Plant phenology in Germany over the 20th century

Analysis of observational phenological data has indicated that the length of the vegetation period (VP), here defined as the time between leaf onset and leaf colouring (LC), has increased in the last decades in the northern latitudes mainly due to an advancement of bud burst. Analysing the patterns of spring phenology over the last century (1880–1999) in Southern Germany showed that the strong advancement of spring phases, especially in the decade before 1999, is not a singular event in the course of the 20th century. Similar trends were also observed in earlier decades. Distinct periods of varying trend direction for important spring phases could be distinguished. Marked differences in trend direction between early and late spring phases were detected, which can be explained by different trends in March and April mean temperatures. The advancement of spring phenology in recent decades is part of the multi-decadal fluctuations over the 20th century that vary with the species and the relevant seasonal temperatures. However, for all Natural Regions in Germany, spring phases were advanced by about 5–20 days on average between 1951 and 1999, LC was delayed between 1951 and 1984, but advanced after 1984 for all considered tree species and the length of the VP increased between 1951 and 1999 for all considered tree species by an average of 10 days throughout Germany.     

Regional differences of column-related aerosol parameters in Germany

With the development of satellite experiments supplementary and validating ground-based measurements are gaining growing importance for the inference and evaluation of radiation-related aerosol parameters. Both kinds of measurements have been conducted and interpreted mainly under globally or locally restricted aspects for a limited time period only. Results are presented from four rural regions (coastal zone, lowlands, highlands, high mountain); they are column-related aerosol parameters, deduced from monitoring programs of spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) as well as almucantar sky irradiance measurements. After 13 years of continuous measurements of trends and variations in aerosol optical depths, these results are based on 5 years of data collection (1994–1998). There are significant differences among the parameters of the four regions when related to the inversion method of the AOD spectra. A clear interdependence was found between all column-related parameters and the real part of the refractive index, which in turn depends on the chosen retrieval method. The differences among the four regions are characterized mainly by their different altitudes, with relative humidity being responsible for their internal variation. An increase in the relative humidity from 35 to 55–60% influences the most interesting parameters such as refractive index (real part), hemispheric backscattered fraction b, and direct radiative forcing ΔF as follows: The real part of the refractive index decreases from 1.6±0.05 to 1.42±0.04, b decreases by 8–10%, and, due to the increase in AOD, ΔF increases by about 20% in the spectral region 0.4–1.0 μm. The quantities of the parameters depend on the retrieval methods too.     

Clarifying values,risk perceptions,and attitudes to resolve or avoid social conflicts in invasive species management

Decision makers and researchers recognize the need to effectively confront the social dimensions and conflicts inherent to invasive species research and management. Yet, despite numerous contentious situations that have arisen, no systematic evaluation of the literature has examined the commonalities in the patterns and types of these emergent social issues. Using social and ecological keywords, we reviewed trends in the social dimensions of invasive species research and management and the sources and potential solutions to problems and conflicts that arise around invasive species. We integrated components of cognitive hierarchy theory and risk perceptions theory to provide a conceptual framework to identify, distinguish, and provide understanding of the driving factors underlying disputes associated with invasive species. In the ISI Web of Science database, we found 15,915 peer‐reviewed publications on biological invasions, 124 of which included social dimensions of this phenomenon. Of these 124, 28 studies described specific contentious situations. Social approaches to biological invasions have emerged largely in the last decade and have focused on both environmental social sciences and resource management. Despite being distributed in a range of journals, these 124 articles were concentrated mostly in ecology and conservation‐oriented outlets. We found that conflicts surrounding invasive species arose based largely on differences in value systems and to a lesser extent stakeholder and decision maker's risk perceptions. To confront or avoid such situations, we suggest integrating the plurality of environmental values into invasive species research and management via structured decision making techniques, which enhance effective risk communication that promotes trust and confidence between stakeholders and decision makers. Clarificar los Valores, Percepciones de Riesgo y Actitudes para Resolver o Evitar Conflictos Sociales en el Manejo de Especies Invasoras     

