渭干河-库车河绿洲土地生态安全物元分析评价

针对综合评价研究中存在信息不相容的问题,尝试采用物元分析法对渭干河-库车河绿洲(以下简称渭库绿洲)土地生态安全进行评价.通过构建土地生态安全的经济-环境-社会评价指标体系,建立土地生态安全评价的物元模型,揭示单个评价指标的分异信息和综合评价结果.结果表明,1)农民人均纯收入、耕地粮食单产、有效灌溉面积、土地垦殖率、农业机械总动力、城市化水平等指标出现不同等级的上升趋势,以上指标对土地生态安全水平的提升有重要贡献.但单位耕地化肥负荷、森林覆盖率、灾害指数、盐渍化程度、人口密度等指标的安全等级下降,而且盐渍化治理率和人口密度的安全状态均在较不安全等级以下,成为该绿洲土地生态安全的关键制约因素.2)1995-2010年,渭库绿洲土地生态水平等级经历了安全—较安全—安全—较安全的演变历程,但不完全符合安全与较安全的标准,水平等级不稳定.为了促进绿洲土地生态安全等级不断提升,需要转变经济发展方式,降低经济增长对土地资源的消耗,大力发展特色农业、节水农业,合理施用农药、化肥,加大环境治理力度,有效控制土壤盐渍化程度,以实现土地资源利用的可持续发展.     

大规模开采条件下我国北方区域地下水水化学变化特征

本文在总结近些年来我国北方地下水水文地质调查成果的基础上,对大规模开采条件下我国北方主要盆地和平原地下水化学变化规律及其影响因素进行探讨。结果表明:在大规模开采地下水后,我国北方地下水水化学变化特征主要表现为:浅层地下水水化学类型向重碳酸型水转变,地下水硬度增高,且在地下水大规模开发利用时间比较早的山西盆地、华北平原和东北平原变化比较明显,在西北干旱地区并不明显;深层地下水水化学类型由重碳酸型水转变为其它类型,地下水矿化度增大,水质变差,且在新疆准噶尔盆地、山西盆地和华北平原及东北平原变化比较明显。同时在地下水强烈开采区的潜水和承压含水层及主要城市区的地下水水化学特征均表现为常量组分升高,矿化度增大,污染组分和污染程度增加。导致这些变化产生的原因主要是70年代以后地下水的大规模开发利用引起地下水流场发生变化和局部地区人类活动影响造成的污染物增加和不合理排放。     

Conservation Science and Forest Service Policy for Roadless Areas

Abstract:  Questions persist regarding whether the science of conservation biology can successfully affect environmental decision making. One of the most prominent fields of intersection between conservation science and environmental policy is public-lands debates in the United States. I reviewed the role of conservation science in the roadless-area policies of the U.S. Forest Service. Since 1971, the Forest Service has systematically evaluated roadless areas on national forests three times, most recently during the Clinton administration's Roadless Area Conservation Review (1998–2000) ( U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service 2000b ). Drawing on the agency's environmental impact statements and supporting documents and the internal records of conservation organizations, I examined the changing goals, methodology, and outcome of roadless-area advocacy and policy. Since the 1970s, conservation science has successfully informed public and administrative concern for roadless-area protection. Conservation science has transformed public discourse regarding roadless areas and has changed the scope and rationale of national conservation organizations' goals for roadless-area policy from protecting some to protecting all remaining national forest roadless areas. The Forest Service has increasingly drawn on the lessons of conservation biology to justify its methodology and its administrative recommendations to protect roadless areas. The 2000 Roadless Area Conservation Review resulted in a recommendation to protect all remaining national forest roadless areas, up from 22% of roadless areas in the first roadless review. Despite the scientific merits of recent roadless-area advocacy and policy, however, such initiatives have faced political difficulties. The emphasis on large-scale, top-down, national approaches to conservation policy has rendered such policies politically problematic.     

The Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan

Abstract:  Implemented in 1994, the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan was designed to restore and maintain ecological processes for aquatic and riparian area conservation on federal lands in the western portion of the Pacific Northwest. We used decision support models to quantitatively evaluate changes in the condition of selected watersheds. In the approximately 10 years since strategy implementation, watershed condition scores changed modestly, but conditions improved in 64% of 250 sampled watersheds, declined in 28%, and remained relatively the same in 7%. Watersheds that had the largest declines included some where wildfires burned 30–60% of their area. The overall statistical distribution of the condition scores did not change significantly, however. Much of the increase in watershed condition was related to improved riparian conditions. The number of large trees (>51 cm diameter at breast height) increased 2–4%, and there were substantial reductions in tree harvest and other disturbances along streams. Whether such changes will translate into longer-term improvements in aquatic ecosystems across broader landscapes remains to be seen.     

Motivations Influencing the Adoption of Conservation Easements

Abstract: The use of conservation easements as a conservation mechanism for private land has increased greatly in the past decade; conservation easements now protect over 15 million ha across the United States from residential and commercial development. We used a mailed survey and in‐depth telephone interviews to determine factors that motivate private landowners in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin (U.S.A.) to place conservation easements on their properties. The mailed survey asked about characteristics of landowners, their properties, and their opinions on 9 factors related to the decision to place an easement. A follow‐up telephone interview was completed with 19 mail‐survey participants to gain an in‐depth understanding of the action and to triangulate the results with the questionnaire. Place attachment, which is a measure of personal connection to a location or property, was the greatest motivation for implementation of an easement. Results of a principal components analysis suggested contributing to the public good underlaid several of the strong motivational factors for participation. Financial reasons were the lowest ranked motivational factor; however, financial concerns may facilitate placement of an easement that would otherwise not be realized. We believe that our results may be transferable to places where land protected by easements is not dominated by traditional farming (row crops, pastures, and hay), timber harvesting, or nonextractive uses (e.g., habitat for wild animals, recreation, and protection of ecosystem services).     

