Evaluating regional water security through a freshwater ecosystem service flow model: A case study in Beijing-Tianjian-Hebei region,China

Freshwater ecosystem service is essential to human’s survival and development. Many studies have documented the spatial differences in the supply and demand of ecosystem services and proposed the concept of ecosystem services flows. However, few studies characterize freshwater ecosystem service flow quantitatively. Therefore, our paper aims to quantify the effects of freshwater ecosystem service flow on downstream areas. We developed a freshwater ecosystem service flow model and applied it in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, China, for the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010. We assessed the regional water security with an improved freshwater security index by integrating freshwater service provision, consumption and flow; and found that most areas of the BTH region (69.2%) were affected by upstream freshwater flows. The areas achieving water security in the region also expanded to 66.9%, 66.1%, and 71.3%, which were 6.4%, 6.8% and 5.7% increments compared to no-flow situation, in 2000, 2005 and 2010, respectively. Setting quota for human water consumption is suggested to further improve water security. These results highlight the need to fully understand the connections between distant freshwater ecosystem service provision and local freshwater ecosystem service consumption. This approach may also help managers to choose more sustainable strategies for critical freshwater resource management across different regions.     

城市群生态安全格局构建:概念辨析与理论思考

城市群是城市发展到一定阶段通过城市间物流、人流和能流高度融合而形成的区域性复合生态系统，如何保障城市群生态安全与健康发展成为当前关注的热点问题。本研究系统分析了生态安全、城市生态安全与城市群生态安全的内涵。认为狭义上城市群生态安全侧重于城市群内部生态空间优化和生态系统服务功能提升，重点关注城市群地区生态用地空间优化与"三生空间"（生态、生活及生产空间）的合理布局。广义上的城市群生态安全不仅需要考虑城市群内部生态系统结构和功能协调及其生态系统服务的供需平衡，也需要从区域尺度考虑城市群与其他区域之间的协调关系。城市群生态安全格局构建的目的则是保障城市群内部区域一体化协调发展，满足人们日常生活的基本需求，实现城市群与区域之间物流、能流和人流的有序流通。在城市群生态安全格局构建时，除了遵循生态安全一般性原则外，还需要遵循以下原则：①生态系统服务供需平衡尺度效应；②生态安全保障的阈值效应；③生态安全格局的空间联动效应。最后文章提出了城市群生态安全格局构建的基本思路和技术路径。     

Spatial evaluation of the ecological importance based on GIS for environmental management: A case study in Xingguo county of China

How to assort with the relationship between the urban construction and the maintenance of ecological security is a hot issue during the process of urbanization. The purpose of this study is to identify the key ecological land maintaining ecological security and to put forward some measures for environmental management. Based on the GIS technology, from the view of water security, biodiversity conservation, disaster protection, natural recreation security, and human disturbance, an integrated index is put forward to evaluate the ecological importance of regional space. Then, a GIS-based approach for evaluating ecological importance was created, with Xingguo county of China as a case study. The results show that the area of core eco-space in the study area accounts for 30% of the total area. These areas mainly consist of the core areas of regional river systems, wetlands, nature reserves, forest parks, and scenic spots and the endangered and protected zone of geological hazards. According to the spatial characteristics of ecological importance for different regions, this study proposes some zoning regulations and measures for environmental management.     

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. strigae strain Foxy 2 did not achieve biological control of Striga hermonthica parasitizing maize in Western Kenya

The production of maize, a major staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa is being constrained by the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. strigae (Foxy 2) that causes fusarium wilt of Striga in Ghana, West Africa, is being considered for biological control of the weed in Western Kenya. The present study investigated the efficacy of F. oxysporum f. sp. strigae (Foxy 2) for S. hermonthica management in Western Kenya. Research was conducted in post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facilities at Alupe, Busia, Homabay, Kibos and Siaya field stations for two seasons. Each PEQ was a split-plot, with 4 main blocks each having 6 treatment subplots. The treatments included seeds of two S. hermonthica-susceptible maize varieties, either coated with Foxy 2 using gum Arabic, gum Arabic alone, or left untreated. Data was collected over seven sampling periods on S. hermonthica population per plant, percentage of those that were wilting, and the severity of wilting. Maize plant growth parameters assessed included duration to 50% anthesis and 50% silking, plant height, number of leaves, stover and cob weights, and maize yield per hectare. Statistical analysis was done using SAS 9.1 software. Data on S. hermonthica population were analyzed by χ²-test using Proc Genmod (Poisson); while the other parameters were analyzed by Proc Mixed using study location, season and blocks as random effects, and the sampling periods as repeated effects. All the assessed parameters were similar between plants grown from seeds inoculated with F. oxysporum f. sp. strigae (Foxy 2), those coated with gum Arabic, and the ones without any coating. These parameters were also not different between the maize varieties. There are varying reasons for the disparities between results on F. oxysporum f. sp. strigae (Foxy 2) obtained in this Kenyan study, and those from researches outside this country. In conclusion, F. oxysporum f. sp. strigae strain Foxy 2 is predominantly safe on maize growth, but its efficacy in controlling S. hermonthica was not evident on the tested Kenyan soils.     

A Theft-Resistant Adjustable Security Box for Digital Cameras

Abstract: Remote camera traps are becoming an increasingly popular, affordable, and valuable tool for wildlife research. However, theft and vandalism of these camera systems can result in substantial financial loss and loss of valuable data. We developed an adjustable steel camera security box to protect our Cuddeback® (Non Typical, Inc., Park Falls, WI) digital scouting cameras. Our cameras were deployed for 160 days and experienced no theft or vandalism during that time. Our armored camera box successfully protected our equipment and data, can be sized to accommodate any brand of camera, and can be used in a variety of field situations.     

