FOREST HARVESTING AND STREAMWATER INORGANIC CHEMISTRY IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA: A REVIEW1

The solution chemistry of forested streams primarily in western North America is explained by considering the major factors that influence this chemistry — geological weathering; atmospheric precipitation and climate; precipitation acidity; terrestrial biological processes; physical/chemical reactions in the soil; and physical, chemical, and biological processes within streams. Due to the complexity of all these processes and their varying importance for different chemicals, stream water chemistry has exhibited considerable geographic and temporal variation and is difficult to model accurately. The impacts of forest harvesting on stream water chemistry were reviewed by considering the effects of harvesting on each of the important factors controlling this chemistry, as well as other factors influencing these impacts ‐ extent of the watershed harvested, presence of buffer strips between streams and harvested areas, nature of post‐harvesting site preparation, revegetation rate following harvesting, pre‐harvesting soil fertility, and soil buffering capacity. These effects have sometimes reinforced one another but have sometimes been counterbalancing or slight so that harvesting impacts on stream water chemistry have been highly variable. Eight major knowledge gaps were identified, two of which — a scarcity of detailed stream chemical budgets and knowledge of longitudinal variation in stream chemistry — relate to undisturbed streams, while the remainder relate to forest harvesting effects.     

A reflection on four impactful Ambio papers: The biotic perspective: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Climate change impacts

Climate change represents one of the most pressing societal and scientific challenges of our time. While much of the current research on climate change focuses on future prediction, some of the strongest signals of warming can already be seen in Arctic and alpine areas, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average, and in the oceans, where the combination of rising temperatures and acidification due to increased CO₂ concentrations has had catastrophic consequences for sensitive marine organisms inhabiting coral reefs. The scientific papers highlighted as part of this anniversary issue represent some of the most impactful advances in our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Here, we reflect on the legacy of these papers from the biotic perspective.     

The city as a refuge for insect pollinators

Research on urban insect pollinators is changing views on the biological value and ecological importance of cities. The abundance and diversity of native bee species in urban landscapes that are absent in nearby rural lands evidence the biological value and ecological importance of cities and have implications for biodiversity conservation. Lagging behind this revised image of the city are urban conservation programs that historically have invested in education and outreach rather than programs designed to achieve high‐priority species conservation results. We synthesized research on urban bee species diversity and abundance to determine how urban conservation could be repositioned to better align with new views on the ecological importance of urban landscapes. Due to insect pollinators’ relatively small functional requirements—habitat range, life cycle, and nesting behavior—relative to larger mammals, we argue that pollinators put high‐priority and high‐impact urban conservation within reach. In a rapidly urbanizing world, transforming how environmental managers view the city can improve citizen engagement and contribute to the development of more sustainable urbanization.     

Mowers versus growers: Riparian buffer management in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains,USA

Despite long-standing knowledge of the benefits of riparian buffers for mitigating nonpoint source pollution, many streams are unprotected by buffers. Even landowners who understand ecological values of buffers mow riparian vegetation to the streambank. Do trends in rural riparian conditions reflect the development of riparian forest science? What motivates residential riparian management actions? Using high-resolution orthoimagery, we quantified riparian conditions and trends between 1998 and 2015 in the rural upper Little Tennessee River basin in Macon County, North Carolina and explored how landowners view riparian zone management and riparian restoration programs. Buffer composition in 2015 was as follows: no buffer (32.5%), narrow (19.3%), forested (26.7%), shrub (7.2%), and intermediate (7.0%). Relative to 1998, the greatest decrease occurred in the no buffer class (−17.7%, 46 km) and the largest increases occurred in the shrub (+72.5%, 20 km) and narrow (12.6%, 14 km) classes. Forested buffer marginally increased. Semi-structured interview data suggest that landowners prioritize recreational and scenic aspects of riparian buffers over ecological functions such as filtration and bank stabilization. Riparian restoration programs might be made more enticing to non-adopters if outreach language appealed to landowner priorities, design elements demonstrated intentional management, and program managers highlighted areas where ecological goals and landowner values align.     

Combined Effects of Levels of Protection and Environmental Variables at Different Spatial Resolutions on Fish Assemblages in a Marine Protected Area

Abstract: The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear, but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design. The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered. We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m² (transect) and approximately 30,000 m² (seascape). We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type, bottom complexity, and depth. We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection. Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status. This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level. Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics, primarily depth, and bottom complexity. Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection, designing MPAs, and monitoring their effectiveness. It identified areas that provided natural shelter, areas acting as buffer zones, and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection. The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs.     

Structure and activity of thermophilic methanogenic microbial communities exposed to quaternary ammonium sanitizer

Food processing facilities often use antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) sanitizers to maintain cleanliness. These QACs can end up in wastewaters used as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of QAC contamination on biogas production and structure of microbial communities in thermophilic digester sludge. Methane production and biogas quality data were analyzed in batch anaerobic digesters containing QAC at 0, 15, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L. Increasing sanitizer concentration in the bioreactors negatively impacted methane production rate and biogas quality. Microbial community composition data was obtained through 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the QAC-contaminated sludges. Sequencing data showed no significant restructuring of the bacterial communities. However, significant restructuring was observed within the archaeal communities as QAC concentration increased. Further studies to confirm these effects on a larger scale and with a longer retention time are necessary.     

