Spatio-temporal variation of water conservation and its impact factors on the southern slope of Qilian Mountains

The ecology of Qilian Mountains has been seriously threatened by uncontrolled grazing and wasteland reclamation. This study examined the ecological changes on the southern slope of Qilian Mountains in China from the perspective of water conservation by classifying different clusters of water conservation functional areas to efficiently use limited human resources to tackle the water conservation protection problem. In this study, we used Integrate Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST) model to estimate water conservation and analyzed the factors that influence the function. The results of this study include:(1) from 2000 to 2015, the water conservation of the southern slope of Qilian Mountains generally showed an increasing trend, and the total water conservation in 2015 increased by 42.18% compared with that in 2000.(2) Rainfall, fractional vegetation cover(FVC), and evapotranspiration have the most significant influence on the water conservation of the study area. Among them, water conservation is positively correlated with rainfall and FVC(P<0.05) and negatively correlated with evapotranspiration(P<0.05).(3) The importance level of water conservation functional areas gradually increases from northwest to southeast, and the region surrounding Menyuan Hui Autonomous County in the southeast of the southern slope of Qilian Mountains is the core water conservation functional area. And(4) the study area was divided into five clusters(Cluster Ⅰ–Cluster Ⅴ) of water conservation, with the areas of Clusters Ⅰ through Ⅴ accounting for 0.58%, 13.74%, 41.23%, 32.43%, and 12.01% of the whole study area, respectively.

Urban Green Space, Uneven Development and Accessibility: A Case of Dalian′s Xigang District

This study examines the socio-spatial context of uneven development and the residential accessibility of green space in Dalian of Liaoning Province, China. The social fairness was analyzed with a community scale as the basis. We combined social scientific methods with a GIS method using a behavior accessibility model from the perspectives of fairness of urban green space allocation based on social geography, geographic information science, management science and many other related discipline theories. The results show that: 1) Most of the urban green space distribution presents an unbalanced phenomenon, and it does not match with the population distribution; 2) We found some differences in the accessibility of the population with different attributes and opportunities to use and enjoy the urban green spaces, mainly due to: the dual social and spatial attributes of the residents and the serious stratum differentiation generated were the internal causes; the residential space differentiation and the pursuit of economic and real estate development were the direct causes; and unreasonable planning, in regard to the fact that government policies did not give consideration to efficiency and fairness, was also an important factor.

Spatio-temporal Differentiation of Residential Land for Coastal Town: A Case Study of Dalian Jinshitan

Based on SPOT5 satellite remote sensing images and land use data in five time phases covering the period 1988–2012, the distribution characteristics, spatial differentiation processes, and driving mechanisms affecting the residential land of the Jinshitan Tourist Resort were studied. The work included a combination of GIS technology, adoption of the differentiation index D, and the multi-group differentiation-measure model D(m). The results provided a basis for the following conclusions: 1) From 1988 to 2012, the degree of differentiation of the rural residential land first decreased, and then increased. The general residential, commercial residential and garden-house land-types all showed declining trends, of which the garden-house type presented the most intense volatility. 2) The overall background of the traditional residential land type was gradually replaced by a new residential land type, and the total area of residential land increased year by year, significantly improving the overall residential conditions. The areas of the new residential land type showed growth, and were increasingly widely distributed in the coastal tourist resorts, transportation corridors, and scenic areas. 3) Government policy, social differentiation, market mechanisms, and individual choices(along with other factors) were mutually promoted, although still restrained. However, all of these factors interacted to constrain the developmental direction and the processes affecting tourism real estate in the Dalian Jinshitan Tourist Resort.

Risk prevention and control strategies for the severely affected areas of snow disaster in the Three Rivers Source Region(TRSR), China

Historically,frequent and heavy snow disaster(SD)has caused serious livestock death and casualties,resulting in a devastating impact on animal husbandry development in the Three Rivers Source Region(TRSR).From winter in 2018 to spring in 2019,the largest SD occurred in this area over the past 10 years,especially in core zones of the Lancang River Source Region.Field research results show that the main causes of the major SD include weak infrastructure(i.e.,roads,communications,warm sheds,and insufficient forage reserve),low rate of domestic animals for sale before the SD,and low loss settlement rate.SD occurrence could furtherly reduce the ability of disaster prevention,mitigation and relief of disaster loss.In the future,heavily affected SD areas should improve the forecasting ability of snowfall incidents,strengthen infrastructure construction,implement grass and livestock balance strategies,optimize livestock structure,improve loss settlement rate,and develop a modern compound model of animal husbandry development model that combines breeding,slaughtering and deep processing of animal product.

