Identifying Conservation and Restoration Priorities for Saproxylic and Old-Growth Forest Species: A Case Study in Switzerland

Saproxylic (dead-wood-associated) and old-growth species are among the most threatened species in European forest ecosystems, as they are susceptible to intensive forest management. Identifying areas with particular relevant features of biodiversity is of prime concern when developing species conservation and habitat restoration strategies and in optimizing resource investments. We present an approach to identify regional conservation and restoration priorities even if knowledge on species distribution is weak, such as for saproxylic and old-growth species in Switzerland. Habitat suitability maps were modeled for an expert-based selection of 55 focal species, using an ecological niche factor analyses (ENFA). All the maps were then overlaid, in order to identify potential species’ hotspots for different species groups of the 55 focal species (e.g., birds, fungi, red-listed species). We found that hotspots for various species groups did not correspond. Our results indicate that an approach based on “richness hotspots” may fail to conserve specific species groups. We hence recommend defining a biodiversity conservation strategy prior to implementing conservation/restoration efforts in specific regions. The conservation priority setting of the five biogeographical regions in Switzerland, however, did not differ when different hotspot definitions were applied. This observation emphasizes that the chosen method is robust. Since the ENFA needs only presence data, this species prediction method seems to be useful for any situation where the species distribution is poorly known and/or absence data are lacking. In order to identify priorities for either conservation or restoration efforts, we recommend a method based on presence data only, because absence data may reflect factors unrelated to species presence.     

豫西地区植被覆盖的空间变化研究

应用遥感技术,利用长时间序列的SPOT VEGETATION NDVI数据集,结合改进的像元二分模型,对豫西山区1998年、2003年和2008年的植被覆盖度进行计算。结果表明,豫西山区植被覆盖总体上略有上升,局部地区植被覆盖度有所下降。高海拔区域植被覆盖相对稳定,退化概率较低;低海拔区域植被退化和恢复的概率都相对较高;坡度小的区域植被退化和修复的概率都较高;坡度较大的区域植被轻微退化概率增大,坡度越大,植被覆盖修复的概率越低;南坡和北坡植被覆盖度相对较高,东坡和西坡植被覆盖度较低;西南坡向的植被退化相对严重,东南坡向植被退化概率相对较低。     

空气环境质量模糊综合评价方法的改进

针对以往空气环境质量的模糊综合评价方法存在的不足提出了采用综合指数和模糊综合评价方法相结合的方法评价空气环境质量的新方法。     

Effects of life‐history requirements on the distribution of a threatened reptile

Survival and reproduction are the two primary life‐history traits essential for species’ persistence; however, the environmental conditions that support each of these traits may not be the same. Despite this, reproductive requirements are seldom considered when estimating species’ potential distributions. We sought to examine potentially limiting environmental factors influencing the distribution of an oviparous reptile of conservation concern with respect to the species’ survival and reproduction and to assess the implications of the species’ predicted climatic constraints on current conservation practices. We used ecological niche modeling to predict the probability of environmental suitability for the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). We built an annual climate model to examine survival and a nesting climate model to examine reproduction. We combined incubation temperature requirements, products of modeled soil temperature data, and our estimated distributions to determine whether embryonic development constrained the northern distribution of the species. Low annual precipitation constrained the western distribution of alligator snapping turtles, whereas the northern distribution was constrained by thermal requirements during embryonic development. Only a portion of the geographic range predicted to have a high probability of suitability for alligator snapping turtle survival was estimated to be capable of supporting successful embryonic development. Historic occurrence records suggest adult alligator snapping turtles can survive in regions with colder climes than those associated with consistent and successful production of offspring. Estimated egg‐incubation requirements indicated that current reintroductions at the northern edge of the species’ range are within reproductively viable environmental conditions. Our results highlight the importance of considering survival and reproduction when estimating species’ ecological niches, implicating conservation plans, and benefits of incorporating physiological data when evaluating species’ distributions.     

