Effects of site-selection bias on estimates of biodiversity change

Estimates of biodiversity change are essential for the management and conservation of ecosystems. Accurate estimates rely on selecting representative sites, but monitoring often focuses on sites of special interest. How such site-selection biases influence estimates of biodiversity change is largely unknown. Site-selection bias potentially occurs across four major sources of biodiversity data, decreasing in likelihood from citizen science, museums, national park monitoring, and academic research. We defined site-selection bias as a preference for sites that are either densely populated (i.e., abundance bias) or species rich (i.e., richness bias). We simulated biodiversity change in a virtual landscape and tracked the observed biodiversity at a sampled site. The site was selected either randomly or with a site-selection bias. We used a simple spatially resolved, individual-based model to predict the movement or dispersal of individuals in and out of the chosen sampling site. Site-selection bias exaggerated estimates of biodiversity loss in sites selected with a bias by on average 300–400% compared with randomly selected sites. Based on our simulations, site-selection bias resulted in positive trends being estimated as negative trends: richness increase was estimated as 0.1 in randomly selected sites, whereas sites selected with a bias showed a richness change of −0.1 to −0.2 on average. Thus, site-selection bias may falsely indicate decreases in biodiversity. We varied sampling design and characteristics of the species and found that site-selection biases were strongest in short time series, for small grains, organisms with low dispersal ability, large regional species pools, and strong spatial aggregation. Based on these findings, to minimize site-selection bias, we recommend use of systematic site-selection schemes; maximizing sampling area; calculating biodiversity measures cumulatively across plots; and use of biodiversity measures that are less sensitive to rare species, such as the effective number of species. Awareness of the potential impact of site-selection bias is needed for biodiversity monitoring, the design of new studies on biodiversity change, and the interpretation of existing data.     

成都市冬季大气颗粒物组成特征及来源变化趋势

年冬季分别在成都市8个环境受体采样点采集PM₁₀、PM_2.5样品,同时采集颗粒物源类样品,分析上述样品质量浓度及多种无机元素、水溶性离子和碳组分的含量,以对这3 a冬季大气颗粒物浓度、特征组分、来源及变化趋势进行分析. 使用CMB-iteration模型对成都市中心城区的PM₁₀、PM_2.5进行来源解析. 结果表明: 成都市冬季ρ(PM₁₀)在工业区最高,PM_2.5污染呈现区域性特征;冬季PM₁₀的主要来源有扬尘、二次硫酸盐、煤烟尘、二次硝酸盐和机动车尾气尘,上述5类源在2010─2012年的分担率分别为24%～29%、17%～22%、13%～16%、6%～12%、6%～11%;对PM_2.5有重要贡献的源类有二次硫酸盐、扬尘、煤烟尘、二次硝酸盐和机动车尾气尘,这5类源在2010─2012年的分担率范围分别为25%～27%、19%～22%、12%～15%、11%～13%、8%～11%. 二次粒子、扬尘等是成都市大气颗粒物的主要污染源,其中扬尘、建筑水泥尘等以粗粒子为主的源类浓度贡献呈逐年下降趋势,而二次粒子等以细粒子为主的源类浓度贡献则逐年上升,成都市冬季大气细颗粒物污染加重.      

Level,pattern, and risk assessment of the selected soil trace metals in the calcareous-cultivated Vertisols

Dynamics and distribution pattern of trace metals in agricultural lands are an increasing concern due to potential risks to the environment and human health. To ascertain more knowledge of this aspect, the fractions of total and available Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cd belonging to Vertisols under intensive cultivation and adjoining uncultivated soils were investigated. The order of abundance of metals in both cultivated and uncultivated soils was Fe?>?Mn?>?Cu?>?Zn?>?Cd and Fe?>?Mn?>?Zn?>?Cu?>?Cd for both available and total fraction, respectively. A relative enrichment was observed in the value of diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid-extractable Fe (1.2–201%), Mn (2–31%), Cu (1–40%), and Cd (21–45%) as well as total fraction of Zn (3–17%), Cu (12–32%), and Cd (42–108%) after intensive cropping, which can be contributed to repeated application of agrochemical inputs and manure over long time. The values of RI (potential ecological risk) showed that cultivation caused a low potential ecological risk (33.3% of the soil samples) to moderate potential ecological risk (66.7% of the soil samples) in the study region and that cadmium made up 88%, on average, of the RI value.     