Assessment of Agricultural and Mining Pollutions of Waterbodies within the NakanbéBasin (Burkina Faso): The Case of the Goinré, Ziga and BagréReservoirs

Agriculture is harming its own future through soil degradation and pollution of the water that it generates. The different chemical analyses carried out on surface waters and the land surveys carried out in the Nakanbé basin have shown that agricultural practices contribute to water pollution. The monitoring of nitrate, orthophosphate and BOD5 levels in the dams of Goinré, Ziga and Bagré during the period from August to December revealed that agricultural practices lead to variation in these parameters. The average values for nitrates are 0.833 mg/L in the Goinré fresh waterbody, 1.372 mg/L in the Ziga reservoir, and 1.267 mg/L in the Bagré fresh waterbody. As for ortho phosphate, mean values are 0.357 mg/L in the Goinré reservoir, 0.157 mg/L in the Ziga reservoir and 0.123 mg/L in the Bagré reservoir. These average values are higher than the norms established by Nisbet and Vernaux (1970) for eutrophication. Nitrates and orthophosphate are the elements that contribute to the eutrophication of water surfaces in the Nakanbé basin, although this eutrophication is of low intensity. Of all pesticides encountered in our study sites, 45% are registered by the Sahelian Pesticides Committee (CSP): 35% are non-accredited and 20% are unknown in the global list authorized by the CSP in 2010.

Implementing a Rainwater Sustainable Control in SaheI-Feedback from ＂Niayes＂ Zone of Dakar

Dakar area landscape is mainly characterized by the existence of the ＂niaye＂-or agricultural depressions located in the sand dunes system. In these depressions, the top-table of quaternary sand groundwater reaches or overflows the soil surface. Because of a recent groundwater level drop, some of the niayes have become runoff-gathering sites. This water ensures various economical, environmental and social services, i.e. urban agriculture, drinking water supply of Dakar and formation of ecosystems supporting biodiversity. Given that rainwater infiltration is the only natural ＂input＂, conception and implemention of rainwater management PPP （Politics, Plan and Program） must necessarily take into account this interrelationl Nowadays, two acute problems are observed in the Dakar area. On the one hand, the niayes are threatened by a hydrological drying process due to the insufficiency of rainwater refill. On the other hand, the dramatic social pressure on the environment has led to the urbanization of these bottom-lands. Furthermore, because of the pluviometry decrease, a worsening of the nuisances （floods and malaria） related to surface waters occurs. Consequently, an appropriate runoff management should integrate both the ＂risk＂ and ＂resource＂ dimensions, thus allowing the protection of natural resources and a secure living environment. According to the limits of＂classicai＂ solutions, this paper provides approach elements for building a sustainability plan focusing on emergent concerns, which would control rainwater in urbanized zones.

Chemical Constituents of Pedicularis longiflora var. tubiformis (Orobanchaceae), a Common Hemiparasitic Medicinal Herb from the Qinghai Lake Basin, China

Pedicularis longiflora var.tubiformis(Orobanchaceae)is an abundant parasitic herb mainly found in the Xiaopohu wetland of the Qinghai Lake Basin in Northwestern China.The species has an important local medicinal value,and in this study,we evaluated the chemical profile of its stems,leaves and seeds using mass spectrometry.Dried samples of stems,leaves and seeds were grinded,weighted,and used for a series of extractions with an ultrasonic device at room temperature.The chemical profiles for each tissue were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS)and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry(LC-MS).Twenty-seven amino acids and organic acids were identified and quantified from stems,leaves and seeds.The content of amino acids detected in leaves and seeds was higher than the amount found in stems.Six fla-vonoids were also detected,including isoorientin,orientin,luteolin-7-O-glucoside,luteolin,apigenin and tricin.The concentrations of luteolin-7-O-glucoside,luteolin and tricin were the highest and more concentrated in leaves,while that of orientin was the lowest and mainly found in stems.Soluble monosaccharides and oligosaccharides below tetramer were also examined,and our analyses detected the presence of arabitol,fructose,galacturonic acid,glucose,glucuronic acid,inositol,sucrose,and trehalose.This is the first study to identify and quantify the main components of amino acids,organic acids,flavonoids and soluble sugars from stems,leaves and seeds of P.longiflora var.tubiformis.Eight of the amino acids detected are essential for humans,highlighting the medicinal importance of this species.Results shown here can be used as a reference case to develop future studies on the chemical constituents of Pedicularis herbs and other medicinal plants from the Tibetan region.

