Responses of plant, insect and spider biodiversity to local and landscape scale management intensity in cereal crops and grasslands

The aim of this study was to determine the relative effects of landscape scale management intensity, agroecosystem type, local management intensity and edges on diversity patterns of functional groups of plants, carabid beetles, spiders and grasshoppers. Nine landscapes were selected differing in percent intensively used agricultural area (IAA), each with a pair of organic and conventional winter wheat fields and a pair of organic and conventional mown meadows. Within fields, plants were surveyed in the edge and in the interior. Carabid beetles and spiders were captured by funnel traps, while grasshoppers were sweep-netted in the meadows. Diversity patterns of study organisms were affected both by local variables (local management, agroecosystem type and within-field position) and by landscape scale management intensity. Species richness of grasses, presumably because of sowing low-diversity mixtures, and hunting spiders decreased with percent cover of IAA. Meadows differed from wheat fields in that they had higher species richness of forbs and grasses, as well as higher densities of hunting spiders. In contrast, more carabid individuals, especially of non-carnivore species, were captured in wheat fields. In field edges with their reduced management intensity and increased immigration, species richness of plants, carabids and spiders was higher than in the interiors regardless of agroecosystem type and management. Organic management enhanced forb richness and cover in both agroecosystem types. Organic management also increased grass cover in wheat fields, but not in meadows, and promoted species richness of non-carnivore carabids and hunting spiders, but not grasshoppers. The results show that agri-environmental management needs to be targeted to the agroecosystem's field size, because higher edge area led to higher species richness. Organic management affected several functional groups positively (forbs, non-carnivore carabids, hunting spiders), while lower landscape scale management intensity only increased species richness of grasses and spiders. The great differences in responses of functional groups to local cereal and grassland as well as landscape management suggest implementing more scale and group specific targets for agri-environmental schemes to improve their efficiency.     

Influence of hedgerow and grassy field borders on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) activity in fields of corn

Agricultural landscapes may be manipulated in ways that benefit predatory invertebrates by providing alternate food sources, overwintering sites, and refuge from farming activities. Ecological theory predicts that complex plant communities should support a richer community of natural enemies of pest insects than a simple plant community. A study was conducted in Iowa, USA to investigate the influence of the vegetative diversity of field boarders on the activity, species richness, and community similarities of predatory beetles occurring in corn fields.Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) populations were compared among corn fields bounded by either complex hedges or simple grass edges. Directional pitfall traps were used to investigate activity patterns of beetles between border types and their adjacent corn fields. Beetles were trapped during four seasonal periods, based on the growth stage of corn. During corn emergence (May–June) when fields are barren, carabids were more active and species richness was higher in the corn fields bordered by woody hedges. The carabid species Scarites quadriceps, Scarites subterraneus, and Harpalus pensylvanicus, were more dominant in hedge sites as compared to grass sites at this time. Following corn–canopy closure, carabids were now more active in fields bordered by grassy edges, but beetle activity also remained high in the fields adjacent to woody hedges. Further analysis of the carabid communities by Bray–Curtis Similarity Index showed no difference among field edge types at any time of the season. Results indicate that both complex and simple field border habitats support abundant and diverse populations of carabids during most of the growing season. However, during the early growing season hedges appear to be more important than grass edges in supplying carabid beetles to corn fields. Woody hedges may serve as very important overwintering sites and as an early season refuge for predatory beetles in corn.     

Diversity of cereal aphid parasitoids in simple and complex landscapes

Structurally complex landscapes may enhance local species richness and interactions, which is possibly due to a higher species pool in complex landscapes. This hypothesis was tested using cereal aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Aphidiidae) by comparing 12 winter wheat fields in structurally complex landscapes (>50% semi-natural habitats; n = 6) and structurally simple landscapes dominated by agricultural lands (>80% arable land; n = 6). Surprisingly, landscape structural complexity had no effect on aphid parasitoid species diversity. In complex landscapes 12 and in simple landscapes 11 species were found; 9 species occurred in both landscape types. Hence, arable fields in high-intensity agricultural landscapes with little non-crop area can support a similar diversity of cereal aphid parasitoids as structurally complex landscapes. This finding suggests that cereal aphid parasitoids may find necessary resources even in simple landscapes, making generalisations concerning the relationship between landscape composition and biodiversity in arable fields difficult.     

