Effects of habitat fragmentation and road density on the distribution pattern of the moor frog Rana arvalis

1. The effects of habitat fragmentation on the distribution pattern of the moor frog Rana arvalis were investigated. Also, the possible isolation effects of the road network were taken into account.
2. Indications were found that habitat fragmentation partly explains the distribution pattern of the moor frog. The statistical models showed a positive effect of pond size (or marsh area) and a negative effect of road density on the probability of occupation of a moorland pond.
3. Because of the strong correlation between habitat quality variables and isolation variables, no unambiguous effects of isolation, described as the amount of suitable terrestrial habitat (moorland) in the surroundings of a moorland pond in a radius of 100–2000 m, could be demonstrated.
4. Spatial differences in road density can play a role in the selection of optimal locations for nature protection areas. The regression model used in this study predicts a reduced occupation probability in 55% of the study area. In the part of the study area adjacent to a motorway, occupation probability is lowered to less than 30%.
5. European studies of habitat fragmentation on amphibian species revealed a mean distance between occupied ponds of <1 km in all studies. This could be a general rule of thumb for persistent amphibian populations. Effects of pond size on the probability of occupation were more variable.
6. When discussing the effects of habitat fragmentation on amphibians and other ground dwelling species, the negative effects of roads are often underestimated.     

Impacts of Riparian Forest Removal on Palauan Streams

The 2006 completion of the circum‐island Compact Road on the island of Babeldaob in the Republic of Palau resulted in several deforested stream reaches with modified stream channels. To determine the impacts of deforestation and road construction, various ecosystem parameters were compared between road‐impacted reaches, reforested savanna reaches, and forested reaches. Compared to adjacent forested reaches, road‐impacted reaches received significantly more light (0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 87.8 ± 4.1 % light transmittance, respectively), were significantly warmer (25.7 ± 0.1 vs. 26.1 ± 0.1°C, respectively), and received higher nutrient and sediment loads, all of which were attributed to the removal of riparian vegetation and increased surface runoff from the road. These differences were believed to have shifted the benthic algal community in road‐impacted reaches from diatoms to filamentous algae with significantly greater chl a biomass (10×) and benthic algal ash free dry mass AFDM (3×) compared to adjacent forested reaches. Savanna‐impacted and forested reaches had similar chl a, algal AFDM, and received similar amounts of light. Nutrient and sediment concentrations varied between the two reach types. Results from this study emphasize the need for the maintenance of riparian forests especially with predicted increases in population, development, and deforestation. Future studies are needed to determine effective riparian widths and riparian forest community structure to help resource managers and land owners protect and preserve the many ecosystem services that Palauan streams and watersheds provide.     

杭州西溪国家湿地公园1993年以来景观演变及其驱动力分析

在遥感和GIS技术支持下,以杭州西溪国家湿地公园的TM影像为主要数据源,研究了西溪湿地近10年的景观空间格局特征和演变情况,探讨了景观演变的驱动因素.结果表明,景观多样性指数由1993年的1.7854上升到2001年的1.8438和2003年的2.2096, 景观多样性指数在1993年以后持续上升.景观的破碎化指数从1993年的0.0036增加到2001年的0.0042和2003年的0.0047,表明西溪整个景观的破碎化程度随时间而加深,各类景观受人类活动的干扰在增强.人为活动成为西溪湿地格局演变的主要驱动因素.房地产开发是地处城市边缘的西溪湿地景观演变的主要内在动力,景观整体多样性的演变受到景区社会经济发展水平和各种政策的强烈影响.     

道路边坡坡度对植被恢复中物种多样性的影响研究

以成都平原周边的5条道路的边坡植被群落作为研究对象,采用样线法,研究坡度对道路边坡的植物群落多样性的影响。选取101个海拔在300~400 m间并且土壤质地相同的边坡样方进行坡度分析。结果显示：（1）选取的样方中,共出现142种植物,属于61个科,121属。（2）边坡坡度对阳坡和阴坡的灌木层与草本层的植物群落物种多样性具有显著的影响(P<0.05)。（3）边坡坡度对阴坡群落的均匀度指数影响显著(P<0.05);而对阳坡群落的丰富度影响相对较大,呈现先增加后降低的趋势。分析表明,边坡坡度对成都平原周边地区道路边坡的植物群落多样性具有显著影响;在坡度<35°的条件下,植被群落恢复效果较好,群落的多样性高;而对>35°的边坡来说,多样性指数呈下降趋势,不利于后期边坡恢复。     

Altitudinal distribution of native and alien plant species in roadside communities from central Argentina

Roadsides may homogenize the distribution of native species and act as corridors for the spread of alien taxa. We examined the variation in native and alien plant species richness and composition at two spatial scales defined by altitude and habitat type (edges and fill slopes), as well as the relationship between native and exotic species richness in roadside plant communities in mountains from central Argentina. Following a gradient from 1100 to 2200 m a.s.l. along a mountain road, plant species cover was recorded within sample plots of 30 m × 10 m systematically located at 100‐m altitude intervals on both roadside habitats. Although native species richness decreased with altitude and composition changed accordingly, the number of alien species peaked at both extremes of the elevation gradient and did not reflect an altitudinal replacement of chorological groups. The number of both native and alien species was higher in roadside edges, but a negative association between the richness of native and alien species occurred only on fill slopes, suggesting that roadside habitats differ in their susceptibility to plant species colonization and in the mechanisms driving native and alien species richness. Our results highlight the importance of altitude and roadside habitat as factors controlling plant species richness and composition along roadside communities in central Argentina. Although altitude acts as a filter for native plants, it apparently did not constrain the establishment of alien species along the studied roadsides, indicating that the influence of this road as a plant species corridor may increase with time, promoting the opportunities for aliens to expand their current distribution.     

Integrated risk assessment of potentially toxic elements and particle pollution in urban road dust of megacity of Pakistan

Abstract

Potentially toxic elements and particulate matter (PM) in the ecosystem are regarded as extremely hazardous because of their persistence, toxicity and bioaccumulative characteristics. Therefore, present study was conducted to estimate the ecological and human health risks of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd and Ni) and particle pollution (TSP, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) at 2 and 60 m roadside distance from 15 different sites at dust polluted megacity of Pakistan. The AQI assessments suggested that the majority of sites were found unhealthy for sensitive at 2 and 60 m roadside distance, which reveals that that quality of road pavement and streets are far below than the required standards resulting huge quantity of dust particles suspended in air by natural and anthropogenic activities. The maximum geo-accumulation index (I _geo) values (1.47 and 0.52) and pollution index (PI) values (4.18 and 2.15) were observed for Ni at 2 and 60 m distance away from the muddy edge of the roads. Similarly, maximum contamination factor (CF) values (24.5 and 94.5) and ecological risk index (ERI) values (4.11 and 3.15) were found for Cd at 2 and 60 m. The I _geo and PI indicated that the road dust at a distance of 2 m was relatively more contaminated as compared to 60 m roadside distance. Highest cancer risk (CR) values (2.33 adult and 10.9 for children) were observed for Pb at 2 m, while highest CR values (1.21 for adult and 5.67 for children) at 60 m distance. No probable health risk was observed as the total hazard index (HIexp) of all potentially toxic elements was <1. However, children were appeared to be more susceptible to potentially toxic elements. Based on the results, we believe that the exponential increase in traffic load and industries have aggravated the pollution level and it is expected to be increased in the future.