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1.
The Fate of Priority Areas for Conservation in Protected Areas: A Fine-Scale Markov Chain Approach 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Park managers in alpine areas must deal with the increase in forest coverage that has been observed in most European mountain
areas, where traditional farming and agricultural practices have been abandoned. The aim of this study is to develop a fine-scale
model of a broad area to support the managers of Paneveggio Nature Park (Italy) in conservation planning by focusing on the
fate of priority areas for conservation in the next 50–100 years. GIS analyses were performed to assess the afforestation
dynamic over time using two historical maps (from 1859 and 1936) and a series of aerial photographs and ortho-photos (taken
from 1954 to 2006) covering a time span of 150 years. The results show an increase in the forest surface area of about 35%.
Additionally, the forest became progressively more compact and less fragmented, with a consequent loss of ecotones and open
habitats that are important for biodiversity. Markov chain-cellular automata models were used to project future changes, evaluating
the effects on a habitat scale. Simulations show that some habitats defined as priority by the EU Habitat Directive will be
compromised by the forest expansion by 2050 and suffer a consistent loss by 2100. This protocol, applied to other areas, can
be used for designing long-term management measures with a focus on habitats where conservation status is at risk. 相似文献
2.
Hatch L Clark C Merrick R Van Parijs S Ponirakis D Schwehr K Thompson M Wiley D 《Environmental management》2008,42(5):735-752
In 2006, we used the U.S. Coast Guard’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) to describe patterns of large commercial ship
traffic within a U.S. National Marine Sanctuary located off the coast of Massachusetts. We found that 541 large commercial
vessels transited the greater sanctuary 3413 times during the year. Cargo ships, tankers, and tug/tows constituted 78% of
the vessels and 82% of the total transits. Cargo ships, tankers, and cruise ships predominantly used the designated Boston
Traffic Separation Scheme, while tug/tow traffic was concentrated in the western and northern portions of the sanctuary. We
combined AIS data with low-frequency acoustic data from an array of nine autonomous recording units analyzed for 2 months
in 2006. Analysis of received sound levels (10–1000 Hz, root-mean-square pressure re 1 μPa ± SE) averaged 119.5 ± 0.3 dB at
high-traffic locations. High-traffic locations experienced double the acoustic power of less trafficked locations for the
majority of the time period analyzed. Average source level estimates (71–141 Hz, root-mean-square pressure re 1 μPa ± SE)
for individual vessels ranged from 158 ± 2 dB (research vessel) to 186 ± 2 dB (oil tanker). Tankers were estimated to contribute
2 times more acoustic power to the region than cargo ships, and more than 100 times more than research vessels. Our results
indicate that noise produced by large commercial vessels was at levels and within frequencies that warrant concern among managers
regarding the ability of endangered whales to maintain acoustic contact within greater sanctuary waters.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献
3.
Kari E. Gunson Anthony P. Clevenger Adam T. Ford John A. Bissonette Amanda Hardy 《Environmental management》2009,44(2):268-277
Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) pose a significant safety and conservation concern in areas where high-traffic roads are
situated adjacent to wildlife habitat. Improving transportation safety, accurately planning highway mitigation, and identifying
key habitat linkage areas may all depend on the quality of WVC data collection. Two common approaches to describe the location
of WVCs are spatially accurate data derived from global positioning systems (GPS) or vehicle odometer measurements and less
accurate road-marker data derived from reference points (e.g., mile-markers or landmarks) along the roadside. In addition,
there are two common variable types used to predict WVC locations: (1) field-derived, site-specific measurements and (2) geographic
information system (GIS)-derived information. It is unclear whether these different approaches produce similar results when
attempting to identify and explain the location of WVCs. Our first objective was to determine and compare the spatial error
found in road-marker data (in our case the closest mile-marker) and landmark-referenced data. Our second objective was to
evaluate the performance of models explaining high- and low-probability WVC locations, using congruent, spatially accurate
(<3-m) and road-marker (<800-m) response variables in combination with field- and GIS-derived explanatory variables. Our WVC
data sets were comprised of ungulate collisions and were located along five major roads in the central Canadian Rocky Mountains.
