Impacts of socio-economic factors on sediment yield in the Upper Yangtze River

In recent years, the role of human activities in changing sediment yield has become more apparent for the construction of hydraulic engineering and water conservation projections in the Upper Yangtze River, but it has not been evaluated at the macro scale. Taking Sichuan Province and Chongqing City as an example, this paper studies the relationship between socio-economic factors and sediment yield in the Upper Yangtze River based on section data in 1989 and 2007. The results show that sediment yield is significantly correlated with population density and cultivated area, in which the former appears to be more closely related to sediment yield. Moreover, in the relation of sediment yield vs. population density, a critical value of population density exists, below which the sediment yield increases with the increase of population density and over which the sediment yield increases with the decrease of population density. The phenomenon essentially reflects the influence of natural factors, such as topography, precipitation and soil property, and some human activities on sediment yield. The region with a higher population density than critical value is located in the east of the study area and is characterized by plains, hills and low mountains, whereas the opposite is located in the west and characterized by middle and high mountains. In the eastern region, more people live on the lands with a low slope where regional soil erosion is slight; therefore, sediment yield is negatively related with population density. In contrast, in the western region, the population tends to aggregate in the areas with abundant soil and water resources which usually lead to a higher intensity of natural erosion, and in turn, high-intensity agricultural practices in these areas may further strengthen local soil erosion. It is also found that population tends to move from the areas with bad environment and high sediment yield to the areas with more comfortable environment and less sediment yield. The natural factors have greater influence on sediment yield of western region than that of eastern region. Generally, the natural factors play a dominant role on sediment yield in the Upper Yangtze River.

Food web of benthic macro invertebrates in a large Yangtze River-connected lake: the role of flood disturbance

This Study was conducted in Lake Dongtinghu, a large river-connected lake on the Yangtze River flood-plain, China. Our goal was to determine trophic relationships among benthic macroinvertebrates, as well as the effects of flood disturbance on the benthic food web of a river-connected lake. Macroinvertebrates in the lake fed mainly on detritus and plankton (both zooplankton and phytoplankton). Food web Structure in Lake Dongtinghu was characterized by molluscs as the dominant group, low connectance, high level of omnivory. based oil detritus and primary production, and most ingestion concentrating on a few links. Our analyses showed that flood disturbance is an important factor affecting the benthic food web in Lake Dongtinghu. The numbers of species and functional feeding groups (FFGs), and the density and biomass of macroinvertebrates decreased significantly during flooding. Connectance was higher during the flood season than in other seasons, indicating that floods have a strong effect on connectance in this Yangtze River-connected lake. Flood effects on the benthic web were also evident in the decrease of niche overlaps within and anion, FFGs. Our results provide useful information regarding biodiversity conservation on the Yangtze floodplain. Reconstructing and maintaining natural and regular flow regimes between Yangtze lakes and the river is essential for restoration of macroinvertebrates on the floodplain.

辽西山地乡土树种开发利用的理论基础与技术

辽西山地由于人为破坏严重，自然环境恶劣，建国以来，国家和地方先后投入了大量的人力与物力，开展以人工植被建设为主要目的工程治理。由于诸多方面原因，辽西生态建设多注重理论的探讨和工程的实施，技术开发没引起足够重视。 本文以山地乡土树种开发利用的理论和技术为主要内容，对辽西地区生态建设的理论和方法进行研究，目的是为辽西山地生态恢复与环境治理提供相应的理论基础和技术指导，以期在辽西生态与环境建设中以较少的投资获得较大的生态效益。 本研究有如下工作和结果：(1)分析并明确了辽西山地生态建设主要矛盾，指出辽西山地生态建设应遵循恢复生态学理论；（2）通过对干燥度测算，明确了辽西山地属于半干旱区与半湿润区的交错地带，从而对辽西山地给出了现实的生态区划定位；（3）利用修正的Thornthwaite公式计算了这一地区的最大潜在蒸发量，分析了水分的盈亏状况；（4）研究分析了乡土树种生长与气候因子的关系；（5）在分析现有森林资源的基础上，确认人工植被建设中纯林比重过大、乡土树种比例过小、生态系统十分脆弱；（6）研究了乡土树种资源，结果表明辽西山地乡土树种丰富，可以开发的较多，进而提出了可利用的乡土树种耐旱的形态和生理特征；同时，进一步提出了主要乡土树种研究和开发课题；（7）从生态工程的原理出发，提出并设计了辽西地区利用乡土树种可进行的生态建设工程项目。

