Effects of traffic noise on tree frog stress levels,immunity, and color signaling

During the last decade, many studies have focused on the detrimental effects of noise pollution on acoustic communication. Surprisingly, although it is known that noise exposure strongly influences health in humans, studies on wildlife remain scarce. In order to gain insight into the consequences of traffic noise exposure, we experimentally manipulated traffic noise exposure as well as the endocrine status of animals to investigate physiological and phenotypic consequences of noise pollution in an anuran species. We showed that noise exposure increased stress hormone level and induced an immunosuppressive effect. In addition, both traffic noise exposure and stress hormone application negatively impacted H. arborea vocal sac coloration. Moreover, our results suggest profound changes in sexual selection processes because the best quality males with initial attractive vocal sac coloration were the most impacted by noise. Hence, our study suggests that the recent increases in anthropogenic noise worldwide might affect a broader range of animal species than previously thought, because of alteration of visual signals and immunity. Generalizing these results to other taxa is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity in an increasingly noisy world.     

Disturbance-Response Analysis: a Method for Rapid Assessment of the Threat to Species in Disturbed Areas

Abstract:  We developed a method with which to analyze a specie's response to chronic anthropogenic disturbance (CAD). We regressed density of individuals on the intensity of 3 disturbance agents (human activities, raising livestock, and land degradation) along CAD gradients to determine how much CAD is experienced by a species; whether species are ruderal (achieving maximum densities in disturbed sites); whether density declines as a result of CAD; which disturbance agents are responsible for this reduction; and the number of populations that decline as a result of CAD. We tested the method on 9 threatened Mammillaria species (Cactaceae). Seven species were ruderal. In 4 species, actual disturbance surpassed the CAD intensity in which plants achieved their maximum densities; thus, the density of those 4 species appeared to be declining. For 7 species, some populations were threatened by human activities or livestock, whereas others were favored by them. Land degradation negatively affected all species. Our results allowed us to distinguish 4 groups of species that had similar responses and thus may require different forms of management. Our method provided an estimation of the growth rate (λ) of the studied populations that was significantly correlated with λs obtained from demographic studies. The size structures of populations were consistent with the predictions of the analysis, which suggests our results are consistent and reliable. Disturbance–response analysis provides a basis for management in heavily populated areas, where conservation must be achieved along with development activities that cause CAD. The method provides readily interpretable information, which facilitates participative decision making; the data are rapidly generated, which makes it appropriate when results are required promptly or for assessment of large numbers of species; and it provides a comprehensive perception of how threatened species behave in the real world.     

Modeling Species' Distributions to Improve Conservation in Semiurban Landscapes: Koala Case Study

Abstract:  Models of species' distributions are commonly used to inform landscape and conservation planning. In urban and semiurban landscapes, the distributions of species are determined by a combination of natural habitat and anthropogenic impacts. Understanding the spatial influence of these two processes is crucial for making spatially explicit decisions about conservation actions. We present a logistic regression model for the distribution of koalas (  Phascolarctos cinereus ) in a semiurban landscape in eastern Australia that explicitly separates the effect of natural habitat quality and anthropogenic impacts on koala distributions. We achieved this by comparing the predicted distributions from the model with what the predicted distributions would have been if anthropogenic variables were at their mean values. Similar approaches have relied on making predictions assuming anthropogenic variables are zero, which will be unreliable if the training data set does not include anthropogenic variables close to zero. Our approach is novel because it can be applied to landscapes where anthropogenic variables are never close to zero. Our model showed that, averaged across the study area, natural habitat was the main determinant of koala presence. At a local scale, however, anthropogenic impacts could be more important, with consequent implications for conservation planning. We demonstrated that this modeling approach, combined with the visual presentation of predictions as a map, provides important information for making decisions on how different conservation actions should be spatially allocated. This method is particularly useful for areas where wildlife and human populations exist in close proximity.     

A Screening Procedure for Prioritizing Riparian Management

A spatially explicit linear, additive model was developed for quantifying site characteristics of riparian areas of the lower Cedar River, Washington, USA. The spatial complexity and distribution of combined habitat and anthropogenic landscape features were used to define habitat indices that indicate the relative quality of riparian habitats. Patches of contiguous grid cells were measured in terms of their locations, sizes, and relative degree of fragmentation. Additionally, intrapatch heterogeneity was measured to identify unique combinations of habitat and anthropogenic factors for individual grid cells within patches. Model verification indicated that existing floodplain riparian habitats received positive indices more than 90% of the time. Mean patch sizes and fragmentation indices were similar for all positive indices throughout the reaches in the valley floor. Among all reaches, reach 7 had the highest number of positive patches due to a higher degree of meandering in this reach. This procedure and model outputs provide unique screening opportunities for prioritizing management of riparian areas (e.g., conservation, restoration and enhancement).     

