Understanding Interaction Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Bird Distributions through Combined Process and Habitat Models

Abstract: Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process‐based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf‐area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species’ use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.     

Priorities for Improving the Scientific Foundation of Conservation Policy in North America

Abstract:  The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) can enhance conservation of biodiversity in North America by increasing its engagement in public policy. Toward this end, the North America Section of SCB is establishing partnerships with other professional organizations in order to speak more powerfully to decision makers and taking other actions—such as increasing interaction with chapters—geared to engage members more substantively in science-policy issues. Additionally, the section is developing a North American Biodiversity Blueprint, which spans the continental United States and Canada and is informed by natural and social science. This blueprint is intended to clarify the policy challenges for protecting continental biodiversity, to foster bilateral collaboration to resolve common problems, and to suggest rational alternative policies and practices that are more likely than current practices to sustain North America's natural heritage. Conservation scientists and practitioners can play a key role by drawing policy makers' attention to ultimate, as well as proximate, causes of biodiversity decline and to the ecological and economic consequences of not addressing these threats.     

No evidence of systematic pre-emptive loggings after notifying landowners of their lands’ conservation potential

Landowners can intentionally impair biodiversity values occurring on their land to pre-empt biodiversity protection. This often leads to significant negative effects on biodiversity. We studied whether landowners in Finland engaged in pre-emptive loggings after they were notified that their wooded mires are candidate sites for a mire protection program. After the notification, harvesting rates of the candidate wooded mires were significantly lower compared to harvesting rates of similar but non-candidate wooded mires. Annual and monthly harvesting rates indicated that notifying landowners of the conservation potential did not launch systematic pre-emptive logging behavior. Nevertheless, part of the candidate wooded mires were logged, so some landowners place more weight on other values than the biodiversity ones. Pre-emptive behavior has been observed in other studies suggesting that many country- or system-specific factors such as cultural background or level of compensation can affect landowners’ behavior.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01354-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

海洋环境下ZL115-T5铸铝合金/C41500海军黄铜腐蚀行为研究

目的研究海军某型装备壳体结构材料在海洋环境下的腐蚀行为及规律。方法根据折算出的实验室加速腐蚀试验环境谱,开展了ZL115-T5铸铝合金试验件、ZL115-T5铸铝合金/C41500海军黄铜接触试验件、模拟实际涂抹黄油试验件以及模拟维护涂抹缓蚀剂试验件的实验室加速腐蚀试验。结果得到了该型铝合金在不同服役年限及服役状态下的腐蚀形貌、质量、平均腐蚀深度以及腐蚀损伤度变化规律。结论该型合金在不同服役状态下的腐蚀行为呈现差异化,ZL115-T5铸铝合金与C41500海军黄铜偶合接触会加速铸铝合金的腐蚀,黄油能够在一定程度上抑制电偶腐蚀,但效果并不明显。缓蚀剂能够延缓海洋环境下ZL115-T5铸铝合金腐蚀,其中THFS-10软膜缓蚀剂以及THFS-15长效硬膜缓蚀剂效果较好。     

热带海洋大气环境下X70管线钢的缝隙腐蚀行为研究

目的研究X70管线钢在热带海洋大气实海环境下的缝隙腐蚀行为。方法在距离湛江东海岛海岸50m和200 m处分别搭建楔型缝隙模型,安装大气环境Cl-收集装置和自动气象监测站。结果距离海岸越近,风速越大,大气中Cl-沉降速率也越大,X70管线钢缝隙腐蚀越严重。X70管线钢在距离海岸50 m处发生缝隙腐蚀的最大缝宽约为0.96 mm,200 m处最大缝宽约为3.75 mm,50 m处缝隙腐蚀更严重。结论缝隙腐蚀区域形成了氧浓差电池,同时随着缝隙液中Cl-向缝隙内迁移,发生闭塞区电池自催化过程,在二者共同作用下,缝隙腐蚀区域较非缝隙腐蚀区域腐蚀更严重。     

浅析舰载武器海洋环境适应性验证要求

基于舰载武器随航母服役寿命期海洋环境特点,从标准选用和剪裁的角度对其环境适应性试验验证要求进行了分析。综合考虑舰载武器所面临的气候环境和机械环境,全面提出了舰载武器海洋环境适应性验证要求的一些建议。由于目前我国对舰载导弹海洋环境研究尚不充分,依据标准也大多是国外不同渠道引进的,尚有不一致之处,标准剪裁是否合理有待商榷。同时,还指出了需要进一步研究的关键技术问题,以为更合理提出海洋环境适应性验证要求提供支撑。     

生态敏感性评价在生态文明建设中的运用研究——以四川省蓬安县为例

以四川省蓬安县为例,基于GIS空间分析技术,结合蓬安当地实际,选取水源涵养、土壤保持能力和生物多样性进行生态敏感性评价,获得蓬安县区域敏感性现状图,并以此为基础构建生态安全格局,该格局注重区域的内在机理与周围的相对联系,保证各生态环境功能区成为具有各自特点、功能和生命活力而又彼此联系的有机体,为其生态文明建设过程中重点领域和重点工程设计规划提供基础支撑,阐明了生态敏感性评价在生态文明建设中的运用,为县级生态文明建设规划做出了贡献.     

海水生物滤器氨氮沿程转化规律模型

生物滤器是海水循环水养殖系统中的核心水处理单元,其主要用于去除对养殖生物有害的氨氮、有机物等.本研究基于吸附原理和一级反应生物膜理论构建了氨氮在生物滤器中沿程转化规律的数学模型,并通过实验加以验证.实验所用生物滤器采用竹制空心生化球填料,装填高度为70 cm,在pH为7.1～7.6,DO为5～7 mg.L-1,气水比20∶1左右,有机负荷约为4g.(m3.h)-1,水力停留时间(HRT)为1 h条件下,生物滤器中氨氮的去除主要发生在填料高度0～10 cm处,10～70 cm处氨氮去除量很少.进水氨氮质量浓度的增大和水力停留时间的降低都会导致出水氨氮质量浓度增大.此外,模型对进水氨氮质量浓度较低时的沿程出水氨氮质量浓度具有很好的预测效果;当进水氨氮质量浓度较高时,预测值略低于实际结果.     

钦州湾生态系统健康主要存在问题及保护对策

近年来,海洋生态系统健康受到了社会的不断关注。本文基于钦州湾海洋生态系统健康评价的结果,利用近几年的数据资料,筛选出该海湾海洋生态系统健康存在的主要问题。从筛选结果来看,近年来钦州湾海洋生态系统所受的环境压力较大,生态系统出现了组织结构变简单、活力降低、出现病态症状等主要问题。为了进一步提高钦州湾生态系统健康状态,本文从流域整治、污染减排、减少扰动、生态建设、加强管理等方面提出保护和修复建议。     

基于提升能源化工基地清洁生产水平的节能减排潜力分析

文章以榆林能源化工基地代表性的支柱产业为例,开展依靠科技进步提升清洁生产水平的节能减排潜力分析。分析结果表明,至"十二五"末期榆林能源化工基地的支柱产业分别将清洁生产水平提高至一级或二级,可减少的二氧化硫排放量是3 451.8吨/年和1 094.3吨/年,氮氧化物排放量是5 333.5吨/年和1 962.5吨/年。