辽西山地乡土树种开发利用的研究

辽西山地由于人为破坏严重，自然环境恶劣，建国以来，国家和地方先后投入了大量的人力与物力，开展以人工植被建设为主要目的工程治理。由于诸多方面原因，辽西生态建设多注重理论的探讨和工程的实施，技术开发没引起足够重视。本文以山地乡土树种开发利用的理论和技术为主要内容，对辽西山地生态建设的理论和方法进行研究，目的是为辽西山地生态恢复与环境治理提供相应的理论基础和技术指导，以期在辽西生态与环境建设中以较少的投资获得较大的生态效益。本研究有如下工作和结果：（1）分析并明确了辽西山地生态建设主要矛盾，指出辽西山地生态建设应遵循恢复生态学理论；（2）通过对干燥度测算，明确了辽西地区属于半干旱区与半湿润区的交错地带，从而对辽西山地给出了现实的生态区划定位；（3）利用修正的Thornthwaite公式计算了这一地区的最大潜在蒸发量，分析了水分的盈亏状况；（4）研究分析了乡土树种生长与气候因子的关系；（5）在分析现有森林资源的基础上，确认人工植被建设中纯林比重过大、乡土树种比例过小、生态系统十分脆弱；（6）研究了乡土树种资源，结果表明辽西山地乡土树种丰富，可以开发的较多，进而提出了可利用的乡土树种耐旱的形态和生理特征；同时，进一步提出了主要乡土树种研究和开发课题；（7）从生态工程的原理出发，提出并设计了辽西地区利用乡土树种可进行的生态建设工程项目。

半干旱典型草原区退耕地土壤结构特征及其对入渗的影响

坡地土壤降雨入渗、径流和侵蚀过程与土壤结构密切相关。试验样地为宁夏固原云雾山自然保护区的坡耕地、退耕6a、退耕11a(前8a放牧,后3a禁牧)和退耕16a坡地,室内测定土壤结构指标,野外采用基于径流-入流-产流方法的新型降雨仪器在17、43和56mm/h雨强下观测坡地土壤的入渗性能,分析土壤结构特征对入渗的影响。对土壤结构的稳定性指标、孔隙性指标和分形维数指标进行分析,结果表明,随着退耕年限的延长,土壤团聚体稳定性增强,土壤结构孔隙状况得到明显改善。模拟降雨结果显示,随着雨强的增大,退耕地的土壤入渗率增加,但坡耕地反而降低。退耕11a样地受放牧牲畜践踏影响,入渗性能最差。通过逐步回归分析可知,在17mm/h和56mm/h雨强下,影响土壤稳定入渗率的土壤结构因子主要是容重和有机碳含量,而在43mm/h雨强下主要是毛管孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度。土壤有机碳含量和孔隙状况的差异致使土壤结构特征不同,从而对入渗性能和过程产生明显的影响。

黄土高原水土保持的水文环境效应研究进展

黄土区大面积、高强度的植被营造工程和各项水利工程虽充分利用了有限的水资源 ,减少了入黄泥沙 ,但同时也人为的切断或改变了水分循环的途径 ,对水环境产生不同方向和程度的影响。尽管国内外学者对水土保持的水环境效应已进行了不少研究 ,但仍存在一些问题 ,主要表现在单项措施 ,特别是林草措施下的水环境效应研究比较深入 ;在水环境研究内容上 ,多注重对地表径流减水减沙的分析 ,而对水量平衡、水文情势等研究较少 ;在研究尺度上 ,多集中于对径流小区的分析 ,单点研究深入而面研究不够