Observed levels and trends of gaseous SO2 and HNO3 at Mt. Waliguan, China: Results from 1997 to 2009

Long-term measurements of SO2 and HNO3,particularly those from the background sites,are rarely reported.We present for the first time the long-term measurements of SO2 and HNO3 at Waliguan(WLG),the only global baseline station in the back-land of the Eurasian Continent.The concentrations of SO2 and HNO3 were observed at WLG from 1997 to 2009.The observed annual mean concentrations of SO2 and HNO3 at WLG were 1.28±0.41 and 0.22±0.19μg/m3,respectively.The HNO3 concentrations were much higher in warmer seasons than in colder seasons,while the SO2 concentrations showed a nearly reversed seasonal pattern.In most months,the concentration of HNO3 was significantly correlated with that of SO2,suggesting that some common factors influence the variations of both gases and the precursors of HNO3 may partially be from the SO2-emitting sources.The SO2 concentration had a very significant(P < 0.0001) decreasing trend(-0.2μg/(m3·yr)) in 1997-2002,but a significant(P < 0.05) increasing trend(+0.06 μg/(m 3 ·yr)) in 2003-2009.The HNO3 concentration showed no statistically significant trend during 1997-2009.While the decrease of SO2 in 1997-2002 agrees with the trend of global SO2 emissions,the increase in 2003-2009 is not consistent with the decreasing trends in many other regions over the world.Trajectory analysis suggests that the airmasses from the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Takla Makan Desert regions contributed significantly to the increasing trends of SO2 and HNO3 at WLG in 2003-2009,with a rate of +0.13μg/(m3·yr) and +0.007μg/(m3·yr),respectively.     

中国各省区近10年遥感气溶胶光学厚度和变化

用2000—2009年MODIS大气气溶胶光学厚度（AOD））资料,分析中国29个省（区、市）AOD多年平均值和年际间变化趋势。中国10年平均AOD高值区主要集中在华北、华中、华南和新疆,低值区主要在青藏高原、西北（除新疆外）、东北和西南地区。中国有13个省（市、区）多年平均AOD超过0.4。最高为0.735（江苏）。只有西藏和黑龙江的AOD小于0.2,其余15个省区市的AOD在0.2至0.3之间。除新疆外,中国的AOD高值区全部集中在工业发达和人口密集的地区。中国年际间AOD的变化为上升趋势。近10 a来AOD增长的倾向率为0.019/10a,即增加了4.3%。其中在2000—2007年间的上升最为明显,在2007年达到近10 a来的最高峰（0.437 6）,2008年以后中国的AOD开始出现下降趋势,2009年达到近10 a来最低值（0.372 0）。有17个省区市AOD气候学变化倾向率为正值,变化的范围为0.006~0.099/10a。有12个为负值,变化的范围为-0.037~-0.003/10a。出现AOD增加和减少趋势的区域两极分化,即高排放地区继续增加,低排放地区持续减少。     

基于高山湖泊沉积记录的贵州北部大气重金属污染历史重建

大气重金属污染是全球面临的主要环境问题之一,受监测资料的局限,目前我国在大气重金属污染的历史过程及其对偏远地区地表环境的影响方面的研究还较为薄弱.通过对贵州北部梵净山顶沉积物中金属元素含量和Pb同位素的分析,研究了近400年来Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn等大气污染的历史过程.公元约1800年之前,沉积物中金属元素含量较为稳定; 1800年以来,Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn等含量总体呈先增加后降低的趋势;而Cd、Hg和Pb含量逐渐增加.富集系数与207Pb/206Pb结果表明,Cd、Pb和Hg是典型的大气污染元素; Hg污染开始于公元1880年前后,Cd和Pb污染开始于20世纪50年代,近年来污染程度均逐渐加重.沉积记录反映的贵州北部梵净山地区目前大气Hg污染水平与我国东部其他远离人类活动直接影响的地区相当,但远高于欧美及青藏高原等地区;不同地区间Cd与Pb污染水平具有较大的差异.梵净山地区大气Hg污染可能受到全球和区域污染排放的共同影响,Cd和Pb污染主要来自于区域有色金属冶炼及燃煤等释放.     

