基于RS和GIS黄河三角洲水禽生境因子变化分析

将影响水禽生境选择的因子划分为水、食物、隐蔽物和干扰4类.用遥感(Rs)和地理信息系统(GIS)软件对黄河三角洲地区3期TM数据进行处理,对各生境因子采取一定的分类方法,得出该地区3个时期各生境因子图.通过面积、斑块数变化及转移矩阵的分析可以看出,各生境因子的结构发生了明显的变化,变化表现为干扰加重,积水地区面积增大,谷物草籽面积及适宜隐蔽物范围减少.人类的有意识活动(干扰)是引起各生境因子发生变化的主要驱动力.生境因子变化对水禽生境既有正面影响,又有负面影响.图9表5参30     

山西太岳山森林群落分布及其与环境因子的关系

研究太岳山群落分布及其与环境因子之间的关系,旨在为深入研究太岳山群落资源、生境和群落学特征奠定基础,亦为太岳山资源开发利用提供理论依据和实践参考。以山西太岳山森林群落为研究对象,从海拔1 600~2 200 m,海拔每上升100 m设置1个样地,每个样地由8个10 m×10 m的样方组成,并分别在每一个样方内取2个5 m×5 m的灌木样方和4个1m×1 m草本样方,共7个样地,50个样方。根据7个样地50个样方的调查数据,采用多元回归树(MRT)对群落进行分类;采用典范对应分析(canonical correspondence analysis,CCA)进行排序分析,旨在研究太岳山森林群落的植被分布格局。结果如下,(1)MRT分类将植被划分为6个群落类型。(2)太岳山森林群落样方与环境因子的CCA排序结果显示,12个环境因子对物种分布的解释量为40.78%,Monte Carlo置换检验结果显示,制约森林群落类型分布格局的主要环境因子是海拔、坡度、坡向和土壤p H值。(3)利用偏典范对应分析(PCCA)定量分离地形、土壤及其交互作用对植被格局总体变异的影响,分析表明,土壤因子和地形因子解释了物种格局变化的40.78%,其中地形因子占13.61%,土壤因子占19.53%,地形因子与土壤因子交互作用解释的部分为7.64%。地形因子和p H值对太岳山森林群落的分布影响最大,是决定植物群落空间分布的主导因子。     

祁连山北坡自然恢复杨桦林地植物功能型组成及其影响因素

依据生活型(乔木、藤本、灌木、半灌木、多年生禾草、多年生杂类草和一二年生草本)和水分生态型(旱生、旱中生、中生和湿生)将祁连山北坡次生杨桦林28个调查样地中的81个物种划分为18种植物功能型(Plant functiontypes,PFTs),并通过典范对应分析(CCA)方法研究植物功能型与环境因子间的关系.结果表明:自然恢复杨桦林地植物功能型主要集中在中生多年生杂类草(PFTs16)、湿生多年生杂类草(PFTs23)、旱中生多年生杂类草(PFTs9)和中生灌木(PFTs18)4个植物功能型上;乔、灌、草三层冠层特征和中生植物的大量出现,反映了群落植物生活型趋于复杂化和结构化,生态型逐渐向中生化方向演替的特点;土壤容重、有机碳和全氮含量主要影响植物的生活型分异特征,土壤含水量和林冠郁闭度是植物的水分生态型分异的主要环境因子,而坡位、坡度控制着群落植物总体分布格局的形成.图1表3参31     

塔里木河下游荒漠植物群落物种多样性及其结构特征分析

以29块植物群落调查样地资料为基础,采用物种多样性指数、丰富度和均匀度由高到低指数对塔里木河下游植物群落的物种多样性及群落结构进行分析。结果表明,研究区共有植物10科14属,出现频率居于前3位的植物依次为柽柳、黑果枸杞和胡杨;重要值以胡杨为最大（0．384）,其次为柽柳（0．230）,盐生草为最小（0．002）;优势建群植物胡杨主要分布在与河道垂直距离500m范围内。沿河道从英苏至阿拉干断面,地下水位逐渐下降,物种多样性总体呈下降趋势,群落结构由乔木-灌木-草本转为以乔木-灌木为主;随与河道垂直距离增加,群落密度和盖度均呈现先增加后减少的变化趋势,植物群落结构由乔木-灌木、乔木-灌木-草本逐渐演变为灌木-草本或单一的灌木结构。     

