Occurrence patterns of alien freshwater turtles in a large urban pond ‘Archipelago’ (Rome,Italy): Suggesting hypotheses on root causes

The patterns of the occurrence and distribution of alien freshwater turtle species in an urban pond archipelago (Rome, Italy) were analysed, with the aim of exploring the role of a set of factors (type of ponds, landscape context, size area, distance from the nearest road) with a generalized linear model approach. A total of 311 ponds subdivided in three types (fountains, small basins, lakes) embedded in different landscape contexts (public parks, private parks, urban areas) at differing distances from the nearest road were sampled. Six non‐native freshwater turtle species in 31 sites were recorded (9.97%). Lakes exhibited the highest occurrence rates of alien freshwater turtles, compared to small basins and fountains. Freshwater turtle species in urbanized areas were only observed in parks (both public and private). In both the public and private parks, the lakes exhibited the highest percentage of occupied sites, with fountains being the lowest. A direct and significant relationship was observed between pond size and species richness. The distance from the nearest road did not appear to affect species richness. A first interpretation of the data from this study facilitated the postulation of two a posteriori hypotheses that should be tested, as follows: (i) the causal process of turtle release is random, and the rate of extinction (and recapture) is higher in smaller ponds, thus producing the observed pattern; and (ii) the turtle release is not random, and people actively select the ponds they consider more suitable for their pet animals. In this study, it appears the lakes were perceived by those who abandon their pets as the most ecologically suitable habitats among other pond types to accommodate the different species of turtles. Knowledge of people's attitudes in regard to releasing pet animals also might assist managers of public green spaces to develop strategies aimed to preserve local biodiversity, and to educate the public about the conservation issue represented by the alien species.     

Development of a system‐based water balance model to assess interrelated physical and anthropogenic constraints in lake and reservoir watersheds,applied to Coeur d'Alene Lake,Idaho, USA

This study presents a methodology for the development of a water balance model that uses publicly available data in a manner useful to water scientists and managers who manage complex lake and reservoir watersheds. The approach was applied to Coeur d'Alene Lake, a naturally occurring lake that is controlled by a dam located on its outlet (Spokane River) in North Idaho, USA. As in many other areas, the region surrounding Coeur d'Alene Lake has experienced high rates of population growth in recent years, and there is concern that, as consumptive water use increases, the lake will eventually not be able to be managed to simultaneously maintain the federally mandated minimum flow requirements in the Spokane River and also maintain the target summertime elevation of 2128 feet (648.6 m) for recreation and hydropower purposes. The complexity caused by the competing uses at Coeur d'Alene Lake makes it an excellent case study for similarly characterized watersheds. Both a natural flow model and regulated elevation model were developed, and sensitivity analysis was conducted on both models to evaluate which lake processes have the greatest effects on lake elevation, thereby requiring the most attention. A ‘low‐flow’ scenario was modelled to demonstrate the usefulness of the model and to inform Coeur d'Alene Lake regional stakeholders regarding the interrelationship between current water policy and the lake's physical behaviour under stressed conditions that could result from climate change. Model result indicates that, while lake elevation may be maintained at the summertime elevation of 2128 feet (648.6 m) under a low‐flow scenario, the outflows in the Spokane River start to approach the minimum flow requirements in the month of August. The developed approach is useful where publicly available data exist and allows for economic, yet rigorous, water resources systems evaluation without requiring significant field data collection.     

近40年来中国西北内陆5个典型湖泊面积变化遥感分析

在全球气候变暖的背景下,研究中国西北内陆地区湖泊的面积变化不仅对水资源管理和可持续发展战略有着重要意义,也为评价气候变化与人类活动对湖泊的影响提供参考。以中国西北内陆区5个典型湖泊为研究对象,利用1970-2015年的Landsat MSS/TM/ETM+/OLI影像数据,利用归一化差异水体指数(Normalized Difference Water Index,NDWI)和改进型归一化差异水体指数(Modified Normalized Difference Water Index,MNDWI)分别提取5个典型湖泊边界并获取湖泊面积,同时利用5个典型湖泊周边的气象站降雨量、蒸发量等气象数据,尝试分析湖泊面积发生变化的原因。结果表明:红碱淖近30年来面积呈减小趋势,入湖河流拦蓄和煤炭地下开采等是导致面积减少的原因;博斯腾湖近40年来的面积呈先增加后减少的趋势,其面积变化主要受地表径流和积雪融水的影响;呼伦湖近40年来面积呈减少的趋势,其面积变化主要受入湖径流量的影响;贝尔湖近30年来呈相对稳定的趋势,其面积变化主要入湖径流量的影响;青海湖近40年来面积呈现先减小后增大的趋势,其面积变化主要受区域降水和入湖径流量的影响。     

塔里木河干流人工与天然绿洲转化及适宜比例研究

利用1990,2000,2010年3期Landsat TM/ETM遥感影像,基于RS/GIS技术,分别提取土地利用/覆被类型信息,分析1990~2010年塔里木河流域人工绿洲和天然绿洲的变化规律及其比例,探讨该区人工绿洲和天然绿洲的适宜配比。研究结果表明:(1)1990~2010年,研究区域人工绿洲呈不断扩张,天然绿洲面积不断缩小,人工绿洲替代天然绿洲的趋势。(2)1990~2010年,人工与天然绿洲总面积几乎无差异,面积变化主要是人工绿洲与天然绿洲之间的相互转换。具体表现为:天然草地、林地等向人工绿洲中的耕地、建筑用地转化;同时植被长势衰退:高覆盖草地向中、低覆盖草地转化,中覆盖草地向低覆盖草地转化,灌木林地逐渐退化为草地,低覆盖草地向沙漠转化。(3)人工与天然绿洲面积比例在近20 a呈增加的趋势,在1990,2000,2010年,人工与天然绿洲面积比值分别是1∶9,2∶8,3∶7。     