Interannual fluctuations in acoustic biomass estimates and in landings of small pelagic fish populations in relation to hydrology in the Strait of Sicily

The main results of research work carried out since 1998 with regard to the application of hydro-acoustic technologies for the evaluation of biomass and distribution of small pelagic fish species off the southern coast of Sicily are presented, taking into account information from hydrology and from ecology of the fish populations targeted. The biomass estimates and the population-density charts presented concern the two main species, i.e. sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758). Both the sardine and anchovy populations experienced large inter-annual fluctuations, with biomass estimates ranging from 6000 to over 36,000 tonnes (t) (sardine) and from about 7000 to 23,000 t (anchovy). Acoustic estimates are largely consistent with landings recorded in Sciacca (the main fishing port for small pelagic species in the study area) during the year following the evaluation surveys. In addition, trends in sardine and anchovy biomass estimates appears to be negatively correlated with the mean sea surface temperature calculated over the time intervals January-September (sardine) and June-November (anchovy) of the preceding year, which correspond to larval and juvenile growth periods of target species. Observed patterns would suggest the importance of enrichment processes relevant to the survival of early stages, so determining recruitment success and finally higher population sizes.     

Forest-tundra larch forests and climatic trends

Climate-related changes that occurred in the Ary-Mas larch forests (the world’s northernmost forest range) in the last three decades of the 20th century have been analyzed. An analysis of remote-sensing images made by Landsat satellites in 1973 and 2000 has provided evidence for an increase in the closeness of larch forest canopy (by 65%) and the expansion of larch to the tundra (for 3–10 m per year) and to areas relatively poorly protected from wind due to topographic features (elevation, azimuth, and slope). It has also been shown that the radial tree increment correlates with summer temperatures (r = 0.65, τ = 0.39) and the amounts of precipitation in summer (r = ?0.51, τ = 0–41) and winter (r = ?0.70, τ = ?0.48), decreases with an increase in the closeness of forest canopy (r = ?0.52, p > 0.8; τ = ?0.48, p > 0.95), and increases with an increase in the depth of soil thawing (r = 0.63, p > 0.9; τ = 0.46, p > 0.9). The density of undergrowth depends on temperatures in winter (τ = 0.53, p > 0.8) and summer (r = 0.98, p > 0.99, τ = 0.9, p > 0.99) and the date of the onset of the growing period (r = ?0.60, p > 0.99; τ = ?0.4, p > 0.99) and negatively correlates with the amount of precipitation in summer (r = ?0.56, p > 0.99, τ = ?0.38, p > 0.99).     

重金属超积累植物的研究进展

土壤重金属污染是当前面临的一个重大环境问题,而土壤重金属污染的植物修复尤其是超积累植物的应用是治理污染土壤的重要手段之一。文章介绍了重金属超积累植物的概念和作用,详细综述了近年来重金属超积累植物的研究成果,包括其富集特征、种质资源、种属及时空地域分布特点以及其吸收重金属的生物学机理等,并对该研究领域存在的问题及今后的研究方向与应用作了简要的探讨。以期引起人们对该领域的重视,并为国内在超积累植物的相关研究方面提供参考。     

Tree vegetation of the forest-tundra ecotone in the Western Sayan mountains and climatic trends

Parameters of reproduction of the Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica), including radial and apical tree increments, the age structure of stands, the amount of young growth, and its distribution along an altitudinal gradient, have been studied in the forest-tundra ecotone of the Western Sayan. The results show that, over the past 30 years, P. sibirica undergrowth has expanded to the mountain tundra belt, the apical and radial tree increments and stand density have increased, and the life form of many P. sibirica plants has changed from prostrate to erect (single-or multistemmed). These changes correlate with the dynamics of summer temperatures and monthly (in May and June) and annual precipitation. The rise of summer temperatures by 1°C promotes the expansion of P. sibirica undergrowth for approximately 150 m up the altitudinal gradient.