Comparing the impacts of mitigation and non-mitigation on mountain pine beetle populations

Mountain pine beetles, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Hopkins) attack and can ultimately kill individuals and groups of pine trees, specifically lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex. Loud var. latifolia Engl.). In British Columbia, beetle attack has increased from 164 000 ha in 1999 to over 13 million ha in 2008. Mitigation efforts can play a key role in addressing the impact beetle infestations can have on the forested landscape. In this research, the impact of mitigation on a mountain pine beetle infestation is examined within a network of 28 research plots where sanitation harvesting was completed (10 mitigated plots) and not completed (18 unmitigated plots). Three forest stand level modelling scenarios which predict the number of attacked trees, based on current infestation within the plots, were utilized to compare the differences between mitigated and non-mitigated plots. In the first scenario in the non-mitigated plots, 125 trees were infested after 10 years, while in the mitigated plots no trees were infested in the same time period. The second scenario indicates the level of mitigation required to suppress beetle infestations where the proportion of mitigated trees was calculated for each plot by counting the residual attack and the number of mitigated trees. The average mitigation rate over all plots of 43% (range 0–100%) is not sufficient to provide control. In the non-mitigated plots, the average population expansion rate was 5 (range of 0–18) which requires a detection accuracy of 74% to reliably detect infestation. The third scenario estimated the length of time required for ongoing detection, monitoring, and mitigation to bring an infestation under control. If mitigation efforts were maintained at the current rate of 43%, the beetle population would not be adequately controlled. However, when aided by continued detection and monitoring of attacked trees, mitigation rates greater than 50% are sufficient to control infestations, especially with persistent implementation, aided by continued detection and monitoring of infested trees.     

Efficient thinning regimes for Eucalyptus fastigata: Multi-objective stand-level optimisation using the island model genetic algorithm

A stand-level optimisation problem formulated to determine a set of efficient thinning regimes satisfying two objectives, i.e. value production for sawlog harvesting and volume production for a pulpwood market, was demonstrated for a Eucalyptus fastigata trial in Kaingaroa Forest, New Zealand. Genetic algorithms were used to estimate the set of efficient thinning regimes (i.e. regimes that occur when it is not possible to increase the achievement of one objective without reducing another) known as a Pareto frontier. Each thinning regime specified a unique combination of initial planting density; frequency, timing and intensity of thinning; final crop number; and rotation length. Specifications for the “best” regime in the Pareto set (i.e. the one that satisfied a balanced trade-off between value and volume production) were similar to those recommended through professional judgment based on pooled long-term field observations from different eucalypt species grown throughout New Zealand. The advantage of Pareto optimality was the ability of not only identifying a unique thinning regime, but equally efficient regimes each providing a different combination of value and volume production. Research on this approach has the potential of being applied to other forest sites, providing there is sufficient re-measurement data to reflect stand growth dynamics.     

长江口围填海土壤中PBDEs的浓度、组成及来源解析

选取上海市崇明岛为采样区域,研究1974—2010年5个年代的由长江泥沙冲刷淤积而成的长江口围填海土壤中PBDEs的质量比分布、组成特征,并对其进行来源解析。于2012年10月在选取的5个年代区域分别采用五点梅花网格布点法采集表层(0~15 cm)和深层(100 cm)土壤,样品经索氏提取和层析净化处理后,采用GC-MS定量定性方法检测。结果表明,12种PBDEs目标化合物全部被检出,表层和深层土壤中∑12PBDEs质量比范围分别为8.008~27.783 ng/g、7.032~12.506 ng/g,主要是低溴代PBDEs。此外,其污染水平随年代呈现不断上升的趋势。最后基于因子分析法解析其来源,围填海土壤样品中最主要的污染源是PBDE-17、47、66和28;而且结合土壤污染质量比及组分特征分析得到,表层土壤与下一年代的围填海深层土壤的污染水平和来源基本一致。     

温度对凤眼莲浮岛净化效果影响的研究

以凤眼莲浮床为研究对象,研究不同温度下浮床的净化效率、水生植物生长情况和植物体中氮磷的累积量。研究结果表明,凤眼莲浮岛对TN、TP的去除率与温度并不成正相关。浮岛的处理效果主要与浮岛植物的生物量有关,其处理效率随着生物量的增加而增加。凤眼莲浮岛25℃时处理效率明显高于35℃和15℃。在北方地区浮岛技术的生态学价值要显著于环境工程价值。     

