Lignin and its effects on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems

Lignin is a major component of plant litter. In this review, we found lignin comprises a complex class of organic compounds whose concentration differs greatly both between and within plant species. There are many analytical methods for detecting the composition and structure of lignins. As lignins are enormously complex compounds, chemical assay is difficult and different methods vary with the results. Lignin plays a significant role in the carbon cycle, sequestering atmospheric carbon into the living tissues of woody perennial vegetation. It has also great effects on nitrogen dynamics of forest ecosystems as well as other ecological processes. Lignin is one of the most slowly decomposing components of dead vegetation, contributing a major fraction of the material that becomes humus as it decomposes. Lignin is highly correlated with decomposition of litter. Thus, there is evidence that the lignin concentration is a more influential factor than the other chemical concentrations, in determining the rate of leaf litter decomposition of different forest ecosystems. Although a great number of researchers have addressed lignin's role in litter decomposition, still there are many aspects of lignin biogeochemistry that are not known. This lack of information hinders complete amalgam of lignin effects on litter decomposition processes and dynamics of nutrient cycling.     

Chemical speciation and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in volcanic rocks of Southern Qinghai,China

ABSTRACT

Seven volcanic rocks samples were collected from Southern Qinghai to analyze chemical speciation and migration behavior of heavy metals by sequential chemical extraction procedure and column leaching test. The geo-accumulation index, ecological risk index and the risk assessment code were applied to assess the heavy metal pollution and potential environmental effects in this area. Results revealed that the total concentrations of heavy metals did not exceed the background values in soil of this area. Most of the samples produced acid rock drainage. The order of heavy metal migration and transformation sequence in the volcanic rocks of Zhiduo region was Cd?>?Pb?>?As?=?Cu?=?Zn?=?Mn based on the geo-accumulation index and Cd caused heavy pollution, which was also confirmed by the leaching test. Moderate potential ecological risk posed by heavy metals occurred in the study area based on the potential ecological risk index. Cd contributed to most of ecological risk while the remaining heavy metals (except As) exerted medium to high risks to the environment according to the risk assessment code evaluation results. In summary, volcanic rocks possessed potential risks to the surroundings due to potential release of heavy metals. Cd that caused the pollution should be paid special attention.     

Eco-ethical issues: Self-regulating versus subsidized ecosystems

Sustainable use of the planet requires dependable delivery of ecosystem services at a level necessary to meet the needs of humankind. During the last two centuries, particularly in the twentieth century, ecosystems have been fragmented and stressed in a variety of ways, including biotic impoverishment. Self-regulating ecosystems are capable of maintaining nominative structure and function, including normal variability. Those ecosystems incapable of self regulation will require subsidies, which will divert resources from other activities that may also be important to sustainable use of the planet. If ecosystems are not subsidized, the loss of natural capital and ecosystem services will almost certainly impair the quest for sustainable use of the planet. Although most discussions of sustainability reflect an awareness of humankind's dependence on natural systems, ecosystem self regulation has not received an adequate amount of attention.     

Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area

ABSTRACT

Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (?95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyards were linked to the highest value of surface erosion (?74%). The outcomes showed that urban settlements can damage the ecological network with negative effects on the landscape’s environmental sustainability in proximity of significant urban centres. Instead, the ecological network is well preserved and highly associated to the agricultural areas when there is the persistence of many land uses and low urban density, despite the presence of dynamic changes.     

冻融对长白山森林土壤碳氮矿化的影响

长白山地区秋末春初常常存在冻融过程,冻融过程影响土壤水分分布而改变土壤理化性质。通过室内模拟实验,研究了冻融过程（-20~15℃）对长白山阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林和白桦（Betula platyphylla）林土壤有机碳和氮矿化过程的影响。结果表明,经过3次冻融循环,冻融处理土壤矿化速率显著高于对照处理,但经过多次冻融循环过程,冻融处理抑制土壤有机碳矿化过程,对照处理土壤有机碳矿化速率高于冻融处理（P=0.019）。在培养结束后,冻融处理的阔叶红松林和白桦林土壤无机氮质量分数,分别是对照处理的1.88倍和1.96倍;冻融次数也是影响土壤有机氮矿化的一个重要因素,35次冻融循环后,阔叶红松林和白桦林土壤中无机氮分别提高了2.10倍和2.81倍。冻融循环促进了土壤有机氮的矿化,有利于土壤中有效氮的累积,为春季植物生长提供足够的氮素,但也潜在增加了土壤中无机氮流失的风险。     

固体吸附剂控制燃煤重金属排放的实验研究

在滴管炉上进行了烟煤添加固体吸附剂的燃烧实验研究了硫酸钙、石灰石、铝土矿3种吸附剂对重金属元素Pb、Cd、Cu、Co、Ni排放的控制,并采用形态逐级提取法,将排放颗粒物中重金属分为吸附态、离子可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、硫酸盐结合态和残渣态从粗粒灰渣及细微粒子中重金属元素含量的分布和细微粒子中残渣态稳定形态含量增加2个方面说明添加吸附剂对煤中重金属的排放具有一定的捕获力.对不同的重金属,由于吸附剂本身物理化学特性的差异,所表现出的吸附能力也各不相同.硫酸钙对Pb、Cd、Cu的排放有控制作用;石灰石对Pb、Cd、Cu、Nj的排放有控制作用;铝土矿对5种重金属元素的排放都有控制作用吸附剂粒径越小,对重金属的吸附效果越好.     