Are landscape complexity and farm specialisation related to land-use intensity of annual crop fields?

Little is known about the predictive value of landscape complexity and farm specialisation for land-use intensity, although this is critical for regional agri–environmental schemes and conservation of biodiversity. Here, we analysed land-use intensity of annual crop fields of 30 farms in northern Germany that were located in 15 landscapes differing in structural complexity ranging from <15% to >65% non-crop habitats. The proportion of arable land per landscape was used as simple predictor of landscape complexity due to its close correlation with habitat-type diversity, and the proportion of arable land per farm acted as an indicator for farm specialisation due to its negative correlation with stock farming. Land-use intensity was quantified using questionnaires. Landscape complexity and farm specialisation were related to several but not all indicators of land-use intensity. Structurally simple landscapes were related to more nitrogen input and higher crop yields, and farms specialised on annual crops had reduced crop-species diversity, larger fields, higher crop yields and more pathogen species. In contrast to general expectations, pesticide use in annual crop fields was exceptionally high and not a function of landscape complexity or farm specialisation. Our results show that generalisations such as “farms specialised on annual crops and structurally simple landscapes show increased land-use intensity” may be misleading.     

南方丘陵山区典型地物景观特征尺度研究

景观的特征尺度反映了人与自然交互作用的空间过程,合理识别景观空间结构及其特征尺度有助于遥感影像景观空间异质性分析。论文以地处南方丘陵山区的福建省福州市为研究区,针对城市、农田、森林与水域4种地物景观,基于SPOT 10 m影像,分别利用半方差分析、小波分析与平均局部方差方法,开展景观特征尺度研究。结果表明:①不同景观类型的空间异质性差异较大,其中森林景观空间异质性最大,其次为城市、农田景观,水域的空间异质性最小;②小波方差分析和半方差分析分别检测到两个不同的特征尺度,而局部方差仅仅检测到较小的空间结构;③森林景观特征尺度比通常偏小,与南方丘陵山区破碎地形有关,城市景观更多体现为人类活动的影响,南方丘陵山区城市景观至少具有两种不同的空间结构,其特征尺度均较小,农田景观特征尺度最大。基于小波分析与半方差各自的特点,总结提炼出综合两种方法合理识别景观特征尺度的基本流程,即:首先开展小波分析,然后在此基础上利用半方差分析多种理论模型组合从而获得更详细的特征尺度信息,模型组合个数与参数初始值依据小波分析的结果而定。     

Landscape dynamitic change in Mu Us Desert derived from Landsat TM data

Landscpae ecology emphasizes large areas and ecological effects of the spatial patterning of ecosystem.Recent developments in landscape ecology emphasized the important relationship between spatial patterns and many ecological processes.Quantitative methods in landscape ecology link spatial patterns and ecological processes at broad spatial and temporal scales.In turn the increased attention on temoral change of ecosystem has highlighted the need for quantitative methods that can analyze patterns.This research applies quantitative methods-change detection to assess the ecosystem temporal change in the arid and semiarid area.Remote sensing offers the temporal change of ecosystem on landscape characteristics.     

