Integrated coastal zone management in Italy: a gap between science and policy

This paper introduces the need, in Italian countries, of a real integration of scientific knowledge into coastal policy. Actually, in Italy, still exists a gap between Science and Policy, interfering the implementation of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) process, while there is no coordination between local, regional and national authorities. This lack of an overall strategy has induced some regions to adopt regional plans for the sustainable development of their coastal areas, to compensate the shortcomings of a national planning. Besides, along Italian coasts, there is a heavy landscape urbanization producing conditions of environmental decay and highlighting the risk of erosions in littoral areas. In this critical context, it is necessary to adopt an effective Integrated Coastal Zone Management policy, to connect ecosystem and environmental approaches with the social and economic development of coastal areas. So, in Italian landscape, it is necessary to integrate the national cultural heritage into coastal management, joining scientific and cultural issues. In this framework, ICZM process could play an important role connecting scientists and policy makers towards an effective integration for the social and economic growth of local people.     

Linking noninvasive genetic sampling and traditional monitoring to aid management of a trans-border carnivore population

Noninvasive genetic sampling has been embraced by wildlife managers and ecologists, especially those charged with monitoring rare and elusive species over large areas. Challenges arise when desired population measures are not directly attainable from genetic data and when monitoring targets trans-border populations. Norwegian management authorities count individual brown bears (Ursus arctos) using noninvasive genetic sampling but express management goals in the annual number of bear reproductions (females that produce cubs), a measure that is not directly available from genetic data. We combine noninvasive genetic sampling data with information obtained from a long-term intensive monitoring study in neighboring Sweden to estimate the number of annual reproductions by females detected within Norway. Most female brown bears in Norway occur near the border with neighboring countries (Sweden, Finland, and Russia) and their potential reproduction can therefore only partially be credited to Norway. Our model includes a simulation-based method that corrects census data to account for this. We estimated that 4.3 and 5.7 reproductions can be credited to females detected with noninvasive genetic sampling in Norway in 2008 and 2009, respectively. These numbers fall substantially short of the national target (15 annual reproductions). Ignoring the potential for home ranges to extend beyond Norway's borders leads to an increase in the estimate of the number of reproductions by -30%. Our study shows that combining noninvasive genetic sampling with information obtained from traditional intensive/invasive monitoring can help answer contemporary management questions in the currency desired by managers and policy makers. Furthermore, combining methodologies and thereby accounting for space use increases the accuracy of the information on which decisions are based. It is important that the information derived from multiple approaches is applicable to the same focal population and that predictions are cross-validated. When monitoring and management are constrained to administrative units, census data should be adjusted by discounting portions of individual space utilization that extend beyond the focal jurisdiction. Our simulation-based approach for making such an adjustment may be useful in other situations where management authorities target portions of trans-border populations.     

Optimal monitoring and control under state uncertainty: Application to lionfish management

State variables in many renewable resource management problems, such as the abundance of a fish stock, are imperfectly observed over time. In systems characterized by state uncertainty, decision makers often invest in monitoring to learn about the level of a stock. We develop a stochastic bioeconomic model of marine invasive species management under state uncertainty. The decision maker in our model simultaneously evaluates optimal investment in monitoring and population control. Using a recently-devised method for solving continuous-state Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs), we find that the ability to learn through monitoring can alter the role of population control in the optimal policy function, for example by reducing control intensity in favor of monitoring. Optimal monitoring depends on the management context, including in our application lionfish population structure. The rich transient dynamics of our model depend critically on the relationship between the initial conditions for information and invader abundance.     

