Towards a theoretical basis for ecosystem conservation

Humans have altered the environment so severely that extinction events are now occurring at rates unprecedented in modern history. In order to slow this trend, conservation actions must be taken to protect biodiversity, beyond just saving flagship species. Some governmental and conservation organizations have responded by committing to ecosystem conservation but, as yet, there is no coherent strategy for how this can be carried out. This report introduces many of the theoretical aspects that will need to be considered for the development of a coherent ecosystem conservation policy. The approach includes analyzing a hierarchy of interaction-based local coexistence mechanisms within a regional and historical context. This approach points toward the need for prioritizing sensitive habitats using local interaction models; considering the effects of historical exploitation mechanisms, which are now often missing; and evaluating regional diversity influences further to identify circumstances where system-wide habitat improvements deserve more emphasis.     

北京市森林生态系统的水源涵养功能

以北京市森林资源第6次二类调查数据为基础,采用区域水量平衡法和土壤蓄水能力评估了森林水源涵养的功能,并重点分析了不同类型和区位条件下森林涵养水源功能的差异。结果表明：2004年北京市森林生态系统涵养水源1.26×10^9m^3;其中,怀柔区、延庆县、密云县、门头沟区和房山区的森林是水源涵养功能的主要贡献者（累积贡献率63.3%）;从森林类型来看,阔叶林和灌木林是水源涵养的主体（累积贡献率80.8%）;位于不同海拔高度的森林对水源涵养功能的贡献不同,其中位于海拔〈100m、100～500m和500～800m森林的贡献率分别为29%、30.7%和23.3%;而且位于不同坡位的森林涵养水源的贡献也不同,其中平地和全坡的森林最高,贡献率分别为37.12%和40.7%。     

基于规划目标的京津风沙源治理区生态保护与修复效应

为改善和优化京津及周边地区生态环境状况,减轻风沙危害,2003年启动实施了京津风沙源治理工程。基于工程规划目标评估了京津风沙源治理区生态保护与修复效应,结果表明:(1)草地和林地作为京津风沙源治理区绿色生态屏障的主要组成,分别占治理区面积的57.3%和9.7%,而风沙策源地的耕地和沙地分别占17.2%和6.4%。(2)2003—2017年,京津风沙源治理区草地、耕地、沙地面积减少,而林地和其他类型面积增加。治理区植被覆盖度平均提高了2.3%,其中林地提高了4.3%,草地提高了2.4%。(3)沙尘天气发生的春季,治理区土壤风蚀量减少了54%。在防风固沙服务总量的贡献中,草地和沙地贡献了71%。因此,草地和沙地生态系统的植被恢复,对治理区生态系统防风固沙服务的提高发挥了最为重要的作用。(4)除治理区植被有所恢复外,由于气候整体变暖,近15年风场强度有所减弱,特别是沙尘天气易发生的春季风场强度减弱近45%,也是影响京津风沙源治理区风蚀量下降的一个重要原因。     

Co-occurrence of prairie and barrens butterflies: applications to ecosystem conservation

Abundance indices from transect surveys for species restricted to prairies and barrens were correlated to test the degree to which these species of conservation concern co-occur. In 56 pair-wise tests among 15 species by subregion, 29 (52%) correlated significantly, all but one positively, and only 17 (37%) of 46 tests involving samples of >60 individuals for each species were non-significant. The species producing the most significant interspecific correlations in prairie were Speyeria idalia (five of ten tests) and Atrytone arogos (four of six tests); in barrens, Euchloe olympia (seven of eight tests) and Hesperia l. leonardus (six of eight tests). Lycaeides melissa samuelis, the butterfly receiving the most conservation attention in these habitats, produced few significant correlations. To explicate these patterns of co-occurrence, case histories were compiled for these species at sites of comparable vegetation by subregion. No management type was clearly favourable for all specialists of a given habitat, although some managements were favourable for more species than others (e.g. haying vs. burning in prairie). Analysis of variance of management at these sites produced more results with significant effects than did correlations of the species' abundance indices with habitat patch size. These results were inconsistent with prevailing ecological theory about the natural maintenance of these habitats; conversely, a single unified (alternative) theory of ecosystem management could not be inferred from these results. These patterns of butterfly co-occurrence suggest an alternative approach to ecosystem conservation that focuses on subsets of species native to a particular ecosystem. These smaller species assemblages significantly co-occur in range, habitat, and management tolerance, and may be amenable to monitoring with indicator species.     

