Diversity of Ontogenetic Pathways in Plant Populations

Population heterogeneity in cespitose, fibrous-rooted, brevirhizomatous, stoloniferous, and tap-rooted herbaceous and woody plants is described. This heterogeneity is caused by the multivariant character of plant ontogeny (i.e., its dimensional, morphological, rhythmological, and temporal multiversality), which is regarded as the main adaptation mechanism operating in plant populations because it provides for the diversity of ontogenetic pathways under different ecological conditions.     

浅谈事故查处遵循的原则及善后处理需把握的关键问题

通过安全工作实践 ,总结归纳了事故查处应遵循的若干原则和善后处理的主要内容 ,提出了事故善后处理过程中需要把握的几个关键问题 ,对于事故管理有一定的借鉴和指导意义。     

皂素工业废水CODCr排放限值的研究

皂素工业是近几年来迅速发展的一个重要生物医药化工行业,我国皂素主产区位于南水北调中线工程水源汉江上游,其排放的大量高浓度含酸有机废水给水源保护带来严重威胁,急需制定我国的皂素工业水污染物排放标准.采用三段式两相厌氧为核心的二级生化组合工艺技术从实验室试验、现场工业性试验和示范工程三方面对皂素工业废水COD_Cr排放限值进行了研究,皂素废水二级生化处理出水中残留COD_Cr总量(以质量浓度计)约为400～500 mg/L,其中溶解性微生物代谢产物(SMP)质量浓度约为240～280 mg/L.综合考虑技术可达性和经济可行性,将现有企业COD_Cr排放限值规定为400 mg/L;为引导企业对废液综合利用,推进皂素行业清洁生产,规定新建企业和现有企业的第二时段的限值为300 mg/L.提出了丹江库区相应的COD_Cr总量指标及皂素规模限额.执行该标准后,全国每年可削减COD_Cr 71　400 t,其中南水北调中线工程水源汉江上游至少可削减60　690 t,可以满足中线调水水源区的环境保护要求.      

客土覆盖对降低放射性铈在大豆中积累的效应

采用模拟污染物的同位素示踪技术研究了客土覆盖对降低大豆中放射性铈积累的效应.结果表明,在受¹⁴¹Ce污染的土壤表面覆盖客土,能降低大豆对¹⁴¹Ce的吸收和积累,效果十分明显,当客土覆盖厚度为12cm时,豆根、豆秸、豆壳和豆籽中¹⁴¹Ce比活度分别下降了83.5%、30.6%、13.7%和11.8%;大豆中吸收积累的¹⁴¹Ce比活度随客土覆盖厚度的增加而下降,其中豆根中¹⁴¹Ce比活度与覆盖的客土厚度呈指数负相关,豆秸、豆壳、豆籽中¹⁴¹Ce比活度则与客土覆盖厚度呈线性负相关.     

有机固体废物固态厌氧消化处理的研究现状与进展

有机固体废物的固态厌氧消化处理是一种在固体含量很高的条件下进行厌氧发酵,同时产生沼气的处理方法,该方法能够实现废弃物污染防治和综合利用的目标.文中介绍了有机固体废物固态厌氧消化的研究状况,并且展望了其固态厌氧消化的研究前景.      

Causes of change in nitrophytic and oligotrophic lichen species in a Mediterranean climate: impact of land cover and atmospheric pollutants

With the aim of determining the main drivers of changes in nitrophytic and oligotrophic macro-lichen communities in an industrial region with a Mediterranean climate, we considered both land-cover types and atmospheric pollutants. We determined the relation between the abundance of nitrophytic and oligotrophic species with environmental factors considering the distance of influence of land-cover types. The results showed that oligotrophic species decreased in the proximity of artificial areas, barren land and agricultural areas, associated with higher concentrations of NO₂ and Zn, and Ti, probably dust of industrial and agricultural origin. Nitrophytic species were positively related to all the mentioned land-cover types, and with higher concentrations of Fe and N. Magnesium, probably from ocean aerosols, was negatively related to oligotrophic species and positively to nitrophytic.     

