Land User Participation in Developing a Computerised Decision Support System for Combating Desertification

Combating desertification in natural rangelands has recently become a priority in large parts of southern Africa. Rangeland managers, farmers, scientists, conservationists and land users have been applying a variety of restoration technologies to address this problem. Bush encroachment, as part of the desertification process, involves the natural replacement of the herbaceous plant cover by undesirable problem woody species. The active and passive restoration technologies that are applied, are mainly based on indigenous knowledge and include the chemical, mechanical or manual reclamation of unproductive rangelands, as well as the combating of woody and alien species encroachment. Indigenous practices and knowledge play a major role in the effectiveness and success rate of these technologies. This project faces the challenge of bringing together both local and scientific knowledge in a single user-friendly, computerised Decision Support System (DSS) which is directly accessible by land users to support them in the process of decision making, concerning the combating of desertification. Case studies from central and northern Namibia were used to combine qualitative and quantitative data to develop this Decision Support System. The DSS currently consists of two databases and an expert system, which evaluates the results of land users’ management practices, and provides easily accessible information and advice for participants in the system, based on the incorporated data. The DSS is also linked to national and international web sites and databases to offer a wider range of information on technologies concerning agricultural and conservation practices.     

贵州木本食用油料资源及其开发利用

对贵州野生特有和稀有的大宗木本食用油料的种类、分布、现状等进行了分析，提出了提高大宗食用木本油料经营水平，选择利用野生木本油料植物资源，加强特有和稀有资源的保护、驯化和繁殖等开发利用建议。     

Applying network theory to prioritize multispecies habitat networks that are robust to climate and land‐use change

Designing connected landscapes is among the most widespread strategies for achieving biodiversity conservation targets. The challenge lies in simultaneously satisfying the connectivity needs of multiple species at multiple spatial scales under uncertain climate and land‐use change. To evaluate the contribution of remnant habitat fragments to the connectivity of regional habitat networks, we developed a method to integrate uncertainty in climate and land‐use change projections with the latest developments in network‐connectivity research and spatial, multipurpose conservation prioritization. We used land‐use change simulations to explore robustness of species’ habitat networks to alternative development scenarios. We applied our method to 14 vertebrate focal species of periurban Montreal, Canada. Accounting for connectivity in spatial prioritization strongly modified conservation priorities and the modified priorities were robust to uncertain climate change. Setting conservation priorities based on habitat quality and connectivity maintained a large proportion of the region's connectivity, despite anticipated habitat loss due to climate and land‐use change. The application of connectivity criteria alongside habitat‐quality criteria for protected‐area design was efficient with respect to the amount of area that needs protection and did not necessarily amplify trade‐offs among conservation criteria. Our approach and results are being applied in and around Montreal and are well suited to the design of ecological networks and green infrastructure for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in other regions, in particular regions around large cities, where connectivity is critically low.     

废弃尾矿库15种植物对重金属Pb、Zn的积累和养分吸收

在废弃的铅锌尾矿库进行人工植被恢复试验.对3年生15种植物重金属积累和养分吸收特性的研究表明,植物对土壤重金属和养分的吸收积累因植物种类、部位、金属种类和种植时间的不同而有显著差异.树木不同器官Pb质量浓度高低的总趋势为根〉叶〉茎,部分树种Zn质量浓度表现为叶〉根和茎;在15种参试植物中,加拿大紫荆根系Pb和Zn质量浓度均处于最高水平（分别为1 803 mg.kg-1和2 120 mg.kg-1）,盐肤木具有最高的茎枝Pb、叶片Pb和Zn质量浓度（分别为280、546和1 507 mg.kg-1）,旱柳具有最高的茎枝Zn质量浓度（729 mg.kg-1）和较高的叶片Zn质量浓度（1 153 mg.kg-1）.枫香、紫花苜蓿对Pb,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿对Zn的转移系数TF值均〉1.植物Pb的富集系数BCF值均小于0.17,旱柳、盐肤木、紫花苜蓿Zn的BCF值达0.37～0.43.固氮植物体内N含量显著高于其它植物,火炬树、臭椿对P和夹竹桃对K的吸收积累能力强.随着种植时间的增加,植株体内有重金属质量浓度增加、营养元素含量下降的趋势.盐肤木、旱柳等重金属积累树种及紫穗槐、紫花苜蓿、截叶胡枝子、桤木等固氮植物在铅锌尾矿治理中具有应用前景.     

陕西省油松混交林木质残体储量与腐烂特征

木质残体是油松针阔混交林的重要组成部分,具有多种的生态功能,对生态系统的稳定和发展有着不可忽视的作用。以陕西省黄龙山林区为研究区域,设置1 hm2(100 m×100 m)的固定样地,研究典型油松针阔混交林木质残体的储量组成、优势树种的空间关系、腐烂特征及密度与含水量,研究结果表明:(1)研究区油松针阔混交林内木质残体的总储量为10.73 t·hm–2,倒木是林分内木质残体的主要来源。在径级组成结构上,径级20 cm以上的木质残体储量占总储量的绝大部分。腐烂等级中,以腐烂等级Ⅱ与腐烂等级Ⅲ的木质残体贮量最多;(2)利用线性模型模拟该林分木质残体的分解密度与含水量,其拟合结果显示木质残体的密度随着腐烂等级的增加而呈现下降趋势,而含水量则随着腐烂等级的增加而呈现升高的趋势;(3)林分内主要研究树种(油松、白桦和山杨)之间在小空间尺度上呈负关联,大尺度下呈正关联,顶级树种与先锋树种间达到互利共生,群落具有较大稳定性。林分内种间竞争的结果将为地带性顶级树种油松代替白桦与山杨等先锋树种。天然油松针阔混交林木质残体的贮量组成及腐烂特征反映了该区森林群落演替后期阶段木质残体的结构特征,本文的研究结果为我国黄土高原针阔混交林生态系统的管理和保护以及可持续经营提供科学依据。     

Methanogenic activity of woody debris

The paper is devoted to the phenomenon of methanogenic activity of woody debris, i.e., methane production in the course of wood decomposition by fungi, which are not directly involved in methane synthesis but form an initial link in the trophic chain leading to methanogenic archaea. Expert evaluation of probable amounts of methane emission is made. The results show that woody debris is an important global source of this greenhouse gas.     

