Assessing the utility of topographic variables in predicting structural complexity of tree stands in a reforested urban landscape

The transformation of natural landscapes into impervious built-up surfaces through urbanization is known to significantly interfere with the ecological integrity of urban landscapes and accelerate climate change and associated impacts. Although urban reforestation is widely recognised as an ideal mitigation practice against these impacts, it often has to compete with other lucrative land uses within an urban area. The often limited urban space provided for reforestation therefore necessitates the optimization of the ecological benefits, which demands spatially explicit information. The recent proliferation of tree stands structural complexity (SSC) and topographic data offer great potential for determining the ecological performance of reforested areas across an urban landscape. This study explores the potential of using topographic datasets to predict SSC in a reforested urban landscape and ranks the value of these topographic variables in determining SSC. Tree structural data from a reforested urban area was collected and fed into a tree stand structural complexity index, which was used to indicate ecological performance. Topographic variables (Topographic Wetness Index, slope, Area Solar Radiation and elevation)- were derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and used to predict SSC using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression technique. Results show that SSC varied significantly between the topographic variables. Results also show that the topographic variables could be used to reliably predict SSC. As expected, the Topographic Wetness Index and slope were the most important topographic determinants of SSC while elevation was the least valuable. These results provide valuable spatially explicit information about the ecological performance of the reforested areas within an urban landscape. Specifically, the study demonstrates the value of topographic data as aids to urban reforestation planning.     

Aquaponics and sustainability: The comparison of two different aquaponic techniques using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Aquaponics is generally regarded as a sustainable practice, but its environmental burdens were not yet deeply investigated. In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impacts of two hypothetical coupled aquaponics systems (CAPS): Raft System (RAFT) and Media-Filled Beds System (MFBS). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were considered as cultivated species in both systems. The Simapro^© software V.8.0 was used for calculation. The comparison between the two virtual systems indicated the floating technique as the less impacting one. Even though energy consumption appears to be higher in the floating system, LCA results were markedly influenced by the extensive use of inert materials in MFSB. In both systems, contribution analyses underlined that the main environmental impacts are related to infrastructures, electricity and fish feed. The LCA analyses carried out in this study highlights that the choice of less impacting materials, and the optimization of management practices, should be taken as priorities in order to reduce environmental impacts of this activity.     

地貌发育阶段判识方法研究——以泥河沟流域和枣子沟流域为例

为更加准确判识小流域地貌发育阶段，以黄土高原综合治理小流域——陕西省淳化县泥河沟流域和乾县枣子沟流域为例，分别应用盒分维方法和Horton分维方法进行水系分维值的计算，并利用面积高程积分和地貌信息熵进行验证。结果表明，泥河沟和枣子沟流域水系盒分维值分别为1.886和1.827。根据Strahler曲线积分值和地貌信息熵方法验证结果表明，盒分维方法计算的水系分维值对流域地貌发育阶段的判识更加准确、可靠；这2个流域地貌处于侵蚀发育阶段的壮龄期，其生态敏感性整体上处于较低水平，生态环境抗干扰能力增强并趋于更加稳定的状态。     

紫穗槐幼苗不同生长阶段叶水势对干旱胁迫与复水的响应特征

为揭示紫穗槐（Amorpha fruticosa）幼苗叶水势对土壤干旱与复水环境的响应特征，本研究通过盆栽试验，研究了土壤干旱胁迫及复水对紫穗槐幼苗不同生长阶段叶水势的影响。结果表明：土壤水分、干旱历时和生长阶段3个因素以及各因素间的相互作用对紫穗槐幼苗叶水势均有极显著影响（P<0.01）；随着干旱程度加剧，幼苗叶水势呈下降趋势，水分胁迫指数呈上升趋势；40.00%土壤相对含水量下的幼苗叶水势下降幅度达到最大，其中干旱15 d的生长初期和生长中期以及干旱30 d的生长后期的叶水势分别比对照下降了0.71 MPa，1.12 MPa和0.58 MPa；复水后，叶水势出现补偿效应，随着复水后时间的延长，幼苗3个生长阶段叶水势逐渐恢复，恢复速率与干旱程度、干旱历时和生长阶段密切相关，但均在复水72小时后恢复到接近对照水平。     

The importance of native valley oaks (Quercus lobata) as stopover habitat for migratory songbirds in urban Sacramento,California, USA

