Experiencing Biodiversity as a Bridge over the Science–Society Communication Gap

Drawing on the idea that biodiversity is simply the diversity of living things, and that everyone knows what diversity and living things mean, most conservation professionals eschew the need to explain the many complex ways in which biodiversity is understood in science. On many biodiversity‐related issues, this lack of clarity leads to a communication gap between science and the general public, including decision makers who must design and implement biodiversity policies. Closing this communication gap is pivotal to the ability of science to inform sound environmental decision making. To address this communication gap, we propose a surrogate of biodiversity for communication purposes that captures the scientific definition of biodiversity yet can be understood by nonscientists; that is, biodiversity as a learning experience. The prerequisites of this or any other biodiversity communication surrogate are that it should have transdisciplinary relevance; not be measurable; be accessible to a wide audience; be usable to translate biodiversity issues; and understandably encompass biodiversity concepts. Biodiversity as a learning experience satisfies these prerequisites and is philosophically robust. More importantly, it can effectively contribute to closing the communication gap between biodiversity science and society at large. Experimentando la Biodiversidad como un Puente sobre el Vacío entre la Comunicación Ciencia‐Sociedad     

Taxonomic Uncertainty and the Loss of Biodiversity on Christmas Island,Indian Ocean

The taxonomic uniqueness of island populations is often uncertain which hinders effective prioritization for conservation. The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura attenuata trichura) is the only member of the highly speciose eutherian family Soricidae recorded from Australia. It is currently classified as a subspecies of the Asian gray or long‐tailed shrew (C. attenuata), although it was originally described as a subspecies of the southeast Asian white‐toothed shrew (C. fuliginosa). The Christmas Island shrew is currently listed as endangered and has not been recorded in the wild since 1984–1985, when 2 specimens were collected after an 80‐year absence. We aimed to obtain DNA sequence data for cytochrome b (cytb) from Christmas Island shrew museum specimens to determine their taxonomic affinities and to confirm the identity of the 1980s specimens. The Cytb sequences from 5, 1898 specimens and a 1985 specimen were identical. In addition, the Christmas Island shrew cytb sequence was divergent at the species level from all available Crocidura cytb sequences. Rather than a population of a widespread species, current evidence suggests the Christmas Island shrew is a critically endangered endemic species, C. trichura, and a high priority for conservation. As the decisions typically required to save declining species can be delayed or deferred if the taxonomic status of the population in question is uncertain, it is hoped that the history of the Christmas Island shrew will encourage the clarification of taxonomy to be seen as an important first step in initiating informed and effective conservation action.     

Citizens of local jurisdictions enhance plant community preservation through ballot initiatives and voter-driven conservation efforts

Open space areas protected by local communities may augment larger scale preservation efforts and may offer overlooked benefits to biodiversity conservation provided they are in suitable ecological condition. We examine protected areas established by local communities through ballot initiatives, a form of direct democracy, in California, USA. We compare ecological conditions of wooded habitats on local ballot protected sites and on sites protected by a state-level conservation agency. Collectively, we found few differences in ecological conditions on each protected area type. Ballot sites had greater invasive understory cover and larger trees. Community dissimilarity patterns suggested ballot sites protect a complementary set of tree species to those on state lands. Overall, geographic characteristics influenced onsite conditions more than details of how sites were protected. Thus, community-driven conservation efforts contribute to protected area networks by augmenting protection of some species while providing at least some protection to others that might otherwise be missed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01469-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

化工企业变更管理问题分析与启示

归纳了HSSE大检查工作中炼化和销售企业在变更管理上存在的典型问题,从管理职责、制度和执行方面进行了分析,并借鉴部分企业先进管理经验和好的做法,提出改进措施。     

汶川地震重灾区陇南寨子崖危岩体稳定性分析与防治对策

汶川地震诱发了大量的次生地质灾害,陇南寨子崖危岩体在地震过程中发生了较大规模的崩塌,震后局部崩塌不断,严重威胁着灾后重建安置点数百人的生命安全,因此准确判断该危岩体稳定性,并采取相应的处理措施尤为重要。在研究寨子崖危岩体所处地质环境及危岩失稳的诱发因素基础上,分析了该危岩体的分布规律及形态特征,并采用工程地质分析法和极限平衡法对该区几处主要危岩单体的稳定状况进行了定性与定量分析评价。经分析判断均处于不稳定状态,需进行工程治理。针对每个危岩单体的具体特征,提出了小规模清方+锚固+SNS主动防护等的联合治理方案。     

