Population dynamics of Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) in the Netherlands: interaction effects of winter weather and habitat fragmentation

The increased variability in weather as a manifestation of climate change is expected to have negative impacts on population survival in wildlife species, because it will likely lead to increased variation in vital demographic rates (mortality and reproduction) in these populations. For the effective protection of biodiversity, adaptation measures are needed to compensate for the expected increase in weather variability and the negative interaction with habitat fragmentation. As a case study, we studied the fluctuations in Great Bittern numbers (Botaurus stellaris) from 28 monitoring plots scattered over the Netherlands to explore the interaction between the effect of weather and possible remediating effects of the landscape structure. Great Bittern habitat surrounding these plots differs with respect to area, quality, and degree of isolation of this habitat. In western Europe, Great Bitterns are found to be susceptible to continuous loss of suitable habitat due to vegetation succession and fragmentation. Moreover, year-to-year fluctuations in local Great Bittern populations can be caused by severe winter weather or other weather extremes. Our results show that severe winter weather has indeed a significant negative impact on Great Bittern population growth rates. Furthermore, we found that an increased carrying capacity and spatial cohesion (i.e. inverse of habitat fragmentation) contribute to an increase in mean growth rates over the years. As growth rates are higher in large, well-connected habitats, we argue that recovery from negative effects of, e.g. severe winters on Great Bittern population numbers is enhanced in these less-fragmented habitats. We derived generic adaptation measures for enhancing the recovery rate of populations of species in general: one should invest in more large, well-connected nature areas, not only to diminish the negative effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations, but additionally to reduce the impacts of climatic variability.     

Siberian musk deer in the diets of tiger and bears in the Sikhote-Alin

The role of the Siberian musk deer in the diets of the Amur tiger, brown bear, and Asian black bear has been studied in the Sikhote-Alin State Biosphere Reserve in 1992 to 2016. Information has been collected from 763 tiger feeding sites, and the contents of tiger feces have been analyzed. Radiotelemetry has been used to evaluate tiger–musk deer relationships. The musk deer accounted for 0.26% of all animal species found to be eaten by the tiger. Musk deer remains in feces of the tiger, brown bear, and Asian black bear occurred with frequencies of 1.3, 0.2, and 0.3%, respectively. A case of musk deer avoiding the presence of brown bear is described.     

The European roe deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis> L.) at the northern boundary of its range in Eastern Fennoscandia

The dispersal, population dynamics, and ecological features of the European roe deer at the northern limit of species distribution and also their visits, wintering, and breeding outside the range boundary are discussed. A significant increase in the abundance of roe deer in the northern part of the range and their largescale expansion beyond the historical distribution limit have taken place during the past decade. However, their spread in Karelia and Arkhangelsk oblast is strictly limited, depending primarily on snow depth and duration. Hunting the roe deer as a game species in the region is possible only in the south of Pskov oblast, where habitat conditions are most favorable for it.     

湖北省榉树自然种群分布研究

对湖北省天然榉树的自然种群分布现状、种群特征及种群分布格局进行了研究。结果表明：湖北榉树资源主要分布在海拔500~1 000 m地带,不同程度地分割包围在谷底和山腰,地理分布点呈收缩集群分布,种群规模较小;采用方差/均值法对榉树地理分布格局类型进行分析,其值=1.66>1,表明其分布点的地理分布趋于集群分布。湖北榉树种群星散间隔的地理分布形式,使地理分布点间产生空间间隔,成为相互间基因交错的障碍,而较小的种群规模,增加了遗传漂变的机率,导致遗传上的不稳定性增加,影响种群的生存能力,这些是导致物种趋向濒危的重要原因。湖北榉树种群这种分布现状产生的原因,一方面是物种自身的生物学特性及对生境的特定要求所致,另一方面是由于人类对榉树资源的过度开发利用以及人类经济活动导致的生境片段化。应借助于人为帮助,改善生态环境,扩大其种群规模,促进不同种群之间的基因交流,以利保护。     

Effectiveness of GIS suitability mapping in predicting ecological impacts of proposed wind farm development on Aristazabal Island,BC

