Introduction:Among the most dangerous pollutants is PM_(2.5),which can directly pass through human lungs and move into the blood system.The use of nature-based solutions,such as increased vegetation cover in an urban ...Introduction:Among the most dangerous pollutants is PM_(2.5),which can directly pass through human lungs and move into the blood system.The use of nature-based solutions,such as increased vegetation cover in an urban landscape,is one of the possible solutions for reducing PM_(2.5) concentration.Our study objective was to understand the importance of green spaces in pollution reduction.Methods:Daily PM_(2.5) concentrations were manually collected at nine monitoring stations in Nanjing over a 534-day period from the air quality report of the China National Environmental Monitoring Center(CNEMC)to quantify the spatiotemporal change of PM_(2.5) concentration and its empirical relationship with vegetation and landscape structure in Nanjing.Results:The daily average,minimum,and maximum PM_(2.5) concentrations from the nine stations were 74.0,14.2,and 332.0μg m^(−3),respectively.Out of the 534 days,the days recorded as“excellent”and“good”conditions were found mostly in the spring(30.7%),autumn(25.6%),and summer(24.5%),with only 19.2% of the days in the winter.High PM_(2.5) concentrations exceeding the safe standards of the CNEMC were recorded predominately during the winter(39.3-100.0%).Our hypothesis that green vegetation had the potential to reduce PM_(2.5) concentration was accepted at specific seasons and scales.The PM_(2.5) concentration appeared very highly correlated(R2>0.85)with green cover in spring at 1-2 km scales,highly correlated(R2>0.6)in autumn and winter at 4 km scale,and moderately correlated in summer(R2>0.4)at 2-,5-,and 6-km scales.However,a non-significant correlation between green cover and PM_(2.5) concentration was found when its level was>75μg m^(−3).Across the Nanjing urban landscape,the east and southwest parts had high pollution levels.Conclusions:Although the empirical models seemed significant for spring only,one should not devalue the importance of green vegetation in other seasons because the regulations are often complicated by vegetation,meteorological conditions,and human activities.展开更多
Background:Wildfires play a key role in shaping Mediterranean landscapes and ecosystems and in impacting species dynamics.Numerous studies have investigated the wildfire occurrences and the influence of their drivers ...Background:Wildfires play a key role in shaping Mediterranean landscapes and ecosystems and in impacting species dynamics.Numerous studies have investigated the wildfire occurrences and the influence of their drivers in many countries of the Mediterranean Basin.However,in this regard,no studies have attempted to compare different Mediterranean regions,which may appear similar under many aspects.In response to this gap,climatic,topographic,anthropic,and landscape drivers were analyzed and compared to assess the patterns of fire ignition points in terms of fire occurrence and frequency in Catalonia(Spain),Sardinia,and Apulia(Italy).Therefore,the objectives of the study were to(1)assess fire ignition occurrence in terms of probability and frequency,(2)compare the main drivers affecting fire occurrence,and(3)produce fire probability and frequency maps for each region.Results:In pursuit of the above,the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency was mapped using Negative Binomial Hurdle models,while the models’performances were evaluated using several metrics(AUC,prediction accuracy,RMSE,and the Pearson correlation coefficient).The results showed an inverse correlation between distance from infrastructures(i.e.,urban roads and areas)and the occurrence of fires in all three study regions.This relationship became more significant when the frequency of fire ignition points was assessed.Moreover,a positive correlation was found between fire occurrence and landscape drivers according to region.The land cover classes more significantly affected were forest,agriculture,and grassland for Catalonia,Sardinia,and Apulia,respectively.Conclusions:Compared to the climatic,topographic,and landscape drivers,anthropic activity significantly influences fire ignition and frequency in all three regions.When the distance from urban roads and areas decreases,the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency increases.Consequently,it is essential to implement long-to medium-term intervention plans to reduce the proximity between potential ignition points and fuels.In this perspective,the present study provides an applicable decision-making tool to improve wildfire prevention strategies at the European level in an area like the Mediterranean Basin where a profuse number of wildfires take place.展开更多
