The Botanist Effect Revisited: Plant Species Richness, County Area, and Human Population Size in the United States

Abstract:  The "botanist effect" is thought to be the reason for higher plant species richness in areas where botanists are disproportionately present as an artefactual consequence of a more thorough sampling. We examined whether this was the case for U.S. counties. We collated the number of species of vascular plants, human population size, and the area of U.S. counties. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation and county area, plant species richness increased with human population size and density in counties with and without universities and/or botanical gardens, with no significant differences in the relation between the two subsets. This is consistent with previous findings and further evidence of a broad-scale positive correlation between species richness and human population presence, which has important consequences for the experience of nature by inhabitants of densely populated regions. Combined with the many reports of a negative correlation between the two variables at a local scale, the positive relation between plant species richness in U.S. counties and human population presence stresses the need for the conservation of seminatural areas in urbanized ecosystems and for the containment of urban and suburban sprawl.     

Nutrient dynamics between sediment and overlying water in the inner part of Izmir Bay, Eastern Aegean

In this article a concept is described in order to predict and map the occurrence of benthic communities within and near the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea. The approach consists of two work steps: (1) geostatistical analysis of abiotic measurement data and (2) calculation of benthic provinces by means of Classification and Regression Trees (CART) and GIS-techniques. From bottom water measurements on salinity, temperature, silicate and nutrients as well as from punctual data on grain size ranges (0–20, 20–63, 63–2,000 μ) raster maps were calculated by use of geostatistical methods. At first the autocorrelation structure was examined and modelled with help of variogram analysis. The resulting variogram models were then used to calculate raster maps by applying ordinary kriging procedures. After intersecting these raster maps with punctual data on eight benthic communities a decision tree was derived to predict the occurrence of these communities within the study area. Since such a CART tree corresponds to a hierarchically ordered set of decision rules it was applied to the geostatistically estimated raster data to predict benthic habitats within and near the EEZ.     

南太平洋社会群岛塔希提岛(TAHITI)火山岩——一种典型的大洋岛屿玄武岩

塔希提岛火山岩属典型的大洋岛屿玄武岩(OIB)。该岛是法属波利尼西亚群岛中社会群岛链之一部分,火山活动可分三期:早期(1.7—1.3Ma),中期(1.3—0.6Ma)和晚期(0.6—0.3Ma)。早期火山岩兼有碱性和拉斑系列岩石,包括苦橄玄武岩、碱性玄武岩、拉斑玄武岩及少量玄武安山岩;中期火山岩主要有粗面玄武岩—粗面岩、碱性玄武岩和少量碧玄岩;晚期则以碧玄岩为主,并有部分碱玄岩出现。火山岩的这种岩性变化表明其岩浆由早到晚从富镁、硅弱不饱和向富碱和硅强烈不饱和演化。 社会群岛火山链的火山活动以平均11cm/a的速率从西北向东南迁移,与MORB相比,所有塔希提的岩石皆富大离子亲石元素并有较高的~(87)Sr/~(66)Sr比值,这一特征可能与其特殊的源区成分有关,即富集的地幔热柱或大洋岩石圈。早期岩石是地幔热柱和少量洋壳的部分熔融产物的混合体,故既有拉斑系列又有碱性系列。随着火山活动远离存在热柱的热点区域,洋壳部分熔融的程度逐渐降低,因而其产生的熔融体也越来越富碱,~(87)Sr/~(66)Sr比值也相应有所降低。     

