Estimating the human appropriation of land in Brazil by means of an Input–Output Economic Model and Ecological Footprint analysis

As we confront the current environmental crisis, determining the biophysical base (e.g., materials, energy, land, and water) of nations has become paramount. With advanced economies benefiting from the import of resource-intensive primary goods originating from poorer parts of the world, especially emerging nations, these are dilapidating their natural capital. Brazil is one of such emerging economies, whose mining and farming activities, propping up its export-led economic growth, exert great pressure on the environment. In particular, farming has been shown to have one of the world's greatest environmental impacts, especially as a consequence of land use associated with cattle ranching. Since a nation-wide evaluation of land-use types across the whole sectorial spectrum of the country's economy is still lacking, we used the most recently available Input–Output Economic Model for Brazil and the Ecological Footprint method to identify those economic sectors with the greatest potential for appropriating portions of the natural world.Our results show that: (i) the biggest chunk of Brazil's Ecological Footprint is due to its Carbon Footprint and, in particular, emissions from cattle; (ii) only a few economic sectors exhibit high Ecological Footprint values, chiefly those belonging to livestock farming and energy production based on fossil fuels; (iii) excluding the soybeans and slaughter sectors, export-oriented sectors have below-average Ecological Footprint values; and (iv) the percentage of Brazil's Ecological Footprint due to household consumption (excluding imports) is three times bigger than that attributable to exports, with sectors belonging to livestock farming contributing the most to such disparity.These results underscore that the environmental impact of the Brazilian economy can be drastically reduced by tackling the emission-intensive production processes of a few sectors only and disincentivizing the domestic consumption of a narrow range of products, especially with respect to the livestock segment.     

The influence of host fruit morphology on parasitization rates in the Caribbean fruit fly,Anastrepha suspensa

Among the host fruits of the Caribbean fruit fly there are a variety of sizes and shapes. These morphological differences may influence the vulnerability of the larvae to parasites. In the laboratory, Caribbean fruit fly larvae placed in the smaller of 2 different sizes of artificial ‘fruit’ (cloth spheres filled with a diet material) were parasitized at a higher rate by the braconid,Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) when spheres were presented separately. However, when parasites were simultaneously presented with 6 different sizes of ‘fruit’ there was no significant relationship between size and parasitization rate. This may be due to the parasites preference to search for larvae in larger ‘fruit’. In field collections of different species of host fruit, a significant inverse correlation exists between fruit radius and rate of parasitization. However, host fruit size accounts for only about 5% of the variance in yearly parasitization rates.      

Differing Neurochemical and Morphological Sequelae of Global Ischemia: Comparison of Single- and Multiple-Insult Paradigms

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate pathomechanisms responsible for the deleterious effects of repeated episodes of brief forebrain ischemia. Halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to either (a) a single 15-min period or (b) three 5-min periods (separated by 1 h) of global forebrain ischemia by bilateral carotid artery occlusions plus hypotension (50 mm Hg), followed by various periods of recirculation. Brain temperature was normothermic throughout. In one series of rats, extracellular levels of glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured in the dorsolateral striatum (n = 6-8 per group) and lateral thalamus (n = 4-6 per group) by microdialysis and HPLC before and during ischemia and during 3-5 h of recirculation. In a parallel series of rats (n = 6 per group), ischemic cell change was quantified at 2 (dark neurons), 24, or 72 h following either single or multiple ischemic insults. A single 15-min ischemic period led to massive glutamate release (13-fold increase; p = 0.001), which returned to normal by 20-30 min of recirculation and remained normal thereafter. By contrast, in rats with three 5-min periods of ischemia, the glutamate level rise with each repeated insult (four- to 4.5-fold; p < or = 0.02) was smaller than that observed during the single 15-min insult, but a late sustained rise (five- to six-fold; p < 0.05) occurred at 2-3 h of recirculation. Brief ischemia-induced elevations of glycine and GABA levels were detected in both the single- and multiple-insult groups, with normalization during recirculation. In contrast, the excitotoxic index, a composite measure of neurotransmitter release ([glutamate] x [glycine]/[GABA]), differed markedly following single versus multiple insults (p = 0.002 by repeated-measures analysis of variance) and increased by seven- to 12-fold (p < 0.05) at 1-3 h following the third insult. The total amount of glutamate released was 3.3-fold higher in the multiple-insult than in the single-insult group (p < 0.02). At 2 h of recirculation, histopathological analysis of dorsolateral striatum showed a significantly greater frequency of dark neurons in the multiple- than in the single-insult group (p < 0.05 by analysis of variance). In the thalamus, a higher frequency of ischemic neurons was seen in the multiple-than in the single-insult group at all intervals studied. Thus, in rats with multiple ischemic insults, accelerated ischemic damage was found in the striatum, and severe ischemic injury was documented in the thalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Estimating predation risk in zooplankton communities: the importance of vertical overlap