Legislation and policy mineral aggregate resource management in Ontario,Canada

In the late 1960's unrest between the aggregate industry and residents of high production municipalities threatened the availability of aggregate resources. At the request of the aggregate industry, the Ontario Provincial Government examined the situation and in 1971 passed The Pits and Quarries Control Act. The intent of the Act was to regulate the operation of pits and quarries and provide for their rehabilitation.Four years later, in 1975, the inadequacies of the Act prompted the establishment of the Ontario Mineral Aggregate Working Party to examine the situation and suggest changes. Despite considerable improvements brought about by the Pits and Quarries Control Act, 1971, difficulties such as resource protection still existed. The Working Party was a new concept to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources because it was composed of representatives of all groups concerned with the mineral aggregate question—various government ministries, regional and municipal councillors and staff, industry and special interest groups. Secondly, the Working Party incorporated a public participation program into its policy recommendations.New legislation, to be known as The Aggregates Act, was given first reading in the Ontario Legislature on June 14, 1979 and is expected to be passed before the end of 1979. It will replace the present Pits and Quarries Control Act. Also, policy guidelines are being formulated to aid municipalities in the preparation of official plans and zoning by-laws in an effort to designate and protect mineral aggregate resources for the future.Rehabilitation of pits and quarries continues to be a high priority item, as evidenced by the research being undertaken and funded by the Province. Efforts are also continuing in resource inventory and in public education, in an effort to promote acceptance of the aggregate industry. The management of aggregate resources in Ontario has progressed substantially in the past ten years, but a sustained effort in management and control must continue.     

Ecology, management and monitoring of grey dunes in Flanders

Grey dunes are a priority habitat type of the European Union Habitats Directive and demand special attention for conservation and management. Knowledge of the ecology of coastal grey dunes can contribute to this policy. Dune grassland succession is initiated by fixation and driven by the complex of soil formation (humus accumulation) and vegetation development. Leaching and mobilization of CaCO₃. which are important in nutrient dynamics, complicate the picture. At present, grass- and scrub encroachment greatly overrules these fine scaled soil processes and causes substantial loss of regional biodiversity. Belgium has an international responsibility in grey dune conservation because of the limited range of its characteristic vegetation, flora and fauna. As biomass removal seems essential in grassland preservation, grazing is an important management tool. Evaluation of management measures focuses on biodiversity measurements on the levels of landscape, community and species.     

Phenotypic flexibility in response to environmental salinity in the euryhaline crab Neohelice granulata from the mudflat and the saltmarsh of a SW coastal lagoon

This study constitutes a first attempt to investigate intraspecific differences in osmoregulatory capacity and digestive and metabolic responses at the biochemical level in relation to hyper- and hypo-regulation in a single species of estuarine crab inhabiting contrasting habitats within a same intertidal area. We compared hemolymph osmolality, key digestive enzymes, glycemia and energy reserves in Neohelice granulata (Dana in Proc Acad Nat Sci Philadelphia 5:247–254, 1851) from the mudflat and saltmarsh of Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°32′/37°45′S-57°19′/57°26′W) under a wide range of salinities (6–60 psu). Individuals from both sites exhibited high and similar osmoregulatory capacity, but while in individuals from mudflat low and high salinities affected lipase activity in hepatopancreas and triglycerides in muscle, in crabs from saltmarsh, high salinities affected glycogen in anterior gills. Low salinity differentially affected free glucose in anterior gills. The results suggest the occurrence of intraspecific distinct digestive and metabolic adjustments in relation to osmoregulatory responses and habitat.     

The sands of Forvie (Scotland): A case study in geomorphology and conservational management

The Sands of Forvie, National Nature Reserve, Scotland is a complex coastal sand dune system which is associated with the dynamic estuary of the River Ythan. The dune system has developed over more than 5000 years. The south partis a peninsula of dunes, sandhills, sand arcs, erosion and deflation surfaces. The north part is superimposed on a rock plateau with a cliff coastline. This plateau is covered in glacial deposits and is essentially an upland heath landscape. Some of the best examples of large active parabolic dunes in Britain are found in North Forvie. The sequence of geomorphic development is described. As a nature reserve with a rich ecology it has been managed for conservational purposes since 1960s. As such it is an excellent case study of how conservational management has changed to become more flexible and more aware of the importance of dynamic processes.     

The sands of Forvie (Scotland): A case study in geomorphology and conservational management

The Sands of Forvie, National Nature Reserve, Scotland is a complex coastal sand dune system which is associated with the dynamic estuary of the River Ythan. The dune system has developed over more than 5000 years. The south part is a peninsula of dunes, sand hills, sand arcs, erosion and deflation surfaces. The north part is superimposed on a rock plateau with a cliff coastline. This plateau is covered in glacial deposits and is essentially an upland heath landscape. Some of the best examples of large active parabolic dunes in Britain are found in North Forvie. The sequence of geomorphic development is described. As a nature reserve with a rich ecology it has been managed for conservational purposes since 1960s. As such it is an excellent case study of how conservational management has changed to become more flexible and more aware of the importance of dynamic processes.     

