Studying the function of ecosystem in preventing aeolian dust emission in the dryland areas of China

Aeolian dust emissions can cause many environmental hazards, like accelerating land degradation and desertification, polluting air, harming human health, and so on. The dryland areas of China (DAC) are hot spots of aeolian dust emissions. To date, many efforts have been paid to researching dust emissions processes and effects, but research studies on ecosystems' function in preventing dust emissions are still very limited. In this study, we investigated the function of DAC ecosystems in preventing dust emissions, and the corresponding driving factors through integrated wind erosion modelling system (IWEMS) modelling. The main results indicate that: (1) from 2001 to 2020, the ecosystems of DAC prevented the emission of dust ~40,554 Tg, approximately 15 times as much as the total actual dust emission (~2776 Tg); (2) the function of DAC ecosystems in preventing dust emissions was relatively strong in spring and winter; (3) grassland ecosystems had the strongest function in preventing dust emissions among all the land cover types, avoiding the emission of dust ~20,857 Tg over 2001–2020; (4) dust emission prevention function provided by the DAC ecosystems benefits almost every region of China, which provides a theoretical basis for formulating ecological compensation policies; and (5) the changes in dust emissions were dominated by wind speed in most areas of DAC.     

Effects of fuel injection and intake parameters on low temperature combustion

The effects of fuel injection and intake parameters on low temperature combustion are investigated using CFD modeling in the present study. With the increase of injection pressure or decrease of nozzle hole diameter:the maximum in-cylinder pressure and temperature increase. Heat release from premixed combustion increases at the same oxygen concentration and oxygen concentration that obvious premixed combustion appears increases. As to emissions, soot emission decreases because of the improvement of mixing of fuel and air and NOx emission increases because the increase of local temperature in the cylinder. With the increase of intake pressure:the maximum cylinder pressure increases but the maximum cylinder temperature decreases. The ignition timing advances at the same oxygen concentration. The combustion efficiency increases. As to emissions, both soot and NOx emissions decrease.     

Chapter 12. A Wildfire and Emissions Policy Model for the Boise National Forest

Summary

We utilized the Boise National Forest's Hazard/Risk model, along with fire history records and fire behavior models, to estimate the current and anticipated levels of large wildfires and associated greenhouse gas and particulate emissions based on the forest condition and wildfire regime on the BNF. The model indicated that the forests at greatest risk of large, intense wildfires are the dense pondero-sa pine-Douglas-fir forests that make up over 1.1 million acres on the forest. We conclude that without an aggressive treatment program to reduce large areas of contiguous heavy fuel loadings the forest will be burned at an annual average rate of about 7.5% of the remaining at-risk forest. Using recent fire data to develop average patterns of intensity in wildfires within this forest type, we estimate that emissions will average around 1 million tons of carbon (C) per year over the next 20 years as the bulk of the ponderosa pine forests are burned. An aggressive treatment program featuring the removal of fuels where necessary, and prescribed fire as a means of re-introducing fire to these ecosystems, would result in a 30-50 percent reduction in the average annual wildfire experienced in the dense ponderosa pine forests, a 14-35% decrease in the average annual C emissions, and a 10-31% decrease in particulate emissions. We argue that the most effective way to curb emissions is with an aggressive treatment program linked to a landscape-based ecosystem management plan. This would have the effect of breaking up large contiguous landscape patterns so that fires become more patchy and diverse in their environmental impact, resulting in significantly reduced emissions as well as improved landscape diversity.     

Impacts of intensification of pastoral agriculture on soils: Current and emerging challenges and implications for future land uses

Abstract

AIM: To find evidence for localisation in the uterus, and fetal infection, of Leptospira spp. in farmed deer in the lower North Island of New Zealand during and shortly after the breeding season.

METHODS: Between February and July 2008, 116 blood samples, 120 kidneys, 120 uteri and 27 fetuses were collected from 120 mixed-age hinds from lines from nine farms, at a deer slaughter premises. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis and Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). For both serovars, a titre of >1:48 was considered positive. Samples from kidneys, uteri and fetal tissue were subjected to bacterial culture, using Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) medium, and real-time PCR, using DNA gyrase subunit B gene primers.

RESULTS: Thirty-four of 116 (29.3%) serum samples were positive for serovar Hardjo-bovis, and 13 (11.2%) for serovar Pomona. Seven of 120 kidneys were positive for serovar Hardjo-bovis by culture, and five of these, but no others, were positive by real-time PCR. Of 120 uteri, none was culture- or PCR-positive. None of 27 fetal samples was culture-positive but one was positive by real-time PCR. The dam of the PCR-positive fetus was culture-negative from the kidney, but had an MAT titre of 1:192 for Hardjo-bovis.

CONCLUSIONS: Attempts to isolate Leptospira spp. from the genital tracts and early fetuses of farmed deer were unsuccessful. However, molecular evidence suggested fetal infection in one case. This finding justifies further study of the role of leptospires in the genital tract and fetus and its association with reproductive loss in farmed deer.     