In order to estimate predation risk in nature, two basic components of predation need to be quantified: prey vulnerability, and density risk. Prey vulnerability can be estimated from clearance rates obtained from enclosure experiments with and without predators. Density risk is a function of predator density, and the spatial and temporal overlap of the predator and prey populations. In the current study we examine the importance of the vertical component of overlap in making accurate estimates of predation risk from the invertebrate predator Mesocyclops edax on rotifer versus crustacean prey. The results indicate that assumptions of uniform predator and prey densities cause a significant underestimation of predation risk for many crustacean prey due to the coincident vertical migration of these prey with the predator. The assumption of uniformity is more reasonable for estimating predation risk for most rotifer prey.     

Regional Amino Acid Distribution in Relation to Function in Insulin Hypoglycaemia

The amino acids glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamine were measured as their dansyl derivatives in whole brain and specific brain regions by a sensitive double-labelling technique at various times during the development of hypoglycaemic encephalopathy. Hypoglycaemia was induced by administration of insulin (100 i.u./kg) to 24-h fasted rats. No significant changes in glutamate, GABA, or glutamine were detected in whole brain at any time up to and including the onset of hypoglycaemic convulsions. In cerebral cortex, however, GABA levels were reduced to 65% or normal prior to the appearance of neurological symptoms of hypoglycaemia. Onset of symptoms (severe catalepsy and loss of righting reflex, but before the onset of convulsions) was accompanied by marked decreases of glutamate and glutamine in striatum and hippocampus. These regions, in addition to cerebral cortex, show the greatest vulnerability to hypoglycaemic insult, according to previous anatomical studies. Aspartate levels were significantly increased (p less than 0.01) in the cerebral cortex of convulsing animals, confirming a previous report. No changes were detectable in any of the amino acids studied in medulla-pons at any time during the progression of hypoglycaemia. Cerebral cortex and striatum showed a selective net loss of amino acids (2.2 and 3.5 mumol/g. respectively) prior to the onset of insulin-hypoglycaemic convulsions.     

基于GIS的长江口海域生态系统脆弱性综合评价

气候变化、富营养化、生境破碎等是全球普遍面临的生态问题,科学评估生态系统外部压力及其弹性力,对生态系统管理和生态修复具有重要的指导意义。使用空间主成分分析(SPCA)和层次分析法(AHP)构建评价指标体系,结合地理信息系统软件,对长江口海域生态环境脆弱性进行综合评价,并根据生态环境脆弱性指数(EVI)值,将研究区生态环境脆弱性分为5级:微度脆弱(0.5)、轻度脆弱(0.5—0.8)、中度脆弱(0.8—1.0)、重度脆弱(1.0—1.2)、极度脆弱(1.2—1.5)。结果表明:空间尺度上,长江口口门内生态环境脆弱度最高,生态环境脆弱度从口门内向口门外呈显著的降低趋势,近五年,口门内极度脆弱区空间分布南移;评估区域内,约2000 km~2的极度脆弱区发生了转变,极度脆弱区、重度脆弱区面积占比分别下降了7%和5%,长江口海域生态环境脆弱性明显好转。总体上,近年来大量陆源污染物输入以及生态系统结构变化,是导致长江口生态环境脆弱度较高的重要因素。     

丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展的时空演变特征及影响机理

将丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展作为一个时空变化系统进行分析,提取1980—2015年7个年份用地演变信息,结合10 km×10 km方格网构建,从总量趋势、分地州市级区域、分用地类型及特殊性全面认知扩展的时空演变特征,采用地理探测器模型,在县域尺度定量诊断城镇建设用地扩展的人文要素和自然要素的影响程度及各要素间的交互影响作用,进而识别其主控要素并探讨其作用机理,对比分析天山北坡城市群和喀什都市圈两个重点发展区域的分异性。研究结果表明:近35年以来,丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地扩展约2.9倍,扩展强度波动增长且以分散小斑块为主,各地州市扩展规模和强度的时空差异性显著,次一级城镇建设用地类型扩展呈现动态变化特征,用地扩展受自然本底胁迫条件和经济社会发展过程多重影响有其特殊性;全域城镇建设用地在县域尺度以低水平扩展与各级人文要素和自然要素水平的耦合匹配关系为主;综合地理探测器因子分析模块和交互作用模块的探测结果,判定地形位指数、城镇化率、地形起伏度、二三产业比重为影响丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆县域城镇建设用地扩展的主控要素,并探寻各主控要素的作用机理;在重点发展区域天山北坡城市群和喀什都市圈的驱动要素有共性也有明显分异性。该研究为丝绸之路经济带核心区新疆城镇建设用地因地因城因类的差别化调控及区域可持续发展提供科学支撑和决策依据。     

石化基地生态环境系统脆弱性演化机理——以连云港为例

通过梳理国内外文献,挖掘脆弱性本质,提出普遍适用于生态系统脆弱性的PIR理论框架,并从人-环境耦合角度构建演化模型探究石化基地生态环境系统脆弱性演化机理。研究发现：生态系统脆弱性来源于压力扰动,体现在暴露性与敏感性的联合效应,而最终取决于弹性应对影响的状态。石化基地是一个多层次闭环系统,在压力影响下,暴露性、敏感性及弹性彼此间的双重导向作用决定着脆弱性的演化进程;内外部人文与环境因素变化是脆弱性的潜在驱动力,而压力源增多、暴露比例扩大、敏感性上升、弹性退化以及缺乏环境治理能力是加剧脆弱性的具体表征。以欠发达地区连云港石化基地为例,模拟其系统脆弱性演化过程,并从压力、暴露性、敏感性、自我恢复能力和人工修复能力方面构建评价指标体系。结论与建议不仅对石化基地所在欠发达地区的可持续发展具有启示意义,还为其生态环境系统脆弱性的进一步评价提供理论依据。     

澜沧江流域暴雨干旱灾害与海温异常波动规律的相关性

基于中国气象局国家气象信息中心提供的澜沧江区域1961—2011年50年气象资料,采用EMD(Empirical Mode Decomposition)分解、均生函数逐步回归模型、相关分析等方法,探讨了澜沧江流域极端天气灾害的变化特征,及其区域极端灾害变化和全球海温异常ENSO(El Nio/La Nia-Southern Oscillation)之间的联系。结果表明:(1)该区域降水和暴雨频次存在多尺度特征,降水量存在2a、7a、15a的变化周期,且主周期为准2 a。(2)降水量和暴雨频度序列的IMF1和IMF2周期在2—7 a之间,与ENSO在年际变化上的信号相吻合,NINO(El Nio)指数无论春夏秋冬或年际都与暴雨和干旱灾害频次呈现负相关,而SOI(Southern Oscillation Index)指数则呈现正相关,其中,NINO指数与干旱相关性指数在秋冬和年际接近-0.3。(3)澜沧江流域暴雨和干旱灾害与ENSO有重要联系,且随着气温升高干旱灾害频次明显增加。研究结果显示区域极端气温灾害的变化与全球气候变暖有某种关联,是全球气候变化的区域响应表现形式之一。     

长江经济带旅游-经济-生态系统脆弱性时空演变及趋势预测

基于2004—2018年的面板数据,借助脆弱性研究方法、冷热点分析法、空间变差模型和灰色预测模型探索长江经济带旅游-经济-生态系统的时空演变特征及趋势预测。研究表明:(1)2004—2018年长江经济带总体脆弱性指数在波动中上涨,各省市脆弱性指数洼地集中于东部地区且呈平稳发展态势;峰值集中于西部地区但下降趋势显著;总体可持续发展水平呈现"东部>中部>西部"的空间分布格局,但西部地区可持续发展水平可能将在未来超越中部地区。(2)长江经济带脆弱性指数集聚性在扩张,冷热点时空分布变化显著,冷点区域减少,热点区域增多,印证了总体区域的脆弱性数值在不断提升。(3)长江经济带脆弱性指数空间分异特征呈阶段性变化,"东散西集"的分异特征逐渐被打破,总体指数呈均衡化发展态势。(4)通过预测计算2019—2023年长江经济带各区域脆弱性指数,发现2019—2023年的脆弱性指数基本形成了对2014—2018年的全包围态势,长江经济带三系统脆弱性指数较高的发展隐患逐步成为现实问题。