黄土高原植被恢复与生态系统土壤保持服务价值增益研究——以延河流域为例

为探究黄土高原地区退耕还林（草）工程（1999）实施后植被恢复的生态效益,选择黄土高原延河流域为研究区,利用趋势线分析法、SWAT（Soil and Water Assessment Tool）水文模型和生态系统服务价值评价方法（市场价值法、机会成本法、恢复费用法和影子工程法等）,重点分析2000-2015年该区域植被恢复状况及其对土壤保持的作用,并评估生态系统服务价值的提升效应。研究结果表明：（1）退耕还林（草）工程实施后,延河流域植被覆盖均呈增加趋势,植被恢复显著;（2）植被恢复对土壤侵蚀的抑制作用明显。在没有植被覆盖的条件下,土壤极易发生侵蚀,且侵蚀模数大;从该工程实施以来,2001-2014年土壤保持量具有不同程度的增幅,表明多年来流域治理取得一定的成效;（3）流域植被覆盖以中覆盖为主,土壤保持量以低保持为主。不同植被覆盖下土壤保持量存在差异。其中,中低、中、中高覆盖能有效保持土壤;（4）生态系统土壤保持服务价值时空分布特征明显。流域年均（2000-2015）土壤保持服务价值为3.64×10⁸元,生长季月均土壤保持服务价值为6.06×10⁷元,生态系统土壤保持服务价值显著提升。时间尺度上,生态系统土壤保持服务价值受降水因素影响;空间尺度上,流域生态系统土壤保持服务价值空间差异大,具体表现为下游残塬平梁沟壑区最高,上游山地区次之,中游梁峁丘陵沟壑区最低。通过研究延河流域植被恢复状况以及定量评估土壤保持服务价值,不仅阐明了退耕还林（草）工程带来的巨大生态效益,同时也为流域乃至黄土高原的水土流失治理工作提供一定的参考作用。     

黄淮海地区跨流域湿地生态系统保护网络体系优化

运用系统保护规划方法,以集水区为保护规划单元,综合考虑三维(3D)连接性(横向、纵向、垂向)和跨流域调水工程,通过不可替代性分析和保护空缺识别,对黄淮海地区跨流域湿地生态系统保护网络体系优化进行研究,并通过与已有保护体系对比,评估了优化体系的效用.结果表明： 依据不可替代性大小和连接性原则,湿地保护空缺可分为优先保护空缺和一般保护空缺;黄淮海地区湿地生态系统保护体系经过优化后,湿地保护状况整体上有较大改观,其中所有湿地类型受保护比重由初始的20%左右增长到46.8%,且各湿地类型保护状况都有不同程度的改善,优化体系中的受保护比重大多在40%以上.无论是从近期还是长远来看,湖泊湿地保护都应给予较多关注.生态系统服务价值和生物多样性相整合、保护和恢复相结合是未来湿地生态系统保护规划研究中应关注的方面.     

生态系统修复国内外研究进展与展望

气候变化和人类活动的增加不仅导致生态系统退化、生物多样性丧失、生物圈资源供给能力降低, 而且极大地制约了社会经济的可持续发展。尽管在全世界范围内已实施了大量的保护工作, 但全球生态系统退化仍在继续, 逐渐成为备受关注的全球性问题。文章首先厘清生态系统修复的发展历程、相关概念与理论。其次, 归纳生态系统修复的全球议题, 涉及生态系统服务及其价值评估、生物多样性保护、应对气候变化与碳储存、自然保护地、监测体系与适应性管理、公平性与多主体参与等方面。然后, 总结我国森林、草原、河流与湿地、海洋与海岸带的生态系统退化问题与修复进展, 梳理生态保护红线、自然保护地生态系统修复和国土空间生态保护修复3种措施的进展与不足。最后, 对山水林田湖草沙一体化保护与系统治理、生态系统修复的多元融资政策与渠道、荒野生态保护修复的探索与实践、城镇生态系统修复的研究与应用以及生态系统修复对生物多样性的保护与维持等五个方面进行展望, 以期为我国进一步开展生态系统保护修复的相关研究与实践提供指导。     