钱江源国家公园黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons)生境适宜性评价及廊道设计

黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons)是国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,由于人类活动干扰致使其栖息地破碎化,进而威胁黑麂种群生存。因此,识别黑麂适宜生境关键区,构建破碎栖息地之间的生境廊道显得尤为重要。以钱江源国家公园为研究区域,基于黑麂分布点位数据和环境数据,通过MaxEnt模型评价黑麂的生境适宜性,利用Linkage Mapper廊道设计模型和最小累积阻力模型(minimum cumulative resistance model, MCR)设计黑麂生境廊道。结果表明,训练集和验证集受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)与横坐标围成的面积(AUC值)分别为0.959和0.943,MaxEnt模型结果达到优秀水平;黑麂适宜生境面积为44.78 km~2,仅占国家公园总面积的17.8%;影响黑麂生境分布的主要环境因子为距阔叶林距离(29.4%)、海拔(19.2%)和距水源距离(15.2%);在选取的黑麂适宜生境关键区设计了3条黑麂潜在生境廊道,主要位于里秧田村、田畈村、库坑村及霞川村,廊道最小宽度设置为766 m,廊道总长度为12.70 km。该研究结果可为黑麂保护提供科学依据。     

卧龙自然保护区冷杉-铁杉林木本植物多样性在冷箭竹更新恢复过程中的变化特征

为阐明冷箭竹(Bashania faberi)开花枯死后的自然更新恢复过程中,冷杉-铁杉林内木本植物多样性的变化特征,洞悉亚高山森林植被在群落内部扰动影响下木本植物的响应,以四川卧龙自然保护区"五一棚"区域内的森林固定样地为研究对象,采用常规群落学调查方法,分析冷杉-铁杉林内冷箭竹更新恢复前期与后期的木本植物多样性特征.结果表明,木本植物中乔木树种的种类组成、多样性指数在冷箭竹更新恢复前期与后期之间没有显著变化(P 0.05),灌木植物的种类和同种植物的重要值以及多样性指数在前后期都有明显的变化,种类和多样性指数都略有增加(P 0.05);且不同样地在更新恢复的前后期,木本植物的多样性表现出不同的变化规律,海拔3 000 m以下的样地乔木树种的变化较小,海拔3 000 m以上样地有显著性变化;而灌木植物多样性在所有样地中都具有明显的差异,呈略微增长趋势;同时,不同样地之间在冷箭竹更新恢复前后期的乔木树种多样性,两两之间相差不明显,灌木植物在前期彼此相差较大,后期仅个别样地、个别指数有显著性差异,其余都无明显的统计学意义.本研究结果体现出演替顶级群落物种组成的稳定性,物种多样性在竹子更新恢复过程中的波动性,以及不同生活型植物(乔木树种、灌木植物)对环境变化适应的差异性,这为制定生物多样性保护与野生大熊猫栖息地生态恢复的策略提供了依据.(图3表4参54)     

鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区2种大雁的越冬行为特征及生态位分化

2014年12月至2015年3月,对鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区越冬的鸿雁(Anser cygnoides)和白额雁(Anser albifrons)的行为模式和生境选择进行调查。结果显示,鸿雁和白额雁均以静栖和觅食行为为主,鸿雁的静栖行为比例最大,白额雁的觅食行为比例最大;鸿雁的静栖行为比例极显著高于白额雁,觅食行为比例极显著低于白额雁,警戒和游走行为比例低于白额雁。在行为节律上,鸿雁的觅食高峰出现在14:00—15:00,静栖高峰出现在13:00—14:00;白额雁的觅食行为比例在8:00—9:00、11:00—12:00和16:00—17:00这3个时段较高,静栖行为比例在10:00—11:00、12:00—13:00和16:00—17:00这3个时段较高。觅食时间上的"错峰"将减轻两者对食物资源的激烈竞争以达到共存。在生境的空间选择上,鸿雁的生境选择和离岸距离生态位宽度均高于白额雁,2种大雁的离岸距离生态位重叠度较大,鸿雁主要选择浅水和泥滩,白额雁主要选择草地,2种大雁对生境的离岸距离均集中选择在400~500 m区间。2种大雁生境类型选择的分化避免了离岸距离生态位重叠度较大带来的种间竞争,利于种间共存。2种大雁生境的离岸距离主要选择在400~500 m区域,这既利于2个物种避免人为干扰,又可满足自身对食物资源的需求。     

