Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences

Recent expansion of the scale of human activities poses severe threats to Earth's life-support systems. Increasingly, protected areas (PAs) are expected to serve dual goals: protect biodiversity and secure ecosystem services. We report a nationwide assessment for China, quantifying the provision of threatened species habitat and four key regulating services-water retention, soil retention, sandstorm prevention, and carbon sequestration-in nature reserves (the primary category of PAs in China). We find that China's nature reserves serve moderately well for mammals and birds, but not for other major taxa, nor for these key regulating ecosystem services. China's nature reserves encompass 15.1% of the country's land surface. They capture 17.9% and 16.4% of the entire habitat area for threatened mammals and birds, but only 13.1% for plants, 10.0% for amphibians, and 8.5% for reptiles. Nature reserves encompass only 10.2-12.5% of the source areas for the four key regulating services. They are concentrated in western China, whereas much threatened species' habitat and regulating service source areas occur in eastern provinces. Our analysis illuminates a strategy for greatly strengthening PAs, through creating the first comprehensive national park system of China. This would encompass both nature reserves, in which human activities are highly restricted, and a new category of PAs for ecosystem services, in which human activities not impacting key services are permitted. This could close the gap in a politically feasible way. We also propose a new category of PAs globally, for sustaining the provision of ecosystems services and achieving sustainable development goals.

Abstract The built‐in electric field can be generated in the piezoelectric materials under mechanical stress. The resulting piezoelectric effect is beneficial to charge separation in photocatalysis. Meanwhile, the mechanical stress usually gives rise to accelerated mass transfer and enhanced catalytic activity. Unfortunately, it remains a challenge to differentiate the contribution of these two factors to catalytic performance. Herein, for the first time, isostructural metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), i.e., UiO‐66‐NH 2 (Zr) and UiO‐66‐NH 2 (Hf), are adopted for piezo‐photocatalysis. Both MOFs, featuring the same structures except for diverse Zr/Hf‐oxo clusters, possess distinctly different piezoelectric properties. Strikingly, UiO‐66‐NH 2 (Hf) exhibits ≈2.2 times of activity compared with that of UiO‐66‐NH 2 (Zr) under simultaneous light and ultrasonic irradiation, though both MOFs display similar activity in the photocatalytic H 2 production without ultrasonic irradiation. Given their similar pore features and mass transfer behaviors, the activity difference is unambiguously assignable to the piezoelectric effect. As a result, the contributions of the piezoelectric effect to the piezo‐photocatalysis can be clearly distinguished owing to the stronger piezoelectric property of UiO‐66‐NH 2 (Hf).

100093) 2 (, 510650) 3 (, 100049) 4 (, 100875) 5 (, 100081) 6 (, , 201602) 7 (, 650224) 8 (, 650201) 9 (, 100083) 10 (, 610064) 11 (, 830011) 12 (, 100193) 13 (, 273165) 14 (, 541006) 15 (, 210014) 16 (, 110016) 17 (, 430074) 18 (, 810008) 19 (, 650091) 20 (, 100093) 21 (, 310036) 22 (, 712100) 23 (, 650204) 24 (, 100035) 25 (, 100012) 26 (, 210042) 27 (, 100093) 28 (, 210008)

The ability to monitor changes in biodiversity, and their societal impact, is critical to conserving species and managing ecosystems. While emerging technologies increase the breadth and reach of data acquisition, monitoring efforts are still spatially and temporally fragmented, and taxonomically biased. Appropriate long-term information remains therefore limited. The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) aims to provide a general framework for biodiversity monitoring to support decision-makers. Here, we discuss the coordinated observing system adopted by GEO BON, and review challenges and advances in its implementation, focusing on two interconnected core components — the Essential Biodiversity Variables as a standard framework for biodiversity monitoring, and the Biodiversity Observation Networks that support harmonized observation systems — while highlighting their societal relevance.

