Ecological District Research Articles

Effect of plant composition on epigeal spider communities in northern New Zealand forest remnants

Te Paki Ecological District (TPED) in northern Northland, New Zealand, is well known as an ecologically significant centre of endemism. However, due to extensive anthropogenic habitat degradation, native forest has been reduced to small, isolated remnants and many of its endemic species are threatened with extinction. Epigeal spider communities (species living on or near the ground) were surveyed within TPED by pitfall trapping at seven native forest remnants differing in plant composition and apparent seral stage to investigate how spider communities varied within them.

Characteristics of soil C:N:P stoichiometry and enzyme activities in different grassland types in Qilian Mountain nature reserve-Tibetan Plateau.

This research was designed to explore the variation characteristics of soil C:N:P stoichiometry and enzyme activity in the Qilian Mountains different grassland types. Thus, 7 grassland types (Upland meadow: UM, Alpine meadow: AM, Temperate steppe: ST, Alpine steppe: AS, Temperate Desert Steppe: TDS, Temperate Desert: TD, Alpine desert: AD) of Qilian Natural Reserve were selected to analyze the variation characteristics of soil enzyme activities and stoichiometry of different grassland types and its relationship with environmental factors. The study indicated that the C/N, C/P, and N/P of different grasslands ranged from 5.08 to 17.35, 2.50 to 72.29, and 0.53 to 4.02.The ranking of different types grassland for the C/N was TS ≥ AM ≥ UM ≥ AS ≥ TDS > AD > TD, and the changing pattern of C/P and N/P is similar to that of C/N. The ranking of different types grassland for the urease enzyme activity was UM ≈AS > AD ≈TDS ≈TS ≈AM > TD, and TS ≈AM ≈UM ≈AS ≈AD > TDS > TD for alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, and AS ≈AM ≈TS ≈TDS≥UM ≥TD ≈AD for catalase enzyme activity. Based on N/P ratio and RDA analysis, nitrogen was the main factor limiting the grassland productivity, and pH, TN, SOC, Richness index and Simpson diversity index were the main environmental factors affecting the soil C:N:P stoichiometry and enzyme activities. Cluster analysis showed that 7 grassland types were clustered into three categories. In conclusion, the stoichiometric characteristics and soil enzyme activities of different grasslands vary with grassland types. Nitrogen was the main factor limiting the grasslands productivity, and pH, TN, SOC, Richness index and Simpson diversity index were the main environmental factors affecting the soil C:N:P stoichiometry and enzyme activities, and the grassland Qilian Mountain can be managed in the ecological district according to the clustering results. The results of this study can provide data support and theoretical guidance for the scientific management and ecological protection of grassland in Qilian Mountains Reserve.

State and quality of water in the Desna river basin (within the Chernigiv region)

The Desna River is a tributary of the Dnieper with a total length of 575 km within Ukraine. 468 km of them flows through the Chernihiv region. The main pollution sources of the water bodies in the Chernihiv region are utilities. Continuous monitoring of the surface water state is relevant and necessary, as it allows to give a reliable water quality assessment, to identify the anthropogenic impact factors and to assess the technogenic loading in order to establish the level of water use and to develop a set of measures to improve the state of water and the environment in general. The materials of monitoring observations of the water quality indicators of the Desna river for a long-term period, as well as the materials of the Ecological passports of the Chernihiv region concerning the water use indicators, were used as the initial data in the work. The analysis of the hydrochemical regime of the Desna River over a long period was performed using a graphical method. The assessment of the technogenic impact on the water bodies of the region was performed using the method of assessing the efficiency of water use based on the water consumption and sewerage efficiency coefficients. The analysis of the content of the water quality indicators showed that constant exceedance of the MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentrations) in the waters of the Desna River within the Chernihiv region was observed in the content of phosphates and nitrites, as well as total iron and manganese. The results of the assessment of the technogenic impact on the water basin of the Desna River showed that the drainage coefficient underwent certain changes with the best indicators in 2015–2016. No sharp fluctuations in the values of the water supply coefficient were observed. The best values of the water use efficiency complex coefficient were noted in 2015–2016. In general, in recent years the efficiency of water using indicators of the Desna River water in the Chernihiv region has corresponded to the average indicators. The results of the assessment of the technogenic impact on all components of the environment in the Chernihiv region showed that in recent years there has been a tendency to reduce the technogenic impact complex indicator. In general, the Chernihiv region can be attributed to the second ecological district with a moderate technogenic loading level.

