Perspectives on area-based conservation and its meaning for future biodiversity policy

During 2021, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are expected to meet in Kunming, China, to agree on a new global biodiversity framework aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss, encouraging the sustainable use of biodiversity, and ensuring the equitable sharing of its benefits. As the post-2020 global biodiversity framework evolves, parties to the convention are being exposed to a range of perspectives on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, relating to the future framework as a whole or to aspects of it. Area-based conservation measures are one such aspect, and there are diverse perspectives on how new targets might be framed in relation to these measures. These perspectives represent different outlooks on the relationship between human and nonhuman life on Earth. However, in most cases there is a lack of clarity on how they would be implemented in practice, the implications this would have for biodiversity and human well-being, and how they would contribute to achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity of “living in harmony with nature.” We sought to clarify these issues by summarizing some of these perspectives in relation to the future of area-based biodiversity conservation. We identified these perspectives through a review of the literature and expert consultation workshops and compiled them into 4 main groups: Aichi+, ambitious area-based conservation perspectives, new conservation, and whole-earth conservation. We found that although the perspectives Aichi+ and whole earth are in some cases at odds with one another, they also have commonalities, and all perspectives have elements that can contribute to developing and implementing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and achieving the longer term CBD 2050 Vision.     

Global trends in research output by zoos and aquariums

Zoos and aquaria, often regarded as preservation-cum-entertainment enterprises, are also actors in the effort to curb the biodiversity crisis: raising awareness, supporting conservation, and conducting research. We assessed trends in zoo and aquaria research topics and study organisms over time worldwide. For the zoos and aquaria registered in the Species360's Zoological Information Management System and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we compiled metadata on their research published in the peer-reviewed literature indexed in Scopus and carried out a keyword frequency analysis. The production of scientific papers by zoos increased at a much faster rate than the average accrual of scientific papers in the literature. Evolution of research themes ran parallel to that of biological sciences (e.g., development of molecular genetics or increased awareness about conservation). The focus of 48.5% of zoo-led research was on vertebrates, of which mammal research was 33.7%. Whether zoos are effectively contributing to conservation may still be debatable, but our results highlight their institutional efforts to increase knowledge about the species in their care.     

An agenda for research and action toward diverse and just futures for life on Earth

Decades of research and policy interventions on biodiversity have insufficiently addressed the dual issues of biodiversity degradation and social justice. New approaches are therefore needed. We devised a research and action agenda that calls for a collective task of revisiting biodiversity toward the goal of sustaining diverse and just futures for life on Earth. Revisiting biodiversity involves critically reflecting on past and present research, policy, and practice concerning biodiversity to inspire creative thinking about the future. The agenda was developed through a 2-year dialogue process that involved close to 300 experts from diverse disciplines and locations. This process was informed by social science insights that show biodiversity research and action is underpinned by choices about how problems are conceptualized. Recognizing knowledge, action, and ethics as inseparable, we synthesized a set of principles that help navigate the task of revisiting biodiversity. The agenda articulates 4 thematic areas for future research. First, researchers need to revisit biodiversity narratives by challenging conceptualizations that exclude diversity and entrench the separation of humans, cultures, economies, and societies from nature. Second, researchers should focus on the relationships between the Anthropocene, biodiversity, and culture by considering humanity and biodiversity as tied together in specific contexts. Third, researchers should focus on nature and economies by better accounting for the interacting structures of economic and financial systems as core drivers of biodiversity loss. Finally, researchers should enable transformative biodiversity research and action by reconfiguring relationships between human and nonhuman communities in and through science, policy, and practice. Revisiting biodiversity necessitates a renewed focus on dialogue among biodiversity communities and beyond that critically reflects on the past to channel research and action toward fostering just and diverse futures for human and nonhuman life on Earth.     

