Prioritization of Target Areas for Rehabilitation: A Case Study from West Kalimantan, Indonesia

To rehabilitate degraded forestlands and conserve the remaining forests in Kalimantan, effective measures are needed that accommodate various land uses in the landscape. We present a pragmatic model for prioritizing target areas for rehabilitation and discuss a potential approach, combining traditional reforestation and the forest management methods of local Dayak tribes with the operations of a commercial tree plantation venture, to promote the rehabilitation of elements of the tropical lowland rainforest. We characterized the vegetation and land use in the study area and assume that rehabilitation and conservation value will be maximized by concentrating rehabilitation efforts around forest patches with high cultural and economic value to the local Dayaks. We simulated potential enlargement of these culturally important forests and built a model to calculate a rehabilitation value for each forest fragment and fragment group with easily measurable criteria of vegetation and area. The model gives priority to areas where large continuous areas of culturally important forests already exist and/or will be created. The individual culturally important forest patches and their total area in the landscape are small, but even a small potential enlargement may be enough to establish relatively large concentrations. The potential matrix area for rehabilitation is dominated by young successional woody vegetation. Forested areas, although heavily degraded, connect several culturally important forest concentrations and are the most desirable target for rehabilitation. A well‐managed commercial tree plantation can enhance conditions for the protection and rehabilitation of degraded forestlands through traditional reforestation and forest management methods.     

Sugarcane and Eucalyptus plantation equally limit the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species

Habitat fragmentation results in landscape configuration, which affects the species that inhabit it. As a consequence, natural habitat is replaced by different anthropogenic plantation types (e.g. pasture, agriculture, forestry plantations and urban areas). Anthropogenic plantations are important for biodiversity maintenance because some species or functional groups can use it as a complementary habitat. However, depending on plantation permeability, it can act as a barrier to the movement of organisms between habitat patches, such as forest fragments, reducing functional connectivity for many species. Anthropogenic plantations are becoming the most common land use and cover type in the Anthropocene and biodiversity conservation in fragmented landscapes requires information on how different plantation types affect the capacity of the species to move through the landscape. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the type and structure of plantations on the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species – plain antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) and flavescent warbler (Myiothlyps flaveola) – within a highly fragmented landscape of Atlantic Forest hotspot. Knowing that forestry plantation is assumed to be more permeable to dependent forest bird species than open ones, we selected six study areas containing a forest fragment and surrounding plantation: three with sugarcane plantation and three with Eucalyptus sp. plantation. We used playback calls to stimulate the birds to leave forest fragments and traverse the plantations. Control trials were also carried out inside the forest fragments to compare the distances crossed. We observed that individuals moved longer distances inside forest than between plantation types, which demonstrate that plantations do constrict the movements of both species. The two plantation types equally impeded the movements of the species, suggesting the opposite of the general assumption that forestry plantations are more permeable. Our results indicate that, for generalist species, plantation type does not matter, but its presence negatively impacts movement of these bird species. We highlight that plantations have negative influences on the movements of common bird species, and discuss why this is important when setting conservation priorities.     

基于景观连接度的森林景观恢复研究——以巩义市为例

景观连接度是研究景观促进或阻碍生物体或某种生态过程在斑块间运动的程度。基于景观连接度原理,借用景观连接度指数,在地理信息系统支持下,探讨了巩义市丘陵和低山地区森林景观在不同景观距离阈值下连接度的变化,确定了分析森林景观连接度的合适距离阈值。在此基础上分析了要恢复为森林景观的农业斑块的重要值的大小,确定了对要恢复为森林景观的每一农业景观斑块对新形成的森林景观的连接度贡献大小,并结合区域地形特征,明确了森林恢复之初的重要斑块的选取及恢复的先后次序。结果显示,在不同的距离阈值下,低山地区森林景观的整体连通性指数值(IIC)都大于丘陵地区森林景观的IIC值;森林景观的适宜距离阈值,在丘陵地区可选择750 m,在低山地区可选择500 m,或者更小尺度;通过农业景观斑块重要值(dIIC)确定的对森林景观连接度作用起"非常高"和"高"的斑块的数量非常少,但对森林景观连接度的贡献作用却比较大。提出的基于景观连接来分析在森林恢复时重要斑块的选取的方法,具有一定的可操作性与实用性,对区域生态恢复和生态建设具有重要意义。     

