Mechanical Responses to Different Excavation Methods of Qichongcun Tunnel in Guiyang City, China

The construction method of tunnel has a critical impact on the stress and strain field during excavation. This study simulated the construction of Qichongcun tunnel by applying a different excavation method, including double-sided method, single-sided method, and three-step dynamic balance excavation method. The distribution and variation of the stress, vertical displacement, horizontal displacement of surrounding rocks, and stress of initial and secondary lining were studied. The results showed that large displacement of surrounding rocks would be induced during the construction in three-step method, but the stress of the second lining was small after completion of the construction. The displacement and stress of the three-step dynamic balance excavation method were larger than those of the other two methods, but it still met the requirements of safety.

Evaluation of Water Resources Carrying Capacity in Guiyang City

Based on the situation of Guiyang’s water resources, society, economy, ecology, etc., a comprehensive evaluation index system of Guiyang’s water resources carrying capacity is established by selecting appropriate indexes. Based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy method, an evaluation model of Guiyang’s water resources carrying capacity is constructed. The results showed that the comprehensive evaluation value of water resources carrying capacity in Guiyang City increased by nearly 53% from 2009 to 2018, and the regulation and control force of water resources carrying capacity and water resources carrying pressure showed an upward trend. Within ten years, the total comprehensive evaluation value of Guiyang is 0.4503—close to H2 level—and the membership degree of evaluation results over the years to H2 is greater than that of H1 and H3.H1, H2, and H3 are the three standard grades of water resources carrying capacity index, and the degree of carrying capacity represented is decreasing in turn. This indicated that at this stage, water resources can maintain the rapid development of the social economy, and that there is still some development potential. The research results have certain reference value for Guiyang’s development and utilization of water resources.

Flagging positive images for sting wasps: the use of vespine wasps in Guiyang City, China and its conservation implications

Vespine wasps, along with other insects, are undergoing decreases at alarming rates. However, wasps are universally disliked by the public and therefore receive little conservation attention. This antipathy may be caused by the vespine sting, which can cause great pain and severe allergic reactions in humans, but it is most likely a result of a lack of public awareness of the various ecosystem services provided by wasps. In this study, we conducted an ethno-zoological survey on the use of vespine wasps, underlining their economic value by conducting face-to-face interviews with local gatherers and sellers in a market in Guiyang city, China. Five species were observed in trade. The larvae and pupae are considered highly nutritional foods with prices ranging from 160 to 300 yuan per kilogram, whereas adults and empty combs are used to produce medicinal wines to cure rheumatism and arthritis. Using the weight of nests encountered in the market, we found that the sale of one nest from each of the five recorded species can produce an economic income up to the average disposable income per year for a rural inhabitant living in this city. Our study can be regarded as a small but important step to promote a positive image of wasps to the public. To reconcile the conflict between vespine stings and conservation, we recommend removing but not destroying nests that threaten people for domestication and sustainable use by experienced gatherers. Furthermore, local knowledge can be incorporated into the management of this threat to public safety.

Assessing Ecological Literacy and Its Application Based on Linguistic Ecology: a Case Study of Guiyang City, China

To address the frequent emergence of ecological problems, ecology has intersected with various disciplines. From the perspective of linguistic ecology, ecological literacy is an important concept that combines the two subjects. It not only discusses ecological issues, but also establishes a linguistic framework. Here, we constructed a quantitative method of assessing ecological literacy from the perspective of linguistic ecology. Ecological literacy was divided into five parts: ecological knowledge literacy, ecological awareness literacy, ecological ethics literacy, ecological emotional literacy, and ecological behavioral literacy. Each of these was set with four quantitative indicators that were evaluated through eight questions. A case study was conducted to investigate the ecological literacy of the inhabitants of Guiyang City, one of China’s top ten ecologically advanced cities. The results showed that the proposed assessment method was an effective way to evaluate the level of ecological literacy comprehensively. In the case analysis, the levels of the five specific dimensions of Guiyang inhabitants in descending order were as follows: ecological ethics literacy, ecological emotional literacy, ecological awareness literacy, ecological knowledge literacy, and ecological behavioral literacy. The results of this study are conducive to the production of targeted ways to improve the level of ecological literacy for sustainable development.