Combined effects of life-history traits and human impact on extinction risk of freshwater megafauna

Megafauna species are intrinsically vulnerable to human impact. Freshwater megafauna (i.e., freshwater animals ≥30 kg, including fishes, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) are subject to intensive and increasing threats. Thirty-four species are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Red List of Threatened Species, the assessments for which are an important basis for conservation actions but remain incomplete for 49 (24%) freshwater megafauna species. Consequently, the window of opportunity for protecting these species could be missed. Identifying the factors that predispose freshwater megafauna to extinction can help predict their extinction risk and facilitate more effective and proactive conservation actions. Thus, we collated 8 life-history traits for 206 freshwater megafauna species. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the relationships between extinction risk based on the IUCN Red List categories and the combined effect of multiple traits, as well as the effect of human impact on these relationships for 157 classified species. The most parsimonious model included human impact and traits related to species’ recovery potential including life span, age at maturity, and fecundity. Applying the most parsimonious model to 49 unclassified species predicted that 17 of them are threatened. Accounting for model predictions together with IUCN Red List assessments, 50% of all freshwater megafauna species are considered threatened. The Amazon and Yangtze basins emerged as global diversity hotspots of threatened freshwater megafauna, in addition to existing hotspots, including the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Mekong basins and the Caspian Sea region. Assessment and monitoring of those species predicted to be threatened are needed, especially in the Amazon and Yangtze basins. Investigation of life-history traits and trends in population and distribution, regulation of overexploitation, maintaining river connectivity, implementing protected areas focusing on freshwater ecosystems, and integrated basin management are required to protect threatened freshwater megafauna in diversity hotspots.     

Protected area downgrading,downsizing, and degazettement as a threat to iconic protected areas

Protected areas (PAs) are expected to conserve nature and provide ecosystem services in perpetuity, yet widespread protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) may compromise these objectives. Even iconic protected areas are vulnerable to PADDD, although these PADDD events are often unrecognized. We identified 23 enacted and proposed PADDD events within World Natural Heritage Sites and examined the history, context, and consequences of PADDD events in 4 iconic PAs (Yosemite National Park, Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Yasuní National Park, and Virunga National Park). Based on insights from published research and international workshops, these 4 cases revealed the diverse pressures brought on by competing interests to develop or exploit natural landscapes and the variety of mechanisms that enables PADDD. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding of the conditions through which development pressures translate to PADDD events and their impacts, partially due to a lack of comprehensive PADDD records. Future research priorities should include comprehensive regional and country-level profiles and analysis of risks, impacts, and contextual factors related to PADDD. Policy options to better govern PADDD include improving tracking and reporting of PADDD events, establishing transparent PADDD policy processes, coordinating among legal frameworks, and mitigating negative impacts of PADDD. To support PADDD research and policy reforms, enhanced human and financial capacities are needed to train local researchers and to host publicly accessible data. As the conservation community considers the achievements of Aichi Target 11 and moves toward new biodiversity targets beyond 2020, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers need to work together to better track, assess, and govern PADDD globally.     

Effects of human demand on conservation planning for biodiversity and ecosystem services

Safeguarding ecosystem services and biodiversity is critical to achieving sustainable development. To date, ecosystem services quantification has focused on the biophysical supply of services with less emphasis on human beneficiaries (i.e., demand). Only when both occur do ecosystems benefit people, but demand may shift ecosystem service priorities toward human-dominated landscapes that support less biodiversity. We quantified how accounting for demand affects the efficiency of conservation in capturing both human benefits and biodiversity by comparing conservation priorities identified with and without accounting for demand. We mapped supply and benefit for 3 ecosystem services (flood mitigation, crop pollination, and nature-based recreation) by adapting existing ecosystem service models to include and exclude factors representing human demand. We then identified conservation priorities for each with the conservation planning program Marxan. Particularly for flood mitigation and crop pollination, supply served as a poor proxy for benefit because demand changed the spatial distribution of ecosystem service provision. Including demand when jointly targeting biodiversity and ecosystem service increased the efficiency of conservation efforts targeting ecosystem services without reducing biodiversity outcomes. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating demand when quantifying ecosystem services for conservation planning.     

