Impact of landscape patterns on ecological vulnerability and ecosystem service values: An empirical analysis of Yancheng Nature Reserve in China

In this study, an ecological vulnerability assessment indicator system was constructed using the “exposure–climate sensitivity–adaptive capacity” framework according to the theory of ecological vulnerability. An improved ecosystem service value calculation model was proposed based on empirical parameters. Using Yancheng Nature Reserve in China as an example, we employed remote sensing data to conduct an empirical analysis of the changes in the spatiotemporal pattern, ecological vulnerability, and ecosystem services of typical landscape types over the period from 1987 to 2013. The statistical results derived from landscape pattern indices (LPIs) showed that during the investigation period, three natural wetland landscape types (i.e., Spartina alterniflora, Suaeda glauca, and Phragmites australis) showed gradually increased fragmentation in the study area. The ecological vulnerability scores of the major landscape types (in descending order) were P. australis (0.053), farmland (0.047), S. alterniflora (0.042), S. glauca (0.031), and bare mud flat (0.002). The results derived from the ecosystem service value fluctuation index (ESVFI) showed that from 1987 to 1997, the value of the ecosystem services provided by S. glauca and P. australis wetlands decreased, whereas that of S. alterniflora wetlands increased continuously. From 2002 to 2013, the value of the ecosystem services provided by all three types of natural wetland showed a downward trend. In conclusion, the combined effects of human and natural factors, including the expansion of farmland and the invasion of S. alterniflora, and changes in seawater erosion and deposition led to changes in the landscape patterns, ecological vulnerability, and ecosystem services of the Yancheng Nature Reserve during the investigation period. The results indicate that a “dual adaptive” management system based on natural succession and supplemented by appropriate manual intervention should be implemented, and the management efficiency and flexibility should be improved to meet the common needs of biodiversity conservation and economic development.     

Assessment of ecological vulnerability and decision-making application for prioritizing roadside ecological restoration: A method combining geographic information system,Delphi survey and Monte Carlo simulation

Study experience of ecologist plays an important role in assessing the contribution of different influencing factors to ecological vulnerability, helping policy makers to target measures for ecological restoration. However, uncertainty is unavoidable due to variation of study experience among experts. In this study, a new method that combines Delphi survey, geographic information system and Monte Carlo simulation was proposed to assess regional ecological vulnerability and to quantify the uncertainty of assessing result. We illustrated the capacity of this method by using a case study in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. An index system for 13 spatial variables was established to calculate an ecological vulnerability index (EVI) from the three aspects of ecological sensitivity (ES), ecological resilience (ER) and natural-social pressure (NSP). The assessment shows that the southwestern region of the study area, especially in the counties of Sonid Left and Right, was seriously threatened by a high ES and a low ER. Onguiud county in the Greater Hinggan Mountains had a high EVI due to an intensive NSP. Based on the assessing result and regional road distribution, an EVI cost curve was created to facilitate the prioritization of allocating limited funds among the various counties for roadside ecological restoration.     

Evaluation method for coalmining-based cities ecosystem based on attribute mathematical model with Huainan City as an example

Attributive recognition model of coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification is developed in terms of attributive mathematical theory. Based on the analysis of main causes of coalmining-based cities ecosystem, the city vitality, city structure strength, city resilience ability, service functions and health status are chosen as the criterion indicators of coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification; the attributive measurement functions are constructed to compute the attributive measurement of single indicator and multi-indicator; and the synthetic attributive measurement is calculated by the AHP; the health classification of cities ecosystem are recognized by the confidence criterion. An empirical analysis is made by the proposed model and method, the synthetic evaluation results are better than fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method which validates the proposed model feasible, effective and reliable in coalmining-based cities ecosystem classification. As attributive recognition theory can success fully resolve certain issues with a number of fuzzy attribution in comprehensive evaluation, its confidence criterion is established on the basis of the ordered evaluation sets, consequently it will make the evaluation results more reliable.     