塔里木河下游植物群落结构特征分析

对塔里木河下游经30a断流后的应急输水河畔植被进行外业调查,分析了调查区植物群落的种类组成、垂直结构、密度结构以及优势种群的格局分布,旨在了解输水后研究区植物群落在结构特征方面恢复程度。结果表明:调查样地内有植物13种,其中胡杨(Populus euphratica)、柽柳(Tamarix)、黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)、花花柴(Karelinia caspica)和疏叶骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)为优势种。不同地下水条件物种的重要值不同,表现在不同离河距离具有不同的物种组成结构,随地下水埋深不同植物群落由以胡杨和胀果甘草为主到以柽柳、黑果枸杞、花花柴和疏叶骆驼刺等抗旱耐盐碱植物为主。乔木层密度随着离河距离加大而减小,灌木层和草本层密度随离河距离加大呈先增加后减小的趋势。群落垂直结构随离河距离加大由乔-灌-草3层逐渐转变为灌-草2层,随离河距离加大趋于简单。优势种群胡杨在离河300m以内呈聚集分布,聚集强度随离河距加大而增强;柽柳灌丛在离河50m呈均匀分布,离河150m以外呈聚集分布,但离河750m段有向随机分布发展趋势。植物群落结构特征在不同的离河距离具有差异,说明经过输水下游植物群落的恢复在结构特征方面有响应,为区域生态治理和保护提供科学依据。     

环境因子和火干扰因子对喀纳斯泰加林柳兰分布的影响

喀纳斯泰加林植被的生长和分布受火干扰和环境因子的共同作用,为了解喀纳斯泰加林林下柳兰分布与生态因子的关系,促进种群扩繁,共设置了35个样地进行调查和分析。建立柳兰重要值与生态因子矩阵,利用CCA分析法对不同火烧林分中柳兰的生长分布状况与林火烈度、火后时间、海拔、坡度、坡向、郁闭度、土壤pH值、速效钾、土壤有机质、灌木层盖度、草本层盖度和草本层物种多样性指数等20个生态因子的关系进行了分析。结果显示,第一轴主要反映林火烈度、海拔、坡向,灌木层盖度、pH值、有机质、全钾和速效钾的变化;第二轴主要反映林火烈度、火后时间、草本层盖度、坡向、坡位、土壤容重、电导率、有机质、有效磷和全氮的变化。对柳兰分布有显著影响的生态因子是林火烈度、有机质、海拔、坡向、灌木层盖度、土壤容重、全钾和速效钾,前两轴的累计贡献率为72.48%。柳兰适合在土壤呈弱酸性、海拔低、阳坡、土壤容重小、土壤有机质、全钾和速效钾含量高的环境中生长。柳兰是阳性植物,是火烧后的先锋植物。对影响柳兰分布的生态因子进行定量分离,结果发现环境因子和火干扰因子对柳兰样地物种分布的解释能力为88.2%,显示出较好的排序效果。喀纳斯泰加林受人为...     

基于MAXENT模型的丹顶鹤越冬生境变化分析:以盐城保护区为例

盐城保护区是全球野生丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)迁徙种群主要的越冬栖息地之一。近年来,丹顶鹤越冬生境变化显著。应用MAXENT模型,结合丹顶鹤野外调查数据和主要环境特征变量,对2000—2013年盐城保护区丹顶鹤越冬生境变化和主要原因进行分析。模型分析结果表明,到道路距离、到养殖塘距离和到米草滩距离,以及到芦苇滩距离和到碱蓬滩距离分别是2000和2013年影响丹顶鹤分布的主要环境因子。2000—2013年期间,盐城保护区内丹顶鹤适宜生境面积持续减少,由94 571 hm2减少为22 365 hm2;适宜生境破碎化程度不断加剧,分布格局由连续分布变为集中分布在核心区周围区域。丹顶鹤适宜生境丧失与保护区内碱蓬滩、泥滩、盐田面积大幅减少,养殖塘面积大幅增加有关。建议保护区在丹顶鹤越冬生境保护中做好以下工作:(1)加强核心区湿地生境保护和恢复;(2)加强实验区和缓冲区人工湿地管护;(3)加强对保护区内人为干扰活动的监督和管理。     

