² Lower Havel River catchment as a typical example of a lowland–floodplain landscape. The model used consists of a coupled soil water and groundwater model, where the latter one is additionally coupled to the surface channel network. Thus, the hydrological processes of the variable saturated soil zone as well as lateral groundwater flow and the interactions between surface water and groundwater are simulated in an integrated manner. The model was validated for several years of significantly different meteorological conditions. The comparison of lateral and vertical water balance components showed the dominance of lateral flow processes and the importance of the interactions between surface water and groundwater for the overall water balance and the hydrological state of that type of landscape.The simulation of land-use change scenarios showed only minor effects of land-use change on the water balance and groundwater recharge. Changes of groundwater recharge were particularly small within the wetland areas being part of the floodplain where interactions between surface water and groundwater are most pronounced. Alterations in vertical groundwater recharge were counter-balanced by the lateral interaction between groundwater and surface water. More significant deviations in groundwater recharge and storage were observed in the more peripheral areas towards the catchment boundaries which are characterised by greater groundwater distance from the surface and less intense of ground water–surface water interactions.However, the simulation results assuming a coarsening of the drainage network density showed the importance of drainage structure and geometry for the water balance: The removal of the artificial draining ditches in the floodplain would result in significant alterations of total groundwater recharge, i.e., less recharge from winter to early summer and an increase of groundwater recharge during summer and autumn. Furthermore the different effects of groundwater recharge alterations on the dynamics of groundwater stages within the wetland areas close to the floodplains compared to the more peripheral areas could be quantified. Finally, it will be discussed that a well-adjusted co-ordination of different management measures is required to reach a sustainable water resources management of such lowland–floodplain landscapes.     

关中东部缓坡地面全新世土壤侵蚀与沉积发展演变规律研究

对华县古洪积扇全新世黄土一土壤剖面的磁化率、粒度进行分析研究，揭示了全新世以来缓坡地面面状流水侵蚀和沉积的发生规律。研究结果表明，晚更新世末期，由于黄土土质疏松，植被薄弱，在即将进入全新世时有自然侵蚀沉积发生；在全新世4000aB．P.之前，洪积扇特殊的环境生态条件造成土壤堆积时期土壤水分缺乏，成壤较弱，面状流水侵蚀与沉积活动不明显。自夏商时代以来，农业耕垦活动影响古洪积扇地表，促进了坡面流水侵蚀堆积过程，发生了面状流水侵蚀；从3100aB．P.开始气候干旱，人类活动强烈地影响着当地的生态环境，加速了面状流水侵蚀沉积；隋唐以来人类活动引起的加速侵蚀沉积则更进一步增强，这个过程反映土壤侵蚀呈现阶段性加速的趋势。由此可见，土壤侵蚀的加速是与人类的活动相伴随，随着人类活动强度的增强，土壤侵蚀在自然侵蚀的基础上，呈现加速趋势。     

Enrichment of potentially toxic elements in areas underlain by black shales and slates in Korea

The Okchon black shale in Korea provides an important example of natural geological materials containing toxic elements; the Chung-Joo, Duk-Pyung, Geum-Kwan, I-Won and Chu-Bu areas are underlain by these black shales and slates of the Guryongsan Formation. This formation is part of the Okchon Group which is found in the central part of Korea. Geochemical surveys were undertaken in these five study areas in the Okchon Zone in order to examine the level of enrichment and dispersion patterns of potentially toxic elements in rocks and soils. After appropriate preparation, samples were analysed by instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry for a range of elements. Arsenic, Cu, Mo, V, U and Zn are highly enriched in the Okchon black shales and their mean concentrations are significantly higher than those in black slates. These elements are closely associated with one another from a geochemical viewpoint and may be enriched simultaneously. Mean concentrations of As, Mo and U in soils derived from black shales occurring in the Duk-Pyung and Chu-Bu areas are higher than the permissible level suggested by Kloke (1979), and the enrichment index decreases in the order of Duk- Pyung > Chu-Bu > Chung-Joo > Geum-Kwan = I-Won areas. Uranium-bearing minerals such as uraninite and brannerite have been identified in black shales from the Chung-Joo area by electron probe micro-analysis. Uraninite grains are closely associated with monazite and pyrite with a grain size ranging from 2m to 10m whereas brannerite grains occur as a euhedral form 50m in diameter.     

转sck单价基因和cry1Ac/sck双价基因水稻对二化螟的致死效应及中肠组织病理变化观察

室内采用离体叶片法研究了转sck单价基因抗虫水稻86AS1和转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻MSB不同生育期主茎顶叶对二化螟幼虫的杀虫效果.结果发现,不同生育期的MSB对二化螟初孵幼虫表现出了很强的毒杀效果,二化螟幼虫校正死亡率在扬花期前均达到90%以上;扬花期和灌浆期抗虫性有所下降,校正死亡率高于80%;成熟期校正死亡率在60%以上.在整个生育期,二化螟幼虫取食86AS1主茎顶叶的校正死亡率均未超过50%.MSB对二化螟幼虫的毒杀效果明显高于86AS1.采用透射电镜观察二化螟幼虫取食转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻和转sck单价基因抗虫水稻主茎顶叶后中肠组织的病理变化.结果发现,两种转基因水稻都能够引起二化螟幼虫中肠组织发生病理变化,但病变程度有明显差异.二化螟幼虫取食转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻3d,中肠组织受到严重破坏且病理变化明显;取食转sck单价基因抗虫水稻3d,幼虫中肠组织的病理变化却较缓慢.图2参10