Zoning eco-environmental vulnerability for environmental management and protection

Eco-environmental vulnerability assessment is crucial for environmental and resource management. However, evaluation of eco-environmental vulnerability over large areas is a difficult and complex process because it is affected by many variables including hydro-meteorology, topography, land resources, and human activities. The Thua Thien – Hue Province and its largest river system, the Perfume River, are vital to the social-economic development of the north central coastal region of Vietnam, but there is no zoning system for environmental protection in this region. An assessment framework is proposed to evaluate the vulnerable eco-environment in association with 16 variables with 6 of them constructed from Landsat 8 satellite image products. The remaining variables were extracted from digital maps. Each variable was evaluated and spatially mapped with the aid of an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographical information system (GIS). An eco-environmental vulnerability map is assorted into six vulnerability levels consisting of potential, slight, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy vulnerabilities, representing 14%, 27%, 17%, 26%, 13%, 3% of the study area, respectively. It is found that heavy and very heavy vulnerable areas appear mainly in the low and medium lands where social-economic activities have been developing rapidly. Tiny percentages of medium and heavy vulnerable levels occur in high land areas probably caused by agricultural practices in highlands, slash and burn cultivation and removal of natural forests with new plantation forests. Based on our results, three ecological zones requiring different development and protection solutions are proposed to restore local eco-environment toward sustainable development. The proposed integrated method of remote sensing (RS), GIS, and AHP to evaluate the eco-environmental vulnerability is useful for environmental protection and proper planning for land use and construction in the future.     

白杨派杂种无性系生根特性研究

通过对采用杂交育种方法选育出的白杨无性系生根性状进行研究。结果表明,新无性系在最早生根时间、主侧根总数量、主侧根总长度等指标上均存在极显著差异,说明各无性系的生根能力具有显著差异。主根平均根数和侧根平均根数两个性状的遗传方差均大于环境方差,其重复力分别可达95％和87％。进一步分析结果表明易生根的无性系根原基数量最多,平均每段插穗约14．7～7．3个．而较难生根的无性系平均每段插穗约5．5～6．8个,难生根的毛白杨根原基数量最少,平均每段插穗约3．3个。通过层次分析法(AHP)对各无性系生根特性的综合评价结果表明：9606、9603、9608、9607、9614、9610、9602等7个无性系生根能力均优于其亲本和毛白杨。     

The histological analysis,colorimetric evaluation,and chemical quantification of melanin content in ‘suntanned’ fish

Human melanocytes respond to UV irradiation by increasing the synthesis of melanin. While much is now understood of the pathways governing this process and the nature of the melanin synthesized, little is known of melanins produced by lower vertebrates and their capacity to respond to UV. Here we report that a fish, red seabream, can undergo ‘suntanning’. Histological, colorimetric and chemical assays were performed for suntanned red seabream fish bred in net cages to analyse the melanins and compared with shaded or wild red seabream fish. For color evaluation, the L* values of suntanned fish were dramatically lower than those in the other two groups. Pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid (PTCA), an indicator of eumelanin, was detected in suntanned fish at five times higher levels than in shaded or wild fish while 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenyl‐alanine (4‐AHP), a marker for pheomelanin, could not be detected in any of the samples. Histological analysis showed that melanocytes in the suntanned skin enlarged and increased in number to form a monolayer at the surface of the skin. Analysis of L* values and PTCA levels showed quite a high correlation coefficient (r = ?0.843). When comparing shaded and wild red seabream fish, the scores were closer but some significant differences were still found in some body areas. These results indicate that eumelanin accumulates in suntanned fish during the increase in skin color, which is induced by sunlight, presumably by ultraviolet radiation.     

