Impacts of water resource planning on regional water consumption pattern: A case study in Dunhuang Oasis,China

Water resources are critical for the existence and development of oases in endorheic basins. Thus, to enable sustainable development, it is fundamentally important to understand how to allocate and use these resources in a reasonable way. We therefore simulated and analyzed changes in water consumption pattern within the Dunhuang Oasis of China under three scenarios using a system dynamic model that corresponds to different water consumption pattern. This was done to assess the impacts of regional water resource planning (comprehensive planning of the rational use of water resource and protection of ecosystem services in the Dunhuang Basin) on water consumption pattern within the Dunhuang Oasis. The first of these, Scenario 1, is a baseline in which the status quo is maintained, while Scenario 2 incorporates the comprehensive effects of agricultural water-saving irrigation measures with an inter-basin water diversion project, and Scenario 3 focuses on ecological rehabilitation. In the baseline Scenario 1, the total water consumption within the Dunhuang Oasis increased progressively while agricultural water consumption remained extremely high and threatened overall ecological security. In contrast, Scenario 2 would decrease agricultural water consumption by almost 5.30×10⁷ m³ following the implementation of water-saving practices. The additional water allocated from an inter-basin water diversion project would play an important role in alleviating ecological strain on the oasis. Finally, in Scenario 3, the total irrigated land must be decreased to 20.6×10³ hm² by 2025 assuming that water supply for ecosystem restoration would be at least 50% of the total consumption. Although water resource planning plays a very important role in alleviating the ecological water crisis within the oasis, it is necessary to consider the suitable scale of oasis with regard to current water consumption pattern.     

四种重要实蝇类害虫对福建省造成的经济损失评估

实蝇类害虫是世界性检疫害虫，对福建省农作物造成为害的主要包含橘小实蝇、南亚寡鬃实蝇、瓜实蝇、具条实蝇4种。这4种实蝇类害虫给福建省水果、蔬菜带来较为严重的经济损失，并且由于防治过程中农药的使用，造成生态环境问题。本研究选取实蝇类害虫为害较为严重的福建省主要水果和蔬菜作为研究对象，从直接经济损失、防治费用和间接经济损失3个层面建立评估模型，并对2016年4种实蝇类害虫造成的经济损失进行评估，旨在通过评估经济损失情况，为今后防治政策的制定提供思路。研究结果显示，这4种实蝇类害虫对福建省造成的经济损失约为313.48亿元，其中直接经济损失约为221.74亿元，防治费用约为84.24亿元，间接经济损失约为7.5亿元。最后，本研究提出了重视有害生物灾情评估、完善经济损失评价方法，开展农户专业培训、提升防控技术水平，加强环境规制力度、发展绿色生态农业等政策建议。     

Phenotypic plasticity in the morphology of small benthic Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Intraspecific phenotypic diversity is the raw material for evolution, so understanding its origin and maintenance is critically important for conservation of biodiversity. Intraspecific diversity in a trait or a suite of traits can result from genetic diversity and/or phenotypic plasticity. The two are, however, not independent as plasticity has been shown to evolve. In this study, we evaluated the importance of phenotypic plasticity in generating morphological diversity in populations of small benthic Arctic charr in Iceland, using a rearing experiment with contrasting modes of feeding. We also examined the association between phenotypic plasticity in offspring groups generated by the contrasting feeding modes and important ecological variables characterising the natural habitats of the respective populations. Although the level of plasticity could not be related to any of the ecological measurements, clear differences in morphological reaction norms among populations suggest that plasticity is an important aspect of morphological diversity of the charr. It is not clear whether that plasticity is adaptive, but it is notable that reaction norms in all populations have similar reaction to the treatments.     

Length‐based assessment of larval lamprey population structure at differing spatial scales

1. Perspectives on lamprey management contrast between pest control in the US Great Lakes and species conservation in the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, and Europe. Five lamprey species are listed in the European Union (EU) Habitats Directive (HD) as requiring conservation measures. Assessments of HD ‘conservation status’ for these lampreys mainly target the larval (ammocoete) stage.
2. Larval lamprey populations can be assessed by evaluating presence or absence, density and demographic structure in riverine samples. Demographic structure has typically been described from length–frequency data using qualitative approaches and the statistical assignment of age classes. Length‐based indicators (LBIs) may provide a more rapid and flexible framework.
3. The demographic structure of a fish population can be described by univariate length metrics: length range (L_RANGE) and 90^th percentile of length (L₉₀). This study used a pooled data set from seven Irish catchments to estimate a reference point (RP) value for each metric corresponding to a healthy larval lamprey population. Two LBIs were then derived that can be estimated for an observed (OBS) population as LBI_RANGE = L_{RANGE_OBS}/L_{RANGE_RP} and LBI₉₀ = L_{90_OBS}/L_{90_RP}.
4. Simulated lamprey population length structures, representing a range of status values, were used to develop a reference gradient (RG) to support population assessment using LBIs. The assessment framework was applied to each of the seven Irish catchments, and also to subcatchment and sampling‐site scales within the Barrow system. The LBIs and RG suggested that most catchments had favourable conservation status overall, whereas smaller assessment scales revealed a spread of status values.
5. The proposed framework allows the rapid assessment of demographic structure and comparison across systems. There is potential to track states across sampling sites, events, and legislative reporting cycles, and to interpret change in relation to the local environment. The general approach may be adaptable for other fish species monitored during juvenile stages.

