基于生境斑块的滇金丝猴景观连接度分析

基于生境斑块,结合最小费用距离并运用图论法对滇金丝猴分布区进行栖息地连接度分析,研究利用猴群的现实分布结合Logistic回归模型确定了景观功能连接的最佳距离阈值,对于功能畅通的组分,以景观指数BC定量识别出作为"踏脚石"的优先保护区域;对于功能不连接的组分,绘制出最小费用路径,确定了该路径中优先恢复区域。结果表明:最佳的最小费用距离阈值为1400,该阈值下猴群主要存在于5个组分中,所有组分中猴群间的连接度优劣排序为组分3组分1组分5组分4,龙马山猴群(G15)没有"踏脚石"斑块使其与同一组分内的其他猴群相连接,应考虑优先恢复该区域的植被,研究成果对于该物种的保护和其他濒危物种的类似研究具有较强的参考价值和借鉴意义。     

基于景观遗传学的滇金丝猴栖息地连接度分析

结合景观遗传学,应用最小费用距离模型对物种栖息地进行连接度分析,能够为生物多样性保护和自然保护区管理提供更加真实准确及可实践操作的指导。选取滇金丝猴这一珍稀濒危物种,结合景观遗传学,应用最小费用距离模型对其栖息地进行了连接度和潜在扩散廊道分析。并且通过连接度的分析和制图绘制出了更为准确的种群间潜在扩散廊道,确定了受人工障碍影响的廊道及敏感区域。结果表明,研究区内的5个亚群中,仅S3亚群内的5个猴群保持着较好的连接度,总体来说,各亚群内的连接度相对于各亚群间连接度保持的较好。除S3亚群中猴群间的潜在扩散廊道较为理想外,其余种群间的潜在扩散廊道均受人工斑块的影响,多数廊道被人工障碍阻断,或面临即将被阻断的情况,对于滇金丝猴的扩散交流影响较大。敏感区域多集中在中南部的3个亚群间,这些敏感区域应作为景观恢复及保护区规划的重要优先区域。     

基于文献计量法的中国景观连接度应用研究进展

景观连接度反映了景观对物种或某种生态过程在生境斑块之间运动的促进或阻碍作用,对维持景观格局及生态过程的完整性和连续性具有重要指示意义。在当前全球环境变化,自然生境丧失和破碎化不可避免的情况下,景观连接度的评价、模拟与应用已成为景观生态学、保护生物学等相关学科的研究热点。基于CNKI和Web of Science数据库,检索1999—2015年间国内发表的景观连接度期刊论文,通过文献计量法,分别从年发文量、来源期刊、研究机构、研究区域、研究目的、景观类型、景观尺度以及研究方法等多个视角分析国内该领域应用研究进展以及发展趋势。经检索共得到文献240篇,其中英文43篇。分析发现,近20年国内该领域年发文量总体呈显著增长趋势;《生态学报》、《生态学杂志》和Urban and Landscape Planning为主要刊载期刊;研究力量集中分布在北京、南京等东部18所科研机构,文献量占到43.75%;研究目标区域也以东部为主(52.2%),而对中西部生态敏感脆弱区研究较少;研究目的以景观规划为主,但针对物种保护的研究较弱,仅占11.25%,且主要关注大熊猫等被公众熟知的珍稀濒危物种;城市、城乡等人工景观是常见的景观研究类型,相比之下,自然景观所占比例较低;研究的空间尺度集中在5000 km2的中小尺度域,占72.5%,景观粒度以30 m的中等分辨率居多。识别出14种具体度量方法,常用的包括最小费用模型、基于图论原理的功能连接度指数和网络结构指数,以及景观格局指数等;关注功能性连接和多方法的综合应用已成为当前研究的趋势;度量方法的一些参数,如最小费用模型阻力赋值或距离阈值选择主要依据专家经验或已有文献,而针对目标物种采用实证研究的则较少。最后,对国内当前该领域的研究现状和不足展开讨论并展望了未来发展,以促进我国景观连接度后续研究。     

鄱阳湖生态经济区生态网络构建与评价

大型生态斑块是区域生物多样性保护的重要基础.然而,随着我国城镇化的快速推进,人类活动对环境的干扰越来越强烈,不仅大型生态斑块数量不断减少、质量不断下降,而且斑块之间连接出现弱化, “孤岛化”现象严重,严重影响区域生物多样性保护.本文以鄱阳湖生态经济区为例,通过GIS技术手段,充分考虑景观类型、坡度和人类活动干扰的影响,采用最小费用模型构建了该区域的潜在生态廊道.基于重力模型定量分析了生态斑块间的相互作用强度,并以此将潜在生态廊道分成2级以便区别保护,识别了研究区重要生态节点和生态断裂点,分析了该潜在生态网络结构的连通性.结果表明: 森林和农田是构成研究区生态廊道的主要景观类型;生态斑块之间的相互作用强度差异显著;区域生态网络结构较复杂,网络连接度和闭合度较高.研究结果可为鄱阳湖生态经济区生物多样性保护和生态网络优化提供科学依据.     

