Landscape trajectory of natural boreal forest loss as an impediment to green infrastructure

Loss of natural forests by forest clearcutting has been identified as a critical conservation challenge worldwide. This study addressed forest fragmentation and loss in the context of the establishment of a functional green infrastructure as a spatiotemporally connected landscape-scale network of habitats enhancing biodiversity, favorable conservation status, and ecosystem services. Through retrospective analysis of satellite images, we assessed a 50- to 60-year spatiotemporal clearcutting impact trajectory on natural and near-natural boreal forests across a sizable and representative region from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Scandinavian Mountain Range in northern Fennoscandia. This period broadly covers the whole forest clearcutting period; thus, our approach and results can be applied to comprehensive impact assessment of industrial forest management. The entire study region covers close to 46,000 km² of forest-dominated landscape in a late phase of transition from a natural or near-natural to a land-use modified state. We found a substantial loss of intact forest, in particular of large, contiguous areas, a spatial polarization of remaining forest on regional scale where the inland has been more severely affected than the mountain and coastal zones, and a pronounced impact on interior forest core areas. Salient results were a decrease in area of the largest intact forest patch from 225,853 to 68,714 ha in the mountain zone and from 257,715 to 38,668 ha in the foothills zone, a decrease from 75% to 38% intact forest in the inland zones, a decrease in largest patch core area (assessed by considering 100-m patch edge disturbance) from 6114 to 351 ha in the coastal zone, and a geographic imbalance in protected forest with an evident predominance in the mountain zone. These results demonstrate profound disturbance of configuration of the natural forest landscape and disrupted connectivity, which challenges the establishment of functional green infrastructure. Our approach supports the identification of forests for expanded protection and conservation-oriented forest landscape restoration.     

Quantifying forest fragmentation spatial process in the developing State of Selangor,peninsular Malaysia

Forest fragmentation has several phases; thus, the ecological significance of each phase during a particular period of time must be interpreted. To interpret, this study quantifies the magnitude of forest loss and the changes in the temporal pattern of fragmentation in the State of Selangor, peninsular Malaysia. Using the decision tree model of land transformation, five phases of forest fragmentation were identified: perforation, dissection, dissipation, shrinkage and attrition. This analysis showed that the magnitude of forest loss was the highest during the dissipation phase. The patchiness analysis showed that dissipation contributes to the highest environmental uncertainty found for the forest patches. This study can be considered a first step in the exploration of the properties and the behavioural pattern shown by the spatial process of forest fragmentation.     

Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Ornamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in‐depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on‐going conservation challenges.     

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.     

北方高盐景观水体氮磷时空分布特征及富营养化评价

为掌握北方高盐景观水体的水环境状况,选取天津市中新生态城3个景观水体(清净湖、蓟运河和蓟运河故道)为研究对象,于2013年12月—2014年11月对其进行定期取样监测,开展水体氮磷污染特征分析及富营养化评价。结果表明:1)蓟运河、清净湖和蓟运河故道的TDS均值分别为3.42,4.64,20.2 g/L,属于高盐景观水体;2)水体TN和TP浓度逐月变化显著,水质整体上冬春季优于夏秋季,其中蓟运河TP和TN的浓度最大,且波动较大;3)根据TN/TP比值判定,研究区水体除清净湖在短时间表现为氮限制外,水体大部分时间段内表现为磷限制,P为主要限制因子;4)富营养化评价表明:水体均处于富营养状态,且有蓟运河蓟运河故道清净湖;5)相关性结果表明:TDS与电导率、水温及EI呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.905、0.822和0.645,盐度也是影响富营养化的关键因素。     

城市建筑周边绿地景观格局优化方法研究

现有绿地景观格局优化方法,存在梯度变化不规律、边缘斑块密度不均等缺陷.针对该问题,提出基于窗口移动法的新型城市建筑周边绿地景观格局优化方法,通过确定研究区域与数据来源,以边缘斑块密度、梯度、绿地景观格局化指数为绿地景观格局化指数,确立研究方法.模拟研究环境设计实验结果表明,采用改进格局优化方法可改善城市建筑周边绿地景观格局梯度变化不规律问题;在特定空间分布状态下,还可避免边缘斑块密度不均的现象发生.     

呼和浩特地区污水厂能耗评价与碳排放分析

污水处理过程的能耗和温室气体排放方面的研究对于应对能源危机和气候危机具有重要作用。文章利用层次分析法,建立了具有4层15项指标的能耗评价体系。结合城镇污水处理系统的绿色指标体系,选取呼和浩特地区具有代表性、处理规模相近的2座中小型污水厂进行能耗评价。结果表明:处理能力利用率、处理工艺系统稳定性和污水厂高程布置所对应的3项评价指标在所选择的能耗影响因素中所占权重较大,分别为:0.143 0,0.302 4和0.145 6。进一步运用IPCC计算方法对污水处理厂进行碳排放概算,得出A、B污水处理厂的碳排放量分别为:19.401 t CO2/104t、18.378 t CO2/104t。A、B污水处理厂的实际比能耗分别为0.293 kW.h/m3、0.195 kW.h/m3。将碳排放数据与实际能耗情况对比得出:污水处理厂的能耗水平越高,单位碳排放量也越大。     

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。     

湿地植物对郊区污水中氨氮净化效果的研究

采用实验模拟潜流式人工湿地的方法,通过测定污水中的氨氮指标,研究芦苇、香蒲对污水的净化效果。结果表明：单种芦苇、单种香蒲及芦苇香蒲交叉种植对氨氮的去除率分别为84．45％、72．77％、72．10％。     

石化装置检维修作业HSE管理

针对检维修作业的风险特点,提出了检维修整个过程中的控制重点和注意事项。