Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in ...Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in topsoils (0-10 cm)were quantified in two 33-year-old monoculture plantations of Castanopsis kawakamii Hayata (CK) and Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. (Chinese fir) (CF), and compared to a neighboring relict natural C. kawakamii forest (NF), in Sanming,Fujian. Five soil samples were collected once each in January, April, July, September and November in 2000 in each forest for laboratory analysis. Over the sampling year, there were significant differences for bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes between forests and between seasons (P < 0.05). The largest bacteria and fungi populations were in NF, while CF contained the greatest number of actinomycetes. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) with microbial respiration for forests and seasons. Additionally, compared with NF, urease and acid phosphatase were significantly lower (P < 0.05)in CK and CF. Also, the correlations of soil hydrolysable N and available P to soil microbial and enzymatic activities were highly significant (P < 0.01). Thus, to alter the traditional Chinese fir monoculture so as to mimic the natural forest conditions, managing mixed stands of Chinese fir and broadleaf trees or conducting crop rotation of conifers and broadleaf trees as well as minimizing forest disturbances like clear-cutting, slash burning and soil preparing, could be utilized.展开更多
Facing the broad "eco-literature" subjects, this paper, first of all, taking eco-literature viewpoint and the theoretical connotation of eco-criticism viewpoint itself as the starting point, conducts a contrast stud...Facing the broad "eco-literature" subjects, this paper, first of all, taking eco-literature viewpoint and the theoretical connotation of eco-criticism viewpoint itself as the starting point, conducts a contrast study from the cultural origin-tracing on the American eco-literature viewpoint under the Western Bible vision and the Chinese natural eco-literature viewpoint of"Oneness of Men and Nature" through the parallel comparison method; then from the visual angle of influential research is to further explore the academic compatibility in academic research: namely, the Western ecological literature consciousness begins to appear under the premise of the Western ecological civilization being destroyed, while the China's natural eco-literature of"Oneness of Man and Nature" is based on a kind of unconscious affinity between people and nature in primitive age. Here it is necessary for us to point out that they cannot be mentioned in the same breath, because the modern ecological criticism is not the reduction of an ancient ecological thought, and also will lead to the academic non-compatibility in academic research. So only by correcting the people's misunderstanding in cognition, can we reach the unity of the natural ecological viewpoint and man civilized viewpoint so as to keep the harmony between human beings and nature.展开更多
This paper argues for the very foundation of Chinese poetry, that is, nature itself. To this end, I have chosen three well-known poets, Wang Wei (706-761) in Tang Dynasty (618-907), Su Shi (1037-1101) and Zhou D...This paper argues for the very foundation of Chinese poetry, that is, nature itself. To this end, I have chosen three well-known poets, Wang Wei (706-761) in Tang Dynasty (618-907), Su Shi (1037-1101) and Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073) in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). All three poets were also high ranking governmental officials. They were leaders of high personal integrity.展开更多
To determine the climate changes that are due to natural variability and those due to human activities is quite challenging,just like delineating the impacts.Moreover,it is equally difficult to ascertain the adaptive ...To determine the climate changes that are due to natural variability and those due to human activities is quite challenging,just like delineating the impacts.Moreover,it is equally difficult to ascertain the adaptive strategies for coping with the climate changes and in particular for developing countries like Kenya.While climate change is a global phenomenon,the impacts are more or less specific to local areas such as observed in Kenyan case.Therefore climate change impacts adaptation strategies are appropriately applicable to a given local perspective.The study investigated the main indicators of climate change and effective adaptive strategies that can be employed in Kenya.Based on online questionnaire survey,the study established unpredictable rainfall patterns as the major indicator of climate change in the country,while water harvesting and change of cropping methods are the best adaptive strategies.展开更多
The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis is one of the most endangered crocodilian species, and typically exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. It is extremely important to clarify the sex structure of Chi...The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis is one of the most endangered crocodilian species, and typically exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. It is extremely important to clarify the sex structure of Chinese alligators to implement recovery projects successfully. However, the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators remains unknown. In this study, we collected 28 years of sex ratio data from Chinese alligators residing in the natural and artificial habitats of Changxing Nature Reserve, China, and examined the differences in the sex ratio dynamics between these two populations. We observed that the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators is 1 male to 4.507 females, which was significantly lower compared to that of the captive population (1 to 2.040; P 〈 0.001), and is significantly different to previously documented sex ratios for this species (all P 〈 0.01). Furthermore, we documented an annually stable (P = 1.000) female-biased sex ratio for wild alligators at hatching [1 male to 4.747 females; 0.174 (0.167~).182)], in contrast to a dramatically fluctuating sex ratio (P 〈 0.001) in captivity [1 male to 1.674 females; 0.374 (0.246-0.593)], showing a potential mechanism for adjusting the sex structure. Finally, we found that the hatchling sex ratios were similar to that of the population sex ratio (P = 0.748), with little correlation to air temperature values in the 60-70 day incubation period during the breeding season (July and August; both P 〉 0.05). Overall, this study indicates that the stabilized female-biased sex ratio of Changxing Chinese alligators might result from selection pressure caused by local mate competition and major inbreeding .展开更多
