The Water Poverty Index: An application in the Indian context

For developing countries, the proportion of households covered by improved water resources is conventionally used to assess the water stress situation. However, in a developing country like India with a high population growth rate, water demand and supply are considerably mismatched. An agro-based economy with large variations in socio-economic conditions and changing rainfall patterns across the states imposes greater challenge on water resources. Therefore, there is a need to assess the water situation across the country in a holistic manner. This paper proposes application of the Water Poverty Index as a comprehensive policy tool to assess actual water-stress situation across 20 major states in India. This index covers important socio-economic parameters such as access, capacity, use and environment in addition to water resources of each state. The results and findings are expected to be of use to policymakers and implementing agencies. In view of policy formulation, a state performing well on a Water Poverty Index component can act as a benchmark for another state.     

鄱阳湖平原区农村门塘浮游藻类群落特征及其生物学评价

于2018年—2019年在鄱阳湖区周边选取4个县（区）10个村庄的典型门塘开展浮游藻类采样调查。研究共鉴定出藻类6门83种,以蓝藻门、绿藻门和硅藻门为主;浮游藻类细胞密度全年范围为7.30×104个/L～2.78×1011个/L,年均值为1.4×1010个/L,其中夏季细胞密度最大,冬季细胞密度最小;优势种主要有小环藻、微囊藻、铜绿微囊藻、卵形隐藻等,且具有较为明显的季节演替,全年优势种为小环藻;藻类多样性指数（H′）年均值为1.49,丰富度指数（M）年均值为1.92,全年水体生物学评价结果为中度污染。     

Mapping the Spatial Variability of Plant Diversity in a Tropical Forest: Comparison of Spatial Interpolation Methods

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of plant species is essential to conservation and forest managers in order to identify high priority areas such as vulnerable species and habitats, and designate areas for reserves, refuges and other protected areas. A reliable map of the diversity of plant species over the landscape is an invaluable tool for such purposes. In this study, the number of species, the exponent Shannon and the reciprocal Simpson indices, calculated from 141 quadrat sites sampled in a tropical forest were used to compare the performance of several spatial interpolation techniques used to prepare a map of plant diversity, starting from sample (point) data over the landscape. Means of mapped classes, inverse distance functions, kriging and co-kriging, both, applied over the entire studied landscape and also applied within vegetation classes, were the procedures compared. Significant differences in plant diversity indices between classes demonstrated the usefulness of boundaries between vegetation types, mapped through satellite image classification, in stratifying the variability of plant diversity over the landscape. These mapped classes, improved the accuracy of the interpolation methods when they were used as prior information for stratification of the area. Spatial interpolation by co-kriging performed among the poorest interpolators due to the poor correlation between the plant diversity variables and vegetation indices computed by remote sensing and used as covariables. This indicated that the latter are not suitable covariates of plant diversity indices. Finally, a within-class kriging interpolator yielded the most accurate estimates of plant diversity values. This interpolator not only provided the most accurate estimates by accounting for the indices' intra-class variability, but also provided additional useful interpretations of the structure of spatial variability of diversity values through the interpretation of their semi-variograms. This additional role was found very useful in aiding decisions in conservation planning.     

Spatial and Temporal Variations in Trace Metal Concentrations in the Cockle, Austrovenus Stutchburyi from Otago, New Zealand

This is the first comprehensive study of sources of variation in metal concentrations within the whole tissues of a shallow burrowing, filter-feeding intertidal clam, Austrovenus stutchburyi. Samples were collected from 12 sites in April, August, November and February in 1993–1994 in the vicinity of Otago Harbour and Peninsula, New Zealand. Total tissue trace metal concentrations (μg g⁻¹ dry weight) were measured in individual animals for the essential metals : Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni and the non-essential Cr using trace-metal clean acid-digestion and ICP-OAES techniques. Average metal concentrations were 3–60 μg g⁻¹ for Cu, 40–118 μg g⁻¹ for Zn, 2–12 μg g⁻¹ for Mn, 5–35 μg g⁻¹ for Ni and 1–44 μg g⁻¹ for Cr. These levels decreased with body weight and differed amongst sites except for Cr in February (mid-summer). Highest concentrations occurred at sites close to a city (Dunedin) and within the central harbour region although the Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr concentrations did not correlate with the environmental gradient or season. At one coastal site, samples of both the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and cockles gave similar trends in trace metal levels. These results suggest that the cockle could be a useful trace metal biomonitor within NZ estuaries.     

