System Dynamics to Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Under Water Supply Uncertainty1

Abstract: Water supply uncertainty continues to threaten the reliability of regional water resources in the western United States. Climate variability and water dispute potentials induce water managers to develop proactive adaptive management strategies to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts. The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in the state of Idaho is also facing these challenges in the sense that population growth and economic development strongly depend on reliable water resources from underground storage. Drought and subsequent water conflict often drive scientific research and political agendas because water resources availability and aquifer management for a sustainable rural economy are of great interest. In this study, a system dynamics approach is applied to address dynamically complex problems with management of the aquifer and associated surface‐water and groundwater interactions. Recharge and discharge dynamics within the aquifer system are coded in an environmental modeling framework to identify long‐term behavior of aquifer responses to uncertain future hydrological variability. The research shows that the system dynamics approach is a promising modeling tool to develop sustainable water resources planning and management in a collaborative decision‐making framework and also to provide useful insights and alternative opportunities for operational management, policy support, and participatory strategic planning to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts in human dimensions.     

A Socio-Ecological Assessment Aiming at Improved Forest Resource Management and Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Mangroves of Tanbi Wetland National Park, The Gambia, West Africa

Although mangroves dominated by Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle are extending over 6000 ha in the Tanbi Wetland National Park (TWNP) (The Gambia), their importance for local populations (both peri-urban and urban) is not well documented. For the first time, this study evaluates the different mangrove resources in and around Banjul (i.e., timber, non-timber, edible, and ethnomedicinal products) and their utilization patterns, including the possibility of ecotourism development. The questionnaire-based results have indicated that more than 80% of peri-urban population rely on mangroves for timber and non-timber products and consider them as very important for their livelihoods. However, at the same time, urban households demonstrate limited knowledge on mangrove species and their ecological/economic benefits. Among others, fishing (including the oyster—Crassostrea cf. gasar collection) and tourism are the major income-generating activities found in the TWNP. The age-old practices of agriculture in some parts of the TWNP are due to scarcity of land available for agriculture, increased family size, and alternative sources of income. The recent focus on ecotourism (i.e., boardwalk construction inside the mangroves near Banjul city) received a positive response from the local stakeholders (i.e., users, government, and non-government organizations), with their appropriate roles in sharing the revenue, rights, and responsibilities of this project. Though the guidelines for conservation and management of the TWNP seem to be compatible, the harmony between local people and sustainable resource utilization should be ascertained.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0248-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Bioherbicidal activity of terpenes and phenylpropenes against Echinochloa crus-galli

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the herbicidal activity of twelve natural compounds belonging to monoterpenes, phenylpropenes, and sesquiterpenes against Echinochloa crus-galli under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Experiments were conducted to determine the impact of different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8?mM) of these compounds on the seed germination and root and shoot growth of barnyard grass. trans-Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and thymol caused the highest impact on barnyard grass reducing its seed germination and shoot growth. p-Cymene (EC₅₀ = 0.22?mM) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (EC₅₀ = 0.34?mM) were the most potent compounds in limiting the root growth of the E. crus-galli. In a post-emergent experiment, thymol, trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, farnesol, and nerolidol significantly reduced the shoot growth, fresh and dry weight of two-leaf stage barnyard grass after 2 days of the foliar treatment with the concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%. These compounds induced severe visible injury symptoms where trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, farnesol and nerolidol showed a complete weed control at 1.0 and 2.0%. These compounds were successfully formulated as emulsifiable concentrates and showed higher herbicidal activities against barnyard grass. Altogether, our data showed that trans-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, thymol, farnesol, and nerolidol can be developed as novel bioherbicides for managing E. crus-galli.     

石油类污染物自然衰减能力现场试验验证研究

在北京地区某加油站开展的前期石油类污染物自然衰减现场试验的基础上,进一步开展了验证试验,结果表明本次试验得到的挥发性有机物(VOCs)变化趋势及O2、CO2含量沿土壤深度分布和前期试验结果呈现相同的规律,说明基于自然衰减法设计实施的加油站现场试验检测分析结果可靠,试验方法具有合理性、可操作性及可重复性.进一步的理论分析对前期试验结果进行了验证,得出以下结论:(1)通过氧平衡和碳平衡计算对加油站土壤内的自然衰减方式进行评价,验证了该加油站地下土壤中实际发生的微生物降解既有需氧降解也有厌氧降解;(2)利用有机物的一级衰减模型对该污染现场土壤中石油类污染物的降解速率和半衰期进行计算表明,2次试验计算得到的石油类污染物的半衰期基本一致,该污染现场石油类污染物的半衰期为50 d左右;(3)在此基础上,对该加油站包气带土壤的自然衰减能力和环境质量进行评价,2次试验结果均表明该污染现场在自然衰减的作用下已经不存在环境风险.     

