Performance of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) provenances grown at the edge of the Negev desert: A review

This paper reviews and summarizes the results of research projects conducted in the Aleppo pine provenance trial in the Yatir forest, located at the northern edge of the Israeli Negev desert, under semi-arid climate. Results show that to improve the sustainability of new Aleppo pine plantations at the edge of deserts, prospective seed sources (provenances) must be selected for heterozygosity on one hand, and for drought resistance and water-use efficiency on the other. Harsh environmental site conditions at the desert's edge provide an opportunity to exert heavy selection pressure among and within provenances of a priori drought-tolerant species. The survivors should be used as the seed source for new forest plantations aimed at combating desertification.     

基于作物空间分配模型的东北三省春玉米时空分布特征

利用1980-2010 年东北三省分县玉米播种面积与产量统计、耕地分布、农业灌溉分布以及作物适宜性分布等多源数据,结合基于交叉信息熵原理的作物空间分配模型（Spatial Production Allocation Model,SPAM）,在5'×5'的像元尺度模拟了春玉米种植面积与产量的时空分布,并重点分析了两者在纬向、经向,以及高程上的时空变化规律。结果显示：（1）玉米种植面积在2000 年前向北扩展至北纬44°~48°间,2000 年后在中南部出现大规模发展（北纬42°~44°）,并进一步向东扩展至东经123°~127°间,同时还表现为向低海拔（高程100 m以下）和较高海拔（高程200~350 m）扩展的态势;（2）单产在纬向上的增加区主要集中在北纬42°~48°,经向上的单产增加则相对均匀,高程上单产提升区主要集中在海拔350 m以下。（3）像元内玉米种植比例整体上由中低种植比例为主逐步演变为中高比例占据主体,并且中高种植比例像元对应的玉米单产水平整体上较高,反映了市场经济驱动下的玉米种植集聚化和规模化的发展趋势。     

我国东部季风区不同自然带年径流特征及人类活动影响的比较研究*

本文在分析我国东部季风区不同自然带年径流与气侯因子关系的基础上,揭示了径流深随纬度和经度变化的规律,并对不同自然带中人类活动对河川径流的干预强度进行了比较,指出半干旱区是人类活动对径流影响最严重的地区,在这里应加强水资源的保护并大力推行各种节水措施。     

Spatial seismicity variations along convergent plate boundaries

Summary. Five major convergent plate boundaries (South America, Izu–Bonin–Marianas, New Hebrides, Tonga–Kermadec and Indonesia) show strong variations in levels of background seismicity on scales ranging from tens to thousands of kilometres. These variations were tested using two statistical approaches and we conclude that small earthquakes are not distributed randomly along these zones.
Two types of large-scale seismicity variations (termed first order) were recognized. First, regions with dimensions on the order of 100 km with extremely high seismicity levels (first-order actives). One such region was recognized in each of the zones studied. Second, large-scale (500 to several thousand kilometres) differences in the level of background seismicity along a given plate boundary. Regions with consistent levels of background seismicity are termed first-order segments.
We examined each first-order segment for smaller scale variations. Ten regions ranging in length from 40 to 170 km with anomalously high seismicity levels were recognized. Fifty-three regions ranging in length from 25 to 355 km were found to have anomalously low seismicity levels. Thus, areas with anomalously high levels of activity are rare in subduction zones.
These observations indicate that background seismicity in subduction zones is not randomly distributed along the strike of the zones. It seems likely that the observed variations reflect tectonic differences. In fact, many of the seismicity variations which we observed appear to be spatially related to features on the seafloor or on the overriding plate. If this is so, then they may provide a powerful tool for characterizing subduction zones and understanding the mechanisms of earthquake generation.     

AEOLIAN BLOWOUT DYNAMICS IN SUBARCTIC LAPLAND BASED ON DECADAL LEVELLING INVESTIGATIONS

Aeolian processes in the subarctic ecocline were investigated by measuring present‐day erosion and deposition rates over a decade in blowouts scoured into stabilized Early to Mid‐Holocene dunes. Four localities from different vegetation zones in Finnish Lapland were surveyed using precision levelling (infrared tachymeter) along eight transects at 1‐m intervals. During an 11‐year observation period, a total of 1439 observation points were monitored in three measurement campaigns, in 1993, 1994 and 2004. Together with dating results reported elsewhere, the results demonstrate the relative quiescence of these subarctic blowouts compared to many coastal dunes. On average, the deflation rate of the studied basins was 8.8 mm a^‐1, which corresponds well with the age and depth of the blowouts. Net deposition had taken place at 30% of the observation points, and one of the eight studied transects showed net deposition as the transect average. Symmetrical, smooth basins showed more consistent changes than basins with a complex form, indicating that internal factors are important in blowout formation under the Lapland climatic range. The deepest part of a blowout was generally found in the upwind end. The erosion/deposition patterns of the transects over a one‐year monitoring period were interpreted with Fourier analysis revealing along‐transect cyclicity, possibly reflecting the movement of small migrating bedforms in the blowouts. Generally, deflation rates at the latitudinal pine forest line were smaller than at those well outside the pine forest suggesting that the coniferous forest at the subarctic ecocline affects the intensity of present‐day aeolian activity in Fennoscandia.     

