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Boncourt E, Bergès L, Alp M, Dupont B, Herviault T, Evette A. Riparian habitat connectivity restoration in an anthropized landscape: A multi-species approach based on landscape graph and soil bioengineering structures. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 73:1247-1264. [PMID: 38478071 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01959-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
In urbanized areas, rivers and riparian ecosystems are often the only ecological corridors available for wildlife movement. There, riverbanks are often stabilised by civil engineering structures (dykes, riprap). This can lead to habitat degradation and loss of landscape connectivity. Fascines (willow bundles tied together) could be an alternative to riprap, since they maintain the quality of the natural ecosystems by using native vegetal species instead of rocks, but their potential positive impact needs to be assessed. We proposed a landscape-scale decision-making method for river managers who want to restore banks by transforming riprap into fascines to improve landscape connectivity. We applied our methodology to a case study involving a 25 km-stretch of the Arve River, France. We selected four target vertebrate species based on biological traits to cover a wide range of dispersal capacities. For each species, we used landscape graphs to assess habitat connectivity under different contrasted riverbank scenarios. Scenarios included replacing all-natural banks with ripraps or replacing all ripraps with fascines. In addition, we systematically tested the effect of replacing individual 100 or 500 m sections of ripraps by fascines, to locate where riverbank restoration would maximize connectivity gain. The four species selected responded very differently to the scenarios (up to +14% and +46% change in Probability of Connectivity for common toads and Eurasian beavers, respectively, 0% for common sandpipers and barred grass snakes). The restoration of specific riverbank sections could result in important gains in PC (up to +33% for one single section for one species) but no section maximized connectivity gain for all the target species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Boncourt
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, LESSEM, F-38402, St-Martin-d'Hères, France.
| | - Laurent Bergès
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, LESSEM, F-38402, St-Martin-d'Hères, France
| | - Maria Alp
- RiverLy, INRAE, F-69625, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Blandine Dupont
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, LESSEM, F-38402, St-Martin-d'Hères, France
| | | | - André Evette
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, LESSEM, F-38402, St-Martin-d'Hères, France
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Li J, Chen X, De Maeyer P, Van de Voorde T, Li Y. Ecological security warning in Central Asia: Integrating ecosystem services protection under SSPs-RCPs scenarios. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168698. [PMID: 38040380 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Ecological security patterns (ESPs) are designed to enhance ecosystem structure and functionality while preserving vital ecosystem services (ESs). This study not only integrated the ES trade-offs related to ecological security warning, but also considered the effects of future climate changes and human activities on ESPs. By combining the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ), the dry sedimentation (DS) model, the recreation opportunity map (ROM) and the integrated valuation of ESs and trade-offs (InVEST) model, this study projected provisioning services, regulation services and cultural services in Central Asia (CA) for historical periods (1995-2014) and future scenarios (2021-2099). An ecological security early-warning (source - corridor - barriers) framework was constructed based on the protection of ESs under the SSP126, SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. The ordered weighted averaging method (OWA) was applied to this framework to identify ecological sources. The Minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) and circuit theory were used to construct ecological corridors and barriers. Our results revealed that ES hotspot areas will decrease by 11.75 % to 16.42 % in CA under the SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 scenarios. Under the ecological warning framework, the ecological source warning area will reach 792 km2-1942 km2 and 6591 km2-17,465 km2 under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. In particular, in the 2050s under the SSP245 scenario, the number of key ecological corridor warnings will exceed 50 % of the total number of corridors. We found that ecological barrier warnings will mainly be distributed in desert areas with low vegetation coverage in southwestern CA. Building upon the reorganization of ESs within the ESP framework, we propose an ecological early warning strategy referred to as "one axis, two belts, two cores, and three zones". This novel approach aims to enhance our ability to predict and respond to ecological threats and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Urumqi 830011, China; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Xi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Philippe De Maeyer
- Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Urumqi 830011, China; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Tim Van de Voorde
- Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Urumqi 830011, China; Sino-Belgian Joint Laboratory of Geo-information, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Yaoming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
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Chen X, Gu YG, Xie X, Ying Z, Luo Z, Zhang W, Xie M, Fan J. A new strategy for optimizing marine protection networks by considering functional connectivity: An example of Tachypleus tridentatus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 911:168763. [PMID: 38000752 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The concept of creating a conservation network through the establishment of multiple protected areas to protect marine fauna is gaining momentum. To effectively establish a network that yields favorable outcomes, it is imperative to identify suitable areas that foster optimal connectivity. Given the swift development of coastal areas, it has become necessary to develop cost-effective measures that yield maximum conservation benefits. However, exploration of these ideas for application to marine conservation networks remains scarce. In this study, we used the horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) in the Beibu Gulf as an example. The species and environmental data were collected through field sampling and remote sensing. The species distribution model, the least-cost path model, and circuit theory were employed to establish a marine conservation network. The functional connectivity metrics were employed to optimize both the interconnection and economic efficiency of the network. The results indicated a low presence of adult horseshoe crabs in the Beibu Gulf, with average densities of 1.47 and 1.43 ind./km2 among the 38 surveyed stations in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The species distribution model accurately predicted juvenile presence in mudflats and adult presence offshore, and it identified 43 potential areas that are suitable for the establishment of marine protected areas. The marine protected areas that ranked higher in importance contributed significantly to maintaining the integrity of regional connectivity. The network connectivity shows a law of diminishing returns as the number of marine protected areas increases. The framework developed in this study will provide decision support for building and optimizing marine conservation networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohai Chen
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; College of Fisheries Science and Life Science of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yang-Guang Gu
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xiaoyong Xie
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China..
| | - Ziwei Ying
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; College of Fisheries Science and Life Science of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zimeng Luo
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; College of Fisheries Science and Life Science of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Wanling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; College of Fisheries Science and Life Science of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Mujiao Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Jing Fan
- Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment; South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; College of Fisheries Science and Life Science of Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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Chen ZA, Chen Y, Liu Z, Wei X, Zheng X. Dynamic simulation of land use change and habitat quality assessment under climate change scenarios in Nanchang, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:2569-2582. [PMID: 38066269 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31304-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Investigating habitat quality under different climate scenarios holds significant importance for sustainable land resource management and ecological conservation. In this study, considering Nanchang as a case study, a coupled patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) and system dynamics (SD) model was employed in the simulation and prediction of land usage under shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) and representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios. To assess the habitat quality in Nanchang from 2000 to 2020 and in 2030 under three diverse climate scenarios, we used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model to analyze spatial and temporal changes. The findings indicate that the regions of forest land, cultivated land, and grassland in Nanchang City will dramatically decrease by 2030, the construction land will rapidly expand, and the fluctuations in the unutilized land and water area will be minimal. Additionally, the habitat quality declined from 2000 to 2020, and its spatial distributions changed. Zones having a high overall habitat quality were distributed in the mountains, hills, and lake areas, whereas those with relatively low quality were found in cultivated and urban areas. Under three climate scenarios, in 2030, the habitat quality index for Nanchang City will show a decreasing trend, mainly owing to areas with an index of 0.3-0.5 transitioning to <0.3. Considering each scenario, the degree of habitat degradation increased in the order SSP585>SSP245>SSP119. The findings of this study will inform high-quality development and biodiversity conservation in Nanchang City.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu-An Chen
- School of Surveying, Mapping and Spatial Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, No. 418 Guanglan Road, 330013, Jiangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Mine Environmental Monitoring and Improving around Poyang Lake, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Yasi Chen
- School of Surveying, Mapping and Spatial Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, No. 418 Guanglan Road, 330013, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ziqiang Liu
- School of Surveying, Mapping and Spatial Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, No. 418 Guanglan Road, 330013, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Xiaojian Wei
- School of Surveying, Mapping and Spatial Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, No. 418 Guanglan Road, 330013, Jiangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Mine Environmental Monitoring and Improving around Poyang Lake, Ministry of Natural Resources, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Xiping Zheng
- School of Surveying, Mapping and Spatial Information Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, No. 418 Guanglan Road, 330013, Jiangxi, China
