北京浅山区香山特色小镇规划设计探索

香山小镇位于北京浅山区军庄镇,面对旅游、经济发展的压力和脆弱生态环境保育的课题,本案设计突出生态优先、绿色经济和文化共赢的可持续发展策略,把浅山区视为一个生命系统,从区域层面建立有指导性的生态保护导则,提升区域水资源管理、林相修复和栖息地复建的长远效益,推动有机果园和绿色旅游的发展;在设计过程中高度结合现状,设计结合自然,设计结合策划,修复基于保护。景观设计同步整合生态保护和策划、建设的要求,积极发掘民间工艺并创造性地应用于景观设计,发动当地居民的主动参与,塑造有温度、有记忆、有传承、亲切宜人的浅山特色生态小镇。     

The business perspective in ecological restoration: issues and challenges

Much of the practice of restoration is conducted by businesses—contractors, consultants, designers, engineers. Restoration businesses interact with a variety of stakeholders to complete projects on time and on budget, and to achieve ecological and business objectives. Our research explores the business perspective in restoration; it is based on data collected from businesses (contractors, consultants, design engineers), agencies, and nongovernmental organizations involved in a Superfund cleanup project in Montana, one of the largest river restoration efforts ever. Our findings highlight several areas restoration businesses must navigate. First, restoration businesses must juggle potentially competing goals, maintaining ecological integrity while achieving profitability objectives. Second, these businesses must manage the risk that arises from variability in the natural environment as well as individuals' risk tolerances. Third, they must navigate the disconnect between “science” and “practice,” including how to best monitor restoration projects. Fourth, they must make decisions about new techniques and innovations. Fifth, on‐the‐ground implementation must acknowledge that personnels' motives and expertise might conflict with original plans. We discuss these findings in relation to relevant scholarly research, offering implications for theory and practice. For example, the business of ecological restoration requires learning over time to be profitable while achieving the desired ecological and social outcomes; restoration businesses leverage monitoring in pursuit of adaptive management and engage “frontline personnel” as important voices in the restoration process. Understanding the business of restoration adds an important perspective in the complex dynamics of social‐ecological systems.     

Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation: An appraisal of current and alternative technologies for N input into plants

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) involves a highly specialized and intricately evolved interactions between soil microorganisms and higher plants for harnessing the atmospheric elemental nitrogen (N). This process has been researched for almost a century for efficient N input into plants. The basic mechanism and biochemical steps involved in BNF have been unraveled. It has become abundantly clear that the host plant (legumes) dominates in regulating the BNF process. Environmental factors as well influence this process. Perturbation or any manipulation of the interactions between the bacteria and the legumes seems to offset the critical balance, usually to the detriment of N fixation efficiency. Not much success has been obtained in either enhancing BNF in legumes or transferring important BNF traits to non-nitrogen fixing organisms. An appraisal is given for the lack of success in making the BNF process a popular and efficient agronomic practice. Alternative physiological approaches are presented for improving mobilization, redistribution and utilization of stored N reserves within the host plant.     

Skeletal economy in certain herbivorous beetles as an adaptation to a poor dietary supply of nitrogen

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Flying Coleoptera were sampled with light traps from the tree canopy of lowland alluvial rain forest in Brunei, Borneo.
• 2 Adult chrysomelid beetles were found to carry significantly less skeleton relative to their overall mass than those of any family other than herbivorous scarabaeids (subfamily: Rutelinae). Xylophagous lucanids and cerambycids and dung-feeding scarabaeids (subfamilies: Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae) carried as large a proportion of skeleton by mass as predatory carabids and cicindelids.
• 3 Skeletal production requires the commitment of assimilated nitrogen to chitin and proteins. Adequate nitrogen is more readily available to predators, carrion or dung-feeders, and xylophages (given enough time) than to leaf-chewing chrysomelids, which are also environmentally exposed to predatory attack. Female chrysomelids were found to carry a larger number of mature eggs/insect than those of any other family. A larger proportion of their mass was represented by eggs than skeleton, as reproductive compensation for reduced skeletal protection.
• 4 It was estimated that a chrysomelid beetle required approximately 43% of the nitrogen incorporated by a predatory carabid of the same mass, whereas xylophagous cerambycids and lucanids would need between 84% and 98% of that in the predator.

     

The distribution of epiphyte growth-forms in the canopy of a Colombian cloud-forest

Cloud forests are known for their abundance in epiphytes. The growth-form composition of the epiphytic vegetation in the crowns of two tree-species in an upper-andean forest in Colombia is described. Bryophytes formed the bulk of the living epiphytic biomass, with tall turfs and smooth mats (sensu Richards 1984) as commonest growth-forms. Vascular plants and lichens were subordinate to bryophytes. Along the canopy-branches a clear sequence of growth-forms could be demonstrated. Analysis of this gradient by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and calculation of association-indices between growth-forms revealed two basic groups. One group is typical for the inner canopy, another for the outer canopy. An important determinant of the growth-form composition was the phorophyte species. The vegetational gradient was interpreted in terms of gradual changes in microclimatological factors, water- and nutrient availability and substratumage.     