基于互信息的湖泊日水位预测——以西洞庭湖为例

鉴于传统的湖泊水位预测在输入因子选择时具有一定的盲目性,以西洞庭湖为例,利用基于互信息的输入因子选择法建立了日水位预测模型。按河流生态功能将水文年划分为枯水期、汛前涨水期、汛期、汛后退水期4个时期,然后分期计算影响湖泊日水位的自变量与日水位的互信息,并引入广义相关系数将互信息归一化,选出各时期互信息最大的自变量因子作为模型的输入变量。经过模型计算与数据分析可得:F检验结果显著,回归值与实测值的相关度高,剩余标准差小。由此证明用互信息筛选出的因子作为模型的输入变量能取得较好的精度并在实际中易于操作。     

两种溃坝模型在唐家山堰塞湖溃决模拟中的对比

基于唐家山堰塞坝溃决的实测数据,使用BREACH模型及中国水科院DB-IWHR模型,对唐家山堰塞坝溃决过程进行了反演分析,并对两种模型进行参数敏感性分析。研究结果表明:使用针对唐家山的参数,两种模型均可较好地反演唐家山溃决洪水的过程,BREACH模型的下游坡比和孔隙率是对结果影响比较敏感的输入参数;DB-IWHR模型在冲刷参数和下游水深计算两方面做了改善,较好地解决了这一问题;DB-IWHR提供了一个Excel格式的计算软件,数值分析稳定性好,使用简洁客观,可供类似堰塞湖应急处置时参考。     

基于组合赋权的湖泊健康评价物元分析模型

湖泊生态系统的健康是人与自然和谐相处及可持续发展理念的重要体现。通过建立湖泊健康评价物元分析模型,并改进其指标权重的计算,以离差平方和准则将层次分析法、熵值法及主成分分析法3种赋权方法取得的权重结合得到最优组合赋权,应用到某地5个湖泊进行湖泊健康评价。根据当地湖泊具体情况,选取12个详细指标建立评价体系与评价标准,通过模型计算得出结果显示5个湖泊中4个湖泊评价结果为优,一个评价结果为良,湖泊总体健康状况良好。因此该模型用于湖泊健康评价是非常有效的。     

近海人工岛及沙坝工程与潮流的响应特征研究

北戴河新区位于最具发展潜力的环渤海经济圈中心地带,为满足旅游业发展需要而建的人工岛和保护旅游海滩而建的人工沙坝对近海潮流动力有不同程度的影响。该文基于MIKE21 FM模块通过大、中、小模型三层嵌套的方式建立洋河-葡萄岛近岸海域潮流数学模型,研究分析人工岛及沙坝工程建设前后的潮流动力变化特征,得到下列主要结论:工程建设后研究区域的主体潮流特征仍为顺岸往复流,流速变化量涨潮大于落潮;人工岛工程对流速场的影响范围和程度均明显大于沙坝工程,其中人工岛工程引起的流速变化量是沙坝工程的4倍;人工岛的建设使其内部形成一个相对封闭的水域,流速近乎为零,而养滩工程区在两侧水工建筑物和水下人工沙坝的掩护作用下流速基本减小至0.10 m/s以下。     

Advancing Africa’s Great Lakes research and academic potential: Answering the call for harmonized,long-term,collaborative networks and partnerships

The African Great Lakes (AGL) have rich fisheries and are renowned “biodiversity hotspots”. Consequently the AGL and the ecosystem services they provide, underpin the welfare and livelihoods of over 50 million people across 10 countries. Despite the recognized importance of the AGL, these vital ecosystems and their livelihood support systems are threatened by numerous anthropogenic stressors at local, regional, and global scales. Past and continued efforts to address critical challenges on these lakes are often short-term, parochial, disparate, and uncoordinated resulting in a lack of comprehensive and comparable scientific data and inadequate resources to influence evidence-based policy. Over the past two decades, several international workshops, conferences and scientific publications have identified the need for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and harmonization of research and management as key elements to enhance conservation efforts in the AGL. In this commentary, we introduce the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE), which aims to strengthen research and provide the scientific evidence needed to make informed decisions related to sustainable fisheries and aquatic resource management in the AGL. To do this, ACARE will administer a highly collaborative network of experts with three long-term goals: (1) strengthen global and regional research partnerships; (2) establish transboundary and inter-jurisdictional lake advisory groups; and (3) build capacity of freshwater scientists through experiential education and public engagement.     

基于薄层单元的黏弹性人工边界的模拟

为了解决黏弹性人工边界在实际应用过程中前处理时间长、不易实现等不足之处,提出了基于薄层单元的黏弹性人工边界的模拟方法。利用单元矩阵等效原理,采用薄层单元构造了等效黏弹性边界单元,并通过在大型通用有限元软件MSC Marc中设置等效黏弹性边界单元的参数属性,实现了黏弹性人工边界的模拟。三维均匀弹性半空间算例和某混凝土重力坝工程实例结果表明:采用等效黏弹性边界单元得到的计算结果与理论解、基于黏弹性人工边界的计算值非常相近,相对误差不超过1%。因此,采用薄层单元的模拟的黏弹性人工边界具有足够的精度,且施加方便,这为实际工程进行抗震分析提供了简便且精确的方法。