Effects of payments for ecosystem services on wildlife habitat recovery

Conflicts between local people's livelihoods and conservation have led to many unsuccessful conservation efforts and have stimulated debates on policies that might simultaneously promote sustainable management of protected areas and improve the living conditions of local people. Many government‐sponsored payments‐for‐ecosystem‐services (PES) schemes have been implemented around the world. However, few empirical assessments of their effectiveness have been conducted, and even fewer assessments have directly measured their effects on ecosystem services. We conducted an empirical and spatially explicit assessment of the conservation effectiveness of one of the world's largest PES programs through the use of a long‐term empirical data set, a satellite‐based habitat model, and spatial autoregressive analyses on direct measures of change in an ecosystem service (i.e., the provision of wildlife species habitat). Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitat improved in Wolong Nature Reserve of China after the implementation of the Natural Forest Conservation Program. The improvement was more pronounced in areas monitored by local residents than those monitored by the local government, but only when a higher payment was provided. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of a PES program depends on who receives the payment and on whether the payment provides sufficient incentives. As engagement of local residents has not been incorporated in many conservation strategies elsewhere in China or around the world, our results also suggest that using an incentive‐based strategy as a complement to command‐and‐control, community‐ and norm‐based strategies may help achieve greater conservation effectiveness and provide a potential solution for the park versus people conflict.     

Efficacy of created and restored nesting sites for the conservation of colonial Laridae in the South of France

By rapidly modifying key habitat components, habitat restoration is at risk of producing attractive cues for animals without providing habitats of sufficient quality. As such, individual fitness components, such as reproduction, could be reduced and restored habitats could become ecological traps. This risk notably appears by using artificial constructions in restoration projects, yet few studies have evaluated their efficacy in a robust way. We investigated this by analyzing 154 islets that were created or restored to improve the conservation status of 7 colonial Laridae species in the South of France. From 2007 to 2016, we compared occupancy dynamics and breeding parameters of these species between the restored sites and 846 unmanaged nesting sites. We also explored species’ preference for different nesting site characteristics and their respective effect on breeding parameters. Restored nesting sites were 2–9 times as attractive as unmanaged sites for all species except the Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Colonization probability was up to 100 times higher in sites already used by other species the previous year and increased with distance to the shore until >0.2 when distance was over 250 m. Abandonment probability was 29–70% lower when breeding was successful the previous year in all species except the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Productivity and breeding success probability were 2 times higher on managed sites. Distance from the shore was an important attractive characteristic of artificial nesting sites in all species. Other nesting site characteristics had species-specific effects on colonization, abandonment, and breeding success. Our results indicate that managed nesting sites are successful conservation tools for colonial Laridae in the Mediterranean and do not act as ecological traps. Our study showed that testing the ecological trap hypothesis is a robust way to evaluate the success of restoration projects of breeding habitats.     

Targeted Application of Seasonal Load Duration Curves Using Multivariate Analysis in Two Watersheds Flowing Into Lake Houston1

Teague, Aarin, Philip B. Bedient, and Birnur Guven, 2011. Targeted Application of Seasonal Load Duration Curves Using Multivariate Analysis in Two Watersheds Flowing Into Lake Houston. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(3):620‐634. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00529.x Abstract: Water quality is a problem in Lake Houston, the primary source of drinking water for the City of Houston, Texas, due to pollutant loads coming from the influent watersheds, including Spring Creek and Cypress Creek. Statistical analysis of the historic water quality data was developed to understand the source characterization and seasonality of the watershed. Multivariate analysis including principal component, cluster, and discriminant analysis provided a custom seasonal assessment of the watersheds so that loading curves may be targeted for season specific pollutant source characterization. The load duration curves have been analyzed using data collected by the U.S. Geologic Survey with corresponding City of Houston water quality data at the sites to characterize the behavior of the pollutant sources and watersheds. Custom seasons were determined for Spring Creek and Cypress Creek watersheds and pollutant source characterization compared between the seasons and watersheds.     