Pedotransfer functions to estimate soil bulk density for Northern Africa: Tunisia case

Countries should provide regularly national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks and, and for the agriculture and forestry sectors this comprise national estimates of soil organic carbon (C) stocks. Estimation of soil C stock requires soil bulk density (D_b) values. However, direct measurement of D_b is often lacking mainly for soils in arid and semi-arid conditions. Much effort has been made in finding alternative solution to predict D_b, either improving in situ determinations, either improving estimation procedures based on other soil properties. Regression models or pedotransfer functions (PTFs) based on easily measured soil properties constitute an adequate tool to assess D_b, since it needs a minimum data set of indicators. A forward stepwise multiple linear regression routine was used to predict D_b from physico-chemical soil properties. In this study, a soil database was organised from published and unpublished data from Tunisia. The database consisted of 238 soil profiles corresponding to 707 soil horizons from Tunisia. A general regression model fitted with all the data showed that OC, Clay, coarse-Sand and pH were the principal contributors to D_b prediction (R² = 0.55, standard error of prediction = 0.14). Additional models based on different set of variables are also provided providing alternative solutions for different levels of soil information. Predictions of the models were often improved when the data were partitioned into groups by soil depth (0–40 and 40–100 cm) and soil orders. This study also showed that CaCO₃ might be an important predictor for deeper soil horizon. The proposed PTFs for Tunisia might be useful for a larger range of soil from arid and sub arid regions.     

Relationship of minimum winter temperature and temperature seasonality to the northern range limit and species richness of trees in North America

Biologists have considered both winter coldness and temperature seasonality as major determinants of the northern limits of plants and animals in the Northern Hemisphere,which in turn drive the well-known latitudinal diversity gradient.However,few studies have tested which of the two climate variables is the primary determinant.In this study,we assess whether winter coldness or temperature seasonality is more strongly associated with the northern latitudinal limits of tree species and with tree species richness in North Amedca.Tree species were recorded in each of 1198 quadrats of 110 km × 110 km in North America.We used correlation and regression analyses to assess the relationship of the latitude of the northern boundary of each species,and of species richness per quadrat,with winter coldness and temperature seasonality.Species richness was analyzed within 38 longitudinal,i.e.,north-south,bands (each being ＞1100 km long and 110 km wide).The latitudes of the north-ern range limits of tree species were three times better correlated with minimum temperatures at those latitudes than with temperature seasonality.On average,minimum temperature and temperature seasonality together explained 81.5％ of the variation in the northern range limits of the tree species examined,and minimum temperature uniquely explained six-fold (33.7％versus 5.8％) more of this variation than did temperature seasonality.Correlations of tree species richness with minimum temperatures were stronger than correlations with tempera-ture seasonality for most of the longitudinal bands analyzed.Compared to temperature sea-sonality,winter coldness is more strongly associated with species distributions at high lati-tudes,and is likely a more important driver of the latitudinal diversity gradient.     

古尔班通古特沙漠南部风沙土性状在沙垄尺度上的空间变异

在新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南部纵向沙垄上,按5 m×5 m的网格采集浅层风沙土组合样品184件,调查植被样方100个,并测试了风沙土质地、pH、盐分、含水量、全N含量和有机质含量等理化性状。研究发现:受沙垄地貌和植被格局的影响,风沙土性状具有中等到强烈的空间相关性,空间依赖范围(变程)介于21.3~74.8m,大致对应着单一沙垄宽度或垄间地-沙垄-垄间地的地貌单元宽度。利用地统计分析求得不同取样尺度上的分维D。风沙土质地(粒径、平均粒径、分选系数)和盐分(电导率)及养分(有机质和全N含量)在0~40m的取样间隔下,D较大,空间变异程度基本处于中高水平;在90~150m的取样间隔下,D骤减,空间异质性大大增强。风沙土含水量的空间变异强度曲线为几段式形态,并且分维依次递减。     

Body mass and water economy in the South American olivaceous field mouse along a latitudinal gradient: Implications for climate change