基于变分法对边坡最不利滑裂面的分析

为了合理地确定边坡的最不利滑裂面、探讨坡顶开裂原因及出现滑坡险情时的应急措施,将变分方法用于边坡稳定性分析。通过建立一个与边坡稳定相关的泛函,根据边界条件选取适当的基函数,获得了边坡最不利滑裂面。基于所得最不利滑裂面,得到垂直边坡和普通边坡最不利滑裂面的分布随土体内摩擦角和内聚力的变化趋势,为垂直边坡和普通边坡采取正确的应急措施、提高边坡的稳定性提供了理论依据;根据泛函T沿最不利滑裂面的变化将边坡划分为主动滑动区和被动滑动区。比较分析得出:变分方法和Bishop条分法所获得的安全系数比较接近,且变分方法获得的安全系数略小。     

新化县水车镇泥石流灾害研究

以湖南省新化县水车镇泥石流为研究案例,根据初勘、详勘资料,分析了该泥石流的形成条件,定量计算了相应的运动参数,预测了它的发展趋势,最后指出,生物工程〔植树造林〕防治措施在花岗岩残坡积层泥石流场地的适宜性尚有待商榷。     

基于GIS分析的生态清洁小流域治理思路——以陕西省石泉县饶峰河小流域为例

生态清洁小流域建设对于维护重要水源区水生态安全具有极其重要的意义。以汉江上游的陕西省石泉县饶峰河小流域为研究对象,在对该小流域自然因素和社会经济因素进行调查的基础上,采用GIS空间分析方法,对该小流域治理区域进行精细划分。研究表明饶峰河小流域可划分7个不同的治理区域,分别为:生态修复区、坡耕地修复区、坡面治理区、坡耕地治理区、农田治理区、村镇综合治理区及河(沟)道周边整治区。根据各区域的污染产生特点,针对性地提出各区域治理方向,并进行治理措施配置。该研究可为生态清洁小流域精准治理提供一种新的建设思路。     

Biodiversity versus emergencies: the impact of restocking on Animal Genetic Resources after disaster

Restocking is a favoured option in supporting livelihoods after a disaster. With the depletion of local livestock populations, the introduction of new species and breeds will clearly affect biodiversity. Nevertheless, the impact of restocking on Animal Genetic Resources has been largely ignored. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to examine the consequences of restocking on biodiversity via a simple model. Utilising a hypothetical project based on cattle, the model demonstrates that more than one-third of the population was related to the original restocked animals after three generations. Under conditions of random breed selection, the figure declined to 20 per cent. The tool was then applied to a donor-led restocking project implemented in Bosnia-Herzegovina. By restocking primarily with Simmental cattle, the model demonstrated that the implementation of a single restocking project is likely to have accelerated the decline of the indigenous Buşa breed by a further nine per cent. Thus, greater awareness of the long-term implications of restocking on biodiversity is required.     

鄱阳湖水污染现状调查及防治对策

利用近20余年鄱阳湖水质数据和人类活动情况等资料,系统分析了鄱阳湖水质演变趋势、污染特征及其面临的严峻形势,并根据污染影响因素提出了相应的防治措施。结果表明：鄱阳湖水质总体为中营养水平,近年来下降趋势明显;空间上呈现南部污染较重北部较轻的格局,在时间分布上为丰水期水质优于枯水期。鄱阳湖水污染形势严峻,人口压力、建设生态经济区和水利枢纽工程均可能对鄱阳湖水质产生较大影响。优化三峡水库和“五河”调度方案;优化产业结构,减少污染物排放;确立和实施差异性区域环境准入与排放标准等是解决鄱阳湖水污染问题的重要途径。