Assessing Sustainability at Multiple Scales in a Rotational Bushmeat Hunting System

Abstract: Results of many studies show unsustainable levels of bushmeat hunting across West/Central Africa. Nevertheless, these results are usually derived from snapshot sustainability indices in which critical parameters are often taken from the literature. Simple, more informative tools for assessing sustainability are needed. We evaluated the impact of bushmeat hunting across a range of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic scales in a comparison of different measures of sustainability. Over 15 months in 2002–2004 in and around a village close to Equatorial Guinea's Monte Alén National Park, we collected data via a village offtake survey, hunter‐camp bushmeat‐consumption diaries, hunter interviews, and following hunters during hunts. We compared 2003 data with a previous offtake survey (1998–1999) and interview reports back to 1990. In the past 14 years, average distance from the village at which hunters operated remained constant, with hunters switching back and forth between long‐established camps, although trapping effort increased. In the past 5 years, overall offtake and number of active hunters did not change substantially, although catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased slightly. Although the proportion of the two most commonly trapped species (Cephalophus monticola and Atherurus africanus) and gun‐hunted primates increased in the offtake, species presumably less robust to trapping decreased slightly. Apparent sustainability in economic terms may be masking gradual local extirpation of more vulnerable species before and during this study. Our results suggest that changes in prey profiles and CPUE may be the most accurate indicators of actual sustainability; these indices can be monitored with simple village‐based offtake surveys and hunter interviews to improve community management of bushmeat hunting.     

A Lost Link between a Flightless Parrot and a Parasitic Plant and the Potential Role of Coprolites in Conservation Paleobiology

Late Quaternary extinctions and population fragmentations have severely disrupted animal‐plant interactions globally. Detection of disrupted interactions often relies on anachronistic plant characteristics, such as spines in the absence of large herbivores or large fruit without dispersers. However, obvious anachronisms are relatively uncommon, and it can be difficult to prove a direct link between the anachronism and a particular faunal taxon. Analysis of coprolites (fossil feces) provides a novel way of exposing lost interactions between animals (depositors) and consumed organisms. We analyzed ancient DNA to show that a coprolite from the South Island of New Zealand was deposited by the rare and threatened kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a large, nocturnal, flightless parrot. When we analyzed the pollen and spore content of the coprolite, we found pollen from the cryptic root‐parasite Dactylanthus taylorii. The relatively high abundance (8.9% of total pollen and spores) of this zoophilous pollen type in the coprolite supports the hypothesis of a former direct feeding interaction between kakapo and D. taylorii. The ranges of both species have contracted substantially since human settlement, and their present distributions no longer overlap. Currently, the lesser short‐tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) is the only known native pollinator of D. taylorii, but our finding raises the possibility that birds, and other small fauna, could have once fed on and pollinated the plant. If confirmed, through experimental work and observations, this finding may inform conservation of the plant. For example, it may be possible to translocate D. taylorii to predator‐free offshore islands that lack bats but have thriving populations of endemic nectar‐feeding birds. The study of coprolites of rare or extinct taxonomic groups provides a unique way forward to expand existing knowledge of lost plant and animal interactions and to identify pollination and dispersal syndromes. This approach of linking paleobiology with neoecology offers significant untapped potential to help inform conservation and restoration plans. Un Eslabón Perdido entre un Loro No Volador y una Planta Parásita y el Papel Potencial de Coprolitos en Paleobiología de la Conservación     

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.     

蠡河底泥中反硝化复合菌群富集及菌群结构研究

从无锡市滨湖区蠡河底泥中富集培养反硝化复合菌群,研究其在不同富集培养阶段TN、NO-3-N、NO-2-N、NH+4-N和COD动态变化,分析反硝化过程中气体释放总量、释放速率和成分,通过构建全长16S r DNA克隆文库研究其菌落结构.结果表明,反硝化复合菌群富集在阶段4时脱氮效果最佳,仅在9 h内,330 mg·L-1的TN负荷下,TN去除率达90.9%,NO-3-N去除率达100%,中间产物NO-2-N和NH+4-N积累量最少,分别为3.39 mg·L-1和16.64 mg·L-1,COD去除率达85%;释放气体260m L,气体主要成分为N2,同时还有少量的CH4和CO2等.富集培养反硝化复合菌群细菌属于Pseudomonadaceae科和Rhodocyclaceae科,为Proteobacteria门,OUT丰度分别为57.8%和31.6%,Pseudomonadaceae科是优势类群.     