Domoic Acid Improves the Competitive Ability of Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima against the Diatom Skeletonema marinoi

Because domoic acid, a neurotoxic secondary metabolite produced by marine diatoms in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, is hypothesized to be part of a high affinity iron uptake system, we investigated whether domoic acid could improve the competitive ability of Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima, and whether the availability of iron changed the outcome of competition experiments. We found that domoic acid had a slight negative effect on growth of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi when it was grown in monocultures. However, when S. marinoi was cultured with P. delicatissima the presence of domoic acid resulted in a reduction of S. marinoi cells by up to 38% and an increase in P. delicatissima cell numbers by up to 17% under iron replete conditions. Similar effects were not observed in low iron treatments. Domoic acid was not taken up by P. delicatissima cells. Overall, our results indicate that domoic acid can improve the competitive ability of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and that iron is likely to be involved. This study provides an unusual example of indirect inhibition of competitor growth mediated by a secondary metabolite.     

Effects of intensification of pastoral farming on greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand

Abstract

AIMS: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the herd and cow-level prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) in dairy farms in the northern Taranaki region of New Zealand, and to identify whether there was any spatial clustering of herds with the disease.

METHODS: A survey of 224 dairy farms in the northern Taranaki region of New Zealand was undertaken from September 2014 to February 2015. Following training in robust criteria to confirm BDD visually, a technician inspected the rear feet of every milking cow on the farms during milking. The identity of cows with lesions and the feet involved were recorded. The proportion of cows affected among the inspected population (cow-level prevalence), the proportion of a herd affected (farm-level prevalence), and proportion of farms with ≥1 cow with lesions, were calculated. A bivariate K function analysis was then used to assess whether farms with ≥1 cow with lesions were clustered, after accounting for the distribution of the farms involved in the study.

RESULTS: Bovine digital dermatitis lesions were observed on 143/224 (63.8 (95% CI=57.5–70.1)%) farms. Within-farm prevalence was 0% on 81 (36.2%) farms, between >0 and <3% on 120 (53.5%) farms, with a maximum prevalence of 12.7% on one farm. Overall, cow-level prevalence was 707/60,455 (1.2 (95% CI=0.9–3.0)%), and on affected farms was 707/41,116 (1.7 (95% CI=1.4–2.1)%). In affected cows, 268/707 (37.9%) had a lesion on left foot only, 262/707 (37.1%) on the right foot only and 177/707 (25.0%) on both feet. The K function analysis showed no evidence of clustering of farms with BDD.

CONCLUSIONS: Bovine digital dermatitis was widespread among the survey farms, but there was no evidence that there was any clustering of herds with BDD. The cow-level prevalence on affected farms was much lower than reported elsewhere.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although the prevalence at the cow level was low, if these data are representative of other regions of New Zealand, BDD could easily become a major problem on dairy farms in New Zealand, as has been observed in other countries.     

河北省二氧化碳排放驱动因素研究——基于STIRPAT模型

首次以河北省为研究对象,基于扩展的STIRPAT模型,应用岭回归分析,对1980~2011年二氧化碳排放驱动因素进行研究,然后结合河北省产业布局和特点,提出碳减排政策建议。结果表明,经济增长是二氧化碳排放量增多的决定性因素;城市化水平、能源强度和人口规模是重要因素;第三产业比重、第二产业比重和能源消费结构对碳排放影响不显著。     

营林技术对林业有害生物的控制效果探析

指出了作为生态环境的主体,在环境保护过程中,森林资源发挥着关键性的作用。然而,随着社会经济的不断发展,对森林资源的乱砍滥伐现象也变得越来越严重,这就威胁了人们的生存与发展。因此,加强林业资源的保护具有重要的现实意义。基于此,围绕营林技术进行了分析,就其对林业有害生物的控制效果进行了探究,提出了相应的对策。     

城乡融合对农业碳排放强度的影响研究北大核心CSCD

发挥城乡融合对农业碳排放强度的抑制作用,对促进农村绿色低碳转型以及助力农业农村现代化具有重要的现实意义。本文基于城乡融合发展理论,利用2005—2020年30个省(市、区)面板数据,采用经典面板模型分析城乡融合对农业碳排放强度的影响,并探讨了其作用机制和异质性。结果表明,全国和三大区域(东、中、西部地区)的城乡融合发展水平呈持续上升趋势,而农业碳排放强度则呈显著下降趋势,两者之间的波动趋势呈相反态势。城乡融合对农业碳排放强度具有显著的负向影响。基于地理区位和粮食生产地区分析,城乡融合对东部地区和粮食主产区的农业碳排放强度抑制作用更为明显;城乡融合通过提高农业技术进步和农业规模化经营来抑制农业碳排放强度。为此,积极推动精准的城乡融合政策,加强农业技术进步和农业规模化经营,重视城乡融合减排效应的差异性,是实现降低农业碳排放强度的关键方向。     

松材线虫病的发生原因、危害症状及防治策略

松材线虫病能够引起大面积松树出现枯死现象,对松树林产生毁灭性伤害,属于世界性病害。为了有效促进我国林业发展,需要对松材线虫病加强防治。而目前我国在防治松材线虫病过程中难度相对较大,防治技术也比较滞后,资金不足等问题导致难以高效控制松材线虫病。基于此,深入探究松材线虫病的发生原因、危害症状,并提出了有效的防治策略。