Effects of conservation measures on crop diversity and their implications for climate-resilient livelihoods: the case of Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal

Agrobiodiversity conservation is vital for achieving sustainability, but empirical studies on the effects of different practices or measures on crop diversity are rare. This study aims to estimate the effects of raising conservation awareness(RCA),building diversity blocks(BDB), and their combination on crop diversity among 240 randomly selected households surrounding the Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal. Based on descriptive analysis and multiple regression models, the results indicate that the two single measures had no significant effect on the numbers of crop species and varieties grown by households in 2018. However, the combination of RCA and BDB had a significantly positive effect on the number of crop varieties, especially for grain and vegetable crops. Considering that these crops are essential in the daily lives of local people, the results indicate that a strategy that combines both awareness raising and on-farm conservation measures can generate higher crop diversity and better serve the climate-resilient livelihoods of people in mountainous areas.

Integrating water use systems and soil and water conservation measures into a hydrological model of an Iranian Wadi system

Water resources are precious in arid and semi-arid areas such as the Wadis of Iran. To sustainably manage these limited water resources, the residents of the Iranian Wadis have been traditionally using several water use systems(WUSs) which affect natural hydrological processes. In this study, WUSs and soil and water conservation measures(SWCMs) were integrated in a hydrological model of the Halilrood Basin in Iran. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT) model was used to simulate the hydrological processes between 1993 and 2009 at daily time scale. To assess the importance of WUSs and SWCMs, we compared a model setup without WUSs and SWCMs(Default model) with a model setup with WUSs and SWCMs(WUS-SWCM model). When compared to the observed daily stream flow, the number of acceptable calibration runs as defined by the performance thresholds(Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency(NSE)≥0.68, –25%≤percent bias(PBIAS)≤25% and ratio of standard deviation(RSR)≤0.56) is 177 for the Default model and 1945 for the WUS-SWCM model. Also, the average Kling–Gupta efficiency(KGE) of acceptable calibration runs for the WUS-SWCM model is higher in both calibration and validation periods. When WUSs and SWCMs are implemented, surface runoff(between 30% and 99%) and water yield(between 0 and 18%) decreased in all sub-basins. Moreover, SWCMs lead to a higher contribution of groundwater flow to the channel and compensate for the extracted water by WUSs from the shallow aquifer. In summary, implementing WUSs and SWCMs in the SWAT model enhances model plausibility significantly.

Impacts of water conservancy and soil conservation measures on annual runoff in the Chaohe River Basin during 1961-2005

Taking the Chaohe River Basin above the Miyun Reservoir in North China as a study area, the characteristics and variation trends of annual runoff and annual precipitation during 1961-2005 were analyzed applying Mann-Kendall test method on the basis of the hydrologic data of the major hydrological station （Xiahui Station） located at the outlet of the drainage basin and the meteorological data of 17 rainfall stations. Human activities including water conservancy projects construction and water diversion as well as implementation of soil and water conservation from 1961 to 2005 were carefully studied using time series contrasting method. The referenced period （1961-1980） that influenced slightly by human activities and the compared period （1981-2005） that influenced significantly by water conservancy and soil conservation measures were identified according to the runoff variation process analysis and abrupt change points detection during 1961-2005 applying double accumulative curve method, mean shift t-test method and Mann-Kendall mutation test technique. Based on the establishment of a rainfall-runoff empirical statistical model, impacts and the runoff-reducing effects of water conservancy and soil conservation measures on runoff reduction were evaluated quantitatively. The major results could be summarized as follows： （1） The annual precipitation in the drainage basin tends to decrease while the runoff has declined markedly since the 1960s, the average annual runoff from 1991 to 2000 was only 90.9% in proportion to that from 1961 to 1970. （2） The annual runoff variations in the drainage basin are significantly related to human activities. （3） During 1981-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2005 and 1981-2005, the average annual runoff reduction amounts were 1.15×10^8, 0.28×10^8, 1.10×10^8 and 0.79×10^8 m^3 respectively and the average annual runoff-reducing effects were 31.99%, 7.13%, 40.71% and 23.79% accordingly. Runoff-reducing effects by water conservancy and soil conservation measures are more prominent in the low water period.

