Multiple effects of urbanization on the biodiversity of developing countries: The case of a fast-growing metropolitan area (Concepción, Chile)

Urbanization is increasingly homogenizing the biota of less developed countries. Even though urban sprawl is a worldwide problem, most studies on the effects of urbanization, and the conceptual models have focused on developed countries. South America has not escaped urbanization, and here we discuss the potential impacts of urban sprawl with respect to three ecosystems in the metropolitan area of Concepción, Chile. We consider this area a good model and fairly representative of other cities in developing countries which are also experiencing rapid and uncontrolled growth. We found that the impacts of urban sprawl on biodiversity in the metropolitan area of Concepción differ little from cities in other parts of the world: native ecosystems are replaced by pavements and buildings and what is left of the natural soil is covered with green areas dominated by non-native ornamental species. Wetlands and other peri-urban ecosystems are rapidly being destroyed, fragmented or invaded by non-native species. We found that from a study area of 32,000 ha, there was a net loss to urbanization of 1734 ha of wetlands (23% of the original) and 1417 ha (9%) of agricultural, forest and shrub land cover types between 1975 and 2000. From the total area urbanized (3151 ha), 55% corresponded to wetlands and 45% to agricultural, forest and shrub lands cover types. We see the lack of environmental awareness as a major cause of the increasing deterioration of biodiversity in urban areas of developing countries. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of urban sprawl on the biodiversity of developing countries to include these ecosystems in global conservation strategies.     

Sea turtle by-catch in pelagic longline sets off southern Brazil

Results are presented on sea turtle by-catch observed in pelagic longline sets during research cruises in the south Atlantic in the vicinity of the shelf edge break in southern Brazil. The longline gear was set in a similar manner to that employed by the commercial longline fleet operating out of Santos, Brazil that targets swordfish, Xiphias gladius. Nineteen sea turtles were caught on 14 of 41 sets, which constituted a catch rate of 1.5 turtles per 1000 hooks. Thirty four percentage of all sets captured at least one turtle. The catch included loggerhead, Caretta caretta, leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, and most likely olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea. All turtles, except one loggerhead, were captured live and released. Captures occurred during spring, summer and winter suggesting a year around presence and vulnerability. Given increased levels of longline effort directed at swordfish in the southeast Atlantic, substantial turtle by-catch can be expected. There is a critical need for additional information to be able to assess the potential impact on swordfish longline fisheries on sea turtle populations.     

非干旱造林困难地区植被恢复的科学检讨及建议

西北黄土高原、华南花岗岩丘陵、南方岩溶山地和西南干热河谷既是我国水土流失严重地区 ,也是非干旱气候区的造林困难地区。以上 4区的大部分地区可以依靠生态修复恢复植被 ,但C层大面积裸露的华南花岗岩丘陵、严重石漠化的岩溶山地和侵蚀强烈的干热河谷泥岩坡地 ,通过生态修复恢复植被难度较大 ,应辅以工程整地、引进外来树种和种植植物篱、藤本植物等人工措施 ,促进植被自然恢复     

南水北调东线工程对上海地区生态环境的影响及应对措施

南水北调东线工程实施后,长江枯水期对其污水自净能力将会有一定程度的降低,因此,目前上海市污水排放会对长江口湿地和河口生态环境的影响将发生微妙的变化。通过分析近10年来长江口生态环境的变化趋势,及上海市污水排放和治理现状,研究了南水北调东线工程调水后对上海地区生态环境新的主要影响,并针对污水排放及长江口生态环境问题,分别提出了相应的建议性应对措施。     

华南兴国县影响土壤侵蚀时空动力学的环境因素

By using soil erosion maps of four different time periods and a digital elevation model (DEM), in combination with the remote sensing and GIS technologies, soil erosion dynamics in Xingguo County of Jiangxi Province in South China were analyzed on both temporal and spatial scales in soils of different parent materials, altitudes and slopes. The results showed that from 1958 to 2000 severe soil erosion was coming under control with a decreasing percentage of the land under severe erosion. It was also found that the soils developed from Quaternary red clay, granite and purple shale were more susceptible to soil erosion and that areas sitting between 200 to 500 m in altitude with a slope less than 3° or between 7° to 20° where human activities were frequent remained to be zones where soil erosion was most likely to occur. These areas deserve special attention in monitoring and controlling.     