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Tang H, Peng J, Jiang H, Lin Y, Dong J, Liu M, Meersmans J. Spatial analysis enables priority selection in conservation practices for landscapes that need ecological security. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118888. [PMID: 37690245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Global urbanization has not only promoted social and economic development, but also contributed to seriously ecological challenges. As a type of sustainable landscape patterns, ecological security pattern is considered as an effective spatial pathway to simultaneously conserve ecological security and maintain social-economic development. However, the fragmentation issue of ecological sources of ecological security pattern has not been effectively addressed, although many case studies have been conducted to identify ecological security pattern. In this study, we used spatial conservation prioritization to identify the ecological security pattern of the city belt along the Yellow River in Ningxia, China. Ecological sources were selected using Zonation model while ecological corridors and key ecological nodes were identified with circuit model. The results showed that the ecological security pattern was composed of 97 ecological sources, 226 ecological corridors, 267 pinch points and 22 barriers, covering a total area of 7713.1 km2 and accounting for 34% of the study area. Ecological sources were concentrated in the Helan Mountain, Xiang Mountain and along the Yellow River. Besides, ecological corridors were dense in the southern and eastern part of the study area. Both indicated that the Yellow River and Helan Mountain were the conservation hotspots. Landscape connectivity of ecological sources identified through Zonation-based spatial conservation prioritization was better than that with the scoring approach based on ecosystem service importance. Particularly, in the Zonation approach the landscape connectivity increased with 44% while the average patch area increased with 28% when comparing with the scoring approach. The spatial conservation prioritization approach proposed in this study provides a new effective tool to construct ecological security pattern, which is conducive to the synergic enhancement of landscape connectivity and ecosystem services conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Tang
- Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Human-Earth Relations, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Urban Planning and Design, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hong Jiang
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yifan Lin
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jianquan Dong
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Menglin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Human-Earth Relations, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Urban Planning and Design, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jeroen Meersmans
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agrobio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
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Wang J, Li Y, Wang S, Li Q, Li L, Liu X. Assessment of Multiple Ecosystem Services and Ecological Security Pattern in Shanxi Province, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4819. [PMID: 36981728 PMCID: PMC10049408 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The ecological security pattern construction could effectively regulate ecological processes and ensure ecological functions, then rationally allocate natural resources and green infrastructure, and, finally, realize ecological security. In view of serious soil erosion, accelerated land desertification, soil pollution and habitat degradation in Shanxi Province, the spatial distribution of six key ecosystem services, including water conservation (WC), soil conservation (SC), sand fixation (SF), carbon storage (CS), net primary productivity (NPP) and habitat quality (HQ), was analyzed by using multiple models. The comprehensive ability of multiple ecosystem services in different regions was quantified by calculating multiple ecosystem services landscape index (MESLI). Combined with ecosystem services hotspots, the ecological security pattern of Shanxi Province was constructed by using the minimum cumulative resistance model. The results showed that the spatial differences in ecosystem services in Shanxi Province were obvious, which was low in the seven major basins and Fen River valley, and high in the mountains (especially Taihang and Lvliang Mountains) for WC, SC, CS, NPP and HQ, while high SF was only distributed in the northern Shanxi. The MESLI showed that the ability to provide multiple ecosystem services simultaneously was low in Shanxi Province, with the medium and low grade MESLI regions accounting for 58.61%, and only 18.07% for the high grade MESLI regions. The important protected areas and ecological sources of the ecological security pattern were concentrated in the Lvliang and Taihang Mountains, which were consistent with the key areas of ecosystem services. The ecological corridors illustrated network distribution with ecological sources as the center, the low-, medium- and high-level buffers accounted for 26.34%, 17.03% and 16.35%, respectively. The results will provide important implications for economic transformation, high-quality development and ecological sustainable development in resource-based regions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Wang
- School of Geographical Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Ya Li
- School of Geographical Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- School of Geographical Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Qing Li
- Institute of Geographical Sciences, Hebei Academy of Sciences, Hebei Engineering Research Center for Geographic Information Application, Shijiazhuang 050011, China
| | - Lingfeng Li
- School of Geographical Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- School of Geographical Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
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Reyes-Puig JP, Reyes-Puig C, Pacheco-Esquivel J, Recalde S, Recalde F, Recalde D, Salazar J, Peña E, Paredes S, Robalino M, Flores F, Paredes V, Sailema E, Ríos-Alvear G. First insights in terrestrial mammals monitoring in the Candelaria and Machay Reserves in the Ecuadorian Tropical Andes. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e98119. [PMID: 38327364 PMCID: PMC10848741 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e98119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat disturbance leads to biodiversity decline and modifications in the landscape structure and composition, affecting both dispersal movements and ecological processes at different temporal and spatial scales. The Ecuadorian Tropical Andes harbour suitable habitats for the distribution of a wide variety of species; however, there is a lack of studies focused on mammal diversity and its association with the habitat attributes in the central-eastern slopes. Here, we reported the diversity of terrestrial mammals recorded between 2019 and 2021 in a camera-trap monitoring study in the Candelaria and Machay reserves in the upper basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador. We performed site-occupancy probability analysis to assess the influence of spatial variables in the species' occurrence and also, based on natural marks, we reported preliminary findings in Andean bear individual identification. We detected 22 species of terrestrial mammals. Alpha diversity was similar between reserves with slightly higher species richness in Machay. Evenness indices showed unequal species distribution, with the Andean bear and domestic dogs exhibiting greater dominance. In addition, species composition was dissimilar between reserves, where the species turnover mostly explained the beta diversity. We observed that Andean bear and puma detections increased according to the natural vegetation cover. Conversely, domestic dogs were frequently detected in cells with an increasing proportion of pastures and crops. Additionally, we identified 26 Andean bears and six individuals recaptured during our study. Our results caution about the disturbance derived from human activities since we recorded unprecedented detections of domestic dogs in wild habitats. Nonetheless, it highlights the importance of private conservation areas (e.g. Candelaria, Machay and others) for supporting the occurrence and dispersal of terrestrial mammal species between larger areas in the upper basin of the Pastaza River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Reyes-Puig
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Unidad de Investigación, Quito, EcuadorInstituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Unidad de InvestigaciónQuitoEcuador
- Fundación Óscar Efrén Reyes, Baños de Agua Santa, EcuadorFundación Óscar Efrén ReyesBaños de Agua SantaEcuador
| | - Carolina Reyes-Puig
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Unidad de Investigación, Quito, EcuadorInstituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Unidad de InvestigaciónQuitoEcuador
- Fundación Óscar Efrén Reyes, Baños de Agua Santa, EcuadorFundación Óscar Efrén ReyesBaños de Agua SantaEcuador
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Museo de Zoología & Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical iBIOTROP, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Museo de Zoología & Laboratorio de Zoología Terrestre, Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical iBIOTROPQuitoEcuador
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto BIOSFERA, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto BIOSFERAQuitoEcuador
| | | | - Santiago Recalde
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
| | - Fausto Recalde
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
| | - Darwin Recalde
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
| | - Jordy Salazar
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
| | - Eduardo Peña
- Ecominga Foundation, Baños, EcuadorEcominga FoundationBañosEcuador
| | - Silvia Paredes
- Asociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde Warmi, Baños - El Placer, EcuadorAsociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde WarmiBaños - El PlacerEcuador
| | - Marina Robalino
- Asociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde Warmi, Baños - El Placer, EcuadorAsociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde WarmiBaños - El PlacerEcuador
| | - Fernanda Flores
- Asociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde Warmi, Baños - El Placer, EcuadorAsociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde WarmiBaños - El PlacerEcuador
| | - Vladimir Paredes
- Asociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde Warmi, Baños - El Placer, EcuadorAsociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde WarmiBaños - El PlacerEcuador
| | - Edelina Sailema
- Asociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde Warmi, Baños - El Placer, EcuadorAsociación de Turismo Comunitario Quinde WarmiBaños - El PlacerEcuador
| | - Gorky Ríos-Alvear
- Fundación Óscar Efrén Reyes, Baños de Agua Santa, EcuadorFundación Óscar Efrén ReyesBaños de Agua SantaEcuador
- CIBIO Centro de Investigación em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Porto, PortugalCIBIO Centro de Investigación em Biodiversidade e Recursos GenéticosPortoPortugal
- Grupo de Biogeografía y Ecología Espacial (BioGeoE2), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, EcuadorGrupo de Biogeografía y Ecología Espacial (BioGeoE2), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Regional Amazónica IkiamTenaEcuador
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Yanwen F, Guojing Z, Wenqian D, Yue W, Jiawei L, Mengyu T, Yan L, Haoran L, Bing X, Xiao J, Enyu F, Lulu Z, Jian C, Lei Y, Chenghao W, Yongfeng C, Guoqiang C, Yong Z, Kezi L, Haitao Y, Xuemei H, Jianping G, Jun Z, Limin F. Surprising leopard restoration in fragmented ecosystems reveals connections as the secret to conservation success. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159790. [PMID: 36309282 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Chinese Loess Plateau has been the cradle of Chinese civilization and the main human settlement in China for thousands of years, where anthropogenic activities are believed to have deeply eroded natural landscapes. After decades of minimal leopard sighting in forests of northern China, due to serious human interference, we recently discovered that the leopard population is recovering. This finding provides hope for successful biodiversity conservation in human-dominated ecosystems. To understand the mechanism of leopard return into such a highly fragmented landscape, we applied the concept of ecological networks (ENs) to identify key factors promoting leopard restoration and quantify the ecological links among habitats. We first determined the existence of a healthy leopard population in the study area based on the size of its home range and presence of breeding individuals. We then innovatively used the relationship between species richness and top predators to generate ENs, and found that the connectivity of ENs had a significant positive interaction with leopard survival. Our study validates the effectiveness of establishing ecologically connected habitats for leopard protection, and highlights the importance of applying ENs for conservation planning in highly fragmented ecosystems. This study provides a successful case for the protection of top predators in human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Yanwen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhao Guojing
