The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands su...The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands suggested uncontrolled natural wetlands provided the highest mean annual flood storage at 15 cm of runoff while single and 2-stage outlet controlled wetlands provided 3.0 and 8.1 cm of runoff control. Natural controlled wetlands, followed by 2-stage and single stage outlet controlled restorations provided 10.2, 6.6, and 2.2 cm of storage for early summer storm events. Two years of recorded water levels and a 20-year continuous meteorological record were used to model ＂temporary water level increases＂ in each wetland. Species diversity, hydrology, and watershed land use variables are inversely related where high quality and diverse wetlands had the lowest amplitude and frequency of water level increases, while low quality wetlands had the highest. Uncontrolled natural wetlands had the highest biological diversity and the lowest frequency and magnitude of temporary water levels increased. A significant biodiversity declines were measured where water level increases were greater than 2.7 meters. Strong multi-linear relationships between watershed land uses and watershed/wetland ratio explained wetland hydraulic performance and biodiversity relations （r2 ranging from 0.6-0.8）. Non-native wetland plant diversity increased with greater water level dynamics.展开更多
Mountain forests are managed for various purposes. Of these, recreation, leisure, and ecotourism are increasingly gaining prominence. Yet, with the development of new techniques for creating and managing urban forests...Mountain forests are managed for various purposes. Of these, recreation, leisure, and ecotourism are increasingly gaining prominence. Yet, with the development of new techniques for creating and managing urban forests, the perception of the public with regard to mountain forests and such urban forests is narrowing. For the purpose of this study, eight mountain forests and urban forests located in Zurich(Switzerland), Vienna(Austria) and Freiburg(Germany) were shortlisted. These places are renowned for their well-functioning management of mountain forests and creation of urban forests. As the study was to focus on the comparison of the perceptions of visitors in terms of their satisfaction in urban and mountain forests, the interview covered the following questions:(i) how satisfactory was the nature experience;(ii) how satisfactory were the outdoor recreational activities;(iii) whether the nature experiences influenced the mental and physical health of visitors. Responses thus received for each of the mountain forests and urban forests were assessed, with the total number of respondents being 247. Tourists visiting the selected areas were randomly chosen for a one-on-one interview survey. Results of the survey show that there is a clear perceptions of visitors differed between urban and mountain forests. However, the gap is insignificant or almost nonexistent with respect to satisfaction level of outdoor recreational activities and health benefits. These results are contrary to the findings of previous studies, which argued that the natural landscape of mountain areas is superior to other artificially built green spaces. Visitors did not perceive significant differences in outdoor recreational activities and health effects between the two spaces.展开更多
文摘The authors assessed if wetlands can contribute to flood damage reduction in the Red River Basin, Minnesota, by providing reliable flood water storage. Hydrology and biodiversity in 28 natural and restored wetlands suggested uncontrolled natural wetlands provided the highest mean annual flood storage at 15 cm of runoff while single and 2-stage outlet controlled wetlands provided 3.0 and 8.1 cm of runoff control. Natural controlled wetlands, followed by 2-stage and single stage outlet controlled restorations provided 10.2, 6.6, and 2.2 cm of storage for early summer storm events. Two years of recorded water levels and a 20-year continuous meteorological record were used to model ＂temporary water level increases＂ in each wetland. Species diversity, hydrology, and watershed land use variables are inversely related where high quality and diverse wetlands had the lowest amplitude and frequency of water level increases, while low quality wetlands had the highest. Uncontrolled natural wetlands had the highest biological diversity and the lowest frequency and magnitude of temporary water levels increased. A significant biodiversity declines were measured where water level increases were greater than 2.7 meters. Strong multi-linear relationships between watershed land uses and watershed/wetland ratio explained wetland hydraulic performance and biodiversity relations （r2 ranging from 0.6-0.8）. Non-native wetland plant diversity increased with greater water level dynamics.
基金supported by the 2012 Yeungnam University Research Grant
文摘Mountain forests are managed for various purposes. Of these, recreation, leisure, and ecotourism are increasingly gaining prominence. Yet, with the development of new techniques for creating and managing urban forests, the perception of the public with regard to mountain forests and such urban forests is narrowing. For the purpose of this study, eight mountain forests and urban forests located in Zurich(Switzerland), Vienna(Austria) and Freiburg(Germany) were shortlisted. These places are renowned for their well-functioning management of mountain forests and creation of urban forests. As the study was to focus on the comparison of the perceptions of visitors in terms of their satisfaction in urban and mountain forests, the interview covered the following questions:(i) how satisfactory was the nature experience;(ii) how satisfactory were the outdoor recreational activities;(iii) whether the nature experiences influenced the mental and physical health of visitors. Responses thus received for each of the mountain forests and urban forests were assessed, with the total number of respondents being 247. Tourists visiting the selected areas were randomly chosen for a one-on-one interview survey. Results of the survey show that there is a clear perceptions of visitors differed between urban and mountain forests. However, the gap is insignificant or almost nonexistent with respect to satisfaction level of outdoor recreational activities and health benefits. These results are contrary to the findings of previous studies, which argued that the natural landscape of mountain areas is superior to other artificially built green spaces. Visitors did not perceive significant differences in outdoor recreational activities and health effects between the two spaces.