We compared geographic trends in body mass in a number of populations of the olivaceous field mouse (Abrothrix olivaceus,) along a latitudinal gradient in Chile, and tested the expected neutral tendency resulting from the opposite influences of environmental temperature and aridity across the gradient. Also, we studied water economy through physiological measurements of total evaporative water loss and urine osmolality in individuals from populations inhabiting two contrasting habitats (northern semiarid shrubland and southern temperate rainforest) and acclimated during six months to the same conditions. No change in male body mass with latitude was found across 39 populations. Evaporative water loss in rodents from the semiarid shrubland was significantly lower than that of individuals from the temperate rainforest, and urine osmolality was significantly higher in rodents from the semiarid habitat. We found a better tolerance of water shortage in the rodent population from the xeric habitat, thus suggesting the occurrence of local adaptation to the prevailing habitat conditions. The mechanisms by which rodents regulate their water economy in face of spatial and temporal fluctuations in environmental conditions constitute an essential component of the physiological flexibility that is necessary to cope with challenging climate change scenarios.     

牛背梁自然保护区林线不同海拔巴山冷杉径向生长对气候变化的响应

近年来气候变化对秦岭植被的影响已得到众多研究的证实,牛背梁作为秦岭东部主脊和国家级自然保护区,该地区亚高山林线植被对气候变化的生态响应现状尚未得到广泛关注。依照树木年代学原理,进行响应分析并建立回归模型,探讨了牛背梁林线关键树种巴山冷杉（Abies fargesii）年表特征及对气候响应的海拔分异特征。结果表明：（1）随海拔升高,树木生长对气候的敏感性逐渐上升,但轮宽年表的同步性和信号强度呈先下降后上升的特点。（2）不同海拔树轮宽度年表的气候响应结果基本一致,对气温的敏感性均较降水强,敏感时段为当年2～8月,差异主要体现在,高海拔树木受生长季末期8月气温的影响较重,中海拔树木受生长季前期3～4月降水和上年冬季10～11月气温的促进,而低海拔树木受初春1～2月降水的限制作用明显。（3）对比分析低、中、高海拔3个回归模型中显著因子的变化趋势,发现气候变化可以促进巴山冷杉生长季的提前,但不同海拔树木的生长动态各异,说明研究区林线不同海拔巴山冷杉生长对全球变化可能具有不同的响应机制。     

Pine plantation bands limit seedling recruitment of a perennial grass under semiarid conditions

Pine plantations coexist with Stipa tenacissima grasslands in many semiarid western Mediterranean areas. We compared three microsites created by a 30-year-old Pinus halepensis plantation: below pine plantation line (BP), below canopy of pines (BC) and interline bare band (BA). They were evaluated in terms of soil properties, pine litter and suitability as recruitment niches for S. tenacissima. Next, in a manipulative experiment in growth chambers we tested the hypothesis that pine litter interferes with the seedling emergence of S. tenacissima. Three treatments in pots were compared: (a) soil from BA; (b) intact soil + litter from BP; and (c) soil + litter from BP, which was mixed in the laboratory (BPMX). In the field the main microsite differences were pine cover and litter cover and thickness. Seedling emergence was significantly greater in BA than in BP. Emergence and litter depth fits a linear regression model. In the growth chamber litter did not interfere with the emergence of S. tenacissima. However, seedlings grown without litter were 28% longer and their mass was 27% greater than in the litter treatments. The detected pine litter interference may be relevant for plant dynamics and might be considered in forestry management programs.     

Mapping stand volumes of Pinus halepensis Mill in a semi-arid region using satellite imagery of the Sénalba Chergui forest in north-central Algeria

We developed an approach using remote sensing and modeling, applicable to Algerian forest inventory, for estimating the volume of timber in Aleppo pine stands. We used ordinary linear regression (OLR) and reduced major axis (RMA) regression to assess an operational model to map stand volume from satellite images. Our analysis was supported by measurements from 151 sample plots and spectral values from remote sensing imagery. Fifteen candidate models were tested through the Akaike Information Criterion to assess their predictive power. For the 2009 Landsat TM image, we found that the best models for both regression methods used the NDVI as the independent variable. The RMSEs were 20.3% (16.10 m³ ha⁻¹) and 22.5% (17.83 m³ ha⁻¹), respectively, for OLR and RMA. We chose the RMA regression models because they had realistic standard deviation values for the estimated volumes, and they gave lower RMSEs in volume classes over 40 m³ ha⁻¹. Our method gave similar results for two other images, which demonstrated that our approach was robust when applied to data from a different year (2006 Landsat TM), but from the same sensor, and also to data from a different sensor (2005 Alsat-1).     

