Factors affecting 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in mussels and implications for environmental bio-monitoring programmes

The activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was determined in mussels of the same size (3.5-4.0 cm shell length) sampled monthly over a 17-month period at the Atlantic coast of Portugal. Average radionuclide concentration values in mussels were 759 ± 277 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Po (range 460-1470 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight), and 45 ± 19 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²¹⁰Pb (range 23-96 Bq kg⁻¹ dry weight). Environmental parameters and mussel biometric parameters were monitored during the same period. Although there was no seasonal variation of radionuclide concentrations in sea water during the study period, the concentration of radionuclide activity in mussels varied seasonally displaying peaks of high concentrations in winter and low concentrations in summer. Analysis of radionuclide data in relation to the physiological Condition Index of mussels revealed that ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activities in the mussel (average activity per individual) remained nearly constant during the investigation period, while mussel body weight fluctuated due to fat storage/expenditure in the soft tissues. Similar variation of radionuclide concentrations was observed in mussels transplanted from the sea coast into the Tejo Estuary. However, under estuarine environmental conditions and with higher food availability throughout the year, transplanted mussel Condition Index was higher than in coastal mussels and average radionuclide concentrations were 210 ± 75 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight) for ²¹⁰Po and 10 ± 4 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight) for ²¹⁰Pb, therefore lower than in coastal mussels with similar shell length. It is concluded that the apparent seasonal fluctuation and inter-site difference of radionuclide concentrations were mostly caused by mussel body weight fluctuation and not by radionuclide body burden fluctuation. This interpretation can be extended to the apparent seasonal fluctuation in concentrations of lipophilic and lipophobic contaminants in mussels, and provides an explanation for occasional high concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and man-made contaminants measured in mussels far from pollution sources.     

中国低碳发展的国际比较:世界贸易格局

近年来随着我国经济的持续平稳快速发展,与之相伴随的碳排放总量持续攀升,中国也因此被推上世界碳减排的风口浪尖.为了明确中国碳排放的国际地位,本文从世界贸易格局视角对中国的碳排放现状进行了国际比较研究.首先分析研究了我国2007年面临的碳排放国际形势,继而对我国的出口贸易形势进行了国际比较,最后采用GDP比例法和类推法对我国商品出口隐含的碳排放进行了初步测算,并分析了剔除出口贸易影响后的我国碳排放情况.通过研究认为:①出口贸易对我国的碳排放总量影响巨大,我国的商品出口占GDP比例长期维持在20%以上,近几年高峰值超过36%;②在当前的世界贸易格局、国际分工体系下,采用“生产者责任体系”碳排放测算模式大大高估了中国的碳排放水平,中国的碳排放总量中有34-60%是为他国服务而产生;③中国在当前世界贸易格局和国际分工体系中的地位使得中国在目前的碳排放测算模式下必然“产生较高的碳排放”;④世界各国应该重新审视和正确认识中国的“高”碳排放形势,中国为世界各国提供商品服务而产生的碳排放不应该受到指责.     

基于大数据监管平台的通信基站监督性监测技术模式

提出一种基于大数据监管平台的通信基站监督监测技术模式,利用大数据监管平台实现监督监测对象的自动筛选、开展线上全流程监测、自动分析比对监测结果,并将该技术模式用于2019年和2020年广东省10.5万个通信基站的监督监测。结果表明,通信基站备案基础信息的相符率为75.3%～98.6%;社会化监测机构关键点位电磁环境监测结果相符率为60.0%～92.3%。该结果可用于评估广东省通信基站建设单位备案的基础信息相符性结果和社会化监测机构监测质量。     

有限空间作业人员生理状态监测设备研制

为监测有限空间作业人员异常生理状况,进而保障有限空间作业安全与作业人员生命健康,在分析手腕处6个测量位置信号质量的基础上,获得最佳信号采集位置,并结合事故成因,从光电容积脉搏波(PPG)信号中提取心率、脉搏周期、振幅等生理参数作为评价指标,研制一款针对有限空间特殊作业人群的手腕处脉动生理信息监测设备;并进行系统稳定性测...     

Evaluating Perceived Benefits of Ecoregional Assessments

Abstract: The outcomes of systematic conservation planning (process of assessing, implementing, and managing conservation areas) are rarely reported or measured formally. A lack of consistent or rigorous evaluation in conservation planning has fueled debate about the extent to which conservation assessment (identification, design, and prioritization of potential conservation areas) ultimately influences actions on the ground. We interviewed staff members of a nongovernmental organization, who were involved in 5 ecoregional assessments across North and South America and the Asia‐Pacific region. We conducted 17 semistructured interviews with open and closed questions about the perceived purpose, outputs, and outcomes of the ecoregional assessments in which respondents were involved. Using qualitative data collected from those interviews, we investigated the types and frequency of benefits perceived to have emerged from the ecoregional assessments and explored factors that might facilitate or constrain the flow of benefits. Some benefits reflected the intended purpose of ecoregional assessments. Other benefits included improvements in social interactions, attitudes, and institutional knowledge. Our results suggest the latter types of benefits enable ultimate benefits of assessments, such as guiding investments by institutional partners. Our results also showed a clear divergence between the respondents’ expectations and perceived outcomes of implementation of conservation actions arising from ecoregional assessments. Our findings suggest the need for both a broader perspective on the contribution of assessments to planning goals and further evaluation of conservation assessments.     