The influence of environmental attitudes on environmental behaviors has long been discussed. However, few studies have addressed the foundation of such attitudes. In the present study, we explored primitive belief underlying environmental attitudes, i.e., connections with nature, and its relationship with pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, we used scales, a computerized Implicit Association Test, and a situational simulation experiment to examine both explicit and implicit connections with nature, both deliberate and spontaneous environmental behaviors, and to find correlations between environmental connectedness and environmental behaviors. Results showed that explicit connectedness was positively correlated with deliberate environmental behaviors, while implicit connectedness was positively correlated with spontaneous environmental behaviors. Additionally, explicit and implicit connectedness was independent of each other. In conclusion, the current study confirms the positive role played by connections with nature in promoting environmental behavior, and accordingly suggests means to encourage pro-environmental behavior by enhancing people's connectedness to nature.

In this study, we designed a microcosm experiment to explore the composition of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere of maize and bulk soil by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene on the Illumina system. 978-1239 OTUs (cut off level of 3%) were found in rhizosphere and bulk soil samples. Rhizosphere shared features with the bulk soil, such as predominance of Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes and TM7. At genus level, many of the dominant rhizosphere genera (Chitinophaga, Nitrospira, Flavobacterium, etc.) displayed different patterns of temporal changes in the rhizosphere as opposed to the bulk soil, showing rhizosphere has more impact on soil microorganisms. Besides, we found that significant growth-related dynamic changes in bacterial community structure were mainly associated with phylum Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria (mainly genera Burkholderia, Flavisolibacter and Pseudomonas), indicating that different growth stages affected the bacterial community composition in maize soil. Furthermore, some unique genera in especial Plant-Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Nonomuraea, Thiobacillus and Bradyrhizobium etc., which were beneficial for the plant growth appeared to be more abundant in the rhizosphere than bulk soil, indicating that the selectivity of root to rhizosphere microbial is an important mechanism leading to the differences in the bacteria community structure between rhizosphere and bulk soil.

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major global challenge requiring urgent action, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) includes a target on the issue. Meeting the target requires an understanding of invasion patterns. However, national or regional analyses of invasions are limited to developed countries. We identified 488 IAS in China's terrestrial habitats, inland waters and marine ecosystems based on available literature and field work, including 171 animals, 265 plants, 26 fungi, 3 protists, 11 procaryots, and 12 viruses. Terrestrial plants account for 51.6% of the total number of IAS, and terrestrial invertebrates (104 species) for 21.3%. Of the total numbers, 67.9% of plant IAS and 34.8% of animal IAS were introduced intentionally. All other taxa were introduced unintentionally despite very few animal and plant species that invaded naturally. In terms of habitats, 64.3% of IAS occur on farmlands, 13.9% in forests, 8.4% in marine ecosystems, 7.3% in inland waters, and 6.1% in residential areas. Half of all IAS (51.1%) originate from North and South America, 18.3% from Europe, 17.3% from Asia not including China, 7.2% from Africa, 1.8% from Oceania, and the origin of the remaining 4.3% IAS is unknown. The distribution of IAS can be divided into three zones. Most IAS are distributed in coastal

One two-dimensional Fe-based metal–organic framework (FeSC1) and one one-dimensional coordination polymer (FeSC2) have been solvothermally prepared through the reaction among FeSO4·7H2O, the tripodal ligand 4,4′,4″-s-triazine-2,4,6-triyl-tribenzoate (H3TATB), and flexible secondary building blocks p/m-bis((1H-imidazole-1-yl)methyl)benzene (bib). Given that their abundant interlayer spaces and different coordination modes, two compounds have been employed as battery-type electrodes to understand how void space and different coordination modes affect their performances in three-electrode electrochemical systems. Both materials exhibit outstanding but different electrochemical performances (including distinct capacities and charge-transfer abilities) under three-electrode configurations, where the charge storage for each electrode material is mainly dominated by the diffusion-controlled section (i ∝ v0.5) through power-law equations. Additionally, the partial phase transformations to more stable FeOOH are also detected in the long-term cycling loops. After coupling with the capacitive carbon-based electrode to assemble into the semi-solid-state battery–supercapacitor-hybrid (sss-BSH) devices, the sss-FeSC1//AC BSH device delivers excellent capacitance, superior energy and power density, and longstanding endurance as well as the potential practical property.