Research Note—The Ebb and Flow of Temporary Populations: The Dimensions of Spatial-Temporal Distributions of Daytime Visitors in the Netherlands

In a network society, the increasing fragmentation of individual activity and travel patterns has a major impact on visitors' use of places and spaces throughout the day. The aim of this study is to determine the main dimensions underlying diurnal weekday variations in visitor populations in Dutch municipalities, and to identify the salient spatial and transportation-related features of these municipalities that contribute to the dimensions of these temporary populations. Using the 1998 Netherlands National Travel Survey for six representative one-hour time periods, we performed an exploratory factor analysis to capture the underlying dimensions. The solution comprised one dimension referring to participation in activities, two dimensions related to the size of the territory in which visitor populations operate combined with the use of different transport modes, one dimension expressing the direction in which interlocal movement occurs, and three dimensions capturing different life-cycle stages within the visitor population.     

中国高山林线的分布高度与气候的关系

通过研究我国高山林线的分布高度沿纬度、经度的变化格局,和对高山林线处的温度和基带降水等气候指标的分析,对我国高山林线分布高度与气候因子的关系进行探讨。结果表明：(1) 我国高山林线高度表现出明显的纬向和经向变化,总体趋势是：在北纬30^o以北,高山林线高度随纬度升高而下降,下降速率为112 m/度左右;在30^oN以南,则表现出较大的东西部差异：在东部,高山林线高度变化不明显,西部则随纬度增加呈上升趋势。在相似的纬度上,高山林线高度呈现出从东向西升高的趋势。高山林线在藏东南的洛隆、丁青、工布江达一带 (约29^o~32^oN,94^o~96^oE) 达到4 600 m,为世界最高林线高度,并以此为中心向四周降低。(2) 影响高山林线高度的主导气候因子为生长季温度条件。我国高山林线高度的温度指标为年生物温度3.5 ^oC,温暖指数14.2 ^oC·月,生长季平均温度8.2 ^oC。该指标相应海拔高度的地理差异,导致了我国高山林线高度的纬向、经向变化,和从沿海到内陆林线高度的差异。(3) 降水对高山林线高度有显著影响。在中高纬度地区,相同纬度上干旱区域的高山林线高于较湿润区域,降水量是通过温度间接作用于林线高度的。     

Predictive mapping of soil total nitrogen at a regional scale: A comparison between geographically weighted regression and cokriging

Accurately mapping the spatial distribution of soil total nitrogen is important to precision agriculture and environmental management. Geostatistical methods have been frequently used for predictive mapping of soil properties. Recently, a local regression method, geographically weighted regression (GWR), got the attention of environmentalists as an alternative in spatial modeling of environmental attributes, due to its capability of incorporating various auxiliary variables with spatially varied correlation coefficients. The objective of this study is to compare GWR and ordinary cokriging (OCK) in predictive mapping of soil total nitrogen (TN) using multiple environmental variables. 353 soil Samples within the surface horizon of 0–20 cm in a study area were collected, and their TN contents were measured for calibrating and validating the GWR and OCK interpolations. The environmental variables finally chosen as auxiliary data include elevation, land use types, and soil types. Results indicate that, although OCK is slightly better than GWR in global accuracy of soil TN prediction (the adjusted R² for GWR and OCK are 0.5746 and 0.6858, respectively), the soil TN map interpolated by GWR shows many details reflecting the spatial variations of major auxiliary variables while OCK smoothes out almost all local details. Geographically weighted regression could account for both the spatial trend and local variations, whilst OCK had difficulties to capture local variations. It is concluded that GWR is a more promising spatial interpolation method compared to OCK in predicting soil TN and potentially other soil properties, if a suitable set of auxiliary variables are available and selected.     

Geographical differentiation of territorial structures of the economy in Pacific Russia

Pacific Russia is regarded as an aquaterritorial macroregion in the composition of the Far Eastern Federal District and the adjacent sea area within the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. The macroregion harbors enormous natural land and sea resource wealth potential and is endowed with possibilities of using the sea transport connecting Russia and Europe with countries of the Asia-Pacific Region. In Pacific Russia, two latitudinal zones, northern and southern, are identified; they include the territories of the constituent entities of the Far Eastern Federal District. Combinations of the kinds of activity for the constituent entities and latitudinal zones are treated as territorial structures of the economy. An assessment of the geographical differentiation of the economy in the latitudinal zones for the years 2004 and 2013 and its change was made from the differences of the homogeneous kinds of activity in the constituent entities measured in terms of the added value. Structural gradients of spatial (including latitudinal) differentiation of the homogeneous kinds of economic activity are suggested for neighboring constituent entities. The analysis made for the latitudinal zones can be useful in assessing the variants of investment in the economy of the constituent entities of Pacific Russia.     