Zoning Analysis of Major Meteorological Disaster Risks in Xing'an League

According to the survey data of meteorological disasters in the counties and the ground meteorological observation data of Xing'an League,a disaster risk index assessment model based on Arc GIS 10.3 was established taking hazard factors,hazard inducing environment,hazard-bearing body and disaster prevention and reduction capability into account.According to the degree of influence of each assessment factor,the risk coefficients of three meteorological disasters,drought,sand wind and frost were calculated,and risk zoning was conducted for various meteorological disasters.The results showed that among the major meteorological disasters in Xing'an League,drought had the highest risk degree,followed by frost,and sand wind had the lowest risk degree.In Xing'an League,the areas with high drought risk are mostly located in Aershan City and in the northwest of Horqin Right Wing Front Banner;the high-risk areas of sand wind are located in the north of Jalaid Banner,in the northwest and southeast of Tuquan County,and in the central and southeastern parts of the Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner;and the eastern part of Ulanhot,the southeastern part of Jalaid Banner,the southeastern part of Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner and the central part of Horqin Right Wing Front Banner are highly threatened by frost.The analysis results can provide some reference for disaster prevention and reduction and meteorological decision making in the local areas.

Soil microbial community diversity and distribution characteristics under three vegetation types in the Qilian Mountains, China

Qilian Mountains in Northwest China is a significant ecological security barrier due to its distinctive geographic setting,which has significant biological resource and gene pool.In order to assess the soil quality and ecosystem health in this area,we identified the structural characteristics and functional groups of soil microbial communities.This study focused on Amidongsuo,a typical watershed of the Qilian Mountains,and researched the vertical distribution and dominant populations of soil microorganisms in different habitats,and the relationship between soil microorganisms and environmental factors.Soil microorganisms from three grassland plots,five shrubland plots,and five forest plots in Amidongsuo were studied using high-throughput sequencing.The Venn diagram showed that the types of bacteria were fewer than those of fungi in Amidongsuo.Soil bacteria Acidobacteriota,Proteobacteria,and Methylomirabilota as well as fungi Basidiomycota,Ascomycota,and Mortierellomycota played dominant roles in Amidongsuo,according to the LEfSe(linear discriminant analysis(LDA)effect size)and community structure analyses.According to the ANOSIM(analysis of similarities)result,for both bacteria and fungi,R values of grassland and shrubland were small(R^(2)=0.045 and R^(2)=0.256,respectively),indicating little difference between these two ecosystems.RDA(redundancy analysis)showed a closer relationship between soil nutrients and fungi,and a gradually decreasing correlation between soil nutrients and microorganisms with increasing soil depth.Bacteria were mainly affected by pH,nitrogen(N),and potassium(K),while fungi were mainly affected by K.Overall,fungi had more effect on soil quality than bacteria.Therefore,adjustment of soil K content might improve the soil environment of Amidongsuo in the Qilian Mountains.

Simulating Alpine Vegetation Net Primary Productivity by Remote Sensing in Qinghai Province,China

