[Comparison of sustainable development status in Heilongjiang Province based on traditional ecological footprint method and emergy ecological footprint method].

By using traditional ecological footprint method and its modification, emergy ecological footprint method, the sustainable development status of Heilongjiang Province in 2005 was analyzed. The results showed that the ecological deficits of Heilongjiang Province in 2005 based on emergy and conventional ecological footprint methods were 1.919 and 0.6256 hm2 x cap(-1), respectively. The ecological footprint value based on the two methods both exceeded its carrying capacity, which indicated that the social and economic development of the study area was not sustainable. Emergy ecological footprint method was used to discuss the relationships between human's material demand and ecosystem resources supply, and more stable parameters such as emergy transformity and emergy density were introduced into emergy ecological footprint method, which overcame some of the shortcomings of conventional ecological method.

[Temporal and spatial variation of land degradation in alluvial oasis at northern slope of Tianshan Mountain].

Taking the Fubei Farm, a farming oasis of Sangong River watershed at the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain as study area, and by the methods of geostatistics, GIS and RS, this paper studied the temporal and spatial variation of land degradation in topsoil (0-20 cm) and its relationship with landscape structure. The results showed that in this oasis, human activity was the key factor resulting in the increase of landscape fragmentation and diversity. From 1983 to 2005, the land degradation area decreased by 26.69%, and the degradation degree was higher in the regions adjacent to desert than in those further inside the oasis. Gray desert soil was degraded much more seriously than saline soil and aquic soil. The regions of poor land quality had an alleviated degradation, with 65.38% of land area improved, while those of good land quality had an aggravated degradation, with 33.38% of land area degraded.

[Urban landscape functional regionalization and development strategy in Shenyang City].

According to the topography, land type suitability and human activity, the urban area of Shenyang City was regionalized into four landscape functional regions, i.e., economic and cultural supporting region, ecological equilibrium region (including northern high plain equilibrium sub-region and southern low plain equilibrium sub-region), ecological supporting region (including eastern ecological supporting sub-region and western ecological supporting sub-region), and ecological barrier region. In economic and cultural supporting region, the radiation of function in economy and culture should be strengthened, and the natural and artificial green space system should be preserved. In ecological supporting region, environmentally friendly industries should be developed to provide diverse ecological service well. As a combination of natural and man-made ecological system, the ecological equilibrium region could balance and steady the other regional services. To keep the balance between artificial and natural landscapes in this region, it was needed to control the expansion of construction land, maintain the natural and semi-natural system, and build the ecological corridors to connect various natural system. In ecological barrier region, the ecological environment was in instability, where the protection and production should be dealt with equally.

Methane (CH4) emission from a natural wetland of northern China.

This article focuses on the seasonal and spatial changes of CH4 emission from the natural reed marsh of Liaohe Delta, China. Field experiments showed that this natural wetland acts as a CH4 sink in spring (-30 approximately -1000 microg/m2 x h), a strong source in summer (400-3000 microg/m2 x h) and a weak source in autumn (< 400 microg/m2 x h). Reed plants play an important role in transportation and emission of methane produced in soil. According to our field measurement data, CH4 emission is positively related to temperature, and negatively related to Eh value and water depth. The activity of methanogenic bacteria is higher in the rhizosphere and surface layer, and thus contributes more in CH4 emission than other layers.

Hydrological adjustment and flooding control of wetlands in the Liaohe Delta.

The function of estuary wetland on hydrological adjustment and flooding control is studied in this paper. It is estimated that the evapotranspiration in the reed field during growth season (June to October) is 722.9 mm, which is 37.5% higher than large water body (E601: 525.9 mm). The water replacement rate in the reed field can reach 95% only when the rains continuously for 11 days and the precipitation reached 912 mm. For the water balance in the paddy field, the total water requirement ranges between 1920 and 1860 mm, among which, 31% is from precipitation, and the left is provided by reservoirs. The water usage efficiency is 0.35 at present productivity. Based on the landscape characteristics and functionalities on flooding control, 5 functional zones are designed for the Liaohe Delta; key protected area; underground storage area; flooding discharge area; flood diversion area in emergency; and flood control drainage area.