Interactions between Carbon Sequestration and Shade Tree Diversity in a Smallholder Coffee Cooperative in El Salvador

Agroforestry systems have substantial potential to conserve native biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. In particular, agroforestry systems have the potential to conserve native tree diversity and sequester carbon for climate change mitigation. However, little research has been conducted on the temporal stability of species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in these systems or the relation between species diversity and aboveground carbon sequestration. We measured changes in shade‐tree diversity and shade‐tree carbon stocks in 14 plots of a 35‐ha coffee cooperative over 9 years and analyzed relations between species diversity and carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration was positively correlated with initial species richness of shade trees. Species diversity of shade trees did not change significantly over the study period, but carbon stocks increased due to tree growth. Our results show a potential for carbon sequestration and long‐term biodiversity conservation in smallholder coffee agroforestry systems and illustrate the opportunity for synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Interacciones entre el Secuestro de Carbono y la Diversidad de Árboles de Sombra en una Cooperativa de Café de Pequeños Agricultores en El Salvador     

Reorienting Systematic Conservation Assessment for Effective Conservation Planning

Abstract: Systematic conservation assessment (an information‐gathering and prioritization process used to select the spatial foci of conservation initiatives) is often considered vital to conservation‐planning efforts, yet published assessments have rarely resulted in conservation action. Conservation assessments may lead more directly to effective conservation action if they are reoriented to inform conservation decisions. Toward this goal, we evaluated the relative priority for conservation of 7 sites proposed for the first forest reserves in the Union of the Comoros, an area with high levels of endemism and rapidly changing land uses in the western Indian Ocean. Through the analysis of 30 indicator variables measured at forest sites and nearby villages, we assessed 3 prioritization criteria at each site: conservation value, threat to loss of biological diversity from human activity, and feasibility of reserve establishment. Our results indicated 2 sites, Yiméré and Hassera‐Ndrengé, were priorities for conservation action. Our approach also informed the development of an implementation strategy and enabled an evaluation of previously unexplored relations among prioritization criteria. Our experience suggests that steps taken to ensure the closer involvement of practitioners, include a broader range of social data, encourage stakeholder participation, and consider the feasibility of conservation action can improve the relevance of assessments for conservation planning, strengthen the scientific basis for conservation decisions, and result in a more realistic evaluation of conservation alternatives.     

Resembling a Viper: Implications of Mimicry for Conservation of the Endangered Smooth Snake

The phenomenon of Batesian mimicry, where a palatable animal gains protection against predation by resembling an unpalatable model, has been a core interest of evolutionary biologists for 150 years. An extensive range of studies has focused on revealing mechanistic aspects of mimicry (shared education and generalization of predators) and the evolutionary dynamics of mimicry systems (co‐operation vs. conflict) and revealed that protective mimicry is widespread and is important for individual fitness. However, according to our knowledge, there are no case studies where mimicry theories have been applied to conservation of mimetic species. Theoretically, mimicry affects, for example, frequency dependency of predator avoidance learning and human induced mortality. We examined the case of the protected, endangered, nonvenomous smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) that mimics the nonprotected venomous adder (Vipera berus), both of which occur in the Åland archipelago, Finland. To quantify the added predation risk on smooth snakes caused by the rarity of vipers, we calculated risk estimates from experimental data. Resemblance of vipers enhances survival of smooth snakes against bird predation because many predators avoid touching venomous vipers. Mimetic resemblance is however disadvantageous against human predators, who kill venomous vipers and accidentally kill endangered, protected smooth snakes. We found that the effective population size of the adders in Åland is very low relative to its smooth snake mimic (28.93 and 41.35, respectively).Because Batesian mimicry is advantageous for the mimic only if model species exist in sufficiently high numbers, it is likely that the conservation program for smooth snakes will fail if adders continue to be destroyed. Understanding the population consequences of mimetic species may be crucial to the success of endangered species conservation. We suggest that when a Batesian mimic requires protection, conservation planners should not ignore the model species (or co‐mimic in Mullerian mimicry rings) even if it is not itself endangered. Implications of mimicry for Conservation of the endangered smooth snake     

