A new approach to the analysis of adjacencies: Potentials for landscape insights

Spatial adjacencies are a key-issue in environmental studies. Adjacency effects have been amply observed for biotic (plants and animals) and abiotic components of ecosystems. Particularly well-documented are the effects from human manufactures onto the contiguous vegetation mosaics of natural and semi-natural areas.In this work we first propose and reformulate association rules analysis (ARA), a relatively new data mining algorithm with very limited scientific applications so far, in the form of an in-depth investigation method of the spatial pattern of landcover and vegetation maps. We applied ARA to two very different study areas in Northern Italy, the first (Ceno valley) having a substantial human footprint and mapped at 1:25,000 scale, the second (Foses valley) being almost natural and mapped at 1:5000 scale.We were able to: (a) detect the entire network of spatial adjacencies among landcover types and (b) quantify the frequency and strength of detected adjacencies. Based on our spatial analysis, we also advanced hypotheses on both natural and man-driven vegetation dynamics. In addition, ARA allowed us to propose an index of naturality based on the discovered contiguities.Results show the skill of the proposed approach to characterize landcover spatial patterns for both mid-resolution and high-resolution maps. Furthermore the proposed approach bears a general interest, since it can be applied to the analysis of any landcover map.     

围湖造田不同土地利用方式土壤有机碳和易氧化碳

围湖造田是我国20世纪50年代后期开始大量出现的与水争地的人类干扰活动。以太湖流域肖甸湖区为试验地,测定分析了该围湖造田区香樟（Cinnamomum camphora）林、水杉（Metasequoia glyptostroboides）林、毛竹（Phyllostachys heterocycla）林和农田4种不同典型土地利用方式35年后0～10 cm、10～20 cm、20～40 cm土壤有机碳和易氧化碳含量的差异,以及土壤易氧化碳的季节动态。结果表明：表层（0～10 cm）土壤有机碳含量林地显著高于农田,阔叶林高于针叶林。土壤易氧化碳含量随季节与土层深度的变化而变化,香樟林与毛竹林春夏季节大于冬季,水杉林与农田季节波动较平缓。4种土地利用方式下土壤有机碳和易氧化碳均随土层增加含量递减。与围湖地区内的溪流底泥相比,林地与农田表层土壤有机碳含量均有明显增加;与旱地发育的植被土壤相比,围湖后的土壤有机碳含量较低,易氧化碳含量较高,土壤有机碳稳定性较差。围湖造田作为人类对自然生态系统的一种干扰方式,显著改变了原有生态系统的碳循环特征,因此在研究全球碳循环中,围湖造田对生态系统碳循环的影响应该给予充分考虑。     

Effects of More Frequent and Prolonged El Niño Events on Life-History Parameters of the Degu, a Long-Lived and Slow-Reproducing Rodent

Abstract:  Global climate change (GCC) can have profound effects on species whose ecology is governed primarily by climatic factors. The ecology of small mammals inhabiting semiarid Chile is strongly affected by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). During La Niña events in this area, dry conditions prevail and species may disappear from the thorn-scrub habitat. Conversely, El Niño events bring high rainfall, and associated pulses of food trigger small-mammal population increases. We used capture–mark–recapture to study responses of the degu ( Octodon degus ), a dominant small mammal, to variation in rainfall over 18 years. In response to a recent trend toward wetter conditions, degus reached record-high densities and maintained more stable numbers in the area. Underlying mechanisms involved variation in adult survival, juvenile persistence, and fecundity linked to rainfall changes during consecutive years (i.e., rainfall phases). During prolonged droughts, degus had low survival and produced fewer offspring, with low persistence. Following high rainfall, these parameters reversed; consecutive wet years resulted in further increases. Weak declines in fecundity and adult survival and high persistence of juveniles explained delayed responses to deteriorating conditions in initial dry years. If GCC leads to increased frequency of El Niño events, we anticipate greater numerical dominance of degus in semiarid Chile and possible range expansion. Furthermore, degus have strong impacts on other small mammal and some plant species, are important prey species, and are agricultural pests and disease reservoirs. Hence, GCC has the potential to dramatically influence their ecology in northern Chile and to have cascading effects on other components of this system.     

城市增长边界分析方法研究——以长江三角洲常州市为例

诸多国家已采取城市增长边界(Urban growth boundary, UGB)对策以抑制城市蔓延,我国目前城市与土地利用规划也明确要求划定UGB,但其分析方法研究还较薄弱。综合系统动力学模型、元胞自动机及城市承载力分析研究常州市区UGB,结果表明:预测到2020年常州市区城市建设用地面积为30 847 hm²,北部和南部组团外延增长、主城区及南北组团内部填充同步发展,UGB由沿江-德胜河-沪宁高速-新孟河-德胜河-武宜运河-沿江高速-沪宁高速-市域界限等围合而成;模型预测的UGB与GH-UGB(实际规划UGB)北部和东部空间拟合良好,西部和南部拟合较差,表明模型预测对空间整体和要素联系考虑不足,而用地规模偏差则表明模型预测更为客观;UGB分析方法在政策、空间规划理念和整体格局上有待完善。     