基于地质灾害敏感性的生态安全格局关键区识别与修复——以济南市为例

区域生态安全格局构建对提升生态系统服务功能提供了重要路径，同时统筹各种生态要素进行生态保护与修复分区也是新时期做好生态修复的重要举措。以济南市为例，基于现状生态系统类型分布，聚焦生态本底和地质灾害敏感性的特征，基于形态学空间格局分析方法和自然保护区结合进行生态源地提取。采用夏季降水、植被覆盖度、坡度3个地质灾害敏感性因子修正基本生态阻力面。并采用最小成本路径方法（Least-Cost Path method，LCP）提取生态廊道，构建了市域的生态安全格局。采用电路理论进行生态关键区域（生态"夹点"和生态障碍点）的识别，进一步划分生态修复改善区，并对此提出针对性的生态保护修复策略和工程措施。研究表明：1）市域生态源地的个数为35个，面积为567.15 km²，主要类型为林地和草地。空间上主要分布南部山区。生态廊道818.42 km，平均廊道长度为12.99 km，廊道分布存在较为明显的空间分布差异性，整体呈现出"一屏、一带、三轴"的生态安全格局。2）识别的生态修复关键区包含生态"夹点"25处，历城区生态"夹点"分布最为密集。全市亟需修复的生态障碍点共34处，面积为6.90 km²，主要分布章丘区。生态改善区共识别2994.84 km²，近期亟需修复的面积为96.1 km²，主要分布在长清区、历城区、莱芜区。3）通过对比生态修复关键区和现状土地利用类型，因地适宜的制定了生态修复策略与工程措施布置指引方向。研究结果可为济南市国土空间生态修复规划提供一定的技术支撑，同时也可为其他地质灾害敏感性区域的生态修复规划提供指引。     

Oecophylla smaragdina food conversion efficiency: prospects for ant farming

Oecophylla ants are sold at high prices on several commercial markets as a human delicacy, as pet food or as traditional medicine. Currently markets are supplied by ants collected from the wild; however, an increasing interest in ant farming exists as all harvest is easily sold and as ant farming can be combined with the use of the ants in biological control programmes in tropical plantations where pest insects are converted into ant biomass. To assess the cost‐benefits of ant farming based on artificial feeding, food consumption and food conversion efficiency (ECI) of Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) was tested under laboratory conditions. Of the two types of food offered, the ants ingested 76% pure sucrose and 24% insect prey (dry weights) leading to ECI’s of 29% and 39% including brood only or brood plus imago gain, respectively. Based on Thai sugar and protein food costs and ant brood selling prices these efficiencies led to rates of return from 1.52 to 4.56, respectively, if: (i) protein is supplied from commercial products; or (ii) alternatively supplied from free sources such as insects and kitchen waste. These results suggest that Oecophylla ant farming may become highly profitable and deserves further research.     

江苏省县域森林生态安全评价及空间计量分析

通过考察生态区位因素对森林生态安全的影响,建立评价指标体系,研究其空间相关性的内在效应机制,从而实现森林生态安全的评价与监测。以江苏省80个区县为研究对象,基于2000—2015年面板数据,运用熵权法、专家法及模糊物元法计算森林生态安全指数,然后结合气象类指标及地形类指标计算生态区位系数,再用该系数修正森林ESI,同时结合Arc GIS技术、空间相关性分析、SLM与SEM模型得出如下结论:(1)人口密度、单位面积能源消耗量、退耕还林面积占比等指标权重最大;(2)生态区位系数高值区主要分布在江苏南部少数地区,低值区主要分布在江苏东北部;(3)苏南地区森林生态安全状况整体好于苏北及中东部地区;(4) 2000—2015年,江苏省67.5%的区县森林ESI呈现出较明显下降趋势,反映出江苏省森林生态安全发展状况不容乐观;(5)江苏省县域森林ESI整体空间相关性显著(P≤0.01),但2000—2015年空间聚集程度有所下降,且Low-Low聚类显著性更强;(6)森林ESI在江苏省县域间为扩散效应与回流效应并存。     

东部发达区生态安全格局构建——以苏南地区为例

随着城市化进程的加快,东部发达区面临水土流失、生态廊道阻断、栖息地破碎化等生态问题。识别重要生态用地,构建生态安全格局,对区域生态保护和可持续发展具有重要意义。选取苏南地区为研究区,分别基于生物多样性保护价值、水资源安全和土壤保持3项指标进行生态用地识别,结合GIS技术进行生态用地评价,以高等级生态用地作为源地;利用最小累积阻力模型,识别缓冲区和生态廊道,构建区域生态安全格局。取得以下研究结果:(1)生态安全格局由源地、廊道和缓冲区共同构成。研究区内高等级(非常重要)生态用地面积比例为22.97%;将面积大于10 km~2的高等级生态用地提取为源地,生态源地的面积比例为19.17%。(2)基于最小累积阻力模型,确定了生态缓冲区和生态廊道,其中生态缓冲区占研究区总面积的30.52%,潜在生态廊道的主要景观构成为耕地、林地和水域,分别占廊道总面积的31.82%、19.06%和17.27%。(3)通过叠加城市建设用地与生态源地、生态缓冲区图层,识别城市建设用地与生态用地的冲突区域,总面积为603.84 km~2,占源地与缓冲区面积总和的4.38%,空间上主要集中在长江沿线和太湖周边。