Ecosystem health: ecological sustainability target of strategic environment assessment

Strategic environment assessment (SEA) and ecosystem health are two new ideas on environmental management. On the basis of reviewing some relevant literature, this paper made discussions on the ecological sustainability target of SEA, the content of ecosystem health as well as the interrelations between SEA and ecosystem health. For a good SEA, its ecological sustainability principles should be provided with distinct content and a general assessment system. A framework for ecosystem health assessment was established according to the content of ecosystem health, and combined into SEA as SEA抯 ecological sustainability target, we can effectively guide decision-makers to make suitable indigenous means and local solutions. , The basic principles and procedure of SEA for ecosystem health are also discussed in the paper.

Forest ecosystem health assessment and analysis in China

Based on more than 300 forest sample plots surveying data and forestry statistical data, remote sensing information from the NOAA AVHRR database and the daily meteorological data of 300 stations, we selected vigor, organization and resilience as the indicators to assess large-scale forest ecosystem health in China and analyzed the spatial pattern of forest ecosystem health and influencing factors. The results of assessment indicated that the spatial pattern of forest ecosystem health showed a decreasing trend along latitude gradients and longitude gradients. The healthy forests are mainly distributed in natural forests, tropical rainforests and seasonal rainforests; secondarily orderly in northeast national forest zone, subtropical forest zonation and southwest forest zonation; while the unhealthy forests were mainly located in warm temperate zone and Xinjiang-Mongolia forest zone. The coefficient of correction between Forest Ecosystem Health Index (FEHI) and annual average precipitation was 0.58 (p<0.01), while the coefficient of correlation between FEHI and annual mean temperatures was 0.49 (p<0.01), which identified that the precipitation and temperatures affect the pattern of FEHI, and the precipitation’s effect was stronger than the temperature’s. We also measured the correlation coefficient between FEHI and NPP, biodiversity and resistance, which were 0.64, 0.76 and 0.81 (p<0.01) respectively. The order of effect on forest ecosystem health was vigor, organization and resistance.

Ecosystem Health Assessment of the Egong Bay Fisheries Area in Shenzhen Based on Index of Biological Integrity of Fish

[Objective] The ecosystem health of the Egong Bay fisheries area in Shenzhen was assessed,based on the index of biological integrity of fish( F-IBI),for the reference of ecological restoration in typical fisheries area in the coast of South China Sea. [Method]Based on four seasons survey from August( summer) and November( autumn) in 2012 to February( winter) and May( spring) in 2013,six indicators including total species number of fish,percentage of Sciaenidae species,percentage of Sparidae species,percentage of planktivorous species,percentage of benthic-feeding species and percentage of benthic-feeding and piscivorous species,were used in computing F-IBI of Egong Bay. The suitability of F-IBI was tested by principal component analysis( PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis. [Result]Total species number of fish,percentage of Sciaenidae species,percentage of Sparidae species,percentage of planktivorous species and percentage of benthic-feeding species were major assessment indicators for Egong Bay fisheries area. F-IBI of Egong Bay fisheries area was correlated with water temperature,salinity,chemical oxygen demand( COD) and petroleum,and was negative correlation to p H,dissolved oxygen( DO),dissolved inorganic nitrogen( DIN),reactive phosphate( PO_4^(3-)-P),and suspended matters. There were significant correction between the F-IBI with the salinity,COD,and suspended matters.[Conclusion]F-IBI system,based on total species number of fish,percentage of Sciaenidae species,percentage of Sparidae species,percentage of planktivorous species,percentage of benthic-feeding species and percentage of benthic-feeding and piscivorous species was feasible in Egong Bay fisheries area.