整合电路理论的生态廊道及其重要性识别

景观连接度被认为是影响诸多生态过程的一个重要因素.基于最小累积阻力模型的最小成本路径识别方法可以有效识别异质性景观中的功能连接,已被广泛应用到景观的功能连接评价与生态廊道模拟的研究中.基于电路理论的连接度模型用电阻代替了图论中的边、用电阻距离代替成本距离,来衡量异质性景观的功能连接.本文以SIMMAP 2.0软件生成的模拟景观为对象,借助于Linkage Mapper工具和Circuitscape软件,探讨如何将最小累积阻力模型与基于电路理论的连接度模型相结合来识别生态廊道及其景观要素的相对重要性.结果表明: 两种模型在应用中各有优势,互为补充.最小成本路径方法可以有效识别栖息地之间的最小成本廊道,基于电路理论的连接度模型通过电流密度的计算可以有效识别对景观连接性有重要影响的景观要素和“夹点”地区,并且“夹点”的位置不受廊道宽度的影响,在廊道重要性识别研究中具有明显优势.该方法可为区域生态保护规划和生态廊道设计提供科学依据.     

基于鸟类边缘种行为的景观连接度研究——空间句法的反规划应用

在城市森林及其他生态景观的研究与规划中,结合特定物种(使用者)行为的景观连接度已得到业界越来越多的重视。为了给基于物种行为的景观连接度提供新的建模和分析理念,拟将建筑及城市规划学科中一种可靠的人工智能语言通过反规划思想引入景观生态学领域,通过模拟演绎展示空间句法在研究中的优越性。鉴于鸟类边缘种的栖息地景观构型特点,将空间句法轴线图借用于基于鸟类边缘种行为的景观连接度研究。首先介绍了传统景观连接度的量化方法及物种迁移模型,通过文献综述归纳出此类研究方法的局限性;接着,由反规划启蒙提出将空间句法模型引入"边缘种-栖息地"互动研究的设想;最后,以贺州城市森林规划为例,利用空间句法轴线图探究基于鸟类边缘种行为的景观连接度。模拟实验旨在展示轴线图模型能反映物种对不同景观元素非等权重的选择行为,并可根据物种邻域感知信息预测其复合尺度的行为。     

景观连接度的概念、度量及其应用

景观连接度是指景观促进或阻碍生物体或某种生态过程在源斑块间运动的程度,反映了景观的功能特征。景观连接度理论与方法是景观评价、管理和生态规划的重要基础,对于区域可持续发展和生物多样性保护等方面的研究都具有重要指导意义。综述了国内外近10a来有关景观连接度概念、度量方法及其生态学意义的最新进展,并探讨了景观连接度与景观要素间的关系及其潜在应用前景,以期为深入开展景观空间格局与生态过程间关系的研究与应用提供参考。     

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。     

济南城市绿地生态网络构建

城市绿地为城市生物多样性保护提供了重要的空间保障.改善与提高城市绿地生态网络的连接对保护城市生物多样性具有重要意义.以济南市为例,在GIS技术的支撑下,在考虑不同绿地斑块间的距离与景观阻力的基础上,采用最小路径方法,定量表征与模拟了研究区的潜在生态廊道,并基于重力模型和网络连接度指数,对绿地斑块间相互作用强度与生态网络结构进行了定量分析与评价.研究结果表明,风景林、滨水绿地和公园绿地是组成研究区生态网络的优势景观类型;济南绿地系统规划中的许多斑块在生态网络中起着"踏脚石"的作用,但占规划绿地面积的比例不高;不同绿地斑块间的相互作用强度差异显著,斑块之间相互作用强的绿地廊道在生态网络中的地位突出,对生物物种的丰富度、迁移与扩散等起着重要作用,而斑块之间相互作用弱的廊道景观阻力大,生境适宜性低,必须在未来的绿地系统规划中加以改善;网络结构越复杂,连接度与闭合度水平越高,对物种的迁移与扩散就越有利.因此,增加绿地斑块,优化绿地空间布局,改善绿地斑块间的连接,完善城市绿地网络是新一轮城市绿地系统规划的关键任务.研究结果可为城市建设者与规划者进行城市绿地系统规划提供科学的依据与参考信息.     