Seasonal variation in diversity and abundance of understorey birds in Bunduki Forest Reserve,Tanzania: evaluating the conservation value of a plantation forest

Plantation forests generally support lower bird diversity than natural forests. However, in some instances the plantations have been found to provide suitable habitat for a number of bird species. In the Eastern Arc Mountains, there is limited knowledge how understorey birds, some of which make seasonal altitudinal movements, use plantations. Using mist netting we assessed seasonal use of the plantation forest by the understorey bird community in Bunduki Forest Reserve in the Uluguru Mountains. Species diversity and capture rates were significantly higher during the cold season than during the hot season possibly due to seasonal altitudinal migration by some species. The use of plantations by those species that make seasonal altitudinal movements shows that plantation forests can enhance indigenous biodiversity by enabling connectivity between two or more natural forest patches. Our findings suggest that in a situation where there is no natural forest, an exotic plantation with suitable indigenous understorey cover can help in protection of birds, including endemic and near-endemic species.     

Impact of landscape and corridor design on primates in a large-scale industrial tropical plantation landscape

Tropical plantations are rapidly expanding as a source of industrial wood. In Indonesia, such large-scale industrial plantations are generally made of large mono-specific blocks interspersed with natural forest remnants. The extent and biodiversity value of these remnants vary as laws and regulations on their design and management are either unclear, without solid scientific basis or left to the interpretation of private companies responsible for the plantations. Our study area comprises of three Acacia mangium plantations, which have on average 18% of their total area set aside from production and conserved as natural forests. These remnant natural forests may, if appropriately designed and managed, be used to mitigate the negative impact of plantations on biodiversity by providing some degree of connectivity with and between remaining natural forest patches (such as the Tesso Nilo conservation area). We sampled natural vegetation in one and primate diversity in all three plantation sector and examined patterns of primate species richness and abundance with relation to spatial arrangement and dimensions of conservation area, which has been set aside from plantation production. We demonstrate unambiguously the critical importance of a well-connected network of natural forest corridors in the plantation landscape to maintain primates and discuss the potential biodiversity value of natural forest remnants in broad-scale industrial landscapes.     

Importance assessment and conservation strategy for rural landscape patches in Huang-Huai plain based on network robustness analysis

With increasing landscape fragmentation, forest-dominated landscape patches between villages play a highly important role in connecting important urban habitats. Unlike urban environments, these rural landscape patches lack targeted protection strategies and face a significant risk of destruction. This study investigates the philosophy of green infrastructure while considering the rural ecological landscape. Specifically, the connectivity of the rural landscape patches was chosen as the research focus. Taking Xuzhou as a case study, potential ecological corridors and stepping stones were identified through the circuit theoretical model and a multi-level green infrastructure network was constructed. Two important stepping-stone networks were selected from the multi-level green infrastructure network and robustness analysis was performed under three scenarios (centrality destruction, risk destruction, random destruction). By comparing the changes in network indices (connectivity robustness, global efficiency, articulation vertices, assortativity), the more important landscape patches in villages were screened out and corresponding protection strategies were developed. The results revealed that forest landscape patches near rivers had high centrality and were at risk of destruction; accordingly, in the process of village construction and development, the protection of these patches should be prioritised. The results also reflect the importance of forest patches in some villages. This result provides support for rural planning and site selection in concentrated residential areas.     

Improving landscape connectivity for the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey through cropland reforestation using graph theory

Habitat fragmentation is a threat to biodiversity because it restricts the ability of animals to move. Maintaining landscape connectivity could promote connections between habitat patches, which is extremely important for the preservation of gene flow and population viability. This paper aims to evaluate the landscape connectivity of forest areas as it relates to the conservation of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti), an emblematic and endemic endangered primate species. Specifically, this study seeks to model ways to improve connectivity via cropland reforestation scenarios which incorporate graph theory and genetic distances. The connectivity improvement assessment is performed at two nested scales. At the regional scale, the aim is to quantitatively assess the gain in connectivity from different reforestation scenarios, in which croplands are replaced by different kinds of forest habitats. At the local scale, the goal is to prioritize and to locate croplands based on the gain in connectivity that they would provide if they were reforested. The results indicate that the four reforestation scenarios have different impacts on connectivity; the fourth scenario, in which reforestation is accomplished with plant species that provide optimal monkey habitat, yields the greatest increase in connectivity (+24% versus less than +2% for the others). Prioritization of the 1482 cropland patches shows that the 10 best patches increase connectivity from 0.04% to 9.1% as the isolation threshold distance increases. This kind of graph theoretic approach appears to be a useful tool for connectivity assessment and the development of conservation measures for species impacted by human activities.     