The Influence of Linear Elements on Plant Species Diversity of Mediterranean Rural Landscapes: Assessment of Different Indices and Statistical Approaches

This paper mainly aims to study the linear element influence on the estimation of vascular plant species diversity in five Mediterranean landscapes modeled as land cover patch mosaics. These landscapes have several core habitats and a different set of linear elements -habitat edges or ecotones, roads or railways, rivers, streams and hedgerows on farm land- whose plant composition were examined. Secondly, it aims to check plant diversity estimation in Mediterranean landscapes using parametric and non-parametric procedures, with two indices: Species richness and Shannon index.Land cover types and landscape linear elements were identified from aerial photographs. Their spatial information was processed using GIS techniques. Field plots were selected using a stratified sampling design according to relieve and tree density of each habitat type. A 50×20 m² multi-scale sampling plot was designed for the core habitats and across the main landscape linear elements. Richness and diversity of plant species were estimated by comparing the observed field data to ICE (Incidence-based Coverage Estimator) and ACE (Abundance-based Coverage Estimator) non-parametric estimators.The species density, percentage of unique species, and alpha diversity per plot were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in linear elements than in core habitats. ICE estimate of number of species was 32% higher than of ACE estimate, which did not differ significantly from the observed values. Accumulated species richness in core habitats together with linear elements, were significantly higher than those recorded only in the core habitats in all the landscapes. Conversely, Shannon diversity index did not show significant differences.     

Status of the Riparian Ecosystem in the Upper San Pedro River, Arizona: Application of an Assessment Model

A portion of Arizona’s San Pedro River is managed as a National Riparian Conservation Area but is potentially affected by ground-water withdrawals beyond the conservation area borders. We applied an assessment model to the Conservation Area as a basis for monitoring long-term changes in riparian ecosystem condition resulting from changes in river water availability, and collected multi-year data on a subset of the most sensitive bioindicators. The assessment model is based on nine vegetation bioindicators that are sensitive to changes in surface water or ground water. Site index scores allow for placement into one of three condition classes, each reflecting particular ranges for site hydrology and vegetation structure. We collected the bioindicator data at 26 sites distributed among 14 reaches that had similar stream flow hydrology (spatial flow intermittency) and geomorphology (channel sinuosity, flood-plain width). Overall, 39% of the riparian corridor fell within condition class 3 (the wettest condition), 55% in condition class 2, and 6% in the driest condition class. Condition class 3 reaches have high cover of herbaceous wetland plants (e.g., Juncus and Schoenoplectus spp.) along the perennial stream channel and dense, multi-aged Populus-Salix woodlands in the flood plain, sustained by shallow ground water in the stream alluvium. In condition class 2, intermittent stream flows result in low cover of streamside wetland herbs, but Populus-Salix remain abundant in the flood plain. Perennial wetland plants are absent from condition class 1, reflecting highly intermittent stream flows; the flood plain is vegetated by Tamarixa small tree that tolerates the deep and fluctuating ground water levels that typify this reach type. Abundance of herbaceous wetland plants and growth rate of Salix gooddingii varied between years with different stream flow rates, indicating utility of these measures for tracking short-term responses to hydrologic change. Repeat measurement of all bioindicators will indicate long-term trends in hydro-vegetational condition.     