厦门后溪流域沿城乡梯度浮游细菌多样性及其与环境因子的关系

为研究城市化对河流浮游细菌的影响,选取厦门后溪流域沿城乡梯度采集样品,并利用变性梯度凝胶电泳(Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)和多元统计方法对浮游细菌群落空间分布格局进行分析.结果表明,Shannon-Weiner多样性指数和DGGE条带数随着采样站点和城市中心距离的减小呈现先升高后下降的趋势.聚类分析(Cluster)和多维尺度分析(Multidimensional scaling,MDS)将12个站点的浮游细菌群落分为4组,测序结果显示β-变形菌(Betaproteobacteria)是优势类群,占40.0%.统计分析表明,pH和总氮(Total nitrogen,TN)是影响后溪浮游细菌群落组成最主要的环境因子,他们共同解释了47.6%的群落组成变化.总之,沿城乡梯度随着水体理化指标的变化,浮游细菌群落也发生明显转变,表明后溪浮游细菌受到城市化的强烈影响.此外,结果也提示DGGE可以作为监测与评价河流生态系统健康的重要工具.图6表2参33     

不同填料类型污染源水生物预处理的比较

中国南方水质性缺水地区污染广泛采用生物预处理工艺净化污染水源,微生物载体以固定式填料和流化型填料为主.为考察2种类型填料的运行效能和微型生物多样性,以长江三角洲地区的污染源水为例,利用现场生产性试验和连续流中试研究了半软性弹性立体填料和悬浮填料的主要污染物去除效能、填料的积泥和冲洗、微型动物的生长和分布规律.研究结果表明,夏秋季相同源水水质和运行参数等条件下,悬浮填料和弹性填料对NH3-N的平均去除率分别为80%和65%左右, CODMn的去除率分别为18%和16%左右;悬浮填料上的微型动物种类和数量均低于固定式弹性立体填料,且少见群居性微型动物.生产性装置运行结果表明,源水水质相对较差的条件下,悬浮填料对NH3-N和CODMn的去除率分别比弹性填料高5%~10%;悬浮填料没有出现群居性微型动物大量生长现象,无需定期反冲洗;固定式弹性填料的某些区域出现苔藓虫等群居性微型动物大量生长现象,且积泥严重,需定期反冲洗,甚至使用高压水枪强制冲洗.流化型悬浮填料更有利于污染源水生物预处理工程应用.     

环渤海潮间带秋季大型底栖动物生态学研究

对2008年9月在环渤海11个潮间带进行生态调查所获得的30个生物样品,以及对现场测定的温度,pH和ρ(DO)与沉积物样品分析的基础上,阐述了环渤海潮间带大型底栖动物群落的结构特点,并进一步分析了大型底栖动物与环境因子的关系. 调查共发现大型底栖动物76种,其中多毛类动物25种,软体动物24种,甲壳动物19种,其他类动物8种. 大型底栖动物的栖息密度和生物量分别为(367.40±187.30)m-2与(100.90±56.40)g/m2. 数据分析显示,环渤海潮间带大型底栖动物群落的优势种不明显,优势度大于1%的仅有4种,分别为托氏昌螺、四角蛤蜊、哈氏美人虾和中华近方蟹. 物种多样性指数则以位于渤海口的莱州湾最高,为1.909. 11个采样区域的大型底栖动物群落结构相似性总体较低,相似系数约为20%. 相关分析表明,大型底栖动物的种类数量、栖息密度和生物量与底质类型显著相关,而与温度,pH和ρ(DO)无明显的对应关系. 与历史资料相比,过去的30 a,环渤海潮间带大型底栖动物的种类数量因周围生存环境的变化以及污染等因素的影响而明显减少.      

黄河三角洲生物多样性保护与可持续利用的研究

根据1996-1998年对黄河三角洲环境质量、生物多样性等进行的全面、系统的调查与监测结果.重点研究了该区域大气、河流、湖泊、水库、浅海滩涂环境质量,海洋生物多样性、淡水生物多样性、陆生和海岛高等植物多样性、陆栖动物多样性与特点,分析了其破坏状况和原因,提出了生物多样性保护对策和可持续利用途径.黄河三角洲生物多样性调查研究结果显示:近海海域共鉴定出浮游植物116种、浮游动物79种、底栖动物222种、潮间带动物192种、鱼类112种,其他重要海洋动物11种;淡水水域共鉴定出浮游植物291种、浮游动物144种、底栖动物69种、鱼类102种;陆域和海岛共鉴定出高等植物608种、无脊椎动物922种、脊椎动物325种,有4种动物为山东新记录种.该区域湿地植被群丛多样,鸟类多样性丰富,重点保护鸟类种类多、种群数量大.