Ecosystem Health Assessment in Wuli Lake

Using the method of trophic state-composite index (TSI-CI ) and the 12 months of monitoring data in 2010,we carry out initial exploration of the status of ecosystem health in Wuli Lake. First,we select four indicators,Chla,SD,TP and TN,to conduct trophic state assessment using weighted index method; then after selecting physical,chemical and biological indicators to conduct nondimensionalization processing,we calculate the composite index and conduct comprehensive assessment. The results show that in 2010,the status of ecosystem health in Wuli Lake was the best in July,worst in August; when the composite trophic state indicators with Chla as the representative increase or decrease significantly and cross different nutritional grades,TSI will significantly deviate from CI,and the relationship between the two in the other time is not prominent.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and crops in a mining area(Au-Ag-Cutrona-oil et al.) of the Nanyang Basin, Henan Province, China

Heavy metal distribution in mining areas has always been a hot research topic due to the special environment of these areas. This study aims to explore the impact of heavy metal pollution on soils and crops in the study area, ensure the safety of local crops and the health of local residents, and provide a basis for the subsequent environmental restoration and the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Based on the analysis of the heavy metal concentrations in local soils and crops, the study investigated the spatial distribution, pollution degrees, and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the farmland of a mining area in the southeastern Nanyang Basin, Henan province, China explored the sources of heavy metals and assessed the health risks caused by crop intake. The results of this study are as follows. The root soils of crops in the study area suffered heavy metal pollution to varying degrees. The degree of heavy metal pollution in maize fields is higher than that in wheat fields, and both types of fields suffer the most severe Cd pollution. Moreover, the root soils of different crops suffer compound pollution.The root soils in the maize fields suffer severe compound pollution at some sampling positions, whose distribution is similar to that of the mining area. Cd poses the highest potential ecological risks among all heavy metals, and the study area mainly suffers low and moderate comprehensive potential ecological risks. The principal component analysis(PCA) shows that the distribution of Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils of the study area is mainly affected by anthropogenic factors such as local mining activities;the distribution of Cr and Ni is primarily controlled by the local geological background;the distribution of Hg is mainly affected by local vehicle exhaust emissions, and the distribution of Cu is influenced by both human activities and the geological background. Different cereal crops in the study area are polluted with heavy metals dominated by Cd and Ni to varying degrees, especially wheat. As indicated by the health risk assessment results, the intake of maize in the study area does not pose significant human health risks;however, Cu has high risks to human health, and the compound heavy metal pollution caused by the intake of wheat in the study area poses risks to the health of both adults and children. Overall, the soils and crops in the study area suffer a high degree of heavy metal pollution, for which mining activities may be the main reason.

Assessing Mismatches Between Ecosystem Structure and Function in Jiaozhou Bay by Coordination Degree Algorithm

A healthy ecosystem depends on the coordination of ecosystem structure and function.The coordination among ecosystem components,however,is seldom taken into account in current ecosystem health assessments(EHA).Neglect of such coordination may lead to large degrees of uncertainty in EHA and fail to support ecosystem management.We propose an approach to quantify the level of dynamic mismatching between ecosystem structure and function and the impact on ecosystem health by incorporating the ecosystem coordination index into EHA.The coordination degree is calculated using variation coefficient of six proxies for ecosystem structure and functions.The ecosystem at Jiaozhou Bay,as a microcosm of China's coast,has been documented to fluctuate from healthy to unhealthy status over the past three decades.The results indicate that there is a 3%-17% lower health level than that calculated by common methods used in the literature,indicating that the health of Jiaozhou Bay has become worse than expected.Habitat change contributes 20%-52% to ecosystem mismatches and is the most uncoordinated factor.Mismatch-related declines account for approximately one-fourth of the total ecological declines.Restoration scenarios that aim to resolve ecosystem mismatches could increase efficiency by about 50% compared to restoration scenarios that do not consider mismatches.This study investigates ecological declines in a coastal bay due to 30 years of rapid economic development.In doing so,this study provides novel insights and enhances our understanding of the reasons for failure in ecological restoration.