Urban development occupies over 375,000 ha (6%) of California's Central Valley, and expansion continues to displace natural and agricultural landscapes. The value of urban areas as habitat for native wildlife and the characteristics that determine its value, however, remain little studied. Many Neotropical migrant passerine bird species are declining due to changes in breeding, migratory, and wintering habitats and climatic conditions. During 2010–2013, we evaluated the importance of native valley oak (Quercus lobata) as stopover foraging habitat used by Neotropical migrant birds in urban areas of the Sacramento region in California, USA. Over 3 years, we surveyed spring and late summer-early fall migrant songbirds and measured tree canopy cover within 31 c.0.91 ha transects in Curtis Park, an older residential neighborhood. We detected 607 individuals from 20 migrant species, but four wood warblers comprised the bulk of observations: black-throated gray (Setophaga nigrescens), Wilson's (Cardellina pusilla), orange-crowned (Oreothlypis celata), and yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia). Migrant abundance was closely correlated with valley oak canopy abundance and increased linearly with oak canopy especially during fall migration. Migrants were nearly absent from areas lacking oak canopy. Migrant bird species as a group also foraged in valley oak substantially more often (74%) than would be expected based on its 15% relative canopy cover (χ²_1d.f. = 924, p < 0.0001), as did all species whose selectivity could be tested. These results are important in demonstrating previously undocumented migrant use of urban areas with remnant valley oak canopy and suggest that protecting existing valley oaks and increasing their use in future urban forestry and landscape plantings in the Central Valley could provide substantial habitat benefits for native migratory birds.     

Do cover crops change the lability of phosphorus in a clayey subtropical soil under different phosphate fertilizers?

Plants have developed different mechanisms to absorb and solubilize phosphorus (P) in the soil, especially in environments with low P availability. This study evaluated the effects of different winter cover crops on soil P availability in a clayey subtropical (Hapludox) soil receiving soluble P fertilizer and a rock phosphate applied to the summer crop, under no‐tillage. The experiment was carried out over 3 yrs (2009–2011) with five different cover crop species: common vetch, fodder radish, ryegrass, black oat, white clover and fallow as control. The soil was sampled after the third year of cover crop cultivation and analysed for inorganic and organic P forms according to the well‐established Hedley fractionation procedure. Phosphate fertilizers promoted accumulation of both labile and nonlabile P pools in soil in the near surface layer, especially under rock phosphate. Fertilizer applications were not able to change P fractions in deeper layers, emphasizing that the Brazilian clayey soils are a sink of P from fertilizer and its mobility is almost nil. Although the cover crops recycled a great amount of P in tissue, in a short‐term evaluation (3 yrs) they only changed the content of moderately labile P in soil, indicating that long‐term studies are needed for more conclusive results.     

黄土高原植被恢复过程中土壤表面电化学性质演变特征

土壤胶体表面所带电荷是土壤具有一系列物理、化学性质的根本原因。表面电荷数量、比表面积、表面电荷密度、表面电场强度以及表面电位是土壤胶体颗粒重要性质,影响土壤中物理、化学、生物化学过程。运用带电颗粒表面性质联合分析法,测定黄土高原子午岭地区不同植被类型下土壤表面电荷性质,研究自然植被恢复过程对土壤表面电荷性质的影响。结果表明:随着植被的演替,子午岭林区土壤表面电荷数量、比表面积、表面电荷密度均随植被的恢复增加,变化范围分别为10.88～19.85 cmol·kg~(–1)、40.67～61.71 m~2·g~(–1)和0.22～0.31 c·m~(–2),平均值分别为16.18 cmol·kg~(–1)、54.88 m2·g~(–1)和0.28 c·m~(–2),土壤表面电场强度达108 V·m~(–1)数量级;土壤黏粒、有机碳含量是影响表面电荷性质的主要因素,解释率分别为62.5%和27.9%;土壤基本性质对表面电荷性质的影响由强到弱依次为:黏粒、有机碳、砂粒、全氮、C/N、粉粒、碳酸钙、pH。研究结果对于进一步认识黄土高原土壤颗粒表面性质,加深理解土壤中发生的一系列物理化学过程具有重要意义。     

Effect of environmental C/N ratio on activities of lignin-degrading enzymes produced by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Lignin-degrading enzymes secreted by white rot fungi play an important role in the degradation of lignin and persistent organic pollutants(POPs).In this study,effect of environmental C/N ratio on the activities of lignin-degrading enzymes,lignin peroxide(Li P)and manganese peroxidase(Mn P),produced by Phanerochaete chrysosporium,a white rot fungus,was investigated.Glucose was used as C source,and ammonium tartrate of different concentrations was used as N source to provide different C/N ratios.Relationships between Li P and Mn P activities and environmental C/N ratio were explored.The results showed that the higher the N source concentration,the faster the mycelium pellets aged.The faster the mycelium dry weight increased,the higher the Li P and Mn P activities.A high C/N ratio was a necessary condition for the secretion of Li P or Mn P.In addition,mycelium dry weight essentially affected enzyme activities.In the 122 C/N ratio and 50 C/N ratio treatments,mycelium dry weight essentially affected Mn P activity and both Li P and Mn P activities,respectively.     