Interannual fluctuations in acoustic biomass estimates and in landings of small pelagic fish populations in relation to hydrology in the Strait of Sicily

The main results of research work carried out since 1998 with regard to the application of hydro-acoustic technologies for the evaluation of biomass and distribution of small pelagic fish species off the southern coast of Sicily are presented, taking into account information from hydrology and from ecology of the fish populations targeted. The biomass estimates and the population‐density charts presented concern the two main species, i.e. sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758). Both the sardine and anchovy populations experienced large inter-annual fluctuations, with biomass estimates ranging from 6000 to over 36,000 tonnes (t) (sardine) and from about 7000 to 23,000 t (anchovy). Acoustic estimates are largely consistent with landings recorded in Sciacca (the main fishing port for small pelagic species in the study area) during the year following the evaluation surveys. In addition, trends in sardine and anchovy biomass estimates appears to be negatively correlated with the mean sea surface temperature calculated over the time intervals January–September (sardine) and June–November (anchovy) of the preceding year, which correspond to larval and juvenile growth periods of target species. Observed patterns would suggest the importance of enrichment processes relevant to the survival of early stages, so determining recruitment success and finally higher population sizes.     

TCP的污泥减量效果及其对出水水质的长期影响

向倒置A2/O中试系统中投加2,4,5-三氯苯酚(TCP),研究TCP对污泥的减量效果及进入处理系统后对系统出水水质长期影响。研究结果表明:与参照组相比,加药组投加TCP 2 mg/L时,污泥减量达62.5%,出水TN比参照组平均高0.8 mg/L,137 d后出水TP超过0.5 mg/L。TCP对污泥的减量效果好,需要加除磷药剂进行辅助除磷。     

镉、汞、铅和石油烃复合污染对渤海湾常见渔业资源生物的影响初探(Effects of the Combined Pollution of Cd, Hg, Pb and Petroleum Hydrocarbons on Common Fishery Species in the Bohai Bay)

通过对1996～2005年渤海湾近岸海域海水镉、汞、铅和石油烃浓度变化的分析,发现海水中镉浓度呈明显上升趋势,汞、铅和石油烃则无明显变化趋势.加速生命试验法模型(Accelerated Life Testing model)的研究显示,1996～2005年渤海湾近岸海域海水镉、汞和铅平均浓度均已超过其对渤海湾常见渔业资源生物的安全浓度.镉、汞、铅和石油烃对生物的长期致死率鱼类分别为4.5%、16.3%、0.0%和12.0%,甲壳类为0.4%、7.9%、0.3%和6.6%,双壳类为10.5%、0.2%、0.2%和2.3%.效应加和模型(Independence Action model)的估算表明,在镉、汞、铅和石油烃组成的复合污染条件下,渤海湾常见鱼类、甲壳类和双壳类的长期死亡率分别为29.7%、14.6%和12.9%,其种群增长率分别降低约6.4%、14.6%和12.9%.与镉、汞、铅和石油烃单种污染物暴露相比,其复合污染导致的渤海湾常见渔业资源生物种群(鱼类、甲壳类和双壳类)增长率的降低更明显.因此,复合污染是导致渤海湾渔业资源衰退的重要因素。     

循环经济的国际发展趋势

从几个方面重点介绍了循环经济的国际发展趋势;把发展循环经济纳入法制化轨道;形成政府倡导、全民参与的意识和环境;大力促进循环经济产业化;鼓励技术创新,促进循环经济的发展。为我国发展循环经济,实现全面建设小康社会目标提供借鉴经验。     

