Heterogeneity and non-linearity of ecosystem responses to climate change in the Qilian Mountains National Park, China

Ecosystem responses to climate change,particularly in arid environments,is an understudied topic.This study conducted a spatial analysis of ecosystem responses to short-term variability in temperature,precipitation,and solar radiation in the Qilian Mountains National Park,an arid mountainous region in Northwest China.We collected precipitation and temperature data from the National Science and Technology Infrastructure Platform,solar radiation data from the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset,and vegetation cover remote-sensing data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer.We used the vegetation sensitivity index to identify areas sensitive to climate change and to determine which climatic factors were significant in this regard.The findings revealed a high degree of heterogeneity and non-linearity of ecosystem responses to climate change.Four types of heterogeneity were identified:longitude,altitude,ecosystem,and climate disturbance.Furthermore,the characteristics of nonlinear ecosystem responses to climate change included:(1)inconsistency in the controlling climatic factors for the same ecosystems in different geographical settings;(2)the interaction between different climatic factors results in varying weights that affect ecosystem stability and makes them difficult to determine;and(3)the hysteresis effect of vegetation increases the uncertainty of ecosystem responses to climate change.The findings are significant because they highlight the complexity of ecosystem responses to climate change.Furthermore,the identification of areas that are particularly sensitive to climate change and the influencing factors has important implications for predicting and managing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems,which can help protect the stability of ecosystems in the Qilian Mountains National Park.

Long-term improvements in water conservation functions at Qilian Mountain National Park, northwest China

Water conservation is one of the most important ecosystem functions.This study uses the InVEST model to examine the water conservation function of the Qilian Mountain National Park(QMNP),an important water supply area in northwest China.We analyzed the spatiotemporal water conservation patterns of QMNP from 1988 to 2019.It showed that the water conservation capacity in QMNP has increased over the past 32 years,reaching a peak of 6.495×108 m3 in 2019.The area with an increased water conservation capacity is 12 times larger than the area with a reduced capacity.We also examined how climatic,land-use,vegetation coverage,and topographical factors influence water conservation functions.We found that precipitation is the main climatic factor in water conservation.The water conservation function also varies with land-cover type,with forests having the highest capacity,followed by grasslands.Lastly,topographical factors,including altitude and slope,also shape the spatial patterns of water conservation functions in QMNP.

A tale of duality:Community perceptions towards the ecotourism impacts on Simien Mountains National Park,Ethiopia

This study aims to analyze how park households perceive the economic,sociocultural,and environmental impacts of ecotourism in Simien Mountain National Park(SMNP),Ethiopia.We combined qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection.A sequentially embedded mixed design that gives priority to quantitative data was used.We also employed a multistage sampling technique to select respondents from three districts or woredas,namely Debark,Janamora,and Beyeda woredas.Finally,397 participants were involved in the study from a random selection of three villages from each district or woreda.Data were gathered using a survey questionnaire,interviews,and focus group discussions.Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods,including means,standard deviations,analysis of variance(ANOVA),and logistic regression models.The findings from a logistic regression analysis revealed that ecotourism participation had a significant relationship with gender(B=1.850,P=0.023),level of education(B=0.238,P=0.032),geographical location(B=0.420,P=0.041),and occupation(B=0.920,P=0.019).This investigation suggested that males and individuals with a higher educational background are more likely to possess optimistic perspectives concerning the impacts of ecotourism.Furthermore,individuals residing in districts relatively near ecotourism destinations,those engaged in tourism-related work,and younger participants were recognized as having optimistic viewpoints regarding the impacts of ecotourism.In conclusion,the study highlighted the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to maximize ecotourism’s benefits and minimize negative effects in SMNP.To achieve this,it is recommended that the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Agency,the Ministry of Tourism,and local government should work together to develop sustainable tourism plans that enhance local livelihoods and park conditions.Efforts should focus on increasing the participation of females and individuals with lower education levels through training and resource provision.

Spatial variations of Pb in the vertical zone of the soil-plant system in the Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve

The characteristics of vertical and horizontal variations of lead element(Pb) in soil plant system of vertical zone in Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve(CNNR) were studied. The results showed that Pb concentrations in soils of vertical zone are all above 25 mg/kg, and the average Pb concentration of each soil zone negatively correlates its degree of variation, i.e. brown coniferous forest soil zone has the lowest average Pb concentration of four soil zones, and the highest horizontal variation; however, mountain soddy forest soil has the highest average Pb concentration, and the lowest horizontal variation; the average concentration of plant Pb of each plant zone is lower than the worldwide average level of Pb in plant(Clarke), respectively, and plant Pb content order is consistent with soil Pb content order, but their horizontal variations are different from those in soil zones, the variation of mountain tundra forest zone is highest, but Betula ermanii forest zone the lowest. Vertical variation of plant Pb is obviously higher than that in soils with variation coefficient of 89.76%; the enrichment capability of plant for Pb is depended on the plant types and the different organs of plant; parent material and parent rock, pH values, soil organic matter and soil particle fraction etc. are the main factors influencing variations of Pb content in soil plant system of vertical zone in CNNR.

Regional- to local-scale controls on waterfalls in Rocky Mountain National Park,Colorado

Previous work on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park(RMNP),Colorado indicated correlations among waterfall location,waterfall morphology,and the characteristics of bedrock joints.Characteristics of waterfalls on the western side of the national park do not correlate as strongly with joint geometry.Longitudinal river profiles on the western side are less concave and waterfalls account for a greater proportion of the total elevation loss.We interpret these differences to result from more widely spaced joints,lithological differences,and complex glacial history.These results demonstrate that waterfall shape and typology may change due to both local and regional controls operating in a mountain region.Both regions had alpine valley glaciers,but continued landscape evolution via fluvial erosion has developed waterfalls with diverse locations and morphologies that reflect the influences of glacial deposits,bedrock erosional resistance,and joint geometry.