Influence of the immediate environment on the dispersal of Sitona lineatus L. (Col., Curc.) during crop colonisation

The factors favouring the colonisation of pea fields by Sitona lineatus L. were studied in three trapping experiments in fields of the ITCF Experimental Farm in Boigneville (Essonne, France).One trapping device was placed in an open environment, represented by a meadow. It showed that at the end of hibernation, S. lineatus populations dispersed mainly via air currents. The second device was located in a pea crop entirely surrounded by a wooded area used as place of hibernation. The distribution of S. lineatus caught in this protected environment reflected movements which were oriented towards directions not correlated with the wind direction. The third device was placed in a typical open environment of arable crops of the Paris Basin, and was used to determine the movements between three main types of environment occupied by the weevil: a hibernation zone (wooded area), a hibernation and/or feeding zone (clover) and a reproduction zone (pea). Crops on the ITCF experimental farm were colonised simultaneously at the beginning of spring, irrespective of environment, with two peaks in migration.     

Organic versus conventional arable farming systems: Functional grouping helps understand staphylinid response

The response of different feeding groups of staphylinid beetles to organic management, distance to perennial boundary and landscape context was studied in 42 paired organic and conventional winter wheat fields. Management effects were found to strongly depend on feeding group. While the activity-density of predators was higher in the conventional fields, both activity-density and species richness of detritivores were higher in the organic fields. Activity-density and species richness of detritivores were positively correlated to crop yield in the conventional but not in the organic fields. Unexpectedly, species richness as high as in the less productive organic fields was thus found in intensified conventional systems. No significant effects of landscape context could be found on activity-density or species richness of the different feeding groups. More species were caught near the field edge than in the middle, showing the importance of spill-over from field boundaries into arable crops for diversity. In conclusion, separation of species into feeding groups revealed patterns that have not been shown before. Decomposer diversity (but not that of predators and fungivores) was higher in organic fields, but reached similar levels in high-yielding conventional fields. Thus resource quality (purely organic or organic/synthetic fertiliser) and quantity appear to play a major role for this functional group.     

基于最佳分析粒度的大辽河流域湿地景观格局分析

湿地景观格局分析是湿地生态和全球变化研究领域的热点,最佳分析粒度是景观格局分析准确性的关键指标.定性与定量相结合,综合利用景观指数粒度效应分析和信息损失评价,确定了大辽河流域湿地景观格局的最佳分析粒度为60m.在该粒度下,选取反映空间组成和空间构型的指数,进行湿地景观格局分析.结果表明:①大辽河流域湿地景观主体为水田、...     

Modelling interactions and feedback mechanisms between land use change and landscape processes

Land use changes and landscape processes are interrelated and influenced by multiple bio-physical and socio-economic driving factors, resulting in a complex, multi-scale system. Consequently in landscapes with active landscape processes such as erosion, land use changes should not be analysed in isolation without accounting for both on-site and off-site effects on landscape processes. To investigate the interactions between land use, land use change and landscape processes, a case study for the Álora region in southern Spain is carried out, coupling a land use change model (CLUE) and a landscape process model simulating water and tillage erosion and sedimentation (LAPSUS). First, both models are run independently for a baseline scenario of land use change. Secondly, different feedbacks are added to the coupled model framework as ‘interaction scenarios’. Firstly effects of land use change on landscape processes are introduced by means of a ‘changed erodibility feedback’. Secondly effects of landscape processes on land use are introduced stepwise: (i) an ‘observed erosion feedback’ where reallocation of land use results from farmers’ perception of erosion features, and (ii) a ‘reduced productivity feedback’ whereby changes in soil depth result in a land use relocation. Quantities and spatial patterns of both land use change and soil redistribution are compared with the baseline scenario to assess the cumulative effect of including each of the interaction mechanisms in the modelling framework.Overall, total quantities of land use change (areas) and soil redistribution do not differ much for the different interaction scenarios. However, there are important differences in the spatial patterns of both land use and soil redistribution. In addition, by incorporating the perception and bio-physical feedback mechanisms, land use types with stable or increasing acreages are increasingly relocated from their original positions, suggesting a current location on landscape positions prone to soil erosion and sedimentation. Implementing the ‘reduced productivity feedback’ causes most of these effects. Another important outcome is that on-site land use changes trigger major off-site soil redistribution dynamics. These off-site effects are attributed to down slope or downstream changes in sediment transport rates and/or discharge caused by changes in land surface characteristics.The results of this study provide insight into the interactions between different processes occurring within landscapes and the influence of feedbacks on the development of the landscape. The interaction between processes goes across various spatial and temporal scales, leading to difficulties in linked model representation and calibration and validation of the coupled modelling system.     

