Xiongzhi Xue

Assessing egret ecological safety in the urban environment: A case study in Xiamen, China

In general, wildlife is facing increasing threats from rapid urbanisation in China. Ecological safety for wildlife requires an ecosystem that provides the conditions necessary for sustaining life. In this paper, two major breeding habitats and ten typical foraging habitats of egrets living in the urban environment were selected to assess the extent to which the needs of egrets can be satisfied and maintained. Ecological suitability and impacts from humans are the two major factors affecting egret ecological safety. An ecological indicator system was adopted to assess the ecological suitability of areas. Different land-use types were used to represent different degrees of human impact on the egret habitats, by employing a geographic information system. The results show that the two breeding habitats are at a safe level, while the ten foraging habitats are on the whole marginally safe. Full attention should be given to the conservation of wildlife foraging habitats in Xiamen Island.

Developing public environmental education: Improving community-based environmental management

This paper presents the experience of institutional capacity building in environmental education, and the achievement of the participatory approach in environmental management for the Canadian International Development Agency funded project ‘Community-Based Conservation Management: China and Vietnam’ in Xiamen. The project has enhanced teaching capacity and applied research skills of the local training institutions with integrated social and physical science lessons in multiple levels of a post-secondary environmental education programme. The focus of the project was to integrate the local secondary and post-secondary schools environmental education plans. Approaches to promote public awareness on environmental conservation are also illustrated. The study highlights the conservation activities of the Community Based Conservation Management project in Xiamen to encourage the involvement of a variety of community groups, including university students, youth and women. In addition, it explores the social responsibility of the faculty as an essential link between the public and decision-makers for effective public involvement in environmental management. We argue that the success of public environmental education relies on institutional capacity building, interdisciplinary studies and community participation.

The Dynamism between Urbanization, Coastal Water Resources and Human Health: A Case Study of Douala, Cameroon