系统动力学在污水处理中的应用研究

利用系统动力学原理,并根据活性污泥模型,构建Orbal氧化沟系统脱氮过程模拟的系统动力学模型。通过与实际情况相比发现,将模型分解为溶解氧模块、COD去除模块和TN去除模块是合理的,模拟发现减少转碟数量可以提高氧化沟系统脱氮效果。通过与实际运行的Orbal氧化沟进行对比发现,减少曝气转碟数量后,总氮去除率70%,比去年同期提高30%。     

广州市大气气态总汞含量季节和日变化特征

利用高时间分辨率自动测汞仪(tekran 2537B),于2010-11~2011-11对广州市大气气态总汞(TGM)进行了连续1a的观测.结果表明,广州市大气气态总汞的年平均含量为(4.86±1.36)ng/m3,表明该地区受到了一定程度的大气汞污染.TGM浓度按季节表现为:春季>冬季>秋季>夏季.TGM污染呈现春高夏低的现象,气象因素如边界层、静止风是影响其季节分布不同的主要原因.日变化趋势为中午最低,早晚出现2个高峰,边界层和温度对TGM日变化有很大影响.对广州市大气气态汞的可能来源分析结果表明,TGM主要来源于本地人为排放,其中市内燃煤电厂和水泥厂等人为源排放可能是广州市大气气态总汞的主要来源.     

环洞庭湖区水资源供需系统仿真及优化决策研究

论文运用系统分析的理论与方法,分析环洞庭湖区水资源供需系统的特征和各要素之间的相互作用,建立水资源供需系统模型,仿真模拟传统发展模式、发展经济型模式、节水型模式和协调型模式等四种不同情景下,2010-2030年环洞庭湖区水资源供需变化趋势.结果表明:①随着经济的发展和人口的增长,环洞庭湖区水资源供需矛盾十分突出;②在协调型模式下,模拟期末环洞庭湖区总需水量达到159.1×10⁸ m³,供需缺口最大值出现在2020年,为1.9×10⁸ m³,到2030年水资源供给能力约有3.6×10⁸ m³富余,模拟期内水资源供给基本能够满足社会经济发展的需求,且能够获得最大的综合效益,是环洞庭湖区水资源开发利用的最佳方案;③为了达到预期目标,还需增强节水意识、完善用水管理、优化经济结构,加大水利投入和环境整治,提高节水技术水平和水利保障水平.     

Nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulate matter of Athens,Greece

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N-PAHs) are chemical species of proven mutant and carcinogenic activity. In this study, the concentrations of seven different N-PAHs [2-nitronaphthalene (2N-NAP), 2-nitroflourene (2N-FLU), 2-nitroflouranthene (2N-FLA), 3-nitroflouranthene (3N-FLA), 1-nitropyrene (1N-PYR) and 2-nitropyrene (2N-PYR)] were determined in two fractions of atmospheric particulate matter from the atmosphere of Athens: coarse (2.4 μm?10 μm ) and fine (<2.4 μm ). 3N-FLA was not detected, whereas 1N-PYR, mostly originating from emissions from burning fuel, showed the maximum observed concentrations for both fractions and for the whole experimental period (especially during winter). In addition, 2N-FLA, a secondary nitro-PAH produced by photochemical reactions, showed relatively high values. Analysis of statistical data for N-PAH concentrations, using clustering technique, showed that: (1) 1N-NAP, 2N-FLU and 1N-PYR are mainly produced by direct burning; and (2) photochemical reactions are the dominant sources of 2N-NAP, 2N-PYR and 2N-FLA.     

Ecotoxicological effects of Trichloroethene upon plankton

A case study in an experimental pond was performed to evaluate the ecotoxic effects of Trichloroethene (TRI) upon the population density and productivity of phyto‐ and zooplankton. TRI was continuously released into two pond enclosures over 11 weeks (mean concentrations 1.5 and 7.5 mg/l). The chronic chemical treatment showed distinctive toxic influences upon the biota. Following the high TRI concentration, the phytoplankton density slightly increased; the productivity per single cells, however, was significantly reduced compared to the controls and the low TRI concentration. Cryptophyceae were the most sensitive algae taxa. The density and reproductivity of Daphniae and Phyllopodae decreased by the high TRI concentration. Most of the Rotatoriae were not negatively influenced. With increasing TRI concentrations two different bacteria forms showed a mass development. Small amounts of Trichloroacetic acid were detected in both enclosures as a conversion product of TRI (～3 μg/l after 80 days treatment).     

Total petroleum hydrocarbon burden in fish tissues from the Arabian Gulf

The levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and lipid contents have been reported for eight commercially important fish species from the Arabian Gulf. GC-FID has been used as quantification technique. Out of the species analyzed, Scarus ghabon showed the highest level of TPH (7.4 ± 3.2 µg g^?1) in the muscle tissue followed by Epinephelus tauvina (6.8 ± 3.6 µg g^?1). Except for E. microdon (4.8 ± 2.1 µg g^?1), all other fish species showed a similar level of TPH concentration. Significant correlations were obtained between lipid contents and TPH levels in the muscles of the fish. Body weight of the fish was also found to be strongly correlated with TPH concentration in the muscle tissue. There is a tendency of accumulating higher TPH in the winter season as compared to in the summer season.