Influences on Wood Load in Mountain Streams of the Bighorn National Forest,Wyoming, USA

We documented valley and channel characteristics and wood loads in 19 reaches of forested headwater mountain streams in the Bighorn National Forest of northern Wyoming. Ten of these reaches were in the Upper Tongue River watershed, which has a history of management including timber harvest, tie floating, and road construction. Nine reaches were in the North Rock Creek watershed, which has little history of management activities. We used these data to test hypotheses that (i) valley geometry correlates with wood load, (ii) stream gradient correlates with wood load, and (iii) wood loads are significantly lower in managed watersheds than in otherwise similar unmanaged watersheds. Statistical analyses of the data support the first and third hypotheses. Stream reaches with steeper valley side slopes tend to have higher wood loads, and reaches in managed watersheds tend to have lower wood loads than reaches in unmanaged watersheds. Results do not support the second hypothesis. Shear stress correlated more strongly with wood load than did stream gradient, but statistical models with valley-scale variables had greater explanatory power than statistical models with channel-scale variables. Wood loads in stream reaches within managed watersheds in the Bighorn National Forest tend to be two to three times lower than wood loads in unmanaged watersheds.     

Invasion versus Isolation: Trade-Offs in Managing Native Salmonids with Barriers to Upstream Movement

Abstract: Conservation biologists often face the trade‐off that increasing connectivity in fragmented landscapes to reduce extinction risk of native species can foster invasion by non‐native species that enter via the corridors created, which can then increase extinction risk. This dilemma is acute for stream fishes, especially native salmonids, because their populations are frequently relegated to fragments of headwater habitat threatened by invasion from downstream by 3 cosmopolitan non‐native salmonids. Managers often block these upstream invasions with movement barriers, but isolation of native salmonids in small headwater streams can increase the threat of local extinction. We propose a conceptual framework to address this worldwide problem that focuses on 4 main questions. First, are populations of conservation value present (considering evolutionary legacies, ecological functions, and socioeconomic benefits as distinct values)? Second, are populations vulnerable to invasion and displacement by non‐native salmonids? Third, would these populations be threatened with local extinction if isolated with barriers? And, fourth, how should management be prioritized among multiple populations? We also developed a conceptual model of the joint trade‐off of invasion and isolation threats that considers the opportunities for managers to make strategic decisions. We illustrated use of this framework in an analysis of the invasion‐isolation trade‐off for native cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) in 2 contrasting basins in western North America where invasion and isolation are either present and strong or farther away and apparently weak. These cases demonstrate that decisions to install or remove barriers to conserve native salmonids are often complex and depend on conservation values, environmental context (which influences the threat of invasion and isolation), and additional socioeconomic factors. Explicit analysis with tools such as those we propose can help managers make sound decisions in such complex circumstances.     

VALUE OF WOODY RWER CORRIDORS IN LEVEE PROTECTION ALONG THE MISSOURI RWER IN 19931

ABSTRACT: Following the Midwest flood of 1993, a study was initiated along a 39-mile segment of the Missouri River to determine if there was an association between woody corridors and levee stability. A systematic sample of levee failures revealed that primary levees which did not fail had a significantly wider woody corridor than failed levees. Analysis of the total inventory of failed levees revealed that as the width of the woody corridor decreased, the length of the levee failure increased. Number of levee failures and their severity of damage could be reduced if woody corridors were at least 300 feet wide.     

木本植物休眠的诱导因子及其细胞内Ca2+水平的调节作用

本研究揭示 ,越冬木本植物在夏秋转变过程中对光周期变化十分敏感 .在北纬 4 5°的明尼苏达州圣保罗地区 ,当日照变短 72min时 (2 0 0 0年 8月 8日 ) ,桑树顶芽细胞质浆和细胞核内即出现Ca2 流入 ,而在夏天长日照时期 (7月上、中旬 )很少有Ca2 存在的细胞质和细胞核 .12d后 (8月 2 0日 ) ,观测到桑树和杨树芽已经开始进入生理休眠 .从 9月上旬到 11月中旬 ,细胞质和细胞核内的Ca2 浓度显著升高 ,11月中旬达到高峰 .与此同时 ,芽的生理休眠深度也迅速增加 ,并于 11月达到高峰 ,4 2d培养也不见萌芽迹象 .到 12月中旬 (12月 2 0日 ) ,细胞核和细胞质中的Ca2 浓度又恢复到夏季观察到的低水平 ,显示早先进入细胞质和细胞核中的Ca2 已经被排出 .此后 ,在 12月下旬 (2 5日 ) ,检测到生理休眠的终结 .室外补充光照实验进一步证明 ,只有日照缩短才会引发植物进入自然生理休眠 ;保持日照长度不变 ,晚夏时期的自然温度降低 ,不能诱导植株停止生长和进入休眠 .这些结果表明 ,越冬木本植物在晚夏到冬季的生理休眠发展过程中 ,日照缩短引起的核和质内Ca2 的流入不仅起着传递日照变短信号的作用 ,导致生理休眠的起始 ;而且 ,高水平的核 /质Ca2 浓度还起着发展和保持深度生理休眠的作用 .图版 1图 1表 2参