Soil loss as a measure of carrying capacity in recreation environments

This article describes three applications of the Universal Soil Loss Equation for further defining differences between natural environments in terms of their suitabilities for recreation use. Physical capacity limits based upon vulnerability to erosion and loss of soil productivity are discussed. Examples include: (a) applications to site planning and comparison of existing campsites; (b) use of the methodology for setting limits of acceptable change; and (c) characterization of third-order or larger watersheds that compare ecological land type interpretations with those based upon application of the equation.     

The Application of the Ecological Footprint: A case of passenger transport in Merseyside

The release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is believed to be responsible for climate change. In the UK, road transport emits 22% of the total output of carbon dioxide. This study applies the ecological footprint to Merseyside to ascertain the global environmental impact of passenger transport (expressed in hectares). Results show that car travel has a footprint of 704 000 hectares, which is 87% of the total footprint. It is demonstrated in scenarios that Policy initiatives involving the Local Transport Plan will cause the footprint to increase. It is also shown that individual behaviour could be influenced when highlighting the impacts of different modes of transport along the same route. By using the ecological footprint in educational programmes, the effect can be shown of carbon emissions and land appropriation on the 'school run'; these issues could be promoted alongside others such as health, safety, congestion, global equity and fairness.     

茂兰喀斯特原生林不同地球化学环境的植物物种多样性

中国西南岩溶区是中国生物多样性分布中心之一。该区生态系统不断退化,生物多样性大量丧失,不同喀斯特地球化学背景下植被恢复的速度与成林性质存在明显差异。我们在最有代表性之一的贵州茂兰喀斯特森林保护区选取纯灰岩和纯白云岩两种岩性的喀斯特环境,对其元素地球化学特征及其中原生性植物群落的相异性和物种多样性进行了对比,结果发现:①不同岩性区域多样性:乔木层和灌木层为纯灰岩区>纯白云岩区,草本层为纯白云岩区>纯灰岩区,总体上纯灰岩区的高于纯白云岩区的;②各样地间的相似性系数都很低,相同岩性类型内的明显高于不同岩性类型之间的相似度;物种周转率高,且白云岩区高于石灰岩区,种类组成差异明显;③喀斯特区可溶岩地球化学背景通过喀斯特作用导致特殊的地形条件与元素地球化学特征,并引起局部小生境的分异从而影响植物群落特征。     

Microbial communities and immigration in volcanic environments of Canary Islands (Spain)

Volcanic eruptions originated the Canary Islands (Spain), and today, different landscapes clearly show that active volcanism. The microbial communities present in these volcanic environments, both at high (above 70 degrees C) and moderate (25-35 degrees C) temperatures, were analyzed. Rock samples were processed using molecular techniques based on both DNA and RNA and complemented with the culture of microorganisms at a wide range of temperatures. Microorganisms detected through RNA-based molecular surveys were mostly related to mesophilic microorganisms, while representatives of hyperthermophiles were not detected. RNA decay curves at 80 degrees C resulted in half-life estimates of less than 2 min for mesophilic microorganisms, supporting a recent and continuous arrival of microorganisms to the high temperature sampled sites. This study constitutes a unique experimental approach showing a great natural potential of microorganisms to spread out to different natural environments. The implications are of great interest for the biogeography, dispersal, and potential distribution of microorganisms, and their genetic information, in natural environments.     

前沟藻(Amphidinium hoefleri)和角刺藻(Chaetoceros gracilis)二甲基硫生产的实验研究

用实验室模拟的方法着重研究硅藻的角刺藻（Ｃｈａｅｔｏｃｅｒｏｓｇｒａｃｉｌｉｓ）和乳游甲菏的前沟藻（Ａｍｐｈｉｄｉｍｉｕｍｈｏｅｆｌｉｅｒ）生长过程中ＤＭＳ的生产及不同氮营养条件下对前沟藻ＤＭＳ生产的影响。结果表明（１）前沟藻和角刺激都可以生产二甲基硫（ＤＭＳ）,但２者ＤＭＳ生产能力有很大差别,前沟藻ＤＭＳ平均生产率大约是角刺激藻的１００倍。（２）不同生理阶段的ＤＭＳ产量不同。对数增生匠前沟藻细胞     