T region of north-western Russia connecting with Baltic Sea presents a dynamic ecological system that was sensitive to environmental changes at the end of the Last Glacial Period and during the Holocene. Contextual remains of ancient human occupation sites can be the only evidence of surface stabilization in monotonous sediments, such as aquatic and subaquatic deposits. Prehistoric settlements also mark ancient shorelines. The last is of great importance for studying the history of water oscillations and costal lines displacement on territory of North-Western Russia. The difference in the modern elevation levels of synchronous costal archaeological sites at large water bodies, such as the Baltic Sea, allows considering the tectonic movements in the referenced time scale during Holocene. The transgressive-regressive stages of Baltic Sea (at 10150 cal BP — Ancilus transgression; at 9400-8700 cal BP Littorina transgression; at 7000 cal BP transgression) have an impact on the positions of prehistorical sites. The complex investigations (lithology, geochemistry, pollen analysis, diatom analysis, radiocarbon dating) of the Stone Age archaeological settlements on Karelian Isthmus and at Dvina-Lovat’ basin allow us to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental changes during Holocene and chronology of cultural-historical processes.Current statistics show that more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas (Lederbogen et al., 2011) with approximately 50 percent living within 200 km of the coast (Alcala & Russ, 2006). Nowadays, the increasing proportion of people in “coastal-urban” areas is undoubtedly an eminent challenge not just in specific countries but to the world at large (Le et al., 2013). Therefore, profound studies are needed in order to understand the dynamics within the “coastal-urban” space such that resources are deployed in a sustainable manner. This work, based on administrative consultations and field reconnaissance, therefore, portrays the changing dynamics between urbanization, coastal water resources and their related impacts on human health. It posits that, the fast degradation of the Douala coastal water resources due to urbanization, attest the gaps in current urban-public policies. Moreover, the degradation of the biophysical milieu has shouldered with waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery etc. As such, for a sustainable coastal environment to be attained, timely endeavours encompassing all stakeholders are needed to clearly circumscribe the challenges, and address them with state-of-the-art policies. Keywords: Urbanization, Coastal water resources, Human health, Douala, CameroonP of H9N2 influenza virus has caused widespread poultry mortality in different area of the world including in China. To reduce the prevalence rate and mortality rate the administration of compounds with immunomodulatory or anti-virus effect. In this research, polysaccharides extracted from three seaweeds: Grateloupia filicina, Ulva pertusa and Sargassum qingdaoense were studied for structural features, immunologic enhancement effect and potential antivirus effect. In the result, the ratio of total saccharide was 53.13%, 40.9% and 20.81 in Ulva pertusa polysaccharides (UPP), Grateloupia filicina polysaccharides (GFP) and Sargassum qingdaoense polysaccharides (SCP) respectively. The monosaccharide composition was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the sulfated content of UPP, GFP and SCP were 24.99%, 47.33% and 25.81%. Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was applied to assess structure features of these three polysaccharides. Immunologic enhancement effect of the polysaccharides was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo (in mice) and anti-Avian Influenza virus (AIV)-H9N2 activity was analyzed in the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The result indicated that all three polysaccharides could stimulate the spleen cell proliferation effectively in vitro. In vivo analysis showed that polysaccharides treated groups obtained higher AIV-specific antibody titers than vaccine group and control group, especially the 50 mg/kg GFP and 50 mg/kg SCP stimulation groups. Meanwhile, the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 which can represent the immune level could be stimulated by three polysaccharides, 10 mg/kg group got higher IFN-γ response than the 50 mg/kg group for all three polysaccharides. While for the IL-4 level, the 50 mg/kg treated groups gain better effect than the 10 mg/kg groups. Furthermore, analysis of the CD3+CD4+ T-cell subpopulation level showed that 50 mg/kg groups had better effect than 10 mg/kg groups. Moreover, all of the three polysaccharides could significantly inhibit the activity of H9N2, via measuring the HA level and copies of H9N2. In summary, it revealed that, three polysaccharides are different in structural features, and could enhance the immune level, also have the anti-AIVH9N2 activity both in vitro and in vivo.L caspica, a marine macroalga species were analyzed to determine its proximate chemical composition. The investigated species demonstrated high carbohydrate (25.5±0.20 % dry wt.) protein (22.22±0.4 % dry wt.), Ash (26.82±0.31 % dry wt.) and moisture components (12.00±0.23 % dry wt.) and low lipid content (0.03±0.05 % dry wt.). Glutamic acid (192.24±1.4 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) and Aspartic acid (160.77±1.1 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) were the most abundant free amino acids, while Histidine (21.15±0.1 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) and Glycine (29.99±0.3 mg 100g-1 dry wt.) contents were the lowest in the free amino-acid profiles. All essential amino acids were detected in the species tested. Unsaturated fatty acid constituted about 64% of total fatty acids, mainly 8-Octadecenoic acid and saturated fatty acids represented 36% of the total fatty acids (mainly myristic acid). This study was conducted to create a nutritional data for Laurencia caspica in order to popularize its consumption and