Cheilolejeunea rodneyi Bever. & Glenny (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiopsida), a newly described species from lowland indigenous forest sites in the Tararua Ecological District, North Island of New Zealand.

Cheilolejeunea rodneyi Bever. & Glenny, a new species of liverwort from lowland indigenous forest reserves in the Tararua Ecological District near Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand is described and illustrated. In both morphology and phylogeny, it is closest to the recently-described C. morganii Bever. & Glenny, with which it shares monoicy, pycnolejeuneoid innovation leaf sequences, a pentacarinate perianth with long rostrum and absence of large botryoidal oil-bodies, but differs in having a single or two-celled uniseriate second tooth, a large extal lobule papilla, a cylindrical rostrum, oil-bodies with large, usually homogeneous segments, and the common presence of cladia. Its addition to the New Zealand flora brings the total species of Cheilolejeunea to 11, four of which are endemic.

The simulation of water quality in Chanba Ecological District

In order to investigate the characteristic of migration and transformation of various pollutants in rivers, the river in Chanba Ecological District was selected as the research object. The MIKE21 FM model coupled with Ecolab module was employed to establish the twodimensional water quality model to simulate the distribution characteristic of different water quality parameters, which were Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TP), Ammonium Nitrogen (NH3-N), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Chlorophyll a (Chla), and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) separately. The results demonstrated that the concentration values of TP, NH3-N, and COD in Chanhe River were greater than them in Bahe River before the water flowed into the junction zone. The TN concentration value in the calculation zone except the region which held poor hydraulic conditions exceeded the standard of Grade V (GB3838-2002). Because the water in Bahe River was disturbed by water in Chanhe River and point sources in Bahe River, COD and NH3-N concentration values increased clearly after the water passed from the NO.4 Dam in Bahe River.

"Оценка миграционного потенциала экологической сети Александровского района (Донецкой области) "

"Оценка миграционного потенциала экологической сети Александровского района (Донецкой области) "

Trends of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Jiangxi Province

To analyze the status and trends of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Jiangxi Province from 1989 to 2014, so as to provide the evidence for generating the strategy of soil-transmitted nematode prevention and control. The data of three epidemiological surveys on human parasitic diseases (in 1989, 2002 and 2014) were classified and analyzed. The stool examination by Kato-Katz's thick smear method was adopted for the investigation of soil-transmitted nematode infections. The total infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes decreased by 91.89% from 77.67% in 1989 to 6.30% in 2014, in which the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides decreased by 98.78% from 71.11% to 0.87%, the infection rate of Trichuris trichiura decreased by 96.80% from 29.67% to 0.95%, and the infection rate of hookworm declined by 73.57% from 17.63% to 4.66%. The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in the female were higher than those in the male in three surveys. In different ecological districts, the infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in the female were also higher than those in the male, except in Zhe-Min Ecological District in 2002 and 2014. A declined trend of the infection was showed in all age-groups in the three surveys, but it slowed down by the growth of age, i.e., the reduction rate was 97.03% in the age group of < 10 years while 80.62% in the age group of >70 years. In 2014, the number of persons infected with soil-transmitted nematodes occupied 65.4% of the whole number of persons infected with intestinal parasites. The mean infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes decrease obviously in human population in different ecological districts, but the soil-transmitted nematodes are still the main species in intestinal parasite infections. The sequence of dominant species changes from A. lumbricoides, hookworm and T. trichiura in 1989 to hookworm, T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides in 2014. The rural female and elder people are the key population, while hookworm is the key species for the prevention and control of soil-transmitted nematodes.

環境保全型地域熱供給システムの総合評価手法に関する研究 : 第1報-評価指標の選定と各指標の計算手法

環境保全型地域熱供給システムの総合評価手法に関する研究 : 第1報-評価指標の選定と各指標の計算手法

New species and phylogeny of landhoppers in the genus Waematau Duncan, 1994 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) from northern New Zealand

The talitrid landhopper genus Waematau Duncan, 1994 is restricted to the northern North Island of New Zealand. Six species of Waematau from Te Paki Ecological District are documented. Three known species, Waematau muriwhenua Duncan, 1994, W. reinga Duncan, 1994 and W. unuwhao Duncan, 1994, are redescribed and three new species, W. kohuroa sp. nov., W. rereke sp. nov. and W. ringanohinohi sp. nov. are described, bringing the total number of known Waematau species to eight. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of all eight known Waematau species was conducted using DNA sequences from the CO1, 16S and histone H3 loci. Results show a high degree of congruence between the molecular phylogeny and morphological characters distinguishing the species. Molecular analysis also supports recognition of the three new species, despite low levels of interspecific morphological variation for certain traits. We identify the most obvious morphological indicators of evolutionary change between closely related species of Waematau, and predict that the New Zealand landhopper fauna is richer than currently recognised.