华南海岛土壤形成的地球化学

The soils in South China sea Islands(SCSI)were divided into three types,nmaely,phospho-calc soils,skeletisols and coastic solonchake,which were derived from bio-clastic and strongly calcareous sediments.In comparison with their parent materials,the phospho-Calc soils have higher contents of P,Zn Cu,Ba,and Cd,which tend to increase gradually with time,and lower contents of Mg,Ca,Sr,B,V,Pb,and Mo,which tend to decrease by degrees with time,The above-mentioned constituents in skeletisols and coastic solonchaks are similar to those in their parent materials except for P and Na,The factors affecting element distribution are mainly special bioclimate and parent material,meanwhile,resulting in the remakable influence on element distribution through soil-forming time.     

Grass mixtures for afforested opencast spoils in South Wales

An experiment that investigated the establishment of seven grass and legume seed mixes on opencast coal mining spoil in South Wales is described. After three years, mixtures containing Poa pratensis and Festuca rubra var. rubra were the most successful in covering the spoil; the ‘Johnson JR33’ seed mix proved the best of those commercially available that was tested. Tree growth was not detrimentally affected by the establishment of a grass ground cover. Erosion was not an important process at the experimental site, though slumping occurred locally from plough ridge to plough furrow.     

红壤区林下侵蚀劣地土壤碳氮及球囊霉素对接种AM真菌的响应

南方红壤区林下侵蚀劣地近地表植被覆盖度低,导致林下水土流失严重.接种AM真菌能够促进植被生长,改善土壤肥力,进而可以减少土壤侵蚀.以马尾松退化林地为对象,设置引种灌木(S)和引种灌木并接菌(S+AMF)2个处理,研究AM真菌接种对林下侵蚀劣地土壤碳氮及球囊霉素的影响.结果表明:接菌近1年后,菌根侵染率(MCR)在S+A...     

Relationship between soil erosion and distance to roadways in undeveloped areas of China

The presence and condition of roadways control the utilization of natural resources, which are associated with direct and indirect impacts on soil erosion in undeveloped countries. This paper addresses the relationship between soil erosion and distance to roadways in Xingguo County, an undeveloped area in Jiangxi Province of South China, for four time periods, 1958, 1975, 1982, and 2000. Soil erosion maps for each time period were interpreted using remote sensing and GIS technology for buffer zones four kilometers wide, subdivided into eight strips, each 0.5 kilometers wide, which were located alongside various types of road classes, namely trunk, town, village, and unpaved. The distribution patterns of various types of erosion were identified by GIS overlay of buffer strips and soil erosion maps. Results demonstrate that soil erosion cases found in buffer zones along both sides of trunk and town roads are the most severe, and areas with severe erosion decrease as distance from the strip to the road increases. However, moderate and slight erosion cases only have a minor relationship to the strip to road distance. There are more severe erosion cases than moderate and light erosion cases alongside village and unpaved roads, but the total area is not distinctly different from moderate and slight erosion cases, and severe erosion cases tend to decrease with an increase in the strip to road distance. Also, areas with severe erosion differentiated by time periods in the strips alongside roadways of all classes, except trunk roads, rank from highest to lowest as follows: 1975, 1958, 1982, and 2000. Notably, severe erosion areas in 1975, 1958 and 1982 are all quite extensive. Soil erosion alongside roadways of various classes is impacted jointly by historical policy, distance to roadways, and landscape. In undeveloped countries and areas, much more attention should be paid to the impacts of road construction, specifically soil erosion associated with road edge construction, and relevant measures for forest resource conservation should be formulated before initiating road construction projects.     

轮耕对宁南旱区土壤理化性状和旱地小麦产量的影响

为了探索免耕/深松隔年轮耕对土壤理化性状及冬小麦产量的影响,2007年至2010年在宁南旱区采用免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松与连年翻耕3种耕作模式,对土壤容重、团聚体、养分及小麦产量等进行了研究。结果表明:与传统耕作相比,免耕/深松/免耕和深松/免耕/深松模式显著(p<0.05)降低土壤容重,改善了土壤的孔隙状况;两种轮耕模式可显著(p<0.05)增加0～40 cm各土层2～0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的含量。3种耕作方式比较,深松/免耕/深松模式最能有效增加0～40 cm土壤有机质和0～20 cm土层全氮含量;免耕/深松/免耕和深松/免耕/深松处理较传统耕作显著增加0～40 cm土层碱解氮和有效磷含量、20～40 cm土壤速效钾含量,改善了土壤的养分状况。试验期间,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松模式3年平均小麦籽粒产量较传统耕作显著增加,分别增产9.59%和10.69%(p<0.05),以深松/免耕/深松处理增产效果最佳。