Background:Pyrogeography is a major field of investigation in wildfire science because of its capacity to describe the spatial and temporal variations of fire disturbance.We propose a systematic pyrogeographic analyti...Background:Pyrogeography is a major field of investigation in wildfire science because of its capacity to describe the spatial and temporal variations of fire disturbance.We propose a systematic pyrogeographic analytical approach to cluster regions on the basis of their pyrosimilarities.We employed the Affinity Propagation algorithm to cluster pyroregions using Italian landscape as a test bed and its current wildfire metrics in terms of density,seasonality and stand replacing fire ratio.A discussion follows on how pyrogeography varies according to differences in the human,biophysical,socioeconomic,and climatic spheres.Results:The algorithm identified seven different pyroregion clusters.Two main gradients were identified that partly explain the variability of wildfire metrics observed in the current pyroregions.First,a gradient characterized by increasing temperatures and exposure to droughts,which coincides with a decreasing latitude,and second,a human pressure gradient displaying increasing population density in areas at lower elevation.These drivers exerted a major influence on wildfire density,burnt area over available fuels and stand replacing,which were associated to warmdry climate and high human pressure.The study statistically highlighted the importance of a North–South gradient,which represents one of the most important drivers of wildfire regimes resulting from the variations in climatic conditions but showing collinearity with socioeconomic aspects as well.Conclusion:Our fully replicable analytical approach can be applied at multiple scales and used for the entire European continent to uncover new and larger pyroregions.This could create a basis for the European Commission to promote innovative and collaborative funding programs between regions that demonstrate pyrosimilarities.展开更多
The focus of this study was to investigate the wide use of Eucalyptus spp.,an exotic plant with high allelopathic ability,in the reforestation programs of urban parks in São Paulo City,Brazil,over the last centur...The focus of this study was to investigate the wide use of Eucalyptus spp.,an exotic plant with high allelopathic ability,in the reforestation programs of urban parks in São Paulo City,Brazil,over the last century.To understand the implications of using Eucalyptus spp.in the city’s parks,this study aimed to compare nutrient cycling and litter decomposition between a mixed composition of litter(i.e.,native and exotic species)and the litter of a single species(i.e.,Eucalyptus).To accomplish this,newly deciduous leaves were collected from two native and two exotic species that are commonly used in the afforestation of São Paulo as well as from Eucalyptus spp.The mixed composition of litter yielded a higher dry mass loss and return of macro-and micronutrients to the forest floor.The decomposition constant(k)values were 0.00322 and 0.00207 g g^(−1) day^(−1) for the mixed composition and Eucalyptus spp.,respectively.The time required for decomposition of 50 and 95%of deciduous material was 215 and 931 days,respectively,and for the mixed litterfall 334 and 1449 days,respectively,for Eucalyptus spp.Therefore,the mixed litter exhibited greater dry mass loss and nutrient cycling in an urban forest of São Paulo City,since dry mass losses as well as speed and amount of nutrients returned to the forest floor were relatively higher compared to Eucalyptus spp.Nutrient cycling via Eucalyptus spp.litter was less efficient than mixed composition of litter,demonstrating that reforestation programs carried out in the twentieth century using only one species may have had little success.The results of this work emphasize the fact that in urban reforestation programs the City of São Paulo must consider the environmental and biogeographic characteristics of the species employed and use high levels of biodiversity,since the city lies in a megadiverse biome.展开更多
基金the funding support from the Land Cover and Land Use Program of National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)through the grant to Michigan State University(NNX15AD51G).
文摘Introduction:Among the most dangerous pollutants is PM_(2.5),which can directly pass through human lungs and move into the blood system.The use of nature-based solutions,such as increased vegetation cover in an urban landscape,is one of the possible solutions for reducing PM_(2.5) concentration.Our study objective was to understand the importance of green spaces in pollution reduction.Methods:Daily PM_(2.5) concentrations were manually collected at nine monitoring stations in Nanjing over a 534-day period from the air quality report of the China National Environmental Monitoring Center(CNEMC)to quantify the spatiotemporal change of PM_(2.5) concentration and its empirical relationship with vegetation and landscape structure in Nanjing.Results:The daily average,minimum,and maximum PM_(2.5) concentrations from the nine stations were 74.0,14.2,and 332.0μg m^(−3),respectively.Out of the 534 days,the days recorded as“excellent”and“good”conditions were found mostly in the spring(30.7%),autumn(25.6%),and summer(24.5%),with only 19.2% of the days in the winter.High PM_(2.5) concentrations exceeding the safe standards of the CNEMC were recorded predominately during the winter(39.3-100.0%).Our hypothesis that green vegetation had the potential to reduce PM_(2.5) concentration was accepted at specific seasons and scales.The PM_(2.5) concentration appeared very highly correlated(R2>0.85)with green cover in spring at 1-2 km scales,highly correlated(R2>0.6)in autumn and winter at 4 km scale,and moderately correlated in summer(R2>0.4)at 2-,5-,and 6-km scales.However,a non-significant correlation between green cover and PM_(2.5) concentration was found when its level was>75μg m^(−3).Across the Nanjing urban landscape,the east and southwest parts had high pollution levels.Conclusions:Although the empirical models seemed significant for spring only,one should not devalue the importance of green vegetation in other seasons because the regulations are often complicated by vegetation,meteorological conditions,and human activities.
