Opportunities and constraints for organizations to help sustain tropical forest resources

A large number of organizations make decisions that directly or indirectly affect tropical forests. The principal constraints that affect these organizations are (1) insufficient funds; (2) insufficient knowledge about the resources and appropriate technologies; (3) institutional, cultural, and political factors; (4) inadequate communication; and (5) contradictory efforts. Opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these organizations include (1) increasing cooperation among US government agencies; (2) redirecting international organizations; (3) increasing coordination among organizations; (4) boosting support of nongovernmental organizations and universities; (5) encouraging responsible involvement by private corporations; (6) strengthening existing organizations; and (7) creating new organizations.This article is drawn from US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1984), Technologies to Sustain Tropical Forest Resources, chap. 5. Other articles drawn from the OTA report are Hyman (1984a and b) and Hyman and Ross-Sheriff (1984). A larger number of organizations with activities related to tropical forestry are briefly described in the background paper (US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment 1983).     

Deforestation in the drylands of Africa: Quantitative modelling approach

This paper has developed a two-sector model of forestry that gives some insights into the interactions of poverty, land tenure insecurity, economic growth, trade and deforestation in the context of the drylands of Africa. Externally, the model results show that the world demand for non-timber forestry products can lead to a win-win situation whereby both trade and environmental sustainability can be promoted. Monopolistic measures to control the supply of these products, for short-term price gains, are harmful economically and environmentally. By contrast, productivity-raising measures have a favourable impact on both the economy and the environment. Internally, the model results show that the growth of the rest of the economy has driven the economic growth of the forestry sector, but at the same time, its environmental degradation. Poverty and land tenure insecurity also contribute to this degradation. Fortunately, policies promoting basic needs satisfaction and property rights security are shown to be effective in mitigating environmental degradation in the forestry sector. The paper results contribute towards a more sustainable exploitation of forestry.Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Ecological Study of Spring-Early Summer Phytoplankton Blooms in A Semi-Enclosed Estuary

A sampling station in the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria was operated for 51 days between 2 March and 12 June, 1991. the harbour had different wide physical and chemical variations. Six distinct phytoplankton blooms occurred during this period. It is concluded that the physicochemical conditions affected the phytoplankton community structure and species composition. A dense diatom bloom could be maintained in a very weak and/or stabilized water column. A diatom bloom does not necessarily accompany an enhanced nutrient period. the depletion of nutrients and establishment of thermal stratification probably created favourable conditions for dinoflagellate and flagellate species to achieve blooms. the species composition could be shifted over the short term and a dense phytoplankton bloom could possibly dissipate in a few days.     

生态公益林建设管理的环境经济政策分析--以广州市为例

根据环境经济学的外部性理论 ,生态公益林建设管理具有外部经济性。使生态公益林建设管理外部性内部化的主要手段是“调节市场”型的环境经济政策 ,即由政府向公众征收生态公益林建设管理费用 ,而“建立市场”型的环境经济政策———明晰生态公益林的产权、承包经营权 ,则是生态公益林建设管理外部性内部化和生态公益林有效管理的需要。广州市生态公益林建设管理中存在的建设管理资金不足、林地的使用权分散、对林农补偿的数量难以确定等问题 ,有待于上述两种环境经济政策来解决     

A botanical importance rating system for estuaries

In many semi-arid areas, estuaries are threatened because of freshwater impoundment. Estuaries are important sites for ecological diversity and, increasingly, for recreation. A system has been developed which rates estuaries according to their botanical importance. A formula allows a single numerical importance score to be calculated. The area cover of each estuarine plant community type (i.e. intertidal salt marsh, submerged macrophytes, reed/sedge swamps and supratidal salt marsh) and its importance in the estuary forms the basis of the score. The ‘ecological condition’ of the plant community and the community richness within the estuary are incorporated into the formula. The formula is effective in determining the botanical importance of estuaries. Further methods to determine the zoological, physical and socio-economic importance of estuaries need to be developed to allow the overall importance of estuaries to be determined.     