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dai Wenqian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Wang Yue
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Jiawei
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tan Mengyu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Haoran
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xie Bing
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Behavioural Ecology Group, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jin Xiao
- Shanxi Biodiversity Conservation Center, Taiyuan, China
| | - Fan Enyu
- Wutaishan State-owned Forest Administration Bureau, Shanxi, China
| | - Zhao Lulu
- Shanxi Lincao Biodiversity Science and Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., Taiyuan, China
| | - Cao Jian
- Yan'an Wildlife Protection and Management Station, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yue Lei
- Yan'an Wildlife Protection and Management Station, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wu Chenghao
- Administration of Ziwuling National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chen Yongfeng
- Administration of Ziwuling National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chen Guoqiang
- Administration of Ziwuling National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhang Yong
- Administration of Ziwuling National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China
| | - Luo Kezi
- Administration of Ziwuling National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Haitao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Xuemei
- Han EcoAnalytics, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Ge Jianping
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Jun
- Shanxi Biodiversity Conservation Center, Taiyuan, China
| | - Feng Limin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Northeast Tiger and Leopard Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
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9
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Wu Z, Qian Y. An integration method to predict the impact of urban land use change on green space connectivity under different development scenarios using a case study of Nanjing, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85243-85256. [PMID: 35794330 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21792-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization leads to land use change and fragmentation of green patches, affecting natural habitats and their connectivity. Scientific prediction and analysis of the impact of future land use change on green space connectivity are an effective tool for planning and evaluating urban sustainable development, especially for ecological protection in rapidly developing areas. In this study, an integrated method is proposed that uses the CA-Markov method and combines a morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) with a graph theory analysis to jointly evaluate the impact of land use change on the habitat connectivity index under different urban development scenarios from two aspects of structural and functional connectivity. Using China's rapidly developing Nanjing as the study area, the land use changes under four scenarios in 2030 are forecast, and the connectivity index is analyzed. The results showed that only under the ecological land protection scenario will forest and grassland increase, but the strong barrier effect is still brought about by urban expansion from the analysis of the structural connectivity. At the level of functional connectivity, we identified the important connecting patches and future change trends of species with different diffusion distances. In addition, we identified the key connecting patches (i.e., stepping stones) and changes and suggested giving priority to the protection of these patches. This method can be applied to other rapidly developing cities, and the conclusions can be used as a spatial explicit tool for urban green space and land use planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wu
- College of Architecture, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210000, China.
| | - YanPing Qian
- School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, 210000, China
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10
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Mozelewski TG, Robbins ZJ, Scheller RM. Forecasting the influence of conservation strategies on landscape connectivity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13904. [PMID: 35212035 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining and enhancing landscape connectivity reduces biodiversity declines due to habitat fragmentation. Uncertainty remains, however, about the effectiveness of conservation for enhancing connectivity for multiple species on dynamic landscapes, especially over long time horizons. We forecasted landscape connectivity from 2020 to 2100 under four common conservation land-acquisition strategies: acquiring the lowest cost land, acquiring land clustered around already established conservation areas, acquiring land with high geodiversity characteristics, and acquiring land opportunistically. We used graph theoretic metrics to quantify landscape connectivity across these four strategies, evaluating connectivity for four ecologically relevant species guilds that represent endpoints along a spectrum of vagility and habitat specificity: long- versus short-distance dispersal ability and habitat specialists versus generalists. We applied our method to central North Carolina and incorporated landscape dynamics, including forest growth, succession, disturbance, and management. Landscape connectivity improved for specialist species under all conservation strategies employed, although increases were highly variable across strategies. For generalist species, connectivity improvements were negligible. Overall, clustering the development of new protected areas around land already designated for conservation yielded the largest improvements in connectivity; increases were several orders of magnitude beyond current landscape connectivity for long- and short-distance dispersing specialist species. Conserving the lowest cost land contributed the least to connectivity. Our approach provides insight into the connectivity contributions of a suite of conservation alternatives prior to on-the-ground implementation and, therefore, can inform connectivity planning to maximize conservation benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina G Mozelewski
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zachary J Robbins
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robert M Scheller
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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11
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Yoon HS, Vijay V, Armsworth PR. Accounting for spatial heterogeneity in the added conservation value of land protection when prioritizing protected areas. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13960. [PMID: 35661264 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To combat biodiversity loss, there is increasing interest in safeguarding habitat by expanding protected areas. Given limited resources in conservation, organizations must invest in places that will add the greatest amount of value in species protection. To determine the added conservation value of protection, one needs to consider the level of human disturbance in areas that would result if they were left unprotected. In recent years, data resources have become available that reveal the spatial heterogeneity in human disturbance over large spatial extents worldwide. We investigated how accounting for heterogeneity in future disturbance in unprotected areas affects prioritization of protected areas by determining the added value offered by protection of different areas. We applied a complementarity-based framework for protected area prioritization to select protected areas in the coterminous United States under different assumptions about the heterogeneity of future disturbance in unprotected areas. Prioritizing protected areas while incorrectly assuming spatially homogeneous disturbance in unprotected areas, a common assumption, led to a loss of 76% of possible conservation gain for a given budget. The conservation return on investment from protecting candidate areas was positively correlated (0.44) to future human disturbance in that area if it was left unprotected. Our results show that the ability to identify cost-effective protected area networks depends on how one accounts for the ecological contribution of private lands that remain unprotected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Seok Yoon
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Varsha Vijay
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Paul R Armsworth
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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12
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Lalechère E, Bergès L. Importance of climate‐induced tree species composition changes in forecasting the amount of reachable habitat for forest birds. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Laurent Bergès
- INRAE LESSEM University of Grenoble Alpes St‐Martin‐d'Hères France
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13
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Mancini F, Hodgson JA, Isaac NJB. Co-designing an Indicator of Habitat Connectivity for England. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.892987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscapes have been drastically transformed by human activities, generally resulting in the loss of semi-natural habitat. In the United Kingdom, wildlife habitat mainly consists of small patches of semi-natural habitat that are poorly connected to each other. In May 2019 the United Kingdom Government published an outcome indicator framework for measuring progress against the goals and outcomes of the 25 Year Environment Plan (YEP) for England. The indicator of the Quantity, Quality and Connectivity of Habitats (D1) is one of seven indicators within the Wildlife theme and it follows the principle of making areas of semi-natural habitat “more, bigger, better and joined up.” In this study, we describe the process of co-designing the connectivity metric for indicator D1. In consultation with experts and stakeholders we selected three candidate landscape connectivity metrics to produce the indicator. The first metric comes from a suite of rules of thumb for practitioners and it is the proportion of habitat patches in the landscape that have a nearest neighbor ≤ 1 km away. The second metric is a habitat fragmentation index from the Natural England National Biodiversity Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool (NBCCVAT). The third and final metric is from the software Condatis and it represents the ability of a species to move through a landscape. We tested each metric on a set of simulated landscapes representing different levels of habitat addition strategies and different spatial configurations. We asked if the metrics are able to detect changes in the connectivity of each of these landscapes after habitat addition. Two of the three metrics (NBCCVAT and Condatis) performed well and were sensitive to change. They both increased as the total extent of habitat increased and each showed particular sensitivity to one spatial arrangement over the other. Given these results, one or both of these metrics could be used to produce the indicator. We discuss the implications of using one or both of the metrics and highlight the fundamental choices that need to be made to produce the indicator.