Work–family conflict and mindfulness: Investigating the effectiveness of a brief training intervention

This experimental switching replications design study examined the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness‐based training intervention that included a one‐hour mindfulness‐based workshop followed by 13 days of behavioral self‐monitoring (BSM) in an attempt to reduce work–family conflict. The intervention increased participants' mindfulness and decreased work‐to‐family conflict, but did not reduce family‐to‐work conflict. In addition, those who participated in BSM reported greater mindfulness, less work‐to‐family conflict, and less family‐to‐work conflict than did those who did not participate in BSM. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future research directions, are discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of a Community‐Based Payment for Environmental Services Intervention on Forest Use in Menabe,Madagascar

Abstract: Despite the growing interest in conservation approaches that include payments for environmental services (PES), few evaluations of the influence of such interventions on behaviors of individuals have been conducted. We used self‐reported changes in six legal and illegal forest‐use behaviors to investigate the way in which a PES for biodiversity conservation intervention in Menabe, Madagascar, influenced behavior. Individuals (n =864) from eight intervention communities and five control communities answered questions on their forest‐use behaviors before and after the intervention began, as well as on their reasons for changing and their attitudes to various institutions. The payments had little impact on individuals’ reported decisions to change behaviors, but it had a strong impact on individuals’ attitudes. Payments appeared to legitimize monitoring of behaviors by the implementing nongovernmental organization (NGO), but did not act as a behavioral driver in their own right. Although there were no clear differences between changes in behaviors in the intervention and control communities, the intervention did influence motivations for change. Fear of local forest associations and the implementing NGO were strong motivators for changing behavior in communities with the PES intervention, whereas fear of the national government was the main reason given for change in control communities. Behavioral changes were most stable where fear of local organizations motivated the change. Our results highlight the interactions between different incentives people face when making behavioral decisions and the importance of considering the full range of incentives when designing community‐based PES interventions.     

Biodiversity Conservation, Ecosystem Functioning, and Economic Incentives under Cocoa Agroforestry Intensification

Abstract:  World chocolate demand is expected to more than double by 2050. Decisions about how to meet this challenge will have profound effects on tropical rainforests and wild species in cocoa-producing countries. Cocoa, "the chocolate tree," is traditionally produced under a diverse and dense canopy of shade trees that provide habitat for a high diversity of organisms. The current trend to reduce or eliminate shade cover raises concerns about the potential loss of biodiversity. Nevertheless, few studies have assessed the ecological consequences and economic trade-offs under different management options in cocoa plantations. Here we describe the relationships between ant ecology (species richness, community composition, and abundance) and vegetation structure, ecosystem functions, and economic profitability under different land-use management systems in 17 traditional cocoa forest gardens in southern Cameroon. We calculated an index of profitability, based on the net annual income per hectare. We found significant differences associated with the different land-use management systems for species richness and abundance of ants and species richness and density of trees. Ant species richness was significantly higher in floristically and structurally diverse, low-intensity, old cocoa systems than in intensive young systems. Ant species richness was significantly related to tree species richness and density. We found no clear relationship between profitability and biodiversity. Nevertheless, we suggest that improving the income and livelihood of smallholder cocoa farmers will require economic incentives to discourage further intensification and ecologically detrimental loss of shade cover. Certification programs for shade-grown cocoa may provide socioeconomic incentives to slow intensification.     

Chemical fluxes in time through forest ecosystems in the UK - Soil response to pollution recovery

Long term trend analysis of bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil solution elemental fluxes from 12 years monitoring at 10 ICP Level II forest sites in the UK reveal coherent national chemical trends indicating recovery from sulphur deposition and acidification. Soil solution pH increased and sulphate and aluminium decreased at most sites. Trends in nitrogen were variable and dependant on its form. Dissolved organic nitrogen increased in bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil solution at most sites. Nitrate in soil solution declined at sites receiving high nitrogen deposition. Increase in soil dissolved organic carbon was detected - a response to pollution recovery, changes in soil temperature and/or increased microbial activity. An increase of sodium and chloride was evident - a possible result of more frequent storm events at exposed sites. The intensive and integrated nature of monitoring enables the relationships between climate/pollutant exposure and chemical/biological response in forestry to be explored.     

如何做好新形势下的淮北市环境监测工作

环境监测工作是环境保护工作的基础工作，在新的形势下，如何做好环境监测工作，是环保工作必须面对的一个重要课题。本文通过总结研究淮北市在环境监测工作中一些富有创造性的做法和所取得的成效，经验，提出了一些有独立见解的工作思路和建议，对广大环保工作者特别是环境监测工作者，有一定的借鉴意义。