utilization in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea.Background: Diabetic mellitus is a metabolic disease associated with impaired glucose metabolism, which in effect alters intermediary metabolism of lipids and proteins adversely. The present study was conducted to study the anti-hyperglycemic activities of extracts of Chrysaora quinquecirrha extract in mice as well as to provide an introductory approach for the evaluation of its traditional preparation in order to scientifically validate the therapeutic preparation of this extract in the control of diabetes.B regulation of climate depends on how the biosphere-atmosphere coupling is manifested or how the biosphere could provide an environment suitable for its own sustainability. Discovery of the oldest Gilboa fossil Eospermatopteris forest which was periodically affected by brutal episodes of sea-level rise indicates that little is known how changes in early terrestrial ecosystem influenced global processes. Mangroves evolved in the eastern Tethys Sea during the early Cretaceous followed by their westward dispersal via the Mediterranean route until about Miocene (18 Ma) and exhibited considerable speedy resilience to disturbance on a geological time frame. This coincides with the event of atmospheric CO2 fall from the Eocene level of 1400 ppmv to possibly as low as 200 ppmv during the Miocene. Now mangroves dominate the majority of the world’s tropical and subtropical coastline and are highly productive, fixing and storing considerable amount of carbon. Indian Sundarban mangrove forest at the land-ocean boundary of the Gangetic delta and the Bay of Bengal covers about 2.84 % of the global mangrove area (15x104 km2) and is a net sink for CO2. Model prediction showed enhancement of CO2 sequestration in response to the future atmospheric CO2 increase in spite of existing low nitrogen availability in the sediment. Mangrove adjusted the limited supply of nitrogen in the sediment through the stomatal uptake of atmospheric NOx, NH3, N2 fixation and sediment-water exchange of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Non sea-sulphate aerosol sourced from anaerobic soil H2S efflux could counteract the extent of regional atmospheric warming effect by methane and sensible heat flux. The mangrove ecosystem is capable of resisting al least some of the anthropogenic perturbation and the crucial question is whether humanity’s actions can drive the system beyond any Gaia repair capability.P esters (PEs) are important classes of chemical endocrine-disrupting compounds. PEs is mainly used as plasticizers. These compounds are easily released into the environment because there is no covalent bond between the phthalates and plastics in which they are mixed. In this study the effect of environmental parameters such as time contact, temperature and salinity on adsorption process of 6 PEs on the sediments of the north-west of Persian Gulf was investigated. Also, the adsorption isotherms and kinetic parameters have been studied. The results showed that the adsorption of PEs is very fast and reach the equilibrium within 6 hours and after this duration only a small change was observed. Among the various PEs, dinormal puthyl phthalate ester (DOP) showed the most adsorption tendency to the studied sediments with average value 613.65 μg, g-1. Several kinetic models have been investigated; pseudo-second order equation was best fitted to the adsorption behavior of PEs with marine sediments at different contact times and film diffusion is the rate limiting step. The sorption equilibrium results could be well described by linear isotherm. This means that in PEs sorption process on marine sediments partition domain is dominated over the whole filling domain. After H2O2 oxidation of sediments, the Kd values were redused by average 64.82%. It means that amorphous organic carbon fraction involve the major part of total organic carbon in sediments. PEs sorption isotherms on treated sediments follow the nonlinear models. By increasing the temperature, the adsorption of PEs on sediments was decreased indicating that the process is exothermic. It was also in thermodynamic study ΔH0<0. The mines value of ΔG0 for these compounds showed the spontaneous sorption process for them. It be noted that mechanism was carried out with decreasing in entropy. These research findings have a prime importance on assessment of the fate and transport PEs in seawater-sediment systems.I summer monsoon is characterized by the formation of intermittent monsoon organized convections. These are formed in the equatorial region and move to the north up to the foot hill of Himalayas within 2 to 4 weeks. It is found that mud banks (calm water with a high load of suspended sediments and high chlorophyll-a concentration) are formed on the coast of southwest peninsular India. Mud bank is a peculiar eco system with high bio-productivity and is a favourable occasion for the high fish catch. The objective is to understand the role played by monsoon system for intermittent high bio-productivity in the coastal waters of southwest the Peninsular India. The analysis is carried out utilizing daily OLR, QuikSCAT wind, NCEP wind and chlorophyll-a concentration. It is found that the low level wind is directed towards the region of monsoon organized convection. When the organized convection is in the equatorial region, the low level wind over the southwest peninsular India blows parallel to the coast. This alongshore wind gives rise to Ekman mass transport away from the coast and subsequent upwelling in the coastal region, resulting nutrient rich subsurface water to occupy the surface. Strong alongshore winds persisting for 3 days makes high bio-productivity in the coastal waters as evidenced by chlorophyll-a concentration. The strength of alongshore wind decreases as the organized convection moves to the north since wind direction turns to westerly. Further details about features of monsoon organized convection, alongshore wind and factors favourable for the formation of high bio-productivity are included in the presentation.