Political polarization of conservation issues in the era of COVID-19: An examination of partisan perspectives and priorities in the United States

As a zoonotic disease with unprecedented global impacts, COVID-19 may influence how people prioritize issues related to wildlife conservation. Using a nationally representative sample of US residents, we investigated: (1) how COVID-19 affected the relative importance of conservation issues among adults with different political ideologies, and (2) how the pandemic affected political polarization of conservation issues during the 2020 general election in the United States. Conservation issues such as endangered species and controlling zoonotic disease ranked low in importance among the 14 policy issues considered, even lower than environmental issues such as climate change and environmental protection; however, the importance of all conservation issues increased as a result of COVID-19. Political polarization surrounding the perceived importance of conservation issues also increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Democrats reporting larger increases in importance than Republicans. Polarization was driven by the most conservative Republicans and the most liberal Democrats. But this polarization was less extreme than it was for other issues such as climate change and healthcare. Findings highlight the need for communicating links between zoonotic disease and human interactions with wildlife and the environment. Acting quickly may be critical in areas where conservation issues are primed to succumb to political polarization.     

Material Recycling and the Myth of Landfill Diversion

Proponents of material recycling typically point to two environmental benefits: disposal (landfill/incinerator) reduction and primary production displacement. However, in this paper we mathematically demonstrate that, without displacement, recycling can delay but not prevent any existing end‐of‐life material from reaching final disposal. The only way to reduce the amount of material ultimately landfilled or incinerated is to produce less in the first place; material that is not made needs not be disposed. Recycling has the potential to reduce the amount of material reaching end of life solely by reducing primary production. Therefore, the “dual benefits” of recycling are in fact one, and the environmental benefit of material recycling rests in its potential to displace primary production. However, displacement of primary production from increased recycling is driven by market forces and is not guaranteed. Improperly assuming all recycled material avoids disposal underestimates the environmental impacts of the product system. We show that the potential magnitude of this error is substantial, though for inert recyclables it is lower than the error introduced by improperly assuming all recycled material displaces primary material production. We argue that life cycle assessment end‐of‐life models need to be updated so as not to overstate the benefits of recycling. Furthermore, scholars and policy makers should focus on finding and implementing ways to increase the displacement potential of recyclable materials rather than focusing on disposal diversion targets.     

Closing the Loop on E‐waste: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

This paper describes the challenges faced, and opportunities identified, by a multidisciplinary team of researchers developing a novel closed loop system to recover valuable metals and reduce e‐waste, focusing on mobile phones as a case study. This multidisciplinary approach is contrasted with current top‐down approaches to making the transition to the circular economy (CE). The aim of the research presented here is to develop a product service system (PSS) that facilitates the recovery of valuable functional components and metals from mobile phone circuit boards. To create a holistic solution and limit unintended consequences, in addition to technological solutions, this paper considers appropriate component lifetimes; the (often ignored) role of the citizen in the circular economy; customer interaction with the PSS; environmental life cycle assessment; and social impacts of the proposed PSS. Development of enabling technologies and materials to facilitate recovery of components and metals and to provide an emotionally durable external enclosure is described. This research also highlights the importance of understanding value in the CE from a multifaceted and interdisciplinary perspective.     

Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators

In this study, material flow analysis (MFA) is applied to quantify and reduce the obstacles for advancing a circular economy (CE) of platinum (Pt) from catalytic converters (CC) in Europe. First, the value chain and related stakeholders are mapped out in an MFA‐like model to both facilitate the assessment of stocks and flows, and get a comprehensive view of potential action levers and resources to close‐the‐loop. Then, through the cross analysis of numerous data sources, two MFA are completed: (i) one general MFA, and (ii) one sector‐specific MFA, drawing a distinction between the fate of Pt from (a) light‐duty vehicles, under the European Union's End of Life Vehicle Directive 2000/EC/53, and (b) heavy‐duty and off‐road vehicles. Key findings reveal a leakage of around 15 tons of Pt outside the European market in 2017. Although approximately one quarter of the losses are due to in‐use dissipation, 65% are attributed to insufficient collection and unregulated exports. Comparing the environmental impact between primary and secondary production, it has been estimated that halving the leakage of Pt during usage and collection could prevent the energetic consumption of 1.3 × 10³ TJ and the greenhouse gases emission of 2.5 × 10² kt CO₂ eq. Through the lens of circularity indicators, activating appropriate action levers to enhance the CE performance of Pt in Europe is of utmost importance in order to secure future production of new generations of CC and fuel cells. Moreover, the growing stockpile of Pt from CC in use indicates the need for better collection mechanisms. Also, the CC attrition during use and associated Pt emissions in the environment appears non‐negligible. Based on the scarce and dated publications in this regard, we encourage further research for a sound understanding of this phenomenon that can negatively impact human health.     

Capitalist Contexts for Darwinian Theory: Land, Finance, Industry and Empire

When socio-economic contexts are sought for Darwin’s science, it is customary to turn to the Industrial Revolution. However, important issues about the long run of England’s capitalisms can only be recognised by taking a wider view than Industrial Revolution historiographies tend to engage. The role of land and finance capitalisms in the development of the empire is one such issue. If we historians of Darwin’s science allow ourselves a distinction between land and finance capitalisms on the one hand and industrial capitalism on the other; and if we ask with which side of this divide were Darwin and his theory of branching descent by natural selection aligned, then reflection on leading features of that theory, including its Malthusian elements, suggests that the answer is often and largely, though not exclusively: on the land side. The case of Wallace, socialist opponent of land capitalism, may not be as anomalous for this suggestion as one might at first think. Social and economic historians have reached no settled consensuses on the long-run of England’s capitalisms. We historians of Darwin’s science would do well to import some of these unsettled states of discussion into our own work over the years to come.