Postfire Seeding for Erosion Control: Effectiveness and Impacts on Native Plant Communities

Abstract:  Large, high-severity wildfires remove vegetation cover and expose mineral soil, ofen causing erosion and runoff during postfire rain events to increase dramatically. Land-management agencies in the United States are required to assess site conditions after wildfire and, where necessary, implement emergency watershed rehabilitation measures to help stabilize soil; control movement of water, sediment, and debris; prevent permanent impairment of ecosystem structure and function; and mitigate significant threats to human health, safety, life, property, or downstream values. One of the most common postfire treatments is broadcast seeding of grasses, usually from aircraft. Non-native annual or perennial grasses typically are used to provide quick, temporary ground cover to hold soil in place until native plants are reestablished. Critics argue that seeded grasses compete with native vegetation and do not effectively reduce erosion. Few data exist on the effectiveness of erosion control; less than half of the studies I reviewed showed reduced sediment movement with seeding. In all vegetation types, successful growth of seeded grasses—enough to affect erosion—appears to displace native or naturalized species, including shrub and tree seedlings. Due to the competitiveness of seeded grasses, they are used to attempt suppression of noxious weeds in some postfire seeding operations. In burned sagebrush range, postfire seeding is frequently used to replace non-native cheatgrass (  Bromus tectorum ) with native or introduced bunchgrasses, with at least short-term success. In recent years, native species and sterile cereal grains have increasingly been used for seeding. Use of aerially applied straw mulch has increased as well, with the risk of weed introduction from contaminated bales. More research on the effectiveness and ecosystem impacts of these alternatives is needed.     

华北山区环境综合整治与生态建设

华北山区位于华北平原与陕甘黄土高原以及内蒙古高原之间，是我国经济欠发达地区之一。它又是我国华北平原、京津唐等大城市工农业和生活用水的主要源地，生态环境类型复杂多样，但由于人类活动频繁，自然植被破坏严重，生态系统结构紊乱，功能脆弱，自身恢复能力较弱。积极开展华北山区的环境综合整治与生态建设不仅对解决当地人民的生活和生存问题具有重要的意义，而且对于我国华北地区经济的发展也具有重要的战略意义。本文详细分析了华北山区的生态系统特点和存在的问题，并在此基础上提出在该区环境综合整治与生态建设的具体措施和途径。     

沉床微生态控制体对水体TP及COD的去除率研究

针对水体富营养化的生态逆境,以个体沉床微生态作为研究的基本单元。即通过控制其非生物和生物成分,局部构建以满足水生植物适生环境为核心的水体生态结构体,由个体到总体,以点带面,从而实现总体生态功能目标的恢复。此法融合了恢复生态学人为设计、自我设计理论,并突出人为干预的主导作用。通过沉床微生态控制体改善水质的正交试验,运用数量化理论分析方法,筛选出最佳组合为陶粒箱+页岩+金钱蒲+雨久花,在静态时TP的去除率可达到(76.6±1.17)%,COD的去除率达到(37.4±2.27)%;在动态时TP的去除率可达到(39.5±1.17)%,COD的去除率达到(16.03±1.41)%。其显著性与可靠性均达到95%以上,此结果可作为两种水体恢复应用时的参考。     

基于固定化氮循环细菌技术的镇江金山湖生态工程效果研究

通过细菌筛选、载体分析、固定化氮循环菌制备,获取了高效固定化氮循环细菌;采用固定化氮循环细菌技术对镇江金山湖富营养化水体进行了治理研究.结果表明,经过固定化氮循环细菌释放试验,金山湖示范工程区水体和水生植物根区氨化细菌、亚硝化细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量明显增加,重建的金山湖示范工程区水体水质明显改善,TN、NH⁺₄-N、NO^-₃-N和NO^-₂-N平均比示范工程前分别降低44.70％、 67.17％、 31.79％和74.21％,氨氮达到Ⅱ类、总氮达到Ⅳ类水标准.固定化氮循环细菌技术对于荒漠化水体生态重建与修复具有重要意义.     

Assessment of oxidative and UV-C treatments for inactivating bacterial biofilms from groundwater wells

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in natural environments and in water supply infrastructure including groundwater wells. Sessile-state microorganisms may build up on well surfaces as biofilms and, if excessive, cause biofouling that reduces well productivity and water quality. Conditions can be improved using biocides and other traditional well rehabilitation measures; however, biofilm regrowth is inevitable given the continuous introduction of microorganisms from the surrounding environment. Alternative and less invasive well maintenance approaches are desirable for reducing biofilm densities while also minimizing harmful disinfection-by-products. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate effectiveness of alternative treatments for inactivating microorganisms comprising biofilms. A novel approach was designed for in situ growth of biofilms on steel coupons suspended from ‘chandeliers’. After more than 100 days of in situ growth, biofilms were harvested, sampled, and baseline biofilm densities quantified through cultivation. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) and oxidative treatments including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ozone (O₃) and mixed oxidants were then applied to the biofilms in laboratory-scale treatments. Microbial inactivation was assessed by comparing treated versus baseline biofilm densities. H₂O₂ was the most effective treatment, and decreased density below baseline by as much as 3.1 orders of magnitude. Mixed oxidants were effective for the well having a lower density biofilm, decreasing density below baseline by as much as 1.4 orders of magnitude. Disparity in the response to treatment was apparent in the wells despite their spatial proximity and common aquifer source, which suggests that microbiological communities are more heterogeneous than the natural media from which they originate.     

新农村建设中的环境问题与规划对策

文章对新世纪农村环境问题的内涵进行了探讨,结合新农村规划的实践提出了有针对性的建议与对策,并进一步以新农村建设中产业选择和污水处理问题为例进行了具体的分析研究。     

攀枝花矿业基地环境恢复与生态重建的对策

攀枝花矿业基地大规模的矿业开发造成了严重的环境污染和生态破坏。该区环境恢复和生态重建的基本对策：（1）矿业开发过程中实施清洁生产工艺;（2）采用先进技术治理和修复环境;（3）加强矿区土地复垦和生态重建;（4）完善矿山环境管理体系。     

贵州喀斯特山区生态环境脆弱性及其生态整治

贵州是我国喀斯特地貌最发育的省份之一,属典型的生态环境脆弱区通过对人口容量、生物生产力与生物量、敏感性和承灾能力等4个方面的分析阐述了贵州喀斯特山区生态环境脆弱性的基本特征,探讨了喀斯特脆弱环境形成的自然因子和人类活动因子的影响机理,根据我国西部大开发中生态建设的要求,提出了贵州喀斯特山区脆弱生态环境的整治对策．     

开发建设中生态保护与恢复标准的技术要求及其确定方法初探

在阐述开发建设中生态保护与恢复标准的技术要求涵义和构成要素的基础上,对其规定方式和确定要求的工作程序、原则与方法进行了探讨。技术要求的规定方式包括定量方式和定性方式,其中定量方式又包括规定指标限值、规定指标限值的计算方法、规定参照系和规定指标的设计保证率4种。技术要求的确定可按如下程序进行：（1）分析开发建设活动的技术环节;（2）分析开发建设活动的生态影响;（3）确定生态保护与恢复主题;（4）确定生态保护与恢复的技术要求。确定技术要求时,应遵循以下原则：（1）技术和经济因素相结合;（2）体现自然地理条件的差异;（3）考虑历史情况。技术要求的确定可以有以下5种方法：（1）实践经验与科学试验总结法;（2）借鉴相关标准法;（3）借鉴国外同类标准法;（4）推理分析法;（5）基于生态质量要求的理论计算法。