Trace elements in sediments in a city with agricultural development

The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of trace elements in sediment samples taken from impermeable urban areas of a city with predominantly agroindustrial development characteristics. For this, samples were taken every month from paved streets in the city of Toledo, Paraná State (PR), Brazil. Thus, trace element levels were obtained through analysis performed by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Levels of total organic carbon were also obtained through the dry combustion method. When compared to local background levels, the trace element levels were shown to be enriched in the following percentage proportions: barium (Ba) (45.4%), copper (Cu) (48.6%), chromium (Cr) (37.2%), manganese (Mn) (81.6%), nickel (Ni) (0%), lead (Pb) (40%), zinc (Zn) (283.7%), magnesium (Mg) (34.3%), and sodium (Na) (250.2%), whereas the carbon (C) percentages were around 1%. The most significant enrichment factors occurred for Ba, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mg, and Na. The highest rates occurred in geoaccumulation where the sediments were enriched by zinc. According to the principal guidelines, the concentrations obtained for cadmium (Cd), Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn can cause adverse environmental impacts.     

Design,management, and key accomplishments of a coordinated environmental research program on acidic deposition

The present and potential adverse effects of the atmospheric input of acidic and acidifying substances on the environment have been of significant public and scientific concern for the past several decades. This article describes the background, design, implementation, and major accomplishments of a 6-yr integrated multidisciplinary environmental research program designed to address the issue of the regional scale consequences of acidic deposition on the environment and human health in Alberta. The research program was called the Acid Deposition Research Program (ADRP) and was a cooperative undertaking between industry, the Energy Resources Conservation Board, and the government of Alberta, Canada. The research effort was designed and guided by two external science advisory boards, biophysical and human health, to maintain objectivity and continuity from beginning to end. Public input was sought, encouraged, and ensured by a public advisory board. The major conclusions of the ADRP are presented as well as observations on the needs of future integrated multidisciplinary research programs.     

Application of a trapezoidal fuzzy AHP method for work safety evaluation and early warning rating of hot and humid environments

Hot and humid environments are prevalent in many industries. People working in hot and humid environments are at great risk of specific heat-related disorders, the productivity decrease and safety problems. In order to guarantee workers’ health and safety, safety evaluation and early warning rating of the hot and humid environments are studied in this paper. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is proposed to evaluate the work safety in hot and humid environments. Trapezoidal fuzzy numbers are adopted to handle inherent uncertainty and imprecision of the data involved in decision process. Within the proposed methodology, a decision group is firstly established. A safety evaluation framework containing three factors (work, environment, and workers) and ten sub-factors are established. The fuzzy weights of the factors and sub-factors are calculated based on the pair-wise comparisons. Then the fuzzy evaluating vectors of the sub-factors and factors can be calculated according to the initial evaluation data. Therefore, the comprehensive safety index, safety grade and early warning grade can be determined. An example is given to demonstrate the proposed method. The results demonstrate the engineering practicability and effectiveness of this method in extreme environment evaluation.     

Climate Change,Land Use Conflicts,Predation and Ecological Degradation as Challenges for Reindeer Husbandry in Northern Europe: What do We Really Know After Half a Century of Research?

Reindeer grazing has been entitled as ecological keystone in arctic-alpine landscapes. In addition, reindeer husbandry is tightly connected to the identity of the indigenous Sámi people in northern Europe. Nowadays, reindeer husbandry is challenged in several ways, of which pasture degradation, climate change, conflicting land uses and predation are the most important. Research on reindeer-related topics has been conducted for more than half a century and this review illuminates whether or not research is capable to match these challenges. Despite its high quality, traditional reindeer-related research is functionally isolated within the various disciplines. The meshwork of ecology, socio-economy, culture and politics, however, in which reindeer husbandry is embedded by various interactions, will remain unclear and difficult to manage, if actors and relationships are kept separate. We propose some targets for new integrative research approaches that incorporate traditional knowledge and focus on the entire human-ecological system 'reindeer husbandry' to develop solutions for its challenges.     

城市环境综合整治系统工程研究方法

本文提出了城市环境综合整治系统工程研究方法的总体框架,并对研究中使用的模型方法做了分类讨论。