河南省秸秆能源化利用研究

在日益严峻的能源短缺和环境污染的双重压力下,进行秸秆能源化的开发和利用对于河南新型城镇化建设具有重大战略意义.河南秸秆资源丰富,但秸秆能源化利用尚处于初级阶段,利用率非常低,只有健全秸秆收储体系,改进各种秸秆能源化利用方式的技术性能,加强应用和推广,提升秸秆能源化利用的经济效益,加大对秸秆能源化利用相关主体的引导和扶持,提供政策和资金支持,才能为河南秸秆能源化发展提供良好的环境.     

改造集散市场 建设新型再生资源回收利用体系

目前“三位一体”（回收网点→分拣中心→集散市场）回收体系模式,因集散市场功能单一、产业链短,不能带动行业走向产业化。回收网点建设适应我国国情,而集散市场成为先进的完整的回收体系的短板。按照示范基地建设标准,把集散市场改造升级为拥有深加工利用产业链,拥有平台支撑优势,能够进行资源的规模化高值化利用的产业园区。把回收和利用两大产业板块融合一体,是再生资源产业化的发展方向。     

天然膨润土还原吸附Cr（Ⅵ）

以天然膨润土为吸附剂,还原吸附处理含Cr（Ⅵ）模拟废水。实验结果表明：以（NH₄）₂FeSO₄为还原剂吸附效果最佳;在还原剂加入量为理论值的0.8倍、膨润土加入量为6 g/L、吸附时间为30 min、吸附温度为30 ℃、初始Cr（Ⅵ）质量浓度为1 mg/L的条件下,Cr（Ⅵ）去除率可达99.6%,处理后模拟废水中总铬质量浓度低至0.003 mg/L。天然膨润土对Cr（Ⅵ）的还原吸附符合准二级动力学模型及Freundlich等温吸附模型。     

利用钢铁盐酸酸洗废液在填料塔中制备FeCl3

以钢铁盐酸酸洗废液为原料,亚硝酸钠为催化剂,氧气为氧化剂,在填料塔中催化氧化制备三氯化铁。考察了反应温度、催化剂加入量和添加方式、循环流量等对制备三氯化铁的影响。实验结果表明,在优化的工艺条件为料液预热温度为60 ℃、催化剂加入量为钢铁盐酸酸洗废液总质量的0.30%、料液循环流量6.0 m³/h的条件下,反应80~120 min,酸洗废液中的Fe²⁺完全氧化为Fe³⁺。     

中国2030年CO2排放总量预测研究

我国2005年和2010年CO2排放总量分别为55亿t和81.52亿t,“十五”和“十一五”期间年均增长率分别为11.0％和8.0％.中国2011-2015年、2016-2020年、2021-2025年和2026-2030年GDP年均增长率分别为8％、7％、6％、5％的经济发展模式与对应的能源消费弹性系数分别为0.5、0.5、0.4和0.3的能源发展模式,预测2030年燃煤、燃油和天然气CO2排放量及全国CO2排放总量.提出减少CO2排放总量对策,主要包括：调整能源结构,尽量减少煤炭消费量占能源消费总量的比例,增加石油、天然气和新能源的比例,提高CO2综合利用率,完善CO2管理政策与法律法规等.     

Changes in TcpA gene frequency explain 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation in mesocosms

Soils are often polluted by chlorophenols in timber production areas in the northern hemisphere. The tcpA gene encodes the first step of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (246-TCP) degradation. We tested tcpA gene frequency in three natural pristine soils with different 246-TCP degradation capacity. Gene tcpA frequency increased more in spiked than non-spiked 10-L pails containing coniferous humus soil with high degradation capacity, in contrast to soils where degradation was slower. As the soil in each mesocosm originated from a spatially separate field plot, changes in tcpA gene frequency affected 246-TCP degradation over a range of soil origins. This indicates that the abundance of and changes in tcpA gene frequency could be utilized in estimating the efficacy of natural attenuation and biostimulation treatments in controlled conditions.