Ecological and social problems Zaraiskiy district, Moscow region in Russia Ecology year

Ecological and social problems Zaraiskiy district, Moscow region in Russia Ecology year

The Simulation Model of Urban Ecosystem Sustainable Development Based on System Dynamics

Much attention should be paid to the development of urban ecosystem, since it is an important component for urban development. This paper, taking Xi’an Chan-Ba Ecological District (CBE) as an example, based on System Dynamics method, establishes an urban ecosystem sustainable development model of “Population, Economy, Water resources, Land resources and Ecological environment (P—E—W—L—E)”, simulating dynamic indicators of all future subsystem through systematic recognition and test on a relevant series of data. The results as follows: after implementing sustainable development, the total population shows a rapid growth trend, and will reach 310,000 by 2000; land price of the core zone will be eight times higher than that of 2000; by 2020, species diversity index will reach 3.66, and the green coverage ratio will reach 35.1%. In the future, we must strengthen household registration system, and improve water resources usage efficiency, and implement the strictest land management system. Meanwhile we should accelerate optimizing regional industrial structure and raise environmental protection fund and intensify environmental conservation capacity.

Magnetic Characteristics and Environmental Pollution Analysis of Street Dust in Different Functional Zones of Xi'an City

Urban environmental pollution can be revealed by the magnetic characteristics of street dust. Environmental magnetic measurements were carried out for the 151 samples of street dust collected in different functional zones of Xi'an city. Magnetic susceptibility varied within the range between 169.5×10-8 m3·kg-1 and 977.48×10-8 m3·kg-1, and the χlf average value was 415.66×10-8 m3·kg-1,which was 10 times higher than that of the background value. Isothermal remanent magnetization varied within the range between 2005.31×10-5 A·m2·kg-1 and 10897.64×10-5 A·m2·kg-1, and the SIRM average value was 5105.99×10-5 A·m2·kg-1. The average value of frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility was 1.30, which was extremely low. The SIRM curve was consistent with χlf curve. The results indicated a high concentration of magnetic minerals in street dust. The magnetic minerals were mainly low-coercivity ferrimagnetic (magnetite and maghemite) and anti-ferromagnetic minerals (hematite), which contributed to the magnetic susceptibility. The main domains of magnetic minerals were composed of multiple domain (MD) and pseudo-single domain (PSD) ferrimagnetic minerals demonstrating the pollution of environment. According to the spatial distribution of magnetic properties of street dust and the different functional zones of Xi'an city, seven districts (A, B, C, D, E, F and G areas) were divided, which were summarized as three pollution types:heavily polluted, moderately polluted and lightly polluted. In the ecological district of Baqiao (F area) which was heavily polluted, χlf, SIRM and soft values were all the highest in the seven areas, and the main pollution sources were industry and vehicle emission. χlf, SIRM and soft values were slightly higher in the high-tech industrial district (A area) and the central business and commerce district (B area), which was moderately polluted by industry and vehicle emission. However, the magnetic parameters were relatively low in the functional zones of education, tourism and culture (C, D, E and G area), demonstrating that these areas were only slightly polluted by vehicle emission.

Studies on Construction Technical System of Ecological Irrigation District in the Lower Yellow River Basin

Under the background of global water crisis, the construction of ecological irrigation district has become the inevitable trend of the development of irrigation district and new rural construction. In this paper, Handun Irrigation District in the lower Yellow River Basin, as the research object, through analyzing the present operation situation and the existing problems, the technical system of ecological irrigation district in the lower Yellow River Basin are constructed, including water and sediment regulation, saline-alkali land management, efficient use of water resources, water environment protection, irrigation management, water culture and landscape. Finally, a series of the feasibility measures are proposed, including engineering measures, management measures and ecological measures, which has an important reference value for construction of ecological irrigation district in the lower Yellow River Basin.