2000—2014年喀喇昆仑山音苏盖提冰川表面高程变化

喀喇昆仑山区冰川由于存在正物质平衡或跃动、前进现象,被称之为“喀喇昆仑异常”,不过该地区冰川变化差异显著,尤其是大型表碛覆盖冰川,呈现与其他类型冰川明显的差异性响应,为理解喀喇昆仑冰川异常的机理,冰川尺度的详细变化研究十分必要。音苏盖提冰川位于喀喇昆仑山乔戈里峰北坡,是中国面积最大的冰川,是典型的大型表碛覆盖冰川。通过应用TanDEM-X/TerraSAR-X（2014年2月）与SRTM-X DEM（2000年2月）的差分干涉测量方法计算音苏盖提冰川表面高程变化,并结合冰川表面流速对冰川表面高程变化和跃动进行分析和讨论。结果表明：2000—2014年音苏盖提冰川表面高程平均下降了1.68±0.94 m,即冰川整体厚度在减薄,年变化率为-0.12±0.07 m·a^-1。冰川表面高程变化分布不均,其中南分支（S）冰流冰川整体减薄较为显著,冰川南分支冰流运动速度较快,前进/跃动的末端占据了冰川的主干,阻滞原主干冰川物质的向下运移（跃动）,导致原主干冰舌表面高程上升;冰川厚度减薄随着海拔升高先下降后保持稳定,同时呈现一定的波动性;低海拔表碛区域消融大于裸冰区,可能存在较薄表碛,因热传导高、覆盖大量冰面湖塘和冰崖存在,加速了冰川消融;在坡度小于30 °的区域,冰川厚度减薄随着坡度的减小而加剧;坡向朝南冰川厚度略微增加（0.01 m）,西南坡向冰川厚度略微减薄（-0.03 m）,其他坡向冰川厚度减薄明显。近14 a来,表碛覆盖的音苏盖提冰川表面高程整体下降表明物质处于亏损状态,冰川跃动导致局部冰川表面高程的增加。     

基于GIS的土壤全氮空间分布估算——以江西省兴国县为例

运用GIS的空间分析技术和DEM,在区域范围内,可以表征基于母岩和地形因子的土壤-景观模型。本次研究根据兴国县151个样点数据,分析TN和地形因子的相关关系,建立回归模型,进行估算。结果表明:表层土壤中TN含量平均值为1.06g/kg,千枚岩发育的土壤中TN的平均含量最高,为1.35g/kg ;砂页岩发育的土壤中TN的平均含量最低,为0.88g/kg 。空间分布上:TN含量在0.5g/kg~1.0g/kg的面积最大,为1580km²,TN含量在2.0g/kg以上的面积最小,为127km²。地形变量中坡向对TN含量影响最大,TN含量和母岩、海拔、坡向存在着正相关关系,坡度和TN含量的相关关系不明显。利用回归分析模型和DEM(30m×30m),估算TN的空间分布,R²为0.637。     

Landslide characteristics and slope instability modeling using GIS, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Steep terrain and high a frequency of tropical rainstorms make landslide occurrence on natural terrain a common phenomenon in Hong Kong. This paper reports on the use of a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) database, compiled primarily from existing digital maps and aerial photographs, to describe the physical characteristics of landslides and the statistical relations of landslide frequency with the physical parameters contributing to the initiation of landslides on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The horizontal travel length and the angle of reach, defined as the angle of the line connecting the head of the landslide source to the distal margin of the displaced mass, are used to describe runout behavior of landslide mass. For all landslides studied, the horizontal travel length of landslide mass ranges from 5 to 785 m, with a mean value of 43 m, and the average angle of reach is 27.7°. This GIS database is then used to obtain a logistic multiple regression model for predicting slope instability. It is indicated that slope gradient, lithology, elevation, slope aspect, and land-use are statistically significant in predicting slope instability, while slope morphology and proximity to drainage lines are not important and thus excluded from the model. This model is then imported back into the GIS to produce a map of predicted slope instability. The results of this study demonstrate that slope instability can be effectively modeled by using GIS technology and logistic multiple regression analysis.     

清江流域气候资源及其开发利用

论述了清江流域气候资源的独特性及其形成原因，为充分开发当地的气候资源，根据气象条件适宜、经济价值高和市场需求量大等指标，提出了重点开发项目；并针对清江河谷气候资源利用中的主要限制因素是冬季的低温冻害的特点，对利用气候资源的风险进行了分析。