Assessments and diagnoses of aquatic ecosystem integrity based on integrity requirements of ecosystem service targets

This paper critically reviews the progress in ecosystem integrity(health)assessment of inland waters and provides future directions for assessment.Current biotic integrity assessments mainly use multimetric indices and predictive models to evaluate overall health status;the criteria largely rely on pristine reference sites,but such an approach is not applicable to unique natural waters and irreversibly modified waters.Biotic diagnostic assessments are still in the exploratory stage and can only diagnose possible stressor types and wide-ranges of their intensities through empirical models linking stressors and species-trait-indices.Current chemical integrity assessments mainly use criteria determined by small-scale ecotoxicity tests,rather than quantitative relationships developed between chemical factors and biotic effects in real ecosystems,thus potentially under or overestimating pollutant toxicity.Current physical integrity assessments focus on overall habitat quality,rather than quantitative habitat requirements,and thus cannot provide quantitative support for ecological restoration and conservation.Current hydrological integrity(environment flow)assessments largely depend on quantitative relationships between hydrological regimes with a few species and single groups,rather than with whole communities,and fail to comprehensively diagnose hydrological causes of biotic resource decline.In the future,integrity assessments need to be based on ecosystem integrity requirements of ecosystem service targets:first,there is a need to build quantitative relationships between biotic integrity and ecosystem services,assess requirements of community structure and function for service goals,and establish biotic integrity assessment methods;second,we must build quantitative relationships between biotic integrity and abiotic integrity in real ecosystems,assess chemical,physical,and hydrological integrity requirements of biotic needs,and establish diagnostic assessment methods.

Ecosystem health assessment of urban rivers and lakes-Case study of “the six lakes”in Beijing,China

The assessment of the ecosystem health of urban rivers and lakes is the scientific basis for their management and ecological restoration.This study developed a three-level indicator system for its assessment.The results indicated that:Zhonghai and Nanhai are in the state of transition from unhealthy to critical state and all the other lakes are in unhealthy states.Water environmental quality,structure and function of the aquatic ecosystem,and the structure of waterfront areas were the constraints.Nanhai was ranked as poor and the others were all ranked as very poor.However,the ecological environment of Zhonghai and Nanhai were better than the others,the sums of the degree of membership to the healthy state and critical state were all close to 0.6.and the restorations of these lakes were moderate.The sums of the degree of membership to the healthy state and critical state of the other lakes were under 0.3,as it was difficult to restore these lakes.Some suggestions on scientific management and ecological restoration of the six lakes were proposed:①To control non-point pollution and to improve the water quality of six lakes and the water entering into these lakes;②To improve the hydrological conditions of six lakes;③To rehabilitate the aquatic ecosystem and waterfront areas.

Regional ecosystem health assessment using the GA-BPANN model:a case study of Yunnan Province,China

Background:Regional ecosystem health assessments are the basis for the sustainable development of society.However,an ecosystem is a complex integration of ecosystem mosaics and subsystems that influence each other,making it difficult to evaluate them using traditional assessment methods of linear and explicit functions.We introduce a back-propagation neural network model optimized by a genetic algorithm to evaluate ecosystem health in 16 districts in Yunnan Province.Result:(1)The model required fewer inputs to evaluate complex and nonlinear systems,avoided the need for subjective weights,and performed well in this practical application to regional ecosystem health assessment.(2)The ecosystem health in Yunnan Province was increasing,and there was a significant positive spatial autocorrelation during 2000-2020,showing that districts with high Ecosystem Health cluster together and the ecological protection policy of the region has produced a diffusion effect,leading to continuous improvement of the ecological health of the surrounding areas.High-low outlier areas of ecosystem health should be paid more attention,because of the increasing instability of local health levels.Conclusion:This study provides a methodological exploration for assessing spatial mosaics of different ecosystems at a regional scale.

