The Nature Conservancy's approach to prioritizing conservation action

Like many conservation organizations and federal and state agencies, The Nature Conservancy is in the process of large-scale planning and prioritization efforts. To improve the efficiency of these planning efforts, the Conservancy has developed a methodology for these efforts. The results of these planning efforts will be a conservation blueprint which identifies the conservation areas necessary for conserving biodiversity and a subset of those areas where the Conservancy will focus its immediate efforts over the next 10 years. The subset of all the conservation areas identified in the planning process help The Nature Conservancy determine where it will work. This subset of areas (referred to as action sites) is selected using a tool which ranks key criteria for each conservation area. These criteria include the current conservation status of each area, complementarity to other areas selected, the diversity and viability of targets at the area, the urgency and degree of threats to the targets, the feasibility or opportunity to abate the threats at the area and the leverage potential of working at a conservation area. Taken together, these criteria help planners to select the areas where they will focus their conservation efforts.     

赋权相关分析与环境设施优化选择

在环境质量评价及环境设施优化选择过程中，客观地设计分析模型，并合理地选择权系数是问题的关键和难点。如果处理不当，将会得出与客观实际完全相反的结果。从而影响决策的准确性，造成不应有的损失。本文以灰色系统理论和层次分析法为基础，提出利用二步层次分析法确定权系数的多指标相关分析方法，并将其应用于烟气处理设施的综合性能评价之中。实例分析表明，该方法具有赋权合理、计算简便、一致性程度高、受决策者主观臆断影响小，评价结果可靠等特点。因此，该方法用于环境设施优化选择过程是可行的。     

四川喇叭河自然保护区的两栖爬行动物垂直分布及保护区型式

四川省喇叭河自然保护区已知分布有39种两栖爬行动物，本文对在该地区海拔700-2600m的地段划分为19个小带，并对其物种多样性的分布特点和分布规律进行了研究．结果表明：两栖爬行动物在保护区内具有明显的垂直分布现象，海拔900-1099m过渡带和2100-2299m过渡带是该地物种保护的关键地区，该区域具有物种丰富、区系复杂和生态脆弱等特点；因此，在规划建设和旅游开发过程中应避免对该区域的影响，同时保护区的规划应遵循物种多样性的分布规律，合理设计保护区的空间格局，初步提出了多核心、多层次的保护区新型式．图5表2参16     

基于最优分割理论的酸雨监控点位的分类研究

Fisher最优分割法是用离差平方和来表示同类样本之间的差异程度,通过简便的计算步骤和作图,确定最优分类数,使同类样本间的差异最小,各类别样本间的差异最大,并用F检验法检验最优分类数的合理性。文章根据Fisher最优分割法的理论内涵,研究其应用于酸雨环境监测优化布点的可行性。以漳州市沿海区域监测点为研究实例,用Fisher最优分割法确定最优的分类情况和最优的优化布点方案。结果表明,原布设的9个监测点用Fisher最优分割法优化为3个典型点位,可客观地反映漳州市酸雨控制区的整体污染状况和污染趋势,该方法理论内涵直观、计算简便、重复性好,对环境质量监测有重要的意义。     

Testis size variation in the greenfinch Carduelis chloris : relevance for some recent models of sexual selection

Interspecific evidence that testis size responds to selection caused by sperm competition has been obtained from many taxa. However, little is known about the sources of intraspecific variation in testis size, although such variation may have functional significance. Variation in testis size and asymmetry was studied within and between eight geographically separated (and genetically differentiated) populations of greenfinches Carduelis chloris. The relationships between testis size and plumage brightness (degree of yellowness) and the prevalence of haematozoan infections were also investigated in three of these populations, as they related to the predictions of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, and Møller's hypothesis relating directional testis asymmetry to phenotypic quality. There were large differences between populations in testis size, with males from northern populations having larger testes than those from southern populations. Within populations, large testes were associated with larger body size and greater age. When the influence of these factors was removed statistically, males with large testes were more likely to be infected with haematozoan parasites, and had brighter yellow plumage. No evidence was found that directional asymmetry in testis size was related to either of these measures of phenotypic quality. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that males with large testes, while signalling higher phenotypic quality as revealed by increased plumage brightness, also pay a cost in terms of reduced immunocompetence, revealed by the increased probability of infection in these males. That these patterns were similar in three different populations adds further strength to these conclusions. Our results suggest that studying the sources of variation in testis size among individuals can reveal interesting processes in sexual selection.     