The "Hu Line" has been regarded as one of the greatest geographical discoveries in China because it reveals the significant spatial relationship between human activity and natural environment. The spatial ev...The "Hu Line" has been regarded as one of the greatest geographical discoveries in China because it reveals the significant spatial relationship between human activity and natural environment. The spatial evolution of population on both sides of the "Hu Line" has had important implications for both urbanization and regional development and has attracted widespread attention during the dramatic economic and social changes since the implementation of reform and opening-up policy in China in 1978. Using Geographical Information System(GIS) techniques, this paper studied the stability of the "Hu Line" and the spatial patterns of population growth on each side by constructing a spatial database of China's census data from 1982 to 2010. The findings are as follows:(1) In the last 30 years, the "Hu Line" has remained relatively stable, but a new tendency of population change has begun to emerge. The population ratio either side, namely, the southeast half(SEH) and the northwest half(NWH), of the "Hu Line" remains at roughly 94:6(SHE : NWH). Noteworthy, the proportion of population in the SEH of the "Hu Line" has been decreasing slightly, while that in the NWH has been increasing slightly, as the latter has benefited from its higher rate of natural population growth.(2) The spatial patterns of population growth on both sides of the "Hu Line" were quite different. The degree of population concentration in the SEH increased faster than the NWH. Regions with a negative population growth rate have rapidly expanded; these were mainly located in the south of the "Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River belt" and northeastern China. Meanwhile, regions with a fast population growth rate were mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area. Thus, the spatial pattern of population growth in the SEH presented a concentration pattern that could be called "Matthew effect pattern".(3) The spatial pattern of population growth in the NWH could be regarded as the "Relative Balance pattern." In the NWH, the population growth rate was positive and the degree of population concentration was very low. There were many minority populations located in the NWH that usually lived in a dispersed pattern but had a higher rate of natural population growth due to the preferential population policy. There were also some regions with a negative rate of population growth in the NWH, which were mainly located close to the "Hu Line" and the Ancient Silk Road.(4) In the future, the spatial patterns of population growth on both sides of the "Hu Line" may continue to evolve. For the SEH, the capacity to attract more people to small and medium-sized cities and towns should be enhanced. For the NWH, the emphasis should be placed on promoting urbanization and enhancing population agglomeration in its major cities.展开更多
基金the Basic Research Program of Fujian Province (No. 2000-F-004).
文摘Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in topsoils (0-10 cm)were quantified in two 33-year-old monoculture plantations of Castanopsis kawakamii Hayata (CK) and Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. (Chinese fir) (CF), and compared to a neighboring relict natural C. kawakamii forest (NF), in Sanming,Fujian. Five soil samples were collected once each in January, April, July, September and November in 2000 in each forest for laboratory analysis. Over the sampling year, there were significant differences for bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes between forests and between seasons (P < 0.05). The largest bacteria and fungi populations were in NF, while CF contained the greatest number of actinomycetes. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) with microbial respiration for forests and seasons. Additionally, compared with NF, urease and acid phosphatase were significantly lower (P < 0.05)in CK and CF. Also, the correlations of soil hydrolysable N and available P to soil microbial and enzymatic activities were highly significant (P < 0.01). Thus, to alter the traditional Chinese fir monoculture so as to mimic the natural forest conditions, managing mixed stands of Chinese fir and broadleaf trees or conducting crop rotation of conifers and broadleaf trees as well as minimizing forest disturbances like clear-cutting, slash burning and soil preparing, could be utilized.
文摘Facing the broad "eco-literature" subjects, this paper, first of all, taking eco-literature viewpoint and the theoretical connotation of eco-criticism viewpoint itself as the starting point, conducts a contrast study from the cultural origin-tracing on the American eco-literature viewpoint under the Western Bible vision and the Chinese natural eco-literature viewpoint of"Oneness of Men and Nature" through the parallel comparison method; then from the visual angle of influential research is to further explore the academic compatibility in academic research: namely, the Western ecological literature consciousness begins to appear under the premise of the Western ecological civilization being destroyed, while the China's natural eco-literature of"Oneness of Man and Nature" is based on a kind of unconscious affinity between people and nature in primitive age. Here it is necessary for us to point out that they cannot be mentioned in the same breath, because the modern ecological criticism is not the reduction of an ancient ecological thought, and also will lead to the academic non-compatibility in academic research. So only by correcting the people's misunderstanding in cognition, can we reach the unity of the natural ecological viewpoint and man civilized viewpoint so as to keep the harmony between human beings and nature.
