Edge effects influence the composition and density of reef residents on subtidal restored oyster reefs

Within estuarine and coastal ecosystems globally, extensive habitat degradation and loss threaten critical ecosystem functions and necessitate widescale restoration efforts. There is abundant evidence that ecological processes and species interactions can vary with habitat characteristics, which has important implications for the design and implementation of restoration efforts aimed at enhancing specific ecosystem functions and services. We conducted an experiment examining how habitat characteristics (presence; edge vs. interior) influence the communities of resident fish and mobile invertebrates on restored oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs. Similar to previous studies, we found that restored reefs altered community composition and augmented total abundance and biomass relative to unstructured sand habitat. Community composition and biomass also differed between the edge and interior of individual reefs as a result of species-specific patterns over small spatial scales. These patterns were only weakly linked to oyster density, suggesting that other factors that vary between edge and interior (e.g. predator access or species interactions) are likely more important for community structure on oyster reefs. Fine-scale information on resident species' use of oyster reefs will help facilitate restoration by allowing decision makers to optimize the amount of edge versus interior habitat. To improve the prediction of faunal use and benefits from habitat restoration, we recommend investigations into the mechanisms shaping edge and interior preferences on oyster reefs.     

Defining null expectations for animal site fidelity

Site fidelity—the tendency to return to previously visited locations—is widespread across taxa. Returns may be driven by several mechanisms, including memory, habitat selection, or chance; however, pattern-based definitions group different generating mechanisms under the same label of ‘site fidelity’, often assuming memory as the main driver. We propose an operational definition of site fidelity as patterns of return that deviate from a null expectation derived from a memory-free movement model. First, using agent-based simulations, we show that without memory, intrinsic movement characteristics and extrinsic landscape characteristics are key determinants of return patterns and that even random movements may generate substantial probabilities of return. Second, we illustrate how to implement our framework empirically to establish ecologically meaningful, system-specific null expectations for site fidelity. Our approach provides a conceptual and operational framework to test hypotheses on site fidelity across systems and scales.     

Acoustic communities in an environmental gradient from native to urban areas in Central Brazil

As urban areas expand due to increasing human populations, natural habitats are diminishing in quantity and quality. We conducted a study to examine the response of diurnal acoustic communities along a gradient of environments, ranging from native to dense urban areas. We hypothesized that acoustic indices would decline with urbanization, transitioning from natural and rural areas to urban environments. We conducted the research in and around Brasília, Central Brazil. We deployed 24 digital recorders in native, rural, low-density and high-density urban areas. We employed five commonly used acoustic indices (ADI, ACI, NDSI, H and BI) to characterize the acoustic communities and represent the existing biodiversity numerically. We initially compared the index values across different land use types using a non-parametric rank sum test. Subsequently, we selected eight landscape metrics and performed a principal component analysis to summarize the surrounding matrix at each sampling point. We then employed generalized linear models to determine if the acoustic indices exhibited the anticipated variations. The results indicated significant variations in all indices among the different land use types, indicating their responsiveness to distinct acoustic communities and environmental characteristics. ADI, H and NDSI exhibited declining values from native to urban areas, while ACI and BI displayed the opposite trend. These findings underscore the influence of landscape structure on acoustic indices. Consequently, we concluded that adopting appropriate landscape planning, mainly through integrating natural and urban areas, could help preserve biodiversity in tropical urban regions.     

Promises and limits of an agency perspective in evolutionary developmental biology

An agent-based perspective in the study of complex systems is well established in diverse disciplines, yet is only beginning to be applied to evolutionary developmental biology. In this essay, we begin by defining agency and associated terminology formally. We then explore the assumptions and predictions of an agency perspective, apply these to select processes and key concept areas relevant to practitioners of evolutionary developmental biology, and consider the potential epistemic roles that an agency perspective might play in evo devo. Throughout, we discuss evidence supportive of agential dynamics in biological systems relevant to evo devo and explore where agency thinking may enrich the explanatory reach of research efforts in evolutionary developmental biology.     

不同空间尺度的景观格局对流溪河水质的影响

为探究不同空间尺度的景观格局对流溪河水质的影响,于2020年6月和2021年1月在流溪河干流15个采样点进行了水样的采集,测定了水温、溶解氧、pH、氨氮、硝态氮、硫酸盐和氯化物等水质指标。结合遥感解译所得的土地利用数据,提取了不同空间尺度(子流域和河岸带缓冲区)的景观格局指数,采用Bioenv分析、Mantle检验、方差分解和层次分割理论等方法揭示了景观格局对水质变化的影响。研究结果表明：氨氮是流溪河的主要污染物。土地利用结构与空间格局特征对水质的影响存在空间尺度效应。在100 m河岸带缓冲区,水域是影响水质的主要贡献源;而在其他空间尺度建设用地是影响水质的主要贡献源。在子流域尺度,林地和建设用地的斑块密度(PD指数)是影响水质变化的核心特征;而在河岸带缓冲区尺度,水域和建设用地的连通性(CONTAG指数)和林地的多样性(SHDI指数)是影响水质变化的关键特征。在各个空间尺度,土地利用与空间格局的交互作用对驱动水质变化起主导作用,尤其在1000 m河岸带缓冲区对水质的贡献率最高。因此,加强1000 m缓冲区尺度土地利用的管理和减少建设用地成片建设规划等对保护流域水质具有重要意义。     

