Security as an element in environmental assessment and decision making

he prominence of global warming as an environmental issue has illustrated the close relationship between natural resources, ecosystems and global security. Whilst environmental decision making often uses techniques such as economic valuation and risk management, the security component is often not considered, at least not from a security analyst’s perspective. Yet environmental security considerations can be global, regional and/or national in impact. Environmental change and policy can effect human health and well being as well as initiating conflict; it can affect the existence of life itself. These aspects are firmly in the domain of the security discipline although the protection of the global ecosystem has not traditionally been considered by those who create security policy. The idea of environmental/ecological security ranges from the eco-centric approach which examines the impact of human activities that impact on the security of the natural systems to the more traditional anthropocentric perspectives that look at varied issues such as conflict caused by natural resource competition and environmental degradation, and the greening of military operations. This paper will assert that the inclusion of the security factor in policy creation and environmental assessments is essential to give richer solutions to these complex socio-economic and ecological situations. Systems theory over the last few decades has emphasised the inclusion of as many perspectives on messy problems as possible to provide truly systemic outcomes. It is posited that the addition of such concepts as threat analyses will produce more effective and sustainable outcomes.

Environment Education for Ecosystem Conservation

Conservation of natural resources through sustainable ecosystem management and development is the key to our secured future. The management of ecosystem involves inventorying and monitoring, and applying integrated technologies, methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches for its conservation. Hence, now it is even more critical than ever before for the humans to be environmentally literate. To realise this vision, both ecological and environmental education must become a fundamental part of the education system at all levels of education. Currently, it is even more critical than ever before for the humankind as a whole to have a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices. The degradation of our environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste disposal, and issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security. Environmental management has gained momentum in the recent years with the initiatives focussing on managing environmental hazards and preventing possible disasters. Environmental issues make better sense, when one can understand them in the context of one’s own cognitive sphere. Environmental education focusing on real-world contexts and issues often begins close to home, encouraging learners to understand and forge connections with their immediate surroundings. The awareness, knowledge, and skills needed for these local connections and understandings provide a base for moving out into larger systems, broader issues, and a more sophisticated comprehension of causes, connections, and consequences. Environmental Education Programme at CES in collaboration with Karnataka Environment Research Foundation (KERF) referred as ‘Know your Ecosystem’ focuses on the importance of investigating the ecosystems within the context of human influences, incorporating an examination of ecology, economics, culture, political structure, and social equity as well as natural processes and systems. The ultimate goal of environment education is to develop an environmentally literate public. It needs to address the connection between our conception and practice of education and our relationship as human cultures to life-sustaining ecological systems. For each environmental issue there are many perspectives and much uncertainty. Environmental education cultivates the ability to recognise uncertainty, envision alternative scenarios, and adapt to changing conditions and information. These knowledge, skills, and mindset translate into a citizenry who is better equipped to address its common problems and take advantage of opportunities, whether environmental concerns are involved or not.

Environment Education for Ecosystem Conservation

Conservation of natural resources through sustainable ecosystem management and development is the key to our secured future. The management of ecosystem involves inventorying and monitoring, and applying integrated technologies, methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches for its conservation. Hence, now it is even more critical than ever before for the humans to be environmentally literate. To realise this vision, both ecological and environmental education must become a fundamental part of the education system at all levels of education. Currently, it is even more critical than ever before for the humankind as a whole to have a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices. The degradation of our environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste disposal, and issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security. Environmental management has gained momentum in the recent years with the initiatives focussing on managing environmental hazards and preventing possible disasters. Environmental issues make better sense, when one can understand them in the context of one’s own cognitive sphere. Environmental education focusing on real-world contexts and issues often begins close to home, encouraging learners to understand and forge connections with their immediate surroundings. The awareness, knowledge, and skills needed for these local connections and understandings provide a base for moving out into larger systems, broader issues, and a more sophisticated comprehension of causes, connections, and consequences. Environmental Education Programme at CES in collaboration with Karnataka Environment Research Foundation (KERF) referred as ‘Know your Ecosystem’ focuses on the importance of investigating the ecosystems within the context of human influences, incorporating an examination of ecology, economics, culture, political structure, and social equity as well as natural processes and systems. The ultimate goal of environment education is to develop an environmentally literate public. It needs to address the connection between our conception and practice of education and our relationship as human cultures to life-sustaining ecological systems. For each environmental issue there are many perspectives and much uncertainty. Environmental education cultivates the ability to recognise uncertainty, envision alternative scenarios, and adapt to changing conditions and information. These knowledge, skills, and mindset translate into a citizenry who is better equipped to address its common problems and take advantage of opportunities, whether environmental concerns are involved or not.