Predicted impacts from a proposed wind farm at Aristazabal Island, British Columbia, were estimated to examine the compatibility of a wind farm with ecological factors using Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM). Historically, GIS-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) has not been used extensively in the quantification of ecological impacts. A GIS suitability map was created based on predictive ecosystem mapping (PEM) data using combined methods of Boolean overlay and weighted linear combination (WLC). This map was used to assist in generating a preliminary project layout for measuring footprint impacts to ecological elements. These impacts were tested against a selection of disturbance targets using scoring for ecological (as well as economic and social) factors based on EBM documentation. Of the 12 ecological targets identified, 10 were easily satisfied by the proposed layout, while the remaining two, impacts to rare ecosystems and their critical habitat, could be satisfied if the final design incorporated further field studies. Despite the data gaps and uncertainties (e.g., non-footprint impacts such as fragmentation), GIS suitability mapping using PEM is demonstrated to be an effective tool in representing a real wind farm and quantifying its ecological impacts in terms of magnitude.     

On the term <Emphasis Type="Italic">Station</Emphasis> used in Russian ecological and faunistic literature

The history of the term station (in Russian, statsiya) in the Russian ecological and faunistic literature, interpretation of its meaning by different authors, and relationships between the terms station, habitat, biotope, and ecological license are discussed. It is suggested that station should be interpreted as the entire set of all external conditions affecting a population, which is observable as a part of physical space possessing certain properties.     

引入城市扩张干扰效应的生态服务价值化方法改进

城市扩张在规模上对自然环境空间造成挤压,在结构上加剧生境破碎化程度,且对其邻域的生态用地有负面影响,测算城市扩张引起的生态服务价值变化应考虑其干扰效应。以南昌市为研究区,首先测算生态服务价值变化,在此基础上,考虑不同建设用地类型的不同干扰效应,测算引入城市扩张干扰效应改进的生态服务价值,深入对比分析南昌市1995～2005年和2005～2015年间改进前后生态服务价值变化的差异。研究结果表明:(1)南昌市各城市扩张斑块的干扰强度总体较高。2005～2015年间的城市扩张干扰效应明显比1995～2005年间的城市扩张干扰效应高,城市扩张的生态成本在增加;(2)城市扩张斑块干扰效应的空间分布差异明显,周围的耕地、林地和水域面积比例较大的城市扩张斑块的干扰效应较高;(3)基于改进方法评估的城市扩张引起的生态服务价值变化大于改进前方法评估的生态服务价值变化,不同的邻域组成,不同来源类型的城市扩张斑块的生态服务价值变化差异明显。研究结果有助于科学合理度量城市扩张引起的生态系统服务价值变化,并为城市扩张生态成本的测算提供科学的支撑。     

GIS支持下的岷江上游流域景观格局分析

在GIS技术支持下，利用2000年遥感资料，在土地利用分类基础上编制景观类型图；运用生态学与景观生态学的基本原理，选取景观斑块数、变异系数、分维数、分离度、破碎度等反映景观空间格局的指数，从景观斑块特征、景观形状、景观异质性以及景观的空间分布等方面对岷江上游流域的景观格局进行了分析。结果表明：①草地与林地构成了研究区景观的主体，二者面积占研究区总面积的95.12%，草地因其面积最大而成为整个景观的基质；②研究区幅员辽阔，以藏、羌族为主的少数民族居民喜好聚居等特点，使得耕地、城乡居住建设用地出现小聚居、大散居格局，其分离度与破碎度均较大；③因研究区海拔高差大，整个景观格局呈现出明显的垂直分布特征，从山谷到山顶依次按照城乡居住建设用地—耕地—林地—草地—水域—未利用地的顺序分布。     