典型城市污水中对羟基苯甲酸酯的污染特征

对羟基苯甲酸酯(parabens)作为防腐剂、防霉剂和杀菌剂等被广泛应用于食品、化妆品和药品中.近年来的研究表明,该类化合物能够在地表水体中检出,对水生生态环境存在潜在的危害.本研究于2016年秋季和冬季,对哈尔滨某典型城市污水处理厂进水进行了24 h连续采集,对6种parabens的质量浓度和4种常规水质指标进行了分析.结果表明,parabens普遍存在于城市污水中,对羟基苯甲酸甲酯、对羟基苯甲酸乙酯和对羟基苯甲酸丙酯是主要目标物,总有机碳、总溶解固体和酸碱度与parabens的浓度具有相关性;城市污水中parabens的质量浓度具有明显的日变化趋势,但是季节差异性不大.本研究结果为城市污水处理系统中parabens的深入研究和污染控制提供了重要理论依据.     

川东北低山丘陵区细颗粒物主要相关因素和季节变化分析——以南充主城区为例

基于中国空气质量在线监测分析平台和全球天气精准预报网的大气质量和气象数据,以四川盆地东北低山丘陵区典型城市南充市主城区为例,检验了细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))浓度的概率密度分布,发现其接近对数正态分布,由相关分析确定了PM_(2.5)浓度的主要相关因素为CO、NO_2(相关系数r分别为0.76、0.55,P0.01),再通过对2014年1月—2016年6月的日数据的逐步回归筛选出最优的回归指标和模拟方程(决定系数R_(adj)~2为0.68,P0.05),2016年7月—2017年6月的数据验证表明模拟效果较好(拟合优度为0.64,相对误差15.48%);最后根据时序插值、浓度和IAQI(PM_(2.5))的时段均值发现PM_(2.5)浓度在年际上有降低趋势;在季节上由高到低依次为冬季、春季、秋季、夏季;PM_(2.5)浓度在1月和6月分别呈现出年内的峰值和谷值,5、10月出现了阶段性峰值,尤其是5月;IAQI(PM_(2.5))的季节变化与浓度变化规律相似;且PM_(2.5)与PM_(10)比值的均值为0.67,表明现阶段南充市主城区大气污染物中细颗粒物占有较大比重。     

酸雨区不同用地类型土壤有效态Cd含量季节变化及关键影响因子

探明污染土壤重金属有效态含量的季节变化特征及其敏感影响因子,对农业生产过程中减低重金属生态风险具有重要的参考价值.研究于湘江中下游典型Cd超标农业小流域中选取稻田、旱作蔬菜地、丘陵林地这3类主要用地类型,分析不同用地类型Cd活性的季节变化特征及其与土壤基本理化参数的关联.为期1 a的原位监测结果显示,研究区为典型酸雨区,雨水p H值呈现冬、春季节低于夏、秋季.稻田土壤总Cd含量显著高于旱作蔬菜地,菜地显著高于林地,3种用地类型土壤总Cd含量季节特征相似,均为夏秋季节略低于冬春两季.3种用地类型Cd有效态季节变化与总Cd含量无明显的相关性,稻田土壤有效态Cd含量在5~9月的作物生长季明显低于其他月份,而菜地和林地则恰好相反.稻田土壤Cd有效性的最关键影响因子为Eh,呈显著正相关,与土壤p H负相关,菜地土壤与土壤TOC明显负相关,而林地土壤Cd有效性与水溶性有机碳、TOC呈现明显的正相关关系.研究可为Cd超标土壤污染阻控与农业安全生产提供一定的数据参考.     

