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.     

Review of the remediation strategies for soil water repellency

Many regions of the world are predicted to experience water scarcity due to more frequent and more severe droughts and increased water demands. Water use efficiency by plants can be negatively affected by soil water repellency (SWR). It is timely to review existing techniques to remedy SWR. Ideally remediation addresses the origins of a problem. However, the fundamental mechanisms of how and why SWR develops are still poorly understood. In this review it was hypothesized that SWR occurs where the balance of input-decomposition of organic matter is impaired, due to either increased input or decreased decomposition rates of hydrophobic substances. Direct and indirect strategies to remedy SWR were distinguished. While direct remediation aims at abolishing the causes of SWR, indirect strategies seek to manage sites with SWR by treating its symptoms. The 12 reviewed strategies include applying surfactants, clay, slow-release fertilizers, lime, and fungicides, bioremediation of SWR through stimulating earthworms, choosing adapted vegetation, irrigation, cultivation, soil aeration and compaction. Some of the techniques have been applied successfully only in laboratory experiments. Our review highlights that it is not straightforward to cure SWR based on easily measurable and site-specific soil and vegetation properties, and that long-term, large-scale field experiments are required to improve the understanding of the evolution of SWR as cornerstone to develop cost-effective and efficient remediation strategies. We also identified current research gaps around the diagnosis and prevention of SWR.     

燃煤电厂锅炉PM2.5排放危害度评价模型建立及案例分析

为评价燃煤电厂锅炉PM2.5排放的危害度,根据颗粒的形成机制及对环境和人体健康的影响程度,将PM2.5进行了粒径分段,综合考虑不同粒径段颗粒物的质量浓度、粒数浓度、汞相对富集因子及汞元素在煤灰分中含量,建立了燃煤锅炉PM2.5排放危害度综合评价模型,最后利用已有文献现场实验测得的数据对评价模型进行了案例分析,并提出了危害度削减系数概念,可用于对除尘装置进行评价.     

春节期间南京市大气气溶胶粒径分布特征

为研究春节期间燃放烟花爆竹对城市大气气溶胶数浓度粒径谱分布的影响,对2012年1月19~31日南京大气气溶胶数浓度、污染气体浓度和质量浓度进行了观测分析.结果表明,烟花爆竹的燃放期间10~20 nm气溶胶浓度远低于非燃放期,50~100、100~200和200~500 nm数浓度有较大增加,20~50 nm和0.5~10μm气溶胶数浓度变化不大.烟花爆竹的燃放对气溶胶数浓度谱影响较大,非燃放期数浓度谱为双峰型分布;在燃放期数浓度谱为单峰性分布,且峰值向大粒径段偏移.烟花爆竹燃放期间质量浓度谱为双峰型分布,对细粒子的质量浓度影响较大,燃放期间PM2.5/PM10和PM1.0/PM10的值可升高10%.烟花爆竹的大量燃放对1.0~2.1μm粒径段气溶胶密度影响最大,对其他粒径段密度影响较小.     

杭州灰霾天气超细颗粒浓度分布特征

利用快速迁移率粒径谱仪(FMPS)对杭州2013年12月6～11日连续灰霾天气和灰霾消退过程超细颗粒进行监测,分析颗粒物浓度变化和粒径谱分布特征及其与气象的相关性.结果表明,颗粒物日变化特征为夜晚数浓度较高,凌晨数浓度开始降低,08:00和18:00上下班高峰期出现一个小峰值,体现出明显的交通源峰值,表明交通排放对大气污染影响较大.灰霾天气下颗粒物最高数浓度达到8.0×104cm-3.粒径谱呈双峰分布,峰值粒径分别为15 nm和100 nm,粒径在100 nm附近的粒子占大多数,粒子以爱根核模态和积聚模态为主,平均数量中位径CMD(count medium diameter)为85.89 nm.而在灰霾消退过程,颗粒物数浓度降低,峰值粒径向小粒径演变,粒径在100 nm附近的粒子逐渐减少,核模态粒子增多,大于积聚模态,平均CMD为58.64 nm.气象因素中能见度和风力与数浓度主要呈负相关,相关系数R分别为-0.225和-0.229,相对湿度与数浓度正相关,相关系数R为0.271,冬季大气比较稳定,水平温度与数浓度的相关性较小.研究灰霾天气数浓度分布和气象因素的综合影响对其形成机制及控制有重要意义.     

淠河灌区集中式饮用水源地水质健康风险等级研究

为了解淠河灌区集中式饮用水源地水质健康风险状况,选取Cr6+、As、Cd、Pb、Mn、Cu、Zn、Fe、F、NH+4-N等10项污染因子作为健康风险指标,运用三角模糊集理论和α-截集技术,确立置信度为0.8,得到各污染指标的健康风险区间值;同时建立模糊化特征的风险等级判别标准和判别方法.结果表明,该水源地水质总健康风险值为4,风险等级为Ⅳ级(一般).3种化学致癌物Cr6+、As、Cd合计风险区间值介于5.586×10-5~9.365×10-5之间,风险由高到低的顺序依次为:Cr6+AsCd,浓度在空间上变化不大,具有一定的负面效应,但均未超过美国环保署推荐的最大可接受水平1.0×10-4;Cr6+风险区间值较大,风险等级较高,应将Cr6+作为首要的健康风险管理控制指标.其余7种非致癌化学有毒物没有风险,不存在负面效应,非致癌健康风险明显低于致癌风险.     