不同施肥模式对华北平原小麦-玉米轮作体系产量及土壤硝态氮的影响

为了探索培育高产粮田的施肥模式,实现氮肥资源的高效利用与环境效益,以华北平原的小麦（Triticum aestivum）-玉米（Zea mays L.）轮作体系作为研究对象,通过2007─2011年4个轮作季,探讨不同的施肥模式对作物产量和土壤硝态氮的影响。试验以处理A（当地传统管理）作为对照,从测土确定施肥量、按作物生长发育明确施肥时期、合理分配各时期的养分配比及增施有机肥等方面改变传统施肥模式,设置3种高产施肥培育模式,分别为处理B（现有高产田推荐管理）、处理C（高肥料投入管理）和处理D（水肥高效管理）,进行田间小区试验。4个轮作季的总产量以处理D为最高,达75430 kg·hm-2,其次是处理C为75166 kg·hm-2,当地传统的产量最低。冬小麦季的吸氮量为处理C和D显著高于A处理,分别高出444.78 kg·hm-2和310.20 kg·hm-2,但与处理B无显著差异;处理D在夏玉米季的吸氮量为776.75 kg·hm-2,显著高于处理A。处理B的氮肥偏生产力值最高为38.21,处理D为36.71,处理A和C均为28.33。各处理经过4个轮作季后,土壤硝态氮均在120-160 cm出现累积峰,A、B、C和D的硝态氮峰值分别为58.65、28.98、105.89、45.29 mg·kg-1。在0-100cm土层,处理B的硝态氮累积量达到144.22 kg·hm-2,显著高于处理A、C、D;所有处理在100-200 cm土层均出现较高的硝态氮累积,处理C高达1021.19 kg·hm-2;0-400 cm的土壤硝态氮累积量分别为724.27、711-92、1324.30、730.70 kg·hm-2。处理A、B、C、D在耕层土壤氮素的表观损失分别为1298.95、653.18、1236.39和718.43 kg·hm-2,处理B、D显著低于处理A、C,D和B间差异不显著。因此,处理D是培育高产的理想施肥模式,合理的施肥量、科学的施肥时期以及有机无机的合理配比是达到高产、提高肥效和环境友好的关键。     

Monitoring and information reporting for sustainable forest management: a regional comparison of forestry stakeholder perceptions

Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) [1992, Agenda 21: programme of action for sustainable development. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), 3-14 June 1992. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 294pp.], the management of information has become central to the management of forest resources. In the cases of North America and Europe, similar issues have been challenging policy makers as they determine the information suitable for monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management (SFM). Using an 'online' survey, this research explored multiple stakeholder perspectives on monitoring and information reporting for SFM in different jurisdictions. The research was based on the premise that an analysis of the variation in stakeholder observations across a range of SFM 'issue areas' could provide valuable insight into the perceived need for SFM-related monitoring and information reporting in the regions of Europe, Canada and the USA. Despite the traditional limitations associated with exploratory survey research, the results indicate a demand for more information on SFM-related issues. The results also highlight the degree to which the perceptions of a sample of stakeholders can differ between Europe, USA and Canada. While these results cannot be generalized beyond the present study, they do suggest that further studies are needed to understand stakeholder perspectives on forestry-related monitoring and information reporting in different jurisdictions.     

华北暴雨云和降水的中/微尺度结构特征(Ⅰ)——一次暴雨的天气背景研究

为研究华北暴雨形成时的中尺度与微尺度的结构特征,选取发生于2005年7月22-24日的一次华北暴雨过程为研究对象,利用1°×1°的NCEP再分析资料和0.05°×0.05°的FY2C红外TBB资料,对此次暴雨过程发生时的天气形势、水汽输送、大气稳定度、云场特征进行了分析.结果表明:此次暴雨过程是在登陆台风和西风槽的共同影响下产生的,高空槽后的西风急流入侵到华北北部,低层副高西侧的东南急流位于华北东部,使得华北地区上空形成了有利于触发对流的低层辐合和高层辐散的天气形势.低层印度季风与我国南海夏季风对水汽的北上有重要作用,还有一部分水汽系来自副高西侧的东南风急流输送;高层水汽主要是由偏东气流经副高西侧向西,然后转向北输送到华北;华北地区的低层存在较强的水汽辐合,高层存在相对较弱的水汽辐散区,这为暴雨发生提供了必要的水汽条件.     