Ecosystem health assessment on the hill and gully area of Loess Plateau in Inner Mongolia,China

Maintenance of ecosystem health is the primary focus of a sound ecological restoration.Yet methods in-volved in quantifying and assessing the health level remain a challenge to the ecological community.In this study,we selected the hill and gully area of Loess Plateau,Inner Mongolia,China,as our study area.The soil and water ero-sions in this area continue to be responsible for many environmental problems in northern China because of its fragility and long disturbance history.In this study,we de-veloped an assessment method of indicator system(AMIS)based on analytical hierarchy process(AHP),fuzzy mathe-matics,and the theory of net-hierarchy.At ecosystem or catchment scale,three sample areas,that is(1)intact vege-tation(i.e.,Aguimiao Natural Reserve,110°45′E,39°28′N),(2)reconstructed vegetation(Wufendigou Soil and Water Conservation Experimental Area,111°07′E,39°45′N),and(3)severely degraded vegetation(Yangquangou Catchment,111°06′E,39°45′N)in the hill and gully area of Loess Pla-teau in Inner Mongolia,China,were selected to examine ecosystem vigor,organizational structure,service function,and soil health.We applied the AMIS for all three land-scapes by categorizing each ecosystem into five health levels.We found that the health index for reconstructed vegetation were at levels of IV,II,IV,and III,while those of degraded vegetation were ranked at V,IV,V,and IV.Overall,the comprehensive ecosystem health index of re-constructed vegetation was lower than that of intact vegetation but higher than that of degraded vegetation.The health index for reconstructed vegetation was at level III,and that of degraded vegetation was still at level IV.The contributing values were:organization structure>soil health>vigor>service function.Based on our results and assessments,we proposed several management recommen-dations and methods for restoring the regional ecosystems.

水生态评价方法研究进展及展望

水生态系统是人类赖以生存的基础,近年来气候变化和水资源开发、水体污染、过度捕捞等人类活动导致水生态系统严重受损,水生态系统的保护和修复已成为全球面临的重大挑战。科学合理的水生态评价方法是实现水生态系统稳定、健康和可持续管理的基本保障,也是目前我国各相关管理部门高度重视的关键问题,多个部门围绕水生态评价展开了积极探索与实践。本文系统回顾了水生态评价方法的发展历程并阐释了水生态评价的内涵,梳理了常用的水生态评价方法,明晰了各方法的基本理念和应用场景,分析了各方法的优点和不足,提出了基于生态完整性的水生态健康评价方法,最后对目前我国水生态评价需进一步完善的工作进行了展望。本文以期与相关领域研究者和管理者在水生态评价理论和方法方面进行探讨,为我国水生态考核工作提供理论支持。

银川市典农河流域鱼类多样性研究及水生态系统健康评价

典农河作为银川市主要淡水生态系统之一,其水生态系统健康状况与银川市的高质量发展息息相关。2022年9月在典农河流域开展野外采样调查,共设置采样点40个,采集鱼类和水环境因子信息,分析了典农河流域鱼类群落结构和功能多样性,并采用鱼类完整性指数法对典农河流域水生态系统健康状况进行了评价。结果表明:影响典农河流域鱼类群落结构的主要环境因子为总氮;典农河、阅海、宝湖和鹤泉湖鱼类物种数、群落物种多样性和功能多样性存在显著差异;阅海水生态系统健康状况优于典农河、宝湖和鹤泉湖,典农河和鹤泉湖水生态系统健康均处于良好等级,宝湖则处于一般等级。