Dry deposition velocity of total suspended particles and meteorological influence in four locations in Guangzhou, China

Dry deposition velocity of total suspended particles (TSP) is an effective parameter that describes the speed of atmospheric particulate matter deposit to the natural surface. It is also an important indicator to the capacity of atmosphere self-depuration. However, the spatial and temporal variations in dry deposition velocity of TSP at different urban landscapes and the relationship between dry deposition velocity and the meteorological parameters are subject to large uncertainties. We concurrently investigated this relationship at four different landscapes of Guangzhou, from October to December of 2009. The result of the average dry deposition velocity is (1.49 ± 0.77), (1.44 ± 0.77), (1.13 ± 0.53) and (1.82 ± 0.82) cm/sec for urban commercial landscape, urban forest landscape, urban residential landscape and country landscape, respectively. This spatial variation can be explained by the difference of both particle size composition of TSP and meteorological parameters of sampling sites. Dry deposition velocity of TSP has a positive correlation with wind speed, and a negative correlation with temperature and relative humidity. Wind speed is the strongest factor that affects the magnitude of TSP dry deposition velocity, and the temperature is another considerable strong meteorological factor.We also find out that the relative humidity brings less impact, especially during the dry season. It is thus implied that the current global warming and urban heat island effect may lead to correlative changes in TSP dry deposition velocity, especially in the urban areas.     

Influence of habitat type and surrounding landscape on spider diversity in Swedish agroecosystems

Lycosid and linyphiid spiders were collected over a full cropping season around Uppsala, Sweden, in eight organic spring sown cereal fields in three different habitat types: field margin, field, and the edge between the two. The sites were located in landscapes with different proportions of non-crops, forest, perennial crops, annual crops, and number and sizes of arable fields. The field margin, compared with the field habitat, was found to be important for the activity density of lycosids, and for the species richness and composition of linyphiids. Landscape parameters were central for the activity density of linyphiids and for the species richness and composition of Lycosidae. A diverse landscape with easy access to perennial crops and forest in addition to field margins will augment both the number of species and individuals of the two spider families.     

基于"源""汇"景观格局指数的海河流域总氮流失评价

土地利用类型及其格局能够影响非点源污染时空特征,而景观格局分析方法是评价非点源污染的重要技术手段,但是传统的景观格局指数较少考虑景观之间的位置关系,导致生态意义不明确.＂源＂＂汇＂景观格局理论中的＂源景观＂和＂汇景观＂指的是促进和阻碍非点源污染发生的景观类型.通过收集海河流域2009年夏季26个子流域的总氮浓度数据,并结合1∶25万DEM和1∶10万土地利用图,构建了融合景观类型、面积、空间位置等信息在内的源汇景观格局指数,发现源汇景观格局指数与总氮浓度有很好的相关性,在燕山山区、太行山区和下游平原区的相关系数分别为0.86、0.67和0.65.结果表明,源汇景观格局指数能够很大程度上反映总氮的空间变异特征,可以为其它流域的非点源污染评价提供参考,也有可能作为输入参数提高现有水质模型的模拟精度.     

Set-aside management: How do succession, sowing patterns and landscape context affect biodiversity?