道路对林地景观连接度的影响——以巩义市为例

基于景观连接度原理,借用景观连接度指数,在地理信息系统支持下,探讨了巩义市山区林地景观在不同距离阈值下连接度的变化,定量分析了道路对林地景观连接度的影响。结果显示,随着景观距离阈值的增大,无论是否有道路,林地景观整体可能连通性指数值都表现为逐渐增大;对林地景观连接度起"非常高"和"高"作用的林地斑块数量都比较少,但占林地总面积比例较大,面积大的林地斑块在提高景观连接度中起的作用较大;道路的分割使得林地斑块重要值降低,就单一斑块而言,随着景观距离阈值的增大,分割成的小斑块的重要值降低程度在逐渐减小。     

Comparing Bioenergy Production Sites in the Southeastern US Regarding Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand

Biomass for bioenergy is debated for its potential synergies or tradeoffs with other provisioning and regulating ecosystem services (ESS). This biomass may originate from different production systems and may be purposefully grown or obtained from residues. Increased concerns globally about the sustainable production of biomass for bioenergy has resulted in numerous certification schemes focusing on best management practices, mostly operating at the plot/field scale. In this study, we compare the ESS of two watersheds in the southeastern US. We show the ESS tradeoffs and synergies of plantation forestry, i.e., pine poles, and agricultural production, i.e., wheat straw and corn stover, with the counterfactual natural or semi-natural forest in both watersheds. The plantation forestry showed less distinct tradeoffs than did corn and wheat production, i.e., for carbon storage, P and sediment retention, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity. Using indicators of landscape composition and configuration, we showed that landscape planning can affect the overall ESS supply and can partly determine if locally set environmental thresholds are being met. Indicators on landscape composition, configuration and naturalness explained more than 30% of the variation in ESS supply. Landscape elements such as largely connected forest patches or more complex agricultural patches, e.g., mosaics with shrub and grassland patches, may enhance ESS supply in both of the bioenergy production systems. If tradeoffs between biomass production and other ESS are not addressed by landscape planning, it may be reasonable to include rules in certification schemes that require, e.g., the connectivity of natural or semi-natural forest patches in plantation forestry or semi-natural landscape elements in agricultural production systems. Integrating indicators on landscape configuration and composition into certification schemes is particularly relevant considering that certification schemes are governance tools used to ensure comparable sustainability standards for biomass produced in countries with variable or absent legal frameworks for landscape planning.     

外来树种桉树引种的景观生态安全格局

以大面积桉树引种区云南省澜沧县为研究区,以自然栖息地和生物多样性的整体保护为目标,利用最小累积阻力模型开展了桉树引种的景观生态安全格局的定量研究.结果表明:(1)基于GIS技术和“成本距离加权”制图分析工具,将生物和景观等综合因素融入最小累积阻力模型,把“源”扩展的生态过程与景观格局结合起来,应用于桉树引种的景观生态安全格局构建中是可行的.(2)选择次生常绿阔林为保护“源”,地表覆盖类型、海拔、坡度、土壤质地和公路等为阻力因子,建立最小累计阻力面,识别了廊道、辐射道和战略点等生态安全格局组分;用最小累积阻力阈值划分了生态缓冲区、生态过渡区、生态边缘区、农业耕作区和居民生活区等生态功能区,并界定桉树禁止种植区和桉树可种植区,最终组合成两个方案的中级和高级景观生态安全格局.方案一,中级和高级安全水平的桉树可种植区面积分别占研究区面积的33.48％和19.27％.方案二,中级和高级安全水平的桉树可种植区面积分别占研究区面积的28.37％和15.17％.(3)从“源”的扩展效果、保护广度、管理成本、难易程度及生态环境和经济社会发展要求等方面评价,认为方案二的中级安全水平格局能够相对满足澜沧县对生态、经济发展的要求.研究结果为制定研究区生态安全策略提供参考.     