We found that spatial error (mean ± SD) was higher for WVC data referenced to nearby landmarks (516 ± 808 m) than for data
referenced to the closest mile-marker data (401 ± 219 m). The top-performing model using the spatially accurate WVC locations
contained all explanatory variable types, whereas GIS-derived variables were only influential in the best road-marker model
and the spatially accurate reduced model. Our study showed that spatial error and sample size, using road-marker data for
ungulate species, are important to consider for model output interpretation, which will impact the appropriate scale on which
to apply modeling results. Using road-marker references <1.6 km or GPS-derived data locations may represent an optimal compromise
between data acquisition costs and analytical performance.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. 相似文献
4.
Assessing Land-Use Impacts on Natural Resources 总被引:3,自引:1,他引:2
V. H. Dale A. W. King L. K. Mann R. A. Washington-Allen R. A. McCord 《Environmental management》1998,22(2):203-211
/ Much information is available on changes that occur in natural resources from both spatially-explicit data on environmental conditions and models of the interactions of these conditions and resources with human activities. The strategy for assessing land-use impacts on natural resources developed in this paper provides a framework for using relevant data and models to address questions of how management practices can promote both use and protection of resources. This assessment strategy integrates spatially explicit environmental data using geographic information systems (GIS) with computer models that simulate changes in land cover in response to land-use impacts. The computer models also simulate susceptibility of species to changes in habitat suitability and landscape patterns. The approach is applied to management of limestone barrens on the Oak Ridge Reservation in East Tennessee. Potential limestone barrens habitats are identified by overlaying appropriate soils, geology, slope, and land-use/land-cover conditions. Their validity is tested against known sites containing rare species that occur in these habitats. The location of habitats at risk in the aftermath of human activities is determined by using an available area model that identifies the size and proximity of sites that particular types of species can no longer use as habitat. The resulting risk map can be used in land management planning. The approach uses readily available in situ and remotely sensed data and is applicable to a wide range of locations and land-use scenarios. This approach can be refined based on needs identified by land managers and on the sensitivity of the results to the resolution of available resource information.KEY WORDS: Land management; Assessment; Habitat characterization; Limestone barrens; Ecological modeling; Geographic information systems 相似文献
5.
The response of soil respiration to short-term environmental factors changes has been well studied, whereas the influences
of long-term soil microclimate changes on soil respiration are still highly unclear, especially in tropical ecosystems. We
hypothesized that soil carbon accumulation in southern China, especially in mature forest during recent years, partly resulted
from reducing soil respiration rates. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the temporal trends and variations of air temperature,
soil temperature and soil water content (hereafter referred to as SWC), and then estimated soil respiration rates in the 1980s
and 2000s with soil temperature and SWC by regression model in three subtropical forests which are at early-, mid-, and advanced-successional
stages, respectively, in Dinghushan Nature Reserve (hereafter referred to as DNR) in southern China. The annual mean ambient
air temperature increased by 1.03 ± 0.15°C in the last 50 years (1954–2007) in DNR. Rainfall amount in the corresponding period
did not change significantly, but rainfall pattern changed remarkably in the last three decades (1978–2007). Soil temperature
is correlated with ambient air temperature. The average SWC was 36.8 ± 8.4%, 34.7 ± 8.1% and 29.6 ± 8.1% in the 1980s, and
then dropped sharply to 23.6 ± 2.9%, 20.5 ± 4.2% and 17.6 ± 3.9% in the 2000s, for the advanced, mid- and early-successional
forests, respectively. Concurrent changes of soil temperature and SWC may have a negative effect on soil respiration rates
for all three forests, implicated that soil respiration may have a negative feedback to regional climate change and carbon
could be sequestered in subtropical forests in southern China. 相似文献
6.
Sea-level rise: Destruction of threatened and endangered species habitat in South Carolina 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Concern for the environment has increased over the past century, and the US Congress has responded to this concern by passing
legislation designed to protect the nation’s ecological biodiversity. This legislation, culminating with the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, has been instrumental in defining methods for identifying and protecting endangered or threatened species and
their habitats. Current legislation, however, assumes that the range of a protected species will stay constant over time.