离子交换膜的制备及发展趋势研究

总结当前离子交换膜制备技术的发展状况.从膜的分类及膜性能出发,讨论均相膜及异相膜的差异和今后各自的发展前景,并就提升膜单方面性能(如:选择透过性、离子交换容量、膜电阻、抗氧化性等)的方式进行归纳总结.离子交换膜的改进制备大多从结构上入手,提出今后膜制备的主要研究方向为:深化均相膜制备技术、结合国内成熟的离子交换树脂制备工艺改进异相膜的制备技术.     

机载武器及其双配套设备可靠性鉴定试验方案的分析

通过分析机载武器的使用特点和情况,并结合实验室开展机载武器可靠性鉴定试验的已有经验,对该类装备的可靠性鉴定试验的方案进行了分析和讨论,对试验样件在充足或不足的条件下进行试验的各种试验方案进行了深入分析。指出了各种方案的优缺点,对比了各种试验方案的特点。最后给出了机载武器可靠性鉴定统计试验方案的选取原则。     

ABC算法优化SVR的磨损故障预测模型

目的为了提高故障预测的精度,针对支持向量回归SVR(Support vector machine for regression,SVR)参数选择困难的问题,提出一种采用人工蜂群(artificial bee colony,ABC)算法优化支持向量回归(SVR)的故障预测模型(ABC-SVR)。方法该模型先对样本数据进行重构,然后将故障预测误差(适应度)作为优化目标,通过ABC算法寻优找到最优的SVR参数,建立故障预测模型。最后通过实例仿真验证模型的优越性。结果采用ABC算法优化的SVR故障预测模型进行时间序列预测,能够较好地跟踪发动机滑油金属元素浓度的变化过程,并且能够提前2个取样时间预测异常情况的出现。结论 ABC-SVR模型有效解决了SVR参数选择难题,能够更加准确地表现故障变化规律,提高了故障预测精度。     

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.     

阿哈水库叶绿素a时空分布特征及其与藻类、环境因子的关系

为了解阿哈水库叶绿素a(Chl-a)时空分布特征及其与藻类、环境因子的关系,于2012年枯水期至2013年平水期、丰水期对藻类与理化指标进行分层采样.结果表明Chl-a季节变化明显,与藻类生物量季节变化较为一致,而与丰度差别较大,平水期发生甲藻水华,浓度最高(91μg·L~(-1)),枯水期与丰水期相对较低,分别为8μg·L~(-1)与16μg·L~(-1).枯水期与丰水期水体表层Chl-a浓度略高于中、底层,表层光照、溶解氧相对充足,利于藻类生长;平水期表层Chl-a浓度远高于中、底层,易在表层聚集的甲藻水华是主要原因.大坝Chl-a浓度高于库中,这可能是大坝位于金钟河入库口,营养盐高于库中的缘故.相关性分析得出Chl-a与甲藻门呈极显著正相关(R=0.798,P0.01);Chl-a与TP、DO、pH呈极显著正相关(R=0.762,P0.01;R=0.792,P0.01;R=0.658,P0.01),与TN显著正相关(R=0.388,P0.05)与N/P、NO_3~--N显著负相关(R=-0.37,P0.05;R=-0.435,P0.05).逐步回归分析得出DO、TP、N/P为影响阿哈水库Chl-a分布的主要因子.此外热分层以及水温对Chl-a的影响也不容忽视.     

氮氟掺杂二氧化钛(N,F-TiO2)的制备及可见光催化活性的研究

以氨水为氮源,氢氟酸为氟源,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了氮氟掺杂二氧化钛(N,F-TiO2)光催化剂,并通过X-射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜(SEM)技术对其晶型和形态进行表征.最后以酸性红B为模型污染物,探讨了N和F加入量、焙烧温度、焙烧时间、照射时间、催化剂用量、溶液初始浓度和照射功率等因素对N,F-TiO2可见光催化活性的影响.结果表明,制备的N,F-TiO2以锐钛型为主,N和F的掺杂对TiO2的晶相没有明显改变,但可以扩大TiO2的可见光响应范围.当N和F的加入量均为2.0%,且在500℃下焙烧40 min时,得到的N,F-TiO2的可见光催化活性明显高于单N或单F掺杂的TiO2(N-TiO2或F-TiO2).对于50 mL浓度为10.0 mg·L-1的酸性红B溶液,当催化剂加入量为1.5 g·L-1,128W光照3.0 h,溶液pH=5.6时,去除率为85.40%.适当延长光照时间至4.0 h,降解率几乎可达100%.另外,研究还证明了N,F-TiO2催化可见光降解过程中有.OH自由基生成.