The concept of ecosystem health in water quality assessment and rating of anthropogenic loads

A methodological approach to water quality assessment within the scope of the ecosystem health concept is substantiated. Key tasks in water body pollution rating are specified. A rationale for the system of criteria for the diagnosis of aquatic ecosystem health is given on the basis of analysis of determinate changes in their organization levels under anthropogenic stress. The results of testing the proposed methods in water objects of the Volga basin and Lake Imandra are described.     

Ecotourism Model and Benefits of Periphery Regions in Westem Sichuan Province

There are many problems in the minority regions of western Sichuan Province, such as serious soil erosion, fragile ecological environment, low levels of economy and so on. Advantages of tourism resources in the ＂periphery regions＂ should be fully utilized, and ＂multi-tourism＂ meets the characteristics and present situation of the minority regions. The ＂multi-tourism development model＂ can exert the functions of tourism as the key industry. Based on the demands and the internal linkages among different industries, the model can accelerate the development of related-industries, such as eco-agriculture, eco-industry and so on. Through implementing the multi-tourism model, we can fully utilize the advantages of the periphery regions and promote the sustainable development of regional economy.     

Carbon Concentrations and Caloric Value of Organic Matter in Northern Forest Ecosystems

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

工业生态系统类型及稳定性的相关性探讨

在分析了工业生态系统及其稳定性涵义的基础上，结合实例把工业生态系统分为3种类型：星式工业生态系统、放射式工业生态系统和点式工业生态系统，从多方面探讨了各种类型工业生态系统的特征，并分析了工业生态系统类型与稳定的相关性，有针对性地提出提高各类型工业生态系统稳定性的对策。     

我国区域土壤侵蚀与环境研究述评

区域土壤侵蚀与环境研究，是在比较大的中间尺度和较长的时间尺度上，对土壤侵蚀发生发展过程、土壤侵蚀因子、土壤侵蚀定量评价方法，以及土壤侵蚀治理对环境的影响进行研究的科学与技术体系。该领域的研究，即能直接为国家水土保持宏观决策提供支持，又能揭示土壤侵蚀的宏观规律，并于全球变化研究相联系。我国在该领域的研究主要概括四个方面，包括：①区域土壤侵蚀因子研究，是为认识土壤侵蚀环境特征和进行土壤侵蚀定量评价的基础，②区域土壤侵蚀评价研究，包括调查制图、定性评价和定量评价等，是该研究服务于水土保持实践的基本途径；③水土保持的环境效应研究，是从另外一个视角对土壤侵蚀环境与水土流失及其治理关系的认识。是确切评估水土保持效益，保证水土保持工作健康持续稳定发展的基础。今后应尽快开发区域水土流失定量评价模型，并在区域尺度上对环境效应的方式、范围、程度和发展趋势做出综合计价和分析预测。     

CANOPY COVER AND SHADE DETERMINATIONS IN RIPARIAN ZONES1

ABSTRACT: Three instruments commonly used to measure stream canopy cover were evaluated: the clinometer, a modified spherical convex densiometer Model A, and a hemispherical image system. The hemispherical image system was also used to model shade. At each of five locations throughout Oregon, canopy cover above a stream was measured from the center of the stream along a series of transects. Vegetation along the reaches sampled ranged from a densely vegetated coastal forest stand to a sparsely vegetated eastern Oregon meadow. When techniques were compared within each site, canopy cover measured with the clinometer was similar to that measured with hemispherical imagery. The densiometer measurements, however, were typically lower than, though still highly correlated with, those derived from hemispherical images and from the clinometer. Because of site‐specific factors, the differences between all methods were significant in the Willamette and John Day Provinces. Canopy cover and shade were not equivalent for the streams studied.     

On the Multifunctional Role of the Biota in the Self-Purification of Aquatic Ecosystems

Principles of the theory of the ecological mechanism of water self-purification based on multiple functions of the biota in freshwater and marine ecosystems are formulated. In developing this theory, the results of the author's experiments with filtering hydrobionts have been used. These results indicate that the water self-purification mechanism is vulnerable to the impact of some pollutants and, in particular, surfactants. Conclusions drawn on the basis of the theory have practical significance for biodiversity conservation and for the sustainable use of the biological resources of aquatic ecosystems.     

Alien species: to remove or not to remove? That is the question

Invasive alien species (IAS) are universally known for being a controversial management issue. What makes IAS management a particularly thorny question is that although numerous studies document the negative effects of IAS, the potential benefits of IAS are generally underreported. This may result in wrong assessments on the real socio-economic and environmental impact of IAS. This study aimed to provide new insights to support the decision making of IAS management. In particular, the biased approach to IAS management seems to be a likely consequence of the lack of appropriate metrics able to assess the real IAS impact. A basic aspect of IAS management is to decide whether and when IAS removal is a suitable action. Specifically, this study supported the idea that IAS removal may be considered as a possible solution only after establishing a tipping point relying on economic, cultural and pragmatic evaluations. This analysis should include the identification of the ecosystem services damaged and provided by IAS, the attribution of an economic value to such ecosystem services, and when expressing the interaction between IAS and culture is not possible in monetary terms, then social values and cultural traditions should be incorporated in any management plan. Novel ecosystems are now a fact worldwide that should prompt to be realistic about the extent of efforts required for IAS removal. A significant step towards well-pondered decisions should consider that a change in host communities does not imply necessarily harm, and that the functional roles of a species matter more than its origins.     

Importance of Sulfate Aerosol in Evaluating the Relative Contributions of Regional Emissions to the Historical Global Temperature Change

During the negotiations of the KyotoProtocol the delegation of Brazil presentedan approach for distributing the burden ofemissions reductions among the Partiesbased on the effect of their cumulativehistorical emissions on the global-averagenear-surface temperature. The Letter tothe Parties does not limit the emissions tobe considered to be only greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions. Thus, in this paper weexplore the importance of anthropogenicSO_x emissions that are converted tosulfate aerosol in the atmosphere, togetherwith the cumulative greenhouse gasemissions, in attributing historicaltemperature change. We use historicalemissions and our simple climate model toestimate the relative contributions toglobal warming of the regional emissions byfour Parties: OECD90, Africa and LatinAmerica, Asia, and Eastern Europe and theFormer Soviet Union. Our results show thatfor most Parties the large warmingcontributed by their GHG emissions islargely offset by the correspondingly largecooling by their SO_x emissions. Thus,OECD90 has become the dominant contributorto recent global warming following itslarge reduction in SO_x emissions after1980.     

REGIONAL RUNOFF SIMULATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN1

ABSTRACT: The feasibility of simulating monthly runoff for southeast Michigan, which comprises four major river basins, was evaluated with the Streamflow Synthesis and Reservoir Regulation watershed model. The evaluation covered a 13-year period (1961–73), which encompassed a complete runoff cycle. Results indicate it is feasible to simulate monthly runoff volumes on a regional scale with a single equivalent watershed by using daily precipitation and temperature data. Simulation of regional flows appears particularly attractive for the Great Lakes basin, since the basin consists of many relatively small watersheds. This method also appears promising for development of monthly runoff forecasts by employing average monthly meteorological data distributed on a daily basis. Tests of six-month runoff forecasts show relatively small deterioration with time and offer considerable improvement over climatology.