Urban geochemical mapping studies: how and why we do them

Geochemical mapping is a technique rooted in mineral exploration but has now found worldwide application in studies of the urban environment. Such studies, involving multidisciplinary teams including geochemists, have to present their results in a way that nongeochemists can comprehend. A legislatively driven demand for urban geochemical data in connection with the need to identify contaminated land and subsequent health risk assessments has given rise to a greater worldwide interest in the urban geochemical environment. Herein, the aims and objectives of some urban studies are reviewed and commonly used terms such as baseline and background are defined. Geochemists need to better consider what is meant by the term urban. Whilst the unique make up of every city precludes a single recommended approach to a geochemical mapping strategy, more should be done to standardise the sampling and analytical methods. How (from a strategic and presentational point of view) and why we do geochemical mapping studies is discussed.

Some characteristics of the distribution of heavy metals in urban topsoil of Xuzhou,China

An assessment is presented of distribution characteristics of heavy metals in the urban topsoil from the city of Xuzhou. The concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, V and Zn have been determined from 21 soil samples. Examination of lognormal distribution plots indicates that the diagrams of Al, Be, Fe, Ga, Li, and V are almost linear suggesting that these metals are almost unaffected by anthropogenic activities while the plots for As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Pd, Pt, Se, Zn and others are not linear probably due to anthropogenic activities from which these metals are delivered to the soils. Al is used for mineralogical normalization of these data. An evaluation of background values for topsoil is also carried out by means of lognormal distribution plots. The results show our background values obtained from the lognormal distribution plots are comparable to those values of uncontaminated soils of Xuzhou obtained by previous work except for Cd and Hg. At present, no explanation for the exceptions Cd and Hg can be given.     

The convergence of alternative food networks within “rural development” initiatives: the case of the New Rural Reconstruction Movement in China†

Rural sociologists and geographers have conceptualised different rural development trajectories including “the agri-industrial model”, “the post-productivist model” and “the rural development model”. Alternative food networks (AFNs) are increasingly recognised as a “forerunner” and a critical component of the emerging “rural development model” in the West. Meanwhile, Marsden and Franklin [2013. Replacing neoliberalism: theoretical implications of the rise of local food movements. Local Environment, 18 (5), 636–641] pointed out that there is a “local trap” in the current conceptualisation of AFNs that overemphasises their local embeddedness and heterogeneity. This “local trap” marginalises AFNs and, therefore, hinders their potential for transforming the industrialised conventional food system. The convergence and scaling-up of fragmented AFNs have been recognised as important ways to address this marginalisation issue and thus have attracted considerable attention. However, current studies of the convergence of AFNs focus mainly on the role of food-centred organisations without recognising the role of the emerging “rural development” initiatives in the convergence of AFNs. Based on in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of secondary data, this paper uses the New Rural Reconstruction Movement (NRRM), an emerging alternative rural development movement in China, as an example to illustrate how the NRRM opens up a novel space for the convergence of AFNs. We argue that the interrelationship between AFNs and rural development is indeed reciprocal. The NRRM, following the “rural development” trajectory, functions as a hub for the convergence and scaling-up of various alternative food initiatives. Strategies for achieving convergence include constructing a “common ground” for these initiatives, establishing national alliances and organisations, sharing knowledge and exchanging personnel among them.     

Relation between extinction and assisted colonization of plants in the arctic‐alpine and boreal regions

Assisted colonization of vascular plants is considered by many ecologists an important tool to preserve biodiversity threatened by climate change. I argue that assisted colonization may have negative consequences in arctic‐alpine and boreal regions. The observed slow movement of plants toward the north has been an argument for assisted colonization. However, these range shifts may be slow because for many plants microclimatic warming (ignored by advocates of assisted colonization) has been smaller than macroclimatic warming. Arctic‐alpine and boreal plants may have limited possibilities to disperse farther north or to higher elevations. I suggest that arctic‐alpine species are more likely to be driven to extinction because of competitive exclusion by southern species than by increasing temperatures. If so, the future existence of arctic‐alpine and boreal flora may depend on delaying or preventing the migration of plants toward the north to allow northern species to evolve to survive in a warmer climate. In the arctic‐alpine region, preventing the dispersal of trees and shrubs may be the most important method to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The purported conservation benefits of assisted colonization should not be used to promote the migration of invasive species by forestry.     

Animal Production,Ag-gag Laws,and the Social Production of Ignorance: Exploring the Role of Storytelling

In recent years, a number of so-called “farm protection” or “ag-gag” laws have been proposed and passed in state legislatures across the USA. These laws generally ban the undercover photographing or videotaping of industrial animal agricultural production and processing facilities. Proponents of the legislation suggest that such bills protect local farm economies and prevent misinformation campaigns by animal rights activists. Diverse sets of critics have argued against the bills, suggesting that they prevent whistleblowers from exposing animal cruelty and stand in the way of the public's right to know. This paper analyzes the debate by blending theory from science and technology studies regarding the social production of knowledge and ignorance with communication theory that explores the power of storytelling in shaping public understandings of social life. It investigates the stories told by three oppositional stakeholder groups—members of industrial animal agribusiness who defend the legislation, small-scale producers and consumers who believe the legislation prevents productive transparency, as well as animal advocacy and first amendment interests who believe the legislation masks fundamental flaws in the contemporary animal agricultural system. The paper provides insight into how competing mediated narratives frame ideological battles over the present and future of animal production processes. It demonstrates how fundamental and often opposing value systems construct what we consider knowledge and non-knowledge in the context of our contemporary risk society and in the digital media age.     

