Effects of development of wind energy and associated changes in land use on bird densities in upland areas

Wind energy development is the most recent of many pressures on upland bird communities and their habitats. Studies of birds in relation to wind energy development have focused on effects of direct mortality, but the importance of indirect effects (e.g., displacement, habitat loss) on avian community diversity and stability is increasingly being recognized. We used a control-impact study in combination with a gradient design to assess the effects of wind farms on upland bird densities and on bird species grouped by habitat association (forest and open-habitat species). We conducted 506 point count surveys at 12 wind-farm and 12 control sites in Ireland during 2 breeding seasons (2012 and 2013). Total bird densities were lower at wind farms than at control sites, and the greatest differences occurred close to turbines. Densities of forest species were significantly lower within 100 m of turbines than at greater distances, and this difference was mediated by habitat modifications associated with wind-farm development. In particular, reductions in forest cover adjacent to turbines was linked to the observed decrease in densities of forest species. Open-habitat species’ densities were lower at wind farms but were not related to distance from turbines and were negatively related to size of the wind farm. This suggests that, for these species, wind-farm effects may occur at a landscape scale. Our findings indicate that the scale and intensity of the displacement effects of wind farms on upland birds depends on bird species’ habitat associations and that the observed effects are mediated by changes in land use associated with wind-farm construction. This highlights the importance of construction effects and siting of turbines, tracks, and other infrastructure in understanding the impacts of wind farms on biodiversity.     

菊花茶中砷含量特征及砷健康风险评价

菊花茶是深受人们喜爱的一种饮品,但其干燥过程及加工工艺不当会造成菊花茶的重金属污染,尤其是和硫磺矿伴生的重金属砷。以市售菊花茶为研究对象,采用硝酸-双氧水消解体系,高压密闭消解系统和原子荧光光谱法分析测定了其中砷(As)含量,对典型超标菊花茶样品进行不同冲泡方式的筛选,确定其适宜的饮用方式,并根据我国绿色代用茶行业标准和WHO砷最大日允许摄入量(ADI)对菊花茶中砷的人体健康风险做出评价。结果表明,菊花茶中砷的含量范围在0.01～3.52mg·kg-1,91.1%的样品符合绿色代用茶的《中华人民共和国农业行业标准》(0.5mg·kg-1),其中砷含量最高的为药用祁菊花达3.52mg·kg-1,所有样品中超标的8个菊花茶样品种类分别为祁白菊(2个),杭白菊(2个),黄山贡菊(1个)和野菊花(1个),怀菊和药用祁菊各1个,75%的超标样品为散装饮品;选择超标的2个典型菊花茶样品(杭白菊和药用祁菊花)进行冲泡方式筛选,得出适宜的饮用方式为:用水茶质量比例为25∶1的开水清洗菊花茶5min,然后用开水冲泡5～20min再饮用。随菊花茶进入人体的最大日摄入量(极限值)为43.7～169μg·d-1,其占ADI(allowable daily intake)的比值范围在34.1%～132%,其中随药用祁菊花进入人体的As最大日摄入量与ADI的比值超过100%,这表明砷经菊花茶饮品摄入人体内所潜在的健康风险不容忽视。砷超标的菊花茶经过冲泡后饮用,砷的人体日摄入量13.1～36.3μg·d-1,其占ADI的比值范围在10.3%～28.4%。因此,经过洗茶后再冲泡饮用,砷的日摄入量显著降低(P<0.01),建议饮用菊花茶时洗1次茶后再冲泡饮用。     

Results of a program to control phosphorus discharges from dairy operations in south-central Florida,USA

During 1987–1992, a mandatory program to control phosphorus discharges was implemented at dairy operations located to the north of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA. Thirty of 48 dairies participated in this program and implemented best management practices (BMPs), which included the construction of intensive animal waste management systems. Eighteen dairies closed their milkproducing operations under a government-funded buyout program. In this paper, we compare trends in runoff total phosphorus (TP) concentrations among the dairies that remained active and implemented BMPs. A central feature of the dairy waste management system is the high intensity area (HIA), defined as the milking barn and adjacent vegetation-free land, encircled by a drainage ditch and dike. Animal waste from the HIA is diverted into anaerobic lagoons and storage ponds, from which water is periodically removed and used for irrigation of field crops. The impacts of BMP construction on runoff TP concentrations were immediate and, in most cases, dramatic. Average TP concentrations declined significantly (P < 0.001), from 9.0 to 1.2 mg TP liter^–1 at dairies in one basin (Lower Kissimmee River), and from 2.6 to 1.0 mg TP liter^–1 in another (Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough). Some sites experienced greater declines in TP than others. To elucidate possible causes for the difference in response, a multivariate statistical model was utilized. Independent variables included soil pH, soil drainage characteristics, spodic horizon depth, and the areas of different BMP components (pasture, HIA, spray fields). The analysis significantly separated dairies with the highest and lowest runoff TP concentrations. Lowest TP occurred at dairies having particular soil characteristic (shallow spodic horizon) and certain BMP features (large HIA and small heard pastures).     

