Factors driving natural regeneration beneath a planted urban forest

Cities around the world are investing in urban forest plantings as a form of green infrastructure. The aim is that these plantations will develop into naturally-regenerating native forest stands. However, woody plant recruitment is often cited as the most limiting factor to creating self-sustaining urban forests. As such, there is interest in site treatments that promote recruitment of native woody species and simultaneously suppress woody non-native recruitment. We tested how three, common site treatments—compost, nurse shrubs, and tree species composition (six-species vs. two-species)—affected woody plant recruitment in 54 experimental plots beneath a large-scale tree planting within a high-traffic urban park. We identified naturally regenerating seedling and sapling species and measured their abundance six-years after the site was planted. This enabled us to examine initial recruitment dynamics (i.e. seedlings) and gain a better understanding of seedling success as they transition to the midstory (i.e. saplings). Seedling and sapling recruitment (native and total) was greater in areas with higher canopy cover. The combination of the nurse shrub treatment with compost and species composition (six-species) treatments increased seedling recruitment by 47% and 156%, respectively; however, the nurse shrub treatment by itself decreased seedling recruitment by 5% and native seedling recruitment by 35%. The compost treatment alone had no effect on the total number of recruits but resulted in 76% more non-native seedlings. The sizes of these treatment effects were strongly dependent on whether the forest plantings were in open areas, versus areas with existing tree canopy, the latter condition facilitating recruitment. Our findings therefore suggest that combinations of site treatments, paired with broad canopy tree species, may be most effective for promoting regeneration of native species resulting in more self-sustaining urban forests.     

Public perceptions of ecosystem services and preferences for design scenarios of the flooded bank along the Three Gorges Reservoir: Implications for sustainable management of novel ecosystems

The newly formed extensive flooded land associated with the Three Gorges Reservoir hold great potentials to provide ecosystem services (ESs) for surrounding cities and communities. Conflicting values and conventional management strategies may complicate and inhibit broad-scale decision-making for this novel ecosystem. Public attitudes are a crucial influence in the way this process plays out. This study was conducted to assess how the reservoir bank is perceived by the general public of Chongqing Municipality in terms of importance of riparian ESs, and preference for corresponding landscape design styles through photo-questionnaire interviewing. Although Chongqing citizens know little of the “ecosystem services” concept, they do recognise riparian environmental and ecological benefits especially the bank protection and pollution interception functions, while benefits of habitats for wildlife and flood attenuation were of less concern. Recreational values were least appreciated, which is inconsistent with other studies. This may be attributed to a wider, intensive environmental education in various social media in today’s China. But publicity has been dominated by toxic air, water and soil pollution control rather than the benefits of nature conservation and personal contact with nature. In line with recognition of ESs, there is quite strong preference for the forested design scenario and particularly vegetation components across the socio-demographic spectrum. Overall, socio-demographic variables have very low explanatory power for the perceptual responses. Our study also revealed misunderstandings around riparian functions and a gap between public expectations and special abiotic and biotic prerequisites in restoring novel ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this research to urban novel ecosystems in general, and implications for raising public awareness, engaging appropriate public values in sustainable design and management of such ecosystems.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

资源型城市城镇化发展对我国城镇化水平的贡献性

为定量研究资源型城市城镇化水平及其对中国城镇化发展的贡献性,以全国126个地级市(仅限大陆地区)资源型城市为研究对象,分析改革开放以来资源型城市城镇化发展的基本情况,并籍此为基础研究资源型城市城镇化发展对我国城镇化发展的贡献。结果表明:1)四大区域资源型城市城镇化水平发展不平衡,东北地区城镇化率始终保持领先,但增长幅度最小,东部地区城镇化率增长最快,各地区年均增长率呈下降趋势,增速放缓;2)地级市资源型城市城镇化发展对我国城镇化发展的贡献度为0.48～0.90,其中0.79%资源型城市城镇化对我国城镇化贡献度为中,40.48%资源型城市城镇化对中国城镇化贡献度较高,58.73%资源型城市城镇化对我国城镇化贡献度高;3)类型上,均有超过各自总量50%的非金属、金属、煤炭和油气型资源型城市城镇化对我国城镇化的贡献度高,而森工型资源型城市城镇化对我国城镇化贡献度高的城市数量不到其总量的1/3;空间上,东和中部地区资源型城市城镇化对我国城镇化发展贡献度大于东北地区和西部地区。资源型城市城镇化推动了我国城镇化发展,但资源型城市的不同类型和区位,对我国城镇化的贡献度有差异。     

呼和浩特市大气污染状况的研究及遥感信息的利用

利用遥感技术结合地物波谱测定和叶表面内大气污染元素的含量测定分析研究大气污染是一种有效可靠的方法。克服了常规大气监测的弊病。充分显示了快速、准确的优越性。为城市规划和环境的综合治理提供了可靠的科学依据。     

烟草黑胫病菌(Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae)生理小种鉴定技术研究

在1980-1986年,对烟草黑胫病菌生理小种鉴定技术和方法进行了研究和探讨。结果表明,Nicotiana ncsophil(?),Burley21;Burley37;N.stocktonii是理想的鉴别寄主:整株接种方法优于其他的接种方法;接种物浓度以控制在相同的水平(10~3 ml)为宜。为减小生物测定的差异,所有菌系应一次完成测定。     

镜台山公园总体规划构思

通过介绍宁德市镜台山公园总体规划构思 ,论述在城市公园的规划中应遵循以人为本、尊重自然、尊重历史的规划方向 ;结合具有特色的自然山水、人文景观 ,运用各种造园方法 ,形成有序空间 ,实现生态、宗教、文化、娱乐、健身、休闲为一体的综合性功能和环境效益、社会效益、经济效益相统一的目标     

开发城市地下空间前景广阔

本文介绍了开发城市地下空间的必然趋势及前景，阐明开发利用城市地下空间，对节省城市用地、节约能源、改善城市交通、减轻城市污染等都有着重要作用。     

2004年冬成都市外来园林植物冻害调查及建议

作者2005年春调查了成都市外来园林植物冻害情况,发现：（1）外来园林植物受冻害影响较为普遍,41种植物在不同程度上受害;（2）冻害影响存在区域差异,郊区冻害比城区严重.分析了冻害原因,并对园林植物引种提出建议.     

论西部大开发中张掖市生态环境建设问题

张掖市长期受干旱、大风及沙尘暴影响,生态环境极为恶劣,制约着西部大开发建设进程。其存在的重要问题是:水资源匮乏,植被破坏严重,覆盖率低等;针对具体情况提出:改善水资源条件和恢复植被是张掖地区生态环境建设的重点。