Environment Education for Ecosystem Conservation

Conservation of natural resources through sustainable ecosystem management and development is the key to our secured future. The management of ecosystem involves inventorying and monitoring, and applying integrated technologies, methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches for its conservation. Hence, now it is even more critical than ever before for the humans to be environmentally literate. To realise this vision, both ecological and environmental education must become a fundamental part of the education system at all levels of education. Currently, it is even more critical than ever before for the humankind as a whole to have a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices. The degradation of our environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss of forest, solid waste disposal, and issues related to economic productivity and national as well as ecological security. Environmental management has gained momentum in the recent years with the initiatives focussing on managing environmental hazards and preventing possible disasters. Environmental issues make better sense, when one can understand them in the context of one’s own cognitive sphere. Environmental education focusing on real-world contexts and issues often begins close to home, encouraging learners to understand and forge connections with their immediate surroundings. The awareness, knowledge, and skills needed for these local connections and understandings provide a base for moving out into larger systems, broader issues, and a more sophisticated comprehension of causes, connections, and consequences. Environmental Education Programme at CES in collaboration with Karnataka Environment Research Foundation (KERF) referred as ‘Know your Ecosystem’ focuses on the importance of investigating the ecosystems within the context of human influences, incorporating an examination of ecology, economics, culture, political structure, and social equity as well as natural processes and systems. The ultimate goal of environment education is to develop an environmentally literate public. It needs to address the connection between our conception and practice of education and our relationship as human cultures to life-sustaining ecological systems. For each environmental issue there are many perspectives and much uncertainty. Environmental education cultivates the ability to recognise uncertainty, envision alternative scenarios, and adapt to changing conditions and information. These knowledge, skills, and mindset translate into a citizenry who is better equipped to address its common problems and take advantage of opportunities, whether environmental concerns are involved or not.

黄土丘陵沟壑区纸坊沟小流域农业生态安全态势变化的驱动力分析

以黄土丘陵沟壑区纸坊沟小流域为研究对象,利用1985—2006年调查和监测资料,综合现有研究成果,将主成分分析和通径分析方法相结合,分析可能影响农业生态安全态势变化的各因子,探讨农业生态安全态势变化的驱动力。结果表明:自然条件是影响黄土丘陵沟壑区纸坊沟小流域农业生态安全态势变化的基础,人文社会经济条件是其变化的主要驱动力,具体可归纳为经济发展、人口压力、流域产业结构调整和农业科技进步4类因子;此外,国家和区域的相关政策、农业产业链与资源量相关度对农业生态安全也有一定影响。

黄土高原植被恢复与建设策略

以中国水土流失与生态安全综合科学考察——西北黄土区考察组获得的资料为依据,对黄土高原地区植被恢复的基础和潜力进行了系统分析,提出了植被恢复的目标和策略。黄土高原天然群落恢复的基本措施是封育,有条件的区域应实施人工促进,使植被自然恢复力与人为促进力相结合;人工植被建设应充分利用乡土树草种,合理利用外来种,采用防护性整地和管理措施,造林种草后引导乡土物种进入群落,进行天然化培育;以流域为治理单元,优化景观斑块空间布局和面积构成,逐步改造具有退化特征的人工群落,使建群种能够自我更新,群落可永续利用;政府部门在政策上要保护现有成果,扩大自然修复比例;保护大户承包治理的积极性,鼓励多元化投资,进行植被建设;扩大黄土区植被建设和科研投资力度,培育黄土区植被恢复方面的科技创新能力。