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14
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Wood SLR, Martins KT, Dumais-Lalonde V, Tanguy O, Maure F, St-Denis A, Rayfield B, Martin AE, Gonzalez A. Missing Interactions: The Current State of Multispecies Connectivity Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.830822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing effective habitat and protected area networks, which sustain species-rich communities is a critical conservation challenge. Recent decades have witnessed the emergence of new computational methods for analyzing and prioritizing the connectivity needs of multiple species. We argue that the goal of prioritizing habitat for multispecies connectivity should be focused on long-term persistence of a set of species in a landscape or seascape. Here we present a review of the literature based on 77 papers published between 2010 and 2020, in which we assess the current state and recent advances in multispecies connectivity analysis in terrestrial ecosystems. We summarize the four most employed analytical methods, compare their data requirements, and provide an overview of studies comparing results from multiple methods. We explicitly look at approaches for integrating multiple species considerations into reserve design and identify novel approaches being developed to overcome computational and theoretical challenges posed by multispecies connectivity analyses. There is a lack of common metrics for multispecies connectivity. We suggest the index of metapopulation capacity as one metric by which to assess and compare the effectiveness of proposed network designs. We conclude that, while advances have been made over the past decade, the field remains nascent by its ability to integrate multiple species interactions into analytical approaches to connectivity. Furthermore, the field is hampered its ability to provide robust connectivity assessments for lack of a clear definition and goal for multispecies connectivity conservation.
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15
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Analysis of Ecological Blockage Pattern in Beijing Important Ecological Function Area, China. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14051151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
With the implementation of human activities, such as logging, reclamation, and construction, the increasing fragmentation of ecological space and the increasing blockage of biological migration corridors cause many threats to biodiversity conservation. In this study, we used the Northwest Beijing Ecological Containment Area as the research area. Based on an integrated circuit theoretical model, we identified functional connectivity networks and analyzed the spatial and temporal changes of ecological blockage patterns in the region from 1998–2018 in terms of the landscape connectivity, ecological breakpoints, pinch points, and barriers, respectively. The results show that the average remote sensing ecological index had a trend of decreasing and then increasing, and a total of 33, 34, and 63 habitat core areas and 70, 74, and 152 ecological corridors were identified in 1998, 2010, and 2018, respectively. The regions with high ecological blockage were mainly in the central part of Yanqing District, the southwest corner of the study area, and the eastern urban area. Although the number of potential ecological corridors gradually increases with the probability of migration in the study area, the blockage status and vulnerability of the ecological corridors continue to increase due to the conflict between land uses. The ecological status of the study area reflects the comprehensive effectiveness of the capital’s high-quality development under the strategic deployment of ecological civilization. In the context of habitat fragmentation, the effective protection and restoration of the ecological conditions in the ecological function areas is of great importance in guaranteeing the ecological quality and sustainable development of the country.
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16
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Cid N, Erős T, Heino J, Singer G, Jähnig SC, Cañedo‐Argüelles M, Bonada N, Sarremejane R, Mykrä H, Sandin L, Paloniemi R, Varumo L, Datry T. From meta-system theory to the sustainable management of rivers in the Anthropocene. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 2022; 20:49-57. [PMID: 35873359 PMCID: PMC9292669 DOI: 10.1002/fee.2417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Regional-scale ecological processes, such as the spatial flows of material, energy, and organisms, are fundamental for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in river networks. Yet these processes remain largely overlooked in most river management practices and underlying policies. Here, we propose adoption of a meta-system approach, where regional processes acting at different levels of ecological organization - populations, communities, and ecosystems - are integrated into conventional river conservation, restoration, and biomonitoring. We also describe a series of measurements and indicators that could be assimilated into the implementation of relevant biodiversity and environmental policies. Finally, we highlight the need for alternative management strategies that can guide practitioners toward applying recent advances in ecology to preserve and restore river ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide, in the context of increasing alteration of river network connectivity worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Cid
- INRAEUR RiverLyCentre de Lyon‐VilleurbanneVilleurbanne CedexFrance
| | - Tibor Erős
- Balaton Limnological Research InstituteTihanyHungary
| | - Jani Heino
- Finnish Environment InstituteFreshwater CentreOuluFinland
| | - Gabriel Singer
- Department of EcologyUniversity of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland FisheriesDepartment of Ecosystem ResearchBerlinGermany
- Geography DepartmentFaculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Miguel Cañedo‐Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management Research GroupDepartament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institut de Recerca de l'AiguaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Núria Bonada
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management Research GroupDepartament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institut de Recerca de la BiodiversitatUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Heikki Mykrä
- Finnish Environment InstituteFreshwater CentreOuluFinland
| | | | - Riikka Paloniemi
- Finnish Environment InstituteEnvironmental Policy CentreHelsinkiFinland
| | - Liisa Varumo
- Finnish Environment InstituteEnvironmental Policy CentreHelsinkiFinland
| | - Thibault Datry
- INRAEUR RiverLyCentre de Lyon‐VilleurbanneVilleurbanne CedexFrance
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17
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Abstract
Connectivity conservation analysis is based on a wide range of approaches designed to pinpoint key ecological corridors in order to maintain multispecies flows. However, the lack of validation procedures with accessible data prevents one from evaluating the accuracy of ecological corridor locations. We propose a new validation procedure to evaluate the accuracy of ecological corridor locations in landscape connectivity approaches. The ability of the procedure to properly rank the accuracy of different landscape connectivity approaches was illustrated in a study case. Maxent model and circuit theory were used to locate ecological corridors for forest bird species, following three approaches based on land cover, umbrella species and multispecies presence data. The validation procedure was used to compare the three approaches. Our validation procedure ranked the three approaches as expected, considering that accuracy in locating ecological corridors is related to the biological realism of calibration data. The corridors modelled were more accurate with species presence data (umbrella and multispecies approaches) compared to land cover proxy (habitat-based approach). These results confirm the quality of the validation procedure. Our validation procedure can be used to: (1) evaluate the accuracy of the location of ecological corridors; (2) select the best approach to locate ecological corridors, and (3) validate the underlying assumptions of landscape connectivity approaches (e.g., dispersal and matrix resistance values).
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18
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Strydom T, Catchen MD, Banville F, Caron D, Dansereau G, Desjardins-Proulx P, Forero-Muñoz NR, Higino G, Mercier B, Gonzalez A, Gravel D, Pollock L, Poisot T. A roadmap towards predicting species interaction networks (across space and time). Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20210063. [PMID: 34538135 PMCID: PMC8450634 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Networks of species interactions underpin numerous ecosystem processes, but comprehensively sampling these interactions is difficult. Interactions intrinsically vary across space and time, and given the number of species that compose ecological communities, it can be tough to distinguish between a true negative (where two species never interact) from a false negative (where two species have not been observed interacting even though they actually do). Assessing the likelihood of interactions between species is an imperative for several fields of ecology. This means that to predict interactions between species-and to describe the structure, variation, and change of the ecological networks they form-we need to rely on modelling tools. Here, we provide a proof-of-concept, where we show how a simple neural network model makes accurate predictions about species interactions given limited data. We then assess the challenges and opportunities associated with improving interaction predictions, and provide a conceptual roadmap forward towards predictive models of ecological networks that is explicitly spatial and temporal. We conclude with a brief primer on the relevant methods and tools needed to start building these models, which we hope will guide this research programme forward. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Strydom
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Michael D. Catchen
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Francis Banville
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Dominique Caron
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Gabriel Dansereau
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Philippe Desjardins-Proulx
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Norma R. Forero-Muñoz
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Benjamin Mercier
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Andrew Gonzalez
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Dominique Gravel
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Laura Pollock
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Timothée Poisot
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
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19
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Urban MC, Travis JMJ, Zurell D, Thompson PL, Synes NW, Scarpa A, Peres-Neto PR, Malchow AK, James PMA, Gravel D, De Meester L, Brown C, Bocedi G, Albert CH, Gonzalez A, Hendry AP. Coding for Life: Designing a Platform for Projecting and Protecting Global Biodiversity. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Time is running out to limit further devastating losses of biodiversity and nature's contributions to humans. Addressing this crisis requires accurate predictions about which species and ecosystems are most at risk to ensure efficient use of limited conservation and management resources. We review existing biodiversity projection models and discover problematic gaps. Current models usually cannot easily be reconfigured for other species or systems, omit key biological processes, and cannot accommodate feedbacks with Earth system dynamics. To fill these gaps, we envision an adaptable, accessible, and universal biodiversity modeling platform that can project essential biodiversity variables, explore the implications of divergent socioeconomic scenarios, and compare conservation and management strategies. We design a roadmap for implementing this vision and demonstrate that building this biodiversity forecasting platform is possible and practical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Urban
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Alice Scarpa
- University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Luc De Meester
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, with the Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei, Berlin, Germany, and with the Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Calum Brown
- IMK-IFU, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Greta Bocedi
- University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile H Albert
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Univ Avignon, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France
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20
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Barnett K, Belote RT. Modeling an aspirational connected network of protected areas across North America. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02387. [PMID: 34137106 PMCID: PMC8459232 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Connecting protected areas remains an important global conservation strategy in the face of ongoing and future threats to biodiversity. Amid our growing understanding of how species' distributions will respond to climate change, conservation scientists need to plan for connectivity conservation across entire continents. We modeled multiscale connectivity priorities based on the least human-modified lands between large protected areas of North America using least-cost and circuit theory approaches. We first identified priority corridors between large protected areas, then characterized the network's structure to unveil priority linkages most important for maintaining network- and regional-level connectivity. Agreement between least-cost corridors and current flow varied throughout North America, reflecting permeable landscape conditions and "pinch points" where potential ecological flows may concentrate between protected areas. Priority network-level linkages derived from each approach were similar throughout the continental network (e.g., Rocky Mountains and Canadian boreal), but critical linkages that bridged regional protected-area networks varied. We emphasize the importance of planning for connectivity at continental scales and demonstrate the utility of multiple methods when mapping connectivity priorities across large spatial extents with wide gradients in landscape conditions.