Oasis land-use change and its effects on the oasis eco-environment in Keriya Oasis,China

Land-use change in oases of arid zones play a significant role in the sustainable development and stability of oases. This paper presents a typical case of successful efforts to mitigate land-use change, its drivers and effects on the oasis eco-environment at Keriya Oasis in the western arid zone of China using remotely-sensed data, official statistics, and data collected by field investigation. Mathematical models were developed to quantify important elements related to land-use change, including net change and total change. The results indicate that: (1) approximately 17% of land-use types of Keriya Oasis changed between 1991 and 2002; (2) socioeconomic development, climate change, and economic polices contributed to land-use change in the oasis; (3) inappropriate human activities were the main cause of land-use change and eco-environmental degradation in the oasis; and (4) the stability of the oasis is threatened by land-use change and unexpected eco-environmental changes in the oasis and oasis–desert ecotone. The study suggests irrational human activity in arid zones, and that caution should be exercised to maintain stability and sustainable development of oases.     

Climate change and indigenous natural resource management: a review of socio-ecological interactions in the Alinytjara Wilurara NRM region

This article examines key socio-ecological interactions identified during a climate change vulnerability assessment in the Alinytjara Wilurara natural resources management (NRM) region of South Australia. The complex local socio-ecological interactions are highlighted to guide a response to the challenge of adapting to climate change within the region. Recognising several key desert drivers which perpetuate degraded socio-ecological systems, this article recommends that a range of strategies be employed simultaneously to enhance local environmental management in association with remote indigenous communities, including: linking people and NRM more closely; tracking funding but ensuring systems can withstand periods of limited financial support; developing cross-sectoral and cross-institutional links; empowering and engaging communities; communicating effectively; and actively supporting local and traditional environmental knowledge. Unless climate change adaptation responses within the region are conceptualised and enacted within the context of complex local socio-ecological systems, NRM will not improve and social vulnerability will increase.     

Nitrogen Sources and Sinks Within the Middle Rio Grande,New Mexico1

Abstract: Relationships between discharge, land use, and nitrogen sources and sinks were developed using 5 years of synoptic sampling along a 300 km reach of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. Average river discharge was higher during 2001 and 2005 “wet years” (15 m³/s) than during the drought years of 2002‐04 “dry years” (8.9 m³/s), but there were no differences in nitrogen loading from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) which were the largest and most consistent source of nitrogen to the river (1,330 kg/day). Average total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) concentrations remained elevated for 180 km downstream of the Albuquerque WWTP averaging 1.2 mg/l in wet years and 0.52 mg/l in dry years. Possible explanations for the constant elevated TDN concentrations downstream of the major point source include reduced nitrogen retention capacity, minimal contact with riparian or channel vegetation, large suspended sediment loads, and low algal biomass. Somewhat surprisingly, agricultural return flows had lower average nitrogen concentrations than river water originally diverted to agriculture in both wet (0.81 mg/l) and dry years (0.19 mg/l), indicating that the agricultural system is a sink for nitrogen. Lower average nitrogen concentrations in the river during the dry years can be explained by the input of agricultural returns which comprise the majority of river flow in dry years.     

STREAM ASSESSMENTS USING BIOTIC INDICES: RESPONSES TO PHYSICOCHEMICAL VARIABLES1

ABSTRACT: Responses of the Wyoming Stream Integrity Index (WSII), a regionally calibrated multimetric index, were investigated in relation to background elevational changes in water quality and habitat conditions versus accelerated anthropogenic degradation at the watershed scale. Assessments were conducted for three rivers in southeast Wyoming: the Little Medicine Bow River, the Medicine Bow River, and Rock Creek. Pearson correlation coefficients and regression models related “core metrics” and index scores to elevational gradients of physicochemical variables. Velocity, substrate, and weighted habitat values were positively correlated to index scores, while suspended solids was negatively correlated. The exclusive dependence of index scores on physical variables specifies the type of environmental gradients the WSII is most robust in detecting. The individual “core metrics” Plecoptera taxa, Trichoptera taxa, percent Trichoptera without Hydropsychidae, and percent noninsects appeared most sensitive to physical changes and were thus driving associations between index scores and physical variables. Despite strong correlations with physical variables, anomalies existed where habitat conditions were good, unknown stressors existed, or gradients were naturally occurring despite “Poor” index scores (i.e., degraded stream conditions). Such findings illustrate the influence of regional variability on biotic indices and the importance of identifying sufficient reference and impaired stream reaches used to develop and calibrate multimetric indices relying on reference conditions.     

德昌旱地粮菜四熟种植模式的效益和能量分析

德昌县旱地粮菜四熟模式是一年生产一季玉米和三季蔬菜。该模式可充分利用安宁河中下游丰富的温光资源,一年内亩产粮食627.5kg,蔬菜总计11935kg,经济收入2430.4元。其光能利用率达3.864%,能量产投比2.15,是适合城郊区旱地种植的一种较好模式。进一步增施磷钾肥是本模式获得更多农产品、提高资源利用率、维持和培肥土壤的重要措施。