     

Decomposition processes in coastal lagoons and their implications for the assessment of ecological health

1. Aside from structural indicators, functional indicators have been suggested as a tool for assessing the health of transitional water ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the potential for the use of plant litter decomposition as a functional indicator of ecosystem health in coastal lagoons.
2. A field experiment was conducted to assess the decomposition rate of Ruppia maritima enclosed in coarse and fine mesh litterbags and incubated in 10 Mediterranean coastal lagoons that conform to a gradient of ecological status produced by anthropogenic impacts as determined by a structural quality index.
3. The microbial decomposition rate in fine mesh litterbags increased linearly along the ecological gradient. However, this relationship was not observed for the overall decomposition rate in coarse mesh bags.
4. Decomposition rates in coarse mesh bags were negatively related to macroinvertebrate diversity, indicating that, in transitional habitats, such as coastal lagoons, high biodiversity is not a prerequisite for successful ecosystem functioning.
5. The results suggest that functional indicators, such as the microbial litter decomposition process, should be used in addition to structural ones to detect anthropogenic‐derived environmental perturbations in coastal lagoons.

     

Historical changes in bivalve growth rates indicate ecological consequences of human occupation in estuaries

1. Only 800 years ago, New Zealand became the last major land mass to be settled by humans, leading to environmental degradation and precipitating a decline in indigenous fauna. Such ecological downgrading can alter ecosystem processes and drive down the capacity for remnant ecosystems to withstand the anthropogenic pressures of today.
2. In New Zealand, these impacts are chronicled in a concise and remarkably complete archaeological record and are distinguishable from natural changes due to changing climate.
3. Estuaries are subject to strong environmental gradients that drive productivity and contain critical habitats for key life‐history phases for marine and terrestrial species. Linking land to sea, they host abundant, accessible human resources and are sensitive to anthropogenic environmental modification.
4. Austrovenus stutchburyi is a common filter feeding bivalve in New Zealand estuaries. An important food source for Māori, their shells are abundant in middens. Growth rates of A. stutchburyi are affected by multiple environmental factors, including temperature, salinity, nutrients, and sediment, and are recorded through time as easily measurable annual shell bands. Measuring spatial and temporal variation in growth rate of A. stutchburyi can be used to identify the timing of changes in estuarine conditions.
5. Growth bands were measured in archaeological and modern (AD 1300–present) A. stutchburyi shells from six sites around New Zealand with varying occupational histories. There were no increases in growth rate, and rates declined measurably over time at three sites (up to a 50% reduction in growth per year). This decline was greater at estuaries that had experienced greater catchment modification, indicating that sediment loading due to land clearance was a likely driver of this change.
6. New Zealand's coastline and marine resources are often perceived as wild and pristine. We propose that fundamental changes have occurred in the functioning of coastal marine ecosystems, which constrain its future.

     

The neglected role of religion in fisheries management

Religion and spirituality have long played important roles in fishery systems around the world, and yet are often neglected in modern fisheries management and research. We review current literature and analyse the major small‐scale fishery on Lake Tanganyika, Africa, to highlight how religion may mediate fishing behaviours. Our study surveyed 154 fishers across 11 landing sites in Tanzania, followed by 15 semi‐structured interviews with key informants including fishery officers and local religious leaders. We identified key connections between religious beliefs/practices and fisher perceptions, behaviour and compliance with harvest restrictions and regulations. We demonstrate that better understanding and accounting for religious dimensions is critical for engaging with fishery stakeholders more effectively and managing global fisheries more sustainably.     

荒漠草原建群种及其枯落物的C、N、P生态化学计量特征

以希拉穆仁草原建群种羊草(Leymuschinensis)、短花针茅(Stipa breviflora Griseb)、芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens nevski)及其枯落物为研究对象,通过测定其C、N、P质量分数,并计算生态化学计量比,分析建群种养分限制格局及养分再吸收规律。结果表明:①植物叶片的C、N、P质量分数均值分别为398.74、24.41、1.55 g/kg,枯落物的为362.53、14.79、1.17 g/kg,3种植物叶片的C、N、P质量分数与其枯落物的差异显著(P<0.05)。②植物在枯落之前会将养分转移,防止养分的流失,N、P的养分再吸收效率范围分别在13.51%~77.49%、2.65%~49.51%,N的回流率大于P,进而使其具备了较强的适应干旱环境的能力。③3种植物叶片的N/P、C/N、C/P变化范围分别在11.81~21.70、15.76~16.59、195.47~273.37,枯落物的变化范围分别在7.72~17.05、17.71~64.46、215.43~487.46,3种植物叶片与枯落物的N/P、C/P差异显著(P<0.05)。④植物叶片N/P均值为16.95,枯落物N/P均值为12.31,说明植物的生长主要受P的限制。研究结果可为荒漠草原提供草地管理指导。