Effects of climate and exurban development on nest predation and predator presence in the southern Appalachian Mountains (USA)

In the eastern United States, land-use and climate change have likely contributed to declines in the abundance of Neotropical migrant birds that occupy forest interiors, but the mechanisms are not well understood. We conducted a nest-predation experiment in southern Appalachian Mountain forests (North Carolina, U.S.A.) during the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons to determine the effects of exurban development and temperature on predator presence and the average number of days until eggs in an artificial nest were disturbed by predators. We baited artificial nests with quail (Excalfactoria chinensi) eggs and monitored them for 18 days. We used clay eggs, track plates, and motion-triggered cameras to detect and identify nest predators. The average number of days a nest was undisturbed decreased as mean temperature increased and, to a lesser extent, as the density of buildings increased. Nests on the ground were more often depredated than those in trees, likely due to increased predation by opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and other carnivores. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums, corvids (Corvus brachyrhynchos and Cyanocitta cristata), chipmunks (Tamias striatus), black bears (Ursus americanus), and domestic cats (Felis catus) were the most commonly detected predators. Presence of these predators did not vary as a function of mean temperature. Domestic cats and corvids were detected more frequently in plots with high rather than low densities of buildings. Forest-interior specialists and Neotropical migrants often nest in cool, high-elevation areas with low housing density. These bird species, especially those that nest on the ground, may be most vulnerable to increased nest predation if temperature and exurban development increase at higher elevations as anticipated.     

Eulerian and lagrangian transport time scales of a tidal active coastal basin

In this work the flushing features of a tidal active coastal basin, the Venice lagoon, have been investigated. The water transport time scale (TTS) has been computed by means of both an eulerian and a lagrangian approach. The obtained results have been compared in order to identify the main differences between the two methods.     

城市人工构筑物的多尺度生态影响

人工构筑物是城市生态系统的重要组成部分,是人-自然耦合关系的基本作用单元。自然要素中的水、土、气、生通过人工构筑物这一基本单元作用或影响人的生存、健康与发展,而人通过构筑物作用或影响自然中的水、土、气、生,进一步进化成人为主导、构筑物为基础、自然要素为条件的城市生态系统。论文综述了近年来人工构筑物多尺度生态影响的研究进展,评述了人工构筑物对土壤（水）、大气、生物生态影响的前沿动态,提出了各研究分支的关注重点及要解决的关键问题,分析了人工构筑物生态学研究的方法学问题与挑战,展望了未来该领域的基本发展走向。论文认为,构筑物生态影响涉及城乡水、土、气、生及人的健康等不同方面,现有的相关研究分散而局部,且受技术方法局限,分析结果存在很大的不确定性,研究面临巨大的转型挑战。未来构筑物生态学研究需要多学科、多尺度、多层次的系统化方法与技术的推动,城乡生态观测与实验技术的发展、多源数据处理技术以及智能计算方法的创新是该领域取得重大发展的基础与条件。     

东江流域水利工程对流域地表水文过程影响模拟研究

东江流域为香港及广州等特大城市的重要水源地,新丰江、枫树坝与白盆珠三大水库对东江全流域水资源有控制性调蓄作用,加上人类活动影响,导致东江流域地表径流发生显著变异.研究分析东江流域上中下游水利工程建成前、后径流在时间与空间的变异特征,对水利工程与人类活动影响的东江流域水资源管理提供重要依据.基于此,选取多元线性回归、神经网络与支持向量机等模型模拟水利工程建成前的径流变化,研究认为:①神经网络为水利工程建成后径流变化模拟的最优模型;②水利工程建成后,流域径流变异特征分两阶段:1974-1982年流域水文变异不显著,水利工程影响不大;1983-2000 年径流变异显著,水利工程削峰填谷作用明显;③东江流域龙川、岭下、博罗站水文变化均受水利工程调蓄影响,但影响程度各异:博罗站水文变化受水利工程影响最大,岭下站次之,龙川站受影响最小.另外,在水利工程调蓄作用影响下,东江流域月径流变化幅度趋于平坦,在一定程度上降低了洪水风险及减少了极端气候条件对东江流域水资源供给造成的负面影响.     

不同退耕还草方式下宁夏南部山区土壤氮素转化速率与微生物变化的耦合关系

为了明确不同退耕还草方式下土壤养分转化的机理及其影响因素,以宁夏南部山区(下称宁南山区)天然草地、人工草地和撂荒地土壤为研究对象,运用PVC顶盖埋管法对3种类型草地土壤中氮素的净转化速率、微生物区系和氮素微生物生理群进行了研究,探讨土壤氮素净转化速率与微生物的关系. 结果表明:①在培养过程中,3种草地类型土壤中细菌、放线菌和真菌数量平均值分别为9.6×105、3.8×104和4.0×101 CFU/g(以干土计),氮素微生物生理群数量表现为氨化细菌(4.5×104 CFU/g)>自生固氮菌(4.3×103 CFU/g)>硝化细菌(6.5×102 CFU/g)>反硝化细菌(3.9×102 CFU/g)>亚硝化细菌(1.7×102 CFU/g),其中,人工草地土壤中微生物数量最高;②细菌、真菌、反硝化细菌与亚硝化细菌数量的峰值均出现在培养第120天,放线菌和自生固氮菌数量的峰值均出现在第240天,硝化细菌数量的峰值出现在第60天,而氨化细菌数量在各类型草地土壤中出现峰值的时间不统一;③各类型草地土壤氮素的净矿化速率、净氨化速率、净硝化速率均在61~120 d内最低,净矿化速率与净硝化速率在181~240 d内最高,净氨化速率在241~360 d内最高,微生物固氮速率的峰值出现在121~180 d,最低值出现在241~360 d. 在该区土壤氮素转化速率与微生物数量紧密相关,土壤温度、土壤水分通过影响微生物数量而成为影响土壤氮素矿化的主要因素;土壤氮素的生物固持过程比有机氮矿化过程更为活跃;种植苜蓿的人工草地比天然草地和撂荒地更有利于微生物的繁殖与土壤氮素的矿化.      