Primary productivity of ecosystem is important indicator about ecological assessment. Remote sensing technology has been used to monitor net primary productivity （NPP） of ecological system for several years. In this paper, the remotely sensed NPP simulation model of alpine vegetation in Qinghai Province of Tibet Plateau was set up based on the theory of light use efficiency. Firstly a new approach based on mixed pixels and Support Vector Machine （SVM） algorithm were used to correct simulated NPP values derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （MODIS） data. Finally, spatial distribution and monthly variation characteristics of NPP in Qinghai Province detail. The result showed in 2006 were analyzed in that NPP of vegetation in Qinghai Province in 2006 ranged from o to 422 gC/m2/a and the average NPP was 151 gC/m2/a. NPP gradually increased from northwest to southeast. NPP of different vegetation types were obviously different. The average NPP of broad-leaved forest was the largest （314 gC/m2/a）, and sparse shrub was the smallest （101 gC/m2/a）. NPP in Qinghai Province significantly changed with seasonal variation. The accumulation of NPP was primarily in the period （from April to September） with better moist and heat conditions. In July, the average NPP of vegetation reached the maximum value （43 gC/m2）. In our model, the advantage of traditional LUE models was adopted, and our study fully considered typicalcharacteristics of alpine vegetation light use efficiency and environmental factors in the study area. Alpine vegetation is the most important ecological resource of Tibet Plateau, exactly monitoring its NPP value by remote sensing is an effective protection measure.

Assessing seawater quality with a variable fuzzy recognition model

With the rapid development of the marine economy industry, human exploitation of marine resources is increasing, which is contributing to the growing trend of eutrophication and frequent occurrence of red tide. Accordingly, investigations of seawater quality have attracted a great deal of attention. This study was conducted to construct a seawater environmental quality assessment model based on the variable fuzzy recognition model. The uncertainty and ambiguity of the seawater quality assessment were then considered, combining the monitoring values of evaluation indicators with the standard values of seawater quality. Laizhou Bay was subsequently selected for a case study. In this study, the correct variable model for different parameters was obtained according to the linear and nonlinear features of evaluation objects. Application of the variable fuzzy recognition model for Laizhou Bay, water quality evaluation and comparison with performance obtained using other approaches revealed that the generated model is more reliable than traditional methods, can more reasonably determine the water quality of various samples, and is more suitable for evaluation of a multi-index, multi-level, nonlinear marine environment system; accordingly, the generated model will be an effective tool for seawater quality evaluation.

Testing the transfer functions for the Geonor T-200B and Chinese standard precipitation gauge in the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Accurately measuring precipitation is integral for understanding water cycle processes and assessing climate change in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau(QTP).The Geonor T-200B weighing precipitation gauge with a single Alter shield(Geonor)and the Chinese standard precipitation gauge(CSPG)are widely used for measuring precipitation in the QTP.However,their measurements need to be adjusted for wetting loss,evaporation loss and windinduced undercatch.Four existing transfer functions for adjusting the Geonor-recorded and three transfer functions for adjusting the CSPG-recorded precipitation at hourly,daily or event scale has been proposed based on the precipitation intercomparison experiments conducted at a single site in different regions.Two latest transfer functions for the Geonor(which are referred to as K2017a and K2017b)at the half-hour time scale based on the precipitation intercomparison experiments at multiple stations in the northern hemisphere were provided in the World Meteorological Organization Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment.However,the applicability of these transfer functions in the QTP has not been evaluated.Therefore,the current study carried out a precipitation measurement intercomparison experiment between August 2018 and September 2020 at a site in Beiluhe in central QTP.The performance of these transfer functions at this site was also evaluated on the basis of mean bias(MB),root mean squared error(RMSE)and relative total catch(RTC).The results are as follows:First,the unadjusted RTC values of the Geonor for rain,mixed(snow mixed with rain),snow and hail are 92.06%,85.35%,64.11% and 91.82%,respectively,and the unadjusted RTC values of the CSPG for the same precipitation types are 92.59%,81.32%,46.43% and 95.56%,respectively.Second,K2017a has the most accurate adjustment results for the Geonor-recorded snow and mixed precipitation at the half-hour time scale,and the post-adjustment RTC values increased to 98.25% and 98.23%,respectively.M2007e,an event-based transfer function,was found to have the most accurate adjustment results for the Geonorrecorded snow precipitation at the event scale,and the post-adjustment RTC value increased to 96.36%.Third,the existing transfer functions for CSPG underestimate snowfall,while overestimating rainfall.Fourth,hail is a significant precipitation type in central QTP.The catch efficiency of hail precipitation and the temperature when hail precipitation occurs are close to those of rain;moreover,the transfer functions for rain are suitable for hail as well.