Geography and Recovery under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Abstract: The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) defines an endangered species as one “at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” The prevailing interpretation of this phrase, which focuses exclusively on the overall viability of listed species without regard to their geographic distribution, has led to development of listing and recovery criteria with fundamental conceptual, legal, and practical shortcomings. The ESA's concept of endangerment is broader than the biological concept of extinction risk in that the “esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific” values provided by species are not necessarily furthered by a species mere existence, but rather by a species presence across much of its former range. The concept of “significant portion of range” thus implies an additional geographic component to recovery that may enhance viability, but also offers independent benefits that Congress intended the act to achieve. Although the ESA differs from other major endangered‐species protection laws because it acknowledges the distinct contribution of geography to recovery, it resembles the “representation, resiliency, and redundancy” conservation‐planning framework commonly referenced in recovery plans. To address representation, listing and recovery standards should consider not only what proportion of its former range a species inhabits, but the types of habitats a species occupies and the ecological role it plays there. Recovery planning for formerly widely distributed species (e.g., the gray wolf [Canis lupus]) exemplifies how the geographic component implicit in the ESA's definition of endangerment should be considered in determining recovery goals through identification of ecologically significant types or niche variation within the extent of listed species, subspecies, or “distinct population segments.” By linking listing and recovery standards to niche and ecosystem concepts, the concept of ecologically significant type offers a scientific framework that promotes more coherent dialogue concerning the societal decisions surrounding recovery of endangered species.     

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.     

Understanding Interaction Effects of Climate Change and Fire Management on Bird Distributions through Combined Process and Habitat Models

Abstract: Avian conservation efforts must account for changes in vegetation composition and structure associated with climate change. We modeled vegetation change and the probability of occurrence of birds to project changes in winter bird distributions associated with climate change and fire management in the northern Chihuahuan Desert (southwestern U.S.A.). We simulated vegetation change in a process‐based model (Landscape and Fire Simulator) in which anticipated climate change was associated with doubling of current atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next 50 years. We estimated the relative probability of bird occurrence on the basis of statistical models derived from field observations of birds and data on vegetation type, topography, and roads. We selected 3 focal species, Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), that had a range of probabilities of occurrence for our study area. Our simulations projected increases in relative probability of bird occurrence in shrubland and decreases in grassland and Yucca spp. and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) vegetation. Generally, the relative probability of occurrence of all 3 species was highest in shrubland because leaf‐area index values were lower in shrubland. This high probability of occurrence likely is related to the species’ use of open vegetation for foraging. Fire suppression had little effect on projected vegetation composition because as climate changed there was less fuel and burned area. Our results show that if future water limits on plant type are considered, models that incorporate spatial data may suggest how and where different species of birds may respond to vegetation changes.     

1株异养硝化-好氧反硝化细菌DK1的分离鉴定及其脱氮特性

从某反应器活性污泥中分离筛选出1株假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)细菌,命名为DK1,并对该菌进行脱氮特性研究.在以葡萄糖为碳源,C/N量比为5时,分别以NaNO_3和NaNO_2为氮源,二者的好氧反硝化速率为4.09 mg·(L·h)-1和4.43mg·(L·h)~(-1).以二者同时为氮源脱氮率为100%;此外,菌株DK1具有异养硝化性能,NH_4~+-N平均去除速率为2.32mg·(L·h)-1.缺氧时以NO_2~--N为氮源菌株DK1可将一系列梯度浓度NO_2~--N(约100~300 mg·L-1)在36 h内降为0.当NO_3~--N和NO_2~--N同时存在时,菌株DK1会优先利用NO_3~--N进行反硝化.同时该菌株还具有同步硝化反硝化(SND)性能,可同时去除NH_4~+-N、NO_2~--N或NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N,30 h内脱氮率分别达95.06%和94.69%.相同时间内在NH_4~+-N、NO_2~--N和NO_3~--N三者均存在时,脱氮效果最佳,达100%.菌株DK1的高效SND及反硝化性能表明其在处理含氮废水方面有一定的潜力和应用价值.     

