Local ecological knowledge demonstrates shifting baselines and the large-scale decline of sawfishes (Pristidae) in Tanzania

Sawfishes are coastally distributed rays that grow to very large sizes. All five species are assessed as Endangered or Critically Endangered as a result of population declines caused mainly by entanglements in fishing gear and by habitat degradation. Three species occur in the western Indian Ocean, but their populations are believed to have declined drastically in many areas and little is known about their presence in Tanzania. Fisher interviews were conducted to provide an overview of the status of sawfishes in Tanzania and to highlight where conservation actions should be focused to conserve sawfishes nationally. In total, 386 interviews were conducted: 296 at 31 villages in four regions on Tanzania’s mainland, and 90 interviews at 12 villages in four regions of Pemba Island. Less than half (46%) of the fishers were familiar with sawfishes and could identify one from a photograph. A precipitous decline in sawfish abundance in Tanzania could be inferred from the age-related decline in local knowledge of their existence; all fishers aged between 70 and 80 years were familiar with sawfishes, whereas only 10% of fishers younger than age 20 had ever heard of them. A total of 29 sawfish records were compiled, comprising 16 rostra and 14 catches that occurred between 2002 and 2014 (one record included both a catch and a rostrum). All rostra examined were from the largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis. Since 2002, the sawfish catches occurred in three locations, all on the mainland coast: in the southern Mtwara region, in the vicinity of the Rufiji Delta, and at Bagamoyo on the Zanzibar Channel. Interview data and rostra evidence suggest that the Rufiji Delta may be a largetooth sawfish nursery area, and confirmation of this should be a priority.     

AIDS NORTH AND SOUTH: DIFFUSION PATTERNS OF A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC AND A RESEARCH AGENDA FOR GEOGRAPHERS *

Apart from the tragic certainty of death which accompanies AIDS everywhere, the means of its transmission, the spatial patterns of its diffusion, and the groups at highest risk of infection vary considerably among world regions. This paper reviews the disease and its transmission, then proposes three models of AIDS diffusion to assess the implications of the epidemic on various regions. AIDS North, of North America and western Europe, is urban based and primarily confined to homosexuals and IV drug abusers. AIDS South, in central Africa and the Caribbean, is spreading from cities into rural regions and affects primarily heterosexuals. The third, an AIDS North/South hybrid, is postulated as a model of diffusion of the disease in other Third World regions. The final section addresses the potential contribution of geographic research to policy-makers in attempting to cope with the diffusion of AIDS and in curbing the epidemic's advance.     

2004年度天文学科科学基金面上项目

介绍了2004年度天文学科科学基金申请、资助的基本情况，并对其结果进行了分析．     

The Young Geographers And Their Research: 1936–1943*

The Young Geographers, an informal organization of American geographers, flourished from 1936 to 1943. One of its projects in 1940 and 1941 was the compilation and publication of lists of contemplated research by some 170 Young Geographers. Their listed research interests were relatively narrow in subject and geographical area. The successor of the Young Geographers was the American Society for Professional Geographers which merged with the Association of American Geographers in 1948 under a democratic constitution which assured that young geographers and their research would be recognized.     

季风亚洲区域集成研究国际计划(MAIRS)10年回顾

季风亚洲区域集成研究（Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study,简称MAIRS）是国际全球变化研究计划（GEC）和地球系统科学联盟（ESSP）的一个子计划,是全球变化邻域第一个由中国科学家提出,并组织实施的国际计划,历时10余年。MAIRS明确提出:不同于过去和正在进行的任何一个关于季风的研究计划,MAIRS研究的主题是人类与季风系统的相互作用。本文从四个方面回顾了这个计划的历程:（1）2003~2006年的可行性研究。包括区域集成研究概念的提出、亚洲区域全球变化研究的快速评估、以及在此基础上确定MAIRS的总体科学目标和起草MAIRS的科学计划。（2）2006年正式发布的MAIRS科学计划的主要内容。包括季风亚洲区域面临的环境变化和研究挑战、集成研究的科学问题、四个最脆弱区域的确定以及计划执行的方法和手段等。（3）2006~2016年MAIRS计划的执行情况。包括组织结构、科学活动、研究项目和成果、以及国际合作网络的建立。（4）MAIRS的国际影响和未来发展。MAIRS与未来地球国际计划（Future Earth）。     

