Vector borne diseases on an urban environment: The effects of heterogeneity and human circulation

We study the effect of human circulation and host/vector heterogeneities on the onset of epidemics of arboviruses. From a meta-population dynamics based on the classical Bailey–Dietz model, we derive a multi-group model under three assumptions: (i) fast host sojourn time-scale; (ii) mosquitoes do not move; (iii) time homogeneity and strong connectivity of human circulation. Within this modelling framework, three different kinds of R₀ appear: (i) the “true” or “global” R₀—derived from the corresponding next generation matrix; (ii) the uniform R₀—obtained if the patches are taken homogeneous; (iii) the local R₀s—obtained if the patches are disconnected. We show that there is relevant epidemiological information associated to all of them. In particular, they can be used to understand the effects of changing the circulation on the value of the global R₀. We also present additional results on the effects on R₀ of different vector control policies, and a simulation with data from the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.     

Context-specific territorial behavior in urban birds: no evidence for involvement of testosterone or corticosterone

Testosterone produced by the gonads is a primary mediator of seasonal patterns of territoriality and may directly facilitate territorial behavior during an encounter with a potential intruder. Costs and benefits associated with territoriality can vary as a function of habitat, for example through differences in resource distribution between areas occupied by different individuals. We investigated behaviors in response to simulated territorial intrusions (hereafter territorial behaviors) in urban (Phoenix, Arizona) and nearby desert populations of two Sonoran Desert birds (Curve-billed Thrasher and Abert's Towhee). We also examined the degree to which these behaviors are mediated by testosterone (T) and the adrenal steroid, corticosterone (CORT), which can interact with T in territorial contexts. In both species, urban birds displayed more territorial behaviors than their desert conspecifics, but this difference was not associated with variation in either plasma total or in plasma free (i.e., unbound to binding globulins) T or CORT. In addition, neither plasma T nor plasma CORT changed as a function of duration of the simulated territorial intrusion. Urban Abert's Towhees displayed more territorial behaviors in areas where their population densities were high than in areas of low population densities. Urban Curve-billed Thrashers displayed more territorial behaviors in areas with a high proportion of desert-type vegetation, particularly in areas that differed in vegetation composition from nearby randomly sampled areas, than in areas with a high proportion of exotic or non-desert type vegetation. Associations between territorial behavior and habitat characteristics were not related to plasma T or CORT. Understanding the hormonal processes underlying these associations between behavior and habitat may provide insight into how free-ranging animals assess territorial quality and alter their defensive behavior accordingly.     

哈尔滨城市和乡村青年居民肠道菌群多样性研究

【目的】分析居住于哈尔滨城市和乡村的青年居民肠道菌群多样性的异同。【方法】采用PCR和DGGE技术相结合的方法对生活于哈尔滨城市和乡村的青年志愿者肠道菌群多样性进行研究。基于DGGE指纹图谱,分别使用聚类和PCA分析对志愿者肠道微生物相似性进行分析,使用Shannon-Weine多样性指数(H′)、丰度(S)和均匀度(EH)对志愿者肠道微生物多样性进行分析,对图谱中具有代表性的共性和特异性条带进行胶回收和克隆测序以分析志愿者肠道微生物组成。基于PCR技术在种水平上对城乡志愿者肠道内乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属多样性进行定性分析。【结果】相似性分析显示,城乡青年居民间肠道微生物群落结构存在分开趋势,相似性小于城市或乡村青年居民内部;多样性分析显示,城乡青年居民肠道微生物多样性差异不显著;测序结果表明,城乡居民肠道微生物组成在门水平上相同,但是在种属水平上存在差异。PCR定性分析显示Lactobacillus plantarum、L.casei和L.salivarius在哈尔滨城乡青年居民肠道内检出率接近100%,Bifidobacterium longum和B.breve的检测率约90%,在哈尔滨城乡青年居民肠道内普遍存在;乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属各细菌种在城乡居民肠道中的检出频率差异不显著。【结论】哈尔滨城市和乡村青年居民肠道微生物多样性差异不显著。     

基于分割的多尺度城市绿地景观

利用多分辨率分割生成3种尺度的城市绿地景观.以50像元和300像元的目标分割值生成小尺度和大尺度的景观影像目标层,利用最近邻法分类两个目标层.对小尺度景观分类后的结果进行分割生成中间尺度的景观影像目标层并进行分类.从3个景观尺度的分类目标层中矢量化提取出绿地信息并计算6个景观指数：多样性、优势度、均匀度和分维数、破碎度和内缘比.多样性、优势度、均匀度和分维数的最大值分别为2.2、0.681、0.948和0.326,最小分别为1.641、0.122、0.707和0.113.表明多样性、均匀度和破碎度随着景观尺度的增大而减小,优势度随着景观尺度的增大而增大.基于分割产生多尺度景观的方法可以满足城市绿地景观研究的需求.     

