Comparing network analysis methodologies for consumer–resource relations at species and ecosystems scales

This research compares two existing methodologies, mixed trophic impact analysis and utility analysis, which use network analysis to evaluate the direct, pair-wise, and indirect, holistic, ecological relations between ecosystem compartments. The two approaches have many similarities, but differ in some key assumptions which affect both the final results and interpretations. Here, we briefly introduce both methodologies through a series of two simple examples; a 3-compartment competition model and a 3-compartment food chain model, and then apply the methodologies to a 15-compartment ecosystem model of the Chesapeake Bay. This example demonstrates how implementing the various conceptual and methodological assumptions lead to differing results. Notably, the overall number of positive relations is greatly affected by the treatment of the self-interactions and the handling of detritus compartments lead to a distinction between ecological or trophic relations. We recommend slight changes to both methodologies, not necessarily in order to bring them completely together, but because each has some points which are stronger and better defensible.     

Conservation,development and stakeholder relations in Bhutanese protected area management

Conservation and development initiatives have been widely promoted in protected areas (PAs) in developing countries despite ongoing challenges inherent in their capacity to protected biodiversity and alleviate poverty. Bhutan’s vast PA network is becoming increasingly affected by the rapid expansion of conservation and development activities. This paper examines important challenges that PA stakeholders face during socio-political change, and assess how these challenges might impact stakeholder relations in a remote Asian PA. Multiple methods were used to explore the gap between expectations and delivery of two development projects and provide insights through issues of local capacity, indigenous culture and incompatible priorities. Perceived impacts indicated flaws in project design, strong local cultural norms yet weak local ownership, trust and accountability concerns, tensions between modernization and traditional lifestyles, and prospective trade-offs. Suggestions for stronger projects and PA management include having greater internal leadership, adopting realistic timelines, and openly negotiating trade-offs and hard choices.     

工伤保险在社保制度中的排序变化及其内涵

目前我国常见的社会保险制度排序是养老保险、医疗保险、失业保险、工伤保险和生育保险,工伤保险制度位列第四位;而在计划经济时期的劳动保险制度系列中,工伤待遇规定曾位居第一位,尔后才是医疗待遇规定、养老待遇规定和生育待遇规定。上述排序变化的出现不会是立法者的偶然随意之为,而是以实行市场经济体制改革后我国劳动者-企业-国家之"三方关系"出现的根本性变化为背景原因的,与制度本身从一种面向牺牲了个人安全和健康的建设功臣们实施的国家慰谢待遇向以分散风险、损失共担为机理的保险制度发生的转化密切相关。针对近年来极端劳资纠纷事件增多的趋势,我国的劳动安全管理及工伤保险立法决策还应更加注重向弱势劳动者的倾斜。     

Post-Fordist transformation,the sustainability concept and social relations with nature: a case study of the Hamburg region

Following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the concept of sustainability in general and of urban sustainability in particular has become increasingly significant in the course of the 1990s. Even if the environmental problems of cities are far from being solved, one can interpret this development as a change in the relationship between society and nature on both a discursive and a material level. At the same time the transition from Fordism to post-Fordism has given rise to new forms of urban entrepreneurialism, with an absolute priority to economic competitiveness on the one hand and sharpened social conflicts on the other. Looking at the case of the Hamburg region, the article discusses the interaction of these processes. Contrary to the understanding of sustainability as a broadly accepted policy goal it conceptualizes sustainability as a terrain of conflict. As such, we will argue, the sustainability concept and the underlying change in social relations with nature contribute to containing the contradictions of capitalist societalization, which in the transition to post-Fordism have become more visible again. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于海湾空间的海洋经济差异分析——以辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾为例

以辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾为海湾地理空间尺度,引入泰尔指数和变差系数、灰色关联法研究三大海湾地区的海洋经济规模总量和海洋产业关联效应的差异,运用多种预测模型预测未来十年三大海湾间地区海洋经济对区域经济发展影响和贡献的差异。结果显示:三大海湾空间地区海洋经济差异呈现先增大后减小趋势,2007年后呈现协调优化发展趋势;滨海旅游业、海洋交通运输和海洋油气业、海洋交通运输和海洋渔业分别对应辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾三大经济区的拉动效应较大,形成各具区域特色的重要优势海洋产业;据模型预测结果分析,到2015年辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾地区海洋经济比重将分别达到34%、21%、25%;莱州湾、渤海湾的海洋经济直接贡献率分别平均以2%和1%的速度递增,而辽东湾则平均以0.1%的速度递减,到2020年辽东湾、渤海湾、莱州湾的海洋经济直接贡献率将分别为36%、29%、46%。     