退耕还林还草工程对陕北地区生态系统服务价值时空演变的影响

基于陕北地区1990、2000、2015年土地利用数据，运用单位面积生态系统价值当量因子法、格网法、探索性空间数据法（ESDA），分析了退耕还林还草工程实施前后生态系统服务价值（ESV）的空间分布和演化规律，探讨了退耕还林还草工程对ESV的影响。结果表明：（1）陕北地区退耕还林还草工程实施效果显著，工程实施后共有297066.15 hm2耕地转化为林地和草地，林草覆盖率由57.33%增长至60.50%。（2）退耕还林还草工程使得陕北地区ESV得到了显著提升。25年间陕北地区ESV共增加了32.82亿元，ESV在工程实施后比工程实施前多增加了5.93亿元，增长主要源于退耕引起林地和草地面积的增加。（3）ESV空间分布上呈显著的“南高北低”分布格局，并表现出正向的集聚性和依存性，ESV热点区和冷点区集聚效果明显，热点区集聚与林地、草地的空间分布相吻合，冷点区集聚与未利用地、耕地和建设用地的空间分布相吻合。（4）受退耕还林还草工程影响，陕北地区中部中等等级和次高ESV分布区域逐渐增大、次热点区空间集聚性逐渐增强，北部次低等级和低等级ESV分布区域逐渐减少、冷点区空间集聚性逐渐减弱。整体而言，陕北地区土地利用类型转移和ESV的增减变化与推行退耕还林还草工程在时间上相呼应、在空间上相匹配，退耕还林还草工程实施使得陕北地区生态环境得到了有效改善，ESV得到了显著提升。     

森林固碳释氧服务价值与异养呼吸损失量评估

固碳释氧是森林最重要的生态系统服务之一,将森林碳收支与固碳释氧服务价值评估相结合对于准确评估生态系统服务价值具有重要意义。应用森林碳收支模型(CBM-CFS3),分别基于净初级生产力(NPP)和净生态系统生产力(NEP)评估了2009—2030年湖北省兴山县森林生态系统总、净固碳释氧服务价值的时空动态,量化了异养呼吸造成的固碳释氧服务价值损失。模拟期间兴山县森林生态系统NPP逐渐增加(0.46—0.70 Tg/a),NEP由0.12 Tg/a先增加至0.21 Tg/a,然后逐渐下降至0.18 Tg/a;所对应的森林总、净固碳释氧服务价值范围分别为7.59—11.53亿元/a和2.21—3.70亿元/a。异养呼吸逐年增加,导致固碳释氧价值每年损失平均值为7.29亿元/a或4509元hm~(-2) a~(-1),约占总价值的68.6%。兴山县东南部异养呼吸造成的森林固碳释氧服务价值损失较高,而中部及西南部森林净固碳释氧价值较高。模拟期间兴山县森林为碳汇,稳定地提供固碳释氧服务。与NPP相比,使用NEP评估固碳释氧服务价值更为合理。忽视异养呼吸将严重高估森林生态系统固碳释氧服务价值;因而必须将物质循环过程与生态系统服务评估相结合,以降低评估结果的不确定性、提高生态系统服务的评估能力。     

小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化对典型草原群落结构与生态系统功能的影响

草原灌丛化是全球干旱半干旱地区面临的重要生态问题。灌丛化对草原生态系统结构与功能的影响较为复杂, 有待于在更广泛的区域开展研究。该研究在内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原选择轻度、中度和重度灌丛化草地, 通过群落调查, 结合植物功能性状和土壤理化性质观测, 研究了小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛化对草原群落结构(物种多样性、功能多样性和功能群组成)和生态系统功能(初级生产力、植被和土壤养分库)的影响。结果表明: 1)不同程度灌丛化草地的物种丰富度、功能性状多样性和群落加权性状平均值差异显著, 其中, 中度灌丛化草地的物种多样性和功能多样性较高, 表明一定程度的灌丛化有利于生物多样性维持。2)重度灌丛化草地的地上净初级生产力(ANPP)显著高于轻度和中度灌丛化草地, 其原因主要是随着灌丛化程度加剧, 群落内一/二年生草本植物显著增加, 而多年生禾草和多年生杂类草显著减少。三个灌丛化草地的植被叶片和土壤碳、氮库差异均不显著。3)灌丛化对草原生态系统功能包括ANPP、植被和土壤养分库均没有直接的影响, 而是通过影响功能群组成、土壤理化性质和功能多样性, 间接地影响生态系统功能; 灌丛化导致功能群发生替代和土壤旱碱化是最重要的生物和非生物因素。     