大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑分布与栖息地特征研究

在实地调查和资料分析基础上,对大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑栖息地及分布进行了量化分析,并对其适宜栖息地保护河段进行了评估与划分。研究表明:(1)1950~2012年,大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑分布范围持续减少,损失率高达91.4%,强烈的人类活动(如水电开发)成其主要影响因素;(2)川陕哲罗鲑对栖息地生境质量需求较高,适应水温范围较窄(4℃~14℃)。在不同生活史阶段川陕哲罗鲑对于生境的需求存在差异;(3)大渡河上游干流及众多支流对保护川陕哲罗鲑极为重要。在上游适宜划分为川陕哲罗鲑栖息地保护的河段总长度共计2 222.9 km。根据研究结果,我们建议:(1)川陕哲罗鲑栖息地有效保护,不仅应保护其现有分布区域,而且还应涵盖具有较高保护和恢复价值的历史分布和潜在分布空间;(2)尽快开展大渡河河源区川陕哲罗鲑栖息地保护相关规划和研究工作;(3)为协调流域保护和发展,建议建立完善生态补偿机制。     

Ecological pressures on grassland ecosystems and their conservation strategies in Northern China

In this study,we identified ecological pressures on grassland ecosystems and adaptive countermeasures in Northern China.Our research revealed that the main sources of these pressures included population growth,economic development,resources exploitation,and global climate change,with human-related activities being overriding factors.Overgrazing was an important reason for grassland imbalance,causing soil erosion and desertification,especially during the sensitive spring greening phase.In steppe zones,commercial coal mining was destructive to the ecological environment.Regarding long-term strategies,we recommend that policy-makers devote more consideration to a new conceptual approach for transforming grasslands through shifting the focus from die grassland’s traditional production functions to meir ecological functions.Applying this concept,adaptive countermeasures should be developed to reduce human impacts based on the environmental capacities of grasslands.Moreover,we recommend the development of environment-friendly industries and reduction of pressures from human activities as effective measures for maintaining the balance between sustainable economic development and grassland conservation.Lastly,we suggest that restoration of degraded grasslands should conform to the principle of natural vegetation to further improve the ecological adaptability of plants and ecosystem stability.This study is expected to provide scientific support for policy-makers engaged in grassland protection.     

中国海洋生态保护制度的演进逻辑、互补需求及改革路径

海洋生态问题本质上是制度问题。中国海洋生态保护制度经历了从无到有、从少到多的发展过程,但多种复杂制度之间是否能够形成治理合力,制度缺失、制度无效和制度冲突等问题是否存在,尚有待进一步解答。为此,文章在梳理中国海洋生态保护制度演进逻辑的基础上,基于制度互补视角挖掘现有制度的互补空间,探究查缺补漏、规范修正和协调统筹的制度改革路径,以期推动海洋生态保护制度“从多到优”的有效过渡。中国海洋生态保护制度的演进可分为初步建立、稳步推进和改革转型三个阶段,呈现出从陆海分割到陆海一体化治理、从政府单一主体监管到多元主体协同治理、从标准规范到法律保障的趋势特征。制度需求引致与制度供给滞后、制度成本制约与制度收益驱动之间的联动关系是推动海洋生态保护制度演进的内在动因。海洋生态保护是一项跨区域、跨部门的复杂系统性工程,不同生态保护制度之间的联动耦合至关重要。立足制度互补理论视角,中国海洋生态保护制度在保护主体、保护手段和保护过程三个层面均存在较大的互补需求,其中保护主体单一的问题主要因制度缺失导致,保护手段的低效主要受到制度适应性不足的影响,而保护过程的割裂主要反映了制度不协调、不匹配的矛盾。基于此,未来中国海洋生态保护制度的补充应围绕政府职责梳理和多元主体参与建设,制度的修正重点在于进一步完善市场激励、信息公开等非政府机制,制度的协调则要实现立足事前、事中和事后全过程,推动政策工具的有效衔接配合。     

Assessing the vulnerability of rare plants using climate change velocity,habitat connectivity,and dispersal ability: a case study in Alberta,Canada