2004年河北沿岸春、夏季浮游植物调查研究

2004年对河北沿岸海域浮游植物群落结构进行了春、夏2个航次调查研究,描述了浮游植物的种类组成、细胞数量、生物多样性指数、均匀度指数等群落特征,分析了浮游植物群落的季节变化、历史变化及平面分布趋势。结果显示:2个航次共检测出浮游植物76种,以硅藻为主。不同季节优势种有演替现象,浮游植物细胞数量季节变化显著,浮游植物平面分布特征呈明显的斑块状分布,优势种明显。生物多样性指数(H′)及均匀度指数(J)偏低。两航次浮游植物细胞数量明显高于1984年同期同水域调查结果。     

舟山渔场及其邻近海域浮游植物生态调查与研究

在2006年对舟山渔场及其邻近海域进行三期调查,共采集到浮游植物334种,分属7门85属,硅藻是构成调查区域浮游植物群落的主要类群。中肋骨条藻的优势地位明显。舟山渔场及其邻近海域浮游植物物种组成存在一定的时空差异,但不是很显著。表层浮游植物丰度全年平均为1.66×105/L。三季相比较,春季浮游植物的群落多样性相对偏高一些。通过对群落Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数以及Pielou均匀度指数的分析,总体上,可以认为舟山渔场及其近岸海域的生物多样性和丰富度尚好,群落结构尚稳定。但仍有部分区域环境污染严重,生物多样性较差。     

Assessing the impact of fungicide enostroburin application on bacterial community in wheat phyllosphere

Fungicides have been used extensively for controlling fungal pathogens of plants. However, little is known regarding the effects that fungicides upon the indigenous bacterial communities within the plant phyllosphere. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of fungicide enostroburin upon bacterial communities in wheat phyllosphere. Culture-independent methodologies of 16S rDNA clone library and 16S rDNA directed polymerase chain reaction with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) were used for monitoring the change of bacterial community. The 16S rDNA clone library and PCR-DGGE analysis both confirmed the microbial community of wheat plant phyllosphere were predominantly of the γ-Proteobacteria phyla. Results from PCR-DGGE analysis indicated a significant change in bacterial community structure within the phyllosphere following fungicide enostroburin application. Bands sequenced within control cultures were predominantly of Pseudomonas genus, but those bands sequenced in the treated samples were predominantly strains of Pantoea genus and Pseudomonas genus. Of interest was the appearance of two DGGE bands following fungicide treatment, one of which had sequence similarities (98%) to Pantoea sp. which might be a competitor of plant pathogens. This study revealed the wheat phyllosphere bacterial community composition and a shift in the bacterial community following fungicide enostroburin application.     

Effect of nutrient level on phytoplankton community structure in di erent water bodies

Increasing levels of pollution within water bodies can cause eutrophication and an associated rapid growth in and reproduction of phytoplankton. Although most frequently occurring in bodies of water such as lakes and dams, in recent years an increasing number of river systems in China have suffered serious algal blooms. The community structure of phytoplankton may differ, however, dependent on the hydrodynamic conditions and nutrient levels within the water body. The field investigation results obtained fro...     

Comparative study of microbial community structure in different filter media of constructed wetland

Comparisons of microbial community structure, in eight filter media of zeolites, anthracite, shale, vermiculite, ceramic filter media, gravel, steel slag and bio-ceramic, were undertaken by analyzing the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition. A total of 20 fatty acids in the range of C_(11) to C_(20) were determined but only 13 PLFAs were detected in steel slag. They consist of saturated fatty acids, branched fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The variation of fatty acids was revealed in the relative proportions of these fatty acids in different media. The aerobic prokaryotes were the predominant group in all media. The PLFA composition showed significant differences among the eight different media by Tukey's honestly test. It was found that steel slag was significantly different in the microbial community as compared to other filter media, probably due to its alkaline effluent. Steel slag alone is probably not a good choice of substratum in constructed wetlands. The principle components analysis (PCA) showed that zeolites, bio-ceramic, shale and vermiculite had a similar microbial community structure while steel slag and ceramic filter media were distinct from other media.