燕沟流域退耕地土壤有机碳、全氮和酶活性对植被恢复过程的响应

本文以黄土高原丘陵区陕北延安燕沟流域为例,研究了退耕地土壤有机碳、全氮和酶活性对植被恢复过程的响应。结果表明,随植被恢复年限的增加,植被盖度、多度和物种数均呈现先增加后减少然后又增加的趋势。同当年对照农地相比,随着植被恢复年限的增加,表层(0~20 cm)土壤有机碳、全氮、蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性均明显增加,过氧化氢酶活性随植被恢复年限的增加变化不明显。同对照农地相比,表层土壤有机碳、全氮、蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性分别增加了35%~184.6%、5.7%~157.4%、89.6%~566%、32.9%~331.2%和0.18%~184.8%。表层土壤有机碳和脲酶活性对植被恢复的响应是在植被恢复初期(0~8年),随植被恢复年限的增加而增加,植被恢复8~29年期间,随植被恢复年限的增加而减少,而植被恢复29 a以后,又随植被恢复年限的增加而增加。而表层土壤全氮、蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶活性对植被恢复的响应是在植被恢复初期(0~16年),随植被恢复年限的增加而增加,植被恢复16~29年期间,随植被恢复年限的增加而减少,植被恢复29 a以后,又随植被恢复年限的增加而增加。表层土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性与有机碳...

不同保墒耕作方法在旱地上的保墒效果及增产效应

采用田间试验研究了留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖、免耕补充灌溉和传统保墒耕作 3种方法对旱地土壤水分及小麦产量的影响。结果表明 ,留茬少耕秸秆覆盖增加了夏闲期农田的蓄水量 ,为旱地小麦播种出苗提供了水分保证。小麦收获时的土壤水分含量 ,0～ 60 cm的土壤有效蓄水量传统保墒方法为 6.4mm,免耕补充灌水的为 6.7mm,留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖方法为 1 5 .3 mm,留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖方法的蓄水量多 ;60～ 1 0 0 cm的土壤有效蓄水量传统保墒方法为 3 0 .9mm,免耕补充灌水为 2 0 .3 mm,留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖方法为 3 3 .5 mm,也是留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖方法的蓄水量多。留茬少耕秸秆全程覆盖比传统耕作保墒技术增产 6.7%～ 5 4.8%。留茬少耕秸秆覆盖技术 ,提高了小麦播种时的底墒、灌浆时的土壤水含量 ,是一种有效的蓄水保墒、提高旱地小麦产量的方法

我国区域土壤侵蚀与环境研究述评

区域土壤侵蚀与环境研究,是在比较大的中间尺度和较长的时间尺度上,对土壤侵蚀发生发展过程、土壤侵蚀因子、土壤侵蚀定量评价方法,以及土壤侵蚀治理对环境的影响进行研究的科学与技术体系。该领域的研究,即能直接为国家水土保持宏观决策提供支持,又能揭示土壤侵蚀的宏观规律,并于全球变化研究相联系。我国在该领域的研究主要概括四个方面,包括:①区域土壤侵蚀因子研究,是为认识土壤侵蚀环境特征和进行土壤侵蚀定量评价的基础,②区域土壤侵蚀评价研究,包括调查制图、定性评价和定量评价等,是该研究服务于水土保持实践的基本途径;③水土保持的环境效应研究,是从另外一个视角对土壤侵蚀环境与水土流失及其治理关系的认识。是确切评估水土保持效益,保证水土保持工作健康持续稳定发展的基础。今后应尽快开发区域水土流失定量评价模型,并在区域尺度上对环境效应的方式、范围、程度和发展趋势做出综合计价和分析预测。

Population dynamics and responses to management of plateau pikas Ochotona curzoniae

