Population viability and harvest sustainability for Madagascar lemurs

Subsistence hunting presents a conservation challenge by which biodiversity preservation must be balanced with safeguarding of human livelihoods. Globally, subsistence hunting threatens primate populations, including Madagascar's endemic lemurs. We used population viability analysis to assess the sustainability of lemur hunting in Makira Natural Park, Madagascar. We identified trends in seasonal hunting of 11 Makira lemur species from household interview data, estimated local lemur densities in populations adjacent to focal villages via transect surveys, and quantified extinction vulnerability for these populations based on species-specific demographic parameters and empirically derived hunting rates. We compared stage-based Lefkovitch with periodic Leslie matrices to evaluate the impact of regional dispersal on persistence trajectories and explored the consequences of perturbations to the timing of peak hunting relative to the lemur birth pulse, under assumptions of density-dependent reproductive compensation. Lemur hunting peaked during the fruit-abundant wet season (March–June). Estimated local lemur densities were roughly inverse to body size across our study area. Life-history modeling indicated that hunting most severely threatened the species with the largest bodies (i.e., Hapalemur occidentalis, Avahi laniger, Daubentonia madagascariensis, and Indri indi), characterized by late-age reproductive onsets and long interbirth intervals. In model simulations, lemur dispersal within a regional metapopulation buffered extinction threats when a majority of local sites supported growth rates above the replacement level but drove regional extirpations when most local sites were overharvested. Hunt simulations were most detrimental when timed to overlap lemur births (a reality for D. madagascariensis and I. indri). In sum, Makira lemurs were overharvested. Regional extirpations, which may contribute to broad-scale extinctions, will be likely if current hunting rates persist. Cessation of anthropogenic lemur harvest is a conservation priority, and development programs are needed to help communities switch from wildlife consumption to domestic protein alternatives.     

Applying network theory to prioritize multispecies habitat networks that are robust to climate and land‐use change

Designing connected landscapes is among the most widespread strategies for achieving biodiversity conservation targets. The challenge lies in simultaneously satisfying the connectivity needs of multiple species at multiple spatial scales under uncertain climate and land‐use change. To evaluate the contribution of remnant habitat fragments to the connectivity of regional habitat networks, we developed a method to integrate uncertainty in climate and land‐use change projections with the latest developments in network‐connectivity research and spatial, multipurpose conservation prioritization. We used land‐use change simulations to explore robustness of species’ habitat networks to alternative development scenarios. We applied our method to 14 vertebrate focal species of periurban Montreal, Canada. Accounting for connectivity in spatial prioritization strongly modified conservation priorities and the modified priorities were robust to uncertain climate change. Setting conservation priorities based on habitat quality and connectivity maintained a large proportion of the region's connectivity, despite anticipated habitat loss due to climate and land‐use change. The application of connectivity criteria alongside habitat‐quality criteria for protected‐area design was efficient with respect to the amount of area that needs protection and did not necessarily amplify trade‐offs among conservation criteria. Our approach and results are being applied in and around Montreal and are well suited to the design of ecological networks and green infrastructure for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in other regions, in particular regions around large cities, where connectivity is critically low.     

上市公司环境信息披露的模式研究

分析了由于社会责任、公司声誉、法律与政策压力等,导致越来越多的公司自愿或被迫进行环境信息披露。阐述了环境信息披露必须采用适当的披露模式,披露的模式影响披露的质量,决定了是否满足信息使用者决策的需要。提出定性描述和定量披露模式相结合,强制性与自愿披露模式相结合,公开和秘密模式相结合,由独立环境信息披露向综合环境信息披露模式过渡是环境信息披露发展的道路。     

A~2/O工艺厌氧池有机物降解动力学模型对比研究

试验考察了东阿县污水处理厂一期A2/O工艺厌氧池去除有机污染物效能,当进水ρ(COD)为548.3 mg/L时,厌氧池平均去除率达78.7%。同时探讨了几种常见数学模型模拟厌氧池去除有机物规律情况,根据实际工程监测数据确定有机底物降解动力学常数,得出Grau模型、Stover-kincannon模型和改进的Monod模型较适合模拟厌氧池去除有机物的规律,并对模型进行了检验。     

Prediction of vortex height from mechanical mixing in metal matrix nanocomposite processing by means of dimensional analysis and scaling

Mechanical mixing can be used for initial dispersion and distribution of nanoparticle agglomerates in metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) fabrication. As vortex height increases, flow is enhanced as well as the risk of oxidate melt contamination. The goal of this study was to examine and predict vortex height using dimensional analysis while varying fluid and the angular speed of a pitched square-blade impeller. An equation proposed by Markopoulos et al. was verified for the present experimental conditions. The relevant dimensionless numbers were the Reynolds (Re), Froude (Fr) and Galilei (Ga) numbers. A modified Fr was defined (Fr*) including the shaft and blade angles of the impeller. Experiments allowed calculation of the dimensionless numbers. Two fluids, water and 50 vol% aqueous glycerine, were used. Angular clockwise speed varied from 200 to 900 rpm in 100 rpm increments. Vortex height was measured in lateral view digital images. Correlations of the dimensionless numbers yielded, first, a linear relationship of the product of dimensionless vortex height (H) and specific gravity (ρ*) with respect to Fr*. A polynomial relationship was found between H and ReFr* for each fluid. The polynomial coefficients, in turn, follow a power law behavior with respect to Ga. This allows a prediction of vortex height in other Newtonian fluids that satisfy the single-phase isothermal flow condition. Perhaps, molten aluminum used in MMNC fabrication, can be analyzed based on a simple, room temperature, low cost transparent fluid system. For the experimental conditions in this study, the equation proposed by Markopoulos et al. was valid. The predicting methodology was verified with experimental results using 25 vol% aqueous glycerine, resulting in an absolute percent error of 5.29%, comparable and lower than an error of 9.12% obtained by predicting vortex height with Markopoulos’ equation.     