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21
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22
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Anderson KE, Fahimipour AK. Body size dependent dispersal influences stability in heterogeneous metacommunities. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17410. [PMID: 34465802 PMCID: PMC8408130 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96629-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size affects key biological processes across the tree of life, with particular importance for food web dynamics and stability. Traits influencing movement capabilities depend strongly on body size, yet the effects of allometrically-structured dispersal on food web stability are less well understood than other demographic processes. Here we study the stability properties of spatially-arranged model food webs in which larger bodied species occupy higher trophic positions, while species’ body sizes also determine the rates at which they traverse spatial networks of heterogeneous habitat patches. Our analysis shows an apparent stabilizing effect of positive dispersal rate scaling with body size compared to negative scaling relationships or uniform dispersal. However, as the global coupling strength among patches increases, the benefits of positive body size-dispersal scaling disappear. A permutational analysis shows that breaking allometric dispersal hierarchies while preserving dispersal rate distributions rarely alters qualitative aspects of metacommunity stability. Taken together, these results suggest that the oft-predicted stabilizing effects of large mobile predators may, for some dimensions of ecological stability, be attributed to increased patch coupling per se, and not necessarily coupling by top trophic levels in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt E Anderson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Ashkaan K Fahimipour
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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23
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Patrick CJ, Anderson KE, Brown BL, Hawkins CP, Metcalfe A, Saffarinia P, Siqueira T, Swan CM, Tonkin JD, Yuan LL. The application of metacommunity theory to the management of riverine ecosystems. WIRES. WATER 2021; 8:1-21. [PMID: 35874117 PMCID: PMC9301706 DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
River managers strive to use the best available science to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem function. To achieve this goal requires consideration of processes at different scales. Metacommunity theory describes how multiple species from different communities potentially interact with local-scale environmental drivers to influence population dynamics and community structure. However, this body of knowledge has only rarely been used to inform management practices for river ecosystems. In this paper, we present a conceptual model outlining how the metacommunity processes of local niche sorting and dispersal can influence the outcomes of management interventions and provide a series of specific recommendations for applying these ideas as well as research needs. In all cases, we identify situations where traditional approaches to riverine management could be enhanced by incorporating an understanding of metacommunity dynamics. A common theme is developing guidelines for assessing the metacommunity context of a site or region, evaluating how that context may affect the desired outcome, and incorporating that understanding into the planning process and methods used. To maximize the effectiveness of management activities, scientists and resource managers should update the toolbox of approaches to riverine management to reflect theoretical advances in metacommunity ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Patrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1370 Greate Rd., Gloucester Point, VA 23062
| | - Kurt E Anderson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, 900 University Ave., University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Brown L Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, USA
| | - Charles P Hawkins
- Department of Watershed Sciences, Ecology Center, and National Aquatic Monitoring Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Anya Metcalfe
- United States Geological Survey, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
| | - Parsa Saffarinia
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Tadeu Siqueira
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Av. 24A 1515, Rio Claro, São Paulo 13506-900 Brazil
| | | | - Jonathan D Tonkin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Lester L Yuan
- United States Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Water
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Kong F, Wang D, Yin H, Dronova I, Fei F, Chen J, Pu Y, Li M. Coupling urban 3-D information and circuit theory to advance the development of urban ecological networks. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1140-1150. [PMID: 33477199 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing, rapid urban growth accompanied by habitat fragmentation and loss challenges biodiversity conservation and leads to decreases in ecosystem services. Application of the concept of ecological networks in the preservation and restoration of connections among isolated patches of natural areas is a powerful conservation strategy. However, previous approaches often failed to objectively consider the impacts of complex 3-D city environments on ecological niches. We used airborne lidar-derived information on the 3-D structure of the built environment and vegetation and detailed land use and cover data to characterize habitat quality, niche diversity, and human disturbance and to predict habitat connectivity among 38 identified habitat core areas (HCAs) in Nanjing, China. We used circuit theory and Linkage Mapper to create a landscape resistance layer, simulate habitat connectivity, and identify and prioritize important corridors. We mapped 64 links by using current flow centrality to evaluate each HCA's contribution and the links that facilitate intact connectivity. Values were highest for HCA links located in the west, south, and northeast of the study area, where natural forests with complex 3-D structures predominate. Two smaller HCA areas had high centrality scores relative to their extents, which means they could act as important stepping stones in connectivity planning. The mapped pinch-point regions had narrow and fragile links among the HCAs, suggesting they require special protection. The barriers with the highest impact scores were mainly located at the HCA connections to Purple Mountain and, based on these high scores, are more likely to indicate important locations that can be restored to improve potential connections. Our novel framework allowed us to sufficiently convey spatially explicit information to identify targets for habitat restoration and potential pathways for species movement and dispersal. Such information is critical for assessing existing or potential habitats and corridors and developing strategic plans to balance habitat conservation and other land uses based on scientifically informed connectivity planning and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanhua Kong
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Xianlin Avenue 163, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ding Wang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Xianlin Avenue 163, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Haiwei Yin
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, No. 22, Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Iryna Dronova
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A
| | - Fan Fei
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, No. 22, Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Jiayu Chen
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Xianlin Avenue 163, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yingxia Pu
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Xianlin Avenue 163, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Manchun Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science & Technology,School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Xianlin Avenue 163, Nanjing, 210023, China
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25
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Ranking habitat importance for small wildcats in the Brazilian savanna: landscape connectivity as a conservation tool. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-020-00660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Cappellari A, Marini L. Improving insect conservation across heterogeneous landscapes using species-habitat networks. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10563. [PMID: 33505794 PMCID: PMC7792512 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background One of the biggest challenges in conservation is to manage multiple habitats for the effective conservation of multiple species, especially when the focal species are mobile and use multiple resources across heterogeneous protected areas. The application of ecological network tools and the analysis of the resulting species–habitat networks can help to describe such complex spatial associations and improve the conservation of species at the landscape scale. Methods To exemplify the application of species–habitat networks, we present a case study on butterflies inhabiting multiple grassland types across a heterogeneous protected area in North-East Italy. We sampled adult butterflies in 44 sites, each belonging to one of the five major habitat types in the protected area, that is, disturbed grasslands, continuous grasslands, evolved grasslands, hay meadows and wet meadows. First, we applied traditional diversity analyses to explore butterfly species richness and evenness. Second, we built and analyzed both the unipartite network, linking habitat patches via shared species, and the bipartite network, linking species to individual habitat patches. Aims (i) To describe the emerging properties (connectance, modularity, nestedness, and robustness) of the species–habitat network at the scale of the whole protected area, and (ii) to identify the key habitats patches for butterfly conservation across the protected area, that is, those supporting the highest number of species and those with unique species assemblages (e.g., hosting specialist species). Results The species–habitat network appeared to have a weak modular structure, meaning that the main habitat types tended to host different species assemblages. However, the habitats also shared a large proportion of species that were able to visit multiple habitats and use resources across the whole study area. Even butterfly species typically considered as habitat specialists were actually observed across multiple habitat patches, suggesting that protecting them only within their focal habitat might be ineffective. Our species–habitat network approach helped identifying both central habitat patches that were able to support the highest number of species, and habitat patches that supported rare specialist species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andree Cappellari
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marini
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
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27
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The underestimated role of small fragments for carnivore dispersal in the Atlantic Forest. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2020.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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28
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Gibb R, Franklinos LHV, Redding DW, Jones KE. Ecosystem perspectives are needed to manage zoonotic risks in a changing climate. BMJ 2020; 371:m3389. [PMID: 33187958 PMCID: PMC7662085 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m3389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rory Gibb
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lydia H V Franklinos
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - David W Redding
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Kate E Jones
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
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29
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Honeck E, Sanguet A, Schlaepfer MA, Wyler N, Lehmann A. Methods for identifying green infrastructure. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-03575-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNature forms interdependent networks in a landscape, which is key to the survival of species and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Nature provides crucial socio-economic benefits to people, but they are typically undervalued in political decisions. This has led to the concept of Green Infrastructure (GI), which defines an interlinked network of (semi-)natural areas with high ecological values for wildlife and people, to be conserved and managed in priority to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. This relatively new concept has been used in different contexts, but with widely diverging interpretations. There is no apparent consensus in the scientific literature on the methodology to map and implement GI. This paper serves as an informed primer for researchers that are new to GI mapping understand the key principles and terminology for the needs of their own case-study, and as a framework for more advance researchers willing to contribute to the formalization of the concept. Through a literature review of articles on creating GI networks, we summarized and evaluated commonly used methods to identify and map GI. We provided key insights for the assessment of diversity, ecosystem services and landscape connectivity, the three ‘pillars’ on which GI identification is based according to its definition. Based on this literature review, we propose 5 theoretical levels toward a more complex, reliable and integrative approach to identify GI networks. We then discuss the applications and limits of such method and point out future challenges for GI identification and implementation.