三江平原东北部湿地生态安全格局设计

以三江平原东北部为研究区域,采用"3S"技术和数学模型,根据景观尺度上生物多样性保护规划的景观生态安全格局方法,对三江平原湿地生物多样性保护进行规划设计.利用GAP分析方法预测湿地鸟类丰富度,并评价和计算了湿地鸟类干扰度,在此基础上构建物种运动阻力模型,并利用此模型计算物种运动阻力指数,建立物种运动等阻力面,在阻力面上识别战略点、辐射道和源间联接等景观组分.为了保护本区的湿地生物多样性,提出扩大保护区的面积、建立保护区与热点之间的廊道和设立微型保护地块的规划措施.提出的湿地鸟类多样性保护的景观生态安全格局技术与方法,不但为三江平原湿地及其生物多样性的保护和管理提供科学依据,而且丰富和发展了我国生物多样性保护的理论与方法.     

A Spatially Explicit Model of Functional Connectivity for the Endangered Przewalski’s Gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) in a Patchy Landscape

Background

Habitat fragmentation, associated with human population expansion, impedes dispersal, reduces gene flow and aggravates inbreeding in species on the brink of extinction. Both scientific and conservation communities increasingly realize that maintaining and restoring landscape connectivity is of vital importance in biodiversity conservation. Prior to any conservation initiatives, it is helpful to present conservation practitioners with a spatially explicit model of functional connectivity for the target species or landscape.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) as a model of endangered ungulate species in highly fragmented landscape, we present a model providing spatially explicit information to inform the long-term preservation of well-connected metapopulations. We employed a Geographic Information System (GIS) and expert-literature method to create a habitat suitability map, to identify potential habitats and to delineate a functional connectivity network (least-cost movement corridors and paths) for the gazelle. Results indicated that there were limited suitable habitats for the gazelle, mainly found to the north and northwest of the Qinghai Lake where four of five potential habitat patches were identified. Fifteen pairs of least-cost corridors and paths were mapped connecting eleven extant populations and two neighboring potential patches. The least-cost paths ranged from 0.2 km to 26.8 km in length (averaging 12.4 km) and were all longer than corresponding Euclidean distances.

Conclusions/Significance

The model outputs were validated and supported by the latest findings in landscape genetics of the species, and may provide impetus for connectivity conservation programs. Dispersal barriers were examined and appropriate mitigation strategies were suggested. This study provides conservation practitioners with thorough and visualized information to reserve the landscape connectivity for Przewalski’s gazelle. In a general sense, we proposed a heuristic framework for species with similar biological and ecological characteristics.     

Evaluating population connectivity for species of conservation concern in the American Great Plains

Habitat loss and fragmentation are widely recognized as among the most important threats to global biodiversity. New analytical approaches are providing an improved ability to predict the effects of landscape change on population connectivity at vast spatial extents. This paper presents an analysis of population connectivity for three species of conservation concern [swift fox (Vulpes velox); lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus); massasuaga (Sistrurus catenatus)] across the American Great Plains region. We used factorial least-cost path and resistant kernel analyses to predict effects of landscape conditions on corridor network connectivity. Our predictions of population connectivity provide testable hypotheses about the location of core habitats, corridors, and barriers to movement. The results indicate that connectivity is more sensitive to a species’ dispersal ability than variation in landscape resistance to movement. Thus, it may prove difficult to optimize conservation strategies to maintain population connectivity for multiple species with disparate dispersal abilities and independent distributions.     