都昌县多宝砂山物种多样性研究及保护初探

对鄱阳湖都昌县多宝砂山地区土地风沙化过程中物种多样性的变化特征进行了分析,依据植物种在各类型风沙化土地的出现频率与不同风沙化阶段各生活型植物种的组成,探讨了风沙化过程中植物种的绝灭与定居特点.物种多样性指数分析表明:风沙化过程是物种多样性衰减的过程,风沙化首先导致特有种的绝灭,其次为稀有种.从植物的生活型来看,多年生草本与乔木类植物受风沙化影响最大,而灌木类植物可存活于风沙化过程的各个阶段,在风沙化过程中植物种的绝灭速率大于定居速率.最后,针对造成多宝砂山生物多样性衰减的原因,提出了治理对策,即在控制人类行为干扰的同时,要加强对固定沙丘的管理与保护.      

基于GIS的北京市妫水河流域水土流失的初步分析

基于ArcGIS空间分析平台和ERDAS空间建模平台,利用水土流失综合指数法,分别以坡度、植被覆盖度和土地利用类型为主要背景因子,分析了北京市妫水河流域水土流失的空间背景特征.结果表明,妫水河流域水土流失的空间背景特征是缓坡、低植被覆盖度和疏林灌草地,而这些特征正是妫水河流域山前洪冲积扇地区的主要特点,缓坡、低植被覆盖度(不考虑城市建成区)和疏林灌草地也主要集中在流域内山前洪冲积扇地区.并提出防治妫水河流域水土流失的有效措施.      

生物表面活性剂产生菌犁头霉菌(Absidia orchidis)的筛选及发酵条件优化

采用植物油为唯一碳源,设计选择培养基,从饭店下水道污泥中筛选出生物表面活性剂产生菌.结果分离到12株菌,其中一株能使发酵液的表面张力值从68 mN·m-1降低到34.5 mN·m-1,具有开发潜力,被选出作进一步的研究.该菌株经鉴定为犁头霉菌(Absidia orchidis).通过正交试验对犁头霉菌的培养条件进行优化,其优化培养条件为:植物油3.6 g·L-1,KH2PO412.1 g·L-1,Na2HPO45 g·L-1,(NH4)2SO4 1 g·L-1,NaNO32 g·L-1,酵母浸膏0.1 g·L-1,MgSO4·7H2O 0.15 g·L-1,NaCl 5 g·L-1,CaCl2 0.1 g·L-1,EDTA 1 g·L-1,KI 0.83μg·L-1,H3PO4 0.01μg·L-1,CoCl2·6H2O 0.048μg·L-1,MnSO4·H2O 0.312μg·L-1,Na2 MoO4·2H2O 0.048μg·L-1,ZnCl2 0.287μg·L-1,CuSO4·5H2O 0.125μg·L-1,初始pH值8,接种量6%.发酵70h时可获得生物表面活性剂的最大收获量,此时发酵液中生物表面活性剂的相对浓度达402倍.     

利用隆线溞趋光行为检测水体中五氯酚钠和镉的研究

采用自主选育的隆线溞单克隆体作为试验生物,研究了五氯酚钠(PCP-Na)和镉对隆线溞趋光指数的影响,并与急性毒性试验方法进行了比较.结果表明,在试验浓度范围内,水溞的趋光指数分别随五氯酚钠和镉浓度的升高而降低,呈极显著线性关系,说明隆线溞趋光指数的变化可以指示水体中这2种毒物的生物有效浓度.PCP-Na使隆线溞趋光指数(3h)发生显著改变的下限浓度为0.18 mg·L～,远低于LC50(96 h)(0.59 mg·L-1),上限浓度大于3.20 mg·L-1,也远高于LC50(24h)(0.73 mg·L-1),表明隆线溞趋光指数法比急性毒性试验法的灵敏度高,检测范围大,耗时短.在试验溶液范围内,五氯酚钠和镉之间不存在明确的相互作用关系.