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER FISH IN HONG KONG, CHINA

We surveyed the distribution, composition and diversity of freshwater fish in Hong Kong, China from 2002 to 2004. Sites surveyed were mainly streams, marshes and estuaries. There are ponds for aquaculture and reservoirs in Hong Kong but no large natural water bodies. From the 220 sites surveyed, 114 species of 37 families were found. Gobiidae (with 24 species) and Cyprinidae (21 species) were the dominant families. This survey has increased the number of freshwater fish species recorded in Hong Kong to 167. Among these, 71 (42.5%) are primary freshwater fish, 44 are brackish and 46 are vagrants. The remaining 6 species are diadromous. In Hong Kong, freshwater fish are conserved by a combination of measures. About 38% of Hong Kong’s land area is designated as country parks and/or special areas, and is managed for nature conservation and educational purposes. In addition, another 5% of land area is zoned for conservation in the statutory land use zoning system to protect them from development and incompatible land uses. Major development projects have to go through the statutory environmental impact assessment process to ensure that they will not have adverse impact as far as practicable. There are conservation action plans for important species. For example, captive-bred individuals of the endemic Hong Kong Paradise Fish Macropodus hongkongensis have been released to suitable and secure sites inside country parks and their populations are regularly monitored. Other measures such as wetland creation, restoration and enhancement programmes are also implemented for freshwater fish conservation.

Leaf phenotypic variation in natural populations of Carpinus tschonoskii in China

Carpinus tschonoskii Maxim.exhibits rich leaf phenotypic variation and various leaf shapes,but few studies show why leaf phenotypic traits have such a large variation.Basic morphological markers may provide guidance for studying plant genetic variation and species protection and utilization.To study leaf phenotypic variations and the relationship between variation characteristics and climatic and geographical factors,phenotypic traits among natural populations were investigated.Results revealed that leaf phenotypes varied significantly among and within populations.Some populations had higher phenotypic diversity,while others had lower phenotypic diversity.Among the phenotypic traits,leaf area and petiole length had the most variation.Leaf index and primary lateral veins were the most stable phenotypes,which may be important reference indexes for phenotype identification in field investigations.There was a strong consistency between leaf phenotypic traits and geographical location.Plants in high latitudes tend to have longer leaves,and plants in low temperatures tend to have longer leaves and larger leaf perimeter.In addition,plants in areas with less rainfall have longer petioles.The 13 populations of C.tschonoskii can be divided into four branches by cluster analysis,and the results show a good relationship with the geographical location of each population.Additionally,some populations geographically isolated also had unique leaf phenotypes.

Best management practices to reduce soil erosion and change water balance components in watersheds under grain and dairy production

Soil erosion and sedimentation are among the most serious global environmental problems.Soil and water conservation measures have been proven effective ways to reduce soil loss.The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of three approaches of soil and water conservation measures(soil management,vegetative measures,and structural practices)on soil erosion and water balance of two paired agricultural watersheds located in Southern Brazil.Streamflow and sediment monitoring was carried out from 2016 to 2019 in the two small paired agricultural watersheds;called North watershed(NW)and South watershed(SW).Modeling using Soil&Water Assessment Tool(SWAT)was performed to simulate individual(nine scenarios)and combined(four scenarios)best management practices(BMPs),by including the three approaches.Among the nine individual BMP scenarios,the most effective in reducing soil erosion was crop rotation and cover crop(sediment yield,SY,reduction of 38.4 for NW,and 28.8%for SW).Among the four combined scenarios,the association of all conservation approaches was the most effective in reducing soil erosion(SY reduction of 46 for NW,and 41.5%for SW),followed by the vegetative measures scenario(SY reduction of 43.5 and 34.1%for NW and SW).All combined scenarios increased infiltration and subsurface water components,and decreased surface runoff.The findings of this study can help farmers and policymakers choosing appropriate BMPs to reduce current soil erosion problems and promote water and soil conservation.