1. Plateau pikas Ochotona curzoniae are considered a pest species on the Tibetan Plateau because they compete with livestock for forage and their burrowing could contribute to soil erosion. The effectiveness of pest control programmes in Tibet has not been measured, and it is not known whether changes in livestock management have exacerbated problems with plateau pikas or compromised their control. This study measured the impact of control programmes and livestock management for forage conservation on populations of plateau pikas in alpine meadow in Naqu District, central Tibet, during 2004 and 2005.2. Current techniques for controlling plateau pikas in spring cause large reductions in abundance, but high density-dependent rates of increase result in no differences between treated and untreated populations by the following autumn. Rates of increase from spring to autumn are not influenced by standing plant biomass or concurrent grazing by yaks Bos grunniens and Tibetan sheep Ovis aries.3. In autumn there was significantly lower biomass outside fenced areas with year-round livestock grazing compared with inside fenced areas with equivalent or higher numbers of plateau pikas but predominantly winter grazing by livestock. Inside fenced areas, control of plateau pikas in spring produced no detectable effect on standing plant biomass at the end of the following summer compared with uncontrolled populations of plateau pikas.4. Regardless of their initial density, populations of plateau pikas declined rapidly over winter outside fenced areas where there was very low standing plant biomass in autumn. However, inside fenced areas with higher plant biomass in autumn, low-density populations of plateau pikas declined more slowly than high-density populations.5. Synthesis and applications. Current control programmes have limited effect because populations of plateau pikas can recover in one breeding season. There was no apparent increase in forage production in areas where plateau pikas were controlled. However, plateau pikas appear to benefit from changes in grazing management, with low-density populations declining less over winter inside fenced areas than elsewhere. It was not evident that control programmes are warranted or that they will improve the livelihoods of Tibetan herders.

The Critically Endangered black crested gibbon Nomascus concolor on Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China: the role of forest types in the species' conservation

The Critically Endangered black crested gibbon Nomascus concolor of China, Laos and Vietnam is threatened by deforestation and habitat destruction but there have been no studies of how it uses its forest habitat, probably because of the typically rugged t

Effects of damming on population sustainability of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis: evaluation of optimal conservation measures

The numbers of spawning sites for Chinese sturgeon have been drastically reduced since the construction of the Gezhouba Dam across the Yangtze River. This dam has blocked migration of Chinese sturgeon to their historic spawning ground causing a significant decline of the Chinese sturgeon population. We conducted a VORTEX population viability analysis to estimate the sustainability of the population and to quantify the efficiency of current and alternative conservation procedures. The model predicted the observed decline of Chinese sturgeon, resulting from the effect of the Gezhouba Dam. These simulations demonstrated the potential interest of two conservation measures: increasing spawning area and reducing predation on sturgeon eggs. The simulations also demonstrated that the actual restocking program is not sufficient to sustain sturgeon population as the artificial reproduction program induce the loss of more wild mature adults that the recruitment expected by the artificial reproduction.

Impacts of water conservancy and soil conservation measures on annual runoff in the Chaohe River Basin during 1961-2005

National Key Technology RD Program [2006BAD03A02]

Livestock grazing, plateau pikas and the conservation of avian biodiversity on the Tibetan plateau

On the Qinghai-Tibet plateau increased livestock numbers have resulted in degradation of the grasslands with potential impacts on native biodiversity. Concurrently, perceived increases in populations of native small mammals such as plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) have led to poisoning programs, with uncertain impacts on species such as ground-nesting birds. We explored the relationships between the local seasonal abundance of small birds and (1) the density of pika burrows; (2) livestock grazing practices; and (3) local poisoning of pikas. Around Naqu prefecture, central Tibet, we used a nested experimental design to collect data from areas rested from grazing over summer, nearby areas with year-round grazing and areas subjected to pika poisoning. Additional data were collected from a site where grazing had not occurred for at least 4 years prior to the study. Poisoning pikas in spring had no detectable effect on the local abundance of birds the following autumn. However, two ground-nesting species, white-rumped and rufous-necked snowfinches, showed positive associations with the density of pika burrows, indicating that long-term 'pika poisoning could reduce the density of these species by reducing the density of pika burrows. Rufous-necked snowfinches and non ground-nesting species including horned larks and common hoopoes showed positive responses to reduced grazing pressure from livestock, particularly in the long-rested site, indicating current grazing levels could be having a negative impact on these species. Conservation of small passerine biodiversity in this system will require changed management practices for livestock and pikas that consider the complex three-way interaction between livestock grazing, pikas and small birds. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.