When and how to use Q methodology to understand perspectives in conservation research

Understanding human perspectives is critical in a range of conservation contexts, for example, in overcoming conflicts or developing projects that are acceptable to relevant stakeholders. The Q methodology is a unique semiquantitative technique used to explore human perspectives. It has been applied for decades in other disciplines and recently gained traction in conservation. This paper helps researchers assess when Q is useful for a given conservation question and what its use involves. To do so, we explained the steps necessary to conduct a Q study, from the research design to the interpretation of results. We provided recommendations to minimize biases in conducting a Q study, which can affect mostly when designing the study and collecting the data. We conducted a structured literature review of 52 studies to examine in what empirical conservation contexts Q has been used. Most studies were subnational or national cases, but some also address multinational or global questions. We found that Q has been applied to 4 broad types of conservation goals: addressing conflict, devising management alternatives, understanding policy acceptability, and critically reflecting on the values that implicitly influence research and practice. Through these applications, researchers found hidden views, understood opinions in depth and discovered points of consensus that facilitated unlocking difficult disagreements. The Q methodology has a clear procedure but is also flexible, allowing researchers explore long‐term views, or views about items other than statements, such as landscape images. We also found some inconsistencies in applying and, mainly, in reporting Q studies, whereby it was not possible to fully understand how the research was conducted or why some atypical research decisions had been taken in some studies. Accordingly, we suggest a reporting checklist.     

Comprehensive urban planning and management at multiple scales based on ecological principles: a case study in Beijing,China

SUMMARY

Rapid urbanisation and serious environmental problems have led people worldwide to realise the significance of urban planning and management towards a sustainable environment. Beijing was used as a case study to develop a framework and strategies for sustainable development using ecological principles. At the regional level, Beijing-Tianjin agglomeration and Hebei Province are considered together. At the Beijing administrative level, some important measures are put forward for revision of the Beijing Urban Master Plan. At the Beijing plain level, the future spatial structure of Beijing city and the relationship between settlements, green space and transportation are considered, and three basic development patterns are proposed. At the inner district level, the ecological corridor system is suggested, based on ecosystem services. At the selected area level, a comprehensive strategy and key measures for conservation and renewal of old Beijing city core are provided. Once strategies for Beijing urban development are implemented step-by-step, a vision for future development can be achieved. This paper provides considerations for improvement of urban planning and management in China and other countries.     

Growth and collapse of a spring phytoplankton bloom in the Firth of Clyde,Scotland

A range of physical and chemical parameters were measured through the water column at two previously unstudied shallow-water sites in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, in the spring of 1991. Sediment traps were also deployed at one of the sites. The results of this survey are presented and discussed. A bloom of Skeletonema costatum was observed at one site through March and into April, when it collapsed completely, the phytoplanktonic cells sedimenting out of the water column. No significant bloom or sedimentation was observed at the second study site.     

Making a Model Meaningful to Coral Reef Managers in a Developing Nation: a Case Study of Overfishing and Rock Anchoring in Indonesia

Abstract: Most of the world's coral reefs line the coasts of developing nations, where impacts from intense and destructive fishing practices form critical conservation issues for managers. Overfishing of herbivorous fishes can cause phase shifts to macroalgal dominance, and fishers’ use of rocks as anchors lowers coral cover, giving further competitive advantage to macroalgae. Overfishing and anchoring have been studied extensively, but the role of their interaction in lowering coral reef resilience has not been quantified formally. We analyzed the combined effects of overfishing and rock anchoring on a range of reef habitat types—varying from high coral and low macroalgae cover to low coral and high macroalgae cover—in a marine park in Indonesia. We parameterized a model of coral and algal dynamics with three intensities of anchoring and fishing pressure. Results of the model indicated that damage caused by rock anchoring was equal to or possibly more devastating to coral reefs in the area than the impact of overfishing. This is an important outcome for local managers, who usually have the funds to distribute less‐damaging anchors, but normally are unable to patrol regularly and effectively enough to reduce the impact of overfishing. We translated model results into an interactive visual tool that allows managers to explore the benefits of reducing anchoring frequency and fishing pressure. The potential consequences of inaction were made clear: the likelihood that any of the reef habitats will be dominated in the future by macroalgae rather than corals depends on reducing anchoring frequency, fishing pressure, or both. The tool provides a platform for strengthened relationships between managers and conservationists and can facilitate the uptake of recommendations regarding resource allocation and management actions. Conservation efforts for coral reefs in developing nations are likely to benefit from transforming model projections of habitat condition into tools local managers can understand and interact with.     