氧化石墨烯和五价砷在改性多孔介质中的共迁移特征

砷是农田土壤重金属污染的主要元素之一,在砷污染农田土壤的修复过程中往往忽视纳米颗粒能够使结合态的砷重新释放,导致有效态砷浓度升高,探究土壤中黏土矿物对氧化石墨烯(Graphene Oxide,GO)和五价砷(As(V))在多孔介质中迁移行为的影响,对进一步完善农田土壤砷修复理论以及提高农作物产量、保护人体健康具有重要意义。该研究利用蒙脱石和高岭石改性石英砂,通过砂柱迁移试验系统地研究了GO、As(V)和GO-As(V)在填加0%、10%、30%和50%的蒙脱石和高岭石改性石英砂柱中的迁移行为。研究结果表明,随着高岭石和蒙脱石改性石英砂填加比例的增加,GO和As(V)的迁移能力均呈降低趋势,且GO和As(V)在不同条件下的迁移曲线均存在显著差异(P0.05);GO在50%高岭石和蒙脱石改性石英砂柱中的回收率相对于石英砂柱分别下降了14%和17%,As(V)分别下降了15%和12%;在共迁移试验中,GO和As(V)在石英砂柱中回收率分别上升至99%和100%。分析表明,As(V)在蒙脱石改性石英砂柱中的迁移能力大于高岭石改性石英砂,而GO与之相反;当GO和与As(V)共迁移时,二者在介质中的迁移能力均大于其单独迁移。本研究表明GO、As(V)释放到土壤后,能够加速As(V)的迁移,造成土壤砷污染的扩大化。     

磷肥减量结合硫酸铵配施提高西北地区旱地春玉米磷素利用效率

  【目的】  西北旱地春玉米种植区磷肥过量施用，磷肥利用效率偏低。本研究旨在探究春玉米磷肥减施的可行性以及实现磷素高效利用的优化施肥方式，以期为该地区春玉米磷肥高效利用提供参考。  【方法】  在西北典型雨养农业区设置3年的定位田间试验，共设5个处理:对照 (CK，不施磷肥)、农户模式 (FP，磷用量P₂O₅ 120 kg/hm2，撒施)、减磷撒施 (RP，磷用量P₂O₅ 70 kg/hm2，撒施)、减磷条施 (BF，磷用量P₂O₅ 70 kg/hm2，条施)、硫酸铵模式 (SA，采用硫酸铵氮肥替代尿素氮肥，其他同减磷撒施处理)。在玉米四叶期、五叶期以及成熟期采集植物和土壤样品 (根际土和非根际土)，测定玉米根系、地上部生物量及其磷含量，土壤碱性磷酸酶活性、pH、有效磷、丛枝菌根侵染率，并采用WinRHIZO根系扫描系统测定根长、根表面积、根体积等指标。  【结果】  三年试验结果表明，RP、BF、SA处理玉米籽粒产量、生物量与FP处理无显著差异 (P > 0.05)，但磷肥偏生产力显著提高，平均增幅68.0%。RP、BF、SA处理成熟期玉米籽粒磷含量较FP处理降低7.1%～12.9%，磷累积量降低了8.8%～17.0%，其中RP和BF处理降低幅度达到显著水平，但SA处理籽粒磷含量和磷累积量与FP处理相当。与FP处理相比，RP和SA的磷肥回收利用率均有提高，其中SA处理显著提高7.2个百分点；RP、BF、SA处理均有促进春玉米苗期根系生长的趋势，其中SA处理根长、根表面积以及细根长 (直径小于0.50 mm) 分别提高13.9%～37.9%、8.6%～46.1%、12.2%～43.0%。此外，与FP处理相比，RP和SA处理提高了玉米苗期根系丛枝菌根侵染率，增幅在16.2%～21.7%；SA处理非根际土碱性酶活性有增加趋势，五叶期差异达显著水平，BF处理非根际土有效磷含量提高了18.8%～56.3%。  【结论】  在西北旱地春玉米种植区，磷肥施用量由现在的P₂O₅ 120 kg/hm2减少至70～75 kg/hm2仍可保证玉米稳产。在此基础上，用生理酸性肥料硫酸铵代替尿素可促进玉米根系生长以及丛枝菌根侵染，促进玉米对磷素的吸收利用。