Decline of the mid‐ to late Holocene forests in China: climatic change or human impact?

Fossil pollen data from China indicate continued forest decline during the mid‐ to late Holocene in most regions north of the Yangtze River. The earliest forest decline can be detected ca. 5000 yr BP in the middle and lower Yellow River regions. North, northeast and northwest from this region, forest decline became progressively later, and almost no decline took place in the northernmost part of northeast China and in the remote areas of west China during the last 5000 yr. Climate changes could hardly account for the temporal and spatial patterns of the forest decline. Instead, anthropogenic disturbance may have been of overwhelming importance. Ancient agriculture and high‐density settlement expanded outward from the middle and lower Yellow River regions in similar patterns to those of forest change. This study also indicates that land‐use and land‐cover changes may have started in the early stage of Chinese civilization in an extensive area of the country. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

山东地质环境中砷的分布特征

山东地质环境砷含量一般为(10^-6)：各类岩石4．87～7．89，土壤10．89，水系底泥6．23。根据砷的分布特点。总体上可将山东分为鲁中南-鲁东山地丘陵区、鲁西北-鲁西南平原区2个大的砷的地质环境(背景)区及7个亚区。每个亚区内，山地丘陵区砷的地球化学背景较低，而平原区砷的背景相对高些。但总体上，全省处于正常的和相对比较低的背景，还未发现原生地质环境形成高砷背景对人体危害的案例。     

Late Holocene vegetational history,human impact and pollen representativity variations in northern Cumbria,England

The comparison of pollen diagrams and their inferred vegetational histories are an important component of palaeoecological research. Radiocarbon-dated pollen profiles from three cores taken from two adjacent mires located in northern Cumbria, Bolton Fell Moss and Walton Moss, have been used to reconstruct the Late Holocene vegetation history between the Bronze Age and the present day. The profiles have been interpreted in the light of available archaeological and historical records and, although the pollen records are broadly similar, there are some notable differences between them, particularly during Iron Age and medieval times. Dissimilarities between the diagrams are explored numerically, and the statistical and palynological results are discussed in relation to pollen representativity. The results suggest that it may be advantageous to construct more than one pollen diagram from a mire, or even adjacent mires, as extra-local pollen may be a more important part of the pollen rain than previously envisaged. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Quaternary environmental changes on Pacific islands: controversy,certainty and conjecture

The late Quaternary history of the Pacific islands is poorly known. Most details about Pleistocene history come from studies of ocean-floor sediments, although a few insular pollen records extend back into the last glacial stage. There is limited evidence for Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) aridity and a rise in LGM–early Holocene precipitation associated with strengthening of the Southern Oscillation. The middle Holocene warming is best represented by sea-level records, which, from all parts of the Pacific, now show a contemporary maximum ca. 5000–3000 yr BP. Late Holocene cooling and precipitation increase were probably more widespread than available data suggest. The advent of humans into Pacific island environments, mostly during the late Holocene, is critically reviewed. Vegetation change may have, at least in part, been the result of climate change. Many Pacific island grasslands may be climatogenic rather than anthropogenic. Fires may have occurred naturally long before people arrived on Pacific islands. Ideas about early human impacts on Pacific island enviroments need to be critically reviewed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Decadal link between longitudinal morphological changes in branching channels of Yangtze estuary and movement of the offshore depo-center

In estuaries, the morphology of inland and offshore areas usually evolves synergistically. This study examines the decadal link between longitudinal changes in morphology of branching channels and movement of the offshore depo-center (where sediment deposition rate is maximum) of the Yangtze River estuary, under intense human interference. Integrated data analysis is provided on morphology, runoff discharge, and ebb partition ratio from 1950 to 2017. Channel-volume reductions and change rates between isobaths in branching channels reflect the impact of estuarine engineering projects. Ebb partition ratio and duration of discharge ≥ 60 000 m³ s^-1 act as proxies for the water excavating force in branching channels and runoff intensity. It is found that deposition occurs in the lower/upper sub-reaches (or further downstream/upstream channels) of the inland north/south branching channels, and the offshore depo-center moves southward or southeastward, as runoff intensity grows; the reverse occurs as runoff intensity declines. This is because the horizontal circumfluence in the Yangtze estuary rotates clockwise as ebb partition ratios of the north/south branching channels increase/decrease for increasing runoff, and conversely rotates anticlockwise for decreasing runoff. Land reclamation activities, the Deepwater Channel Project, and the Qingcaosha Reservoir have impacted greatly on longitudinal changes of morphology in the North Branch and the South Passage and on ebb partition ratio variations in the North/South Channel and the North/South Passage. Dam-induced runoff flattening has enhanced deposition in the upper/lower sub-reaches of the north/south branching channels and caused northward movement of the offshore depo-center, except in areas affected by estuarine engineering projects. Dam-induced longitudinal evolution of branching channel morphology and offshore depo-center movement will likely persist in the future, given the ongoing construction of large cascade dams in the upper Yangtze and the completion of major projects in the Yangtze estuary. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamics and driving mechanisms of asymmetric human water consumption during alternating wet and dry periods

Increases in human water consumption (HWC) and consequent degradation of the ecological environment are common in arid regions. Understanding the mechanisms behind these processes is important for sustainable development. Analyses of changes in HWC between alternating wet and dry periods are carried out in four arid inland basins in Central Asia and China (Syr Darya, Tarim, Heihe and Shulehe river basins). Based on runoff records, the presence of an asymmetric HWC response is proved (p < 0.01), with an increase in HWC during wet periods and a muted decrease during subsequent dry periods. This behaviour is interpreted by invoking theories from behavioural economics at the individual and community levels. A simple model based on these theories is shown to be able to reproduce the observed dynamics and is used to discuss the importance of strengthening institutional factors for water sustainability.     