Analysis of Multiple Tourist Agents' Symbiotic Relationship on the View of Tourist Enterprises Based on a Grey Correlation Model:A Case Study of Qinghai Lake, China

Tourism symbiosis is a social phenomenon consisting of many complex factors, and the reciprocal cooperation among multiple tourist agents at tourist destinations is the crux of the sustainable development of tourism. This study is from the perspective of tourist enterprises, and introduces the Symbiosis Theory of genecology. A quantitative evaluation is used to analyze both the equilibrium state of the combined symbiotic behavior routes and the behavior patterns of tourist enterprises with local governments, community residents, tourists and tourist enterprises around Qinghai Lake. The findings reveal:(1) the symbiotic behavior routes of the multiple tourist agents "E→G-R-T-E" in the Qinghai Lake area are constituted of intense symbiotic indications, while the maximum dimensionality of symbiotic interest of "E→G-R-T-E" is still in the state of disequilibrium and dissymmetry;(2) the symbiotic model of multiple tourist agents "E→G-R-T-E" in the Qinghai Lake area is an asymmetrically positive symbiotic model. It is proposed that, by establishing symbiotic mechanisms for guidance, decisions, supervisory control and profit distribution, the participation mechanism for multiple agents "E-G-R-T" can be further standardized. Moreover, tourist enterprises should be regarded as the primary agents to optimize the symbiotic model for "E→G-R-T-E" through the reinforcement of integrative supply and the construction of integrative effect, and finally promote the integrative symbiotic model of symmetrical reciprocity of the E-R-G-T model "driven by scenic areas, responsive to community residents, affected by local governments and enjoyed by tourists."

Fungal spore record of pastoralism on the NE Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau since the middle Holocene

Pastoralism is considered a crucial factor in the eventual year-round occupation of high-altitude regions(>3000 m asl)of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,and the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(NE-QTP)was an important corridor for early human occupation.We analyzed fossil fungal spore records for the last 8500 years from a high resolution aeolian section at Langgeri(LGR)on the NE-QTP.Thirty-two fungal spore types were identified in the LGR section,including seven coprophilous types.We combined analysis of coprophilous fungal spores,Cyperaceae,Artemisia,and Hippophae pollen,and the charcoal>50µm fraction to explore the timing and controls of pastoralism on the NE-QTP since the middle Holocene.Pastoralism commenced at LGR shortly before ca.5.5 ka and gradually increased between ca.5.5–3.5 ka,but markedly intensified after ca.2.2 ka,with three periods of growth at ca.2.1–1.9,1.4–1.2,and 0.6–0 ka,and a decline at ca.1.1–0.6 ka.The timing of changes in pastoral activity on the NE-QTP based on the coprophilous fungal spore record is supported by regional archeology and historical documents.Technological and political developments,rather than climate change,played key roles in the long-term fluctuations of regional pastoralism on the NE-QTP in the late Holocene.

Aquatic Species Dominate Organic Matter in Qinghai Lake during the Holocene:Evidence from Eolian Deposits around the Lake

Total organic carbon（TOC） in lake sediments and its stable carbon isotope（δ（13）C（org）） are widely applied to investigate paleoenvironmental changes even though their implications are complicated and multi-explanatory. Organic geochemistry studies of lake sediments from Qinghai Lake have been investigated, but some interpretations are controversial. In this study, TOC of one Holocene eolian section and δ（13）C（org） of three eolian sections were studied around Qinghai Lake. Results indicate that the TOC content in eolian deposits was low during the Early Holocene, and gradually increased to high values during the Middle and Late Holocene. The variation in TOC content of eolian deposits is different from that in the lacustrine sequence from Qinghai Lake during the Holocene. The δ（13）C（org） values in the eolian sections were relatively stable, with oscillation amplitudes of 4‰（ranging from-25.8‰ to-22.1‰）, in contrast to 10‰ variation s in δ（13）C（org） values（varying from-30‰ to-20‰） in lacustrine sediments. Through comparison of TOC and δ（13）C（org） values between eolian deposits and lacustrine sediments, we can confirm indications that the organic matter in Qinghai Lake sediments during the Holocene was primarily a contribution of the aquatic species in the lake. This is significant for understanding the origin of organic matter in lake sediments on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and for paleoenvironmental inferences using such proxies.