Green building evaluation methodology under ecological view

In terms of policy, the Ministry of Construction has prepared and issued a Guidelines for Green Ecological Residential Area Construction Elements and Technical, China Ecological Residential Technology Evaluation Manual, Environmental Impact Evaluation Law of the People’s Republic of China and other documents; in practice, economically developed areas combined with their own characteristics have carried out green building applications, such as the construction of green ecological district Vanke Langrunyuan, etc. What is worth mentioning is the 2008 “Beijing Green Olympics” and the 2010 “Shanghai Eco Expo” made green building concept deeply rooted in people’s hearts. Although green building has aroused widespread attention among all walks of life, after all green building is still in its initial stage, we need to standardize the evaluation criteria, do further research in order to make green building enter a substantive application stage. Therefore, this study uses multi-level gray evaluation method, qualitative and quantitative combining method to evaluate green building. On the basis of research on the evaluation methods for ecological residence in foreign countries, such as British BREEAM, U.S. LEED, multinational GBTOOL and Chinese ecological residence, we absorb the essence and abandon the defects for the establishment of a green building evaluation under ecological view. In this study, gray comprehensive evaluation indicator is used to evaluate the green performance of building, which can better identify and compare the effectiveness of green buildings, and allow easier promotion and application across the country.

A Case Study of Green Ecological Urban District in Nanning Wuxiang New District

With the deterioration of the global environment, to explore the low-carbon, ecological, green development in urban construction has won the consensus of the world. A green ecological urban district is at the meso-level of a green city. This paper analyzes the development of green ecological urban districts in China. As a case study, the current situation and planning shortages in one of national green ecological urban districts (Wuxiang New District in Nanning) are described. Suggestions for implementing green ecological urban district planning in the study district are also proposed in the paper.

Improved resolution of cave weta diversity (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae): ecological implications for Te Paki, Far North, New Zealand

The New Zealand cave weta fauna is large and diverse but poorly described. This study aimed to improve the strategies for cave weta identification and, in doing so, build an understanding of population dynamics and distribution of the taxon across three habitat types in the Te Paki Ecological District. Species identification used morphological traits and metric analysis of specimens in pitfall traps. Although nearly half the individuals were juveniles (< 10 mm long) that could not readily be distinguished from one another, four species were identified from the larger specimens. Capture rates of cave weta varied by species, habitat, month and the interactions of these variables. Nearly half of all identified cave weta individuals in our sample were Neonetus variegatus, which was abundant across all three habitats (pine forest, native forest and shrubland) throughout the year, but were caught in pitfall traps in the greatest numbers in some pine forest sites. A species of Pachyrhamma was also abundant and showed seasonal variation in capture rate, but no adults were captured by pitfall traps. Talitropsis sp. and Pallidoplectron sp. were least frequent in our sample. Taxonomic resolution improves ecological inference, but, as with other invertebrates, trapping method and design influence sampling outcome among species.

Research on the Mined-Out Area Green Reclamation Technology of Large Open-Air Phosphate Rock Mountain

With the largest open-air phosphate mining company-Yunnan Phosphate Chemical Group Co., LTD (YPCG) as engineering background, phosphate rock mountains belonged to YPCG are all located in the surrounding plateau Dianchi Lake with great ecological pressure on the environment. According to ecological fragile district in the mining area, to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction for ecosystem function is the priority requirement for enterprise development. With the enterprise’s subordinates Kunyang, Jinning, Jianshan and Haikou four phosphate rock mountains as actual study, environmental protection is the basic point in the green mine construction. Based on development and utilization of phosphate resources, for instance YPCG mining in open-air phosphate rock mountain and land reclamation, our group focuses on phosphate rock land reclamation, ecological restoration and other key technologies. Besides, these key ecological restoration technologies would be integrated and demonstrated in YPCG green mine construction process. Related research could provide technical or theoretical guidance and demonstration projects for the green mining construction of phosphate industry in China, which contributes important practical and instructive significance for promoting green mine construction.

Research on the Computational Methods of Eco-Compensation Standard for Chan-Ba Ecological District in Xi’an Urban Areas

The computational methods of compensation standard are the focal point and are also difficulty in shaping of the eco-compensation mechanism. As for Xi’an Chan-Ba ecological district, there are three types of eco-compensation pattern: compensation for ecosystem services, compensation for river pollution, and compensation for water environment protection. The paper designs the computational methods for these three types of compensation pattern basing on eco-compensation theory, then calculates the amount of compensation based on the data acquired from Chan-Ba ecological district to test the applicability of the methods. The results show the methods are applicable and feasible

Taeniophyllum norfolkianum: a second genus of Vandeae (Orchidaceae) indigenous to New Zealand

Taeniophyllum norfolkianum is recorded for New Zealand from the Waipu Ecological District in Northland. Plants were found on twigs and branches of gorse in retired pasture reverting to indigenous forest. New Zealand plants share with Norfolk Island plants the tri-lobed labellum with prominent apical spine, but differ in their larger, bright yellow flowers, conspicuously papillate penduncle and rachis and smaller plant size. Taeniophyllum norfolkianum brings the number of epiphytic orchid species indigenous to New Zealand to nine.