流态对生物添加强化硝化效果的影响

在15℃、相同氮负荷和添加强度条件下运行SBR和CSTR以对比分析两种典型流态(推流式和完全混合式)对硝化菌添加强化硝化效果的影响.结果表明,添加期间,SBR中氨氧化速率(AUR)和亚硝酸盐氧化速率(NUR)分别为添加前的2.34和2.39倍,停止添加后又分别降为添加前的2.01和1.78倍;添加期间CSTR中AUR和NUR分别为添加前的2.63和2.44倍,停止添加后又分别降为添加前的1.48和1.31倍.荧光原位杂交结果显示,添加期间,SBR中氨氧化菌(AOB)和亚硝酸盐氧化菌(NOB)的个数百分比分别为添加前的2.67和2.71倍,添加停止后,又分别降至原来的2.14和1.95倍;CSTR中AOB和NOB分别为添加前的2.91和1.77倍,但在添加停止后CSTR中AOB和NOB分别降至添加前的1.25和1.50倍.因此,硝化菌添加期间,两种流态的添加效果接近,但是在添加停止后,由于流态对硝化菌中K-决策者(Nitrosospira、Nitrospira)和r-决策者(Nitrosomonas europaea、Nitrobacter)的选择作用,添加的硝化菌在完全混合式条件下比推流式条件下更容易被系统淘汰.     

不同运行模式下改良型CAST工艺处理生活污水的除磷性能

实验采用改良型CAST工艺,以生活污水为研究对象,考察了C/P、回流比及温度等不同运行模式对系统除磷性能的影响.结果表明,常温条件下进水C/P由50升至100,系统除磷率均值从15%迅速升至95.6%,除磷性能显著提高;继而降低C/P至75,除磷性能因进水碳源不足再度下降,除磷率均值为51.4%,且长期投加易降解碳源引发系统污泥膨胀并导致污泥大量流失.C/P较低情况下,回流比由25%降低至12.5%,除磷性能提高2.3倍,继续降低回流比至0,除磷性能反而下降;温度实验研究则表明,低温系统(14℃±1℃),除磷率稳定维持在90%以上,而高温短程硝化系统(27℃±1℃)除磷率仅为14.1%,可见低温更有利于系统磷的去除.吸磷小试发现,常温系统污泥以O_2、NO_3~-和NO_2~-为电子受体均能进行吸磷,而低温系统污泥能以O_2、NO_3~-为电子受体进行吸磷,高温系统污泥则仅能以O_2为电子受体进行少量吸磷.此外,实验还发现,系统短期闲置导致的污泥"饥饿"有利于系统除磷率的提高.     

基于生态分区的我国湖泊营养盐控制目标研究

为更好地控制我国湖泊的富营养化水平,在五大湖泊生态分区的基础上,对不同生态分区的100个湖泊总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、TN/TP与叶绿素a(Chl-a)的关系进行了分析,进而提出了不同生态分区的湖泊营养盐控制目标.结果表明,五大湖泊生态分区中,东北湖区富营养化水平最低,华北湖区富营养化水平最高,近几年五大湖区湖泊富营养水平呈上升趋势.从TN、TP对五大生态分区湖泊Chl-a浓度的影响看,TP是东北和华北湖区湖泊藻类生长的限制性营养盐,而TN和TP同时是中东部、云贵和蒙新湖区湖泊藻类生长的限制性营养盐.从TN/TP判断,在TN/TP<10的湖泊中,除华北湖区外的其他4个湖区湖泊Chl-a均受TN显著影响;TP仅对东北、蒙新湖区湖泊的Chl-a有显著影响.在TN/TP>17的湖泊中,除蒙新湖区外的其他4个湖区湖泊Chl-a均受TP显著影响,而在中东部、云贵和蒙新湖区,TN对Chl-a也有显著影响.在10相似文献