2015年北京采暖季城市森林内外SO2浓度的时空变化特征

为探讨采暖季城市森林内外ρ(SO₂)动态变化及差异性,基于西山国家森林公园林内空气质量监测站数据,结合北京市环境保护监测中心植物园监测站的实时数据,分析2015年采暖季城市森林内外ρ(SO₂)变化和影响因素.结果表明:林内外ρ(SO₂)日变化基本呈双峰双谷型,在09:00-11:00和20:00-22:00左右达到高峰;采样期间ρ(SO₂)月变化呈不显著"V"型,最高值出现在1月,林内外分别为(25.8±9.2)和(31.7±23.4)μg/m3,最低值出现在11月,林内外分别为(19.0±5.2)和(13.0±11.2)μg/m3.林内ρ(SO₂)在1-3月低于林外,11-12月高于林外,林内ρ(SO₂)变化较林外平缓;气象条件对采暖季城市森林ρ(SO₂)变化有重要影响:降水对ρ(SO₂)消减效应明显,大风有驱散SO₂的作用,同时受风向影响;ρ(SO₂)和温度关系不显著(P=0.05,R < 0.40),但和空气相对湿度线性关系显著(α=0.05,Sig=0.00),林内受气象因素影响低于林外.研究显示,城市森林对气态污染物具有一定的缓冲、抵抗和吸收能力,因此应重视发展城市森林生态系统,充分发挥其生态效益,以提高城市大气环境质量.      

外源水溶性氟在茶园土壤中赋存形态的转化及其生物有效性

采用盆栽实验和化学连续提取法,研究了外源添加水溶性氟在茶园土壤中的赋存形态转化及不同赋存形态氟对茶树氟富集的贡献.结果表明,茶园土壤中本底各赋存形态氟含量随时间的变异很小,处于相对稳定状态,外源水溶性氟进入土壤后迅速向各个形态转化,10 mg·kg-1氟处理下,水溶性氟含量表现为先升后降的趋势,有机束缚态氟和铁锰结合态氟含量随着处理时间呈下降的趋势,可交换态氟含量处理前后含量没有显著性差异(P>0.05),残余态氟含量则保持相对稳定的状态;200mg·kg-1氟处理下,水溶性氟、铁锰结合态氟和有机束缚态氟含量随着处理时间呈下降的趋势,可交换态氟含量则表现为先升后降的趋势,处理前后含量没有显著性差异(P>0.05),残余态氟含量则为上升的趋势,与10 mg·kg-1氟处理表现有差异.0~10 mg·kg-1氟处理内,茶树根、茎和叶中总氟含量之间的差异达显著水平(P<0.05);在10~100 mg·kg-1氟处理内,则变化不显著(P>0.05).逐步回归分析表明茶园土壤中不同氟形态对茶树根、茎和叶中水溶性氟和总氟的积累贡献有差异,叶片总氟含量与土壤中水溶性氟、铁锰结合态氟、有机束缚态氟和残渣态氟含量有显著的回归关系(P<0.05),而叶片水溶性氟含量与土壤各赋存形态氟含量没有显著的回归关系(P>0.05).     

新颖性染料脱色菌株的筛选及脱色效果研究

文章首次尝试以新颖筛选方法对台湾及大陆两岸当地微生物自然生态中,以非偶氮染料脱色作为优势筛选条件,以筛选出可有效电子传递于非偶氮染料RB198脱色的混菌,再进行优势纯化分离,以得到可对非偶氮染料具有强电子传递脱色能力的菌株。再藉此特性来研究其对偶氮染料电子传递生物脱色的特性。结果表明,通过脱色测试及蛋白质电泳初步筛选出4种对非偶氮染料RB198具有较优异脱色能力的菌株,并进行16S rRNA分析,此4株纯菌分别为Microvirgula aerodenitrificans,Acinetobacter guillouiae,Pseudomonas sp.,Rahnella aquatilis。其中Rahnella aquatilis DX2b,Microvirgula aerodenitrificans SH7b为脱色新菌株,文章首度发表其具有脱色性能,对非偶氮染料RB198及偶氮染料RB160,OrangeⅠ有优异脱色能力。     

武夷新区土地利用变化及景观格局研究

以2010年的LandsatTM遥感影像图和武夷新区总体规划中新区2030年土地利用规划图为基础数据,在RS和GIS技术支持下,结合马尔科夫模型和景观生态学方法分析了未来武夷新区的土地利用与案观格局变化。结果表明：在规划实施后,建设用地通过占用耕地和林地而大面积增加,使得林地和耕地相应减少,人类活动对景观的干扰强度增大,区域景观斑块形状趋于规则简单化,斑块总数有所减少,平均斑块面积增大,景观连接度增强,破碎化程度降低,景观多样性增加。