城市化与生态环境关系研究热点与前沿的图谱分析

城市化与生态环境关系的相关研究已成为人地关系地域系统研究的热点问题与前沿领域。基于1999-2016年WOS和CNKI数据库中城市化与生态环境相关研究主题的文献样本数据,利用Excel、SPSS和CiteSpace软件,通过学科共现分析、文献共被引分析、突现词探测、关键词共现分析和多维尺度分析等,系统梳理了城市化与生态环境关系研究领域的前沿、知识基础、现状热点与发展动态,结果显示：①研究前沿从城市化与生态环境系统的单一要素逐渐走向多要素综合研究,由单向作用逐步转向系统间和系统外部的相互作用研究;②快速城市化背景下土地利用变化、生态系统服务、气候变化、景观格局和生态环境效应等方面已成为近期研究热点;③国内相关研究缺乏在多尺度视角下利用新技术集成方法进行跨学科的综合性研究。最后,提出了城市化与生态环境的基本格局—过程—机理、跨区域的多尺度研究、城市化的生态环境效应及其影响因素、快速城市化过程中生态环境问题形成与优化调控、城市化与生态环境的可持续发展等领域的研究展望。     

城市自然地理学的理论、实践和发展

在全球快速城市化背景下,城市成为经济高速发展、人类活动高度集中、人地相互作用最强烈的区域,人工环境下“第二自然格局”的形成以及剧烈的城市土地利用/覆被变化效应使得城市自然地理学在城市复杂系统的研究中具有重要的理论和应用价值。本文通过对城市自然地理学的缘起、学科发展的综合分析,从学科理论体系、研究内容以及前沿发展领域等方面进行了论述,以期丰富和深化城市自然地理学研究内容,并进一步推动城市自然地理学的研究和发展。未来,城市自然地理学的研究应从以下方面开展：①关注基础理论研究,深化学科理论体系;②发展多学科的交叉视角,深化城市地表系统多要素变化研究;③聚焦城市自然—人文复杂系统,揭示自然和人文多要素间耦合机理及驱动机制;④拓宽城市服务应用领域的研究,提供城市可持续发展的多目标决策。     

中国自然地理学中的气候变化研究前沿进展

气候学是自然地理学的重要组成部分;过去气候变化和当代气候增暖的影响与适应研究是中国自然地理学在气候变化领域的2个主要研究方向。本文综述了这2个研究方向的主要进展,包括：分别简述研究的意义、发展历程与主要科学问题;梳理总结中国过去气候变化重建与时空特征分析,历史时期气候变化的影响,全球增暖背景下中国气候区划变动特征,全球增暖对中国自然生态系统、水资源、农业等方面影响的区域差异,气候变化的综合风险区划等方面的前沿进展,特别是在各方面所取得的主要科学认识;以期为未来的深入研究,特别是编制相关领域和学科发展战略提供参考。     

The Progress of Resources and Environment Carrying Capacity: from Single-factor Carrying Capacity Research to Comprehensive Research

As a concept to describe development restrictions, resources and environment carrying capacity (RECC) research has developed over more than 100 years since it was first proposed at the beginning of the 20^th century. It is now regarded as a significant factor in evaluating the level of cooperation between regional population, resources, and environment; and it is currently used as an effective and operational tool to guide regional sustainable development. This article first reviews the origin of RECC and its early headway. It then reviews the historical development of RECC from single factors, such as land resources carrying capacity, water resources carrying capacity and environmental carrying capacity (environmental capacity), to more comprehensive research, such as comprehensive evaluation, emergy analysis, and ecological footprint analysis. In general, it appears that comprehensive research will become increasingly important in RECC research. However, there are several deficiencies in the current state of comprehensive research. Firstly, comprehensive RECC research lacks a common measurement standard, though some scholars have attempted to create one. Secondly, the RECC evaluation of open systems and dynamic studies should be strengthened. Thirdly, more attention should be paid to standardization, digitalization, and systematization to promote the applicability of RECC research to national practical demands.     

中国煤田构造研究现状与展望

中国煤田地质的显著特点是煤盆地类型多样、煤系后期改造明显、构造样式丰富,从而在很大程度上决定了煤炭资源开发利用的价值。进入新世纪以来,我国煤田构造研究取得的主要成果包括：①煤田构造的区域地质背景研究取得重大进展;②中国东部盆地动力学与构造控煤作用受到关注;③煤田滑脱构造研究的继续——控煤构造样式的划分;④煤变形-变质作用的构造控制研究愈加深入;⑤以三维地震技术为代表的煤田构造高精度探测技术全面推广应用;⑥矿井构造定量评价和预测已成为煤田构造研究的亮点。通过回顾总结我国煤田构造研究历史和主要成就,分析了当前面临的挑战和机遇,提出了今后一段时期的重点攻关目标。