辽宁沿海经济带景观格局动态预测及其生态安全研究

21世纪中国将进入工业化与城市化快速发展阶段，随着经济全球化与竞争国际化，产业集群开始成为经济发展的主流，以临港产业为代表的沿海经济带开发建设已成为发达国家的重要经验和国内沿海省市的主导区域战略，辽宁沿海经济带的开发建设将进一步加大沿海地区与周边地区及内地的资源信息交换，人口的大量流入、城市化进程的加快等都可能对沿海区域的生态环境质量和可持续发展与生态安全产生重要影响。 论文通过3S技术手段，应用转移矩阵、土地利用度量公式、景观空间格局分析和Kappa 指数系列方法对1988～2007 年辽宁沿海经济带的景观变化进行了综合分析，同时应用CLUE-S 模型在有无“辽宁沿海经济带开发建设规划”两个预案下对该区域2008～2020 年的景观变化进行了预测。应用生态足迹理论与方法对研究区1990～2006年的生态足迹与生态承载力进行了分析，以反映研究区可持续发展情况；应用时间序列（ARMA）与支持向量机（SVM）预测了研究区2007～2020年生态足迹与生态承载力变化。并对研究区进行了基于生态足迹的区域生态安全动态分析及预测研究，最后提出了研究区生态安全对策，得到如下主要结论： （1）辽宁沿海经济带在1988～2007年间景观格局变化并不十分显著，景观由少数几种景观类型所控制，各景观类型有不断趋于平均化的趋势，但速度较慢，景观的破碎化程度越来越严重。土地利用度逐步增大，反映在景观变化上，是以建设用地的持续扩张与耕地以及林地、水域面积缩小为特点，其中建设用地在景观类型转换中发挥着越来越重要的作用。主要的景观变化发生在耕地、林地、水域与建设用地之间。 （2）在有无“规划”两种预案下，景观变化的趋势基本一致，但变化幅度有明显差别。两种预案下耕地都趋于减少，但“规划预案”降幅更大一些。建设用地逐渐增加，但“规划预案”扩张更快，面积更多。建筑用地变化情况的不同导致其它景观类型变化的不同。两种预案下景观的破碎化程度均有减小的趋势，斑块形状趋于规则，景观的连通性也在逐年增大，其中在“规划预案”中表现得更为显著。 （3）辽宁沿海经济带从1990～2006年间的人均生态足迹与生态承载力均呈逐渐增大趋势，且生态足迹需求明显大于生态承载力，生态赤字在逐渐增大，研究区内的生态负荷已超过了其生态容量，现有的区域发展模式是不可持续的。其中生态足迹需求增大主要来自能源足迹需求增大，而生态承载力的增加主要是因为水域类面积的增加。17年间研究区的人均万元GDP生态足迹均有不同程度的下降趋势，表明该区域的资源利用效率在逐渐提高。 （4）过去17年来，辽宁沿海经济带的生态压力指数变化趋势为先升后降，区域生态安全经历了生态较安全、稍不安全、较不安全和稍不安全等阶段，表明该区域生态安全正在逐步改善。生态占用指数与生态经济协调指数均呈逐步增大的趋势，表明研究区的社会经济发展程度和人民消费水平正在走向较富裕阶段，该区域社会经济发展与生态环境的协调性也在逐渐改善。 （5）两种预案下，辽宁沿海经济带未来14年的人均生态足迹与人均生态承载力均有逐渐增大的趋势，且人均生态足迹均超过了其人均生态承载力，存在不同程度的生态赤字，发展模式仍将是不可持续的，其中“规划预案”下的发展模式更加不可持续。 （6）两种预案下，研究区未来14年的生态安全均处于稍不安全状态，其中“规划预案”的生态压力更小一些。两种预案下研究区的生态占用指数和生态经济协调指数均有逐年增大的趋势，区域经济均将从较富裕阶段走向很富裕阶段，经济增长与生态环境的协调程度也由较好阶段步入很好阶段。其中“规划预案”下的区域经济增长更快，与生态环境的协调性将更好一些。 （7）三种方案可以降低研究区“规划预案”下的生态压力指数，实现区域的生态安全。其中同时提高研究区的生态承载力，降低生态足迹的方案更为合理可行，既保障了区域安全，又实现了区域的可持续发展目标。 （8）要保障研究区未来14年的生态安全，建议规划增加水域面积，推进区域热电联产，发展清洁能源并推动区域间资源互补共享。