The Register and Characteristics of Chinese Key Protected Wild Plants in Dabie Mountains National Nature Preserve, Hubei Province

A study was conducted on the newly promulgated key protected wild plants distributed in the Dabie Mountains National Nature Reserve in Hubei in 2021.According to statistics,Dabie Mountains National Nature Reserve of Hubei Province has a total of 41 species of wild plants under national key protection,including 7 species in the first class and 34 species in the second class.Among them,6 are cultivated species,4 in the first class,and 2 species in the second class.The characteristics of Chinese key protected wild plants in the Dabie Mountains National Nature Reserve in Hubei Province were analyzed.

Non-use value assessment for wetland ecosystem service of Hongxing National Nature Reserve in northeast China

By the contingent value method, we studied the non-use value of wetland ecosystem service of Hongxing National Nature Reserve （HNNR） in Heilongjiang Pro- vince, northeast China. The proportion of respondents willing to pay （WTP） for protection of HNNR was 63 %. The WTP ratio was affected by geographical area, contact nature, personal preferences, and familiar degree of the respondents. The WTP value was affected by age, education level and career of the respondents. The mainly reasons for people rejecting to pay for protecting HNNR were ＂I am not familiar to HNNR＂ and ＂I had no capacity for additional spending because of low income＂. Weighted average individual WTP value was CNY 59.26 Yuan ind.^-1 year^-1 for all the respondents with WTP. The total non-use ecosystem service value of HNNR was CNY 1430 million Yuan in 2013. The heritage value was highest followed by existence value and option value. From the high ecosystem service value in HNNR, it is very important to construct nature reserve for protecting natural ecosystems and human sustainable use of natural resources.

Protecting wild yak (Bos mutus) species and preventing its hybrid in China

China has made efforts to protect wild yak （Bos mutus） species and prevent the hybrids between wild yak and domestic yak （Bos grunniens） species.At present,wild yak population of a reasonable estimate would be over 70,000.Due to conservation efforts in environmental protection and ecological construction such as the Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve Construction Project,the ＂Grain-for-Green＂ Project and the Natural Forest Resources Protection Project,the number of wild yaks is increasing.In general,Tibetan Plateau＇s ecosystem is getting better and its environmental quality shows a gradual improving trend.Tibetan Plateau is one of the world＇s cleanest regions called as the ＂Third Pole＂.In order to preserve the genetic pool of wild yaks,local pastoralists and polices drive off the wild male yaks from the domestic yak herds by making noise （banging washbasins,pots,etc.） or driving cars.Local government also incentivizes the culling of domestic yaks found in wild herds.For the sake of the biological and genetic features of this wild species,and the pastoralist way of life,wild yaks should continuously be protected to keep their genetic integrity.We appeal plans to investigate the gene pollution of wild yaks in some important distribution regions of this species.In the face of hybridizing with domestic yaks,proper guidance is urgently needed to address genetic pollution and protect the genetic integrity of wild yaks.

Polar organic tracers in PM_(2.5) aerosols from an inland background area in Southwest China: Correlations between secondary organic aerosol tracers and source apportionment

PM2.5 aerosol samples were collected over 12 hr and 24 hr intervals in an inland background area, Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve（hereafter shortened to Gongga）, during the summer of 2011. Polar organic tracers, inorganic ions and meteorological data were measured. The purpose of this work was to investigate the variation patterns, formation and sources of the secondary organic aerosol tracers in the studied atmosphere. The average concentrations of isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, β-caryophyllinic acid, sugars, sugar alcohols and anhydrosugars were 88.6 ± 106.1, 3.6 ± 5.7,0.13 ± 0.30, 13.6 ± 13.1, 31.9 ± 31.4 and 14.8 ± 10.7 ng/m^3 respectively in all aerosol samples.The aged α-pinene second organic aerosol（SOA） tracers（i.e., 3-hydroxyglutraric acid（3 HGA）, 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylglutaric acid（HDMGA）, 3-acetylpentandioic acid（APDA） and 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid（MBTCA）） correlated significantly with each other in the 24 hr PM2.5 aerosol samples, indicating that OH· is the major factor controlling the formation of these α-pinene SOA tracers. Using the positive matrix factorization（PMF） model and the tracer-based source apportionment method, we calculated that isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, sesquiterpene oxidation products, biomass burning, fungi spores and anthropogenic SOA accounted for 21.9% ± 5.5%, 8.4% ± 2.1%, 3.0% ± 0.7%, 5.2% ± 5.3%, 5.0% ± 6.2% and 31.4% ± 7.8% of organic carbon respectively during the sampling period.

Isolation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Halophilic Archaeon AJ6

Halophilic archaeon AJ6 was isolated and purified from the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Strain AJ6 is a Gram-negative rod whose size is 0.2–0.6 by 1.6–4.2μm,wherein a few cells are globular.The optimum salt concentration for its growth is 20%NaCl and 0.6%Mg^(2+),and the optimum pH is 6.0–7.0.Morphological,physiological,and biochemical characteristics of strain AJ6 were observed.The 16S rRNA encoding gene(16S rDNA)sequence of strain AJ6 was amplified by PCR,and its nucleotide sequence was determined subsequently.“Clustalw”and“PHYLIP”software bags were used to analyze the 16S rDNA sequence;the homology was compared,and then the phylogenetic tree was established.The results indicate that strain AJ6 is a novel species of the genus Natrinema.The GenBank accession number of the 16S rDNA sequences of strain AJ6 is AY277584.