电解氧化法处理黄金冶炼厂选冶废水

采用电解氧化法处理同时含有高浓度氰化物与COD的黄金冶炼厂选冶废水,主要考查了外加电压、溶液pH、电解时间及极板间距等因素对氰化物和COD去除率的影响,充分利用原水中Cl^-的阳极氧化效应,深入探讨了电化学氧化过程及污染物氧化去除机理。结果表明,随着外加电压和电解时间的增大,氰化物和COD去除率逐渐增大。以石墨为阳极,钛合金为阴极,采用一阴两阳电解体系对废水进行氧化,当电压为4.5 V、初始pH为7、电解时间为3 h、极板间距为1.5 cm的条件下,总氰化物 (CN_T) 、COD、SCN^-及Cu的去除率最高可达99.6%、96%、99.9%与99.2%。电解过程中体系pH逐渐降低,电场作用下定向迁移至阳极附近的污染物去除主要归因于HClO及ClO^-的间接氧化作用,当pH大于5.0时以HClO的氧化为主,ClO^-的氧化为辅,而pH小于5.0时则主要是HClO的氧化。电解氧化过程中约有36.17%的Cu与SCN^-形成CuSCN沉淀而被除去,剩余的铜则扩散至阴极沉积析出。GC-MS分析表明,烷烃类、酯类、酮类等大分子的C=C键、酯基、羰基等化学键和官能团被氧化断链成小分子物质,随后继续被氧化为H₂O、CO₂和N₂。     

COUPLING OF NONPARAMETRIC FREQUENCY AND L-MOMENT ANALYSES FOR MIXED DISTRIBUTION IDENTIFICATION 1

ABSTRACT: Both L-moment and nonparametric frequency analyses were performed on a series of annual maximum floods from New Brunswick, Canada. The L-moment analysis concluded that the data were generated from a unimodal Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution. However, the nonparametric frequency analysis indicated that a majority of stations followed nonunimodal mixed distributions since peak flows occur during different seasons and are the result of different generating mechanisms. The coupling of L-moment and nonparametric analyses facilitates mixed distribution identification. Thus, the nonparametric method helps in identifying underlying probability distribution, especially when samples arise from mixed distributions.     

The consequences of failure should be considered in siting geologic carbon sequestration projects

Geologic carbon sequestration is the injection of anthropogenic CO₂ into deep geologic formations where the CO₂ is intended to remain indefinitely. If successfully implemented, geologic carbon sequestration will have little or no impact on terrestrial ecosystems aside from the mitigation of climate change. However, failure of a geologic carbon sequestration site, such as large-scale leakage of CO₂ into a potable groundwater aquifer, could cause impacts that would require costly remediation measures. Governments are attempting to develop regulations for permitting geologic carbon sequestration sites to ensure their safety and effectiveness. At present, these regulations focus largely on decreasing the probability of failure. In this paper we propose that regulations for the siting of early geologic carbon sequestration projects should emphasize limiting the consequences of failure because consequences are easier to quantify than failure probability.     

A Proactive Approach Can Make Site Remediation Less Expensive

Without any incentive to clean up a contaminated site, remediation is often delayed until the site owner is compelled to act by regulatory agencies. In such a context, the selected technology is typically the one that will reach the remediation goals as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this criterion is often met by overly expensive technologies, resulting in high and sometimes unaffordable total remediation costs, leading to a remediation with a negative net benefit. This study examines the effects of time constraint and benefit value on the optimal remediation strategy for a diesel-contaminated site. This strategy is developed using the technico-economic model METEORS, which takes into account the technology’s effectiveness, the uncertainty of the level of contamination, and the possibility of reducing this uncertainty through either an additional characterization (before selecting and applying a technology) or the monitoring of the remediation technology (during its use). Results of simulations with both economic and temporal constraints support a proactive approach to site remediation.     

X射线防护服所需铅当量的研究与应用

铅当量是X射线防护服最重要的性能指标,铅当量的大小决定着X射线防护服屏蔽X射线的能力。X射线防护服的铅当量有不同的等级,需根据不同的X射线照射条件和工作情况选择使用。本文通过计算给出了几种常用管电压下防护服屏蔽散漏X射线所需的铅当量值,可为X射线防护服的使用单位或个人在购买和使用时提供参考。选择适合铅当量的X射线防护服,可以避免因选用的防护服或用具铅当量不足而达不到有效屏蔽X射线的效果,造成健康的危害;也可以避免因选用过大铅当量的X射线防护服或用具,致使作业人员过多负重,导致疲劳,发生人为失误,也可以避免造成不必要的经济浪费。另外,为了保证X射线防护服的使用效果,本文给出了X射线防护服的检验、贮存和使用等管理方法。