Revisiting Sustainable Development of Dry Valleys in Hengduan Mountains Region

Dry valleys are a striking geographic landscape in Hengduan Mountains Region and are characterized by low rainfall, desert type of vegetation and fragile environment. Past efforts and resources have been concentrated mainly on rehabilitation of degraded ecosystem and fragile environment, particularly reforestation, while socio-economic development has been largely overlooked. Despite successes in pocket areas, the overall trend of unsustainability and environmental deterioration are continuing. It is important to understand that uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is the root cause of development of dry valleys, and development and formation of dry valleys is a natural process. Human intervention has played a secondary role in development of dry valleys and degradation of dry valleys though human intervention in many cases has speeded up environmental degradation of the dry valleys. It is important to understand that dry valleys are climatic enclaves and an integrated approach that combines rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and socio-economic development should be adopted if the overall goal of sustainable development of dry valleys is to be achieved. Promotion of niche-based cash crops, rural energy including hydropower, solar energy, biogas and fuelwood plantation is recommended as the priority activities.     

Utilisation and Management Changes in South Kyrgyzstan＇s Mountain Forests

Using political ecology as its conceptual framework, this paper focuses on the changes in forest utilisation and management of South Kyrgyzstan＇s walnut-fruit forests over the last century The aim of this study on human-environment interactions is to investigate the relationship between actors on the one side, their interests and demands, and the forests and forested lands on the other. Forest resource utilisation and management - and even the recognition of different forest products as resources - are connected with political and socioeconomic conditions that change with time. The walnut-fruit forests of South Kyrgyzstan are unique, characterised by high biodiversity and a multiplicity of usable products; and they have been utilised for a long time. Centralised and formal management of the forests started with the Russian occupation and was strengthened under Soviet rule, when the region became a part of the USSR. During this era, a state forest administration that was structured from Moscow all the way down to the local level drew up detailed plans and developed procedures for utilising the different forest products. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the socio-political and economic frame conditions have changed significantly, which has brought not only the sweeping changes in the managing institutions, but also the access rights and interests in the forest resources. At present, the region is suffering from a high unemployment rate, which has resulted in the forests＇ gaining considerable importance in the livelihood strategies of the local population. Political and economic liberalization, increased communication and transregional exchange relations have opened the door for international companies and agents interested in the valuable forest products. Today, walnut wood and burls, walnuts, wild apples and mushrooms are all exported to various countries in the world. Scientists and members of various international organisations stress the ecological value of the forests and are trying to establish nature conservation areas. Nevertheless, it is to fear that a multiplicity of interrelated factors - the present transformation and globalization processes, the appearance of new actors, the local population＇s insecure economic situation and the erosion of managing institutions - are all leading to an intensified and unregulated exploitation of the forests, resulting in their degradation.     

树木年轮重建阿勒泰西部1481-2004年6-9月降水量序列

根据采自阿勒泰西部地区5个采点的树木年轮样本, 建立了该地区的树轮年表. 通过相关普查发现, 其差值年表序列与该地区当年6-9月的降水量存在明显的负相关关系, 且具有明确的树木生理学意义. 用沙勒哈(t, t 1)两个树轮差值年表序列可较好地重建该地区1481-2004年524 a来的当年6-9月的降水量, 且经过交叉检验表明重建方程稳定可靠. 分析发现, 阿勒泰西部地区524 a来的重建降水量序列具有9个偏干阶段和9个偏湿阶段, 并且具有34.8 a、 5.0～5.1 a、 4.3～4.4 a、 3.9～4.0 a、 3.7 a和3.4 a的显著干湿变化准周期. 重建降水量序列在1518年、 1548年、 1634年、 1765年、 1856年前后发生过突变.     

等温微量热法在土壤微生物研究方面的进展

土壤微生物是陆地生态系统中分解者亚系统的主要组成部分, 参与了包括有机质降解、营养转化、 植物生长的促进或抑制以及各种土壤物理过程在内的一系列反应活动. 土壤微生物则是土壤质量重要的生物指标, 可以用来监控土壤质量的变化. 等温微量热法是一种简便、快速地测量微生物活性的方法, 在土壤微生物代谢热效应的研究领域中广泛应用. 就等温微量热法在土壤微生物活性中的研究进展进行综述: 等温微量热法的简介, 微量热方法与传统方法的比较, 等温微量热法在各种外界环境和土壤条件影响下的土壤微生物活性研究中的应用, 并对等温微量热法在土壤微生物和其它方面的研究进行了展望.     

N0AA发布美国珊瑚礁生态系统新研究报告并为综合观测系统提供依据

2005年8月18日，NOAA发布美国珊瑚礁生态系统国家研究报告。根据美国浅海珊瑚礁生态系统状况新的全国评价，美国国家珊瑚礁系统依然承受着来自自然和人类的种利压力，包括：过度捕捞、病害、污染和气候变化。     

大亚湾海域重金属潜在生态危害评价

采用金属潜在生态危害系数和危害指数的评估方法，评价了大亚湾海域重金属对海洋生态系统的潜在危害。结果表明，大亚湾海域重金属潜在生态危害轻微，而养殖海区和近岸海区的重金属潜在生态危害则相对较重，大亚湾海域重金属的潜在生态危害较珠江口外浅海轻。     

银川盆地中更新世以来的孢粉记录及古气候研究

银川盆地中更新世以来的孢粉记录及据此所重建的古气候参数，揭示了该区中更新世以来的古气候演变特征，其演变经过了温湿→凉湿→温和→冷湿→温干→凉较湿→冷湿→温干→凉润→温较干→温干的变化，并与新疆地区，黄土高原以及深海δ^18O曲线进行了对比，结果表明，各地的古环境变化大致同步，该区由于位置靠西，邻近沙漠，最近地质历史时期的区域性干旱特色明显。     

晚中生代─新生代南海周缘地块运动与南海演化

报道了由华南几个盆地的古地磁数据综合而得的反映该区白垩纪以来古纬度变化曲线，结合Ｓｃｈｍｉｄｔｋｅ等（１９９０）发表的加里曼丹１５０Ｍａ以来的古地磁数据，表明华南与加里曼丹在４０Ｍａ前具有大致相同的古纬度变化史，差异仅出现在距今３０Ｍａ前后和１０Ｍａ以来。若此趋势可靠，则可作出下列推断：（１）南海的扩张只能发生在距今３０Ｍａ附近或１０Ｍａ以后华南与加里曼丹反向运动时期；距今３０Ｍａ的扩张已被广为接受；（２）华南与加里曼丹之向可能存在的古南海只能在９１Ｍａ之前存在；（３）南海演化可能存在两期扩张。南海的拟合可通过沿３５００ｍ等深线的先道时针旋转、后北向平移两个步骤完成。这与Ｈａｙａｓｈｉｄａ等（１９９１）提出的日本海张开与扩张模式很相似，提示东亚边缘海的形成和演化可能具有同样的机制。华南距今５０Ｍａ以来的古纬度变化与Ｔａｐｐｏｎｎｉｅｒ（１９８２）的传播挤出构造模式所预期的基本吻合，表明距今５０Ｍａ以来华南古纬度变化的运动学机制可用Ｔａｐｐｏｎｎｉｅｒ模式作解释。     

黄河三角洲湿地研究进展

黄河三角洲湿地是目前世界上土地面积自然增长最快的地区之一,是中国暖温带保存最完整、最广阔、最年轻的湿地生态系统,无论其在中国经济发展上,还是在环境建设上都具有重要的地位,由于其湿地生态系统的原始性和作为珍稀濒危鸟类重要栖息地的作用,在国际上也备受关注。