石羊河下游民勤绿洲景观变化与生态安全研究

民勤绿洲位于我国西北干旱区内陆河石羊河流域的下游。近些年来，随着该流域中、上游地区大量截留水资源，使进入民勤绿洲的地表水资源量逐年减少，导致绿洲生态环境不断恶化，生态安全面临着严重危机。本论文应用景观生态学原理与方法，综合运用3S技术，通过多时相遥感数据的对比分析，系统研究了民勤绿洲景观格局动态演变过程、形成原因及其与重要生态过程的相互作用，并在此基础上对绿洲生态安全的时空变化进行了综合评价。主要研究成果：1．景观格局影响生态过程，研究景观格局可以揭示生态过程变化的内在原因。因此，景观空间格局研究一直以来是景观生态学研究的核心与热点之一。应用景观空间格局分析软件FRAGSTATS对绿洲近14年的景观格局及其变化过程的定量研究表明，开荒与弃耕始终存在于景观的演变过程中，导致景观中林地、荒草地、耕地与沙地斑块类型的相互转化。开荒作用主要发生在1987-1998年间并导致林地与荒草地斑块转化成耕地斑块，绿洲耕地面积在此时期逐渐增加；弃耕作用主要发生在1998年至2001年间并导致耕地斑块逐渐转化成沙地斑块或荒草地斑块，耕地面积在此时期逐渐减少014年来，绿洲沙漠化过程逐年发展，主要表现为林地与荒草地斑块与耕地斑块逐渐转变成沙地斑块，导致沙地斑块面积（CA）逐渐增加，而斑块数量（NP）逐渐减少，使得沙地平均斑块大小（MPS）逐渐增大，沙地斑块呈现集中连片式的分布趋势。由于林草地斑块的逐渐减少以及耕地与沙地斑块的增加导致绿洲的多样性（SHOI）、均匀性（SHEI）与平行与并列指数（IJI）逐渐降低，而连通性（CONGTAG）逐渐增强，绿洲景观格局越来越强烈地受到沙地与耕地斑块类型的控制。绿洲景观的连通性上升的幅度（CONTAG）是坝区＞泉山区＞湖区。景观的多样性（SHDI）与均匀性（SHEI）下降的幅度是坝区＞泉山区＞湖区。坝区景观的衰退过程（沙地面积的增幅）与人类对该灌区的开发强度（耕地面积的增幅）与都强于泉山区与湖区。2．景观变化的主要驱动因素包括自然、社会与经济因素。绿洲景观格局的演变是以上因素综合作用的结果。干早区绿洲的形成机制决定了其发展与演变强烈地受到水资源的质与量的支配，水资源条件的变化是驱动该绿洲景观演变的主导因素。由于中、上游地区为满足经济发展的需要，大量截留地表水资源使进入下游民勤绿洲的地表水资源从50年代的年平均5.42亿m3锐减到2001年的0.73亿m3，致使绿洲地下水的补给量减少，而耕地面积的扩大导致地下水的超采量增加，引发土地干旱化与盐碱化，大量沙生植被枯萎、死亡，弃耕地增加。民勤绿洲用水模式进步缓慢、管理效率低下、人口的快速增长、农业技术推广速度缓慢以及土地使用制度等因素共同作用形成了推动景观变化的复杂人文机制。水资源的减少与人文机制共同作用驱动着绿洲景观的演变过程。3．指出绿洲景观的生态安全应包括景观的格局安全与过程安全两个方面。景观格局与生态过程密不可分，绿洲景观格局影响生态过程，生态过程“塑造”景观格局。利用ARCv正W的空间分析功能，从景观格局的空间邻接特征角度研究景观斑块类型受沙漠化威胁与盐碱化威胁的程度，并在此基础上分析生态安全。结果表明坝区耕地、林地、荒草地受沙漠化威胁程度高于其它两个灌区，湖区的耕地、林地、草地受盐碱化威胁的程度高于其它两个灌区。水对干旱区绿洲的重要性决定了水生态过程研究是绿洲生态安全研究的重要方面。利用ARCMAP的空间插值的地统计分析功能对绿洲的地下水埋深与地下水矿化度进行空间插值，得到地下水埋深与地下水矿化度的时空分布，结果表明：各时期绿洲地下水埋深为中心深，边缘浅，表明地下水降落漏斗的存在与不断加深。14年来地下水位的平均下降速率，坝区最快，泉山区次之，湖区最慢，三灌区分别为0.75m、0.7m与0.60m。绿洲北部地下水矿化度显著升高，14年来泉山区地下水矿化度上升为1.36倍，湖区南部地下水矿化度上升1.47倍，湖区北部地下水矿化度上升为1.43倍，地下水矿化度平均值达到5.6g/L，成为绿洲地下水矿化度最高地带，也是作物产量锐减的地带，因此地下水矿化度的上升导致作物安全生长潜在格局发生变化，作物安全生长区面积缩小，而中度以上不安全生长区面积扩大，造成了作物的减产与农业产业结构调整的空间缩小，难度加大。4．绿洲为水、土、植被、气候、社会经济与人类活动等众多方面所组成的、彼此相互联系的复杂的社会一经济一生态复合系统。因此绿洲的生态安全的综合评价涉及吸素众多，必须采用定量与定性相结合的方法进行科学地评价。采用目前较为成熟的环境综合评价方法一层次分析法AHP，并构建绿洲景观生态安全评价指标体系，对绿洲景观生态安全进行综合评价，结果表明：绿洲及各灌区生态安全水平逐年降低，目前生态安全值与1987年的相比，绿洲为68％，坝区73.7％，泉山区为63.6％，湖区为65.2％。三灌区中坝区的生态安全水平在各时期都是最高的，其次为泉山区，湖区最低。14年间生态安全下降幅度较大的为泉山区与湖区，坝区生态安全水平下降幅度较小。5．将绿洲生态环境恶化所导致的经济损失值量化，运用市场价值法与机会成本法对近14年来由于绿洲的环境恶化导致对社会经济发展所产生的不良后果从植被死亡、土地盐渍化导致作物减产、弃耕地出现导致的土地生产力的丧失与地下水位下降所导致的机井报废与提水成本增加四个方面进行经济效益损失估算，结果为经济损失值是湖区＞坝区＞泉山区，分别达到53786万元、44276.22万元、39247.36万元。坝区以林木死亡所造成的经济损失最大，湖区与泉山区以土地盐渍化所造成的经济损失最大。经济损失值占同期当地国民生产总值的百分比是湖区＞泉山区＞坝区，分别达到76.39％、55.04％、28.48％。可见绿洲的社会经济发展是以牺牲生态环境，降低生态安全水平为代价，这将严重制约绿洲今后的可持续发展。