圈养马麝(Moschus sifanicus)非繁殖季节行为特征及行为节律的性别间差异

采用比较研究法，分析了甘肃兴隆山麝场圈养马麝（Moschus sifanicus）的非交配季节（8—10月）行为特征的性别间差异，并探讨了行为模式的变化格局．结果表明，由于雌麝在非交配季节正处于哺乳期，育幼投资相对增加，警戒性增强，其静卧、摄食和反刍等行为的终止阈值下降；和雄麝相比，雌麝的站立凝视、静卧、摄食和反刍等行为的发生频次相对较多．育幼直接导致雌麝相互间的冲突行为频次增多，母幼间的行为联系使其亲和行为的表达频次多于雄麝．圈养马麝在非交配季节的月行为节律变化还存在性别差异，在8—9月间，雌麝表达的静卧和反刍行为的频次渐少，而由于雄麝8月后正处于泌香后期（成体）或泌香期（亚成体），因此其运动频次较少，卧息较多，摄食持续时间减少．随繁殖季节的临近，雄麝从8月到10月间的运动、尾阴探究、冲突行为、环境探究等动态行为的表达逐渐增加．图1表2参22     

Quantitative and ultrastructural studies on the reproductive biology of the polychaete Pholoe minuta in Galway Bay

Previous works by the present authors have identified, in a qualitative fashion, the reproductive cycle of Pholoe minuta (Fabricius) in inner Galway (53°13.5N; 9°7W). This quantitative, histological study, carried out over the period late May 1981 to late April 1982, shows that P. minuta is polytelic (two to three annual spawnings in an individual's lifespan). Individuals become sexually mature for the first time when approaching 3 yr of age. Estimates were made of the size of the reproductively active population (47 to 49%), sex ratio (1:1), duration (10 to 11 mo) and pattern (unimodal) of gametogenesis and fecundity levels (210 198 eggs m^-2). Maturation (mean oocyte size=85 m) and spawning (for 1 wk during late March through early April) were shown to be synchronised. Throughout oogenesis, follicle cells play an important role in binding together oocyte clusters, and desmosomal contacts are evident between oocyte and follicle cell plasmalemmas. No evidence for the synthesis of yolk precursors in the follicle cell cytoplasm was discovered. Oocytes are rich in Golgi apparatuses (yolk synthesising) and nuclear pores are numerous. Rough endoplasmic reticulum is distended in nature. Egg envelope development does not appear to commence until after the onset of vitellogenesis. Mature spermatozoa are of the primitive bullet-shaped type, with an unmodified acrosome. A possible method of elevation membrane formation is described.     

On the gestation period of the blackfin reef shark,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Carcharhinus melanopterus</Emphasis>, in waters off Moorea,French Polynesia

Underwater visual and photographic observations, over a four year period, monitored the presence of mating wounds on female blackfin reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus. Mating begins in November and continues until the end of March as each female follows her own temporal cycle. Correspondingly, parturition begins in September and continues until January. Each female again mates 1.5–2.5 months after parturition, thus completing an annual reproductive cycle. The gestation period is 286–305 days, with slight individual differences. All resident sharks under observation followed this pattern. Evidence of reproductive events presented by transient females conformed with the pattern of the residents.     

The mating system and alternative reproductive behaviors ofDendrobias mandibularis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Summary Adults ofDendrobias mandibularis fed at sites where sap oozes from the stems of desert broom,Baccharis sarothroides. These sites were used by only one individual at a time. Males practiced alternative reproductive tactics, and were separated into two distinct morphs. Major males had enlarged mandibles, were found significantly more frequently at feeding sites than elsewhere on the food plants, and defended the feeding sites to gain access to females that visited the sites to feed. Minor males had small mandibles, were found significantly more frequently in foliage of the food plant than at feeding sites, and usually did not defend feeding sites. Mandibles were used in aggressive interactions, which were always won by larger males. Mating occurred at feeding sites, on stems, and in foliage of the food plant. Major males were observed mating nearly twice as often as minor males. Major males mated significantly more frequently at feeding sites than in foliage; the reverse was true of minor males. Minors occasionally occupied and mated at feeding sites. They were unable to defend feeding sites against majors, but did so occasionally against other minors. Differences in frequency, mating success, and behavior of the morphs appeared to be linked to differences in environmental conditions between the two years of this study. This study demonstrated the importance of spatial distribution of food resources in the evolution of the mating system ofDendrobias mandibularis.     

Soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed burning in young Corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) stands

Fire is an important tool in the management of forest ecosystems. Although both prescribed and wildland fires are common in Turkey, few studies have addressed the influence of such disturbances on soil properties and root biomass dynamics. In this study, soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed fire were investigated in 25-year-old corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) stands in Kastamonu, Turkey. The stands were established by planting and were subjected to prescribed burning in July 2003. Soil respiration rates were determined every two months using soda-lime method over a two-year period. Fine (0-2 mm diameter) and small root (2-5 mm diameter) biomass were sampled approximately bimonthly using sequential coring method. Mean daily soil respiration ranged from 0.65 to 2.19 g Cm(-2) d(-1) among all sites. Soil respiration rates were significantly higher in burned sites than in controls. Soil respiration rates were correlated significantly with soil moisture and soil temperature. Fine root biomass was significantly lower in burned sites than in control sites. Mean fine root biomass values were 4940 kg ha(-1) for burned and 5450 kg ha(-1) for control sites. Soil pH was significantly higher in burned sites than in control sites in 15-35 cm soil depth. Soil organic matter content did not differ significantly between control and burned sites. Our results indicate that, depending on site conditions, fire could be used successfully as a tool in the management of forest stands in the study area.     

In situ evaluation of the genotoxic potential of the river Nile: I. Micronucleus and nuclear lesion tests of erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

This study aimed to investigate the genotoxic potential of chemicals present along the course of the river Nile using frequencies of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear lesions (NL) in erythrocytes of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus niloticus and African catfish Clarias gariepinus, as biomarkers. Results showed that most of the physicochemical parameters detected and heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in the water collected from the estuaries of the river Nile compared to other sites of the upper Nile. The frequencies of MN and NL in peripheral blood erythrocytes of Nile tilapia and African catfish were significantly higher in estuary sites in Damietta and Rosetta compared to upper sites. The lowest level of genotoxicity was observed at two sites (Aswan and Kena), considered to be less contaminated. Our results suggested that higher frequencies of MN and NL determined at Damietta and Rosetta sites may be indicative of damage produced by pollutants in these areas. The most remarkable result was that MN and NL frequencies appear to be strongly related to water quality at different sites examined, indicating that MN frequencies may serve as a reliable biomarker for testing genotoxicity in situ. The positive correlation between MN and NL induction suggested that NL may be a useful complementary assay for genotoxicity analyses when fish are used as experimental animals. It was also found that seasonal variations in MN and NL frequencies might contribute to a better understanding of genotoxic responses in the field. The use of fish as indicator organisms for monitoring the presence of genotoxic-inducing contaminants in the environment seemed justified because the effects of exposure to a “complex mixture” such as river water were obtained. Nile tilapia appears to be a more suitable bioindicator species than African catfish in studying genotoxic chemical pollution in the river Nile attributed to a higher sensitivity.     

Ecological Efficiency of Voluntary Conservation of Boreal-Forest Biodiversity

Abstract: Current networks of protected areas are biased in many countries toward landscapes of low productivity. Voluntary conservation incentives have been suggested as a socially acceptable way to supplement existing networks with more productive, privately owned areas of high priority for nature conservation. The limited resources committed to nature conservation demand cost‐efficiency. Efficiency, however, depends not only on costs incurred to society from alternative ways of maintaining biodiversity but also on ecological values that can be captured. We examined the ecological efficiency of the new market‐based voluntary program to preserve forest habitats on private land in southwestern Finland. We compared sites that have become protected (10‐year contracts) in the program with managed forests, with sites that have been negotiated for protection for which no contract has been signed, and with the most ecologically valuable privately owned sites in the region that have not been offered for protection by forest owners. We surveyed sites for the amount of dead wood, wood‐decomposing fungi, and epiphytic lichens to evaluate their ecological quality. Contracted sites had more features important for overall biodiversity than managed forests and negotiated sites with no contract. These results indicate that procedures used during site selection and negotiations were appropriate and not opportunistic. The contracted sites were also as valuable in ecological terms as the best, still‐unprotected, privately owned forests in the region that have not been offered for protection. We conclude that voluntary conservation programs have the potential to yield ecologically valuable sites for protection if the site‐selection procedures are appropriate. Reliance on completely voluntary programs, however, may entail uncertainties and inadequacies, for example, in terms of spatial configuration and persistence of the ecological values. Thus, such programs may often need to be supplemented with alternative methods such as land purchase to achieve an ecologically effective network of protected sites.     

