Estimating willingness to pay for a threatened species within a threatened ecosystem

This study conducts a choice experiment to determine the willingness to pay for Palouse Prairie conservation. The giant Palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus), a rare species endemic to the Palouse region, is included as an attribute of conservation and serves as a method for determining the willingness to pay for protecting the species. This method evaluates the value of the earthworm as an attribute of an overall willingness to pay for threatened ecosystem preservation rather than a direct willingness to pay for protecting the species. This method is expected to yield a more accurate measure of willingness to pay for rare species. The annual willingness to pay per household for the giant Palouse earthworm is $20.45 based on the conditional logit model and $19.30 based on the mixed logit model. Ranking and relative importance are included as methods for representing a non-monetary value and importance of the giant Palouse earthworm.     

Considerations for preserve design based on the distribution of rare plants in Great Smoky Mountains National Park,USA

Park design principles are proposed on the basis of consideration and analysis of rare plant species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Rare species richness can be used as a simple measure of preservation success. A semilogartihmic species-area model for the Smokies was used in this analysis. Species richness would increase logarathmically with expansion of the national park area. An analysis of the relationship between species richness and the distribution of geologic and topographic features in the national park was also reported. An asymptotic relation was documented for the accumulation of newly recorded rare and endangered vascular plant species in the Smokies region up to 1978. Several multiple regression linear models predicted rare vascular plant species richness in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from area and topographic variates.Preserve design criteria can be based upon species-area, environmental gradient, and natural features distribution patterns for the specific taxa and biogeographic region under consideration. In addition, natural history characteristics for particular vulnerable species must be assessed. Rather than concentrating on the preservation of undocumented immigration and extinction processes, preserve design should be directed towards protecting geographic components and gradient patterns characteristic of a region.     

Redistribution of free tropospheric chemical species over West Africa: radicals (OH and HO₂), peroxide (H₂O₂) and acids (HNO₃ and H₂SO₄)

The purpose of this paper is to study the redistribution of chemical species (OH, HO₂, H₂O₂, HNO₃ and H₂SO₄) over West Africa, where the cloud cover is ubiquitously present, and where deep convection often develops. In this area, because of these cloud systems, chemical species are redistributed by the ascending and descending flow, or leached if they are soluble. So, we carry out a mesoscale study using the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (RAMS) coupled to a code of gas and aqueous chemistry (RAMS_Chemistry). It takes into account all processes under mesh. We examine several cases following the period (November and July), with inputs emissions (anthropogenic, biogenic and biomass burning). The radicals OH and HO₂ are an indicator of possibilities for chemical activity. They characterize the oxidizing power of the atmosphere and are very strong oxidants. The acids HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ are interesting in their transformation into nitrates and sulfates in precipitation. In November, when photochemistry is active during an event of biomass burning, concentrations of chemical species are higher than those of November in the absence of biomass burning. The concentrations of nitric acid double and sulfuric acid increases 70 times. In addition, the concentrations are even lower in July if there is a deep convection. Compared to measures of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA), the results and observations of radicals OH and HO₂ are the same order of magnitude. Emissions from biomass burning increase the concentrations of acid and peroxide, and a deep convection cloud allows the solubility and the washing out of species, reducing their concentration. Rainfalls play a major role in solubility and washing out acids, peroxides and radicals in this region.     

