IMPACTS OF VISITORS ON SOIL AND VEGETATION OF THE RECREATIONAL AREA “NACIMIENTO DEL RÍO MUNDO” (CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, SPAIN)

This study examines the effects of recreational use on the soil and vegetation at a site of ecological importance (Nacimiento del Río Mundo, Albacete, Spain). The most visited sites showed increased soil compaction of approximately 50%, bare ground increase to 61 ± 10% and a decrease in richness (from 25 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 species), diversity (from 4.0 ± 0.1 to 2.7 ± 0.4) and stratification of plant species (from 80 ± 11 to 21 ± 4%). The most visited sites had 90% less plant species as compared to the least visited. Intense use was associated with the presence of nitrophilous plant and vegetal species with a morphology adapted to heavy trampling. The recreational areas showed a distribution pattern of impact radiating outwards from the most used and degraded point. At the most visited point, Los Chorros (the spring of the river), the impact radiated outwards for about 20 m. A pilot experiment examining the effects of one-year restriction to visitors for access to a formerly impacted area showed a plant cover increase by anthropic and not by native species of 57 percent units.     

Interventions for Reducing Extinction Risk in Chytridiomycosis‐Threatened Amphibians

Wildlife diseases pose an increasing threat to biodiversity and are a major management challenge. A striking example of this threat is the emergence of chytridiomycosis. Despite diagnosis of chytridiomycosis as an important driver of global amphibian declines 15 years ago, researchers have yet to devise effective large‐scale management responses other than biosecurity measures to mitigate disease spread and the establishment of disease‐free captive assurance colonies prior to or during disease outbreaks. We examined the development of management actions that can be implemented after an epidemic in surviving populations. We developed a conceptual framework with clear interventions to guide experimental management and applied research so that further extinctions of amphibian species threatened by chytridiomycosis might be prevented. Within our framework, there are 2 management approaches: reducing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (the fungus that causes chytridiomycosis) in the environment or on amphibians and increasing the capacity of populations to persist despite increased mortality from disease. The latter approach emphasizes that mitigation does not necessarily need to focus on reducing disease‐associated mortality. We propose promising management actions that can be implemented and tested based on current knowledge and that include habitat manipulation, antifungal treatments, animal translocation, bioaugmentation, head starting, and selection for resistance. Case studies where these strategies are being implemented will demonstrate their potential to save critically endangered species. Intervenciones para Reducir el Riesgo de Extinción en Anfibios Amenazados por la Quitridiomicosis     

Interactions between Carbon Sequestration and Shade Tree Diversity in a Smallholder Coffee Cooperative in El Salvador

Agroforestry systems have substantial potential to conserve native biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. In particular, agroforestry systems have the potential to conserve native tree diversity and sequester carbon for climate change mitigation. However, little research has been conducted on the temporal stability of species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in these systems or the relation between species diversity and aboveground carbon sequestration. We measured changes in shade‐tree diversity and shade‐tree carbon stocks in 14 plots of a 35‐ha coffee cooperative over 9 years and analyzed relations between species diversity and carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration was positively correlated with initial species richness of shade trees. Species diversity of shade trees did not change significantly over the study period, but carbon stocks increased due to tree growth. Our results show a potential for carbon sequestration and long‐term biodiversity conservation in smallholder coffee agroforestry systems and illustrate the opportunity for synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Interacciones entre el Secuestro de Carbono y la Diversidad de Árboles de Sombra en una Cooperativa de Café de Pequeños Agricultores en El Salvador     

Combined Effects of Levels of Protection and Environmental Variables at Different Spatial Resolutions on Fish Assemblages in a Marine Protected Area

Abstract: The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear, but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design. The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered. We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m² (transect) and approximately 30,000 m² (seascape). We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type, bottom complexity, and depth. We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection. Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status. This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level. Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics, primarily depth, and bottom complexity. Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection, designing MPAs, and monitoring their effectiveness. It identified areas that provided natural shelter, areas acting as buffer zones, and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection. The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs.     