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF LANDUSE ON WATER QUALITY IN A SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: Water quality variables were sampled over 109 weeks along Coweeta Creek, a fifth-order stream located in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. The purpose of this study was to observe any changes in water quality, over a range of flow conditions, with concomitant downstream changes in the mix of landuses. Variables sampled include pH, HCO₃^2?, conductivity, NO₃^?_?-N, NH₄⁺-N, PO₄^3?-P, C1^?-, Na, K, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄^2?, 5iO₂, turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total and fecal coliform, and focal streptococcus. Landcover/landuse was interpreted from 1:20,000 aerial photographs and entered in a GIS, along with information on total and paved road length, building location and density, catchment boundaries, hydrography, and slope. Linear regressions were performed to relate basin and near-stream landscape variables to water quality. Consistent, cumulative, downstream changes in water quality variables were observed along Coweeta Creek, concomitant with downstream, human-caused changes in landuse. Furthermore, larger downstream changes in water quality variables were observed during stormflow when compared to baseflow, suggesting cumulative impacts due to landscape alteration under study conditions were much greater during storm events. Although most water quality regulations, legislation, and sampling are promulgated for baseflow conditions, this work indicates they should also consider the cumulative impacts of physical, chemical, and biological water quality during stormflow.     

AN EXAMINATION OF THE MECHANISMS CONTROLLING GROUNDWATER GRADIENTS IN HYPER-ARID REGIONAL SEDIMENTARY BASINS1

ABSTRACT: Although evidence of modern recharge in the North African and Arabian sedimentary basin aquifers exists, it is difficult to determine the volume of recharge. Also, from the evidence of regional groundwater gradients, the flow within the aquifers seems to be appreciably greater than one would intuitively expect. A hypotehtical model embodying the characteristics of the aquifers has been used to investigate the likely significance of various possible flow mechanisms. It is shown that while dewatering in the unconfined area can possibly contribute to flows for a considerable period of time, the maintenance of water levels in the unconfined zone must be the result of modern recharge. It is also shown that recharge depths of less than 10 mm per annum are sufficient given suitable aquifer parameters. Results for various combinations of aquifer parameters and configurations are given, including layered aquifers and the effects of restricted oufflows. Comparisons are made using a “bench mark” example. The work indicates that there is little point in carrying out conventional hydrological balance studies in hyper-arid areas and that, instead, more emphasis should be placed upon good groundwater hydrographic data and modeling.     

Maize: The Native North American’s Legacy of Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity

Recent research has focused on establishing the values of preserving biodiversity both in agriculture and in less managed ecosystems, and in showing the importance of the role of cultural diversity in preserving biodiversity in food production systems. A study of the philosophy embedded in cultural systems can reveal the importance of the technological information for preserving genetic biodiversity contained in such systems and can be used to support arguments for the protection/preservation of cultural diversity. For example, corn or maize can serve as a paradigm of Native American thinking and can provide one of the few areas from which common philosophical conceptions can emerge. An examination of the cultivation of corn or maize as an agricultural activity and as a cultural activity in Native American literature reveals a philosophy that recognizes the importance of biodiversity and provides techniques for its preservation. Corn, and the food and the materials derived from it, is something thought out, not by specialists, but by the entire tribe and its ancestors, even if this thinking is done within what we might consider a framework of highly mythical notions. Importantly, this framework yields an understanding of both the genetics and nutrition of corn. A survey of these mythical notions (myths and stories) and agricultural practices makes this thought explicit and exemplifies the value of cultural diversity and biodiversity.     

华北平原分区适宜性农业节水技术与潜力

华北平原现状农田灌溉水利用率为43 1 % ,节水潜力较大。论文通过分区诊断与适应性农业节水技术评价计算 ,提出了2010年和2030年水平年分区适宜性农业节水技术发展的综合排序 ,并以现状为基点 ,计算与分析了两个水平年分区不同农田灌溉技术的发展规模和相应的节水量