Temperature adaptation of microbial communities in different horizons of Siberian permafrost-affected soils from the Lena Delta

The cell membrane phospholipid (PL) inventory of microbial populations in a Siberian permafrost soil of the Lena Delta was analysed to examine as to how the microbial populations within different horizons of the active layer were adapted to the extreme temperature gradient in this environment. One surface-near and one permafrost-near soil sample were taken from the active layer on Samoylov Island in the southern central Lena Delta (Siberia) and in each case incubated at 4 and 28 °C. Subsequently, the phospholipid cell membrane composition of the indigenous microbial populations was qualitatively and quantitatively determined and compared. In both horizons, the incubation at 4 °C is characterized by a shift in the PL inventory to more short chain fatty acids. A significant trend in the proportions of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, however, was not detected. A higher proportion of both short chain and unsaturated fatty acids counterbalances the effect of decreasing cell membrane fluidity with decreasing environmental temperature. Thus, the adaptation of the permafrost microbial populations within the different horizons to varying ambient temperature conditions appears to be mainly regulated by the chain length of the phospholipid fatty acids. Although there is almost no change in the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids between the 4 and 28 °C incubation experiments, the permafrost-near horizon in general contains more unsaturated fatty acids than the surface-near horizon and a higher proportion of short chain fatty acids. This suggests that the lipid inventory of the microbial population nearer to the perennially frozen ground is more adapted to lower temperatures than that of the microbial community from the surface-near horizon, which seems to show a higher flexibility toward higher temperature conditions. The permafrost-near horizon appears to be dominated by psychrophilic species, while the surface-near horizon is characterized by a mesophilic-dominated microbial community.     

Dynamics of sedimentary environments in the accelerated siltation of a reservoir: the case of Alhama de Granada,southern Spain

An analysis has been made of sedimentary systems involved in the rapid silting of a reservoir constructed in 1974 in Alhama de Granada (S. Spain); in only 30 years the storage capacity of the reservoir has shrunk by 80% and its perimeter has decreased by 64%. A study of sediment lithofacies identified in a series of shallow trenches and of georadar facies identified in a series of almost 900 m lines of ground penetrating radar (GPR) images, together with a survey of surface geology, has identified 3 alluvial systems (2 transversal systems and a longitudinal system) whose deltas have filled in the reservoir. Thus, there are three phases in the evolution of the reservoir siltation: (1) an initial stage (1974–1977) typified by northward progradation of the longitudinal river delta of about 100 m year⁻¹ and an eastward progradation of the transversal system delta of about 20 m year⁻¹; (2) an intermediate stage (1977–1984) in which the longitudinal river delta progradation slowed to 25 m year⁻¹ and the axial drainage became obstructed due to the considerable eastward progradation of the transversal delta; and (3) a final phase (1984–present) in which there have been few changes in the areal distribution of the deltas apart from a southeastward expansion of the transversal delta. Generally, aggradational growth patterns (vertical accretion) have dominated in this final phase. The lithology of the source area, the slope and precipitation distribution has a significant effect not only on the sediment supply, but also indirectly on the creation of accommodation space and on the evolution of stratal growth patterns.     

城市旅游发展效率的时空格局演化特征及其驱动机制——以泛长江三角洲地区为例

借助DEA模型和ArcGIS空间分析模块,系统的分析了1998～2008年泛长三角城市旅游发展效率的时空格局演化特征,依据全要素生产率的变动分解模型(Malmquist指数),对TFP变化的总体趋势、结构及空间格局的演化过程进行了综合探讨。结果表明:泛长三角城市旅游发展效率总体上呈现提高态势,市域间差异表现为较为明显波动性特征,旅游发展效率的空间格局形成与演化存在空间关联,综合效率、纯技术效率、规模效率在空间上均表现较为显著的空间自相关,且综合效率和规模效率形成了较为相似的变化格局,而全要素生产率变化呈现弱集聚,相邻地域单元关联性较差。针对旅游发展效率的时空格局演化的驱动机制进行剖析表明,经济政策导向驱动、旅游生产单元价值驱动及旅游消费需求刺激驱动共同驱使导致了旅游发展效率在空间范畴上格局置换。     