云南纳帕海岩溶湿地生态环境变化及驱动机制

利用原状土就地取样野外定位研究方法,对云南西北高原的纳帕海岩溶湿地生态环境状况进行的2年定位研究表明,纳帕海湿地生态环境破坏严重,表现为湿地面积不断缩小,沼泽类型改变,沼泽旱化、沙化,中旱生植物侵入,沼泽发生逆向生态演替,生物多样性减少,土壤养分衰减退化,土壤酶活性降低,水质变劣.分析了引起纳帕海湿地环境变化的自然因素和人为因素,表明人为活动干扰是引起其湿地生态环境退化的主要原因.     

湖北太白湖孢粉记录揭示的近1500年以来长江中下游地区的气候变化与人类活动

太白湖TN1孔总长153cm岩芯的孢粉组合与炭屑指标,揭示了近1500年以来太白湖流域的植被经历了7个阶段的变化,对引起植被发生这种变化的主导冈素探讨认为,520-1310AD期间,植被变化主要受气候变化的控制,人类活动的影响相对较弱;1310-1710AD期间,人类活动对植被的影响强度增加,为以自然控制为主向人类活动驱动为主转化的过渡期:1710AD以来,植被变化以人类活动驱动为主,反映的气候信号相对较弱.在孢粉组合所反映的气候变化中,具有520-720AD、1050-1310AD和自1950AD以来的三个暖期和720-1050AD、1310-1710AD期间的两个冷期.     

河西走廊东段湖泊旋回及其古气候意义

以河西走廊东段石羊河尾闾青土湖为例,通过对志云村剖面沉各气候记录的研究,证实季风边缘是年以上时间尺度的气候变化,具有暖湿,冷干的阶段性特征。自６０００ａＢＰ以来,河西走廊东段渗湖泊回经历了四次湖退和三次湖进过程。除最后一次湖退直至干涸受人类活动影响较大外,其它主要是气候阶段性变化的结果。     

土地利用和水环境因子对大型底栖动物次级生产力的影响:以东北地区连环湖为例

土地利用和水环境因子是影响湖泊生态系统的关键因素,探究大型底栖动物次级生产力受环境因子的作用机制,可揭示底栖动物栖息地的生态系统与外源环境的关系。为了解土地利用和水环境因子对大型底栖动物次级生产力的影响,2020年对连环湖13个主要湖泊的土地利用类型及6、8和10月的大型底栖动物、水环境因子进行调查,共采集到大型底栖动物75种,隶属于3门32科56属,其中优势种属及重要种属以摇蚊幼虫和腹足纲为主,前突摇蚊(Procladius sp.)为第一优势种。主成分分析表明,土地利用及水环境因子具备明显的时空梯度,而大型底栖动物次级生产力也存在明显的时空变化。春季、夏季、秋季次级生产力和P/B值分别为5.65、6.06、4.31 g/(m²·a)和2.74、2.55、2.40 a^-1,其中春季次级生产力集中于东北部湖区,龙虎泡集中于湖心区;夏季次级生产力逐渐向各湖区扩散,龙虎泡整体偏低;秋季次级生产力集中于西北部及东南部湖区,龙虎泡集中于东北部湖区。P/B值随季节的推移呈现由东部湖区向西部湖区逐渐递增的趋势,而龙虎泡始终集中于南部湖区。次级生产力和P/B值的结构分析表明,春季次级生产力主要由腹足纲构成,进入夏、秋季后以双壳纲对次级生产力的贡献最高。其中腹足纲、双壳纲、摇蚊幼虫和寡毛纲次级生产力主要集中于北部湖区、东南部湖区、中部湖区和龙虎泡,而甲壳纲仅出现于阿木塔泡。寡毛纲和双壳纲P/B 值随季节的推移逐渐降低,摇蚊幼虫和腹足纲P/B 值呈先升后降的趋势。通径分析表明,pH、人造地表和叶绿素a是影响年均大型底栖动物次级生产力的关键环境因子。典范对应分析表明,总磷和电导率是影响不同季节大型底栖动物次级生产力的重要环境变量。耕地、人造地表与总磷、电导率和悬浮物呈显著正相关,农业生产和城镇建设的增加是连环湖呈富营养化状态的重要原因,且此现象已对大型底栖动物次级生产力形成威胁。未来应通过控制农业面源污染、秸秆腐熟还田、鼓励粪便施肥、科学规划用地等措施改善连环湖流域的生态环境,以促进大型底栖动物资源合理的开发利用。