Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and their Effects on Biodiversity: An Overview of the Atmospheric Pathways of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Suggestions for Future Studies

Atmospheric change comprises many phenomena, namely climate change, acidic deposition, stratospheric ozone depletion, SMOG, increasing trend of suspended particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Among HAPs, a particular group of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), such as some organochlorine pesticides, has shown a variety of toxic effects, altering the biodiversity of many ecosystems. Because of their persistence in the environment, and of their long range transport, the study of the global cycle of POPs is important in understanding how they can affect biodiversity. This can be accomplished by coupling different approaches: toxicity and ecological studies, emission estimates, and the use of global models.     

Trends in biodiversity and habitat quantification tools used for market-based conservation in the United States

Market-based conservation mechanisms are designed to facilitate the mitigation of harm to and conservation of habitats and biodiversity. Their potential is partly hindered, however, by the quantification tools used to assess habitat quality and functionality. Of specific concern are the lack of transparency and standardization in tool development and gaps in tool availability. To address these issues, we collected information via internet and literature searchers and through conversations with tool developers and users on tools used in U.S. conservation mechanisms, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES) and ecolabel programs, conservation banking, and habitat exchanges. We summarized information about tools and explored trends among and within mechanisms based on criteria detailing geographic, ecological, and technical features of tools. We identified 69 tools that assessed at least 34 species and 39 habitat types. Where tools reported pricing, 98% were freely available. More tools were applied to states along the U.S. West Coast than elsewhere, and the level of tool transferability varied markedly among mechanisms. Tools most often incorporated conditions at numerous spatial scales, frequently addressed multiple risks to site viability, and required 1–83 data inputs. Most tools required a moderate or greater level of user skill. Average tool-complexity estimates were similar among all mechanisms except PES programs. Our results illustrate the diversity among tools in their ecological features, data needs, and geographic application, supporting concerns about a lack of standardization. However, consistency among tools in user skill requirements, incorporation of multiple spatial scales, and complexity highlight important commonalities that could serve as a starting point for establishing more standardized tool development and feature-incorporation processes. Greater standardization in tool design may expand market participation and facilitate a needed assessment of the effectiveness of market-based conservation.     

永定河流域春季大型底栖动物群落结构和空间格局

为了解永定河流域大型底栖动物群落结构与空间分布状况,2017年春季调查了永定河流域大型底栖动物群落,采集并鉴定出大型底栖动物77个分类单元,其中水生昆虫为绝对优势类群。聚类分析表明,永定河流域底栖动物群落结构在空间上与流域地理格局基本一致,上游区洋河、妫水河、桑干河以直突摇蚊、流水长跗摇蚊、间摇蚊为优势类群,中游区永定河山峡段以钩虾、台湾蜉、近岸细蜉为主,下游区五湖一线段以德永摇蚊、恩菲摇蚊、沼虾为优势类群。直接收集者成为流域内绝对优势功能摄食类群,在不同区域的相对丰度均达到90%以上。单因素方差分析显示,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数无组间差异,Margalef丰富度指数和物种数在中游区和下游区差异显著(P0.05)。研究表明流域大型底栖动物群落出现了整体退化,生物多样性下降,重度-中度耐污类群成为优势,多数河段功能摄食类群不完整,永定河流域生态系统保护和修复工作亟待开展。     

冬季生态浮床对浮游藻类数量及生物多样性的影响

为了考察生态浮床在冬季的运行效果,选择世博园区白莲泾生态浮床工程为研究对象,研究了冬季生态浮床对浮游藻类数量及生物多样性的影响。结果表明,取样期间浮游藻类生物总量逐月增加,且对照区明显高于浮床区;浮床区与对照区浮游藻类的种群结构差异明显,浮床区以硅藻门为主,而对照区以绿藻门为主。并且,小环藻与细微颤藻的优势度指数均有明显的下降。同时,浮床区的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数明显高于对照区。以上结果均证明,虽然在冬季较低温的情况下水生植物新陈代谢缓慢,但生态浮床仍会影响浮游藻类的数量及生物多样性,从而对水质净化起到一定的改善作用。     

重庆三峡库区鸟类生物多样性研究

通过1996－1997年的调查,记录三峡工程重庆库区鸟类293种,分属17目45科,159属,比文献记录新增加33种,其中重庆市鸟类新记录9种。鸟类区系成分以东洋界为主体。国家重点保护动物29种,Ⅰ类2种,Ⅱ类27种;除红腹锦鸡种群数量较多外,其余都较稀少。从分布上看,库区东段的种类和数量比西段多;海拔1200m以上物种丰富;1200m以下为强度农耕区,种类较为贫乏,主要是一些与人为活动相关的种类。表1参9     

环境DNA宏条形码监测湖泊真核浮游植物的精准性

环境DNA(eDNA)宏条形码(metabarcoding)技术是一种基于分子的生物多样性高效监测手段,近年来越来越多地被应用于生态环境中生物要素的监测和评估.开展eDNA 宏条形码监测技术的标准化和规范化研究,是将其业务化推广应用的前提.本研究以高原湖泊滇池和抚仙湖的真核浮游藻类为研究对象,探究了基于18 S-V9 ...     