城市旅游竞争潜力时空格局演化及其结构合理性评价——以长江三角洲地区为例

选取资源产品竞争力、市场服务竞争力、旅游保障竞争力三大指标体系,采用熵值法赋予权重,对长三角城市旅游竞争潜力进行横向上的测度,引入SSM模型,纵向测算1998～2008年城市旅游竞争潜力指标要素的结构偏离分量和竞争力偏离分量,在此基础上,评价指标要素的结构效果指数和竞争力效果指数。结果表明:长三角城市旅游竞争潜力时空格局上存在显著差异,表现为以上海、南京、杭州、苏州为中心的城市旅游竞争潜力较高,始终处于区域的高值状态,形成四强鼎立的空间格局,城市间旅游竞争潜力差异呈现扩大化,指标要素的结构上存在不合理,与之相对应的旅游竞争潜力并不完全匹配。通过横向纵向两方面清晰的对比反映不同城市旅游竞争潜力指标的弱项和缺陷,客观准确地表现不同城市旅游竞争潜力大小,为长三角地区不同城市提升旅游竞争潜力提供定量依据与理论参考。     

都市圈旅游空间结构演变研究——以长三角都市圈为例

旅游空间结构演变研究,对优化都市圈旅游空间结构、促进都市圈整体旅游地形成和发挥都市圈旅游空间效应与功能有重要意义。以旅游人数和旅游收入为指标,利用赫芬达尔指数和位序—规模模型进行分析,并结合长三角都市圈旅游发展实际考察其旅游空间结构演变态势。结果表明,长三角都市圈旅游者和旅游收入空间分布趋向分散,各城市旅游发展相对差异不断缩小,其旅游发展趋向均衡化。长三角都市圈旅游发展实际也显示,其旅游空间结构呈现多中心、网络化和一体化特点。从长期来看,长三角都市圈旅游空间结构演变趋向高水平均衡。借鉴空间相互作用理论,认为以可达性、互补性和替代性为必要条件,以集聚和扩散作用为主要形式,以资金、技术、人员、信息和经验等的流动为主要内容,各城市旅游空间相互作用推动了都市圈旅游空间结构不断由低水平均衡向高水平均衡演变。旅游企业扩张和旅游客流流动带动了旅游资金、技术、人员、信息和经验等的集聚和扩散,推动了都市圈旅游空间结构演变。     

基于GIS的城市势力圈测度研究--以长江三角洲地区为例

该文以长江三角洲地区为例,运用多种模型,探讨基于GIS技术的城市势力圈的测度。结果表明,通过GIS技术可以实现城市势力圈分析、预测的可视化。通过GIS的各种分析工具,可以实现常规方法无法做到的功能扩展,对探讨城市发展演变规律、预测未来变动趋势能起到很好的辅助决策作用,有较强的应用价值。     

Naturalizing the freezeup regimes of regulated rivers and exploring implications to spring ice-jam flooding

Naturalization of the flow hydrograph and ice regime is a key step in assessment of ecological and socioeconomic impacts of regulation across large portions of Europe, Asia and North America, where many rivers are dammed for hydropower generation. Building on previous naturalization of early-freshet flows that influence the nature of breakup and jamming events, novel methodology is developed to estimate natural freezeup flows and thence determine associated water levels, also known to influence subsequent breakup events. Using reservoir inflows, the new methodology is applied to the lower portion of the regulated Peace River, Canada, which forms the northern boundary of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), a Ramsar wetland of international importance that partially depends on spring ice-jam flooding for recharge of its high-elevation, or “perched” basins. The PAD provides habitat for numerous aquatic, terrestrial and avian species and is vital to the maintenance of indigenous culture and lifeways. Naturalized freezeup levels in the lower Peace River are shown to be nearly always lower than corresponding regulated values, with the difference averaging ~1.6 m. Consistent with known physics of river ice breakup processes, the present results suggest that ice-jam flood frequency would likely have been greater under natural conditions. Though potentially adverse from the ecological standpoint, reduction of spring ice-jam flooding can benefit riverside communities. Implications of the present results to and comparison with, other Canadian and international rivers are discussed.     