地下水生态系统健康评价研究进展

地下水生态系统为人类提供众多宝贵的服务,如水资源供给、水质净化、洪涝灾害调节等,其健康对于人类福祉至关重要。开展地下水生态系统健康评价不仅对揭示系统的内在机制具有重要意义,且能为地下水资源保护与修复提供理论依据。本文介绍了地下水生态系统的组成、功能以及所面临的威胁,梳理了地下水生态系统健康评价的发展历程、方法、指标与流程框架。通过对比分析现有的研究成果,总结了评价理论和方法中存在的科学问题,并对未来评价方法的发展趋势进行了展望。结果表明:①当前地下水生态系统健康评价方法主要有多指标综合评价法、生物指示法、证据权重法,其中多指标综合评价法最有助于全面地了解地下水生态系统健康状况。②当前研究中评价指标的选取缺少固定的标准,存在一定的主观性,限制了不同评价之间的可比性。③以往研究中所选取的指标可以分为理化指标、生态指标、社会指标3个方面,未来研究可以制定固定标准从上述三方面对地下水生态系统健康进行评价。建议在未来的工作中增加地下水基础数据的采集频次和覆盖范围,并积极进行学科交叉,引入机器学习、大语言模型等技术,降低地下水生态系统健康评价中的主观性,实现评价的准确化、客观化、智能化。

大兴安岭次生林森林生态系统健康评价研究

以大兴安岭根河林区和黑龙江漠河林区次生林为研究对象,随机选取30块样地对其群落结构、土壤状况、林分空间结构、抵抗力指标、水源涵养状况进行调查分析,选择平均胸径、单位面积蓄积量、全氮等16个评价指标,建立评价指标体系。运用森林健康评价综合指数评价大兴安岭次生林的森林生态系统健康状况,利用层次分析法确定各项指标权重,并结合地面样地调查数据,将研究区森林健康指数划分为5个等级。结果表明:该研究区13.33%的样地处于亚健康状态,26块健康等级的样地总体占比86.67%,无不健康、中健康和优质森林。从林型角度分析,阔叶次生林森林健康状况较好,继续维持,以促进其向“优质”状态转变;针阔混交林森林健康状态偏低,适当植树造林、疏伐、修剪、施肥,还需加强森林防火工作,确保森林资源安全。在不同龄组中,健康状态最高的是幼龄林,亚健康状态最高的是成熟林。其中幼龄林健康占比91.18%,亚健康占比8.82%;中龄林健康占比87.30%,亚健康占比12.70%;近熟林健康占比74.96%,亚健康占比25.04%;成熟林健康占比33.33%,亚健康占比66.67%;过熟林健康占比66.67%,亚健康占比33.33%。总之,大兴安岭根河林区和黑龙江漠河林区的次生林森林具有较好的生态环境,大部分处于健康状态,而部分次生林需要采取一定的经营手段来提高其生态系统健康水平。

基于健康与恢复力的生态系统退化风险研究——以坝上高原察汗淖尔流域为例

【研究目的】基于生态系统的健康状况与恢复力,构建湖泊流域生态系统退化风险评估体系,从流域尺度为生态环境保护及可持续发展提供科学依据。【研究方法】以坝上高原察汗淖尔流域为例,创建生态系统健康与恢复力交互风险评估矩阵,建立生态退化风险评估体系,开展察汗淖尔流域生态系统退化风险评估。【研究结果】察汗淖尔流域内91.10%的区域生态健康状态处于良好,6.66%为优秀;流域22.76%的区域生态恢复力等级为1~2级,75.00%处于3~4级。交互评估结果表明流域27.51%的区域为低生态退化风险较状态,70.25%的区域处于中等状态。【结论】察汗淖尔流域生态系统总体较好,但局部地区由于恢复力较差,导致生态退化风险处于中等。本次研究所提出的评估方法可精准划分流域尺度生态退化风险等级,为科学制定精准生态保护与退化控制措施提供决策依据。

石佛寺水库健康评价指标体系构建及应用

河湖(库)健康评价是河湖管理的重要内容,是查验河湖治理保护效果的重要手段,是生态可持续发展的重要基础。依据《河湖健康评价指南(试行)》评价方法与标准,通过对辽宁省石佛寺水库库区物理结构、水质、生态生物、水资源及社会服务功能调查监测数据进行分析,确定各指标层权重值,采用加权综合层次评价方法,构建河库健康评价指标体系,完成辽宁省石佛寺水库健康评价,确定石佛寺水库处于亚健康(74.97分)状态,进而根据健康评价结果,阐述石佛寺水库健康现状存在的主要问题,提出相应的保护对策与展望,为石佛寺水库生态环境的健康和稳定提供了科学依据和技术支持。