长输管道沿线生态系统服务功能评价及生态安全格局设计-以西气东输工程东段为例

西气东输工程全长近4000 km，是目前世界上最长的输气管道。本文以该工程河南-上海段沿线区域为研究对象，通过野外考察，选取地貌、土壤和植被为分类因子，以地貌图、土壤图和植被图为基础图件，在ARC／INFO和M即Info平台下，通过生态制图的方法对管道两侧各10km的缓冲区进行生态系统分类和服务功能评价。选择黄土残塬水土流失区为例进行生态安全格局设计。研究结果表明：（1）西气东输工程河南-上海段沿线共有平原水稻土一年两熟粮食作物田生态系统、低山黄褐土旱作农田生态系统等126种生态系统类型，其中农田生态系统所占面积比例92.08％；森林生态系统所占面积比例为3.96％。（2）工程施工导致了沿线生态系统生产能力降低。作业带耕层土壤全量养分含量比非作业带降低；速效养分含量有的升高有的降低，规律不明显。与非作业带相比，作业带水稻的长势明显地差。（3）提出西气东输工程河南一上海段沿线生态安全格局设计的原则和流程；通过水土保持林、治坡工程和沟道治理工程几种综合措施，对管道沼线黄土残源水土流失区进行总体的生态安全格局设计。

