Minimising the cost of repeatedly estimating C (C) stocks is crucial to the financial viability of projects that seek to sell
C credits. Depending on the price of C, this may imply less or more sampling effort than would be applied for science objectives.
In systems with heterogeneous C pools, such as savannas, this translates into a variable-effort sampling strategy that maximises
the marginal additional C that can be claimed per incremental unit of effort expended. Analysis of a savanna in north-eastern
South Africa indicates relatively modest returns per hectare due to the small C quantities and low sequestration rates. Under
these conditions, areas in excess of 1,000 ha and infrequent sampling frequencies of 5–10 years are required to make such
projects financially viable. For such projects the sample variance, number of samples, cost per sample and establishment costs
have negligible impacts on financial viability. It was also found that the soil-C pool contributes up to three times the net
returns of the aboveground C pool and provides a strong argument to monitor soil C for certification and market trading. The
financial viability estimates, however, do not include the management or opportunity costs incurred in changing the land use.
The economies of scale identified in this study combined with the massive area covered by savannas indicate that these additional
costs can be covered. Further research is recommended to quantify these costs and interrogate the feasibility of large scale
(in excess of 10,000 ha) C-sink projects in savanna systems. 相似文献
A fundamental issue of collective intelligence is whether the collective pattern or process is based on environmental information
that explicitly codes for it or arises through self-organization of the individuals. Sometimes, these alternatives occur together.
Adaptive systems may also be capable of utilizing different types of mechanism under different conditions. Sendova-Franks
et al. (Anim Behav 68:1095–1106, 2004) demonstrated evidence for a self-organization mechanism of brood sorting in the ant
Temnothorax albipennis, where the brood are sorted in a series of bands or concentric annuli that increase in size with distance from the colony
centre. The work by Cox and Blanchard (J Theor Biol 204:223-238, 2000) suggests an alternative or complementary mechanism
whereby the brood pattern is specified by the template of a CO2 gradient. Here, we test for a gaseous template as a necessary condition for brood sorting. Under the experimental condition,
we pumped the air out of the nest continuously to prevent the accumulation of any gaseous substances. We compared the brood
pattern between the experimental and control conditions according to four characteristics: mean distance from centre, mean
nearest-neighbour distance, shape and area. Under the experimental condition, the order of brood types according to the first
two characteristics was the same as in the control. The area of the brood pattern was smaller, and its shape elongated under
the experimental condition. As expected on the basis of these differences, mean distance from centre was greater and mean
nearest-neighbour distance was smaller under the experimental condition (although not statistically significantly) and by
the expected amount. We found evidence that ants avoid placing brood in the strongest airflow stream. This could explain the
reduced area and elongated shape of the brood pattern under the experimental condition. We conclude that a gaseous template
is not a necessary condition for brood sorting.
Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. 相似文献
There is little evidence that nitrogen (N) cycling in the highly weathered, low-phosphorus (P), acidic soils found in Southern Hemisphere continents will differ greatly from that in North America and Europe. Evidence from the 'south' shows: the similarity in forms and temporal patterns in losses of N from different land uses; that the C:N ratios of the forest floor/litter layer from different continents are strongly predictive of a range of processes on a global scale; that generalizations based on Northern Hemisphere experience of the impact of N additions to 'P-limited' ecosystems are likely to fail for southern ecosystems where anatomical and physiological adaptation of native plants to low-P soils makes questionable the concept of 'P-limitation'; that the greatest threats in the 'south' are probably changes in land use that may greatly increase N inputs and turnover; that localized increases in N inputs produce similar effects to those seen in the 'north'. 相似文献
Although the area of urban river sediment quality has received increasing attention over the last 10 years, the presence of contaminated sediments in urban rivers and the potential risk to public health it poses has yet to be rigorously addressed within the urban river restoration context. This is an issue of particular concern at the current time, as the opening-up of urban rivers is being strongly promoted by many legislative and non-legislative bodies as a multi-benefit approach to tackling a range of urban challenges; from decreasing the risk of flooding to increasing the quality-of-life in urbanised areas. This paper brings together these two contrasting concepts; urban rivers as pollutant sinks and sources (presentation of data on urban river sediment quality) and urban rivers as sites of flood alleviation, amenity, recreation and wildlife value (review of the drivers and initiatives behind the increasing implementation of urban river rehabilitation schemes). In light of this combined assessment, the urgent need for a risk assessment of restored urban river sites to establish whether the presence of contaminated sediments poses a risk to public health is strongly recommended. Should such a risk be demonstrated, a tiered approach to supporting the identification and pro-active management of these risks is proposed as a way to inform and enable, rather than to prevent, the safe and appropriate use of the increasing number of urban river restoration schemes being implemented. 相似文献
Fuelwood harvesting is considered sustainable when consumption is equal to or less than production. An empirical model was developed to estimate potential fuelwood production from savannas. The model is based on the observation that in semiarid savannas, biomass production is linearly dependent on rainfall. Woody basal area is linked to mean annual precipitation, and aboveground woody biomass is proportional to basal area. Production averages 4% of standing woody biomass and is corrected to exclude stems that are too small for harvesting. The model assumes that the entire area consists of seminatural savanna. Corrections for the land lost as a result of land transformation and degradation would have to be included. Data on land loss can most effectively be obtained from satellite imagery, with appropriate ground calibration. The model is based on limited data sets but in most instances has been validated against independently collected data. The model yields a reasonable prediction at a national and regional level, but estimates for limited areas or specific points on the ground may differ substantially from the predicted values. Model results indicate a potential for sustainable fuelwood production at the national level, but specific regions are using fuelwood at nonsustainable levels. 相似文献
Fires are critical elements in the Earth System, linking climate, humans, and vegetation. With 200–500 Mha burnt annually,
fire disturbs a greater area over a wider variety of biomes than any other natural disturbance. Fire ignition, propagation,
and impacts depend on the interactions among climate, vegetation structure, and land use on local to regional scales. Therefore,
fires and their effects on terrestrial ecosystems are highly sensitive to global change. Fires can cause dramatic changes
in the structure and functioning of ecosystems. They have significant impacts on the atmosphere and biogeochemical cycles.
By contributing significantly to greenhouse gas (e.g., with the release of 1.7–4.1 Pg of carbon per year) and aerosol emissions,
and modifying surface properties, they affect not only vegetation but also climate. Fires also modify the provision of a variety
of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, soil fertility, grazing value, biodiversity, and tourism, and can hence
trigger land use change. Fires must therefore be included in global and regional assessments of vulnerability to global change.
Fundamental understanding of vulnerability of land systems to fire is required to advise management and policy. Assessing
regional vulnerabilities resulting from biophysical and human consequences of changed fire regimes under global change scenarios
requires an integrated approach. Here we present a generic conceptual framework for such integrated, multidisciplinary studies.
The framework is structured around three interacting (partially nested) subsystems whose contribute to vulnerability. The
first subsystem describes the controls on fire regimes (exposure). A first feedback subsystem links fire regimes to atmospheric
and climate dynamics within the Earth System (sensitivity), while the second feedback subsystem links changes in fire regimes
to changes in the provision of ecological services and to their consequences for human systems (adaptability). We then briefly
illustrate how the framework can be applied to two regional cases with contrasting ecological and human context: boreal forests
of northern America and African savannahs. 相似文献