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30
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De Kort H, Baguette M, Lenoir J, Stevens VM. Toward reliable habitat suitability and accessibility models in an era of multiple environmental stressors. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10937-10952. [PMID: 33144939 PMCID: PMC7593202 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Global biodiversity declines, largely driven by climate and land-use changes, urge the development of transparent guidelines for effective conservation strategies. Species distribution modeling (SDM) is a widely used approach for predicting potential shifts in species distributions, which can in turn support ecological conservation where environmental change is expected to impact population and community dynamics. Improvements in SDM accuracy through incorporating intra- and interspecific processes have boosted the SDM field forward, but simultaneously urge harmonizing the vast array of SDM approaches into an overarching, widely adoptable, and scientifically justified SDM framework. In this review, we first discuss how climate warming and land-use change interact to govern population dynamics and species' distributions, depending on species' dispersal and evolutionary abilities. We particularly emphasize that both land-use and climate change can reduce the accessibility to suitable habitat for many species, rendering the ability of species to colonize new habitat and to exchange genetic variation a crucial yet poorly implemented component of SDM. We then unite existing methodological SDM practices that aim to increase model accuracy through accounting for multiple global change stressors, dispersal, or evolution, while shifting our focus to model feasibility. We finally propose a roadmap harmonizing model accuracy and feasibility, applicable to both common and rare species, particularly those with poor dispersal abilities. This roadmap (a) paves the way for an overarching SDM framework allowing comparison and synthesis of different SDM studies and (b) could advance SDM to a level that allows systematic integration of SDM outcomes into effective conservation plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne De Kort
- Plant Conservation and Population BiologyBiology DepartmentUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Michel Baguette
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (UMR 5321 SETE)National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)Université Toulouse III – Paul SabatierMoulisFrance
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (UMR 7205)Muséum National d’Histoire NaturelleParisFrance
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UR “Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés” (EDYSANUMR 7058 CNRS‐UPJV)Université de Picardie Jules VerneAmiens Cedex 1France
| | - Virginie M. Stevens
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (UMR 5321 SETE)National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)Université Toulouse III – Paul SabatierMoulisFrance
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31
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Planning for Dynamic Connectivity: Operationalizing Robust Decision-Making and Prioritization Across Landscapes Experiencing Climate and Land-Use Change. LAND 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/land9100341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preserving landscape connectivity is one of the most frequently recommended strategies to address the synergistic threats of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and intensifying disturbances. Although assessments to develop plans for linked and connected landscapes in response to climate and land-use change have been increasingly employed in the last decade, efforts to operationalize and implement these plans have been limited. Here, we present a framework using existing, available biological data to design an implementable, comprehensive multispecies connectivity plan. This framework uses a scenario-based approach to consider how ecosystems, habitats, and species may need to adapt to future conditions with an ensemble of connectivity models. We use the south coast ecoregion of California as an example to evaluate and prioritize linkages by combining linked metapopulation models and key landscape features (e.g., conservation planning status and implementation feasibility) to identify and prioritize a multispecies linkage network. Our analyses identified approximately 30,000 km2 of land, roughly one-fifth of our study area, where actions to preserve or enhance connectivity may support climate adaptation, nearly half of which is already conserved. By developing and implementing a dynamic connectivity assessment with an eye towards projected changes, our analysis demonstrates how dynamic connectivity can be integrated into feasible regional conservation and management plans that account for demographic as well as landscape change. We observed overlap across multiple models, reinforcing the importance of areas that appeared across methods. We also identified unique areas important for connectivity captured by our complementary models. By integrating multiple approaches, the resultant linkage network is robust, building on the strengths of a variety of methods to identify model consensus and reduce uncertainty. By linking quantitative connectivity metrics with prioritized areas for conservation, our approach supports transparent and robust decision-making for landscape planning, despite uncertainties of climate and land-use change.
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32
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Hartfelder J, Reynolds C, Stanton RA, Sibiya M, Monadjem A, McCleery RA, Fletcher RJ. The allometry of movement predicts the connectivity of communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:22274-22280. [PMID: 32848069 PMCID: PMC7486732 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001614117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Connectivity has long played a central role in ecological and evolutionary theory and is increasingly emphasized for conserving biodiversity. Nonetheless, connectivity assessments often focus on individual species even though understanding and preserving connectivity for entire communities is urgently needed. Here we derive and test a framework that harnesses the well-known allometric scaling of animal movement to predict community-level connectivity across protected area networks. We used a field translocation experiment involving 39 species of southern African birds to quantify movement capacity, scaled this relationship to realized dispersal distances determined from ring-and-recovery banding data, and used allometric scaling equations to quantify community-level connectivity based on multilayer network theory. The translocation experiment explained observed dispersal distances from ring-recovery data and emphasized allometric scaling of dispersal based on morphology. Our community-level networks predicted that larger-bodied species had a relatively high potential for connectivity, while small-bodied species had lower connectivity. These community networks explained substantial variation in observed bird diversity across protected areas. Our results highlight that harnessing allometric scaling can be an effective way of determining large-scale community connectivity. We argue that this trait-based framework founded on allometric scaling provides a means to predict connectivity for entire communities, which can foster empirical tests of community theory and contribute to biodiversity conservation strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Hartfelder
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Chevonne Reynolds
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation (DST/NRF) Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard A Stanton
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Muzi Sibiya
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, M202 Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert A McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert J Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Jahnke M, Moksnes PO, Olsen JL, Serra Serra N, Nilsson Jacobi M, Kuusemäe K, Corell H, Jonsson PR. Integrating genetics, biophysical, and demographic insights identifies critical sites for seagrass conservation. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02121. [PMID: 32159897 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The eelgrass Zostera marina is an important foundation species of coastal areas in the Northern Hemisphere, but is continuing to decline, despite management actions. The development of new management tools is therefore urgent in order to prioritize limited resources for protecting meadows most vulnerable to local extinctions and identifying most valuable present and historic meadows to protect and restore, respectively. We assessed 377 eelgrass meadows along the complex coastlines of two fjord regions on the Swedish west coast-one is currently healthy and the other is substantially degraded. Shoot dispersal for all meadows was assessed with Lagrangian biophysical modeling (scale: 100-1,000 m) and used for barrier analysis and clustering; a subset (n = 22) was also assessed with population genetic methods (20 microsatellites) including diversity, structure, and network connectivity. Both approaches were in very good agreement, resulting in seven subpopulation groupings or management units (MUs). The MUs correspond to a spatial scale appropriate for coastal management of "waterbodies" used in the European Water Framework Directive. Adding demographic modeling based on the genetic and biophysical data as a third approach, we are able to assess past, present, and future metapopulation dynamics to identify especially vulnerable and valuable meadows. In a further application, we show how the biophysical approach, using eigenvalue perturbation theory (EPT) and distribution records from the 1980s, can be used to identify lost meadows where restoration would best benefit the present metapopulation. The combination of methods, presented here as a toolbox, allows the assessment of different temporal and spatial scales at the same time, as well as ranking of specific meadows according to key genetic, demographic and ecological metrics. It could be applied to any species or region, and we exemplify its versatility as a management guide for eelgrass along the Swedish west coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Per-Olav Moksnes
- Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeanine L Olsen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Section: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Núria Serra Serra
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Section: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Nilsson Jacobi
- Complex Systems Group, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Hanna Corell
- DHI Sverige, Svartmangatan 18, SE-111 29, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per R Jonsson
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
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Abstract
A central tenet of landscape conservation planning is that natural communities can be supported by a connected landscape network that supports many species and habitat types. However, as the planning environment, ecological conditions, and risks and stressors change over time, the areas needed to support landscape connectivity may also shift. We demonstrate an approach designed to assess functional and structural connectivity of an established protected area network that has experienced landscape and planning changes over time. Here we present an approach designed to inform adaptive planning for connectivity with a complementary suite of analytical techniques. Using existing occurrence, movement, and genetic data for six focal species, we create a spatially explicit connectivity assessment based on landscape resistance, paired with a landscape feature geodiversity analysis. Although factors such as cost, conservation goals, and land management strategies must be taken into account, this approach provides a template for leveraging available empirical data and robust analyses to evaluate and adapt planning for protected area networks that can preserve and promote both functional and structural connectivity in dynamic landscapes.