This assumption may no longer be valid, as the unprecedented increase in the number and concentration of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere has the potential to cause a global warming of 1.0–4.5°C and a sea-level rise (SLR) of 31–150 cm by the
year 2100. Changes in climate of this magnitude are capable of causing shifts in the population structure and range of most
animal species.
This article examines the effects that SLR may have on the habitats of endangered and threatened species at three scales.
At the regional scale 52 endangered or threatened plant and animal species were found to reside within 3 m of mean sea level
in the coastal stages of the US Southeast. At the state level, the habitats of nine endangered or threatened animals that
may be at risk from future SLR were identified. At the local level, a microscale analysis was conducted in the Cape Romain
National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina, USA, on the adverse effects that SLR may have on the habitats of the American alligator,
brown pelican, loggerhead sea turtle, and wood stork.
Prepared by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA; managed by
Martin Marietta Energy Systems. Inc. for the US Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-84OR21400. 相似文献
7.
Luan Xiaofeng Qu Yi Li Diqiang Liu Shirong Wang Xiulei Wu Bo Zhu Chunquan 《Journal of environmental management》2011
The Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is one of the world’s most endangered species. Recently, habitat fragmentation, food scarcity and human hunting have drastically reduced the population size and distribution areas of Amur tigers in the wild, leaving them on the verge of extinction. Presently, they are only found in the north-eastern part of China. In this study, we developed a reference framework using methods and technologies of analytic hierarchy process (AHP), remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), GAP analysis and Natural Break (Jenks) classification to evaluate the habitat and to set the conservation priorities for Amur tigers in eastern areas of Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces of northeast China. We proposed a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) incorporating 7 factors covering natural conditions and human disturbance. Based on the HSI values, the suitability was classified into five levels from the most to not suitable. Finally, according to results of GAP analysis, we identified six conservation priorities and designed a conservation landscape incorporating four new nature reserves, enlarging two existing ones, and creating four linkages for Amur tigers in northeast China. The case study showed that the core habitats (the most suitable and highly suitable habitats) identified for Amur tigers covered 35,547 km2, accounting for approximately 26.71% of the total study area (1,33,093 km2). However, existing nature reserves protected only (7124 km2 or) 20.04% of the identified core habitats. Thus, enlargement of current reserves is necessary and urgent for the tiger’s conservation and restoration. Moreover, the establishment of wildlife corridors linking core habitats will provide an efficient reserve network for tiger conservation to maintain the evolutionary potential of Amur tigers facing environmental changes. 相似文献
8.
Cerveny LK Blahna DJ Stern MJ Mortimer MJ Predmore SA Freeman J 《Environmental management》2011,48(3):644-657
U.S. Forest Service managers are required to incorporate social and biophysical science information in planning and environmental
analysis. The use of science is mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, and
U.S. Forest Service planning rules. Despite the agency’s emphasis on ‘science-based’ decision-making, little is known about
how science is actually used in recreation planning and management. This study investigated the perceptions of Forest Service
interdisciplinary (ID) team leaders for 106 NEPA projects dealing with recreation and travel management between 2005 and 2008.
Our survey data show how managers rate the importance of social and biophysical science compared to other potential ‘success
factors’ in NEPA assessments. We also explore how team leaders value and use multi-disciplinary tools for recreation-related
assessments. Results suggest that managers employ a variety of recreation planning tools in NEPA projects, but there appears
to be no common understanding or approach for how or when these tools are incorporated. The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
(ROS) was the most frequently used planning tool, but the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework was
the most consistently valued tool by those who used it. We recommend further evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of
each planning tool and future development of procedures to select appropriate planning tools for use in recreation-related
NEPA assessments. 相似文献
9.