半干旱区人工封育草场植物群落物种多样性与复杂性研究──以宁夏盐池为例

围栏封育促进植被恢复效果研究方法很多,其中通过研究植被的群落特征及物种多样性来阐述恢复状况仍是比较常用和有效的手段,但多样性测度对生物群落的自组织及有序性方面的特征描述欠缺,鉴于此,多样性与复杂性测度结合起来研究群落结构与功能显得更有意义。研究人工封育对植被恢复过程中群落的多样性与复杂性的影响,必然有助于揭示生态恢复过程机理。目前,利用多样性与复杂性测度相结合来对群落结构进行量化研究不多,用于对草原生态系统植物群落结构研究更少。本文通过样地调查,利用多样性和复杂性指数相结合定量研究半干旱区人工封育草场植物群落物种多样性、复杂性随封育年限的变化规律,并对比分析复杂性与物种多样性之间的相关性。结果表明,（1）老封育区、新封育区丰富度指数整体高于对照区,说明封育有利于物种丰富度的增加。但随封育时间的延长,封育区的优势种占据主要的资源空间,丰富度指数降低。长时间封育,草场植被丰富度将发生规律性波动变化,低峰值和高峰值出现频率均约为4~5年/次。老封育区、新封育区的SW、SP多样性指数值大部分也高于对照区,说明封育措施增加草场植被的多样性。物种多样性指数受降水影响显著,当降水量增加或减少时,多样性指数也相应出现增加或减少,但降水影响效应具有一定的滞后性。老封育区、新封育区均匀度变化比较平稳,且指数值高于对照区,说明封育有利于均匀度的增加。（2）老封育区、新封育区总复杂性指数、无序结构复杂性指数值大部分比对照区指数值高,且指数波动相对平稳,说明封育区群落结构比对照区稳定,更适合荒漠草原植被的生长,封育增加了群落总复杂性、无序结构复杂性。封育也提高群落有序结构复杂性,但?     

纳米二氧化钛与磷互作对莱茵衣藻砷累积与生物转化的影响

纳米材料因其较大的比表面积以及较强的反应活性,对砷（As）的环境行为具有一定的调控作用,而这可能对微藻As吸收代谢产生潜在的影响。以模式生物莱茵衣藻（Chlamydomonas reinhardtii）为研究对象,探究不同磷酸盐（PO₄ ³⁻）浓度下,纳米二氧化钛（nano-TiO₂）对莱茵衣藻中As(Ⅴ)累积和生物转化的影响。结果表明：暴露初期（第1天）nano-TiO₂作为载体显著促进了0.013、0.100和0.500 mmol/L PO₄ ³⁻处理组藻细胞对As的累积,但随着暴露时间的延长,nano-TiO₂的载体效应呈下降趋势;暴露结束后（第8天）,nano-TiO₂添加组中,进入藻细胞的As(Ⅴ)除了还原成As(Ⅲ)及甲基化成二甲基砷外,还能进一步转化为一种可能为砷糖的未知化合物,且随着PO₄ ³⁻浓度的降低,藻细胞内这种砷糖所占比例逐渐增加,这可能会抑制As(Ⅲ)的外排;暴露结束后（第8天）,培养基中主要检测到的As形态为As(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅲ),1.0和0.5 mmol/L处理组还有少量二甲基砷。nano-TiO₂的添加降低了培养基中As(Ⅲ)的浓度,尤其是0.5和1.0 mmol/L PO₄ ³⁻处理组。研究结果表明,纳米材料与PO₄ ³⁻的互作可显著改变微藻As的累积与代谢过程。

     

纳米硫化镉量子点细胞毒性作用机制

为初步探讨硫化镉量子点(CdS QDs)的细胞毒性作用机制,采用MTT毒性实验比较了CdS QDs和常规CdS对仓鼠肺细胞(CHL)的毒性效应以及细胞内外活性氧水平.结果表明,1)在较低暴露浓度(≤20μg·mL-1)时,CdS QDs细胞毒性显著高于常规CdS,而在较高暴露浓度(>20μg·mL-1)时,两者相差不大.2)在较低暴露浓度(≤40μg·mL-1)时,添加N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)可显著降低CdS QDs的细胞毒性,而在较高暴露浓度(>40μg·mL-1)时,添加NAC对CdS QDs的细胞毒性没有明显影响.添加NAC对常规CdS细胞毒性没有显著影响.综合实验结果推测CdS QDs的细胞毒性与暴露剂量有关:在低浓度(<20μg·mL-1)时,主要是活性氧的氧化损伤作用;在中等浓度(20~40μg·mL-1)时,活性氧和Cd2+的释放共同作用;在高浓度(>40μg·mL-1)时,则是Cd2+的释放占主导地位.     

