Understanding the relationship between landscape pattems and ecological processes has been a central yet challenging research theme in landscape ecology. Over the past decades, many landscape metrics have been propose...Understanding the relationship between landscape pattems and ecological processes has been a central yet challenging research theme in landscape ecology. Over the past decades, many landscape metrics have been proposed but few directly incorporated ecological processes. In this paper, we developed a landscape index, namely, location-weighted landscape index （LWLI） to highlight the role of landscape type in ecological processes, such as nutrient losses and soil erosion. Within the framework of the Lorenz curve theory, we develop this index by integrating land- scape pattern and point-based measurements at a watershed scale. The index can be used to characterize the contribution of landscape pattern to ecological processes （e.g. nutrient losses） with respect to a specific monitoring point in a watershed. Through a case study on nutrient losses in an agricultural area in northeastern China, we found that nutrient losses tended to be higher for a watershed with a higher LWLI value, and vice versa. It implied that LWLI can be used to evaluate the potential risk of nutrient losses or soil erosion by comparing their values across watersheds. In addition, this index can be extended to characterize ecological processes, such as the effect of landscape pattern on wildlife inhabitation and urban heat island effect. Finally, we discuss several problems that should be paid attention to when applying this index to a heterogeneous landscape site.展开更多
Over the last 30 years, environmental philosophers and ecological researchers have turned their attention to the possibilities of narratives： the stories people tell about their lives in conjunction with the human an...Over the last 30 years, environmental philosophers and ecological researchers have turned their attention to the possibilities of narratives： the stories people tell about their lives in conjunction with the human and non-human agents they live with. An interest in narrative environmental ethics reflects a re-evaluation of canonical ecophilosophical texts. Works such as Paul W. Taylor＇s Respect for Nature suggest an essentialist view of environmental ethics in which predetermined principles are imposed on places and situations. On the other hand, Aldo Leopold＇s A Sand County Almanac combines first-person prose with science-based explanations of the ＂biotic pyramid＂ towards the development of a land ethic. Examples, such as Leopold＇s, of narrative ethics are thought to offer relational, place-based, non-authoritative, and non-anthropocentric models. This article examines three critical components of environmental narratives： self, context, and tradition. In order for environmental narratives to advance ecological ethics, they must be accompanied by the tradition of natural science （geology, ecology, and evolution） to provide the ＂sponsoring ground＂ for ethical concern and action. The role of natural science as a tradition--and indeed one of many--in narrative ethics provides the basis for ecological selfhood in the context of place. These assertions will be supported by an analysis of the environmental narratives of Karen Warren and Jim Cheney. However, in the temporally expansive and ecologically conscious poetic narratives of John Kinsella we find an environmental ethics deeply rooted in the material realities of place.展开更多
The systemic view on industry and on production and consumption pattern is an essential feature of the industrial ecology （IE） concept. One consequence of this view is to investigate industrial flows and consumer ac...The systemic view on industry and on production and consumption pattern is an essential feature of the industrial ecology （IE） concept. One consequence of this view is to investigate industrial flows and consumer activities, and their effects on the environment in order to evaluate and eventually optimize these flows with the help of a systems methodology. Industrial ecology has been developed by engineers and natural scientists and its ethical core canon often manifests in anthropocentric assertions such as harmonizing the contradiction between nature and culture with scientific expertise, appropriate technology and socio-economic management. This paper argues however for a biocentric inspired, normative reading of some characteristics of industrial ecology＇s systems methodology. The presumption for the value of this endeavor is that industrial ecology＇s systems methodology has a potential for developing directions for the design of a possible sustainable world.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-421)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40621061, 30570319)
文摘Understanding the relationship between landscape pattems and ecological processes has been a central yet challenging research theme in landscape ecology. Over the past decades, many landscape metrics have been proposed but few directly incorporated ecological processes. In this paper, we developed a landscape index, namely, location-weighted landscape index （LWLI） to highlight the role of landscape type in ecological processes, such as nutrient losses and soil erosion. Within the framework of the Lorenz curve theory, we develop this index by integrating land- scape pattern and point-based measurements at a watershed scale. The index can be used to characterize the contribution of landscape pattern to ecological processes （e.g. nutrient losses） with respect to a specific monitoring point in a watershed. Through a case study on nutrient losses in an agricultural area in northeastern China, we found that nutrient losses tended to be higher for a watershed with a higher LWLI value, and vice versa. It implied that LWLI can be used to evaluate the potential risk of nutrient losses or soil erosion by comparing their values across watersheds. In addition, this index can be extended to characterize ecological processes, such as the effect of landscape pattern on wildlife inhabitation and urban heat island effect. Finally, we discuss several problems that should be paid attention to when applying this index to a heterogeneous landscape site.
文摘Over the last 30 years, environmental philosophers and ecological researchers have turned their attention to the possibilities of narratives： the stories people tell about their lives in conjunction with the human and non-human agents they live with. An interest in narrative environmental ethics reflects a re-evaluation of canonical ecophilosophical texts. Works such as Paul W. Taylor＇s Respect for Nature suggest an essentialist view of environmental ethics in which predetermined principles are imposed on places and situations. On the other hand, Aldo Leopold＇s A Sand County Almanac combines first-person prose with science-based explanations of the ＂biotic pyramid＂ towards the development of a land ethic. Examples, such as Leopold＇s, of narrative ethics are thought to offer relational, place-based, non-authoritative, and non-anthropocentric models. This article examines three critical components of environmental narratives： self, context, and tradition. In order for environmental narratives to advance ecological ethics, they must be accompanied by the tradition of natural science （geology, ecology, and evolution） to provide the ＂sponsoring ground＂ for ethical concern and action. The role of natural science as a tradition--and indeed one of many--in narrative ethics provides the basis for ecological selfhood in the context of place. These assertions will be supported by an analysis of the environmental narratives of Karen Warren and Jim Cheney. However, in the temporally expansive and ecologically conscious poetic narratives of John Kinsella we find an environmental ethics deeply rooted in the material realities of place.
文摘The systemic view on industry and on production and consumption pattern is an essential feature of the industrial ecology （IE） concept. One consequence of this view is to investigate industrial flows and consumer activities, and their effects on the environment in order to evaluate and eventually optimize these flows with the help of a systems methodology. Industrial ecology has been developed by engineers and natural scientists and its ethical core canon often manifests in anthropocentric assertions such as harmonizing the contradiction between nature and culture with scientific expertise, appropriate technology and socio-economic management. This paper argues however for a biocentric inspired, normative reading of some characteristics of industrial ecology＇s systems methodology. The presumption for the value of this endeavor is that industrial ecology＇s systems methodology has a potential for developing directions for the design of a possible sustainable world.