The removal of lignin and phenol from paper mill effluents by electrocoagulation

This study aims to investigate the treatment of paper mill effluents using electrocoagulation. Removal of lignin, phenol, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) from paper mill effluents was investigated at various current intensities by using different electrodes (Al and Fe) and at various electrolysis times (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5min). It was observed that the experiments carried out at 12V, an electrolysis time of 2min and a current intensity of 77.13mA were sufficient for the removal of these pollutants with each electrode. The removal capacities of the process using an Al electrode were 80% of lignin, 98% of phenol, 70% of BOD, and 75% of COD after 7.5min. Using an Fe electrode the removal capacities were 92%, 93%, 80% and 55%, respectively. In addition, it was found that removal of lignin, phenol, BOD and COD increased with increasing current intensity. In the experiments carried out at different current intensities, higher removal can be explained through a decrease in intra-resistance of solution and consequently an increase at the transfer speed of organic species to electrodes. It was also found that Al electrode performs higher efficiency than Fe electrode except for COD removal. However, the time required for removal of BOD was more than that of COD. The results suggest that electrocoagulation could be considered as an effective alternative to paper mill effluents treatment.     

Determinants of Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Soil Conservation Technology in a Middle Mountain Watershed of Central Nepal

This study explores different socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the adoption of improved soil conservation technology (ISCT) on Bari land (Rainfed outward sloping terraces) in the Middle Mountain region of Central Nepal. Structured questionnaire survey and focus group discussion methods were applied to collect the necessary information from farm households. The logistic regression model predicted seven factors influencing the adoption of improved soil conservation technology in the study area including years of schooling of the household head, caste of the respondent, land holding size of the Bari land, cash crop vegetable farming, family member occupation in off farm sector, membership of the Conservation and Development Groups, and use of credit. The study showed that technology dissemination through multi-sectoral type community based local groups is a good option to enhance the adoption of improved soil conservation technology in the Middle Mountain farming systems in Nepal. Planners and policy makers should formulate appropriate policies and programs considering the farmers' interest, capacity, and limitation in promoting improved soil conservation technology for greater acceptance and adoption by the farmers.     

The effects of landscape-level disturbance on the composition of Minnesota caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) trophic functional groups: evidence for ecosystem homogenization

Over 300,000 caddisfly specimens representing 249 species were collected from nearly 250 sites throughout Minnesota during 2000 and 2001 to determine the effects of human disturbance on the composition of caddisfly trophic functional groups at the landscape level. Canonical correspondence analysis determined that stream width was the most important variable influencing functional group composition in regions of the state with relatively low disturbance, and that differences in the caddisfly fauna between sizes of streams generally followed trends predicted by the river continuum concept. In regions of the state with moderate disturbance, both stream width and the percentage of disturbed habitat upstream of a site were important variables influencing functional group composition. In highly disturbed regions, no variables corresponded to changes in the composition of caddisfly functional groups. Instead, ecosystems were homogeneous: fine-particle filtering collectors dominated in all sizes of streams. The observed aquatic ecosystem homogenization is attributed mostly to input of fine-particle organic and inorganic sediment from extensive agriculture.     

Interactions between water and land in The Netherlands

The Netherlands are one of the most densely populated coastal countries in the world and there is only limited space for living, working, transport and recreation, while there is also the need to preserve and expand valuable natural habitats. In order to solve many existing and future conflicts of interest, and in order to create ‘added value’, strategies are developed to optimize the use of water-land systems. The principle of ‘building with nature’ is applied in order to integrate land in sea and water in land in such a way that future generations will be able to use coastal resources in a sustainable way, including a minimal effort to maintain the coastline and the promotion of a multiple-use system. The concept of Integrated multifunctional sustainable coastal zone development is introduced. This concept deals with a balanced approach to the lack of space for present and future coastal uses in relation to each other, to the hinterland, and to the sea. Flexible master plans are developed, taking into account many functions of the coastal zone, and facilitating adaptation to future developments—e.g. impacts of climate change and relative sea level rise. In this regard increasing the flexibility of the coastal zone is of vital importance. Large-scale coastal land reclamations in The Netherlands are dealt with, based on two different principles: (1) polder systems (low lying land reclamations surrounded and protected by dikes), (2) systems of ‘building with nature’—land reclamation protected by man-made foreshores, beaches and dunes. In the latter type new flexible dynamic-equilibrium coasts are created for many functions, while coastal vulnerability is reduced and a flexible coast is developed.