Analysis of landscape pattern: towards a ‘top down’ indicator for evaluation of landuse

Landscapes as highly complex systems are subject to many different assessment procedures despite the fact that their development is not really predictable. Every synthetic model of landscape functioning will probably fail in demonstrating the landscape behaviour due to the decreasing precision and relevance of its output with increasing complexity. Two approaches are presented here which use deductive methods to describe landscape behaviour as indicated by its spatial structure. The one is a correlative concept which is characterized by all the advantages and disadvantages of statistical regression methods. It is strongly dependent on data quality. In the second study an expert knowledge system is developed. Fuzzy set theory is applied to transfer rules of landscape ecological experience to image parameters derived from satellite data. Both approaches are compared regarding the problems faced in the work during implication. Theoretical restrictions and the applicability in landscape assessment is discussed.     

Determinants of CO2 emissions in Brazil and Russia between 1992 and 2011: A decomposition analysis

This paper deals with the decomposition analysis of energy-related CO₂ emissions in Brazil and Russia from 1992 to 2011. The refined Laspeyres index (RLI) method applied and both aggregated and sectoral changes in CO₂ emissions decomposed. Brazil’s and Russia’s economies divided into three economic sectors including agriculture, industry and services. Impact of four main factors, such as economic activity, employment, energy intensity, and carbon intensity in CO₂ emissions changes were analyzed. The aggregated decomposition analysis revealed that Brazil is still far from a decoupling between economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions where Russia achieved a substantial decline in carbon emissions mainly due to the improved energy intensity. The empirical findings of sectoral decomposition analysis emphasized that the economic activity was the major CO₂ increasing factor in Brazil’s economic sectors. On the other hand the economic activity effect followed a reducing impact in Russia’s sectoral emissions until 2000. The structural changes between sectors and their impacts on CO₂ emissions were captured by employment effect. Energy intensity and carbon intensity effects underlined that environmental sustainability widely neglected in Brazil and Russia during the study period. The results yield important hints for energy planning and sustainable environment.     

关于影响易损性分析结果的区域因素研究——以福建为例

以福建省震害快速评估系统为依托,以分析处理现场实际调查数据为基础,提出了主要影响易损性分析结果的四个区域因素及其影响指数值、区域综合指数值,提供了各分区的划分依据、各分区影响指数值的评定标准以及区域综合指数值的计算方法,为合理应用不同地区之间的易损性矩阵或易损性曲线提供了参考依据。     

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.     

基于行为安全的建筑事故预防量化方法与实证研究

在阐述安全行为(BBS)预防事故原理及其应用效果的基础上,选取某工程项目作为试验对象,结合我国建筑业一线工人的特点,对BBS实施中的培训方法、关键行为确认、观察方法3个关键环节进行具体试验。试验中建立了行为变化指数的图线,使用了安全行为指数(SI)来评定一线工人的安全行为及变化趋势。试验结果显示施工现场一线工人作业过程中的SI比基线期提高15%,表明所设计的BBS方法对于提高施工现场一线工人的行为安全性具有明显的效果。     

杭州市河道底泥重金属污染评价与环保疏浚深度研究

重金属是河道底泥疏浚要控制的重要污染物,而疏浚深度是生态疏浚工程中需要确定的关键参数.本文以杭州经济技术开发区河道为研究对象,共采集18处底泥柱状样,采用土壤背景值、土壤环境质量二级标准值、变异系数和相关性分析方法对底泥中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni、As的污染状况进行了评价,同时分析重金属总量和有效态含量在垂向上的变化特征,并引入地累积指数法对各深度底泥中的重金属进行累积性评估,利用本文提出的临界累积深度方法来确定合理的环保疏浚深度.结果表明,河道表层底泥中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni、As的平均含量分别为165.16、342.40、55.34、3.61、34.06、36.70 mg·kg-1,Cd、Cu、As、Zn的有效态含量分别为0.007、3.37、0.095、20.76 mg·kg-1,重金属总量均超过了杭嘉湖平原土壤背景值,其中Cd污染最为严重.各重金属元素在底泥中的变异系数为0.29~2.39,空间分布并不均匀.重金属总量和有效态含量随底泥深度的增大整体呈下降趋势,但受不同时期人类活动污染及河道整治影响而呈不规则变化.各重金属元素的富集程度为CdAsZnPbNiCu,其中,Cd污染等级为2~6级,污染程度为中度污染至极强污染.利用临界累积深度方法推算得到研究区域河道底泥环保疏浚深度为0~0.9 m.