文摘Background:Wildfires play a key role in shaping Mediterranean landscapes and ecosystems and in impacting species dynamics.Numerous studies have investigated the wildfire occurrences and the influence of their drivers in many countries of the Mediterranean Basin.However,in this regard,no studies have attempted to compare different Mediterranean regions,which may appear similar under many aspects.In response to this gap,climatic,topographic,anthropic,and landscape drivers were analyzed and compared to assess the patterns of fire ignition points in terms of fire occurrence and frequency in Catalonia(Spain),Sardinia,and Apulia(Italy).Therefore,the objectives of the study were to(1)assess fire ignition occurrence in terms of probability and frequency,(2)compare the main drivers affecting fire occurrence,and(3)produce fire probability and frequency maps for each region.Results:In pursuit of the above,the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency was mapped using Negative Binomial Hurdle models,while the models’performances were evaluated using several metrics(AUC,prediction accuracy,RMSE,and the Pearson correlation coefficient).The results showed an inverse correlation between distance from infrastructures(i.e.,urban roads and areas)and the occurrence of fires in all three study regions.This relationship became more significant when the frequency of fire ignition points was assessed.Moreover,a positive correlation was found between fire occurrence and landscape drivers according to region.The land cover classes more significantly affected were forest,agriculture,and grassland for Catalonia,Sardinia,and Apulia,respectively.Conclusions:Compared to the climatic,topographic,and landscape drivers,anthropic activity significantly influences fire ignition and frequency in all three regions.When the distance from urban roads and areas decreases,the probability of fire ignition occurrence and frequency increases.Consequently,it is essential to implement long-to medium-term intervention plans to reduce the proximity between potential ignition points and fuels.In this perspective,the present study provides an applicable decision-making tool to improve wildfire prevention strategies at the European level in an area like the Mediterranean Basin where a profuse number of wildfires take place.
文摘Background:Pyrogeography is a major field of investigation in wildfire science because of its capacity to describe the spatial and temporal variations of fire disturbance.We propose a systematic pyrogeographic analytical approach to cluster regions on the basis of their pyrosimilarities.We employed the Affinity Propagation algorithm to cluster pyroregions using Italian landscape as a test bed and its current wildfire metrics in terms of density,seasonality and stand replacing fire ratio.A discussion follows on how pyrogeography varies according to differences in the human,biophysical,socioeconomic,and climatic spheres.Results:The algorithm identified seven different pyroregion clusters.Two main gradients were identified that partly explain the variability of wildfire metrics observed in the current pyroregions.First,a gradient characterized by increasing temperatures and exposure to droughts,which coincides with a decreasing latitude,and second,a human pressure gradient displaying increasing population density in areas at lower elevation.These drivers exerted a major influence on wildfire density,burnt area over available fuels and stand replacing,which were associated to warmdry climate and high human pressure.The study statistically highlighted the importance of a North–South gradient,which represents one of the most important drivers of wildfire regimes resulting from the variations in climatic conditions but showing collinearity with socioeconomic aspects as well.Conclusion:Our fully replicable analytical approach can be applied at multiple scales and used for the entire European continent to uncover new and larger pyroregions.This could create a basis for the European Commission to promote innovative and collaborative funding programs between regions that demonstrate pyrosimilarities.
基金supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP),project number 2019/24325-2.
文摘The focus of this study was to investigate the wide use of Eucalyptus spp.,an exotic plant with high allelopathic ability,in the reforestation programs of urban parks in São Paulo City,Brazil,over the last century.To understand the implications of using Eucalyptus spp.in the city’s parks,this study aimed to compare nutrient cycling and litter decomposition between a mixed composition of litter(i.e.,native and exotic species)and the litter of a single species(i.e.,Eucalyptus).To accomplish this,newly deciduous leaves were collected from two native and two exotic species that are commonly used in the afforestation of São Paulo as well as from Eucalyptus spp.The mixed composition of litter yielded a higher dry mass loss and return of macro-and micronutrients to the forest floor.The decomposition constant(k)values were 0.00322 and 0.00207 g g^(−1) day^(−1) for the mixed composition and Eucalyptus spp.,respectively.The time required for decomposition of 50 and 95%of deciduous material was 215 and 931 days,respectively,and for the mixed litterfall 334 and 1449 days,respectively,for Eucalyptus spp.Therefore,the mixed litter exhibited greater dry mass loss and nutrient cycling in an urban forest of São Paulo City,since dry mass losses as well as speed and amount of nutrients returned to the forest floor were relatively higher compared to Eucalyptus spp.Nutrient cycling via Eucalyptus spp.litter was less efficient than mixed composition of litter,demonstrating that reforestation programs carried out in the twentieth century using only one species may have had little success.The results of this work emphasize the fact that in urban reforestation programs the City of São Paulo must consider the environmental and biogeographic characteristics of the species employed and use high levels of biodiversity,since the city lies in a megadiverse biome.