Effects of Social Learning on Rural Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity: Empirical Insights from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Abstract

Environmental challenges in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta characterized by adverse impacts of climate change, upstream hydropower development and localized dyke expansion present imperatives for rural farmers to “learn to adapt.” However, little is known about how learning contributes to improving their capacity in adapting to these “wicked” problems. This study investigates potential effects of farmers’ learning on their adaptive capacity, utilizing nine focus group discussions, 33 interviews, and a structured survey of 300 farmers. The exploratory factor analysis produced two factors for social learning: (1) learning through social interactions and (2) self-reflection, and one factor for adaptive capacity. The regression results show that the social learning factors have significantly positive effects on adaptive capacity. Farmers with a higher level of social learning are likely to demonstrate higher adaptive capacity. The findings call for policy considerations to promote learning in a broader context of the delta to enhance local capacity.     

长江三角洲近46a气温和降水的变化趋势

利用长江三角洲地区84个气象站观测数据,分析了长江三角洲1961—2006年气温和降水的时空变化趋势。结果表明,46a间长江三角洲地区年平均气温上升趋势显著,冬季平均气温的增温幅度最大,春、秋次之。增温显著区域与城市带分布区域吻合。极端最低气温有明显上升,而年极端低温事件日数的下降趋势显著。部分地区的极端最高气温呈上升趋势,在城市密集带尤为突出。年降水量没有明显的变化趋势,但降水的季节分配有所变化,冬、夏季降水量呈现显著上升趋势,秋季降水量明显下降,春季没有明显变化。     

Dispersal of Mississippi and Atchafalaya sediment on the Texas-Louisiana shelf: Model estimates for the year 1993

A three-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic-sediment transport model for the Texas-Louisiana continental shelf was developed using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) and used to represent fluvial sediment transport and deposition for the year 1993. The model included water and sediment discharge from the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya Bay, seabed resuspension, and suspended transport by currents. Input wave properties were provided by the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model so that ROMS could estimate wave-driven bed stresses, critical to shallow-water sediment suspension. The model used temporally variable but spatially uniform winds, spatially variable seabed grain size distributions, and six sediment tracers from rivers and seabed.At the end of the year 1993, much of the modeled fluvial sediment accumulation was localized with deposition focused near sediment sources. Mississippi sediment remained within 20-40 km of the Mississippi Delta. Most Atchafalaya sediment remained landward of the 10-m isobath in the inner-most shelf south of Atchafalaya Bay. Atchafalaya sediment displayed an elongated westward dispersal pattern toward the Chenier Plain, reflecting the importance of wave resuspension and perennially westward depth-averaged currents in the shallow waters (<10 m). Due to relatively high settling velocities assumed for sediment from the Mississippi River as well as the shallowness of the shelf south of Atchafalaya Bay, most sediment traveled only a short distance before initial deposition. Little fluvial sediment could be transported into the vicinity of the “Dead Zone” (low-oxygen area) within a seasonal-annual timeframe. Near the Mississippi Delta and Atchafalaya Bay, alongshore sediment-transport fluxes always exceeded cross-shore fluxes. Estimated cumulative sediment fluxes next to Atchafalaya Bay were episodic and “stepwise-like” compared to the relatively gradual transport around the Mississippi Delta. During a large storm in March 1993, strong winds helped vertically mix the water column over the entire shelf (up to 100-m isobath), and wave shear stress dominated total bed stress. During fair-weather conditions in May 1993, however, the freshwater plumes spread onto a stratified water column, and combined wave-current shear stress only exceeded the threshold for suspending sediment in the inner-most part of the shelf.