喀喇昆仑-昆仑山昆虫区系

喀喇昆仑-昆仑山昆虫区系属于典型的古北区性质,古北种占53.93％,中亚成分占16.85％,北坡受中亚成分影响大,南坡占有多数的高山成分。这一地域昆虫区系的形成和演替与其地质历史密切相关。由于印度板块不断向北挤压,喀喇昆仑-昆仑山强烈抬升,随着塔里木盆地的形成,地域性的昆虫区系便产生了,并有其特有成分的分化:亚种级的分化,种级的分化甚至属级的分化     

废弃尾矿库15种植物对重金属Pb、Zn的积累和养分吸收

在废弃的铅锌尾矿库进行人工植被恢复试验.对3年生15种植物重金属积累和养分吸收特性的研究表明,植物对土壤重金属和养分的吸收积累因植物种类、部位、金属种类和种植时间的不同而有显著差异.树木不同器官Pb质量浓度高低的总趋势为根〉叶〉茎,部分树种Zn质量浓度表现为叶〉根和茎;在15种参试植物中,加拿大紫荆根系Pb和Zn质量浓度均处于最高水平（分别为1 803 mg.kg-1和2 120 mg.kg-1）,盐肤木具有最高的茎枝Pb、叶片Pb和Zn质量浓度（分别为280、546和1 507 mg.kg-1）,旱柳具有最高的茎枝Zn质量浓度（729 mg.kg-1）和较高的叶片Zn质量浓度（1 153 mg.kg-1）.枫香、紫花苜蓿对Pb,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿对Zn的转移系数TF值均〉1.植物Pb的富集系数BCF值均小于0.17,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿Zn的BCF值达0.37～0.43.固氮植物体内N含量显著高于其它植物,火炬树、臭椿对P和夹竹桃对K的吸收积累能力强.随着种植时间的增加,植株体内有重金属质量浓度增加、营养元素含量下降的趋势.盐肤木、旱柳等重金属积累树种及紫穗槐、紫花苜蓿、截叶胡枝子、桤木等固氮植物在铅锌尾矿治理中具有应用前景.     

外源稀土La在沉积物中的形态及其生物可利用性

将沉积物中的外源稀土La分为可溶解态、酸可提取态、有机质及硫化物结合态,研究了小球藻(Chlorella Vulgaris Beijerinck)对这三种形态La的生物可利用性.研究结果表明:这三种形态的La在沉积物中的含量与其在藻中的含量有很好的相关关系.其中可溶解态La的生物可利用性最大,这说明,沉积物中La的释放对其生物可利用性至关重要.     

Predicting occurrence of juvenile shark habitat to improve conservation planning

Fishing and habitat degradation have increased the extinction risk of sharks, and conservation strategies recognize that survival of juveniles is critical for the effective management of shark populations. Despite the rapid expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) globally, the paucity of shark‐monitoring data on large scales (100s–1000s km) means that the effectiveness of MPAs in halting shark declines remains unclear. Using data collected by baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) in northwestern Australia, we developed generalized linear models to elucidate the ecological drivers of habitat suitability for juvenile sharks. We assessed occurrence patterns at the order and species levels. We included all juvenile sharks sampled and the 3 most abundant species sampled separately (grey reef [Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos], sandbar [Carcharhinus plumbeus], and whitetip reef sharks [Triaenodon obesus]). We predicted the occurrence of juvenile sharks across 490,515 km² of coastal waters and quantified the representation of highly suitable habitats within MPAs. Our species‐level models had higher accuracy (? ≥ 0.69) and deviance explained (≥48%) than our order‐level model (? = 0.36 and deviance explained of 10%). Maps of predicted occurrence revealed different species‐specific patterns of highly suitable habitat. These differences likely reflect different physiological or resource requirements between individual species and validate concerns over the utility of conservation targets based on aggregate species groups as opposed to a species‐focused approach. Highly suitable habitats were poorly represented in MPAs with the most restrictions on extractive activities. This spatial mismatch possibly indicates a lack of explicit conservation targets and information on species distribution during the planning process. Non‐extractive BRUVS provided a useful platform for building the suitability models across large scales to assist conservation planning across multiple maritime jurisdictions, and our approach provides a simple for method for testing the effectiveness of MPAs.