Crab samples, both male and female specie, were purchased from fishermen at the Ojo Rivers, Lagos, Nigeria. The samples separated
into abdomen, muscle tissue, and thorax were oven dried at 80°C for 3 days. The dried samples were then pulverized in a clean
acid-washed mortar and pestle. Approximately 1.00 g each of the pulverized samples was weighed and Zn, Cr, Pb, and Cd were
determined in the solution of the aqua regia digested samples by means of AAS (Buck Scientific 210 GVP model). The results
obtained showed Zn metal to be consistently higher in all the female parts compared to the male with values of 12.92 ± 3.65 μg/g
to 16.03 ± 1.08 μg/g and 9.33 ± 1.77 μg/g to 15.75 ± 1.02 μg/g, respectively. Mean values of 0.39 ± 0.09 μg/g and 0.22 ± 0.02 μg/g
cadmium were found in the abdomen and tissue of the male crab as against 0.35 ± 0.07 μg/g and 0.17 ± 0.07 μg/g in the female
crab. The tissues of both species have comparable value of chromium. Lead was below the detection limit of 0.05 μg/g in the
tissues of male crab but the female tissue contained 0.83 ± 0.13 μg/g and in other parts identified, lead was consistently
higher than the 2.00 μg/g permissible level of WHO in foods. A simple pair t-test did not demonstrate any significant difference in the distribution of metals between the male and female crabs. The
coefficient of variation (CV) calculated for each metal with respect to the studied parts showed Pb to be widely distributed
(56.23–89.54%) while Cr did not vary widely (4.17–8.20%). 相似文献
10.
A commonly overlooked aspect of conservation planning assessments is that wildlife managers are increasingly focused on habitats that contain non-native species. We examine this management challenge in the Gila River basin (150,730 km2), and present a new planning strategy for fish conservation. By applying a hierarchical prioritization algorithm to >850,000 fish records in 27,181 sub-watersheds we first identified high priority areas (PAs) termed “preservation PAs” with high native fish richness and low non-native richness; these represent traditional conservation targets. Second, we identified “restoration PAs” with high native fish richness that also contained high numbers of non-native species; these represent less traditional conservation targets. The top 10 % of preservation and restoration PAs contained common native species (e.g., Catostomus clarkii, desert sucker; Catostomus insignis, Sonora sucker) in addition to native species with limited distributions (i.e., Xyrauchen texanus, razorback sucker; Oncorhynchus gilae apache, Apache trout). The top preservation and restoration PAs overlapped by 42 %, indicating areas with high native fish richness range from minimally to highly invaded. Areas exclusively identified as restoration PAs also encompassed a greater percentage of native species ranges than would be expected by the random addition of an equivalent basin area. Restoration PAs identified an additional 19.0 and 26.6 % of the total ranges of two federally endangered species—Meda fulgida (spikedace) and Gila intermedia (Gila chub), respectively, compared to top preservation PAs alone—despite adding only 5.8 % of basin area. We contend that in addition to preservation PAs, restoration PAs are well suited for complementary management activities benefiting native fishes. 相似文献
11.
Depletion of vegetation by overgrazing in arid environments has long-lasting effects on the environmental quality over extended
geographic areas. An adequate inspection of habitat changes requires scaled up procedures that would allow assessing end-points
of environmental status in broad areas that would be based on processes occurring at the plant canopy level. Our purpose was
to find indicators of land degradation–conservation status for use in land monitoring programs and in planning management
practices that would be amenable to further up-scaling for use with remotely sensed imagery. In several sites of the Patagonian
Monte differing in the impact of grazing management, we evaluated vegetation attributes at three spatial scales. At the population
scale, we found that the severity of grazing impact was characterized by the reduction of the palatable grass, P. ligularis, outside and inside shrub canopies. At the vegetation patch scale, we found that land degradation by domestic herbivore impact
was characterized by changes in attributes of patch shape (radius, height, internal canopy cover) and patch abundance. At
the plant community scale, we found that the structure of the plant canopy as described using Fourier analysis of cover data
changed after long-term grazing impact consistently with the modifications in plant population and patch structures. We present
a conceptual multiscale scenario of structural changes triggered by domestic herbivore impact, and quantitative indicators
of plant structure and processes useful to develop management strategies of the Patagonian-Monte that would conserve its natural
habitats. The developed end-points are also amenable for use in land conservation assessment through remotely sensed imagery. 相似文献
12.