Recovery Patterns of Understory Herbs and Their Use as Indicators of Deciduous Forest Regeneration

Abstract: Habitat fragmentation has reduced the richness of native species of forests in northeastern North America. Despite recent large-scale increases in forest cover, studies indicate that understory herbaceous plant communities may take many decades to recover. We studied recovery patterns of vegetation following up to 35 years of forest regeneration in restored former cottage and road sites at Point Pelée National Park, Ontario, Canada, to assess the vulnerability of the understory herbaceous species. Overall, there were no significant differences in the diversity of native species between restored and relatively undisturbed reference sites. There was, however, significant among-site variation in the composition of the native species component of these plant communities. When only restored sites were examined, variation in native species composition was associated with time since site restoration, soil moisture, canopy cover, and distance to continuous forest. Native species were assigned vulnerability rankings according to their relative occurrence in reference and restored sites. Spring-flowering herbs, with ant- or gravity-dispersed seeds, were absent from restored sites and were defined as highly vulnerable. In contrast, summer- and fall-flowering herbs, with vertebrate- and wind-dispersed seeds, dominated restored sites and were less vulnerable. Species of low and intermediate vulnerability had colonized restored sites successfully, and the latter should function as indicators of recovery. In contrast, species with high vulnerability rankings had not recovered at all and, because of their limited dispersal ranges, may recolonize restored sites only if they are actively reintroduced.     

Characteristics and potential environmental impacts of sand material from sand dunes and uplifted marine terraces as potential borrow sites for beach nourishment along the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba

The coastal zone management and development plans which include tourism development necessitate among many other management practices, the extension of the available area of the present natural but narrow, limited and widely eroded beaches by implementing some type of nourishment practices. The present work is providing information on selected sites as possible sources of suitable sand, chemical and granulometric characteristics of their sand, and the potential direct and long-term environmental effects and consequences of its use in any future nourishment practices. Seven sites located within the up-lifted terraces area along the Jordanian portion of the Gulf of Aqaba, were selected as potential sources or borrow sites for sand that may be used in any future nourishment projects. Two sites were selected at the northeastern side of Aqaba region to represent sand dunes. Sand material from these sites were analyzed for their physical characteristics (grain size) as well as their content of heavy metals, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and calcium carbonate. Standard methodological techniques were used during analysis of all constituents. The results were compared with those obtained from the analysis of sand deposits of six beaches along the Jordanian coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba. Results indicate that sand of the selected borrow sites has grain size fractions that are suitable for use in beach nourishment. Results of the measured pollution indicators indicate that their levels in the sand of the potential borrow sites are within or lower than their levels in the marine and coastal sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. These properties, in addition to the wide occurrence and availability of such sources along the coasts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, suggest that it will be a cheep source of sand for beach extension and restoration and their use in large amounts in beach nourishment project will not pose major hazards on the quality of seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba area     

Representativeness and Efficiency of Bird and Insect Conservation in Norwegian Boreal Forest Reserves

I quantified local species richness of birds in different forest types and of beetles in spruce forests at different altitudes. In both cases I quantified timber production as a measure of land acquisition cost and used the ratio between the species richness and timber production as a measure of conservation cost-efficiency. I found a positive correlation between timber production and local species richness of birds as well as beetles, indicating that the forests most valuable for forestry are also the ones most valuable for biodiversity conservation. I used different selection procedures for combining sites in a reserve network to find the minimum set of sites that included all vulnerable species. The minimum set of sites for birds was 30% spruce forest, 30% pine forest, and 40% broad-leaved forest (the three main forest types). The minimum set of sites for the beetles was uniformly distributed along the altitudinal gradient. Both minimum sets were most cost-efficient for species conservation. I suggest that equal coverage of different productivity classes is more efficient for optimizing biodiversity conservation than over-representing low productivity sites. Less than 1% of Norwegian boreal forests have been protected as nature reserves. The reserve network is fairly representative with respect to altitude, but it is seriously skewed toward low productivity sites. The current network is suboptimal with respect to forest type representativeness, species protection, and cost-efficiency. This is a result of an inefficient strategy of selecting reserve sites and an unfortunate combination of selection criteria.