Ecotoxicological effects of typical personal care products on seed germination and seedling development of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Biochemical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings stressed by two typical personal care products (PCPs) – triclosan (TCS) and galaxolide (HHCB) were experimentally investigated to assess their ecological risks. The results showed that wheat shoot and root elongation was significantly inhibited by 50–250 mg L⁻¹ TCS and HHCB. Wheat roots were sensitive to TCS, while shoots were sensitive to HHCB. The median effect concentration (EC₅₀) of TCS and HHCB based on the inhibition of their sensitive sites were 147.8 and 143.4 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the damage of wheat seedlings treated by low concentration of TCS and HHCB during a long period cannot be neglected. After a 21-d exposure, 0.2–3.0 mg L⁻¹ TCS and HHCB treatment caused the damage to the accumulation of chlorophyll (CHL), the synthesis of soluble protein (SP), and the activity of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) in different degree. However, different changing trends of these physiological indexes treated by different PCPs were observed after 7-d to 14-d exposures, especially the activity of POD and SOD. The activity of POD and SOD in wheat leaves and roots decreased with an increase in the concentration of TCS and the exposure time. However, the enzyme activities in wheat leaves treated by 0.2–3.0 mg L⁻¹ HHCB increased after a 14-d exposure, and with the prolongation of exposure time, the enzyme activities significantly decreased. The variations in these physiological indexes of wheat could be considered as good biomarkers of serious stress by TCS and HHCB in the environment.     

A Rapid Method to Score Stream Reaches Based on the Overall Performance of Their Main Ecological Functions

A method was developed to score the ecological condition of first- to third-order stream reaches in the Auckland region of New Zealand based on the performance of their key ecological functions. Such a method is required by consultants and resource managers to quantify the reduction in ecological condition of a modified stream reach relative to its unmodified state. This is a fundamental precursor for the determination of fair environmental compensation for achieving no-net-loss in overall stream ecological value. Field testing and subsequent use of the method indicated that it provides a useful measure of ecological condition related to the performance of stream ecological functions. It is relatively simple to apply compared to a full ecological study, is quick to use, and allows identification of the degree of impairment of each of the key ecological functions. The scoring system was designed so that future improvements in the measurement of stream functions can be incorporated into it. Although the methodology was specifically designed for Auckland streams, the principles can be readily adapted to other regions and stream types.     

The response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution and subsets of ecological predictors: a case study from the Italian Prealps

We investigated the response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution, against the background of other ecological predictors in a prealpine heterogeneous area, using Non-Parametric Multiplicative Regression (NPMR). The best NPMR model for total lichen diversity according to N environmental predictors at tree level has a cross R(2)=0.709. It includes 10 variables, belonging to three different subsets of factors: two pollution-related factors (distance in meters from the road and from the cement factory); four stand-related (habitat, heat index, LAI and elevation) and four substrate-related factors (inclination, circumference and texture and tree species). Considering separately the effects of each subset on lichen diversity, substrate- and stand-related factors produce good models with similar cross R(2) (0.490 and 0.500, respectively), whereas pollution-related factors produce a model with a lower cross R(2) (0.340). Hence, we provide information to investigate the applicability of lichen biomonitoring to complex heterogeneous areas where standardized protocols are not reliable.     

China’s Classification-Based Forest Management: Procedures,Problems, and Prospects

China’s new Classification-Based Forest Management (CFM) is a two-class system, including Commodity Forest (CoF) and Ecological Welfare Forest (EWF) lands, so named according to differences in their distinct functions and services. The purposes of CFM are to improve forestry economic systems, strengthen resource management in a market economy, ease the conflicts between wood demands and public welfare, and meet the diversified needs for forest services in China. The formative process of China’s CFM has involved a series of trials and revisions. China’s central government accelerated the reform of CFM in the year 2000 and completed the final version in 2003. CFM was implemented at the provincial level with the aid of subsidies from the central government. About a quarter of the forestland in China was approved as National EWF lands by the State Forestry Administration in 2006 and 2007. Logging is prohibited on National EWF lands, and their landowners or managers receive subsidies of about 70 RMB (US$10) per hectare from the central government. CFM represents a new forestry strategy in China and its implementation inevitably faces challenges in promoting the understanding of forest ecological services, generalizing nationwide criteria for identifying EWF and CoF lands, setting up forest-specific compensation mechanisms for ecological benefits, enhancing the knowledge of administrators and the general public about CFM, and sustaining EWF lands under China’s current forestland tenure system. CFM does, however, offer a viable pathway toward sustainable forest management in China.     