Persulfate-based in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for soil remediation has received great attention in recent years. However, the mechanisms of interaction between persulfate (PS) and soil constituents are not fully understood. In this study, PS decomposition, activation, free radical formation and conversion processes in 10 different soils were examined. The results showed that soil organic matter (SOM) was the dominant factor affecting PS decomposition in soil, but Fe/Mn-oxides were mainly responsible for PS decomposition when SOM was removed. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy analysis showed that sulfate radicals (SO4•–) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generated from PS decomposition subsequently react with SOM to produce alkyl-like radicals (R•), and this process is dependent on SOM content. R• and SO4•–/•OH radicals predominated in soil with high and low SOM, respectively, and all three radicals coexist in soil with medium SOM. Chemical probe analysis further identified the types of radicals, and R• can reductively degrade hexachloroethane in high SOM soil, while SO4•– and •OH oxidatively degrade phenol in low SOM soil. These findings provide valuable information for PS-ISCO, and new insight into the role of SOM in the remediation of contaminated soil.

Understanding new particle formation and their subsequent growth in the troposphere has a critical impact on our ability to predict atmospheric composition and global climate change. High pre-existing particle loadings have been thought to suppress the formation of new atmospheric aerosol particles due to high condensation and coagulation sinks. Here, based on field measurements at a mountain site in South China, we report, for the first time, in situ observational evidence on new particle formation and growth in remote ambient atmosphere during heavy dust episodes mixed with anthropogenic pollution. Both the formation and growth rates of particles in the diameter range 15-50 nm were enhanced during the dust episodes, indicating the influence of photo-induced, dust surface-mediated reactions and resulting condensable vapor production. This study provides unique in situ observations of heterogeneous photochemical processes inducing new particle formation and growth in the real atmosphere, and suggests an unexpected impact of mineral dust on climate and atmospheric chemistry.

Remotely sensed surface urban heat islands (UHIs) have gained considerable interest in recent decades due to the easy access and the wall-to-wall coverage of satellite products. The magnitude or intensity of surface UHIs have been well documented at regional and global scales, yet a systematic evaluation of the temporal variability over large areas is still lacking. In this study, the diurnal and seasonal cycles of surface UHI intensities (SUHIIs) in China are examined using Aqua/Terra MODIS data from 2008 to 2012. Results show that the mean annual SUHIIs varied greatly in a diurnal cycle, characterized by a positive day-night difference (DND) in Southeast China and the opposite in Northeast and Northwest China. Also, the SUHIIs differed dramatically in a seasonal cycle, indicated by a positive summer-winter difference (SWD) in the day and a negative SWD at night, accompanied by the highly diverse DNDs across seasons and geographic regions. Northwest and Northeast China overall showed the largest DND and SWD (>3 °C), respectively. These diurnal and seasonal variations depend strongly on local climate-vegetation regimes, as indicated by a strong positive correlation between DND and precipitation (and air temperature) and a negative relationship between DND and vegetation activity across cities and seasons. In particular, SHUIIs were quadratically correlated with the mean annual precipitation across space, suggesting that there might be a threshold in terms of the effects induced by local background climate. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the temporal variability of UHIs for more accurate characterization of the associated ecological and social-economic consequences.

The assessment of pollution levels of heavy metals soil contamination is significant to human health and environmental management. The purpose of this article is to apply two methods, which are Principal component analysis (PCA) and Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), to assess heavy metals contamination levels in the area around copper mine tailing, and to compare the results with Hakanson potential ecological risk index techniques (RI). The rank of soil Cd pollution levels, which is assessed using Igeo, is consistent with the one by RI, while the PCA assessments result of comprehensive contamination level in soil discrepancy with RI and Igeo. PCA concerned with the distribution of all elements in soil, while Igeo and RI are mainly determined by the elements with high concentration or big Toxic Response Factor value. The combined application of PCA and Igeo can effectively identify the comprehensive and single pollution levels of elements in soil, thus important to the extent determination of heavy metals pollution in soil.