基于土地利用变化的东海区大陆海岸带生境质量时空演变研究

人类活动对生态环境的影响主要表现为土地利用方式的变化。土地利用变化影响下的生境质量时空格局演变,对优化区域国土生态布局具有重要意义。利用DEM数据、气象数据、社会经济数据与1980、1990、2000、2010、2018年5期土地利用数据,通过InVEST模型、景观格局指数、地理探测器评估、描述、分析东海区大陆海岸带生境质量时空演变特征。结果表明：(1)1980—2018年东海区大陆海岸带陆地面积增加,土地利用中林地所占比重最大,耕地、建设用地面积变化最明显,2000—2010年土地利用转化最显著。土地变化北部大于南部、东侧大于西侧。(2)1980—2018年生境质量均值为0.75,总体生境质量较好,但呈下降趋势,2000—2010年生境质量下降最明显,2010年后下降速度减缓。生境质量斑块趋于破碎化、多样化、均匀化。(3)生境质量总体上从沿海向内陆下降,受岸线性质与围垦影响,北部生境质量由陆向海退化,南部生境退化沿海向陆推进。低等生境质量区呈现点—面—带的扩张趋势。(4)建设用地指数、高程、夜间灯光亮度、土壤类型、坡度为影响生境质量分布的主要因素,38年间主导因素由高程变为建设用地指...     

道路建设对西南地区景观格局的影响

为揭示西南地区道路建设对景观格局的影响,基于2015年土地覆被和道路数据,计算了研究区道路核密度与景观指数,在此基础上分析了道路建设的直接、间接和综合影响,探讨了影响的空间异质性和对不同土地覆被影响的特点,指出了各景观指数的适用性。结果表明：(1)道路建设使斑块密度增加,斑块离散化加剧,发生明显的破碎化趋势,同时道路核密度与PD、SHDI、SPLIT变化百分比呈显著正相关,与COHESION、CONTAG、PAFRAC呈显著负相关;(2)道路建设对景观指数的影响程度由大到小依次表现在：破碎化、斑块空间分布形态、聚集连通性,其中PD能很好的表征道路建设对景观破碎化的作用程度,SPLIT在识别破碎化程度高的区域更具优势;(3)不同景观指数具有不同适用性,PAFRAC适用于道路不发达区域,CONTAG适用于道路分布异质性较高的区域,DIVISION适用于人类活动强度不大的区域,COHESION、SPLIT适用于探究道路及伴随的人类活动共同作用的区域,PD、SHDI在探究道路的直接作用时适用性广泛;(4)探究不同土地覆被类型受道路建设的影响,林地优先选取PD、DIVISION;草地优先选取DI...     

高原湖泊流域国土空间生态修复优先区诊断及修复研究

高原湖泊流域是高原地区人类活动的重要载体,兼具高生态价值和高脆弱性的特点。随着高原湖泊流域城市化和工业化发展加速,湖泊面积萎缩,污染加剧,流域生态环境受损严重,引发了一系列生态环境问题,如水土流失、水污染、湿地退化、生境质量下降等。亟需开展生态修复以平衡经济发展与生态环境保护之间关系,而基于整体保护与系统治理思维诊断并修复生态修复优先区,是科学有序推进国土空间生态保护与修复的重要抓手。基于此,研究以高原湖泊流域典型代表滇池流域为例,利用人类足迹和景观生态风险模型定量评估生态系统所受负向干扰,以最小累积阻力模型和电路理论构建流域生态网络;提取生态网络受负向干扰较高的关键区域为生态修复优先区并提出针对性修复措施。研究表明：(1)滇池流域人类干扰和生态风险整体较高,人类干扰整体呈核心—边缘递减的圈层式分布,中高生态风险占据了绝大部分区域。人类交通网络大幅扩展了人类干扰和生态风险的强度和深度;(2)区域生态网络呈典型湖泊生态网络特点,38条生态廊道呈放射状或环状分布,连通湖区、山区两大生态空间内共23块生态源地,保障区域生态安全;(3)研究共提取生态源地修复优先区73.83km²     

基于不同网格尺度福州主城区鸟类多样性与景观特征的关系研究

理解城市鸟类多样性与景观特征的关系对城市生物多样性保护和可持续发展具有重要意义。通过爬取中国观鸟记录中心网站2020年福州主城区436份观鸟报告数据计算鸟类丰富度指数(S)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)和Simpson多样性指数(D);基于谷歌地球引擎和高分辨率Worldview影像量化景观特征因子;在此基础上,采用Mann-Whitney U检验了两个网格尺度(300 m和1000 m)下S、H和D指数的差异性;运用广义线性模型探究了两个尺度下影响鸟类多样性指数的关键景观因子及其重要性。结果表明：(1)2020年研究区内共观测到242种鸟类,隶属19目59科,雀形目鸟类为优势种;数量占比从高到低依次为留鸟、冬候鸟、旅鸟和夏候鸟,分别为63.53%、25.83%、6.71%和3.93%;(2)两个尺度下鸟类多样性指数差异明显,1000 m尺度下S和H指数均显著高于300 m尺度(0.05相似文献