长期施肥下水稻根际和非根际土壤微生物碳源利用特征

以红壤丘陵区典型稻田长期定位施肥试验土壤为研究对象,选取不施肥(CK)、化肥(NPK)、秸秆还田+化肥(NPKS)、30%有机肥+化肥(LOM)和60%有机肥+化肥(HOM)这5种处理,研究长期不同施肥条件下水稻根际和非根际土壤微生物碳源利用特征.基于~(18)O-H_2O示踪的结果表明,土壤微生物量碳(MBC)和微生物生长速率(CGrowth)均以HOM处理最高,CK处理最低.根际土中,土壤微生物基础呼吸速率以HOM最高,CK和NPK最低;微生物碳源利用效率(CUE)以NPK最高,LOM和HOM最低.非根际土中,不同施肥处理的基础呼吸速率和CUE均无显著差异. MicroResp~(TM)结果显示,非根际土中微生物对外源碳源代谢能力高于根际土.施用有机物料(秸秆或有机肥)均能提高微生物对羧酸类、氨基酸、碳水化合物的代谢速率,且土壤微生物利用羧酸类碳源的活性最高,其次为氨基酸类和碳水化合物类碳源,对复杂化合物的代谢速率较低. RDA分析表明,微生物对不同碳源代谢情况的聚类总体以根际土与非根际土分开,CK与施肥处理分开,且NPK与NPKS相对聚集,LOM与HOM相对聚集,NPK、NPKS与LOM、HOM分开,即不同施肥处理显著改变土壤微生物对外源碳源代谢特征.结果表明,施肥未改变微生物CUE和基础呼吸速率,但有外源碳源输入(如根系分泌物)的情况下,施用有机物料增加基础呼吸、降低CUE.     

Cu2+对以NO2-为电子受体反硝化过程的影响

短程生物脱氮工艺在废水处理中已经得到较为广泛的应用,其反硝化过程是实现氮去除的关键步骤,而关于废水中常见重金属离子Cu~(2+)对以NO2-为电子受体反硝化过程的影响尚无系统研究.选取A/O反应器内具有良好短程生物脱氮特性的污泥,通过批次试验及SBR长期试验分别探究了Cu~(2+)对以NO2-为电子受体反硝化过程的短期及长期影响.短期试验结果表明,Cu~(2+)对以NO2-为电子受体反硝化过程具有明显抑制作用,对污泥反硝化活性的半抑制浓度EC50为4. 79 mg·L-1.在长期影响试验中逐渐提高污泥对Cu~(2+)的耐受浓度,当Cu~(2+)浓度为0. 5 mg·L-1和1 mg·L-1时,污泥反硝化活性降低后均能够通过驯化恢复至原有水平;而Cu~(2+)浓度升高至3 mg·L-1后污泥反硝化性能遭到破坏且难以恢复,NO_2~--N去除率降低至10%以下,反硝化系统遭到严重抑制.但是,停止投加Cu~(2+)后污泥反硝化活性在第14 d恢复至原有水平.同时,在Cu~(2+)的长期影响过程中,EPS含量增多,对微生物抵御Cu~(2+)的毒害起到重要保护作用,促使污泥粒径增大,污泥沉降性得到提高.     

The Oxford Commission on Sustainable Consumption

The Oxford Commission on Sustainable Consumption aims to promote debate and action to achieve sustainable consumption. It has met four times since it was established in 1999. Commission members have undertaken a number of projects around the world, working with communities to explore pathways to more sustainable consumption. This paper summarises the Commission’s progress and the messages emerging from its work. Current consumption trends are supported by a number of social trends, including individualisation, the spread of the market ethos, urbanisation, globalisation, and the increasing awareness of risk and uncertainty. However, these trends contain the seeds of their own limitation. In particular, increasing discourse about ethics and social goals may be the key to a shift towards more sustainable consumption.