A method to estimate pre-exploitation population size

Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were commercially exploited on the subantarctic island of South Georgia for over 100 years and nearly driven to extinction. Since the cessation of harvesting, however, their populations have rebounded, and they are now often considered a nuisance species whose impact on the terrestrial landscape should be mitigated. Any evaluation of their current population requires the context provided by their historic, pre-exploitation abundance, lest ecologists fall prey to shifting baseline syndrome in which their perspective on current abundance is compared only with an altered state resulting from past anthropogenic disturbance. Estimating pre-exploitation abundance is critical to defining species recovery and setting recovery targets, both of which are needed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's recent efforts to develop a green list of recovering species. To address this issue, we reconstructed the South Georgia fur seal harvest from 1786 to 1908 from ship logbooks and other historical records and interpolated missing harvest data as necessary with a generalized linear model fit to the historical record. Using an approximate Bayesian computation framework, harvest data, and a stochastic age-structured population model, we estimated the pre-exploitation abundance of Antarctic fur seals on South Georgia was 2.5 million females (95% CI 1.5–3.5 million). This estimate is similar to recent abundance estimates, and suggests current populations, and the ecological consequences of so many fur seals on the island, may be similar to conditions prior to human harvest. Although the historic archive on the fur sealing era is unavoidably patchy, the use of archival records is essential for reconstructing the past and, correspondingly, to understanding the present. Article impact statement: Defining species recovery requires an understanding of baseline population state, which can be estimated through statistical methods.     

贡嘎山高山生态系统观测试验站——“中国生态系统研究网络”站之一

贡嘎山高山生态系统观测试验站代表青藏高原东缘面积达60万平方公里的高山深谷山地生态系统类型。贡嘎山东坡从河谷到山顶可明显地分出六个山地自然垂直带,每一个带内又可分出若干亚带。自然生态系统类型多样,保存完好,海拔2000米以上基本处于未开发的原始状态,具有自然生态系统原生性强的显著特点,是开展山地生态系统观测试验的理想场地。     

果园间种白三叶草对土壤生态及果树生产的影响

针对我国果园长期沿用清耕除草方式所带来的水土流失、土壤肥力下降和果品品质变劣等问题,于1999年在山东省烟台市5个试验点分别设置了由种草样地及其清耕对照样地组成的5组可比样地,对苹果园间种白三叶草(Trifoliumrepens)对土壤生态和果树生产的影响进行定位观测。结果表明:果园种草3a后0—30cm土层有机质含量平均提高3. 3g·kg-1,氮、磷、钾等养分含量有较大提高,尤以表层土壤更明显;土壤含水量得到提高,尤以夏秋多雨季节更明显;种草果园地下5cm处土温夏季比对照平均降低4. 1℃,而冬季升高2. 5℃,使土温的全年变化较为缓和;种草果园果品产量平均增加7. 04%,年产牧草2 130kg·hm-2,每年可增加经济收入5 328元·hm-2。     

传统产业生态化模式研究及应用

论述了产业生态化的内涵及其国内外研究现状。依据产业经济、环境和社会效益最大化的目标。提出了实现传统产业生态化转型的理论模式。在此基础上以江苏省造纸业为例。提出了实现江苏省造纸业生态化的具体模式。     

社会发展综合实验区生态建设及科技引导途径

本文提出了社会发展综合实验区建设的实质就是协调好人口、资源与环境间的生态关系，为了促进社会—经济—自然复合生态系统的持续发展，探讨了科技引导实验区生态建设的途径。     

The metaphysical transition in farming: From the newtonian-mechanical to the eltonian ecological

Modern agriculture is subject to a metaphysical as well as an ethical critique. As a casual review of the beliefs associated with food production in the past suggests, modern agriculture is embedded in and informed by the prevailing modern world view, Newtonian Mechanics, which is bankrupt as a scientific paradigm and unsustainable as an agricultural motif. A new holistic, organic world view is emerging from ecology and the new physics marked by four general conceptual features: Each level of organization from atoms to ecosystems (1) exhibits emergent properties, (2) exerts downward causation from whole to part, (3) is a systemically integrated whole, (4) the parts of which are internally related. Organic agriculture has been favourably compared with industrial agriculture by the United States National Academy of Science's Board on Agriculture. Aldo Leopold was among the first to criticize industrial agriculture and to envision a new motif for agriculture informed by ecology. A future post-modern ecological agriculture will help to solve the ethical problems engendered by modern mechanical agriculture.     

Effects of increased elevation and macro- and micronutrient additions onSpartina alterniflora transplant success in salt-marsh dieback areas in Louisiana

Spartina alterniflora was transplanted into dieback areas of a salt marsh in southeast Louisiana at two elevations (ambient and +30 cm) with and without macro- (N, P, and K) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) additions to determine if transplant success is dependent on increasing elevation or nutrients.Spartina alterniflora transplanted into elevated plots had more than twice the above- and belowground biomass as compared to nonelevated plots after three months of growth. Additionally, there was significantly more vegetative reproduction (greater culm density and number of newly produced culms) in elevated plots as compared to plots at ambient elevation. Macronutrient additions increased culm densities only in elevated plots.Spartina alterniflora transplanted into nonelevated plots had lower survival rates even when transplants received nutrient additions. These results suggest thatS. alterniflora may be transplanted successfully into degraded salt-marsh areas if elevation is increased. The addition of nutrients without a concomitant increase in elevation is not sufficient for transplant success.     

A landscape ecological approach to countryside planning

Extensive losses of semi‐natural rural biotopes have led to pressures for conservation and habitat creation. Of particular concern is the loss of large‐scale structure and regional distinctiveness. If this is to be regained, planners will require both an effective body of theory relating to large‐scale visual and ecological cohesion, and effective methods of implementation. This study reviews the value of landscape ecology as a theoretical framework and discusses some applications, with particular reference to the re‐forestation of lowland Britain.     

协同论、城市生态学及苏州河综合整治

从协同论和城市生态学的角度，对苏州河综合整治的定义、目的、方式进行了阐述了探讨。     

福州西湖水体富营养化现象分析 Ⅳ、底栖生态与底泥淤积

底泥黑臭，向水面冒气泡是福州西湖水体富营养化现象的一个突出表现。目前，有关管理部门主要靠定期挖泥清淤来控制底泥富营养状况。然而１９９９年秋季福州西湖底栖动物种类和数量调查结果却显示，由于底栖动物贫乏，西湖底泥富营养化问题将由于生态失调而进一步深化。建议将控制入湖泥沙量、减少挖泥频度、恢复底栖生态作为一项治淤措施予以考虑。