Intensive black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) aquaculture ponds have replaced significant areas of coastal wetlands throughout tropical Asia. Few studies have assessed
potential impacts on avian foraging habitats. At Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park, Thailand, seminatural wetlands have been
converted to either shrimp ponds or to salinization ponds that provide saline water for shrimp aquaculture. Although shorebirds
cannot feed in aquaculture ponds, hypersaline ponds can provide productive foraging areas. Thus, the overall impact of the
shrimp industry on shorebirds depends partly on the relative quality of the salt ponds compared to seminatural wetlands. In
this study, we examined wintering shorebird use of tidal (N = 5 sites) and supratidal areas (four wetland sites, four salt pond sites) and compared the shorebird community (14 species),
prey availability, profitability, and disturbance rates between wetlands and salt ponds. Two shorebird species fed in higher
densities in wetlands, whereas seven species were more abundant in salt ponds. Large juvenile fish and dragonfly larvae were
more abundant in wetlands, whereas there were more small Chironomid midge and fly larvae in salt ponds. We conclude that salt ponds might provide higher-quality foraging habitats compared to
wetlands for small shorebirds species because of the abundance of small larvae. However, the shrimp aquaculture industry reduces
habitat availability for shorebirds feeding on larger prey. This study demonstrates a comprehensive, multispecies approach
to assess the impacts of a large-scale change in coastal habitats for wintering shorebirds. 相似文献
13.
Textile mill waste can be vermicomposted if it is mixed in the range of 20–30% with cow dung. This article reports the effect
of inoculation, of nitrogen fixing Azotobacter chroococcum strain; Azospirillum brasilense strain and phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas maltophila, on nitrogen and phosphorus content of vermicomposts prepared from cow dung (CD) and cow dung spiked textile mill sludge
(CD + STMS). The CD vermicompost was more supportive to the growth and multiplication of all the three bacteria than CD + STMS
vermicompost. In Azotobacter chroococcum treated vermicomposts maximum nitrogen content was recorded between 45 and 60 days [CD␣vermicompost (25.9 ± 0.45 g kg−1) and CD + STMS vermicompost (20.6 ± 0.62 g kg−1)] followed by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation [CD vermicompost (19.4 ± 0.60 g kg−1) and CD + STMS vermicompost (18.6 ± 0.17 g kg−1)]. Phosphorus content in Pseudomonas maltophila inoculated CD vermicompost was 20.8 ± 0.20 g kg−1 and CD + STMS vermicompost was 13.4 ± 0.45 g kg−1 after 75th day of inoculation. 相似文献
14.
Neil Aldrin D. Mallari Nigel J. Collar Philip J. K. McGowan Stuart J. Marsden 《Environmental management》2013,51(6):1236-1246
The lack of scientific baseline information hinders appropriate design and management of protected areas. To illustrate the value of science to management, we consider five scenarios for the 202.0 km² Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines: (1) closure to human activities, (2) and (3) two levels of increase in unplanned human activities, (4) creation of a forest corridor and (5) additional allocation of land for permanent or shifting agriculture. We then use habitat-specific bird density estimates to simulate the net effect of each scenario on 18 focal bird populations. Closure has significant benefits—populations of five species are predicted to increase by >50 % and nine by >25 %, but two secondary forest flycatchers, including the endemic and ‘Vulnerable’ Palawan flycatcher, decline dramatically, while the creation of a 4.0 km² forest corridor yields average increases across species of 2 ± 4 % (SD). In contrast, heavier unplanned park usage produces declines in all but a few species, while the negative effects of an extra 2.0 km² of shifting cultivation are 3–5 times higher than for a similar area of permanent agriculture and affect species whose densities are highest in primary habitats. Relatively small changes within the park, especially those associated with agricultural expansion, has serious predicted implications for local bird populations. Our models do not take into account the full complexities of bird ecology at a site, but they do provide park managers with an evidence base from which to make better decisions relating to biodiversity conservation obligations which their parks are intended to meet. 相似文献
15.