Landscape connectivity dynamics based on network analysis in the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve,China

Lack of landscape connectivity and habitat loss is major threats to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in nature reserves aimed at conservation. In this study, we used structural pattern and functional connectivity metrics to analyze the spatial patterns and landscape connectivity of habitat patches for the Shangyong sub-reserve of the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve from 1970, 1990, and 2000. On the basis of vegetation and land cover data, we applied the equivalent connected area ECA(PC) indicator to analyze the changes in forest connectivity. Four distance thresholds (2, 4, 8, 12 km) were considered to compare the patch importance of connectivity by dECA values. The results showed the declining trends of landscape connectivity measured by ECA(PC) index from 1970 to 2000. The importance of connectivity in each forest patch varied with the increment of dispersal distances at the patch level, and some important habitat patches, which exhibit a potential to enhance landscape connectivity, should be given more attention. The least-cost pathways based on network structure were displayed under four dispersal distances in three periods. The results showed that the number of paths among the fragments of forest patches exhibited radical increases for larger dispersal distances. Further correlation analyses of AWF, ECA (IIC), and ECA (PC) showed the weakest and least-frequent correlations with the structural pattern indices, while H presented more significant correlations with the PD fragmentation metric. Furthermore, Kendall's rank correlations between the forest patch area and functional connectivity indicators showed that dECA (PC) and dAWF indicators should provided the area-based prioritization of habitat patches. Moreover, the low-rank correlations showed that dF and dLCP can be considered as effective and appropriate indicators for the evaluation of habitat features and network patterns.     

沈阳城市森林景观连接度距离阈值选择

利用2006年沈阳市QuickBird遥感影像城市森林解译数据,借助地理信息系统,以沈阳市三环以内区域城市森林景观斑块为研究对象,基于生境可利用性和动植物的扩散能力,选取50、100、200、400、600、800、1000、1200 m 8个距离阈值,采用整体连通性指数、可能连通性指数和景观中各斑块的重要性对研究区城市森林景观连接度的距离阈值进行了分析和筛选.结果表明：2006年沈阳城市森林景观连接度的适宜距离阈值范围在100～400 m,以200 m尤为适宜.距离阈值的选择可因城市森林景观连通性的可执行性和不同层次需求而适当增大或减小.     

Agricultural intensification alters bat assemblage composition and abundance in a dynamic Neotropical landscape

The recent trend of agricultural intensification in tropical landscapes poses a new threat to biodiversity conservation. Conversion of previously heterogeneous agricultural landscapes to intensive plantation agriculture simplifies and homogenizes the landscape, reducing availability, and connectivity of natural habitat for native species. To assess the impact of agricultural intensification on bats, we characterized the bat assemblage in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica, where heterogeneous land uses are being converted to intensive, large‐scale pineapple plantations. In 2012 and 2013, we sampled bats in 20 remnant forest patches surrounded by varying proportions of pasture, mature forest, and pineapple and captured 1821 individual bats representing 39 species. We used ordination analyses to evaluate changes in species composition, where pineapple is the main component of the agricultural matrix. We identified landscape metrics specifically correlated with pineapple and used multiple linear regression to test their effects on bat species richness, diversity, and guild‐specific relative abundance. Results suggest pineapple expansion is driving changes in assemblage composition in remnant forest patches, resulting in new assemblages with higher proportions of frugivorous bats and lower proportions of insectivorous bats than in continuous mature forests. In addition, while pineapple does not diminish total bat species richness and diversity, the reduced forest cover and increased distance between forest patches in pineapple plantations has a significant negative impact on the relative abundance of insectivores. We also identify a potential threshold effect whereby patches surrounded by more than 50 percent forest can retain assemblage composition similar to that found in continuous mature forest.     

