Multiple ecosystem services and disservices of the urban forest establishing their connections with landscape structure and sociodemographics

The promotion of sustainable cities is critical under future environmental change and population growth. Cities in the present and future can ensure the provision of ecosystem services to their urban inhabitants. The urban forest is one of the main suppliers of ecosystem services in urban areas, and can provide the base information to quantify ecosystem services and disservices, detecting the areas were low provision of those occur. In this study multiple ecosystem services and disservices were quantified using transferable indicators in order to detect areas for environmental improvement. The set of spatially explicit indicators enables the detection of areas of low and high provision of ecosystem services. The analysis showed synergies existing among regulating, provisioning and supporting services, while trade-offs were found with cultural services and regulating, provisioning and supporting services. