雷电灾害潜在与现实易损性分析及区划研究——以黑龙江省为例

提出雷电灾害的潜在易损性和现实易损性概念,利用黑龙江省1959-2008年的雷暴日资料及1999-2008年的雷电灾害资料,结合黑龙江省的经济和人口密度特征,提出了雷暴日数、雷电灾害频度、生命易损模数及经济易损模数作为雷电灾害易损性评估指标。在此基础上,采用4级区分法对各指标进行了分级,并赋予各等级如下定值:极高级为1.0,高级为0.8,中级为0.5,低级为0.2。对黑龙江省各地市4个评估指标的等级值进行加权平均,得到权重平均值作为雷电灾害易损性评估的综合评价指数。最后通过对黑龙江省各地市雷电灾害易损性进行综合评估,形成黑龙江省雷电灾害易损度区划。结果表明:哈尔滨、齐齐哈尔和绥化潜在易损度和现实易损度皆高,综合易损度为极高易损区。伊春、大兴安岭、黑河潜在易损度很高,而现实易损度最低,故综合易损度为高易损区。鹤岗、鸡西潜在易损度较低,现实易损度较高,综合易损度为中易损区;七台河潜在易损度最低,但现实易损度高,综合易损度同样为中易损区。佳木斯、双鸭山、牡丹江潜在易损度和现实易损度皆低,综合易损度为低易损区。     

Using an individual-based model to quantify scale transition in demographic rate functions: Deaths in a coral reef fish

Scientifically informed population management requires quantitatively accurate demographic rate functions that apply at the spatial scale at which populations are actually managed, but practical constraints confine most field measurements of such functions to small study plots. This paper employs an individual-based population growth model to extrapolate the death rate function in a well-studied coral reef fish, the bridled goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenum, from the scale of coral reef “cells” at which it was measured to the larger scale of an entire coral reef. Density dependence in the whole-reef function actually proves stronger than in the local function because high goby density occasionally arises in local patches with few refuges from predators, producing very high mortality there. This IBM-based approach extends the reach of scale transition theory by examining considerably more realistic models than standard analytical methods can presently handle.     

Simple rules for ranking and optimally managing metapopulations

We present two ‘rules of thumb’ for metapopulation management. The first identifies an explicit formula for the persistence time of the population, and thus enables the population manager to form a priority species ranking by identifying those species most at risk of extinction. The second identifies an optimal management strategy that gives direction on how to alter the colonisation rate (creation or improvement of habitat corridors) and local extinction rate (restoring habitat quality or expanding habitat) in order to maximise the persistence time under a budgetary constraint. We employ a simple stochastic version of Levins (1969) metapopulation model, which is first calibrated to a more realistic spatial model. Our rules are tested on computer-generated patch networks and a model for malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) in the Bakara region of South Australia.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of alpine ecotones: A spatial explicit model targeting altitudinal vegetation shifts

There is general agreement in literature that Alpine vegetation belt ecotones have shown a trend of upward migration in the last few decades. Despite the potential of such shifts as indicators of global change effects in mountain ecosystems, there are relatively few works focused on their assessment in a systematic and spatially explicit way. In this work our aim is to quantify the altitudinal shifts and analyse the spatial pattern dynamics of mountain ecotones. We developed a novel procedure to delineate the current and former state of three characteristic mountain ecotones, which we formalised as forest, tree and tundra lines. Our approach is based on the recognition of altitudinal extreme outposts identified with ecotone locations at a slope scale. The integration of multi-temporal datasets allows the identification and quantification of altitudinal advances and retreats in the outpost locations for a given period. We tested the method in a section of the Italian Alps for the period 1957-2003. Results show a general trend of an increase in altitude for the three ecotones, despite the occurrence of occasional decreases. We estimate decadal altitude increments of 25 m for forest line, 13 m for treeline and 11 m for tundra line. We also identified changes in ecotone spatial morphology between the two dates, with significant implications in connectivity and colonisation dynamics.     

Using Wildlife as Receptor Species: A Landscape Approach to Ecological Risk Assessment

To assist risk assessors at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS), a Geographic Information System (GIS) application was developed to provide relevant information about specific receptor species of resident wildlife that can be used for ecological risk assessment. Information was obtained from an extensive literature review of publications and reports on vertebrate- and contaminant-related research since 1954 and linked to a GIS. Although this GIS is a useful tool for risk assessors because the data quality is high, it does not describe the species’ site-wide spatial distribution or life history, which may be crucial when developing a risk assessment. Specific receptor species on the SRS were modeled to provide an estimate of an overall distribution (probability of being in an area). Each model is a stand-alone tool consisting of algorithms independent of the GIS data layers to which it is applied and therefore is dynamic and will respond to changes such as habitat disturbances and natural succession. This paper describes this modeling process and demonstrates how these resource selection models can then be used to produce spatially explicit exposure estimates. This approach is a template for other large federal facilities to establish a framework for site-specific risk assessments that use wildlife species as endpoints.Current address: Biology Department, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069