论污染物排放的季节性总量控制

今年国务院颁布的《大气污染防治国十条》再次揭示了我国环境污染的严峻现状。虽然规制措施不断严苛,但也存在诸多未曾虑及的方面,季节性总量控制就是其一。我国的季节性污染事件频发,也正表明我国亟需展开对污染物排放的季节性控制。我国大部分地区属于季风气候,夏、冬两季水与大气环境条件区分明显,这也给实施季节性污染物控制提供了条件。而在浓度控制基础上对水和大气污染物质进行季节性总量控制就显示出了合理性。     

青海湖介形虫壳体丰度与氧碳同位素的季节和年际变化及其控制因素——来自沉积物捕获器的研究

介形类对其生活的水体环境极其敏感,其壳体的物质几乎全部来自水体,因此壳体的化学组成常常用来反演古气候环境,然而对于青海湖介形虫壳体不同组成的控制因素存在诸多争议和不确定性。本文以沉积物捕获器在青海湖于2010年7月至2011年10月期间获得的介形虫样品为研究对象,结合CTD同步监测的湖水环境参数,探讨了青海湖现生的两个种属介形虫（意外湖花介和胖真星介）丰度和氧、碳同位素（δ¹⁸O、δ¹³C）的季节和年际变化特征及各自控制因素。结果表明,意外湖花介壳体的丰度比胖真星介的高一个数量级,但青海湖两种介形虫出现和丰度变化均受湖水温度直接控制。意外湖花介和胖真星介壳体的δ¹⁸O和δ¹³C均存在明显的年际和季节性变化及种属差异,而同步沉淀的自生碳酸盐却有较为均一的δ¹⁸O组成;两个种属介形虫壳体δ¹⁸O的年际差异是夏季水温系统差异的直接表现,而δ¹⁸O的季节性变化并不受控于降水和蒸发（P/E）比率,而可能主要与由高温诱发的大量自生碳酸盐沉淀有关;青海湖介形虫壳体δ¹³C的变化并不是单一因素控制的结果,可能也与湖水温度、自生碳酸盐沉淀等因素有关。本研究提出的自生碳酸盐沉淀对介形虫壳体δ¹⁸O和δ¹³C的控制作用,对于我们认识青海湖介形虫的环境意义及沉积物中介形虫壳体化学组成的古环境信息提取具有重要的启示意义。     

大窑湾海域虾夷扇贝体内麻痹性贝毒的周年变化

麻痹性贝毒是对人体健康构成严重危害的甲藻类毒素。2007～2008年,大窑湾虾夷扇贝体内麻痹性贝毒2周年的调查发现,其含量与组分有着明显的季节变化,4-7月份麻痹性贝毒含量较高,4月份最高,平均含量可达378.32μg STXeq/100 g,有C1、C2、GTX1、GTX2、GTX3、GTX5、dcGTX2、dcGTX3、neoSTX、STX等10种毒素组分。大窑湾虾夷扇贝体内麻痹行贝毒组分显著增多,含量明显增高。     

铁山港海草生态区水体自净能力与水、生、化之间的关系

利用2008年1月～11月间对铁山港湾海草生态区进行的4个季节全面调查所获取的数据资料,首次探讨了该生态区水体自净能力与水动力特征及生物、化学因子之间的关系。结果表明:研究海区之所以具有较强的水体自净能力,其一与该海区具有强潮型的往复流水动力特征有关,在水体自净过程中起主导控制作用;其二与海区具有适宜的水温、快速的复氧能力、富足的溶解氧(DO)水平、最适合好氧微生物繁殖生长的环境条件有关,明显偏低的总有机碳(TOC)含量和丰富的总氮(TN)储量是有机物获得快速降解、营养盐获得快速再生、化学净化能力较强的重要体现;其三与生物链作用所体现的生化过程影响有关,DO含量与生物因子多呈显著以上负相关的季节变化特征以及三种形态N与生物因子在不同季节显示的相关性以事实佐证了这一点;而富足的TN储量、显著偏低的溶解无机氮(DIN)含量与繁盛的浮游动植物生物量及丰富的生物多样性同时出现的特征,正是研究海区具有较强生物净化能力的综合体现。与化学净化能力相比,生物净化能力显示出更强的优势,具有海草生态区的水体自净特点。