纳米银与石墨烯对土壤微生物及土壤酶的影响

采用室内暗培养试验分别探究了纳米银与石墨烯对土壤微生物及土壤酶的不同影响.将不同剂量的纳米银(0、10、100、150 mg·kg~(-1))与高纯石墨烯(0、10、100、1000 mg·kg~(-1))分别与等量棕壤充分混匀,然后进行暗培养.在第3、7、15、30和60 d时取样,测定土壤脲酶、土壤碱性磷酸酶、土壤脱氢酶和土壤过氧化氢酶的活性及土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量,并在培养期间测定土壤呼吸速率及CO2累积量.结果表明,所有纳米银处理均抑制土壤的呼吸作用,并且剂量越高,抑制作用越明显;而石墨烯处理未对土壤呼吸产生显著影响.10 mg·kg~(-1)纳米银处理下,土壤真菌数量在整个培养期内均显著低于对照,土壤细菌在第60 d时也被显著抑制,但土壤放线菌数量无变化;与对照相比,100和150 mg·kg~(-1)的纳米银处理显著降低了土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌的数量.10和100 mg·kg~(-1)的石墨烯处理下,土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌数量则均无显著变化.1000 mg·kg~(-1)的石墨烯显著增加了土壤中细菌与真菌的数量,却对土壤放线菌数量无影响.纳米银处理显著抑制土壤脲酶、脱氢酶活性,却对土壤过氧化氢酶与磷酸酶活性基本无影响.10和100 mg·kg~(-1)石墨烯处理对土壤脲酶有一定的促进作用,1000 mg·kg~(-1)石墨烯处理对土壤过氧化氢酶和脱氢酶有一定的促进作用,而不同剂量的石墨烯在培养后期均对碱性磷酸酶产生抑制作用.总体来说,纳米银在一定程度上对土壤酶及土壤微生物结构产生了负面影响,而石墨烯对土壤酶及土壤微生物结构的影响不明显.     

长大区间隧道抽出式串联通风机排烟能力实验研究

为实现有效通风以降低隧道火灾带来的损失和伤亡,依托青岛市地铁8号线大洋站至青岛北站区间隧道,建立线性比尺为1∶15的隧道通风排烟模型实验系统,针对通风机串联单抽,围绕3种通风机频率匹配组合,测定单机的变频频率值、电功消耗、排烟道与行车道的断面平均风速以及右侧行车道静压。研究结果表明：在相同功率消耗下,不同频率匹配的串联通风机排烟效果存在差异;针对此差异,利用气体挡烟墙性能及其计算欧拉数值比较发现,风井近端的通风机频率较大时,下游对污染气流的抵抗力更强,拥有更好的排烟效果。研究结果可为隧道火灾提供更有效率的防灾救灾数据支持,并从欧拉数方面为研究隧道临界风速提供新角度。     

Effects of calibration on L-THIA GIS runoff and pollutant estimation

Urbanization can result in alteration of a watershed's hydrologic response and water quality. To simulate hydrologic and water quality impacts of land use changes, the Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA) system has been used. The L-THIA system estimates pollutant loading based on direct runoff quantity and land use based pollutant coefficients. The accurate estimation of direct runoff is important in assessing water quality impacts of land use changes. An automated program was developed to calibrate the L-THIA model using the millions of curve number (CN) combinations associated with land uses and hydrologic soil groups. L-THIA calibration for the Little Eagle Creek (LEC) watershed near Indianapolis, Indiana was performed using land use data for 1991 and daily rainfall data for six months of 1991 (January 1-June 30) to minimize errors associated with use of different temporal land use data and rainfall data. For the calibration period, the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.60 for estimated and observed direct runoff. The calibrated CN values were used for validation of the model for the same year (July 1-December 31), and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.60 for estimated and observed direct runoff. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.52 for January 1, 1991 to December 31, 1991 using uncalibrated CN values. As shown in this study, the use of better input parameters for the L-THIA model can improve accuracy. The effects on direct runoff and pollutant estimation of the calibrated CN values in the L-THIA model were investigated for the LEC. Following calibration, the estimated average annual direct runoff for the LEC watershed increased by 34%, total nitrogen by 24%, total phosphorus by 22%, and total lead by 43%. This study demonstrates that the L-THIA model should be calibrated and validated prior to application in a particular watershed to more accurately assess the effects of land use changes on hydrology and water quality.     

An experimental apparatus for testing biodiesels based on a CFR engine—setup and validation with different methyl ester blends

A cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine was modified and instrumented in order to control operating conditions and to measure engine parameters and in-cylinder pressure diagrams. Aiming at the comparison of different alternative fuels, an experimental procedure was defined, including cetane number (CN) evaluation and the definition of engine operating quantities in different working points, for fixed levels of compression ratio (CR) and injection advance. An investigation was made considering several blends of methyl-esters of rapeseed oil (RME) and of a mix of vegetable oils (VOME) with conventional diesel oil. The defined experimental procedure was applied to assess CN, engine brake thermal efficiency (bte) and exhaust emissions. Results show that the biodiesel content has a positive influence on soot emissions, with strong reduction, while thermal efficiency and NO_X emissions are negatively affected, which can be justified taking into account fuel properties and changes in combustion process. As observed outcomes are generally in line with those presented in literature, the facility proved to be a suitable tool for basic investigations on alternative fuels to be used in specific applications.