This article describes the history of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP), in the Riverside
County region of Southern California. When this collaborative biodiversity conservation planning process began, in 1994, local
participants and supporters had numerous factors working in their favor. Yet, as of April 2007, nearly 13 years had passed
without an approved plan. This is a common problem. Many multiple species habitat conservation plans now take more than a
decade to complete, and the long duration of these processes often results in negative consequences. The CVMSHCP process became
bogged down—despite strong scientific input and many political advantages—due to problematic relationships between the Plan’s
local supporters, its municipal signatory parties, and officials from the state and federal wildlife agencies, particularly
the regional office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This case study demonstrates the crucial importance of institutional
structures and relationships, process management, and timeliness in habitat conservation planning. We conclude by offering
several related recommendations for future HCP processes. 相似文献
16.
Spencer A. Peterson David P. Larsen Steven G. Paulsen N. Scott Urquhart 《Environmental management》1998,22(5):789-801
N = 11,076). Results were compared to a large, nonrandomly sampled data set for the same area compiled by Rohm and others and
contrasted with lake trophic state information published in the National Water Quality Inventory: 1994 Report to Congress
[305(b) report. Lakes across the entire Northeast were identified by EMAP data as 37.9% (±8.4%) oligotrophic, 40.1% (±9.7%)
mesotrophic, 12.6% (±7.9%) eutrophic, and 9.3% (±6.3%) hypereutrophic. Lakes in the ADI and NEU generally are at a low, nearly
identical trophic state (96% oligotrophic/mesotrophic), while those in the CLP are much richer (45% eutrophic). EMAP results
are similar to results of the Rohm data set across the entire region. In the CLP, however, EMAP identified approximately 45%
of the lakes as eutrophic/hypereutrophic, while the Rohm data set identified only 21% in these categories. Across the entire
Northeast, the 305(b) report identified a much higher proportion (32.2%) of lakes in eutrophic condition and a much smaller
proportion (19.8%) in oligotrophic condition than did the EMAP survey data (12.5% ± 7.9% and 37.9% ± 8.5%, respectively).
Probability sampling has several advantages over nonrandom sampling when regional resource condition assessment is the goal. 相似文献
17.
Katharine R. Stone David S. Pilliod Kathleen A. Dwire Charles C. Rhoades Sherry P. Wollrab Michael K. Young 《Environmental management》2010,46(1):91-100
Two decades of uncharacteristically severe wildfires have caused government and private land managers to actively reduce hazardous
fuels to lessen wildfire severity in western forests, including riparian areas. Because riparian fuel treatments are a fairly
new management strategy, we set out to document their frequency and extent on federal lands in the western U.S. Seventy-four
USDA Forest Service Fire Management Officers (FMOs) in 11 states were interviewed to collect information on the number and
characteristics of riparian fuel reduction treatments in their management district. Just under half of the FMOs surveyed (43%)
indicated that they were conducting fuel reduction treatments in riparian areas. The primary management objective listed for
these projects was either fuel reduction (81%) or ecological restoration and habitat improvement (41%), though multiple management
goals were common (56%). Most projects were of small extent (93% < 300 acres), occurred in the wildland-urban interface (75%),
and were conducted in ways to minimize negative impacts on species and habitats. The results of this survey suggest that managers
are proceeding cautiously with treatments. To facilitate project planning and implementation, managers recommended early coordination
with resource specialists, such as hydrologists and fish and wildlife biologists. Well-designed monitoring of the consequences
of riparian fuel treatments on fuel loads, fire risk, and ecological effects is needed to provide a scientifically-defensible
basis for the continued and growing implementation of these treatments. 相似文献
18.
Tarsitano E 《Environmental management》2006,38(5):799-809
In urban ecosystems, the ecological system has become completely unbalanced; this, in turn, has led to an increase in well-known
problems such as air pollution, ground pollution, and water pollution. This imbalance has also led to the growth and spread
of pathogens harmful to man, animals, and plants. Urban sustainability indicators, both global and local, also “indicate”
the percentage of population, but these refer only to the human population, not the animal population. Cities need good waste,
water, and air management, effective traffic planning, and good zoning of businesses, crafts, and services; over and above
these activities, cities also need for planning to take into account the existence of pets (dogs, cats, and etc.) and nonpet
animals (insects, birds, mice, etc.). Cities tend to be designed around humans and “on a human scale,” without taking into
account the fact that a huge animal population is living side by side with people. That explains why overcrowding tends to
go hand in hand with urbanization; all these populations, including humans, need to adapt to new spaces and often need to
drastically change their behavior. This is a fact that must be included when drafting sustainable city plans. The supposed
strategy is that of “integrated-participatory” control of the interactions between the environment and animals in the cities.