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Alagador D, Cerdeira JO. Revisiting the minimum set cover, the maximal coverage problems and a maximum benefit area selection problem to make climate‐change‐concerned conservation plans effective. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Alagador
- The “Rui Nabeiro” Biodiversity Chair MED‐Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development Universidade de Évora Évora Portugal
| | - Jorge Orestes Cerdeira
- Department of Mathematics and Centre for Mathematics and Applications Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Costa da Caparica Portugal
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Habitat Models of Focal Species Can Link Ecology and Decision-Making in Sustainable Forest Management. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11070721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental problem of sustainability is how to reduce the double complexity of ecological and social systems into simple operational terms. We highlight that the conservation concept of focal species (selected species sensitive to a set of anthropogenic threats to their habitat) links multiple issues of ecological sustainability, and their habitat models can provide a practical tool for solving these issues. A review of the literature shows that most spatial modeling of focal species focuses on vertebrates, lacks the aspect of aquatic and soil habitats, and has been slow in the uptake by actual management planning. We elaborate on a deductive modeling approach that first generalizes the main influential dimensions of habitat change (threats), which are then parameterized as habitat quality estimates for focal species. If built on theoretical understanding and properly scaled, the maps produced with such models can cost-effectively describe the dynamics of ecological qualities across forest landscapes, help set conservation priorities, and reflect on management plans and practices. The models also serve as ecological hypotheses on biodiversity and landscape function. We illustrate this approach based on recent additions to the forest reserve network in Estonia, which addressed the insufficient protection of productive forest types. For this purpose, mostly former production forests that may require restoration were set aside. We distinguished seven major habitat dimensions and their representative taxa in these forests and depicted each dimension as a practical stand-scale decision tree of habitat quality. The model outcomes implied that popular stand-structural targets of active forest restoration would recover passively in reasonable time in these areas, while a critically degraded condition (loss of old trees of characteristic species) required management beyond reserve borders. Another hidden issue revealed was that only a few stands of consistently low habitat quality concentrated in the landscape to allow cost-efficient restoration planning. We conclude that useful habitat models for sustainable forest management have to balance single-species realism with stakeholder expectations of meaningful targets and scales. Addressing such social aspects through the focal species concept could accelerate the adoption of biodiversity distribution modeling in forestry.
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Marrec R, Abdel Moniem HE, Iravani M, Hricko B, Kariyeva J, Wagner HH. Conceptual framework and uncertainty analysis for large-scale, species-agnostic modelling of landscape connectivity across Alberta, Canada. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6798. [PMID: 32321948 PMCID: PMC7176682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainable land-use planning should consider large-scale landscape connectivity. Commonly-used species-specific connectivity models are difficult to generalize for a wide range of taxa. In the context of multi-functional land-use planning, there is growing interest in species-agnostic approaches, modelling connectivity as a function of human landscape modification. We propose a conceptual framework, apply it to model connectivity as current density across Alberta, Canada, and assess map sensitivity to modelling decisions. We directly compared the uncertainty related to (1) the definition of the degree of human modification, (2) the decision whether water bodies are considered barriers to movement, and (3) the scaling function used to translate degree of human modification into resistance values. Connectivity maps were most sensitive to the consideration of water as barrier to movement, followed by the choice of scaling function, whereas maps were more robust to different conceptualizations of the degree of human modification. We observed higher concordance among cells with high (standardized) current density values than among cells with low values, which supports the identification of cells contributing to larger-scale connectivity based on a cut-off value. We conclude that every parameter in species-agnostic connectivity modelling requires attention, not only the definition of often-criticized expert-based degrees of human modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Marrec
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- EDYSAN (Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés) UMR 7058 CNRS-Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 33 rue Saint Leu, F-80039, Amiens, France.
| | - Hossam E Abdel Moniem
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Majid Iravani
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Branko Hricko
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jahan Kariyeva
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Helene H Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Chubaty AM, Galpern P, Doctolero SC. The
r
toolbox
grainscape
for modelling and visualizing landscape connectivity using spatially explicit networks. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex M. Chubaty
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Paul Galpern
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Sam C. Doctolero
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
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Research on Ecological Infrastructure from 1990 to 2018: A Bibliometric Analysis. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12062304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ecological infrastructure (EI), as the composite system on which the sustainable development of cities depends, has attracted worldwide attention. Considering refined methodologies and broad scope, researchers lacked overall understanding of research patterns and evolutionary processes on EI-related issues. In this study, we applied the bibliometric approach to describe the current situation of EI-related research, and reveal research trends. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection, the bibliometric analysis of EI-related publications from 1990 to 2018 was performed to discuss the history and present research situation of EI, and preview research prospect. The results showed that: (1) the number of EI-related publications has surged astonishingly worldwide over the last three decades; (2) countries in Europe and North America were the first to invest heavily in EI-related research, while China started later but subsequently developed rapidly; (3) the EI-related research focuses were EI-related management, methods for countering extreme meteorological phenomena, providing ecosystem services, and protecting biodiversity; and (4) the EI-related research frontiers included the design of EI, policy research on EI, role of EI in environmental governance, and research on the adaptability of EI.
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Préau C, Grandjean F, Sellier Y, Gailledrat M, Bertrand R, Isselin-Nondedeu F. Habitat patches for newts in the face of climate change: local scale assessment combining niche modelling and graph theory. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3570. [PMID: 32107433 PMCID: PMC7046615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Triturus cristatus and Triturus marmoratus are two protected and declining newts occurring in the administrative department of Vienne, in France. They have limited dispersal abilities and rely on the connectivity between habitats and their suitability. In a warming climate, the locations of suitable habitats are expected to change, as is the connectivity. Here, we wondered how climate change might affect shifts in habitat suitability and connectivity of habitat patches, as connectivity is a key element enabling species to realize a potential range shift. We used ecological niche modelling (ENM), combining large-scale climate suitability with local scale, high-resolution habitat features, to identify suitable areas for the two species, under low and high warming scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5). We associated it with connectivity assessment through graph theory. The variable 'small ponds' contributed most to land cover-only ENMs for both species. Projections with climate change scenarios revealed a potential impact of warming on suitable habitat patches for newts, especially for T. cristatus. We observed a decrease in connectivity following a decrease in patch suitability. Our results highlight the important areas for newt habitat connectivity within the study area, and define those potentially threatened by climate warming. We provide information for prioritizing sites for acquisition, protection or restoration, and to advise landscape policies. Our framework is a useful and easily reproducible way to combine global climate requirements of the species with detailed information on species habitats and occurrence when available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Préau
- Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Pinail, GEREPI, Moulin de Chitré, 86210, Vouneuil-sur-Vienne, France.
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions - UMR CNRS 7267 Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Bâtiment B8-B35, 6, rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, 86073, Poitiers, Cedex, France.