Cumulative effects assessment of bay ecosystem: Xiamen's Western Sea, a case study

Considering the deficiency of conventional environment a impacts assessment to protect bay ecosystems from unfavourable impacts of multiple human activities over the years, this paper discusses an effective approach framework to examine addictive or interactive impacts arising from the collective multiple activities of the past. There are three stages of the cumulative effects assessment process: 1) systematically selecting indicators of the ecosystem in question, 2) choosing the quantified or semi-quantified methods to assess indicators of changes, and 3) assessing the past contributions of the activities to the changes. In a case study of Xiamens Western Sea in China, the indicators were constructed according to their sensitivities to environmental stress and classified into three categories: physical, chemical and biological indicators. The Geography Information System and Pearson correlation analysis were applied to assess changes of the physical and chemical indicators. The case study showed that most of the indicators of Xiamens Western Sea ecosystem have been changed greatly in the past five decades, especially in shoreline, sea area, water quality, community construction of phytoplankton and benthos, and mangrove forests. Coastal and dike construction and terrestrial pollutant input are the main causes of the changes.

Methods for integrating environment into decision-making in China

The prevailing systems for decision-making in many countries tend to separate environmental factors at the policy, planning and management levels, a practice that has important implications for sustainable development. Among many methods, at different decision-making levels, environmental planning and environmental assessment are currently the most widely used in China. This article briefly introduces four case studies featuring environmental planning and assessment in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeast China. Differences in scope of application, timing, nature, legal status, methodologies and effectiveness are described. Six principles for the successful integration of environmental protection and development are advanced based on the analytical results. As well, a simplified integration framework is proposed.

Evaluation of marine spatial resources and its application to the establishment marine usage charge: case study of Xiamen, China

While marine environmental destruction and marine resource over-consumption are urgent challenges facing us today, the value of marine spatial resources continues to be overlooked and undervalued. We have begun to reach the limits of the oceans and must now begin to utilize and govern them in a more sustainable way. Imposing usage charges in sectors that utilize marine areas for production or for waste disposal would be an efficient economic instrument to discourage waste, optimize distribution, promote conservation and provide funds to improve sea areas health. The essential task for establishing the usage charges for marine spaces is to estimate the value of marine areas. In this study, two operative models are developed to assess the value of marine spaces and the models are applied in order to evaluate the price of different types of marine spatial functions in Xiamen. This study could help decision makers to improve management of sea spatial resources. The principles for establishing the usage charges for marine spaces are also discussed.

A proposal for the application of integrated coastal management for institutional arrangements in Xiamen

Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is a feasible approach to address coastal issues, including resource use conflicts, ecological environments and management issues. An institutional arrangement is a precondition for the fulfillment of management functions. Therefore, a scientific institutional arrangement must be established as soon as possible for more effective implementation of ICM. In this paper, theories on ICM institutional arrangements were analyzed. In addition, characteristics and lessons learned domestically and internationally from the ICM institutional arrangements were summarized. Finally, based on the issues encountered in the first Xiamen ICM implementation, as well as on the major existing problems faced in Xiamens coast, establishing a new ICM institutional arrangement for Xiamen was proposed.

The coastal wetland's ecological functions and its changes under anthropic pressure: A case study in Xiamen, China

Coastal wetlands play a significant role in maintaining the balance and health of the ecosystem, such as regulating the climate and maintaining biodiversity. As well, coastal wetlands also characterize valuable services and resources for society including cleaning the environment and providing abundant resources. Both inappropriate exploitation of and constant human activity influences on coastal wetlands have caused numerous ecological problems. We summarize the four vital ecological functions of the coastal wetland in Xiamen, that is, 1. mitigation of climate change, 2. protection of water and soil, 3. purification of water, 4. habitat for wild animals, and 5. biological production. Subsequently we investigate and study the changes of the coastal wetland in Xiamen and the anthropic pressures from: 1. minimization of the shallow sea area, 2. in-shore siltation, 3. sediment changes with-in the wetland, and 4. shrinkage of the mangrove area. The paper aims to provide scientific evidence of the important role of wetlands in the coastal ecosystem and make clear the relationship between human activities and the health of these wetland areas.