하구 생태 복원을 위한 생태구역 구분; 남해 고성만 고성천 인근 하구의 예

연안 하구는 인위적인 개발압력이 상존하며 자연적인 변화에도 민감하게 반응하는 지역이다. 따라서 보존과 지속 가능한 이용을 위해서는 하구 생태계의 구조와 기능에 대한 이해가 필요하며, 인위적 혹은 자연적 변화에 어떻게 반응할 것인지를 아는 것이 필요하다. 하구 생태계 변화의 방향과 현 상태를 용이하게 판단하기 위한 노력의 하나로서 비오톱(biotope)과 하구 타입 분류(typology)를 이용하여 "생태 구역"을 정의하였다. 하구댐의 유무, 염분특성, 식생유무에 따라 16개의 생태 구역을 정의하였고, 고성만에 위치한 고성천 인근 4개 하구(배둔, 구만, 마암, 고성) 생태계에서 지형, 하상경사, 퇴적물 특성, 염분 구조, 식생 면적 등을 통해 생태구역 구분을 시도하였다. 고성천 인근 하구에는 총 16개 생태구역 중 7개가 구분되었다. 자연형 하천인 구만천, 마암천, 배둔천의 상류에는 NFB(natural, fresh, bare)가 나타나고 있으며, 기수 지역에는 NLV(natural, low salinity, vegetated)가 그리고 갯벌에는 NHB(natural, high salinity, bare)가 나타났다. 폐쇄형인 고성천의 경우 담수지역에는 CFB(closed, fresh, bare), 이후 하구쪽으로 CFV(closed, fresh vegetated)가 나타났다. 갈대가 넓게 서식하는 하구댐 안쪽지역은 CLV(closed, low salinity, vegetated)가 나타나며, 거산방조제 바깥쪽은 CHB(closed, high salinity, bare)가 나타났다. 고성천의 CHB와 CLV 지역은 방조제가 하구 생태계에 미치는 영향을 잘 보여주고 있다. 염분이 비교적 높고, 수심이 갚은 수로나 갯벌이 존재하던 CHB 지역이 하구둑에 의해 고염분 지역과 단절되면서 염분이 감소하고, 조석의 영향이 줄어들면서 침수가 줄고, 결국 갈대가 서식하기에 적합한 환경으로 바뀌게 되며, CLV로 바뀐 것으로 여겨진다. 국내의 여러 하구에 나타나는 생태구역을 데이터베이스화하여 각 생태구역의 출현 분포를 파악하는 것이 필요하며, 이러한 자료는 인위적, 자연적 변화에 의한 하구 생태계 변동을 예측하고 관리/대응 방안을 마련하는데 이용될 것이다. 생태구역 변화는 생태구조와 가능의 변화를 가져오기 때문에 생태계 역할 및 가치의 변화를 수반하며, 생태 구역 변화를 야기하는 사업의 타당성을 판단하는 근거자료로 이용될 수 있다. Estuarine ecosystem responds sensitively to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. lt is necessary to identify the direction of the change when the perturbation occurs as well as to understand the structure and functioning of estuarine ecosystem for a proper management of the area. In this study, the estuarine habitats were classified into different ecological districts so as to the switch from one district to another district could be related to the environmental change due to the perturbations. Total 16 ecological districts was defined according to the presence of barrage, salinity and vegetation characteristics. The defined ecological districts were applied to small estuaries in Goseong bay, south sea of Korea (Baedun, Guman, Maam, Goseong) to distinguish different regions which might have characteristic bottom topography, inclinations of river bottom, sediment characteristics, salinity structure and area of vegetation. Total 7 out of 16 ecological district was identified in this region; NFB (natural, fresh, bare), NHB (natural, high salinity, bare), NLV (natural, low salinity, vegetated) in natural (without barrage) estuaries and CFB (closed, fresh, bare), CFV( closed, fresh vegetated), CLV (closed, low salinity, vegetated), CHB (closed, high salinity, bare) in closed (with barrage) estuary. A comparison of environmental factors and biota between CHB and CLV demonstrated the effect of barrage on estuarine ecosystem. The height and sediment characteristics of CHB and CLV were similar but the average salinity was lower in CLV than in CHB due to the barrage, which produced favorable condition for the Phragmites australis in CLV. Information regarding the ecological districts in various sizes and location could be useful for predicting the ecosystem change due to natural and anthropogenic perturbations and for preparing management actions.