安徽省黄山市茶叶经营现状与开发对策

作为一种经济作物，茶叶是安徽省黄山市的拳头产品和重要经济支柱，是山区人民收入和地方财政收入的重要来源。但近几年的统计数据表明，该市的茶叶生产经营在数量和质量方面，以及内销和出口上发展较缓慢，与其曾经拥有的历史地位明显不相称。分析了该区茶叶的生产经营现状，提出了相应的对策，以期振兴黄山市的茶叶产业。     

凤冈富硒富锌茶园土壤中的锌及其形态分析

采用Tessier连续化学浸提技术,对凤冈茶园土壤进行了可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机结合态、残渣态锌的提取,应用火焰原子吸收光谱法(FAAS)对茶园土壤总锌和各结合态锌进行了测定,并讨论了土壤全锌含量及各形态锌含量与土壤pH的关系。测定结果表明,在测试的39件土壤样品中,土壤pH值在3.92～5.16之间,平均pH值为4.66,属酸性土壤。全锌的最高含量为245.7mg/kg,最低含量为31.1mg/kg,平均含量为116.0mg/kg,超过了我国茶园土壤锌的平均含量100mg/kg。在采样的四个茶园中,总的来说土壤锌结合态的分布规律为:残渣态(铁锰氧化物结合态(有机结合态(可交换态(包括水溶态)(碳酸盐结合态。     

微波消解-原子荧光法测定茶叶中的微量汞和砷

建立微波消解-原子荧光法测定茶叶中的微量汞和砷的方法,汞浓度在0μg/L-5．0000μg/L范围内与荧光强度呈线性关系,线性方程y=966．1232x,相关系数r=0．9992,汞的检出限为0．026μg/L;砷浓度在0μg/L-10．00μg/L范围内与荧光强度呈线性关系,线性方程为y=62．1511x,相关系数r=0．9993,砷的检出限为0．087μg/L。样品6次测定结果,汞的相对标准偏差为9．66％,加标回收率为96．4％～101．3％;砷的相对标准偏差为1．45％。加标回收率为91．4％～105．1％。环境标准样品测定结果与标准值相吻合。所测样品中汞、砷含量均在国标限值范围之内。该法简便快捷,灵敏度高,测定结果准确可靠。     

Spatial and temporal variation of nitrogen exported by runo from sandy agricultural soils

The eutrophication problem has drawn attention to nutrient leaching from agricultural soils, and an understanding of spatial and temporal variability is needed to develop decision-making tools. Thus, eleven sites were selected to monitor, over a two-year period, spatial and temporal variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff in sandy agricultural soils. Factors influencing the variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff were analyzed. Variation of annual rainfall was small among 11 sites, especially between 2001 and 2002. However, variation of annual discharge was significant among the sites. The results suggest that rainfall patterns and land use had significant effect on discharge. The concentrations of total N, total kjeldahl N （TKN）, organic matter-associated N （OM-N）, NO3- -N, and NHn＋-N in the runoff ranged widely from 0.25 to 54.1, 0.15 to 20.3, 0.00 to 14.6, 0.00 to 45.3, and 0.00 to 19.7 mg/L, respectively. Spatial and temporal variations in the N concentration and runoff discharge were noted among the different sites. Annual loads of N in the runoff varied widely among monitoring sites and depend mainly on runoff discharge. High loads of total N, OM-N, NO3--N, and NHn＋-N in the runoff either in citrus groves or on vegetable farms occurred from June to October for each year, which coincided with the rainy season in the region. This study found that N in surface runoff was related to rainfall intensity, soil N level, and fertilizer use.     

Potential health hazard of drinking water in restaurants and tea stalls

Potable and equitable drinking water (DW) is a fundamental human right and essential for human health. This study is conducted to assess the groundwater and jar water quality of the roadside restaurants and tea stalls used for drinking by the local people around the Gazipur City area in Bangladesh. Water samples from 173 restaurants and tea stalls are collected. The physico-chemical and biological parameters are analyzed according to the guidelines and standards. The results illustrate that the color, EC, and Mn of 41%, 80%, and 62% of the samples, respectively, exceed the WHO and Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) standards. In addition, E. coli and total coliform exceeding the threshold standards are found in 47% and 64% of the water samples, respectively. The contamination of DW by fecal coliforms is confirmed and supported by prior studies, which indicates that the DW supplied in restaurants and tea stalls are unsafe because of the possible presence of pathogens. These may cause potential health hazards to consumers from various water-borne diseases. Poor sanitation, unhygienic practices, and improper disposal of wastewater are responsible for the microbial contamination of DW. So, the authorities in charge of these places should take the right regulatory steps, such as regular sanitation inspections, DW quality monitoring, hand-washing practices, and better sanitation in these places.     

Probabilistic Modelling of Cattle Farm Distribution in Australia

A probabilistic Bayesian method called weights of evidence (WofE) was used to develop a synthetic dataset of cattle farm locations at a national scale across Australia. The synthetic dataset was required for the modelling of livestock movements with a view to assessing biosecurity implications. The WofE method is based on the analysis of spatial relationships between evidential patterns with respect to an event, such as the actual location of a farm. The evidential patterns of cattle farms were derived from maps of land use, land tenure, drainage systems, roads, settlements and long-term averaged rainfall. These evidential patterns were used for delineating and ranking land areas suitable for cattle farming. For each evidential pattern statistics such as a positive weight, a negative weight and a contrast were calculated for estimating the degree of correlation between the evidential patterns and known farm locations. The integrated evidential patterns of known farms were then used for estimating posterior probabilities and splitting land into five different classes according to its suitability for farming.

南方丘陵坡地茶园水土流失的环境效应

以安溪县感德镇坡耕地茶园为监控对象,小流域集水区为单元,分析茶园水土流失造成的环境问题。结果表明：在降雨的作用下,各养分元素存在不同程度的流失,小流域集水区水质偏酸性,71.2%的水质pH小于6;氨氮含量都在Ⅰ类标准,但总氮含量较高,均超出V类标准限值;悬浮物和降雨量存在正相关,相关系数为0.647,大到暴雨对悬浮物含量具有决定性作用,但悬浮物含量对降雨的响应具有滞后性。