水分亏缺和凋落物水浸液对云杉幼苗生长和种子萌发的影响

在人类活动导致全球变暖的前提下，由于全球气温的升高，地表水分加速向空中蒸发。从20世纪70年代至今，地球上严重干旱地区的面积几乎扩大了一倍。这一增长的一半可归因于气温升高而不是降雨量下降，因为实际上同期全球平均降水量还略有增长。干旱对陆地植物和农林生态系统产生深远影响，并已成为全球变化研究的一个重要方面。位于青藏高原东部的川西亚高山针叶林是研究气候变暖对陆地生态系统影响的重要森林类型。森林采伐迹地、人工林下和林窗环境作为目前该区人工造林和森林更新的重要生境，其截然不同的光环境对亚高山针叶林更新和森林动态有非常重要的影响。凋落物产生的化感物质可通过影响种子萌发和早期幼苗的定居而影响种群的建立和更新，而人工林和自然林物种以及更新速度的差异性也都受凋落物的影响。 云杉是川西亚高山针叶林群落的重要树种之一,在维持亚高山森林的景观格局和区域生态安全方面具有十分重要的作用，其自然更新能力及其影响机制一直是研究的热点问题。本试验以云杉种子和2年生幼苗为研究对象，从萌发、根尖形态、幼苗生长、光合作用、渗透调节和抗氧化能力等方面研究了不同光环境下水分亏缺和凋落物水浸液对云杉种子和幼苗生长的影响。旨在从更新的角度探讨亚高山针叶林自然更新的过程，其研究成果可在一定程度上为川西亚高山针叶林更新提供科学依据，同时也可为林业生产管理提供科学指导。主要研究结论如下： 水分亏缺在生长形态、光合作用、抗氧化能力、活性氧化对云杉幼苗都有显著影响。总体表现为，水分亏缺导致了云杉幼苗的高度、地径、单株总生物量降低，增加了地下部分的生长；水分亏缺显著降低了云杉叶片中相对含水量、光合色素、叶氮含量，净光合速率和最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)，提高了幼苗叶片中膜脂过氧化产物（MDA）的含量；水分亏缺提高了幼苗叶片中过氧化氢(H2O2)含量，超氧荫离子（O2-）生成速率以及脯氨酸和抗氧化系统的活性（ASA, SOD, CAT, POD, APX和GR）。从这些结果可知，植物在遭受水分亏缺导致的伤害时，其自身会形成防御策略，并通过改变形态和生理方面的特性以减轻害。但是，这种自我保护机制依然不能抵抗严重水分亏缺对植物的伤害。 模拟林下低光照条件显著增加单株植物的地上部分生长，尤其是其叶片的比叶面积（叶面积/叶干重），同时其光合色素含量和叶片相对含水量也显著增加，这些改变直接导致植株光合速率和生物量的增加。同时，与高光照水平相比，低光照幼苗的膜脂过氧化产物（MDA）和活性氧物质均较低，显示出低光照比高光照水平对植物的更低的氧化伤害。尽管低光照也导致大部分抗氧化酶活性降低，但这正显示出植物遭受低的氧化伤害，更印证了前面的结论。 凋落物水浸液影响了云杉种子的萌发和根系的生长，更在形态、光合作用、抗氧化能力、活性氧物质以及叶氮水平上显著影响了云杉幼苗，其中，以人工纯林凋落物的影响更有强烈。具体表现在，种子萌发速率和萌发种子幼根的长度表现为对照>自然林处理>人工纯林；凋落物水浸液抑制种子分生区和伸长区的生长，人工林处理更降低了根毛区的生长，使根吸水分和养分困难。对2年生幼苗的影响主要表现在叶绿素含量、光合速率以及叶氮含量的降低；膜脂过氧化产物、活性氧物质和抗氧化酶系统的显著增加。同样的，人工纯林处理对云杉幼苗的影响显著于自然林处理。 在自然生态系统中，由于全球变暖气温升高导致的水分亏缺和森林凋落物都存在森林的砍伐迹地，林窗和林下环境中。我们的研究表明，与迹地或林窗强光照比较，林下的低光照环境由于为植物的生长营造了较为湿润的微环境，因此水分亏缺在林下对云杉幼苗造成的影响微弱。这可以从植物的形态、光合速率以及生物量积累，过氧化伤害和抗氧化酶系统表现出来。另一方面，凋落物水浸液在模拟林下低光照环境对植物的伤害也微弱于强光照环境，这与强光照环境高的水分散失导致环境水分亏缺有关；而人工纯林处理对云杉幼苗的伤害比对照和自然林处理显示出强烈的抑制作用。 Under the pre-condition of global warming resulted from intensive human activities, water in the earth’s surface rapidly evaporates due to the increase of global air temperature. From 1970s up to now, the area of serious drought in the world is almost twice as ever. This increase might be due to the increasing air temperature and not decreasing rainfall because global average rainfall in the corresponding period slightly is incremental. Drought will have profound impacts on terrestrial and agriculture-forest system and has also become the important issue of global change research. The subalpine coniferous forests in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau provide a natural laboratory for the studying the effects of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems. The light environment significantly differs among cutting blanks, forest gap and understory, which is particularly important for plant regeneration and forest dynamics in the subalpine coniferous forests. Picea asperata is one of the keystone species of subalpine coniferouis forests in western China, and it is very important in preserving landscape structure and regional ecological security of subalpine forests. The natural regeneration capacities and influence mechanism of Picea asperata are always the hot topics. In the present study, the short-term effects of two light levels (100% of full sunlight and 15% of full sunlight), two watering regimes (100% of field capacity and 30% of field capacity), two litter aqueous extracts (primitive forest and plantation aqueous extracts) on the seed germination, early growth and physiological traits of Picea asperata were determined in the laboratory and natural greenhouse. The present study was undertaken so as to give a better understanding of the regeneration progress affected by water deficit, low light and litter aqueous extracts. Our results could provide insights into the effects of climate warming on community composition and regeneration behavior for the subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem processes, and provide scientific direction for the forest production and management. Water deficit had significant effects on growth, morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of