城市生态系统健康综合评价

生态系统健康是生态学领域的研究热点之一.文中提出了对城市生态系统健康概念的理解; 从状态空间的角度, 解释了城市生态系统健康的内涵,并以此为基础,提出了目前研究中存在的不足; 从复合生态系统的角度,提出了一种新的城市生态系统健康评价方法——综合评价方法; 构建了城市生态系统健康综合评价模型,并将该方法应用于佛山市城市生态系统的健康评价.结果表明, 在研究时段内,佛山市城市生态系统健康水平逐年上升;综合评价方法不仅能反映城市整体健康状况,而且能辨别各子系统的相对健康水平,具有一定的理论价值和可操作性.     

济南市城市绿地可达性分析

以济南市1989、1996和2004年SPOT遥感卫星影像数据解译的城市绿地分类图、道路图和水系图为基础数据资料,在遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术支持下,运用景观可达性的概念与原理,采用费用加权距离方法,对济南市整体绿地系统和公园与广场绿地可达性的时空动态变化及其原因进行了分析。研究结果表明:1)济南市城市绿地的可达性不断提高与改善;2)济南市城市绿地可达性的空间格局变化明显,但仍不均衡、不太合理;3)城市绿地面积和斑块数量的不断增加、绿地分布格局的日益均衡和道路网的日臻完善是可达性不断提高的主要原因;4)城市绿地可达性分析是衡量城市绿地服务功能社会公平性的有力手段,充分体现城市建设“以人为本”的理念,是目前生态城市评价指标体系的必要补充。因此,城市绿地可达性分析结果可为合理调整与设计城市绿地系统提供科学依据。     

城市生态用地分类及其规划的一般原则

城市生态用地的规划布局是城市规划的难点之一,也是急待解决的问题.本文根据城市生态系统的特点,给出了城市生态用地定义,指出城市生态用地同时具有自然属性和社会属性,依据这个特点,将城市生态用地划分为服务型生态用地和功能型生态用地两大类型,并结合具体的城市生态规划对各种类型的生态用地规划进行了定性分析.     

城市湖泊富营养化成因和特征*

城市湖泊的功能主要体现在旅游、如愿、洪涝调蓄排水、调节气候以及改善城市生态环境等方面。根据湖泊所处地理位置和湖泊水质退化现象,阐述了城市湖泊水体从贫营养到富营养转变的主要原因;从水质的理化指标、底质污染物含量和水生态系统等方面初步时论了城市型浅水湖泊富营养化的特征。同非城市湖泊相比:大部分城市湖泊的水体透明度下降,污染严重的湖泊还会出现水体发黑或出现水华;水质和底质的氮磷及其它污染物含量较高,水生态系统急剧退化,水生植物以浮游植物为主,藻类大量繁殖,高等水生植物不断消亡。根据综合营养度指数对我国主要城市湖泊进行分级评价的结果表明,我国城市湖泊均达到了富营养化或严重富营养化程度。     

人为干扰对武汉市城市绿地鸟类群落结构的影响

城市绿地生态系统是城市景观的重要组成部分,具有重要的生态与文化价值。鸟类是城市绿地生态系统的指示类群,研究人类活动对鸟类资源的影响能够为城市生态景观的建设与维护提供重要理论依据。本研究于2021年10月至2022年5月,采用样线法对武汉市不同干扰强度的城市绿地内林鸟群落进行调查。共记录到鸟类11目34科100种,其中国家二级重点保护鸟类9种,在物种组成上以雀形目为主(76种,占调查到总鸟种数的76%),在居留型上以留鸟为主(42种,42%),在区系上主要属于东洋界(45种,45%)。繁殖季鸟类物种数高于非繁殖季,主要是由于夏候鸟和旅鸟的增加导致。在不同干扰强度中,重度干扰斑块的平均鸟类个体数最多,轻度干扰斑块的鸟类物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数最高,而中度干扰斑块的鸟类个体数、物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度指数均为最低,且繁殖季和非繁殖季鸟类群落结构在不同人为干扰强度中的格局未发生变化。综上所述,武汉市城市绿地的鸟类多样性较为丰富,随着干扰强度增加,鸟类多样性出现非线性差异,揭示了人为干扰与自然干扰对生态影响的差异;在面积狭小、破碎化严重的斑块中,人为干扰可能有利于城市绿地鸟类多样性的维持。     

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) seed fatty acids,flavonoids and heavy metals plasticity to different urban environments

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) is a deciduous tree which is widely used on urban green spaces in Serbia. Also, the seed of horse chestnut is an important raw material in pharmaceutical industry, owing to its medicinal properties. In this study, the content of fatty acids, flavonoids, aescin and heavy metals in seeds of 11 horse chestnut genotypes growing in urban conditions was investigated. A total of 16 fatty acids were identified. Unsaturated fatty acids in seed samples were the most abundat. Among the saturated fatty acids, palmitic acid was the dominant one, with a total average content of 8.12%. Oleic acid, with the total average content of 53.46%, was the most abundant unsaturated fatty acid. The results of this study indicated the presence of the following flavonoids: quercetin, kaempferol and rutin. Rutin was the most abundant, averagely contributing with 6.071 μg/g to the total quantified polyphenolics in all samples. The total aescin content ranged from 0.82% to 4.16%. Fruits of park and street trees from small- and middle-sized cities can be used in pharmaceutical industry as raw material. Differences between different urban site categories and localities were detected, which indicates the biochemical plasticity of the seeds to urban morphology.