湿地基质及阴极面积对人工湿地型微生物燃料电池去除偶氮染料同步产电的影响

本研究采用人工湿地型微生物燃料电池处理偶氮染料X-3B,实现降解偶氮染料同步产电的效果.为了构建性能最优的人工湿地型微生物燃料电池(CW-MFC)系统,本研究主要从湿地基质和阴极面积两个方面研究系统构型对去除X-3B同步产电的影响,提高系统性能.研究表明以粒径10 mm、孔隙率30%的小石子作为湿地基质构造的CW-MFC系统微生物生物量最大,去除X-3B效果最好,脱色率高达92.70%,但其产电性能最差.较小的粒径和孔隙率使底层微生物生物量增加,促进X-3B的去除,但随着湿地基质粒径和孔隙率的减小,导致阴阳极营养物质不足,系统传质阻力增加,抑制了系统产电性能.X-3B的去除效果随着阴极面积的增加而提高直到阴极面积为594 cm~2时取得最大脱色率99.41%.当阴极面积继续增加时,CW-MFC系统产电性能上升趋势趋于平缓,X-3B去除效果呈现下降趋势,这是因为阴极反应过快导致更多的阳极电子输送到阴极用于产生电流,与X-3B发生反应的电子减少,阳极成为提高CW-MFC系统性能的限制因素.     

长江口及邻近海域春夏季有色溶解有机物时空分布特征及主要影响因素

利用三维荧光光谱(EEMs)-平行因子(PARAFAC)分析技术对长江口及邻近海域春季(2015年3月)和夏季(2015年7月)有色溶解有机物(CDOM)的荧光组成及分布特征进行分析.共识别出2类4个荧光组分,即类腐殖质组分C1(370/495nm)、C2(330/405 nm)、C3(365/440 nm)及类蛋白质组分C4(295/345 nm).春夏季各层4个荧光组分分布模式基本一致,从长江口到邻近海域逐渐降低.春季类腐殖质组分的高值区分布在长江口内,而类蛋白组分高值区位于南槽附近区域,表层的CDOM主要来源于陆源输入和人类活动;中层荧光强度值比表层低,受陆源影响减弱;底层荧光强度值比中层略高,是由沉积物再悬浮造成的.各荧光组分在岱山县附近海域均有一个较高值,这与岛上的居民活动有关.夏季荧光组分高值区与春季相似,各层荧光组分值接近,说明夏季研究区域水体混合较均匀.春夏季腐殖化指数(HIX)在长江口较高,而生物指数(BIX)在邻近海域较高.将4个荧光组分(C1~C4)、吸收系数(a355)与盐度(S)、溶解有机碳(DOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、叶绿素a(Chl-a)、溶解氧(DO)做冗余分析.结果表明,4个荧光组分(C1~C4)与总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)主要受陆源输入、人类活动的影响,溶解有机碳(DOC)受陆源与海源的共同影响.本文利用三维荧光光谱-平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC)技术结合多元统计方法解析了CDOM组成,清晰揭示了长江口及邻近海域CDOM的来源及主要影响因子,可为河口海域生源要素海洋生物地球化学研究提供有益的补充.     

Spectroscopic Distribution of Dissolved Organic Matter in a Dam Reservoir Impacted by Turbid Storm Runoff

Spectroscopic characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a large dam reservoir were determined using ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate spatial distribution of DOM composition after turbid storm runoff. Water samples were collected along a longitudinal axis of the reservoir at three to four depths after a severe storm runoff. Vertical profiles of turbidity data showed that a turbid water layer was located at a middle depth of the entire reservoir. The spectroscopic characteristics of DOM samples in the turbid water layer were similar to those of terrestrial DOM, as demonstrated by the higher specific UV absorbance (SUVA) and the lower fluorescence emission intensity ratio (F ₄₅₀/F ₅₀₀) compared to other surrounding DOM samples in the reservoir. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that higher content of humic-like DOM composition was contained in the turbid water. Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) showed that lower content of protein-like aromatic amino acids was present in the turbid water DOM. The highest protein-like fluorescence was typically observed at a bottom layer of each sampling location. The bottom water DOM exhibited extremely high protein-like florescence near the dam site. The particular observation was attributed to the low water temperature and the isolation of the local bottom water due to the upper location of the withdrawal outlet near the dam. Our results suggest that the distribution of DOM composition in a dam reservoir is strongly influenced by the outflow operation, such as selective withdrawal, as well as terrestrial-origin DOM inputs from storm runoff.     

Environmental implications of planned obsolescence and product lifetime: a literature review

The aim of this paper was to explore the implications of planned obsolescence (PO) and the associated product lifetime on the environmental impact of products. To achieve this task, a literature review was performed to assess both the historical context and recent situation of planned obsolescence. A search in scholarly journals was performed to evaluate to what extent product lifetime and PO have been discussed in the recent literature. Based on the findings, selected cases of PO are discussed and trends in the practice of limiting product lifetime are identified. Factors considered to have a significant influence on product lifetime have been identified and discussed. The discussion of case studies made it possible to establish the links between product design, manufacturing and associated impacts of lifetime. The role of the actors along the value chain is also considered to propose a business scheme, where the influences of consumer behaviour and design choices are crucial. Finally, strategies to facilitate the definition of different scenarios are given. These strategies may serve to increase the reliability of environmental assessment throughout a product life cycle.