European Union (EU) member states set aside between 5 and 15% of arable land during the last two decades, but abolition of the set-aside scheme in 2008 caused a sudden loss in habitat availability and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Management of set-aside has many facets and in this perspective paper we focus on the biodiversity effects of successional age, sowing strategies and landscape context. Young, 1-2-year-old set-asides have been initially considered to be too ephemeral to have any conservation value. However, when a rich seed and bud bank is available, a species-rich natural (secondary) succession can be observed. Arable (annual) weed communities in the first two years of succession can even include endangered plant species with associated rare insect consumers. Furthermore, many bird species benefit from early-successional habitats, whereas small mammal communities are richer in older habitats. If the local plant species pool is poor, sowings of diverse mixtures from regional seed collections can be recommended. Set-aside managers using species-rich sowings often experience that dominant weeds suppress the less competitive annual species. This trend to species-poor communities can be avoided by intraspecific aggregation of competitively weak species. Broadening the spatial scale from the plot to the landscape, efficiency of set-aside is highest in simple landscapes, where set-aside exhibits greatest effect in enhancement of biodiversity and associated services such as pollination and biological control. In complex landscapes, however, additional set-aside does not add much to the high level of biodiversity and ecological processes already present. Twenty percent of semi-natural, non-crop habitat appears to be a rough threshold for enhancing biodiversity and sustaining services such as pollination and biological control, but improved set-aside management should have the potential to reduce the percentage of semi-natural non-crop habitat needed. EU policy should tailor set-aside schemes for the maintenance of biodiversity and also consider that management efficiency is higher in simple than complex landscapes.     

Endemic pollinator response to organic vs. conventional farming and landscape context in the Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspot

The effects of organic management and landscape context on two highly endemic and important pollinator taxa (bees and monkey beetles) were studied in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) biodiversity hotspot, where a quarter of the land is intensively managed mostly for grape production. This functional group was chosen as there is concern worldwide over pollinator decline, particularly in regions of high levels of endemism of both flora and fauna such as the CFR. Species richness and abundance of bees and monkey beetles were sampled and compared between organic and conventional vineyards, with natural vegetation as reference habitat. Species richness of monkey beetles, but not the species richness of bees, benefited from organic compared to conventional vineyard management. Our findings support the hypothesis that the effects of landscape context and management may be taxon dependent. Monkey beetles have been suggested as strong indicators of disturbance. These beetles are among the most important pollinator guilds in the CFR, as they help to sustain the endemic vegetation of this region. Protection of the remaining natural habitat in close proximity to farmland is an imperative conservation strategy in this region.     

云南澜沧江流域土地利用及其变化对景观生态风险的影响

利用GIS的空间分析功能,对云南澜沧江流域1980年、1992年和2000年3期TM遥感影像解译的土地利用解译数据进行图层代数运算,定量分析了土地利用变化及各种土地利用方式的相互转化关系;在土地利用变化的基础上,以景观干扰指数和土地利用类型的敏感度指数为评价指标,分析了不同研究时段内不同空间范围的景观生态风险变化情况.研究结果表明,自1992年以来该流域牛态环境受人类活动干扰增强,耕地、林地、草地三者之间相互转化频率较高;土地利用结构的变化已导致景观生态风险指数发生显著时空差异,中级以上的生态风险主要分布于该流域的中下游,分布范围呈东南向西北方向扩展,风险较高的地区增加幅度较大.受地形、地貌的影响,该区域的景观生态风险各向异性较显著,自相关范围在7.5km之内.澜沧江流域景观生态风险有扩大的趋势,应加强中级以上景观生态风险区域的生态保护与建设,以实现澜沧江流域的生态环境与社会经济的可持续发展.     

气候变化对湿地景观格局的影响研究综述

气候变化是影响湿地景观格局变化的主要自然因素。文章从气候变化对湿地水资源面积、湿地土地利用格局、湿地植被空间格局及湿地生物多样性格局的影响研究等方面进行了综述,并对完善气候变化下湿地景观格局变化的研究方法和技术手段进行了探讨。指出:应用气候模型进行未来气候预测时,应合理选择气候变化情景,并确保不同模型的时空尺度匹配;应用"3S"技术提取湿地类型信息、观测湿地土地覆盖变化时要确保信息的精度,不同来源的数据必须采取制图综合等手段;实现气候变化下湿地景观结构与生态过程相结合的动态格局分析。