全球和中国地区PM_(2.5)时空变化特征的模拟

利用气溶胶-气候耦合模式BCC_AGCM2.0.1_CUACE/Aero,模拟了1850~1980和1980~2010年PM_(2.5)及其人为和自然气溶胶柱含量的时空变化,并分析了人为和自然气溶胶对这种变化的贡献.结果表明:1850~1980年,大部分陆地范围人为PM_(2.5)的柱含量有所增加,尤其是北美东部、欧洲和中国东部等地区,人为PM_(2.5)增加地更明显,且以夏季最为明显;自然PM_(2.5)的变化主要分布在几大沙漠地区,以春、夏季最为显著;人为气溶胶对总PM_(2.5)变化的贡献在秋季最大,达94%,夏、冬季次之,分别为46%和41%,春季最小,仅占28%.1980~2010年,人为PM_(2.5)在东亚、东南亚等地区均有所增加,春夏季较为显著,在欧洲中部和北美东部有所减少,且以夏季减少最为明显;自然PM_(2.5)在沙漠地带有显著的变化,以春季最为明显;人为PM_(2.5)的变化对总变化的贡献相比之前有所减少,四季均小于50%.     

Elemental composition of total dry particulate matter deposited in the selected industrial areas within Lagos state

The total particulate matter (PM) deposited within 17 selected industrial areas in Lagos state during the dry season (December 2015 to January 2016) was studied. Deposition gauges measuring 0.2 meters (m) in diameter by 0.15 m in depth were placed at the sampling locations for a period of one month to collect the total deposited PM. The PM was then characterized using energy‐dispersive X‐ray florescence (EDXRF). The sources of the heavy metals were evaluated using enrichment factor (EF) analysis. Factor analysis (FA) was then used to determine the correlations between the identified heavy metals. Twenty‐three elements—sodium (Na), silicon (Si), phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), zirconium (Zr), lead (Pb), tungsten (W), polonium (Po), and actinium (Ac)—were characterized in the PM collected at the sampling sites. The iron elemental ratio ranged from 0.0003 to 3.8848. The EF ranged from 0.0015 to 1697.47, including at the control location. The FA, using principal component analysis techniques, revealed seven factor loadings with 90.03% cumulative, which suggests that the sources are anthropogenic, such as from industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and the combustion of fuel.     

A relict habitat became an isolated habitat in the Luoshan Nature Reserve from 1977 to 2017: Natural or man‐made disaster?

Understanding the ecological trends of the relict habitats in the Luoshan Nature Reserve (LNR) has an important role in the persistence of endangered species and the socio‐economic sustainability in the Ningxia section of the arid desertification belt in North China. Based on data from the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS)/Thematic Mapper (TM)/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)/Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors (from 1977 to 2017), the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and net primary productivity (NPP) (from 2000 to 2017), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM), annual average air temperature and precipitation (from 1977 to 2017), typical anthropogenic factors (population size, cultivated land and residential area) and natural ecological elements (MSS/TM/ETM+/OLI/MODIS NDVI and NPP) were quantitatively contrasted and analyzed for potential correlations. Some indicators of human activities, ecological processes and landscape geography have changed in the LNR. The proportion of residential area increased 3.09‐fold from 1977 to 2017. The population increased 34.30‐fold due to ecological immigration policy implementation in the Hongsipu immigration district. Before immigration, cultivated land increased, but after immigration, this land decreased quickly. Most of the dry‐cultivated land was converted through afforestation and a small part of the land was converted to irrigate cultivation land. We conclude that natural evolution led to the ecological relics, the isolated management to the LNR has objectively created an ecological island that will accelerate inbreeding depression and reduce biodiversity.     

Tree-ring analysis for the assessment of anthropogenic changes and trends

Investigation of Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)annual radial increment (width of annual tree rings) was carriedout in the surroundings of one of the largest pollution sources inLithuania – Jonava Nitrogen Fertilizers Plant. The main objectiveof investigation was to analyse different sides of anthropogenictransformations of tree-ring series in the polluted environment:changes in tree growth intensity; variance changes in tree-ringseries; changes in the relations with natural external factors.Three different periods of tree reaction to the environmentalpollution were singled out – fertilization period, depressionperiod and recovery period since annual emissions were essentiallyreduced. The variance of tree-ring series has increased severaltimes in the polluted environment. Reaction of trees to the impactof climatic factors (temperature, precipitation) has changedsignificantly in the polluted environment and their sensitivity hasalso increased.     

防御城市高温灾害、减低夏季热岛强度的途径

以上海市气象观测资料为基础,探讨了在区域性高温背景下,叠加上城市热岛效应所导致的高温灾害的成因及危害,提出了减低危害的对策及途径。     

三峡库区人类活动净氮输入量估算及其影响因素

建立包括食品/饲料,氮肥,大气沉降和生物固氮4部分的人类活动净氮输入模型（NANI）,采用单因素方差分析法（one-way ANOVA）和灰色关联度法,研究2006~2016年三峡库区人类活动净氮输入估量的时空分布、组成特征及其贡献率、影响因素.结果表明：（1）三峡库区的NANI估量存在明显的时空差异特征,从2006年的10715.2kg/（km²·a）到2016年的11974.1kg/（km²·a）,整体呈现先线性上升后下降的年际变化趋势,以及库首,库尾高,库区腹地低且南部高,北部低的空间分布特征.（2）三峡库区的NANI的组成中,氮肥施用量所占比重最大为50%~56%,是主要输入源,其次是大气氮沉降量,所占比重为22%~24%;相关性分析中,氮肥施用量与NANI相关性最强,R²达到了0.81（P<0.0001）.（3）人口密度,粮食产量,农业生产总值和地区生产总值等与NANI的关联度均较高,分别为0.901,0.867,0.794,0.689,NANI值随人口密度的增大而增大,但当人口密度到达一定值（500人/km²）时,其值不再变化;NANI值随着耕地面积的增加而增大,随着森林面积的增加而减小.