永兴岛大气CH4浓度变化特征及影响因子研究

依托国家海洋局三沙海洋环境监测中心站,基于激光大气温室气体分析仪（GLA331-GGA）,搭建了一套全自动、连续、高精度观测大气CH₄的观测系统.通过气团后向轨迹输送特征,结合数值统计方法（局部近似回归法）,对西沙永兴岛区域2013年12月~2017年11月期间的观测数据进行了数据筛分和分析.结果显示：西沙海域大气CH₄季节变化与北半球大气本底变化状况类似,冬季高、夏季低,年平均增长率约为11.9×10^-9,年平均季节振幅为81.1×10^-9;其日变化呈现中午低、凌晨高的单周期正弦变化特征;该区域风场数据和气团后向轨迹分析表明：季风是影响该区域CH₄浓度变化的最主要因素.     

Dealing with uncertainty: a case study of controlling insect populations in natural ecosystems

This paper analyses the political process for handling an outbreak of an insect causing human allergic reactions. In the southern part of the Swedish island Gotland in the Baltic Sea, an outbreak of the northern pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pinivora, has occurred. With regard to the human nuisance and long-term effects on the tourist industry, demands have been raised for intervention to reduce and control the insect population. At the same time, there have been warnings against treating the insect population because there are knowledge gaps concerning the wider ecological consequences, including effects on biodiversity. This paper analyses the political process and its problem-solving efforts. Of particular interest is how it dealt with the issue of uncertainty. It was found that the uncertainty associated with the issue hindered the development of a shared understanding of the problem and a possible solution. There seems to be a growing need in society to develop the institutional capacity to handle complex issues that cross different sectors, regulatory frameworks and policy targets.     

Changes in the sex structure of pine populations related to temperature anomalies

The results of ten-year observations on fluctuations in the sex of individual trees and the sex structure of tree stands in two insular pine forests in the south of Central Siberia are presented. It is noted that the ratio of sex types of pine trees has markedly changed since 1998–1999. Significant correlations between the sex structure of stands and anomalies of the annual average air temperature have been recorded since the early 1990s. The male generative sphere of pine has changed to the greatest extent. Periodicity and delay in the change of shoot sexualization in response to changes in temperature are discussed.     

生态旅游资源管理中社区参与激励机制探讨--以厦门岛东海岸区生态旅游开发为例

以厦门岛东海岸区 (黄厝 )生态旅游开发为例 ,提出在生态资源开发、管理过程中 ,实现社区公众有效参与、社区居民的生活水平得到提高的同时 ,达到生态保护目的的保障机制———生态旅游股份合作制。进而就厦门岛东海岸区生态旅游股份合作制运行框架进行了探讨。     

云南松林控制坡地侵蚀的机械效应分析

坡面稳定性的机械效应包括土壤加强作用、斜向支撑作用、坡面负荷作用、风力传递和根楔壁作用。试验证明 ,云南松林通过其机械效应加强了林区土壤稳定性 ,提高了土层的抗剪强度。云南松林的机械效应及其作用在土壤侵蚀控制和斜坡保护、滑坡泥石流防治、坡面生态工程应用等方面具有广阔的应用前景。在云南省实践应用中具有较好的可行性     

上海市崇明岛公路两侧土壤重金属污染研究

采集了上海市崇明岛陈海、北沿公路两侧土壤和灰尘样品270余个,测定了样品的Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr重金属含量。结果表明,陈海和北沿公路两侧土壤重金属Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr的平均含量达到277、0279、258、918和776 mg/kg,土壤Cd污染较严重。采集的路面灰尘样品Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr的平均含量达到512、049、489、209和970 mg/kg,超过土壤背景值2~4倍,是土壤重金属的主要二次污染源。公路防护林体系较差的北沿公路路侧土壤纵向剖面（垂直于公路走向）重金属含量随距路肩距离增加呈指数下降,土壤重金属重污染区在距路肩15 m范围内。防护林体系较完善的陈海公路距路肩15 m范围内土壤重金属污染较小,土壤重金属重污染区出现在距路肩20~50 m范围内。