Trends in diversity and abundance of obligate epiphytic bryophytes in a highly managed landscape

Although forest stands represent 47% of the total land area in Europe, alterations to the forest habitat through logging and plantation of exotic trees has led to significant changes in forest biocenoses. Due to their peculiar biology and life history, epiphytic bryophytes, which include a number of species of high conservation value, are especially concerned. Ordinal logit regression was used to test whether trends in diversity and abundance of obligate epiphytic bryophytes are explained by forest cover and spruce plantation and determine specific optima and degree of reliance to these factors at the landscape scale. Spruce plantations had a negative impact on both species diversity and abundance. Although large forest patches were important for a set of species exclusively or more frequently occurring under the forest cover, the abundance of a number of species previously identified as woodland bryophytes decreased or was uncorrelated with increasing forest cover. Furthermore, the species pool adapted to edge-related abiotic conditions was important. The global epiphytic diversity did consequently not decrease with decreasing forest cover at the landscape scale. If large forest patches are important for the conservation of a set of species exclusively or more frequently occurring under the forest cover, the conservation of epiphytic bryophytes thus also involves the conservation of pioneer trees in open landscapes. A series of management measures, which may help maximize the species diversity and probability of occurrence of key-species of high conservation interest, are proposed.     

重庆市都市区绿地景观的连通性

城市绿地具有重要的生态功能和社会经济价值,是衡量城市生态可持续发展的重要标准.其中,连通性是维持景观功能的关键因素之一.以重庆市都市区为研究对象,结合TM遥感影像图,通过整体连通性指数(IIC)、可能连通性指数(PC)和景观中斑块对连通性的重要值对该区绿地景观的连通性进行了分析.研究结果表明,都市区绿地景观主要由少数巨型斑块和大量小型斑块组成.绿地景观整体连通性较差,这与绿地景观组成密切相关.对于绿地景观的连通性而言,巨型斑块的重要值最大,但小型斑块的重要性也不容忽视.对绿地景观连通性重要值最大的一些斑块主要分布于都市区的几大山脉上,这些斑块是城市绿地规划和保护的首要考虑的对象.基于研究结果,建议在重庆市都市区进行绿地规划时,优先考虑对重要斑块的保护,同时要考虑在巨型斑块之间构建小斑块,使其形成连通性廊道,提高绿地景观的连通性.     

The importance of forest patch networks for the conservation of the Thorn-tailed Rayaditos in central Chile

Conservation of forest birds in fragmented landscapes requires not only determining the critical patch characteristics influencing local population persistence but also identifying patch networks providing connectivity and suitable habitat conditions necessary to ensure regional persistence. In this study, we assessed the importance of patch attributes, patch connectivity, and network components (i.e., groups of interconnected patches) in explaining the occupancy pattern of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda), a forest bird species of central Chile. Using a daily movement threshold distance, we identified a total of 16 network components of sclerophyllous forest within the study area. Among those components, patch area and vegetation structure-composition were important predictors of patch occupancy. However, the inclusion of patch connectivity and component size (i.e., the area of a network component) into the models greatly increases the models’ accuracy and parsimony. Using the best-fitted model, a total of 33 patches were predicted to be occupied by rayaditos within the study area, but such occupied patches were distributed in only six network components. These results suggest that persistence of rayaditos in central Chile requires the maintenance of large single patches and patch networks providing habitat and connectivity.     

黑龙江林口林业局森林景观格局特征

以黑龙江林口林业局1∶50000林相图作为基本信息源,利用地理信息系统软件ArcView和景观结构分析软件Fragstats,从景观格局的总体特征、景观破碎度、景观形状指数、分形维数和平均最近距离等方面,对该林业局的景观格局进行了分析.结果表明:该林业局以森林景观为主体(56.74%),居民点和农田景观也占有较高比例,而沼泽、灌木、荒山荒地、河流、迹地和裸地等景观零星分布于森林景观中;该林业局的森林景观主要以人工针叶纯林(40.47%)和天然蒙古栎林(20.96%)为主,斑块分布集中、形状复杂、边缘褶皱度高.人工林与天然林的面积基本相等,但破碎度较大、斑块形状相对简单、斑块分布较集中,软阔叶林及硬阔叶林斑块分别占11.89%和7.38%.研究表明,该林业局的森林景观受人为干扰程度过大,景观结构不合理,要实现林业的可持续发展,必须对景观斑块结构进行调整.     