营养盐水平对念珠藻胞外有机物产生的影响

以我国湖泊典型固氮蓝藻发状念珠藻(Nostoc flagelliforme)为研究对象,考察了氮、磷营养盐对发状念珠藻生长特性及其胞外有机物产生的影响.采用藻细胞浓度计数法表征发状念珠藻生长特性;分别采用溶解性有机碳(DOC)、三维荧光光谱(EEM)和紫外-可见光谱法,从总量和主要物质方面分析了发状念珠藻胞外有机物的产生规律.结果表明,在不同氮、磷营养水平下,发状念珠藻的4个关键生长时期基本相同,氮是控制发状念珠藻生长的关键营养控制要素;氮营养元素浓度的增高,有利于发状念珠藻产生胞外有机物,其产生量逐渐增大,而磷营养元素浓度的增高对胞外有机物产生量贡献较小,氮营养盐是发状念珠藻产生胞外有机物的关键限制因子;通过EEM谱图分析,发状念珠藻胞外有机物主要以类氨基酸类物质和类富里酸物质为主.以磷为控制营养盐时,类富里酸是主要的胞外有机物之一,以氮为控制营养盐时,类富里酸产生量极低;作为主要的胞外有机物,蛋白质和碳水化合物的产生规律显著不同,其中蛋白质含量显著高于碳水化合物含量.     

ZnOOH/O3催化臭氧化体系去除水中痕量对氯硝基苯

以实验室制备的羟基化锌（ZnOOH）为催化剂,考察了其催化臭氧化去除水中痕量对氯硝基苯（ppCNB能力.本实验条件下,蒸馏水中反应20　min时,催化臭氧化比单独臭氧化对pCNB的去除率提高了51 .3个百分点;催化过程遵循自由基反应机理,催化剂表面结合的羟基基团有利于催化反应;pCNB的去除效果随催化剂投量的增加而更佳,催化剂重复使用3次后,催化效果基本没有变化,水中的重碳酸盐以及缓冲溶液中的磷酸盐可以明显降低催化活性,中性条件下,催化作用最佳.     

结构滞回阻尼比计算方法的改进研究∗

目前计算结构滞回阻尼比常用的方法是能量比法,该方法在给定滞回模型的基础上采用滞回耗能与结构总弹性应变能的比值求得结构滞回阻尼比,但该方法是建立在简谐激励下结构稳态响应的基础之上,对于真实地震下结构滞回阻尼比计算并不完全适用。考虑到这一不足,本文提出一种新的迭代计算结构滞回阻尼比的方法,在Carlos提出的结构滞回阻尼比计算方法的基础上,考虑地震激励频率对阻尼比的影响,通过改进Carlos迭代计算方法,得到了考虑地震激励频率影响的滞回阻尼比计算公式,通过该公式分析得出了不同延性系数和周期比对滞回阻尼比的影响规律,结果表明不同延性系数的结构滞回阻尼比会随着周期比的增大先增大再减小。本研究可为结构进入非线性状态后减震结构总体阻尼比的计算提供理论依据。     

Media Storms and Policy Expertise: How Environmental Beat Journalists Gained Influence During a Shale Gas Controversy

This article examines the conditions under which environmental beat journalists can gain credibility as expert informants. It shows that media storms foster a particular dynamic that can add to this credibility. Comparing a media storm over shale gas development in Quebec with regular coverage of the same issue in British Columbia, this article shows that the coverage space given to environmental beat journalists during a media storm can render their alliance with protest groups mutually beneficial. Beat journalists can benefit from the willingness of these groups to participate in their stories, while the groups benefit from increased visibility. Beat journalists also benefit by being perceived as expert informants in policy networks, a role that they use to encourage policy-makers to take the concerns of protest groups seriously. This dynamic also increases the negativity of the news coverage. The article makes a contribution to knowledge on the role of environmental journalists in policy-making processes.     

强化土著微生物处理硝基苯和苯胺污染地下水

以硝基苯、苯胺为主要污染物的污染地下水为研究对象,加入激活剂(乳糖、Na2HPO4、乳糖+Na2HPO4、乙醇、牛肉膏、蛋白胨)激活土著微生物,并考察其对土著微生物生长及硝基苯、苯胺降解效果的影响。加入激活剂3d后测各个水样的脱氢酶活性,对培养9d后的水样进行气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)分析。结果表明,加入乳糖的水样中,其微生物相对增长率达157.2%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为14.90%和0.79%;加入Na2HPO4和乙醇的水样中,其微生物增长和硝基苯、苯胺降解情况均没有明显变化;加入乳糖+Na2HPO4的水样中,微生物相对增长率达180.3%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为24.20%和1.21%;加入牛肉膏的水样中,微生物的相对增长率为830.7%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为99.99%和99.67%;加入蛋白胨的水样中,其微生物相对增长率为686.0%,硝基苯、苯胺的相对去除率分别为99.33%和58.94%。GC/MS分析结果表明,加入激活剂后对氯苯胺、1-甲基-4-硝基苯等其他有机物的降解率均有提高。由此可见,通过激活土著微生物修复有机物污染地下水是可行的。