A method for mapping fire hazard and risk across multiple scales and its application in fire management

This paper presents modeling methods for mapping fire hazard and fire risk using a research model called FIREHARM (FIRE Hazard and Risk Model) that computes common measures of fire behavior, fire danger, and fire effects to spatially portray fire hazard over space. FIREHARM can compute a measure of risk associated with the distribution of these measures over time using 18 years of gridded DAYMET daily weather data used to simulate fuel moistures to compute fire variables. We detail the background, structure, and application of FIREHARM and then present validation results of six of the FIREHARM output variables that revealed accuracy rates ranging from 20 to 80% correct depending on the quality of input data and the behavior of the fire behavior simulation framework. Overall accuracies appeared acceptable for prioritization analysis and large scale assessments because precision was high. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of the fire hazard and risk approaches and a possible agenda for future development of comprehensive fire hazard and risk mapping is presented.     

The contribution of policy,law, management,research, and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of three Australian vertebrate species

Extinctions typically have ecological drivers, such as habitat loss. However, extinction events are also influenced by policy and management settings that may be antithetical to biodiversity conservation, inadequate to prevent extinction, insufficiently resourced, or poorly implemented. Three endemic Australian vertebrate species—the Christmas Island pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi), Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola), and Christmas Island forest skink (Emoia nativitatis)—became extinct from 2009 to 2014. All 3 extinctions were predictable and probably preventable. We sought to identify the policy, management, research, and other shortcomings that contributed to their extinctions or failed to prevent them. These included a lack within national environmental legislation and policy of explicit commitment to the prevention of avoidable extinctions, lack of explicit accountability, inadequate resources for conservation (particularly for species not considered charismatic or not of high taxonomic distinctiveness), inadequate biosecurity, a slow and inadequate process for listing species as threatened, recovery planning that failed to consider the need for emergency response, inability of researchers to identify major threatening factors, lack of public engagement and involvement in conservation decisions, and limited advocacy. From these 3 cases, we recommend: environmental policy explicitly seeks to prevent extinction of any species and provides a clear chain of accountability and an explicit requirement for public inquiry following any extinction; implementation of a timely and comprehensive process for listing species as threatened and for recovery planning; reservation alone not be assumed sufficient to maintain species; enhancement of biosecurity measures; allocation of sufficient resources to undertake actions necessary to prevent extinction; monitoring be considered a pivotal component of the conservation response; research provides timely identification of factors responsible for decline and of the risk of extinction; effective dissemination of research results; advocacy by an informed public for the recovery of threatened species; and public involvement in governance of the recovery process. These recommendations should be applicable broadly to reduce the likelihood and incidence of extinctions.     