Climate change generally requires species to migrate northward or to higher elevation to maintain constant climate conditions, but migration requirement and migration capacity of individual species can vary greatly. Individual populations of species occupy different positions in the landscape that determine their required range shift to maintain similar climate, and likewise the migration capacity depends on habitat connectivity. Here, we demonstrate an approach to quantifying species vulnerabilities to climate change for 419 rare vascular plants in Alberta, Canada, based on a multivariate velocity of climate change metric, local habitat fragmentation, and migration capacity. Climate change velocities indicated that future migration requirements ranged from 1 to 5 km/year in topographically complex landscapes, such as the Alberta Foothills and Rocky Mountains. In contrast, migration requirements to maintain constant climate in relatively flat Boreal Plains, Parkland, and Grassland ranged from 4 to 8 km/year. Habitat fragmentation was also highest in these flat regions, particularly the Parkland Natural Region. Of the 419 rare vascular plants assessed, 36 were globally threatened (G1–G3 ranking). Three globally threatened species were ranked as extremely vulnerable and five species as highly vulnerable to the interactions among climate change velocity, habitat fragmentation, and migration capacity. Incorporating dispersal characteristics and habitat fragmentation with local patterns in climate change velocity improves the assessment of climate change threats to species and may be applied to guide monitoring efforts or conservation actions.     

气候变化对长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统的影响

近十几年来，长江源区气候暖干化趋势明显，冰川退缩、湖泊萎缩、草场退化、土地沙漠化、水土流失等环境问题日益严重。高寒草甸是长江源地区主要的植被类型之一，在全球变化影响下，以耐低温寒冷的嵩草属（Kobresia）植物为建群种的高寒草甸将面临更严重的生态胁迫。以长江源地区高寒草甸生态系统为研究对象，采用国际通用的生物地球化学模型模拟高寒草甸生物量、生产力和土壤有机质等的动态变化，并综合考虑人类活动对生态系统生产力和营养元素生物地球化学循环的影响，探讨了全球气候变化对高寒草甸生态系统可能造成的影响。     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of geographical ranges of red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus</Emphasis>, Cervidae) and Siberian roe deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus pygargus</Emphasis>, Cervidae) in Yakutia

Patterns of expansion of geographical ranges of red deer and Siberian roe deer in Yakutia during the 20th century are considered. The area inhabited by red deer in Yakutia has increased almost fourfold over the past 50 years, with an expansion of over 200000 km² toward the northwest. The geographical range of roe deer in the Lena–Amga interfluve has also changed considerably during the same period. Roe deer sightings in the subarctic zone were reported. The structure of geographical ranges of the species under investigation in different ecological and geographical regions of Yakutia is discussed, and the factors influencing the transformation of geographical range borders are characterized.     

Assessment of the red-crowned crane habitat in the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve, East China

As wildlife habitat is in constant evolution, periodic monitoring is essential to assess its quality. In this study, the change to the red-crowned crane habitat in the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve was detected from multi-temporal remote sensing data from 1992 to 2008 in a geographic information system. Habitat fragmentation was derived from both physical constraints and human disturbance. The changing habitat quality was assessed against five landscape indices. The results obtained from Landsat TM images indicate that potential habitat shrank 37.9 % during 1992–2001, but recovered 99.4 % by 2008. Suitable habitat shrank by 4,329 ha to a level below that of 1992 despite an increase of 4,747 ha in potential habitat due to an increase of 9,075 ha in fragmented areas. Both landscape indices and the red-crowned crane population reveal that suitable habitat was the most fragmented in 2001, but the least fragmented in 1992. Therefore, it is inadequate to just restore wetland through artificial diversion of channel flow to the Reserve to preserve the crane habitat. Commensurate efforts should also be directed at improving habitat quality by minimizing human activities and spatially juxtaposing water and reed marshes harmoniously inside the Reserve.     