Picea asperata seedlings. Water deficit resulted in the decrease in height, basal diameter, total biomass and increase in under-ground development; water deficit significantly reduced the needle relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, needle nitrogen concentration, net photosynthetic rate and the maximum potential quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm), and increased the degree of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in Picea asperata seedlings; water deficit also increased the rate of superoxide radical (O2-) production, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, free proline content and the activities of antioxidant systems (ASA, SOD, POD, CAT, APX and GR) in Picea asperata seedlings. These results indicated that some protective mechanism was formed when plants suffered from drought stress, but the protection could not counteract the harm resulting from the serious drought stress on them. Low light in the understory significantly increased seedling above-ground development, especially the species leaf area (SLA), and photosynthetic pigments and relative needle content. These changes resulted in the increase in net photosynthetic rate and total biomass. Moreover, the lower MDA content and active oxygen species (AOS) (H2O2 and O2-) in low light seedlings suggested that low light had weaker oxidative damage as compared to high light. Lower antioxidant enzymes activities in low light seedlings indicated the weaker oxidative damage on Picea asperata seedlings than high light seedlings, which was correlative with the changes in MDA and AOS. Litter aqueous extracts affected seed germination and root system of Picea asperata seedlings. Significant changes in growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant activities, active oxygen species and leaf nitrogen concentration were also found in Picea asperata seedlings, and plantation treatment showed the stronger effects on these traits than those in control and primitive forest treatment. The present results indicated that seed germination and radicle length parameters in control were superior to those in primitive forest treatment, and those of primitive forest treatment were superior to plantation treatment; litter aqueous extracts inhibited the meristematic and elongation zone, and plantation treatment caused a decrease in root hairs so as to be difficult in absorbing water and nutrient in root system. On the other hand, litter aqueous extracts significantly decreased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and leaf nitrogen concentration of Picea asperata seedlings; MDA, AOS and antioxidant system activities were significantly increased in Picea asperata seedlings. Similarly, plantation treatment had more significant effect on Picea asperata seedlings as compared to primitive forest treatment. In the nature ecosystem, water deficit resulted from elevating air temperature and litter aqueous extract may probably coexist in the cutting blank, forest gap and understory. Our present study showed that water deficit had weaker effects on low light seedlings in the understory as compared to high light seedlings in the cutting blank and forest gap. The fact was confirmed from seedlings growth, gas exchange and biomass accumulation, peroxidation and antioxidant systems. This might be due to that low light-reduced leaf and air temperatures, vapour-pressure deficit, and the oxidative stresses can aggravate the impact of drought under higher light. On the other hand, litter aqueous extracts in the low light had weaker effects on the Picea asperata seedlings than those at high light level, which might be correlative to the water evapotranspiration under high light. Moreover, plantation litter aqueous extracts showed stronger inhibition for seed germination and seedling growth than control and primitive forest treatments.

黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域近70年农业生态安全评价

在国内外已有研究的基础上,结合黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域近70a来农业生态经济系统演变过程,参考PSR模型,从生态环境、社会经济和综合功能3方面构建黄土丘陵区流域农业生态安全评价指标体系,基于层次分析法赋权的综合指数评价方法,对纸坊沟流域1938～2005年农业生态安全状况进行评价。结果表明:该流域农业生态安全状况发生了先降后升的变化,1938年处于较安全状况,1958年为极不安全状况,1975年和1985年都处于较不安全状况,1995年处于临界安全状况,2005年属于较安全状况。评价结果表明纸坊沟流域还需要进一步优化农业系统结构,实现农业生态安全。

黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域农业生态安全预警分析

为黄土丘陵区生态安全预警及其建设提供科学依据。【方法】以纸坊沟流域近70年代表年份生态安全态势及影响因子的分析为基础,参考压力-状态-响应(PSR)模型建立农业生态安全预警指标体系。运用层次分析法(AHP)和德尔菲法(Delphi)确定指标权重,采用综合指数法计算生态安全质量值,用演化轴解释生态安全预警模式,定量评价该流域1938~2005年的农业生态安全状况,并预测2015年的发展趋势。【结果】纸坊沟流域1938年处于蓝灯区,无需预警;1958年为黑灯区,需作生态安全恶化速度预警;1975和1985年处于红灯区,需作生态安全较差状态预警;1995年处于黄灯区,2005和2015年继续向良好方向演化,均不需预警,但从发展趋势来看,预计人口密度于2020年左右进入警戒状态。【结论】研究结果与该流域的实际情况相符,该指标体系和生态安全预警模型可以应用于黄土丘陵区。

Is naturalisation of the brown hare in Ireland a threat to the endemic Irish hare?

On islands, one of the greatest risks to native wildlife is the establishment of alien species. In Ireland, the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus), the only native lagomorph, may be at risk from competitive exclusion and hybridisation with naturalised brown hares (L. europaeus) that were introduced during the late nineteenth century. Pre- and post-breeding spotlight surveys during 2005 in the north of Ireland determined that brown hare populations are established in mid-Ulster and west Tyrone. In mid-Ulster, brown hares comprised 53%-62% of the hare population, with an estimated abundance of 700-2000 individuals between pre- and post-breeding periods. Comparison of habitat niches suggest that Irish and brown hares have comparable niche breadths that at times completely overlap, suggesting the potential for strong competition between the species. Anecdotal evidence suggests that both species may hybridise. Further research is urgently required to assess the degree of risk that naturalised brown hares pose to the Irish hare population and what action, if any, is needed to ensure the future ecological security and genetic integrity of the native species.

European hare (Lepus europaeus) invasion ecology: Implication for the conservation of the endemic Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus)

European hare Lepus europaeus populations have undergone recent declines but the species has successfully naturalised in many countries outside its native range. It was introduced to Ireland during the mid-late nineteenth century for field sport and is now well established in Northern Ireland. The native Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus is an endemic subspecies of mountain hare L. timidus and has attracted major conservation concern following a long-term population decline during the twentieth century and is one of the highest priority species for conservation action in Ireland. Little is known about the European hare in Ireland or whether it poses a significant threat to the native mountain hare subspecies by compromising its ecological security or genetic integrity. We review the invasion ecology of the European hare and examine evidence for interspecific competition with the mountain hare for habitat space and food resources, interspecific hybridisation, disease and parasite transmission and possible impacts of climate change. We also examine the impact that introduced hares can have on native non-lagomorph species. We conclude that the European hare is an emerging and significant threat to the conservation status of the native Irish hare. Invasive mammal species have been successfully eradicated from Ireland before and immediate action is often the only opportunity for cost-effective eradication. An urgent call is issued for further research whilst the need for a European hare invasive Species Action Plan (iSAP) and Eradication strategy are discussed.