- Département Aménagement et Environnement Ecole Polytechnique de l'Université de Tours, CNRS; UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES, 33-35 Allée Ferdinand de Lesseps, 37200, Tours, France.
| | - Frédéric Grandjean
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions - UMR CNRS 7267 Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Bâtiment B8-B35, 6, rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, 86073, Poitiers, Cedex, France
| | - Yann Sellier
- Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Pinail, GEREPI, Moulin de Chitré, 86210, Vouneuil-sur-Vienne, France
| | | | - Romain Bertrand
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), IRD, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
| | - Francis Isselin-Nondedeu
- Département Aménagement et Environnement Ecole Polytechnique de l'Université de Tours, CNRS; UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES, 33-35 Allée Ferdinand de Lesseps, 37200, Tours, France
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie, UMR CNRS-IRD, Avignon Université, Aix-Marseille Université, IUT d'Avignon, 337 chemin des Mainajariés, Site Agroparc PB 61207, 84911, Avignon, cedex 09, France
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Bergès L, Avon C, Bezombes L, Clauzel C, Duflot R, Foltête JC, Gaucherand S, Girardet X, Spiegelberger T. Environmental mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets revisited through habitat connectivity modelling. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 256:109950. [PMID: 31818748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss is accelerating because of unceasing human activity and land clearing for development projects (urbanisation, transport infrastructure, mining and quarrying …). Environmental policy-makers and managers in different countries worldwide have proposed the mitigation hierarchy to ensure the goal of "no net loss (NNL) of biodiversity" and have included this principle in environmental impact assessment processes. However, spatial configuration is hardly ever taken into account in the mitigation hierarchy even though it would greatly benefit from recent developments in habitat connectivity modelling incorporating landscape graphs. Meanwhile, national, European and international commitments have been made to maintain and restore the connectivity of natural habitats to face habitat loss and fragmentation. Our objective is to revisit the mitigation hierarchy and to suggest a methodological framework for evaluating the environmental impact of development projects, which includes a landscape connectivity perspective. We advocate the use of the landscape connectivity metric equivalent connectivity (EC), which is based on the original concept of "amount of reachable habitat". We also refine the three main levels of the mitigation hierarchy (impact avoidance, reduction and offset) by integrating a landscape connectivity aspect. We applied this landscape connectivity framework to a simple, virtual habitat network composed of 14 patches of varying sizes. The mitigation hierarchy was addressed through graph theory and EC and several scenarios of impact avoidance, reduction and compensation were tested. We present the benefits of a habitat connectivity framework for the mitigation hierarchy, provide practical recommendations to implement this framework and show its use in real case studies that had previously been restricted to one or two steps of the mitigation hierarchy. We insist on the benefits of a habitat connectivity framework for the mitigation hierarchy and for ecological equivalence assessment. In particular, we demonstrate why it is risky to use a standard offset ratio (the ratio between the amount of area negatively impacted and the compensation area) without performing a connectivity analysis that includes the landscape surrounding the zone impacted by the project. We also discuss the limitations of the framework and suggest potential improvements. Lastly, we raise concerns about the need to rethink the strategy for biodiversity protection. Given that wild areas and semi-natural habitats are becoming scarcer, in particular in industrialised countries, we are convinced that the real challenge is to quickly reconsider the current vision of "developing first, then assessing the ecological damage", and instead urgently adopt an upstream protection strategy that would identify and protect the land that must not be lost if we wish to maintain viable species populations and ecological corridors allowing them the mobility necessary to their survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Bergès
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Irstea, UR LESSEM, 2, rue de la papeterie, BP 76, F-38402, Saint-Martin-d'Hères Cedex, France.
| | - Catherine Avon
- Semperfloris, 10 rue du Petit Jean, 38610, Gières, France
| | - Lucie Bezombes
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Irstea, UR LESSEM, 2, rue de la papeterie, BP 76, F-38402, Saint-Martin-d'Hères Cedex, France
| | - Céline Clauzel
- University Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, LADYSS, UMR 7533 CNRS, 5 rue Thomas Mann, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Rémi Duflot
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland; School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jean-Christophe Foltête
- ThéMA, UMR 6049 CNRS / University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 32, rue Mégevand, 25030, Besançon, France
| | - Stéphanie Gaucherand
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Irstea, UR LESSEM, 2, rue de la papeterie, BP 76, F-38402, Saint-Martin-d'Hères Cedex, France
| | - Xavier Girardet
- ThéMA, UMR 6049 CNRS / University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 32, rue Mégevand, 25030, Besançon, France
| | - Thomas Spiegelberger
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Irstea, UR LESSEM, 2, rue de la papeterie, BP 76, F-38402, Saint-Martin-d'Hères Cedex, France
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Stepping-Stone City: Process-Oriented Infrastructures to Aid Forest Migration in a Changing Climate. NATURE DRIVEN URBANISM 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26717-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Rey Benayas JM, Altamirano A, Miranda A, Catalán G, Prado M, Lisón F, Bullock JM. Landscape restoration in a mixed agricultural-forest catchment: Planning a buffer strip and hedgerow network in a Chilean biodiversity hotspot. AMBIO 2020; 49:310-323. [PMID: 30771208 PMCID: PMC6889244 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01149-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Guidance for large-scale restoration of natural or semi-natural linear vegetation elements that takes into account the need to maintain human livelihoods such as farming is often lacking. Focusing on a Chilean biodiversity hotspot, we assessed the landscape in terms of existing woody vegetation elements and proposed a buffer strip and hedgerow network. We used spatial analysis based on Google Earth imagery and QGIS, field surveys, seven guidelines linked to prioritization criteria and seedling availability in the region's nurseries, and estimated the budget for implementing the proposed network. The target landscapes require restoring 0.89 ha km-2 of woody buffer strips to meet Chilean law; 1.4 ha km-2 of new hedgerows is also proposed. The cost of restoration in this landscape is estimated in ca. USD 6900 per planted ha of buffer strips and hedgerows. Financial incentives, education, and professional training of farmers are identified as key issues to implement the suggested restoration actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Rey Benayas
- Forest Ecology and Conservation Group, Life Sciences Department, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adison Altamirano
- International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration, Madrid, Spain
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Forest Science Department, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Alejandro Miranda
- International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration, Madrid, Spain
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Forest Science Department, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Germán Catalán
- International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration, Madrid, Spain
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Forest Science Department, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Marco Prado
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Forest Science Department, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Fulgencio Lisón
- International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration, Madrid, Spain
- Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Forest Science Department, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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A Conceptual Framework for Choosing Target Species for Wildlife-Inclusive Urban Design. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11246972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has highlighted the significance of cities for biodiversity, making them important places for conservation in their own right. Current conservation approaches in cities are mostly defensive. Thus, they focus on remnant pockets of natural areas or try to protect particular species that occur in the built environment. These approaches are vulnerable to further urban development and do not create habitats. An alternative strategy is to make wildlife an integral part of urban development and thereby create a new habitat in the built-up area. Here we address the challenge of choosing target species for such wildlife-inclusive urban design. The starting point of our conceptual framework is the regional species pool, which can be obtained from geo-referenced species data. The existing habitat types on and around the development site and dispersal barriers limit the species numbers to the local species potential. In the next step, the site’s potential for each species is analyzed—how can it be upgraded to host species given the planned development and the life-cycle of the species? For the final choice of target species, traits related to the human–animal interaction are considered. We suggest that stakeholders will be involved in the final species selection. Our approach differs from existing practice, such as expert choice of priority species, by (1) representing an open process where many species are potential targets of conservation, (2) the involvement of stakeholders in a participatory way. Our approach can also be used at larger spatial scales such as quarters or entire cities.
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Fletcher RJ, Sefair JA, Wang C, Poli CL, Smith TAH, Bruna EM, Holt RD, Barfield M, Marx AJ, Acevedo MA. Towards a unified framework for connectivity that disentangles movement and mortality in space and time. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1680-1689. [PMID: 31347244 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Predicting connectivity, or how landscapes alter movement, is essential for understanding the scope for species persistence with environmental change. Although it is well known that movement is risky, connectivity modelling often conflates behavioural responses to the matrix through which animals disperse with mortality risk. We derive new connectivity models using random walk theory, based on the concept of spatial absorbing Markov chains. These models decompose the role of matrix on movement behaviour and mortality risk, can incorporate species distribution to predict the amount of flow, and provide both short- and long-term analytical solutions for multiple connectivity metrics. We validate the framework using data on movement of an insect herbivore in 15 experimental landscapes. Our results demonstrate that disentangling the roles of movement behaviour and mortality risk is fundamental to accurately interpreting landscape connectivity, and that spatial absorbing Markov chains provide a generalisable and powerful framework with which to do so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Jorge A Sefair
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Caroline L Poli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Thomas A H Smith
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Emilio M Bruna
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA.,Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, PO Box 115530, 319 Grinter Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-5530, USA
| | - Robert D Holt
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, 111 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8525, USA
| | - Michael Barfield
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, 111 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8525, USA
| | - Andrew J Marx
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
| | - Miguel A Acevedo
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0430, USA
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48
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Linnell MA, Lesmeister DB. Landscape connectivity and conservation prioritization for an old forest species with limited vagility. Anim Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Linnell
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Corvallis OR USA
| | - D. B. Lesmeister
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Corvallis OR USA
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Marini L, Bartomeus I, Rader R, Lami F. Species–habitat networks: A tool to improve landscape management for conservation. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignasi Bartomeus
- Dpto. Ecologia Integrativa Estacion Biologica de Dõnana (EBD‐CSIC) Sevilla Spain
| | - Romina Rader
- Ecosystem Management School of Environment and Rural Sciences University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
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Landscape Connectivity Planning for Adaptation to Future Climate and Land-Use Change. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-019-0035-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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