集成生态系统服务与生物多样性的系统保护规划

生物多样性和生态系统服务的保护与可持续管理是当今世界面临的重大挑战之一,但如何判识与优化集成生态系统服务与生物多样性保护对象的保护优先区网络,相关研究还很有限。针对“三江并流”区,选取珍稀濒危与特有动植物物种和自然植被类型作为生物多样性保护对象,以调节服务(碳存储、固碳和土壤保持)、文化服务(自然游憩)和供给服务(水源供给)为生态系统服务保护对象。应用系统保护规划方法,首先判识出单一生物多样性和生态系统服务保护优先区;然后,分析这些保护优先区间的相关关系,并选择与生物多样性正相关的生态系统服务类型,判识集成生态系统服务与生物多样性的保护优先区;最后,评估了集成生态系统服务与生物多样性保护优先区在六类已建保护地中的保护状况。结果表明：(1)“三江并流”区多情景规划得到的生物多样性与生态系统服务保护优先区之间均呈正相关关系;(2)与分别针对生态系统服务和生物多样性的规划情景相比,集成生态系统服务与生物多样性保护优先区能够同时对两类保护对象提供最高的保护覆盖率;(3)集成生态系统服务和生物多样性保护优先区占研究区总面积的48.9%,其已建保护地覆盖率为32.5%,说明现有保护地体系仍存在保护...     

淡水生态系统中的TOP—DOWN效应与生物多样性保护

淡水生态系统中高营养级类群可以对低营养级类群产生强烈的影响,最终导致整个生态环境的改变,这一现象被称作下行（ｔｏｐｄｏｗｎ）效应。本文对ｔｏｐｄｏｗｎ的含义特别是鱼类所产生ｔｏｐｄｏｗｎ效应的结果进行了阐述,提出了ｔｏｐｄｏｗｎ效应还表现在当原来生态系统中的高营养级类群缺少时,也会造成生态系统结构与功能发生变化的观点。最后,根据淡水生态系统ｔｏｐｄｏｗｎ效应的特点,认为在淡水生态系统的生物多样性保护中,应注意高营养级类群的保护和谨慎地对待引种问题     

基于功能与空间格局的区域生态系统保管策略

本研究以位于长江流域的湖北省兴山县为研究区域,着重讨论了基于功能与空间格局的生态系统保育策略,即以改善生态系统功能为评价指标,以调整生态因子的空间格局为手段的生态系统保育策略。根据该县的地理位置,我们以生态系统功能中的水源函养为森林生态系统保育的评价指标。利用基于地理信息系统的水涵养能力。利用生态系统中水涵养能力的空间异质性和变化－位置效应在生态因子改变中的作用,我们提出了“基于空间格局的森林扩展”的策略。将该策略应用于兴山县的生态系统保育,以期达到保育森林与改善水涵养能力的双重目的。本研究为保育,管理和持续利用长江流域和其他遭遇同样问题的区域的生态系统提供了有价值的信息。     

Translocations of digging mammals and their potential for ecosystem restoration: a review of goals and monitoring programmes

1. Globally, translocations are commonly used to improve the conservation status of threatened species. There is increasing recognition that translocations of ecosystem engineers also have the potential to restore ecological processes. Digging mammals are often considered to be ecosystem engineers, as their diggings provide shelter for other species and can significantly alter soil properties, with subsequent changes to vegetation.
2. Using Australian species as a case study, we reviewed published and grey literature on digging mammal translocations to determine how often these translocations are conducted to restore ecosystem processes. We documented ecosystem-level monitoring and research efforts, and assessed whether restoration was perceived to be occurring post-release.
3. At least 208 translocations of 24 digging mammal species have been conducted in Australia, with a further 38 planned for the near future. Prior to 2019, only 3% of translocations included a goal relating to the restoration of ecosystem processes associated with digging activities. Nearly a quarter of pre-2019 translocations have been the subject of some form of ecosystem-level monitoring or research, but long-term ecosystem-level monitoring was very rare. In contrast, 74% of the translocations planned for post-2018 include a goal relating to the restoration of ecological processes and most also include plans to conduct ecosystem-level monitoring.
4. Ecosystem restoration was perceived to be occurring for 26% of the pre-2019 translocations. None of the documents we reviewed indicated that ecological degradation had occurred post-translocation, even when declines in other taxa were recorded.
5. The restoration of ecosystem processes is increasingly being identified as a goal for translocation programmes. Where this is the case, we suggest that translocation practitioners include success criteria for the restoration of ecosystem processes, and commit to long-term monitoring designed to detect ecosystem-level effects of translocations.

