The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

Response of confection sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in a semi‐arid environment to planting date and early termination of irrigation

Adjustments on planting date and on the time to terminate irrigation may reduce agricultural water use. However, such management practices in regions with extreme weather conditions have the potential to negatively affect yield. A 3‐year (2012–2014) study was conducted on a clay‐loam soil in a cool, semi‐arid environment to (i) determine the response of confection sunflower to planting date and irrigation termination timing and (ii) identify the relative importance of yield components in irrigated confection sunflower across planting dates. Early May planting had considerable negative effects on all studied variables, except on the percentage of large seeds. The highest yield of total and large seeds was obtained from the late May plantings, averaging 3,777 and 3,379 kg/ha, respectively. None of the irrigation strategies affected the measured variables. However, the interaction between planting date and termination of irrigation significantly affected the 1,000‐seed weight. Our study revealed the last week of May as suitable planting period for confection sunflower in the semi‐arid north‐western region of Wyoming, USA, and that irrigation on heavy soils may be terminated as early as at R5.5 stage without a significant yield reduction. The path‐coefficient analysis indicated head diameter and the number of seeds per head as important traits that significantly influence the yield of confection sunflower across planting dates.     

种植密度对滴灌马铃薯生长、产量的影响

为了了解耕培土滴灌条件下种植密度对马铃薯生长、产量以及水分利用效率的影响.试验共设密度分别为7.28×10⁴ 株/hm²(RS25),6.67×10⁴ 株/hm²(RS35),5.55×10⁴ 株/hm²(CK)3个处理.结果表明:随着种植密度的增加,株高、茎粗、干物质积累量以及商品薯率均有降低的趋势;产量、水分利用效率随种植密度的增加表现出先增大后减少,其中RS35处理产量和水分利用效率均表现最高,分别达到47 325 kg/hm²和12.05 kg/m³;在马铃薯品质方面,种植密度对马铃薯粗蛋白含量的影响不具有统计学意义;淀粉和维生素C随着密度的大幅增加而降低,其中RS25处理的淀粉较CK降低了5.57%,RS25处理的维生素C较CK降低了7.96%,同时RS35与CK处理不具有统计学意义.综上所述,种植密度为6.67×10⁴ 株/hm²的RS35处理马铃薯高产优质,且水分利用效率最高,为黑龙江地区滴灌马铃薯较为适宜的种植密度.     

应用~(15)N示踪探究楸树无性系对氮素的吸收和分配

为探讨楸树无性系对氮素的吸收、分配及利用特性,以2年生楸树无性系015-1、1-3、7080、1-4和004-1组培苗为试验材料,应用15N示踪技术对楸树无性系进行施肥试验。结果表明,5个楸树无性系氮肥的吸收率、利用率及分配率具有较强的一致性,氮肥利用率介于27.14%~31.24%之间。楸树无性系根和叶的肥料氮比例(Ndff)明显大于茎,楸树无性系根和叶对氮肥的竞争力较强,茎对氮肥的竞争力最弱。015-1茎部氮素分配率及无性系7080根部氮素分配率明显高于其他4个无性系;氮素分配率在各个器官中差异显著,叶片氮素的分配率最高,总体趋势为叶根茎。本研究结果为楸树氮肥的合理施用提供了理论依据。     

国土空间详细规划现状底图底数转换方法研究

统一底图底数是编制各类空间规划的重要前提和基础,第三次国土调查数据作为当前权威性最高、现势性最强的国土空间利用现状数据,所采用的工作分类与国土空间规划采用的用地用海分类存在较大差异。本文通过对工作分类和用地用海分类进行衔接分析,提出了基于第三次国土调查数据的国土空间详细规划现状底图底数转换的总体技术思路、关键技术方法。     

基于SWAT模型的大安市降水入渗量变化的模拟研究

针对近年的研究热点,通过SWAT模型对半干旱、盐碱化严重的吉林省大安市进行降水入渗模拟。以2000、2004和2008年遥感影像解译得到的土地利用数据为基础,结合SWAT模型的模拟结果,讨论LUCC与降水入渗量的相关关系。2008年与2000年相比,难利用地的面积有所降低,旱地、草地等发生了大面积的增加,研究区内土地状况有所好转。通过SWAT模型运行得到的结果显示:2008年的平均降水入渗量为56.27 mm,比2000年的值高。利用降水入渗系数法进行计算,也得到了2008年的降水入渗量高于2000年的结果,这与SWAT模型模拟得到的结果有着相同的趋势,且平均降水入渗量的标准偏差为5.27,说明SWAT模型对于研究区有良好的适应性。同时,根据土地利用数据和SWAT模型模拟数据可以得知,LUCC对研究区的降水入渗量存在着一定的相关性。     