基于VORC模型的水网乡村生态系统健康评价及管控策略——以吴江区为例

健康的生态系统能够维持生态活力及组织力,抵御和适应外界压力,发挥生态系统服务功能。文章以苏州市吴江区为例,基于“活力(V)—组织力(O)—恢复力(R)—贡献力(C)”模型,定量评价水网乡村生态系统健康水平,分析生态系统健康空间分异特征,为生态空间分区管控提供科学依据。研究结果表明:吴江区生态系统健康综合指数在空间分布上呈正相关性,表现出“高值区较离散,低值区较集聚”的特征。健康高值区多聚集于乡村水网密布区域,生态环境质量较好,生态功能较完善;健康低值区主要集中于乡村工业产业建设集聚区域,受建设用地扩张影响,水网乡村景观生态健康水平下降。结合健康等级将吴江区划分为核心保护区、生态缓冲区、协调发展区和开发管控区等4类空间管控分区,并针对性地提出差异化管控策略。生态系统健康评价可为生态空间分区管控提供依据和参考,促进水网乡村生态系统持续、健康发展。

流域生态系统健康状况评估的模型、数据源及发展方向浅析

流域生态系统是在流域尺度内各种环境生态特征的综合表征体系,其健康状况既反映了流域本身的生态环境质量,也反映了流域生态韧性。通过检索及归纳分析以往对流域生态系统健康评估的相关研究可以发现,评估模型和数据源是流域生态系统健康评估的关键。基于此,本文首先梳理了PSR(Pressure-State-Response)及其衍伸模型、水基系统评价模型、生物完整性指数法及《流域生态健康评估技术指南(试行)》中的等级评价体系法等4种常用模型或方法的内涵、应用及特点。进而,本文将数据源归纳为遥感数据、检测监测实时数据、相关统计数据三大类,并详细介绍了每一类数据源的内涵、优劣势、相关应用指标及应用前景。最后,本文从如何合理构建流域生态系统健康评估指标体系、评估数据的整合及应用潜力挖掘、前沿技术的转化应用等3个方面进行了展望分析。

关于荒漠生态系统健康评价的新思考

生态系统健康是衡量生态系统稳定性、可持续性、活跃性的标尺。当把通常用于森林、草原、湿地等生态系统,以高权重占比的生物多样性为主要指标的生态系统健康评价体系,照搬到荒漠生态系统进行评价时,通常会产生误判。即在空间大尺度的生态系统健康评价中,荒漠区通常会被识别为亚健康、甚至是不健康状态。通过介绍研究评价荒漠生态系统健康的意义、解析荒漠生态系统健康的内涵、列举人类活动对荒漠生态系统健康产生的正负效应,提出基于不同地质历史时期原生荒漠参照系的荒漠生态系统健康评价新思路,为未来建立更加科学、合理的荒漠生态系统健康评价指标体系与方法提供参考,为新时期科学开展荒漠化综合防治和“三北”工程生态建设提供新见解。

基于资源清查数据的某森林生态系统健康评估

森林健康是可持续森林管理的一个重要方面。掌握森林健康水平和不健康森林的成因,可以极大促进森林生态系统的可持续发展,因此森林生态系统健康评估的现实意义日益凸显。该文利用地理信息系统(GIS)的空间分析技术和当地森林资源清查数据,对某森林生态系统的健康状况进行评估。建立了反映研究区森林健康状况的综合指标体系。在此指标体系的基础上,对研究区内森林各分区的健康水平进行了评估。研究结果显示,优质级森林(80.4 hm^(2))和健康级森林(2671 hm^(2))仅占某森林总面积的23.5%。同时约60.5%的某森林处于亚健康状态。由于某森林超过2/3的森林处于亚健康或不健康状态,因此某森林研究区域迫切需要采取有效措施改善森林健康状况。