California Multivariate Ocean Climate Indicator (MOCI) and marine ecosystem dynamics

Marine ecosystems are complex adaptive systems with physical and biological processes operating on multiple spatial and temporal scales. Here, we present an operational regional indicator for California's continental shelf system and investigate its skill in predicting a variety of biological responses across trophic levels. This updated Multivariate Ocean Climate Indicator (MOCI) version 2 includes data that are readily available from the Internet so the indicator can be automatically updated and shared regularly. MOCIv.2 is a simplified version of MOCIv.1, but it captures ocean-climate variability similarly. MOCIv.2 illustrates all major ENSO events that occurred over the past 25 years as well as the phasing and magnitude of the most recent North Pacific marine heat wave, dubbed ‘The Blob’. It also shows differences in the magnitude and timing of ocean-climate variability in different regions off California. MOCIv.2 has skill in nowcasting marine ecosystem dynamics, from zooplankton to top predators, and therefore may be useful in establishing bio-physical relationships important to ecosystem-based fisheries and wildlife management in California.     

Effect of soil water stress on soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in an 18-year-old temperate Douglas-fir stand

We analyzed 17 months (August 2005 to December 2006) of continuous measurements of soil CO₂ efflux or soil respiration (R_S) in an 18‐year‐old west‐coast temperate Douglas‐fir stand that experienced somewhat greater than normal summertime water deficit. For soil water content at the 4 cm depth (θ) > 0.11 m³ m^?3 (corresponding to a soil water matric potential of ?2 MPa), R_S was positively correlated to soil temperature at the 2 cm depth (T_S). Below this value of θ, however, R_S was largely decoupled from T_S, and evapotranspiration, ecosystem respiration and gross primary productivity (GPP) began to decrease, dropping to about half of their maximum values when θ reached 0.07 m³ m^?3. Soil water deficit substantially reduced R_S sensitivity to temperature resulting in a Q₁₀ significantly < 2. The absolute temperature sensitivity of R_S (i.e. dR_S/dT_S) increased with θ up to 0.15 m³ m^?3, above which it slowly declined. The value of dR_S/dT_S was nearly 0 for θ < 0.08 m³ m^?3, thereby confirming that R_S was largely unaffected by temperature under soil water stress conditions. Despite the possible effects of seasonality of photosynthesis, root activity and litterfall on R_S, the observed decrease in its temperature sensitivity at low θ was consistent with the reduction in substrate availability due to a decrease in (a) microbial mobility, and diffusion of substrates and extracellular enzymes, and (b) the fraction of substrate that can react at high T_S, which is associated with low θ. We found that an exponential (van't Hoff type) model with Q₁₀ and R₁₀ dependent on only θ explained 92% of the variance in half‐hourly values of R_S, including the period with soil water stress conditions. We hypothesize that relating Q₁₀ and R₁₀ to θ not only accounted for the effects of T_S on R_S and its temperature sensitivity but also accounted for the seasonality of biotic (photosynthesis, root activity, and litterfall) and abiotic (soil moisture and temperature) controls and their interactions.     

The robustness of a network of ecological networks to habitat loss

There have been considerable advances in our understanding of the tolerance of species interaction networks to sequential extinctions of plants and animals. However, communities of species exist in a mosaic of habitats, and the vulnerability of habitats to anthropogenic change varies. Here, we model the cascading effects of habitat loss, driven by plant extinctions, on the robustness of multiple animal groups. Our network is constructed from empirical observations of 11 animal groups in 12 habitats on farmland. We simulated sequential habitat removal scenarios: randomly; according to prior information; and with a genetic algorithm to identify best‐ and worst‐case permutations of habitat loss. We identified two semi‐natural habitats (waste ground and hedgerows together comprising < 5% of the total area of the farm) as disproportionately important to the integrity of the overall network. Our approach provides a new tool for network ecologists and for directing the management and restoration of multiple‐habitat sites.