A computer vision system for oocyte counting using images captured by smartphone

This work proposes a computer vision procedure for counting Twospot astyanax (Astyanax bimaculatus) oocytes in Petri dishes using images captured by smartphone. First, the proposed procedure uses simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) to divide the images into groups of pixels (superpixels). Then, based on their color and space characteristics, the images are classified into light background, dark background, dirt, or oocyte by a machine learning algorithm. Five different types of machine learning algorithms were tested: support vector machines (SVM), decision trees using the algorithm J48 and random forest, k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), and Naive Bayes. To train the algorithms, 8.578 superpixels were classified by an expert into oocyte (n = 354), dirtiness (n = 651), dark background (n = 3.622), and light background (n = 3.951). Of the five learning algorithms, SVM obtained the best result with 97% correct oocyte recognition. Given the wide availability of smartphones, we therefore conclude that the presented procedure can be a valuable tool in future experiments and studies on fertilization and hatching success in Twospot astyanax.     

昌吉市土地利用对生态环境的影响分析

在分析昌吉市土地利用现状特点和动态变化的基础上,讨论土地利用对生态环境的影响,指出昌吉市相对脆弱的生态环境和突出的人地矛盾,并提出改善其对环境影响的对策建议。     

Dense planting with less basal nitrogen fertilization might benefit rice cropping for high yield with less environmental impacts

Dense planting and less basal nitrogen (N) fertilization have been recommended to further increase rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yield and N use efficiency (NUE), respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the integrative impacts of dense planting with reduced basal N application (DR) on rice yield, NUE and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Field experiments with one conventional sparse planting (CK) and four treatments of dense planting (increased seedlings per hill) with less basal N application were conducted in northeast China from 2012 to 2013. In addition, a two-factor experiment was conducted to isolate the effect of planting density and basal N rate on CH₄ emission in 2013. Our results show that an increase in planting density by about 50% with a correspondingly reduction in basal N rate by about 30% (DR1 and DR2) enhanced NUE by 14.3–50.6% and rice grain yield by 0.5–7.4% over CK. Meanwhile, DR1 and DR2 reduced GWP by 6.4–12.6% and yield-scaled GWP by 7.0–17.0% over CK. According to the two-factor experiment, soil CH₄ production and oxidation and CH₄ emission were not affected by planting density. However, reduced basal N rate decreased CH₄ emission due to it significantly reduced soil CH₄ production with a smaller reduction in soil CH₄ oxidation. The above results indicate that moderate dense planting with less basal N application might be an environment friendly mode for rice cropping for high yield and NUE with less GHG emissions.     

Shifts in microbial diversity through land use intensity as drivers of carbon mineralization in soil

Land use practices alter the biomass and structure of soil microbial communities. However, the impact of land management intensity on soil microbial diversity (i.e. richness and evenness) and consequences for functioning is still poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question by coupling molecular characterization of microbial diversity with measurements of carbon (C) mineralization in soils obtained from three locations across Europe, each representing a gradient of land management intensity under different soil and environmental conditions. Bacterial and fungal diversity were characterized by high throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes. Carbon cycling activities (i.e., mineralization of autochthonous soil organic matter, mineralization of allochthonous plant residues) were measured by quantifying ¹²C- and ¹³C-CO₂ release after soils had been amended, or not, with ¹³C-labelled wheat residues. Variation partitioning analysis was used to rank biological and physicochemical soil parameters according to their relative contribution to these activities. Across all three locations, microbial diversity was greatest at intermediate levels of land use intensity, indicating that optimal management of soil microbial diversity might not be achieved under the least intensive agriculture. Microbial richness was the best predictor of the C-cycling activities, with bacterial and fungal richness explaining 32.2 and 17% of the intensity of autochthonous soil organic matter mineralization; and fungal richness explaining 77% of the intensity of wheat residues mineralization. Altogether, our results provide evidence that there is scope for improvement in soil management to enhance microbial biodiversity and optimize C transformations mediated by microbial communities in soil.