基于耦合关系的中国区域土地利用效益水平测度

新时期,土地利用的属性决定了土地利用能同时产生社会经济效益与生态环境效益,而这两种效益的交互耦合进一步决定了土地利用的整体效益。本研究建立了土地利用的社会经济效益与生态环境效益的耦合模型,设计了分别测度这两种效益的指标体系,用熵值赋权法计算了各指标的权重,进而计算了中国31个省(市、自治区)土地利用中这两种效益的系数及其耦合协调发展系数。结果显示:第一类地区是我国社会经济与生态环境均较好的上海市;第二类地区主要是社会经济发展较好但生态环境建设相对滞后的地区;第三类是生态环境较好但社会经济发展相对滞后的地区;第四类是社会经济发展相对滞后但生态环境建设更为落后的地区;第五类是生态环境建设滞后但社会经济发展更为落后的地区。最后,对每一个类型的成因和未来发展思路作了说明,在此基础上,又说明了中国土地利用的整体效益仍较为有限、整体效益表现出较为明显的区域分布特征、社会经济与生态环境的协调发展已成为提高我国土地利用效益的现实选择等基本政策含义。     

“Perceived neighbourhood” and tolerance relations: the case of Arabs and Jews in Jaffa,Israel

This paper examines the complex social reality of mixed ethnic residential areas, as reflected in drawn perceived neighbourhoods of Jews and Arabs living in homogenous and mixed neighbourhoods in Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Through in-depth interviews conducted among 89 Jaffa's residents, it illustrates how different perceptions about the residential area and its residents (including attitudes, emotions, feeling of fear/safety, collective identity and tolerant relations) are reflected in the form, size and consensus area of residents' perceived neighbourhoods. The study finds a clear association between tolerant attitudes and the size and consensus area of the perceived neighbourhoods. Arabs perceive their neighbourhood as significantly larger than Jews do and are characterised by a larger consensus area. These findings are explained by the Arab's strong social cohesion, common national identity, rootedness in Jaffa, as well as by tolerant attitudes towards Jaffa's Jewish population. The study demonstrates the interrelation between the spatial, social and perceptual dimensions associated with the mixed residential area, and illustrates how these dimensions are reflected in drawn perceived neighbourhoods.     

The indecisive role of the market in China’s SO2 and COD emissions trading

Governmental intervention is essential to combat environmental pollution, a phenomenon classically explained as market failure, while market-based environmental policy instruments have provided cost-effective alternatives. By examining five pilot air pollution (sulfur dioxide) and water pollution (chemical oxygen demand) trading schemes in China through a market-based theoretical framework and extensive empirical analysis, this research analyzes where a state-market boundary is defined, whether the market is performing effectively, and, critically, what leads to underperformance. Constrained by policy design, policy conflicts, and excessive state intervention, the market has not played an effective and ‘decisive’ role, resulting in low market thickness for participants and transactions, market congestion on prices, and inadequate market safety for genuine emissions trading. Better emissions trading for conventional pollutants and CO₂ requires better market-oriented rules, improved policy coordination, and stronger implementation while minimizing state intervention.     

工业废水BOD5与CODCr相关关系以及BOD5测定的简化法

通过研究BOD5与CODCr的相关性,用线性函数BOD5=a+bCODCr的形式进行一元回归,间接求出BOD5或指导BOD5的测定,验证BOD5结果的准确性以及通过对稀释法公式的推导得出简化法的公式,并与稀释法进行比较,结果表明,简化后的方法与稀释法无显著差异,精密度、准确度较好。     

Developing an Ecosystem Perspective from Experimental Monitoring Programs: II. Ecophysiological Responses of a Rare Geothermal Grass to Soil Water

Measurements of xylem water potential, leaf conductance, and leaf pressure–volume characteristics on the geothermal endemic Dichanthelium lanuginosum var. thermale (DILA) were used to delineate operational ranges during wet and dry years and among several microsites at Little Geysers, Sonoma County, California, USA. Plants seldom experienced water potentials more negative that −1.5 MPa. Other nongeothermal, widespread species experienced the lower water potentials typical of chaparral and woodland plants. DILA was able to effectively utilize geothermal water while the widespread species could not and was able to keep stomata open during most of the year. There was evidence to suggest that DILA had some ability to acclimate with significant shifts in Π_o and ψ_o during the dry 1994 summer, especially in the upland microhabitat. Nevertheless, minimum leaf turgor values in the upland came very close to, or dropped below, the 0.2–0.3 MPa threshold thought necessary to maintain stomatal opening and photosynthesis. DILA thus depends upon the unique water status of fumarole soils in the vicinity of the Little Geysers to persist in an otherwise lethal regional mosaic of climate, soil, and vegetation. The physiological data were used to derive reference ranges for subsequent monitoring of DILA at Little Geysers. Such ranges are required to determine the future impact, if any, of geothermal development on the persistence of this rare grass and its complex ecosystem.