Evaluating different levels of information on the calibration of building energy simulation models

A poorly calibrated model undermines confidence in the effectiveness of building energy simulation, impeding the widespread application of advanced energy conservation measures (ECMs). Striking a balance between information-gathering efforts and achieving sufficient model credibility is crucial but often obscured by ambiguities. To address this gap, we model and calibrate a test bed with different levels of information (LOI). Beginning with an initial model based on building geometry (LOI 1), we progressively introduce additional information, including nameplate information (LOI 2), envelope conductivity (LOI 3), zone infiltration rate (LOI 4), AHU fan power (LOI 5), and HVAC data (LOI 6). The models are evaluated for accuracy, consistency, and the robustness of their predictions. Our results indicate that adding more information for calibration leads to improved data fit. However, this improvement is not uniform across all observed outputs due to identifiability issues. Furthermore, for energy-saving analysis, adding more information can significantly affect the projected energy savings by up to two times. Nevertheless, for ECM ranking, models that did not meet ASHRAE 14 accuracy thresholds can yield correct retrofit decisions. These findings underscore equifinality in modeling complex building systems. Clearly, predictive accuracy is not synonymous with model credibility. Therefore, to balance efforts in information-gathering and model reliability, it is crucial to (1) determine the minimum level of information required for calibration compatible with its intended purpose and (2) calibrate models with information closely linked to all outputs of interest, particularly when simultaneous accuracy for multiple outputs is necessary.

Gully internal erosion triggered by a prolonged heavy rainfall event in the tableland region of China's Loess Plateau

Gully erosion is a severe form of soil erosion,but gully internal erosion processes are poorly understood,especially at the event scale.To investigate gully internal erosion intensity and understand the related gully development mechanism in an agricultural environment with gully head stabilization and vege-tation restoration efforts,two successive field investigations were carried out just before and after a prolonged rainfall event in 2021 in the tableland region of China's Loess Plateau.Thirteen gullies were investigated and all experienced gully internal erosion,while most gully boundaries were stable during the heavy rainfall event based on the comparison of the UAV digital orthograph maps(DOMs acquired with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)before and after the rainfall event.The proportion of gully internal erosion area to gully internal area of the 13 investigated gullies ranged from 3 to 55%,with average areal erosion proportion of the gully sidewall and gully bed of 21%and 36%,respectively.The erosion area of subdrainage units(SDUs)on the gully sidewall was positively correlated to the SDU area,average SDU slope gradient and vegetation type,while the erosion area on the gully bed was positively correlated to the gully area,gully depth and gully bed slope gradient.Gully internal erosion was not significantly correlated with gully drainage area because the connectivity between the upslope and gully areas was interrupted and the effective drainage area of the gully was obviously reduced by soil erosion conser-vation measures,including terraces on the upslope drainage area,shrub belts,and water barriers.Thus,gully internal erosion is still active under the heavy rainfall storm against the background of the'Grain for Green'and'Gully Stabilization and Tableland Protection'programs,and integrated measures for preventing both gully expansion and gully internal erosion must be further enhanced in the context of climate change.

Study on a soil erosion sampling survey in the Pan-Third Pole region based on higher-resolution images

Soil erosion is one of the most severe global environmental problems,and soil erosion surveys are the scientific basis for planning soil conservation and ecological development.To improve soil erosion sampling survey methods and accurately and rapidly estimate the actual rates of soil erosion,a Pan-Third Pole region was taken as an example to study a methodology of soil erosion sampling survey based on high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images.The sampling units were designed using a stratified variable probability systematic sampling method.The spatiotemporal characteristics of soil erosion and conservation were taken into account,and finer-resolution freely available and accessible images in Google Earth were used.Through the visual interpretation of the free high-resolution remote sensing images,detailed information on land use and soil conservation measures was obtained.Then,combined with the regional soil erosion factor data products,such as rainfall-runoff erosivity factor(R),soil erodibility factor(K),and slope length and steepness factor(LS),the soil loss rates of some sampling units were calculated.The results show that,based on these high-resolution remote sensing images,the land use and soil conservation measures of the sampling units can be quickly and accurately extracted.The interpretation accuracy in 4 typical cross sections was more than 80%,and sampling accuracy,described by histogram similarity in 11 large sampling sites,show that the landuse of sampling uints can represent the structural characteristics of regional land use.Based on the interpretation of data from the sample survey and the regional soil erosion factor data products,the calculation of the soil erosion rate can be completed quickly.The calculation results can reflect the actual conditions of soil erosion better than the potential soil erosion rates calculated by using the coarse-resolution remote sensing method.

