Evaluating Areas of High Conservation Value in Western Oregon with a Decision‐Support Model

Abstract: The Northwest Forest Plan was implemented in 1994 to protect habitat for species associated with old‐growth forests, including Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentailis caurina) in Washington, Oregon, and northern California (U.S.A.). Nevertheless, 10‐year monitoring data indicate mixed success in meeting the ecological goals of the plan. We used the ecosystem management decision‐support model to evaluate terrestrial and aquatic habitats across the landscape on the basis of ecological objectives of the Northwest Forest Plan, which included maintenance of late‐successional and old‐growth forest, recovery, and maintenance of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), and viability of Northern Spotted Owls. Areas of the landscape that contained habitat characteristics that supported these objectives were considered of high conservation value. We used the model to evaluate ecological condition of each of the 36, 180 township and range sections of the study area. Eighteen percent of the study area was identified as habitat of high conservation value. These areas were mostly on public lands. Many of the sections that contained habitat of exceptional conservation value were on Bureau of Land Management land that has been considered for management‐plan revisions to increase timber harvests. The results of our model can be used to guide future land management in the Northwest Forest Plan area, and illustrate how decision‐support models can help land managers develop strategies to better meet their goals.     

西北地区土壤中石油类污染物的垂直渗透规律

针对西北地区独特的地理环境，讨论了西北地区油田开发过程中产生的石油类污染物在土壤中的迁移渗透规律及防治措施。由于土壤的吸附作用，石油类污染物主要积聚在土壤表层80cm以内，对表层土壤影响较大。可以采用修建收油池、防渗填埋的处理方法，减少其污染范围。     

Influence of environmental properties on macrobenthos in the northwest Indian shelf

The paper deals with the standing stock of macrobenthic infauna and associated environmental factors influencing the benthic community in the shelf region of the northwest Indian coast. The data were collected onboard FORV Sagar Sampada during the winter monsoon (January–February, 2003) to understand the community structure and the factors influencing the benthic distribution. The environmental parameters, sediment characteristics and macrobenthic infauna were collected at 26 stations distributed in the depths between 30 and 200 m extending from nobreak{Mormugao} to Porbander. Total benthic abundance was high in lower depths (50–75 m), and low values noticed at 30 m depth contour was peculiar. Polychaetes were the dominant group and were more abundant in shallow and middle depths with moderate organic matter, clay and relatively high dissolved oxygen. On the other hand crustaceans and molluscs were more abundant in deeper areas having sandy sediment and low temperature. High richness and diversity of whole benthic groups observed in deeper depths counter balanced the opposite trend shown by polychaete species. Generally benthos preferred medium grain sized texture with low organic matter and high organic matter had an adverse effect especially on filter feeders. Deposit feeding polychaetes dominated in shallow depths while carnivore species in the middle depths. Ecologically, benthos were controlled by a combination of factors such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, sand and organic matter and no single factor could be considered as an ecological master factor.     

Stream corridor management in the Pacific Northwest: II. Management strategies

King County, Washington is part of the rapidly growing Pacific Northwest region. Analysis of past and current federal, state, and county regulations and administation reveals how stream corridors have been protected to date. This article draws on scientific literature and a case study to suggest future management strategies and guidelines for controlling development in King County watersheds.     

Riparian Zone Management in the Pacific Northwest: Who's Cutting What?

Oncorhynchus sp.), regional governments now restrict timber harvest in riparian forests. I summarize and assess the riparian zone management guidelines of the states of California, Oregon, and Washington (USA) and the province of British Columbia (Canada). Only Oregon and British Columbia protect fish-bearing streams with “no-harvest” zones, and only the wider (20–50 m) no-harvest zones for larger fish-bearing streams in British Columbia are likely to maintain near-natural linkages between riparian and stream ecosystems. All four jurisdictions protect most streams with “management zones” of variable width, in which timber harvest activities are restricted. All the management zone guidelines permit the harvest of the largest conifers from riparian forests and will, if applied over a series of timber harvest rotations (60–80 years), result in the continued removal of potential sources of large woody debris from the region's watersheds. All four jurisdictions require additional protection for streams and watersheds that are severely degraded or (in the United States) contain threatened or endangered species. The governments of the PNW have taken a “manage until degraded, then protect” approach to riparian forest management that is unlikely to maintain or restore the full suite of riparian-stream linkages necessary for lotic ecosystems to function naturally at the stream, watershed, basin, or regional scale.     

中国西北地区持续干期日数时空变化特征

采用1961-2011 年111 个地面观测站逐日降水量资料,分析了中国西北地区近51 a 四季持续干期日数变化趋势。结果表明：近51 a 来西北全区春季和冬季持续干期日数都呈明显的下降趋势,冬季的下降幅度达到-1.6 d·(10 a)^-1,而夏季和秋季变化趋势不太明显。空间分布上该区大部分地区持续干期日数变化倾向率春季呈减少趋势,变化倾向率在-5.0～5.0d·(10 a)^-1之间;夏季不同的区域变化趋势不同;秋季西北西部呈减少趋势,而西北东部则呈增加趋势;冬季除陕西南部的关中平原和秦巴山地外,其他大部分地区呈减少趋势,变化倾向率在-6.0～3.0 d·(10 a)^-1之间。持续干期日数年代际变化和空间变化趋势在不同自然区变化趋势也存在差异。     

冀西北间山盆地区景观格局变化及优化研究——以河北省怀来县为例

景观格局的改变会对区域生态系统功能产生影响,对其格局进行优化调控是维持区域生态系统功能稳定性的重要手段。研究以怀来县为例,通过解译判读1993、2003和2013年3期遥感影像,分析了研究区景观格局特征,发现研究区景观破碎化程度呈上升趋势,结合各景观类型在地形位上的分布特征和生态系统服务功能,运用最小累积阻力模型构建了生态源地、生态廊道和生态节点等景观组分,整体连通性指数（dIIC）和可能连通性指数（dPC）评价结果表明河流交汇处及水库周边等区域对景观连通性重要值最大,然后划分了景观生态维持区、景观生态恢复区、景观生态功能强化区和景观生态功能保护区,为该地区景观生态优化提供指导 借鉴。