     

1990-2018年中国生态系统水源涵养功能时空格局与演变

探明生态系统水源涵养服务格局演变对中国生态系统水源涵养保护和管理具有重要意义。采用水量平衡模型,探明1990-2018年中国生态系统水源涵养分布特征,从全国、分区和栅格3个尺度揭示中国水源涵养演变规律。结果表明：（1）中国生态系统水源涵养时空异质性显著,整体南高北低、东高西低。不同植被水源涵养服务差异显著,以常绿阔叶林最高,草地最低。（2）中国水源涵养服务随高程升高呈阶梯式下降,随坡度变化因坡度梯度而不同,平坡区随坡度升高而升高,缓坡-陡坡区随坡度升高而降低。（3）中国多年平均水源涵养量为1.54×10¹² m³/a,以热带-亚热带季风区为主导,约占总量的77.9%。水源涵养服务演变全国尺度显著下降,分区尺度仅温带大陆气候区显著下降。（4）栅格尺度仅16.0%栅格变化显著,主要为极显著降低和显著降低,约占栅格总数的7.61%和5.30%,主要分布于藏东南、云贵高原西部、冀东北、浑善达克沙地、天山东麓和台湾省等地,它们是中国水源涵养保护与建设的重点区域。     

森林生态系统土壤保持价值的年内动态

以定位观测数据位基础,选用日雨量模型和通用土壤流失方程,研究了5种森林生态系统土壤保持价值的年内动态。研究表明,季节雨林、次生林、人工橡胶林、阔叶红松林和次生白桦林的土壤保持价值分别为570.29、347.87、174.65、14.31元.hm-.2a-1和8.76元.hm-.2a-1。土壤保持价值各月分配不均,5-10月的土壤保持价值占全年土壤保持价值的80%以上。西双版纳3种森林生态系统土壤保持价值构成中,保持土壤养分的价值高达60%以上。长白山2种森林生态系统的土壤保持价值构成有所不同,阔叶红松林以减少泥沙淤积价值为主,而次生白桦林以保持土壤养分价值为主。土壤保持价值构成中,减少废弃地价值的不足总价值的10%。     

The potential role of large herbivores in nature conservation and extensive land use in Europe

The concept of ecosystem restoration is gaining momentum in western Europe. This is necessary because in most managed nature reserves one or more of the following processes, which are analogous to those that have led to the dramatic loss of biological diversity in Europe, are still operating: continuing nutrient output, continuing high level of disturbance and fixing the system in some successional stage. This is partly because most management activities have been derived from, or copy, former agricultural practices. The study of natural ecosystems has revealed the key role large herbivores have in maintaining structural diversity in the vegetation and so biological diversity. Because of this they have been used as tools in achieving a variety of conservation goals. Here, various effects large herbivores can have on plant species composition, structural diversity of the vegetation and fauna are briefly reviewed. Attention is given to pasture-woodlands in southern Europe, which often have a relatively high biological diversity and share some key features with natural ecosystems: very low nutrient input, extensive grazing with large herbivores and the presence of natural tree cover. In a number of European countries attempts are being made to restore normal functioning multi-(herbivore) species ecosystems.     

国土空间生态修复与保护空间识别——以北京市为例

构建国土空间修复与保护识别体系可以有效实现区域生态系统修复与保护,然而,当前国土空间生态修复与保护研究和规划缺乏从系统性和完整性的角度识别关键生态修复与保护区。因此构建了系统的生态修复与保护空间识别方法,以实现区域协调发展、保障区域生态安全。基于该方法,以北京市为例,通过评估生态系统服务、生态系统质量和生态问题,构建生态修复与保护空间格局。研究结果表明：(1) 2000—2015年生态系统服务和质量退化区主要集中在平原区和密云水库北部,面积为760.4 km~2;生态系统质量低下区主要分布在西南部山区和东北部山区,面积为4925 km~2;水土流失问题区零星分布在山区,面积为130.1 km~2;基于以上三者的北京生态修复建议区总面积5606 km~2。(2)建议北京生态保护区6391 km~2,主要分布在北部山区和西南部山区,保护了79.63%的水源涵养功能,74.97%的土壤保持功能,58.79%的洪水调蓄功能和60.3%的自然栖息地。本研究构建的生态修复与保护空间识别方法体系,为北京生态修复和保护规划与生态安全格局构建提供科学依据,还可以为其他地区的生态修复与保护规划提供参考。     

Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function during the restoration of a tropical forest in south China

Tropical forests continue to vanish rapidly,but few long-term studies have ever examined if and how the lost forests can be restored.Based on a 45-year restoration study in south China,we found that a tropical rain forest,once completely destroyed,could not recover naturally without deliberate restoration efforts.We identified two kinds of thresholds that must be overcome with human ameliorative measures before the ecosystem was able to recover.The first threshold was imposed primarily by extreme physical conditions such as exceedingly high surface temperature and impoverished soil,while the second was characterized by a critical level of biodiversity and a landscape context that accommodates dispersal and colonization processes.Our three treatment catchments(un-restored barren land,single-species plantation,and mixed-forest stand)exhibited dramatically different changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning over 4 decades.The mixed forest,having the highest level of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning,possesses several major properties of tropical rain forest.These findings may have important implications for the restoration of many severely degraded or lost tropical forest ecosystems.     

Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function during the restoration of a tropical forest in south China

Tropical forests continue to vanish rapidly, but few long-term studies have ever examined if and how the lost forests can be restored. Based on a 45-year restoration study in south China, we found that a tropical rain forest, once completely destroyed, could not recover naturally without deliberate restoration efforts. We identified two kinds of thresholds that must be overcome with human ameliorative measures before the ecosystem was able to recover. The first threshold was imposed primarily by extreme physical conditions such as exceedingly high surface temperature and impoverished soil, while the second was characterized by a critical level of biodiversity and a landscape context that accommodates dispersal and colonization processes. Our three treatment catchments (un-restored barren land, single-species plantation, and mixed-forest stand) exhibited dramatically different changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning over 4 decades. The mixed forest, having the highest level of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, possesses several major properties of tropical rain forest.These findings may have important implications for the restoration of many severely degraded or lost tropical forest ecosystems.     

四川盆地稻田多熟高效保护性耕作模式的生态系统服务价值评估

运用生态系统服务功能价值评估方法,对四川盆地稻田保护性耕作条件下多熟高效保护性种植模式进行生态经济评价。结果表明,油-稻-芋模式比油-稻传统耕作种植模式的农产品服务价值高32．42％,固定CO2和释放O2的价值高17．03％;麦-稻保护性耕作模式比麦-稻传统种植模式农产品服务价值高55．21％。固定CO2和释放O2的价值高9．40％。油-稻秸秆还田双免耕模式比油-稻传统耕作种植模式土壤积累有机质的价值高0．23％,农田生态系统维持营养物质循环的价值高12．35％;麦-稻保护性耕作种植模式比麦-稻传统耕作种植模式土壤积累有机质的价值高0．39％,农田生态系统维持营养物质循环的价值高12.81％;稻草覆盖还田后油菜田的农田涵养水分价值增加11．66％,小麦田农田涵养水分价值增加32．63％。     

水源涵养型国家重点生态功能区生态系统服务功能评估

为评估“十二五”以来国家重点生态功能区转移支付政策的阶段性实施效果,以水源涵养类型国家重点生态功能区为对象,基于水量平衡法,利用2011年和2019年土地覆被数据,并结合气象数据,分析了水源涵养型国家重点生态功能区2011年和2019年水源涵养功能、生态系统面积、生态系统质量状况及其变化情况。研究结果表明,自2011年转移支付政策实施以来：1)全国水源涵养型重点生态功能区内的水源涵养能力呈现从西北部到东南部逐渐增加的空间分布趋势,2019年全国水源涵养型重点生态功能区水源涵养能力较2011年显著增加。2)全国水源涵养型重点生态功能区森林面积有所增加,湿地得到有效恢复。3)全国水源涵养重点生态功能区内生态系统质量提高,平均植被覆盖度有所增加,呈现东北部及中南部高,西北部低的分布趋势。总体来看,转移支付政策的实施对全国水源涵养重点生态功能区森林、草地生态系统水源涵养功能的提升发挥了积极作用,基本上达到了转移支付政策预期的阶段性目标。