Defining Landscape Resistance Values in Least-Cost Connectivity Models for the Invasive Grey Squirrel: A Comparison of Approaches Using Expert-Opinion and Habitat Suitability Modelling

Least-cost models are widely used to study the functional connectivity of habitat within a varied landscape matrix. A critical step in the process is identifying resistance values for each land cover based upon the facilitating or impeding impact on species movement. Ideally resistance values would be parameterised with empirical data, but due to a shortage of such information, expert-opinion is often used. However, the use of expert-opinion is seen as subjective, human-centric and unreliable. This study derived resistance values from grey squirrel habitat suitability models (HSM) in order to compare the utility and validity of this approach with more traditional, expert-led methods. Models were built and tested with MaxEnt, using squirrel presence records and a categorical land cover map for Cumbria, UK. Predictions on the likelihood of squirrel occurrence within each land cover type were inverted, providing resistance values which were used to parameterise a least-cost model. The resulting habitat networks were measured and compared to those derived from a least-cost model built with previously collated information from experts. The expert-derived and HSM-inferred least-cost networks differ in precision. The HSM-informed networks were smaller and more fragmented because of the higher resistance values attributed to most habitats. These results are discussed in relation to the applicability of both approaches for conservation and management objectives, providing guidance to researchers and practitioners attempting to apply and interpret a least-cost approach to mapping ecological networks.     

基于MSPA与最小路径方法的巴中西部新城生态网络构建

目前快速城市化导致了生境斑块的日益破碎化,景观之间的连通性不断降低。构建生态网络可以连接破碎的生境斑块,增加绿地景观的连通性,对生物多样性保护具有重要意义。以高度景观破碎化的四川省巴中西部新城为研究区,采用形态学空间格局分析(MSPA)方法,提取出对研究区生态网络构建具有重要生态意义的核心区和桥接区两类景观要素,并选用整体连通性(IIC)、可能连通性(PC)和斑块重要性(d I)等景观指数,分别对核心区和桥接区进行景观连接度评价,遴选出对维持景观连通性贡献最大的10个核心区生境斑块作为生态网络的源地,并根据斑块对维持景观连通的重要性程度将其他核心区和桥接区进行类型划分,以此作为景观阻力的赋值依据,融入消费面模型中,最后采用最小路径方法构建了研究区潜在的生态网络,并基于重力模型对重要生态廊道进行了识别与提取,在此基础上有针对性地提出了生态网络优化的对策。研究结果表明,MSPA方法能够科学的辨识出研究区内对生态保护具有重要意义的结构性要素,例如作为物种栖息地的核心区和物种迁移通道的桥接区,这些要素是生态网络的重要组成部分;景观连通性的计算,明确了研究区景观要素的保护重点,为最小路径方法中的景观阻力赋值提供了重要的参考信息;基于MSPA与最小路径方法的生态网络分析框架综合了现有景观结构性要素识别、连通性分析以及物种潜在迁移路径分析等方法,将景观中潜在的生态源地和结构性廊道的连通性作为构建生态网络的重要基础和主要依据,从而使得生态网络的构建更科学。研究结果可为高度破碎化地区生态网络的构建提供重要的参考与依据,对其他地区生态网络的构建也具有一定的借鉴意义。     

Assessment of Habitat Fragmentation and Corridors for an Isolated Subspecies of the Sichuan Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis</Emphasis>

Understanding habitat quality and landscape connectivity and exploring corridors connecting habitat patches are crucial for conservation, particularly for species distributed among isolated populations. The Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is an Endangered primate species endemic to mountainous forests in China. Its easternmost distribution lies in the Shennongjia area, which harbors an isolated subspecies, R. roxellana hubeiensis. Unfortunately, it has experienced significant habitat loss, fragmentation, and dramatic population decline in recent decades, primarily due to increased human disturbance. To quantify habitat quality, identify suitable habitat patches, and detect possible linkages among these patches for R. roxellana hubeiensis, we conducted habitat suitability assessments and landscape connectivity analyses in the Shennongjia area based on a set of environmental factors. We created a habitat quality model and a movement cost surface for the Shennongjia area based on a habitat suitability index, graph theory, expert knowledge, field experience, and information from the literature. Our results show that suitable habitat for R. roxellana hubeiensis in Shennongjia is fragmented and limited, and that this is particularly true for highly suitable habitats. We detected six core habitat patches and six least-cost paths and corridors. Our study does not provide accurate distributions of the monkeys and their habitat use. However, it identifies the most feasible and traversable habitats and corridors, which should be conservation priorities for this subspecies, and provides valuable guidance for reevaluating habitat conservation plans.     