山东省生物多样性试点评价

以县级行政区域为评价单元,利用现有文献资料和补充调查数据,按照《区域生物多样性评价标准》(HJ 623—2011)规定的评价指标和方法,评价了山东省120个县级行政区域的生物多样性状况,分析了生物多样性状况空间分布规律。评价结果表明:山东省县级行政区域生物多样性指数在23.27~40.24之间变化,县级行政区域生物多样性状况分为"中"和"一般",分别占山东省土地总面积的55.8%和44.2%。鲁中南山地丘陵区和鲁东丘陵区的生物多样性状况好于黄河三角洲、鲁西北和鲁西南平原区。     

Atmospheric Change and Biodiversity: Co-Networks and Networking

Canada responded to the Global Biodiversity Convention by completing the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy in 1995. At the same time, Environment Canada also completed a national Science Assessment on Biodiversity. During this period, the Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with Parks and Environment Canada, initiated the implementation of a global biodiversity monitoring program in Canada. Under the auspices of the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program, the SI/MAB monitoring protocols and plots have spread across Canada at an unprecedented rate. National champions in the science and educational sectors, working within an inter-disciplinary ecological framework, have guided the development, education, quality control and sharing of atmosphere-biodiversity observations electronically.Atmospheric-Biodiversity Networks and Networking have traditionally operated within separate mandates with little degree of integration. Air-Bio Networks were designed within an integrated framework to better understand the atmospheric stress on biodiversity and the adaptation actions, nationally and regionally. Detailed examples of the cumulative effects of climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid deposition, ground-level ozone, suspended particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants on biodiversity will be discussed using a Southern Ontario case study. In addition, recommendations will be presented for future paired SI/MAB plots, linked networks and networking for adaptation within the context of climate, chemical and ecological gradients.     

Assessment of susceptibility of olive cultivars to the Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin, 1790) and Camarosporium dalmaticum (Thüm.) Zachos & Tzav.-Klon. attacks in Calabria (Southern Italy)

Within the framework of research concerning the application of techniques alternative to chemical pesticides for control of parasites, the C.R.A. Experimental Institute for Olive Growing for many years has been performing a large investigation in order to detect sources of genetic resistance in olive germplasm. In the present study we observed the behavior related to the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) infestation and Camarosporium dalmaticum infection of ten olive cultivars farmed under the same agronomic and climatic conditions in Calabria, Southern Italy. The sampling and the data collecting were carried out in three different ripening times.The drupe amount of oleuropein and cyanidine was detected by laboratory analyses in order to verify a possible correlation between these molecules and the level of infestation/infection of the above-mentioned parasites. The obtained data were submitted to analysis of variance. In relation to the fungal infection the results displayed that cvs Tonda nera dolce showed the lowest susceptibility, while the cv Giarraffa turned out to be the most susceptible. The less susceptible cultivars to the phytophagous were Tonda nera dolce and Bhardi Tirana. Since the less susceptible cultivar to olive fly attacks are the same observed in relation to the susceptibility to olive fruit rot, it is suggested a relation between the olive fly infestation and the fungal infection. It suggests the utility to achieve these results both to transfer directly to the farmers' world and to emphasize ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.     

A dynamic modelling approach for estimating critical loads of nitrogen based on plant community changes under a changing climate

A dynamic model of forest ecosystems was used to investigate the effects of climate change, atmospheric deposition and harvest intensity on 48 forest sites in Sweden (n = 16) and Switzerland (n = 32). The model was used to investigate the feasibility of deriving critical loads for nitrogen (N) deposition based on changes in plant community composition. The simulations show that climate and atmospheric deposition have comparably important effects on N mobilization in the soil, as climate triggers the release of organically bound nitrogen stored in the soil during the elevated deposition period. Climate has the most important effect on plant community composition, underlining the fact that this cannot be ignored in future simulations of vegetation dynamics. Harvest intensity has comparatively little effect on the plant community in the long term, while it may be detrimental in the short term following cutting. This study shows: that critical loads of N deposition can be estimated using the plant community as an indicator; that future climatic changes must be taken into account; and that the definition of the reference deposition is critical for the outcome of this estimate.