How do fighting ability and nest value influence usurpation contests in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polistes</Emphasis> wasps?

Most research on animal contests has focused on the factors that influence the intensity and outcome of aggressive contests within nonsocial species, while relatively little is known about contests in social taxa. Here, we examine contests among queens of the social paper wasp, Polistes dominulus. Queens use multiple reproductive strategies, including nesting alone, usurping established colonies, and cooperatively joining other queens. We stage contests between a nesting queen and a challenger to test how resource value (RV) and resource holding potential (RHP) influence (a) who occupies the nest at the end of the contest and (b) the extent of conflict between the queen and challenger. We found that RHP, as measured by individuals’ facial patterns and body size, influenced the outcome of the contest. Challengers with high RHP were more likely to successfully usurp the nest than challengers with low RHP. Interestingly, queens with relatively high RHP were more likely to form a cooperative association with the challenger than queens with lower RHP, suggesting that queens may evict individuals that are an aggressive threat. RV influenced the intensity of conflict. There was more aggressive conflict over large nests than over small nests. Overall, social taxa have complex contest dynamics with important parallels to contests in nonsocial taxa. Studying contests in social taxa provides an important perspective on the factors that influence individual decisions about conflict versus cooperation.     

城市水环境空间规划体系与方法研究

水环境空间规划是城市环境总体规划的一个重要组成部分,文章基于试点城市实践经验和发达国家先进经验,将水环境空间规划按照"控制单元划分-空间分级管控-质量改善策略"三步走的战略进行了梳理。基于控制单元划分结果,对水环境的重要性和敏感性进行评价,划定分级管控方案,以期保护良好的水生态状况。基于大量的控制单元数据分析,明确空间差异化的控制单元质量改善策略。     

空气质量的公众感知偏差

已有研究表明公众对空气质量的感知存在偏差,即公众感知与客观数据不一致或不相符。公众感知空气质量的特点包括直观性、适应性和经验性,并受到人口学变量、社会经济因素和地区差异的影响。针对这一偏差在我国的表现,文章提出了3点启示:注重社会舆论导向,倡导理性公众感知;倡导全民参与,积极回应公众关切;将公众感知纳入空气质量指标。     

太子河流域大型底栖动物水质评价及指数分析

分析了太子河流域大型底栖动物群落结构,采用大型底栖动物Chandler生物指数、Shannon-Wienner多样性指数、BMWP-ASPT记分系统、BI指数,对2015年度平水期太子河流域进行了水质生物评价,对以上4个指数的结果进行了Pearson相关性分析,讨论了各生物指数的适用性。将BI指数的评价结果与理化结果进行了比较分析。结果表明:BI指数更适于太子河流域开展水质生物评价。     

环境空气质量改善导向的财政资金分配模型与实施机制

"十三五"时期改进环境空气质量是首要任务,如何充分发挥财政资金对地方环境质量改善的引导和激励功能。文章提出了基于环境空气质量导向的财政激励资金分配模型和实施机制,并以2014~2015年的城市PM监测数据2.5进行了案例分析,结果表明该分配模型和实施机制具有科学性和可操作性,可以为建立环境空气质量导向的财政机制提供管理技术支撑。     

一种以人为本的城市绿地评价方法及其应用——以南京市城市绿地质量评价为例

文章基于"以人为本"的理念,构建了从使用者角度对城市绿地质量评价的简明指标体系,采用多边形综合指标法及德尔菲法,兼顾科学性和可操作性,并应用该指标体系尝试分析南京市城市绿地质量。结果表明:南京城市绿地总体质量处于一般水平,其中公园绿地和风景名胜与自然保护区绿地质量较高。在各项评价指标中,南京居民对绿地管理质量满意度较低,视觉效果满意度、空间布局满意度较高。该评价体系从使用者角度展现了城市绿地的整体水平并直观反映出城市绿地所存在的问题,可为城市绿地规划与管理以及综合评价指标的构建提供重要的依据与参考。     

Identification of hot spot and safe zones of ambient air quality in North Maharashtra region,India

The continuous infrastructural and economic development exerted pressure on the environmental conditions of the North Maharashtra region. The air quality of North Maharashtra region was analysed for the identification of hot spots and safe zones of ambient air quality. The result shows air pollution at some part of North Maharashtra region. The levels of particulate matter were above the prescribed limits especially at Bhusawal, Dhule and Jalgaon Urban centres. The traces of polyaromatic hydrocarbons were also observed in the urban centres of study area. The binary ratios of the persistent prevailing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)'s show great correlation with the vehicular exhaust in the study region. The higher levels of pollutants in the study region were recorded in the post-monsoon season. The present study is first of its kind in the North Maharashtra region and an attempt has been made to analyse the anthropogenic sources and concentration of air pollutants in the area. The air pollutants reduce the defence system of human body and lead into severe health consequences like damage of lung tissues with escalation in the existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.     

Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda

Environmental quality strongly depends on human behaviour patterns. We review the contribution and the potential of environmental psychology for understanding and promoting pro-environmental behaviour. A general framework is proposed, comprising: (1) identification of the behaviour to be changed, (2) examination of the main factors underlying this behaviour, (3) design and application of interventions to change behaviour to reduce environmental impact, and (4) evaluation of the effects of interventions. We discuss how environmental psychologists empirically studied these four topics, identify apparent shortcomings so far, and indicate major issues for future research.     

A longitudinal study of the links between Local Air Quality Management and Local Transport Planning policy processes in England

The second round of the Local Transport Plan (LTP2) process in England presents unique challenges and opportunities for integrating Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) within current transport planning policy. Using content analysis of LTP2 documents from nine English authorities, and results from a questionnaire survey of local government officers undertaken in late 2007, this paper charts the changes in the integration of air quality management within the transport planning process since 1997. While substantial improvements in policy integration were observed within the selected case studies, the paper demonstrates that such improvements are often constrained by institutional complexities that create implementation gaps between national objectives and local decision-making outcomes.     

水质自动监测系统运行过程中的质量保证和质量控制

以常州市武进水质自动监测站的工作为例,根据水质自动监测系统的技术特点,提出健全各项规章制度,培训技术人员,建立质量保证体系和自动监测系统运行的质量控制方法,以保证水质自动监测系统的正常运行。