上海隧桥工程海域生态系统健康的初步评价

随着上海经济的快速发展，一些大型海洋工程在上海海域纷纷兴建，造成了生境破碎化、生物多样性的破坏等一系列的生态损害。在分析海洋工程可能造成生态损害的同时，以上海长江口隧桥工程为例，选择2007年春季和秋季的2次生态调查数据进行研究。架桥阶段结束后，综合分析了春季与秋季的调查数据，发现各项指标均有偏向于不利的趋势。基于结构功能指标体系评价法，并利用层次分析法研究后得出上海长江口隧桥工程附近海域的综合健康指数分别为2043和2166。根据CHI≤3的情况下判断，该海域的生态健康状况属于不健康接近亚健康状态，表明河口生态系统自然属性发生明显改变，生物多样性及生态系统结构发生了一定程度的变化，主要生态服务功能出现退化或丧失。针对遭遇海洋工程破坏的生境，需要进行更多、更长时间的人工干预，并提出有效的生态保护和修复对策。     

花桥典型地块景观格局及植被群落结构指数评价与制图研究

自然过程是规划过程的重要维度。与中国法定规划体系相衔接的生态单元分类、评价系统的构建,是生态研究与城乡规划之间的一座桥梁。选取昆山花桥为研究对象,以2010年Landsat遥感数据TM影像图为主要数据源。在城乡生态单元制图的基础上,从区域景观格局的宏观角度分析城市化、乡村以及城乡交错带三类典型地块的生态用地特征。研究表明:城市水体形态过于笔直、公园绿地分布过于集中,城乡交错带水体破碎化严重、人工景观呈集聚状的发展趋势,乡村地块水体受农业活动影响严重、农田景观应重点保护等。进而从微观角度进行植被群落结构指数评价,作为生态信息的重要补充。根据植被指数图谱可得花溪公园附近的植被群落结构指数较高,河道两侧的线性连续性整体尚佳,植被群落结构丰富,而道路两侧的植被较为单一等。旨在提供一种城市生态评价体系,从宏观到微观,从生态格局分析到植被群落结构评价,希望能更清晰的反映不同区域之间的生态价值差异,为城乡绿地系统规划提供生态基础性数据。     

Ecological Function Zoning for Environmental Planning at Different Levels

Environmental planning at different levels has been called for by environmental departments in China during last years to integrate environment consideration to economic development. Based on the accomplished environmental planning practice in Xiamen China, the paper suggests a general environmental planning process with ecological function zoning as its key steps, at the same time an effective method for ecological function zoning was formulated. The case studies of Dongfu suburban town environmental planning and Xiamen eco-city conceptual planning indicate that scientifically sound results of ecological function zoning can contribute to improving not only the adaptability and acceptability of environmental planning, also the environmental management and the decision-making. The experience shows that the ecological function zoning methods should be applied according to the principles of adaptive management, resource-based and community-based, so that it can integrate science into decision-making process, avoiding both narrow-minded viewpoints of planners and natural resource use conflicts among variety of stakeholders. Problems to be resolved in the future are also pointed out in the ending part.     

我国珍稀濒危物种适应气候变化的对策探讨

基于气候变化下部分珍稀濒危物种脆弱性分析,初步提出了适应对策,探讨了部分物种适应措施。气候变化下,珍稀濒危物种脆弱性表现在物种分布范围减少、破碎化和失去原分布范围、丰富度下降、种群数量减少、物种灭绝、栖息地退化或消失等。珍稀濒危物种适应气候变化需要分析物种自然适应机制,加强就地保护,增加种群数量,开展迁地和遗传保护,减少其它干扰,保护和恢复栖息地,建立自然保护区适应对策等。每个物种需要分析目前濒危程度和气候变化下的脆弱性来提出适应对策。     

苏南人口密集地区城镇化过程中的环境特征分析

江苏省南部是长江三角洲地区的城镇密集区,该地区在工业化带动下的乡村城镇化迅速发展,非农业人口比重大,隐性城市化人口多。城镇化过程中存在以下环境问题：耕地资源减少,环境承载力降低;水污染严重,环境容量减少;工业污染物集中,小城镇排放的污染物浓度大;城镇化后生态风险增大。近期苏南乡村城镇化正处于高峰期,针对城镇化过程中的环境变化特点,应制定符合生态经济规律的小城镇规划,加强土地管理和环境管理,加快乡村城镇化进程,加快乡镇合并,实施乡镇工业经济增长方式的转变。