A focus on the European hamster to illustrate how to monitor endangered species

Agriculture intensification,marked by the generalization of crop monoculture,by the increase in plot size and by the reduction of plant diversity,has led to huge decline in wildlife in European farmlands.In such habitat,re-search has long been biased towards birds and invertebrates,while very few studies have investigated the ef-fect on small mammals.Considering the European hamster,Cricetus cricetus,we therefore review the different techniques that can be used to investigate the impact of environmental changes and conservation measures in small and endangered wild mammals.We suggest that only a multidisciplinary approach will allow exploration of these effects,combining experimental laboratory work on captive-bred animals with the monitoring of wild individuals.In particular,individual energy balance has to be investigated and measured as accurately as possi-ble,through either biochemical or bio-logging techniques.It is,indeed,the most affected physiological trait in a changing environment,as it determines both the reproductive output and the survival of the individual.We also discuss the inconvenience of capture-release approaches for such an endangered species and emphasize the dis-turbance that experimental protocols could impose on the hamster.

A cost effective approach to design of energy efficient residential buildings

The objective of this study is to identify cost-optimal efficiency packages at several levels of building energy savings.A two-story residential building located in Jordan is selected as a case study.DesignBuilder software is used to predict the annual energy usage of a twostory residence in Irbid,Jordan.Real-time experimental data from a single isolated controlled room was used to verify the proposed model.In addition to energy analysis,the economic,environmental,and social benefits of the proposed design have been investigated.The sequential search optimization approach is used to estimate the minimum cost of the building while considering various design scenarios.In addition,the impact of various energy conservation techniques on residential buildings is assessed,and the payback period for each program is calculated.Ultimately,the optimal combination of design to achieve energy efficiency measures has been identified in several climate regions.The simulations results predict that the annual electricity consumption can be reduced up to 50%if the proper combinations of energy conservation measures are selected at the lowest cost.The payback period is 9.3 years.Finally,energy efficiency measures can lead to a total of 9470 jobs/year job opportunities.The study provide practical framework to link between energy performance criteria and economic goals of building.Linking the energy performance requirements to economic targets provides guidelines for homeowners,contractors,and policymakers for making a suitable decision regarding the retrofitting of existing residential buildings.The study focuses on developing new methodologies that support minimizing costs during a building’s lifecycle while maximizing environmental benefits which can not be identified by a series of parametric analyses using individual energy-efficient measures.

Soil erosion assessment by RUSLE with improved P factor and its validation:Case study on mountainous and hilly areas of Hubei Province,China

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE)is widely used to estimate regional soil erosion.However,quantitative impacts of soil and water conservation(SWC)measures on conservation practice factor(P)of the RUSLE remain largely unclear,especially for the mountainous and hilly areas.In this study,we improved the RUSLE by considering quantitative impacts of different SWC measures on the P factor value.The improved RUSLE was validated against the long-term(2000-2015)soil erosion monitoring data obtained from 96 runoff plots(15—35°)in mountainous and hilly areas of Hubei Province,China;the result presented a high accuracy with the determination coefficient of 0.89.Based on the erosion monitoring data of 2018 and 2019,the Root Mean Square Error of the result by the improved RUSLE was 28.0%smaller than that by the original RUSLE with decrement of 19.6%—24.0%in the average P factor values,indicating that the soil erosion modelling accuracy was significantly enhanced by the improved RUSLE.Relatively low P factor values appeared for farmlands with tillage measures(P<0.53),grasslands with engineering measures(P<0.23),woodlands with biological measures(P<0.28),and other land use types with biological measures(P<0.51).The soil erosion modulus showed a downward trend with the corresponding values of 1681.21,1673.14,1594.70,1482.40 and 1437.50 t km^(-2)a-1 in 2000,2005,2010,2015 and 2019,respectively.The applicability of the improved RUSLE was verified by the measurements in typical mountainous and hilly areas of Hubei Province,China,and arrangements of SWC measures of this area were proposed.