模拟降雨条件下料浆石对土壤水分入渗的影响

论文基于田间坡地人工模拟降雨实验,分析了料浆石覆盖及嵌入对入渗过程的影响,对比了其入渗速率及拟合参数的变化趋势。其结果表明,随料浆石覆盖度及料浆石嵌入含量的增加,入渗补给系数逐渐减小,且后者对其影响显著;料浆石嵌入小区的平均入渗速率及稳定入渗速率随料浆石含量的增加而缓慢减小。Kostiakov入渗经验公式和Philip方程均可以对降雨入渗过程进行描述。     

半干旱黄土区自然恢复与人工造林恢复植被群落对比研究

为研究半干旱黄土区高效植被恢复途径,选取陕西省吴起县境内的合沟封禁流域和柴沟人工造林流域为研究区,在两流域内,沿顺坡和横坡方向,选择一系列20 m×20 m的样地,各组成2条样带。在每个样地内的对角线交点和对角线四分之一处选取5个样方进行植被调查,草本样方和乔灌样方的尺寸分别为1 m×1 m和5 m×5 m。共获得草本样方185个、乔灌木样方80个,其中,合沟封禁流域105个,均为草本样方,柴沟人工造林流域草本样方与乔灌样方各80个。运用植物生态学和植物群落学方法,调查各样方内的植物种类、株数、株高、盖度、地上生物量以及树木基茎、树高、冠幅等植被群落特征指标,并在此基础上对两流域的植被群落特征进行对比分析。结果表明：（1）两流域的植被种类共61种,其中柴沟人工造林流域46种,合沟封禁流域51种,共存物种36种;（2）经过10年生态恢复,柴沟人工造林流域已形成乔-灌-草群落,合沟封禁流域仍为草本群落,且两流域草本群落均以铁杆蒿（Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb.）和茭蒿（Artemisiagiraldii Pamp.）为主要建群种;（3）柴沟人工造林流域的植被盖度、平均高、生物量均明显高于合沟封禁流域的相应指标。两流域植物群落Simpson指数和Shannon-Weiner指数差异较小,Sorensen指数为0.742,主要草本植物种的指标差异不显著。以上特征反映出,在半干旱黄土区,适宜的人工造林可加速该区植被恢复的进程。     

RECHARGE OF THE SNAKE RWER PLAIN AQUIFER: TRANSITIONING FROM INCIDENTAL TO MANAGED1

ABSTRACT: Declining ground-water levels and spring discharges have heightened water user concerns about the sustainability of the Snake River Plain aquifer in southern Idaho. Diminished recharge from surface water irrigation and increased irrigation pumping have been depleting the aquifer at a rate of about 350,000 acre-feet/year. Previously, aquifer conditions were treated as an uncontrollable consequence of weather and development activities. With increasing competition for available water, the State appears to be progressing through a three-stage process of recharge management. The first stage is that which has occurred historically, where recharge is largely an incidental effect of surface water irrigation. The second stage is the implementation of intentional recharge with little regard to identifying or maximizing benefits. Idaho has been at this stage for the past few years. The State is entering a third stage in which recharge sites will be located and designed to meet specific water user and environmental objectives. Preliminary estimates using numerical and analytical models demonstrate that managed recharge within a few miles of the river will result in short-term increases in spring discharge. More distant recharge sites are needed to provide longer-term benefits. The primary challenge facing implementation of the managed recharge program will be the balancing of economic and environmental costs and benefits and to whom they accrue.     

不同类型城市人工湿地底栖动物多样性的比较研究

在常州市范围内选取具有代表性的三大人工湿地,对其底栖动物多样性情况进行春秋两季的调查研究。结果显示：软件园秋季底栖动物各项生物多样性指标均高于春季,荆川公园和五星公园则呈现春季生物多样性状况优于秋季的状况。从总体上看,底栖动物的Shannon—Wiener多样性指数软件园〉荆川公园〉五星公园;Pielou均匀度指数荆川公园〉软件园〉五星公园;BI指数表现为五星公园〉荆川公园〉软件园。此外从调查结果来看,软体动物种类数、分布密度与水体的污染程度呈反向趋势,由此推断软体动物种类丰富程度可作为评价城市人工湿地水体受污染程度的重要指标。     

提高人工神经网络洪水峰值预报精度的研究

以动量项与学习率自适应调整相结合的改进BP算法作为人工神经网络计算方法，阐述了洪水预报网络模型的构造和数据处理，以及转移函数对洪水预报精度的影响，提出了合理的洪水预报网络模型的设计方案。