文摘This paper argues for the very foundation of Chinese poetry, that is, nature itself. To this end, I have chosen three well-known poets, Wang Wei (706-761) in Tang Dynasty (618-907), Su Shi (1037-1101) and Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073) in Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). All three poets were also high ranking governmental officials. They were leaders of high personal integrity.
文摘To determine the climate changes that are due to natural variability and those due to human activities is quite challenging,just like delineating the impacts.Moreover,it is equally difficult to ascertain the adaptive strategies for coping with the climate changes and in particular for developing countries like Kenya.While climate change is a global phenomenon,the impacts are more or less specific to local areas such as observed in Kenyan case.Therefore climate change impacts adaptation strategies are appropriately applicable to a given local perspective.The study investigated the main indicators of climate change and effective adaptive strategies that can be employed in Kenya.Based on online questionnaire survey,the study established unpredictable rainfall patterns as the major indicator of climate change in the country,while water harvesting and change of cropping methods are the best adaptive strategies.
文摘The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis is one of the most endangered crocodilian species, and typically exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. It is extremely important to clarify the sex structure of Chinese alligators to implement recovery projects successfully. However, the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators remains unknown. In this study, we collected 28 years of sex ratio data from Chinese alligators residing in the natural and artificial habitats of Changxing Nature Reserve, China, and examined the differences in the sex ratio dynamics between these two populations. We observed that the sex ratio of wild Chinese alligators is 1 male to 4.507 females, which was significantly lower compared to that of the captive population (1 to 2.040; P 〈 0.001), and is significantly different to previously documented sex ratios for this species (all P 〈 0.01). Furthermore, we documented an annually stable (P = 1.000) female-biased sex ratio for wild alligators at hatching [1 male to 4.747 females; 0.174 (0.167~).182)], in contrast to a dramatically fluctuating sex ratio (P 〈 0.001) in captivity [1 male to 1.674 females; 0.374 (0.246-0.593)], showing a potential mechanism for adjusting the sex structure. Finally, we found that the hatchling sex ratios were similar to that of the population sex ratio (P = 0.748), with little correlation to air temperature values in the 60-70 day incubation period during the breeding season (July and August; both P 〉 0.05). Overall, this study indicates that the stabilized female-biased sex ratio of Changxing Chinese alligators might result from selection pressure caused by local mate competition and major inbreeding .
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41271174Key Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.71433008
文摘The "Hu Line" has been regarded as one of the greatest geographical discoveries in China because it reveals the significant spatial relationship between human activity and natural environment. The spatial evolution of population on both sides of the "Hu Line" has had important implications for both urbanization and regional development and has attracted widespread attention during the dramatic economic and social changes since the implementation of reform and opening-up policy in China in 1978. Using Geographical Information System(GIS) techniques, this paper studied the stability of the "Hu Line" and the spatial patterns of population growth on each side by constructing a spatial database of China's census data from 1982 to 2010. The findings are as follows:(1) In the last 30 years, the "Hu Line" has remained relatively stable, but a new tendency of population change has begun to emerge. The population ratio either side, namely, the southeast half(SEH) and the northwest half(NWH), of the "Hu Line" remains at roughly 94:6(SHE : NWH). Noteworthy, the proportion of population in the SEH of the "Hu Line" has been decreasing slightly, while that in the NWH has been increasing slightly, as the latter has benefited from its higher rate of natural population growth.(2) The spatial patterns of population growth on both sides of the "Hu Line" were quite different. The degree of population concentration in the SEH increased faster than the NWH. Regions with a negative population growth rate have rapidly expanded; these were mainly located in the south of the "Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River belt" and northeastern China. Meanwhile, regions with a fast population growth rate were mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area. Thus, the spatial pattern of population growth in the SEH presented a concentration pattern that could be called "Matthew effect pattern".(3) The spatial pattern of population growth in the NWH could be regarded as the "Relative Balance pattern." In the NWH, the population growth rate was positive and the degree of population concentration was very low. There were many minority populations located in the NWH that usually lived in a dispersed pattern but had a higher rate of natural population growth due to the preferential population policy. There were also some regions with a negative rate of population growth in the NWH, which were mainly located close to the "Hu Line" and the Ancient Silk Road.(4) In the future, the spatial patterns of population growth on both sides of the "Hu Line" may continue to evolve. For the SEH, the capacity to attract more people to small and medium-sized cities and towns should be enhanced. For the NWH, the emphasis should be placed on promoting urbanization and enhancing population agglomeration in its major cities.