茶树上游猎型蜘蛛功能团对景观低碳管理模式的反应

目前温室效应加剧、生物多样性减少以及农田环境污染加重等问题已成为关注的焦点。由于蜘蛛是环境变化的指示标志和农业生中的重要捕食性天敌。通过选择茶树上游猎型蜘蛛为研究对象,调查分析景观低碳管理模式茶园（JG）与习惯管理模式茶园（XG）对茶树上游猎型蜘蛛组成、结构以及群落数量特征的影响。结果表明：JG茶园茶树上游猎型蜘蛛种类较多,有8个科,18个种;XG茶园有6个科,13个种;优势种和丰盛种中,JG茶园个体数为375头、195头,比XG茶园分别提高1.16、0.33倍。JG与XG两类茶园的蜘蛛种群数量特征在年龄结构、性别比例方面存在显著差异（P＜0.001）;JG茶园雌蛛个体数为157头、雄蛛个体数为320头,是XG茶园的1.12和1.32倍;JG茶园成蛛与幼蛛个体数是XG茶园的1.25和0.87倍,成蛛比幼蛛高出46.32%,而XG茶园成蛛比幼蛛高出21.82%;JG茶园蜘蛛种群数量特征发生动态显著高于XG茶园（P＜0.05）。JG茶园蜘蛛多样性指数和丰富度指数比XG茶园增加16.46%和12.14%。主成分分析表明,第一、二主成分累计贡献率达50.47%, JG茶园位置明显接近光盔蛛科（Liocranidae）、圆颚蛛科（Corinnidae）、跳蛛科（Salticidae）和管巢蛛科（Clubionidae）等蜘蛛群落数量分布较多的方向偏移,而XG茶园则向盗蛛科（Pisauridae）和猫蛛科（Oxyopidae）等蜘蛛群落数量分布较少方向靠近。由此可知,茶园实行低碳管理,实行复合种植,有利于减少CO2气体排放,保护茶树上游猎型蜘蛛种类多样性,提高对害虫的自然控制能力,为茶园固碳增汇,茶叶产值提高打下了基础。     

The importance of competitor identity,morphology and ranking methodology to outcomes in interference competition between sponges

The nature or structure of competition within communities has been a dynamic area of practical and theoretical research for a number of decades. Certain components of some communities have proved hard to incorporate within such studies; in marine benthic work this has included the sponges. In this study, intra- and inter-phyletic interactions involving sponges (7,817 in total) were studied on 125 rocks (ranging in surface area from 10 to 2,438 cm ²) at a site experiencing low disturbance levels at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve, Co. Cork, Ireland. The outcomes of sponge-sponge (intra-phyletic) interactions were significantly different in both outcome and structure to those involving sponges and representatives of other phyla. Typically sponge-sponge competition resulted in a much higher number of tied outcomes than did inter-phyletic encounters. Sponges over-grew all groups of organisms with the exception of some cnidarians and ascidians. The morphology of any sponge species (thickness in most cases) was important in determining the outcome of intra-phyletic, but not inter-phyletic, interactions. Sponges which exhibited thick (>2 mm) crusts were, in the majority of interactions, superior competitors compared to the thin (<1 mm) crusts. However, the method used to rank species (i.e. wins:loss or wins:total ratio) made a significant difference to the ranking of sponge competitors. The transitivity of the sponge assemblage investigated was calculated using the index formulated by Tanaka and Nandakumar (1994) as 0.23, indicating the assemblage to be organised as a network rather than a hierarchical system. We suggest this network of principally tied outcomes (due to standoffs) may be maintained in part by chemical interaction. However, in the absence of disturbance, the network is more likely to be mediated through processes of growth and regression of tissues during summer and winter months respectively.     

Using earth observation data from multiple sources to map rare habitats in a coastal conservation area

Kenfig NNR (National Nature Reserve) is a coastal sand dune system in south Wales, UK. The site is an important location for the conservation of the fen orchidLiparis loeselii, a significant proportion of the UK population is found solely on the site. Approaches to the mapping and monitoring of the habitats at Kenfig NNR using EO (Earth Observation) methods are investigated. Typical airborne EO missions over such sites produce more than a single source of EO data; these may include various optical imaging sensors with different spectral ranges, film cameras and ranging devices to measure topography. Conservation managers are thus presented with the problem of which sources of data to use when producing a land cover map of the site of interest. Using a data set gathered over the Kenfig NNR site, we investigate land cover mapping methods for conservation. The land cover types of interest typically cover small areas within a much larger site so they present a hard problem for the EO data and associated classification methods to solve. Land cover classifications produced from the data sets provide a set of competing hypotheses of land cover type for the site. Methods we use to resolve this competition between the data sets include voting methods, data fusion methods and a method utilising fuzzy logic to aggregate information. This paper is intended to act as an introduction to some of the issues involved in using EO data for habitat mapping in highly heterogeneous coastal dune environments and to present some preliminary results of the performance of each method.