接种比例对酒糟与餐厨垃圾混合厌氧发酵产沼气的影响

采用酒糟与餐厨垃圾作为混合发酵物料,并接种消化污泥进行厌氧干式发酵,比较接种比例(inoculum to substrate ratios,ISRs)(VS质量比)分别为0.5、0.8、1.0、2.0时的甲烷产率和产量、体系VFA、碱度、游离氨等指标。结果表明:接种比例的提高可有效提高甲烷产生速率,缩短发酵周期,减弱较高浓度VFA引起的抑制作用。当ISRs=1.0时产甲烷效果较好,累计产甲烷率为222.58mL/g,VS去除率达83.4%,继续增加接种比例对发酵效果影响不显著。此外,试验中适宜的VFA/碱度值为0.3～1.2,过大或过小都有可能抑制产甲烷过程。     

Representative boreal forest habitats in northern Europe,and a revised model for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation

The natural range of variation of ecosystems provides reference conditions for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. We review how the understanding of natural reference conditions of boreal forests in northern Europe has changed from earlier perceptions of even-aged dynamics driven by stand-replacing disturbances towards current understanding highlighting the role of non-stand-replacing disturbances and the resultant complex forest dynamics and structures. We show how earlier views and conceptual models of forest disturbance dynamics, including the influential ASIO model, provide estimates of reference conditions that are outside the natural range of variation. Based on a research synthesis, we present a revised forest reference model incorporating the observed complexity of ecosystem dynamics and the prevalence of old forests. Finally, we outline a management model and demonstrate its use in forest ecosystem management and show how regional conservation area needs can be estimated. We conclude that attaining favourable conservation status in northern Europe’s boreal forests requires increasing emphasis on ecosystem management and conservation for old forest characteristics.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01444-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

餐厨垃圾厌氧处理“碳中和”综合效益评价

为综合评估餐厨垃圾厌氧处理的环境影响与效益,对某餐厨垃圾厌氧处理工艺及其技术单元进行生命周期环境影响评价,并建立“碳中和”计算模型预测与验证实际碳排及耗能情况,综合“环境影响-碳排耗能-经济效益-社会效益”对实际案例进行评估.结果表明,沼肥加工和沼气提纯技术单元分别造成39%和59%总环境影响.另外,粗油提炼、沼气提纯以生物基产品回收形式大幅度削减碳排,分别占理论碳削减的9.7%和54.7%.餐厨垃圾处理厂需通过增加系统稳定性、完善气体监测体系、提高技术处理效率和优化设备额外耗能情况等方式,以减少理论与实际碳排能耗偏差.经综合评价,该餐厨垃圾处理厂模式具备实现“负碳”潜力,其工艺推广具有未来前景.     

基于生态系统服务权衡的生态安全多情景决策

聚焦于成渝城市群生态安全格局识别的主题,耦合多源数据,运用相应的模型与算法对区域粮食生产、碳固存、产水、土壤保持、生境质量5类生态系统服务进行估算,在此基础上借助空间统计与分析厘清生态系统服务功能间的权衡/协同关系,并构建不同风险情景,明确未来区域发展的生态安全格局.结果显示,2000~2015年,成渝城市群粮食生产、固碳和产水量这3类服务功能均呈下降趋势,土壤保持、生境质量服务呈上升趋势,且各类服务的空间分异性突出;固碳、产水、土壤保持与生境质量两两之间均表现为协同关系,粮食生产与这4类服务间表现为权衡关系,但这种冲突性在区域发展过程中逐渐呈减弱趋势;在空间分布上,成渝城市群生态系统服务间的权衡/协同关系表现出了一定的集聚特征;不同决策风险下生态系统服务间的权衡值也不同,随着决策风险系数的增加权衡值呈现先上升后下降的趋势;最终确定风险系数α=1.6为最适宜情景,此时权衡值最高、区域生态系统风险适中.将决策者的态度纳入生态安全格局识别过程中,使结果更全面,为城市群生态安全格局评价和管理提供科学支撑.     

废弃物基水热炭改良对水稻产量及氮素吸收的影响

生物炭农田回用是实现农林废弃物资源化利用和碳封存的有效手段.近年来,水热碳化技术由于在炭产率、能耗及生产过程中的烟气排放等方面显著优于常规热解碳化技术而受到关注.为实现农林废弃物的资源化利用,明确水热炭农田应用对作物生产力的影响,本研究通过原状土柱模拟试验和表征分析,研究了4种不同类型改良水热炭对两种典型土壤的水稻产量和氮素吸收的影响及可能的驱动因素.结果表明,锯末水热炭和秸秆水热炭经物理或生物改良后,在两种类型土壤上均能够增加水稻产量和氮素吸收,减少氮素损失,且其效应不受水热炭添加量影响（5‰,15‰;质量分数）.与对照相比,水热炭添加处理的产量和氮素吸收量分别提高9.2%~20.7%和7.7%~17.0%.高C/N比的锯末水热炭更有利于高肥力土壤水稻氮素吸收量的增加;而低肥力土壤由于限制性因子较多,受水热炭类型的影响较小.通过对水热炭的表征分析发现,其表面养分元素丰富;水洗或生物改良后其表面孔隙结构有较大改善,C元素相对含量明显降低,N和O元素相对含量明显增加,这对养分的固持/供应可能产生影响.因此,水热炭改良后孔隙结构的改变和N、O元素含量的增加可能是其施用后水稻产量和氮素吸收增加的关键驱动因素.结果说明,水热碳化材料改良后应用农田可以在实现农林废弃物资源化利用的同时,提高作物生产力,减少农田氮素环境损失.