A Socio-Ecological Assessment Aiming at Improved Forest Resource Management and Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Mangroves of Tanbi Wetland National Park, The Gambia, West Africa

Although mangroves dominated by Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle are extending over 6000 ha in the Tanbi Wetland National Park (TWNP) (The Gambia), their importance for local populations (both peri-urban and urban) is not well documented. For the first time, this study evaluates the different mangrove resources in and around Banjul (i.e., timber, non-timber, edible, and ethnomedicinal products) and their utilization patterns, including the possibility of ecotourism development. The questionnaire-based results have indicated that more than 80% of peri-urban population rely on mangroves for timber and non-timber products and consider them as very important for their livelihoods. However, at the same time, urban households demonstrate limited knowledge on mangrove species and their ecological/economic benefits. Among others, fishing (including the oyster—Crassostrea cf. gasar collection) and tourism are the major income-generating activities found in the TWNP. The age-old practices of agriculture in some parts of the TWNP are due to scarcity of land available for agriculture, increased family size, and alternative sources of income. The recent focus on ecotourism (i.e., boardwalk construction inside the mangroves near Banjul city) received a positive response from the local stakeholders (i.e., users, government, and non-government organizations), with their appropriate roles in sharing the revenue, rights, and responsibilities of this project. Though the guidelines for conservation and management of the TWNP seem to be compatible, the harmony between local people and sustainable resource utilization should be ascertained.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0248-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Ex situ remediation of contaminated sediments using mineral additives: assessment of pollutant bioavailability with the Microtox solid phase test

The aim of this work is to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of contaminated sediments treated with mineral additives. The Microtox solid phase test was used to evaluate the effect of mineral additives on the toxicity of sediment suspensions. Four Mediterranean port sediments were studied after dredging and bioremediation: Sample A from navy harbor, sample B from commercial port and samples C and D from pleasure ports. Sediment samples were stabilized with three mineral additives: hematite, zero-valent iron and zeolite. Results show that all studied mineral additives can act as stabilizer agent in highly contaminated sediments (A and C) by decreasing dissolved metal concentrations and sediment toxicity level. On the contrary, for the less contaminated samples (B and D) hematite and zeolite can provoke toxic effect towards Vibrio fischeri since additive particles can favor bacteria retention and decrease bioluminescence emission.     

Remediation of metal-contaminated soils with the addition of materials - part II: leaching tests to evaluate the efficiency of materials in the remediation of contaminated soils

The effect of the addition of materials on the leaching pattern of As and metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd) in two contaminated soils was investigated. The examined materials included bentonites, silicates and industrial wastes, such as sugar foam, fly ashes and a material originated from the zeolitization of fly ash. Soil + material mixtures were prepared at 10% doses. Changes in the acid neutralization capacity, crystalline phases and contaminant leaching over a wide range of pHs were examined by using pH_stat leaching tests. Sugar foam, the zeolitic material and MX-80 bentonite produced the greatest decrease in the leaching of pollutants due to an increase in the pH and/or the sorption capacity in the resulting mixture. This finding suggests that soil remediation may be a feasible option for the reuse of non-hazardous wastes.     

Effect of inoculation methods on the composting efficiency of municipal solid wastes

Four types of inoculation methods were studied during the composting of municipal solid wastes and dry grass (MSWG). The methods included a control group as well as initial-stage, two-stage, and multi-stage inoculations. Fulvic acids were extracted from the composting materials and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that inoculation of microbes in MSWG enhanced the biodegradation of aliphatics, proteins, and polysaccharides. The inoculation also increased the molecular weight, humic- and fulvic-like compound content, as well as humification degree of the composting products. The inoculation of microbes in MSWG significantly improved composting process and efficiency. The improvement efficiency was in the order of initial-stage < two-stage < multi-stage inoculations. Inoculation of microbes based on composting organic matter composition and temperature enhanced composting efficiency.     

填埋场中亚硝酸还原酶测定条件的优化

填埋垃圾中的含氮化合物经一系列生物脱氮作用,最终使得填埋场中的氮素得以消减,在这一过程中亚硝酸还原酶起着十分重要的作用。以填埋场中的填埋垃圾为研究对象,在土壤亚硝酸还原酶测定方法的基础上,对亚硝酸还原酶活性测定条件进行了优化。结果表明,填埋垃圾中的亚硝酸还原酶活性测定的最优条件为:垃圾样品风干温度25℃,2mL的1%NaNO2溶液和2.5 mL的1%葡萄糖溶液,抽气5 min,置于25℃的培养箱中培养24 h。优化后的测定条件相对标准偏差(RSD)小于1.27%,表明该方法具有较高的灵敏度和精密度。     

抗压实验法厌氧颗粒污泥机械强度的测定及影响因素分析

通过首先对厌氧颗粒污泥样品进行筛分,然后测定其机械强度,解决了实际操作过程中现有抗压实验法出现的精确度与重现性较差的问题。通过对不同来源厌氧颗粒污泥样品机械强度的测定、对比分析发现,厌氧颗粒污泥的机械强度大小与反应器的规模、反应器所采用水力负荷存在一定的正相关性,且与其主要金属元素（Ca、Fe和Mg）含量的大小存在着密切的关系。     

正交试验-硝酸微波消解-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中汞

应用硝酸微波消解土壤样品-冷原子吸收法测定土壤中的汞。通过正交试验,优化了土壤中汞的微波消解条件。并对干扰消除、方法精密度、加标回收、检出限进行了试验研究。在0～10μg／L范围内线性关系良好,方法测定下限为0．20μg／L,土壤中汞的检出限为0．005μg／g。该优化条件对汞含量为0．02—0．46μg／g的土壤样品,汞提取完全。建立了一种简便、成本低、干扰少、灵敏度高的方法。     

欧美等发达国家水环境监测方法体系

分别简述了美国、欧盟和日本等发达国家或组织水环境监测方法体系发展历程,分析了其各自水环境监测方法体系特点。对中国水环境监测方法体系的制定与实施提出了建议。     

辽宁省入境旅游与经济增长关系的协整分析

收集1989---2009年辽宁省入境旅游消费和GDP数据,运用单位根检验、协整分析、Granger因果检验等动态计量经济学方法对该地区入境旅游消费和经济增长间的关系进行实证分析,得出两者之间存在长期均衡关系,并互为Granger因果关系。     

发光细菌法在水质综合毒性在线检测中的应用

以海洋发光细菌费氏弧菌（Vibriofischeri）作为检测生物,采用冻干菌粉快速复苏技术,研究费氏弧菌在水质检测中的最佳测试温度和有效性测试条件,并对硫酸锌等多种毒物和几种实际水样进行发光抑制作用分析。研究表明,费氏弧菌冻干粉复苏菌液保存在2～5℃条件下能有效测试7d,最佳测试温度为15℃,最佳测试时间为15min。氯化汞、硫酸锌、硫酸镉等重金属和苯胺、多菌灵、甲醛等有机毒物对费氏弧菌均具有较强的光抑制作用,也即费氏弧菌对以上毒物较为敏感,并能够连续7d保持对同一浓度硫酸锌的敏感性较为一致。对几种实际水样的测试和分析表明,以费氏弧菌为指示生物的发光细菌法能够应用于水质环境安全的综合毒性在线监测预警中。