Perceived Effects of Setting Attributes on Visitor Experiences in Wilderness: Variation with Situational Context and Visitor Characteristics

Understanding how setting attributes influence the nature of the visitor experience is crucial to effective recreation management. Highly influential attributes are useful indicators to monitor within a planning framework, such as Limits of Acceptable Change. This study sought to identify the setting attributes perceived to have the most profound effect on the ability to have “a real wilderness experience” and to assess the degree to which attribute importance varied with situational context and visitor characteristics. To this end, exiting hikers were surveyed at moderate and very high use trailheads in Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA (USA), and Three Sisters Wilderness, OR (USA). They were asked about the degree to which encountering varying levels of different setting attributes would add to or detract from their experience. Attributes with the largest range of effect on experience, based on evaluations of different levels, were considered most important. The most influential attributes were litter and several types of campsite interaction—people walking through camp and number of other groups camping close by. The perceived importance of setting attributes did not vary much between wilderness locations with substantially different use levels, suggesting that conclusions are robust and generalizable across wilderness areas. There also was little difference in the perceptions of day and overnight visitors. In contrast, we found substantial variation in the perceived importance of setting attributes with variation in wilderness experience, knowledge, attachment, and motivation. Our results validate the emphasis of many wilderness management plans on indicators of social interaction, such as number of encounters.     

Human Impacts to River Temperature and Their Effects on Biological Processes: A Quantitative Synthesis1

Hester, Erich T. and Martin W. Doyle, 2011. Human Impacts to River Temperature and Their Effects on Biological Processes: A Quantitative Synthesis. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(3):571‐587. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00525.x Abstract: Land‐use change and water resources management increasingly impact stream and river temperatures and therefore aquatic organisms. Efforts at thermal mitigation are expected to grow in future decades. Yet the biological consequences of both human thermal impacts and proposed mitigation options are poorly quantified. This study provides such context for river thermal management in two ways. First, we summarize the full spectrum of human thermal impacts to help thermal managers consider the relative magnitudes of all impacts and mitigation options. Second, we synthesize biological sensitivity to river temperature shifts using thermal performance curves, which relate organism‐level biological processes to temperature. This approach supplements the popular use of thermal thresholds by directly estimating the impact of temperature shifts on the rates of key biological processes (e.g., growth). Our results quantify a diverse array of human thermal impacts, revealing that human actions tend to increase more than decrease river temperatures. Our results also provide a practical framework in which to quantify the sensitivity of river organisms to such impacts and related mitigation options. Finally, among the data and studies we synthesized, river organisms appear to be more sensitive to temperature above than below their thermal maxima, and fish are more sensitive to temperature change than invertebrates.     

盐度渐变过程对黄条鰤(Seriola aureovittata)幼鱼渗透调节的影响

为了解盐度渐变对黄条鰤(Seriola aureovittata)渗透调节的影响,设置自然海水(对照组盐度为29),5,10,15,20,35六个盐度梯度,并对不同盐度下幼鱼鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP 酶活力、离子浓度、渗透压进行了检测和分析。结果显示:在盐度5~35,黄条鰤尿、血清、血浆的渗透压均随盐度升高而升高,盐度为35时渗透压均为最高,其中尿的渗透压显著高于血清和血浆渗透压。在盐度从29下降的过程中,鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活力、离子浓度、渗透压呈现相似的变化规律,都随着盐度的降低而呈现总体下降的趋势;盐度从29升高到35时,各检测指标中仅有尿和血浆的K+ 含量无显著变化(P >0.05),其余均显著升高(P <0.05)。实验结果表明,黄条鰤生存和繁衍的自然海水盐度29是幼鱼存活的适宜盐度,在略低的盐度20~29均能较快适应,说明在盐度渐变过程中,黄条鰤幼鱼对外界盐度变化有较强的调节能力。     

农业技术进步、规模效率与粮食安全——以东北三省粳稻、玉米为例

以东北三省粳稻、玉米为例,使用DEA-malmquist指数法实证检验农业技术进步、规模效率与粮食生产效率增长之间的关系。结果发现:①2000—2019年,吉林和黑龙江均保持了良好的粮食生产效率。②黑龙江属于"农业技术进步单一驱动型"的生产模式,而辽宁、吉林属于"农业技术进步和技术效率双驱动型"的生产模式。③吉林玉米生产的规模效率非有效,辽宁农业技术进步的衰退分别阻碍了各自粮食生产效率的提高。基于以上研究,提出建议:黑龙江、吉林、辽宁3省应因地制宜,分别通过增加农业财政投入、加强农业科技研发力度、鼓励农地流转等措施为粮食安全保驾护航。