Strategy will focus on the development of integrated approaches and tools for environment and animal management in the context
of urban settings. This will require such specific methods as ecological balance sheets and ecoplans for the planning, management,
and control of the interrelation among environment, animal, and public health. The objective is to develop a better understanding
of urban biodiversity and of urban ecosystem functioning, in order to understand and minimize the negative impacts of human
activities on them. The research will focus on assessing and forecasting changes in urban biodiversity, structure, function,
and dynamics of urban ecosystems, with relationships among society, economy, biodiversity, and habitats. 相似文献
19.
Habitat loss and modification is one of the major threats to biodiversity and the preservation of conservation values. We use the term conservation value to mean the benefit of nature or habitats for species. The importance of identifying and preserving conservation values has increased with the decline in biodiversity and the adoption of more stringent environmental legislation. In this study, conservation values were considered in the context of land-use planning and the rapidly increasing demand for more accurate methods of predicting and identifying these values. We used a k-nearest neighbor interpreted satellite (Landsat TM) image classified in 61 classes to assess sites with potential conservation values at the regional and landscape planning scale. Classification was made at the National Land Survey of Finland for main tree species, timber volume, land-use type, and soil on the basis of spectral reflectance in satellite image together with broad numerical reference data. We used the number and rarity of vascular plant species observed in the field as indicators for potential conservation values. We assumed that significant differences in the species richness, rarity, or composition of flora among the classes interpreted in the satellite image would also mean a difference in conservation values among these classes. We found significant differences in species richness among the original satellite image classes. Many of the classes examined could be distinguished by the number of plant species. Species composition also differed correspondingly. Rare species were most abundant in old spruce forests (>200 m3/ha), raising the position of such forests in the ranking of categories according to conservation values. The original satellite image classification was correct for 70% of the sites studied. We concluded that interpreted satellite data can serve as a useful source for evaluating habitat categories on the basis of plant species richness and rarity. Recategorization of original satellite image classification into such new conservation value categories is challenging because of the variation in species composition among the new categories. However, it does not represent a major problem for the purposes of early-stage land-use planning. Benefits of interpreted satellite image recategorization as a rapid conservation value assessment tool for land-use planners would be great. 相似文献
20.
Zambrano L Contreras V Mazari-Hiriart M Zarco-Arista AE 《Environmental management》2009,43(2):249-263
Awareness of environmental heterogeneity in ecosystems is critical for management and conservation. We used the Xochimilco
freshwater system to describe the relationship between heterogeneity and human activities. This tropical aquatic ecosystem
south of Mexico City is comprised of a network of interconnected canals and lakes that are influenced by agricultural and
urban activities. Environmental heterogeneity was characterized by spatially extensive surveys within four regions of Xochimilco
during rainy and dry seasons over 2 years. These surveys revealed a heterogeneous system that was shallow (1.1 m, SD = 0.4 ),
warm (17°C, SD = 2.9), well oxygenated (5.0 mg l−1, SD = 3), turbid (45.7 NTU SD = 26.96), and extremely nutrient-rich (NO3–N = 15.9 mg l−1, SD=13.7; NH4–N = 2.88 mg l−1, SD = 4.24; and PO4–P = 8.3 mg l−1, SD = 2.4). Most of the variables were not significantly different between years, but did differ between seasons, suggesting
a dynamic system within a span of a year but with a high resilience over longer periods of time. Maps were produced using
interpolations to describe distributions of all variables. There was no correlation between individual variables and land
use. Consequently, we searched for relationships using all variables together by generating a combined water quality index.
Significant differences in the index were apparent among the four regions. Index values also differed within individual region
and individual water bodies (e.g., within canals), indicating that Xochimilco has high local heterogeneity. Using this index
on a map helped to relate water quality to human activities and provides a simple and clear tool for managers and policymakers. 相似文献