Identifying potential conservation areas in the Cuitzeo Lake basin,Mexico by multitemporal analysis of landscape connectivity

Lake Cuitzeo basin is an important ecological area subjected to strong human pressure on forest covers that are key elements for the long-term support of biodiversity. We studied landscape connectivity changes for the years 1975, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2008 to identify potential conservation areas in the basin. We modeled potential distributions of the Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae) and the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) – two terrestrial mammal focal species with contrasting dispersal capacities – and we determined their habitat availability and suitability in the basin. We then identified their optimal habitat patches and produced landscape cumulative resistance maps, estimated least-cost paths (graph theory approach), and elaborated current flow maps (circuit theory approach). For evaluation of landscape connectivity, we applied an integral index of connectivity (IIC) to each study period, and determined individual habitat patch contribution to the overall landscape connectivity. The IIC index had very low values associated with reduced availability of focal species habitat. However, our study showed the conservation importance of the surface of optimal habitat patch areas. The combined application of a graph-based approach and current flow mapping were useful, and complementary both in terms of estimating potential dispersal corridors and identifying high probability dispersal areas. This indicated that landscape connectivity analysis is a useful tool for identification of potential conservation areas and for local landscape planning.     

Modeling habitat connectivity in support of multiobjective species movement: An application to amphibian habitat systems

Reasoning about the factors underlying habitat connectivity and the inter-habitat movement of species is essential to many areas of biological inquiry. In order to better describe and understand the ways in which the landscape may support species movement, an increasing amount of research has focused on identification of paths or corridors that may be important in providing connectivity among habitat. The least-cost path problem has proven to be an instrumental analytical tool in this sense. A complicating aspect of such path identification methods is how to best reconcile and integrate the array of criteria or objectives that species may consider in traversal of a landscape. In cases where habitat connectivity is thought to be influenced or guided by multiple objectives, numerous solutions to least-cost path problems can exist, representing tradeoffs between the objectives. In practice though, identification of these solutions can be very challenging and as such, only a small proportion of them are typically examined leading to a weak characterization of habitat connectivity. To address this computational challenge, a multiobjective optimization framework is proposed. A generalizable multiobjective least-cost path model is first detailed. A non-inferior set estimation (MONISE) algorithm for identifying supported efficient solutions to the multiobjective least-cost path model is then described. However, it is well known that unsupported efficient solutions (which are equally important) can also exist, but are typically ignored given that they are more difficult to identify. Thus, to enable the identification of the full set of efficient solutions (supported and unsupported) to the multiobjective model, a multi-criteria labeling algorithm is then proposed. The developed framework is applied to assess different conceptualizations of habitat connectivity supporting amphibian movement in a wetland system. The results highlight the range of tradeoffs in characterizations of connectivity that can exist when multiple objectives are thought to contribute to movement decisions and that the number of unsupported efficient solutions (which are typically ignored) can vastly outweigh that of the supported efficient solutions.     

Developing a functional connectivity indicator to detect change in fragmented landscapes

Biodiversity indicators are increasingly used to assess progress towards conservation targets. Particular indicators are required to assess the impacts of habitat fragmentation on landscape connectivity and biodiversity value. This paper recognises that connectivity is best defined by the interaction between species and the landscape in which they occur, and proposes a functional approach to assess connectivity. The approach utilises an incidence function model (IFM) as a spatially explicit method to assess potential species-level connectivity. The standard IFM connectivity measure is modified to account for the influence of the surrounding landscape matrix on edge impacts (through a weighted internal edge buffer) and ecological isolation (through an assessment of least-cost distance to account for landscape permeability). It has been recognised that such patch-based connectivity measures can provide misleading results when used to examine change, as they only focus on between patch movements. As a result, a modified hybrid IFM, based on a combination of patch and cell-based approaches, is developed to account for both within (intra) and between (inter) patch connectivity. The resulting probability of functional connectivity (PFC) indicator was evaluated, alongside a patch-based connectivity measure, through the application to four model landscapes based on changes (2 negative and 2 positive) to a control landscape. The four model landscapes illustrate the impact of landscape change on habitat area, edge impacts and matrix permeability. The proposed PFC indicator successfully discriminated between the two negative and the two positive changes to the control landscape, whereas, the patch-based connectivity measure detected change successfully within three of the four landscapes. The PFC indicator predicted a decrease in intra and inter-patch connectivity following habitat loss and fragmentation (negative change 1), whereas patch-based connectivity measures indicate an increase in connectivity between fragmented patches. The proposed PFC indicator offers the opportunity to take the necessary species-based perspective to examine functional connectivity, incorporating habitat preference, dispersal probability, edge impacts and ecological isolation/permeability. The urgency to assess changes in connectivity and support conservation policy means that there is little time to wait for more complete data. We believe the proposed approach provides a robust balance between the data required and the biologically meaningful indicator produced.