金属矿山废弃地生态修复技术研究

总结了金属矿山废弃地的类型、特征,简述了其对环境的影响和后果。对金属矿山废弃地的生态修复技术进行了归纳和分类,在此基础上分析了基质改良技术、植物修复技术、微生物修复技术、各类技术在矿山废弃地生态修复实践中的适用性和优缺点,并指出植物修复技术是应用前景最好的技术。最后,对金属矿山废弃地生态修复技术的发展方向进行了讨论。     

草原生态补偿:减畜和补偿的对等关系

中国草原生态补偿是通过补助和奖励的政策手段达到减畜和草畜平衡的政策目标,最终使牧民收入不减少的条件下草原退化得到减缓。论文首先从理论上提出一个分析草原生态补偿减畜和补偿对等关系的框架,然后以内蒙古四子王旗查干补力格苏木为例,对草原生态补偿减畜和补偿的对等关系进行了实证分析。实证分析结果表明:因为超载情况存在空间异质性和牧户差异性,实际的超载率较统计的超载率被低估了。补偿在区域总量上是不足够的,维持区域总量补偿足够的草畜平衡奖励标准应为28.5元/hm2。减畜和补偿存在严重的不对等关系,47.9%的资金给了那些不需要减畜的牧户,减畜比例0%;5.5%的资金给了那些需要减畜也愿意减畜的牧户,减畜比例1.2%;46.6%的资金给了那些需要减畜但只愿意部分减畜的牧户,减畜比例98.8%。预期能够实现的减畜比例仅为8.3%,由于牧户超载程度存在显著的差异,预期能够实现的减畜比例对草畜平衡奖励标准和每羊单位损失均不敏感。为了达到草原生态保护的目的,保障减畜的有效达成,应该将超载程度纳入草畜平衡奖励的政策设计中。中小牧户是草原超载的主体,"将超载程度纳入草畜平衡奖励的政策设计"的真正含义是"将草畜平衡奖励向中小牧户做出适当倾斜"。"超越"草畜平衡奖励,减少中小牧户的数量,扩大牧户的草场经营规模,促进牧区牧户的适度规模经营才是实现草原可持续发展的出路所在。     

绿色信贷制度在建设美丽幸福中国的应用研究——以广州市为例

本文以广州市为例,分析认为绿色信贷制度将在生态农业、生态工业、能源、基础设施建设、消费信贷等领域发挥重要作用,进而防控污染,保护资源环境,建设美丽幸福中国,保障国民健康,增进民生福祉。     

新型城镇化所存在的资源环境问题及对策初探

新型城镇化是我国城镇化发展的必然选择,是我国城镇化健康发展的根本保证。土地资源、水资源、能源等和生态环境是城镇发展的基础和根本保障。城镇化的快速发展导致一系列资源环境问题,因而,城镇化与资源环境有着密切的关系。本文从我国新型城镇化的发展背景、内涵出发,从水资源、土地资源、能源、环境容量几个方面深入探讨了我国新型城镇化所存在的资源环境问题,并在此基础上提出对策,这对于促进新型城镇化的健康发展和我国资源环境的可持续发展均具有重要的学术价值与实践意义。     

科学精准理解《“十三五”生态环境保护规划》的关键词和新提法

《"十三五"生态环境保护规划》是第九个五年环境保护规划,规划的编制面临新形势新要求,承载了大量新内容和新任务,在规划的理念、战略、领域、任务、支撑等方面都有显著的拓展与深化。本文通过对规划进行系统梳理,提炼出10个方面的关键词和新提法并逐一解读,以便于读者对规划深入理解和精准把握。     

The Influence of Road Infrastructure and Traffic on Soil,Water, and Air Quality

Polluting substances are spread as a consequence of the construction and use of roads. This article provides a summary of the substances with which traffic pollutes the environment on a local, regional and global level. The mechanisms of dispersion of pollutants to soil and groundwater are described. Based on environmental quality requirements established in rules and regulations in the Netherlands, the paper discusses mitigating measures necessary to limit the distribution of pollutants along highways. Most of the data in this article come from original research carried out by or by order of the Road and Hydraulic Institute. For comparison, other data from the Netherlands have been included. It is shown that source-oriented measures (volume and technical) will have more effect on environmental quality than measures with regard to treating runoff. The use of porous asphalt instead of nonporous asphalt on highways in the Netherlands has environmental benefits. The article also pays attention to combined use of the roadside verges for treatment of runoff using ecological engineering techniques in the form of natural processes in helophyte filter systems in combination with enhancement of ecological values along highways.