生态保护区外斑块对景观连接度的影响评价

快速的城市化过程带来的生境斑块破碎化及损失会影响物种迁移、捕食等生态活动,对生物多样性构成威胁。然而,现有生态保护区可能无法覆盖其内生物的必要活动范围。生态保护区外的生境斑块对于维持生态过程也具有重要作用,因此识别生态保护区外的关键斑块并加以保护非常重要。以北京市延庆区为研究区,划分两种生境斑块,即核心生境斑块和潜在生境斑块,并基于图论构建生境网络。考虑地表覆盖类型、坡度、人类活动等因素构建生境阻力面。结合未来土地利用类型变化的模拟,研究城市化过程对区域生境网络和景观连接度的影响,选用CLUE-S模型模拟土地利用类型变化的格局。结合生境斑块特征和未来城市土地利用变化情况设计了3种未来生境变化情景。利用连接概率指数(PC)和网络连接度变化率(dI)评价不同生境变化情景下生态保护区外潜在生境斑块的景观连接度重要性,判断保护优先顺序,并分析景观格局变化对不同迁移能力物种的影响。结果表明：生态保护区外的全部潜在生境斑块对维持生境整体景观连接度有最大2.15%的影响,单个潜在生境斑块对维持景观连接度有最大0.28%的影响。此外,景观格局及其变化对不同迁移能力物种的影响差异显著,因此需针对保护物种和城市生境特征设计保护方案,研究区需要优先保护大中型斑块和位于关键位置的小型斑块。为了满足对生物多样性保护的需求,建议在区分生境斑块保护优先顺序时考虑生境斑块对景观连接度的贡献和城市化扩展过程的压力。研究为城市生物多样性保护和生境管理提供了方法参考。     

Habitat complementarity and butterfly traits are essential considerations when mitigating the effects of exotic plantation forestry

Habitat loss threatens insect diversity globally. However, complementary vegetation types in remaining habitat increases opportunities for species survival. We assess the extent to which indigenous forest patches moderate the impact of exotic commercial afforestation on grassland butterflies. Butterflies were sampled in grassland along uncorrelated gradients of landscape-scale indigenous forest and plantation cover, while controlling for variation in local vegetation composition. We separately assessed responses by butterfly groups differing in habitat preference, larval diet, and mobility. There was no effect of landscape- or local-scale variables on species richness, but there was a strong interactive effect of forest and plantation cover on butterfly assemblage structure. The effect varied according to species traits. When forest cover was high, assemblages did not differ at different levels of plantation cover. However, plantation cover significantly influenced assemblage structure when forest cover was low. Grassland with limited forest cover in the protected area supported unique assemblages with high frequency of less mobile, specialized species with herbaceous larval host plants, whereas grassland with low forest cover near plantations had a prevalence of mobile, generalist species. A positive association between forest cover and butterflies with woody larval host plants suggests that indigenous forest patches improved the suitability of fragmented grassland for a subset of butterflies, emphasising the value of natural heterogeneity in transformed areas. However, certain butterfly traits associated with large, open grassland were under-represented in grassland between plantations, underscoring the importance of open areas in the broader landscape to conserve the full diversity of species.

     

福建省自然保护区生态网络的构建与优化

自然保护区对维护物种多样性具有重要意义,但城市化的快速发展造成自然保护区不断被蚕食和破坏,保护区日益破碎,生物多样性不断减少.构建生态网络能够有效连接破碎生境,为物种保护提供空间保障.本文基于ArcGIS软件平台,在确定源地斑块和景观阻力面的基础上,采用最小耗费距离模型构建福建省自然保护区潜在生态网络,并基于连通性指数和重力模型对构建网络前后的连通性和廊道重要性进行定量分析和评价,最后提出生态网络优化的措施和对策.结果表明: 林地、草地、湿地是研究区潜在廊道的重要景观构成类型;面积大的生境斑块在网络中的重要性较高;构建网络后,景观整体连通性指数和可能连通性指数显著提高;不同斑块间的相互作用强度差异很大,但相互作用力大的斑块间的廊道在生态网络中的重要性程度较高.本研究结果可为福建省自然保护和规划提供科学参考和依据.