Geochemical speciation and risk assessment of metals in the river sediments from Dan River Drainage,China

This study investigates the partitioning of metals in surface sediments from the Dan River drainage basin, the source of drinking water for the South to North Water Transfer Project, China, to determine their bioavailability and associated levels of risk. Sediment samples were collected from 99 sites along the Dan River, and the concentration of each element fraction was determined using sequential extraction and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The residual fraction was the major phase for most metals sampled. Among the non-residual fractions, greater proportions of Zn, Mn and Cd were transported in in the available phase, whereas Ba, Sb, Pb and As were mainly found in the reducible phase. The oxidisable phase was important for the transport of Ni, Co, Cr and Cu in sediments. This analysis of sediments from the Dan River basin indicates a very high risk of pollution from Cd, Co, Mn, Sb and Zn. Combined with the sediments with extremely high concentrations, the Dan, Laoguan and Yinhua rivers, which have been affected by ore-mining activities, pose a very high risk to the surrounding areas and should be the subject of future studies.     

海岸带表层沉积物中磷的地球化学特征

通过连续提取法对莱州湾主要入海河流及近岸海域表层沉积物中5种形态磷进行了定量分析.结果表明,近海沉积物自生钙结合磷含量(45.6%)高于河流(37.3%),而铁结合磷(Fe-P)含量(18.2%)却低于河流(31.3%).在近海,可交换或弱结合磷含量和粉砂比例呈正相关,表明该形态磷主要吸附于细粒粉砂．河流沉积物Fe-P与Fe浓度呈显著正相关(P<0.01),表明河流沉积物Fe-P分布受沉积物活性铁含量的控制．河口处Fe-P普遍低于相应河流,这可能与海相泥沙输入及河口厌氧区硫酸盐还原或硫化物累积有关.近海沉积物总可提取态磷平均浓度总体呈现出由海洋向河口方向递减的趋势.     

再生水紫外线-氯联合消毒工艺特性研究

以二级出水作为消毒对象,比较了紫外线-氯联合消毒与单一紫外线消毒对水中肠道指示菌的灭活效果,考察了联合消毒工艺副产物(三卤甲烷)生成情况.结果表明,单一紫外线消毒对肠道指示菌的灭活曲线在剂量大于10mJ/cm2时存在拖尾现象,剂量为80mJ/cm2时对总大肠菌群最高对数灭活率约为2.5;而在紫外线剂量20mJ/cm2、氯投加量8mg/L(接触时间30min)条件下,紫外线-氯联合消毒对总大肠菌群的对数灭活率达到7.0.20mJ/cm2紫外线与8mg/L氯消毒组合及80mJ/cm2紫外线与3mg/L氯消毒组合均可有效灭活总大肠菌群浓度至3CFU/L以下.经紫外线照射后再氯消毒,二级出水中三卤甲烷生成量仅为10~55mg/L.80mJ/cm2紫外线照射再氯消毒后三卤甲烷生成量略高于20mJ/cm2紫外线照射再氯消毒的情形.紫外线消毒后投加氯消毒,可有效提高再生水消毒效果,控制消毒副产物生成量.     

Assessment of ecological risks induced by land use and land cover changes in Xiamen City,China

The landscape ecological risk (LER) in Xiamen City, China, from 1990 to 2030 was studied using an urban land use and land cover change (LUCC) model and LER analysis. The LUCC model was used to predict the LUCC of Xiamen from 2020 to 2030. We analyzed the characteristics of LUCC and landscape pattern changes and, finally, evaluated the effect of rapid LUCC on LER. Of the six landscape types investigated, built-up land and farmland demonstrated the most significant changes. The area of built-up land increased by 1.5 times in 2010 and is predicted to increase by 2.7 times in 2030 than that in 1990. The area of farmland increased from 34.5% in 1990 to 24.5% in 2010 and is predicted to decrease to 15.1% in 2030. The number of patches (NP) of built-up land decreased with increasing area, which promoted the dominance of built-up land over other landscape types. Five landscape types, those other than built-up land, increased in NP, landscape fragmentation, segmentation, and disturbance but decreased in dominance. The LER of Xiamen in 2010 was slightly lower than that in 1990. However, with the acceleration of urbanization, the LER in 2020 and 2030 will increase by 7.6% and 12.5% than that in 2010. The LER will significantly increase in areas such as the Huandong sea area, the second urban core of Xiamen, and northern Xiang'an. For the areas, some measures (e.g. optimum urban spatial growth patterns and control of coastal reclamation) must inevitably increase to reduce the LER posed by rapid urbanization.