J62 on soil Cu pollution under rape remediation were studied in the farmland surrounding the Nanjing Jiuhuashan copper mining region in China. Following inoculation treatment for 50 days, the biomasses of the rape inoculated with strains JYC17, Y1-3-9, and J62 increased, and the total amounts of Cu uptake increased by 113.38, 66.26, and 67.91%, respectively, the translocation factor (TF) of rape inoculated with J62 was 0.85, a significant increase of 70.68%, thus improving the Cu remediation efficiency of the rape. Y1-3-9 and J62 affected the bioavailability of Cu in the soil, and the water-soluble Cu contents were increased by 10.13 and 41.77%, respectively, compared with the control. The antioxidant activities in the rape leaves showed that the tested bacteria increased the contents of antioxidant non-enzymatic substances, including ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH), which were increased by 40.24-91.22% and 9.89-17.67%, respectively, thereby reducing the oxidative stress caused by heavy metals and the contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxidase (POD). PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to analyze the effects of the tested bacteria on the cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent bacterial communities in the root endosphere and rhizosphere soil of the rape. The sequencing results of the DGGE bands indicated that the tested bacteria colonized the endosphere and rhizosphere, and they became an important component of the cultivation-dependent bacteria. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the DGGE profile and similarity cluster analysis showed that the tested bacteria affected the cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent bacterial communities in the root endosphere and rhizosphere. In this experiment, the effects and mechanisms of the combined plant-microbe remediation under field conditions were preliminarily studied, and the results are expected to provide a theoretical basis for future combined remediation experiments.

Species monitoring, defined here as the repeated, systematic collection of data to detect long-term changes in the populations of wild species, is a vital component of conservation practice and policy. We created a database of nearly 1200 schemes, ranging in start date from 1800 to 2018, to review spatial, temporal, taxonomic, and methodological patterns in global species monitoring. We identified monitoring schemes through standardized web searches, an online survey of stakeholders, in-depth national searches in a sample of countries, and a review of global biodiversity databases. We estimated the total global number of monitoring schemes operating at 3300-15,000. Since 2000, there has been a sharp increase in the number of new schemes being initiated in lower- and middle-income countries and in megadiverse countries, but a decrease in high-income countries. The total number of monitoring schemes in a country and its per capita gross domestic product were strongly, positively correlated. Schemes that were active in 2018 had been running for an average of 21 years in high-income countries, compared with 13 years in middle-income countries and 10 years in low-income countries. In high-income countries, over one-half of monitoring schemes received government funding, but this was less than one-quarter in low-income countries. Data collection was undertaken partly or wholly by volunteers in 37% of schemes, and such schemes covered significantly more sites and species than those undertaken by professionals alone. Birds were by far the most widely monitored taxonomic group, accounting for around half of all schemes, but this bias declined over time. Monitoring in most taxonomic groups remains sparse and uncoordinated, and most of the data generated are elusive and unlikely to feed into wider biodiversity conservation processes. These shortcomings could be addressed by, for example, creating an open global meta-database of biodiversity monitoring schemes and enhancing capacity for species monitoring in countries with high biodiversity. Article impact statement: Species population monitoring for conservation purposes remains strongly biased toward a few vertebrate taxa in wealthier countries.

Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrient elements and maintaining soil health. We aimed to investigate the response of bacteria communities to organic farming over different crops (rice, tea and vegetable) along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River of China. Compared with conventional farming, organic farming significantly increased soil nutrients, soil enzyme activities, and bacterial richness and diversity. A Venn diagram and principal component analysis revealed that the soils with 3 different crops under organic farming have more number and percent of shared OTUs (operational taxonomic units), and shared a highly similar microbial community structure. Under organic farming, several predominant guilds and major bacterial lineages (Rhizobiales, Thiotrichaceae, Micromonosporaceae, Desulfurellaceae and Myxococcales) contributing to nutrient (C, N, S and P) cycling were enriched, whereas the relative abundances of acid and alkali resistant microorganisms (Acidobacteriaceae and Sporolactobacillaceae) were increased under conventional farming practices. Our results indicated that, for all three crops, organic farming have a more stable microflora and the uniformity of the bacterial community structure. Organic agriculture significantly increased the abundance of some nutrition-related bacteria, while reducing some of the abundance of acid and alkali resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes are recognized as new environmental pollutants that warrant special concern. There were few reports on veterinary antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in China. This work systematically analyzed the prevalence and distribution of sulfonamide resistance genes in soils from the environments around poultry and livestock farms in Jiangsu Province, Southeastern China. The results showed that the animal manure application made the spread and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increasingly in the soil. The frequency of sulfonamide resistance genes was sul1 > sul2 > sul3 in pig-manured soil DNA and sul2 > sul1 > sul3 in chicken-manured soil DNA. Further analysis suggested that the frequency distribution of the sul genes in the genomic DNA and plasmids of the SR isolates from manured soil was sul2 > sul1 > sul3 overall (p<0.05). The combination of sul1 and sul2 was the most frequent, and the co-existence of sul1 and sul3 was not found either in the genomic DNA or plasmids. The sample type, animal type and sampling time can influence the prevalence and distribution pattern of sulfonamide resistance genes. The present study also indicated that Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Shigella were the most prevalent sul-positive genera in the soil, suggesting a potential human health risk. The above results could be important in the evaluation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes from manure as sources of agricultural soil pollution; the results also demonstrate the necessity and urgency of the regulation and supervision of veterinary antibiotics in China.

Antimicrobial agent residues are becoming an intractable environmental problem in soil, surface, and underground water. To obtain a broad profile of residues in animal wastewater and surface water, 24 animal wastewater, 8 animal farm effluent, 18 river water, and 8 pond water samples taken in Jiangsu in eastern China were monitored for enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and florfenicol using solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) techniques. The results revealed that two antibacterials were detected simultaneously in 49.1% of samples, followed by three antibacterials (22.6%) and one antibacterial (22.6%). Up to 3.35, 5.93, and 2.10 μg L for ciprofloxacin, 1.09, 4.24, and 0.50 μg L for enrofloxacin, and 0.95, 2.40, and 2.84 μg L for florfenicol were detected in animal farm-effluent, river, and pond water, respectively. The maximum concentrations of ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin in animal wastewaters were 7.49 and 8.77 μg L, respectively. Furthermore, residue levels of ciprofloxacin and florfenicol showed at least two statistical differences between any two sampling areas or two animal farms. Enrofloxacin showed no statistical difference among the sampling areas and the animal farms.

Abstract National and local governments need to step up efforts to effectively implement the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity to halt and reverse worsening biodiversity trends. Drawing on recent advances in interdisciplinary biodiversity science, we propose a framework for improved implementation by national and subnational governments. First, the identification of actions and the promotion of ownership across stakeholders need to recognize the multiple values of biodiversity and account for remote responsibility. Second, cross‐sectorial implementation and mainstreaming should adopt scalable and multifunctional ecosystem restoration approaches and target positive futures for nature and people. Third, assessment of progress and adaptive management can be informed by novel biodiversity monitoring and modeling approaches handling the multidimensionality of biodiversity change.

Abstract The ongoing pattern shift in water treatment from pollution control to energy recovery challenges the energy-intensive chemical oxidation processes that have been developed for over a century. Redirecting the pathways of carbon evolution from molecular fragmentation to polymerization is critical for energy harvesting during chemical oxidation, yet the regulation means remain to be exploited. Herein, by confining the widely-studied oxidation system—Mn 3 O 4 catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate—inside amorphous carbon nanotubes (ACNTs), we demonstrate that the pathways of contaminant conversion can be readily modulated by spatial nanoconfinement. Reducing the pore size of ACNTs from 120 to 20 nm monotonously improves the pathway selectivity toward oligomers, with the yield one order of magnitude higher under 20-nm nanoconfinement than in bulk. The interactions of Mn 3 O 4 with ACNTs, reactant enrichment, and pH lowering under nanoconfinement are evidenced to collectively account for the enhanced selectivity toward polymerization. This work provides an adaptive paradigm for carbon redirection in a variety of catalytic oxidation processes toward energy harvesting and sustainable water purification.

Herein, we present a comparative study of experimental and theoretical results on the inhibition of mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid using two novel pyridine Schiff base derivatives.