基于层次分析法的江苏宁镇山脉乡土树种评价

为了筛选适宜南京地区的优良城市绿化树种,在野外调查和问卷调查的基础上,利用层次分析法(AHP)建立江苏宁镇山脉乡土树种评价体系,对该区域的乡土树种进行客观的定量分析。结果表明:(1)乡土树种作为城市绿化树种应首先考虑抗逆性,其次是生态价值、美学价值和生物学特性;(2)参与评价的41种宁镇山脉乡土树种可分为4类,其中I类乡土树种应大力推广应用,Ⅱ类乡土树种可作为森林城市树种多样性的有益补充,Ⅲ类和Ⅳ类乡土树种作为城市绿化树种仍有一定的差距。13种Ⅰ类乡土树种作为城市绿化树种具有良好的应用前景。     

基于三角模糊数的自然保护区生态旅游评价

从生态环境特征、资源影响力、社会经济影响3个方面,选择地形、气候、生态脆弱性、典型性、环境影响、经济效益等16个指标,构建评价模型,运用三角模糊数方法,进行沙坡头国家级自然保护区的生态旅游评价。结果显示:沙坡头国家级自然保护区的生态旅游资源丰富,整体发展良好,发展生态旅游将会对保护区的文化、经济、配套基础设施等方面产生积极影响。将三角模糊数应用于自然保护区生态旅游评价模型,克服了定性指标难以量化、可比较性差的缺点,可以为生态旅游评价提供新思路、新方法,具有一定的应用前景,对生态旅游评价具有新的借鉴意义。     

层次分析法在大花蕙兰品种选择上的应用

运用层次分析法对大花蕙兰8个品种的株高、叶色、花色、花香、花径、花枝数、每枝花朵数、花枝长度、抗性、是否春节开花等10个性状进行综合评价。结果表明:所选品种综合性状表现优良,与生产实际基本相符,尤其是‘开心果’、‘韩国小姐’和‘欲望’3个品种,可在育种和生产上多加重视。     

Feasibility of ley-farming system performance in a semi-arid region using spatial analysis

In order to assess feasibility of ley farming system performance in the Aq-Qala township, a semi-arid region in north of Iran, Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) method and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were integrated to evaluate the suitability of wheat, barley and annual alfalfa cultivation. The agronomic and ecological requirements of three crops were identified from available scientific literatures. In this study, environmental variables were included: 1) average, minimum and maximum temperatures, 2) precipitation, 3) slope, 4) slope aspects, 5) elevation and 6) soil characteristics such as organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), texture, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc. Weights of these variables were extracted from analysis of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) questionnaires. The suitability analysis was based on matching between land qualities/characteristics and crop requirements. It was done by the weighted overlay technique (WOT) in GIS. In order to assess the land suitability of ley farming system performance, the digital suitability layers of three crops were overlaid and integrated in GIS media by raster calculator functions, then zoning of region was done in 4 classes, including: Highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and non-suitable. Our results indicated that 35.1% (35495.20 ha) of total areas of studied region is suitable for ley farming system. According to the generated agricultural suitability map, it was determinate that 15.2% (20681.77 ha) of the region is non-suitable for ley-farming performance, 19.5% (23245.74 ha) is marginally suitable and, 30.2% (33725.60 ha) is moderately suitable. Highly suitable, moderately suitable and marginally suitable lands were expected to have a crop yield of 80–100%, 60–80% and 40–60% of the yield under optimal conditions with practicable and economic inputs, respectively. It was found that the most areas of the southern and central parts of Aq-Qala are the highly and moderately suitable regions. The results demonstrated that the high EC, low OM and low rainfall are the key limiting factors in non-suitable areas.     

Visitor management and ecological integrity: one example of an integrated management approach using Decision Analysis

In this paper we argue in favour of using a decision analysis framework for more integrated decision-making when managing protected areas. Such an approach will enable agencies to balance between the frequently conflicting goals of visitor management and ecological integrity. We present a case study from the West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, BC, Canada, in which we use a hybrid of ELECTRE and AHP to establish a ranking of several management options. We conclude by suggesting that such a more formal framework constitutes a more objective decision support tool, assists in framing relevant management questions and tradeoffs, and at the same time provides guidance for data collection.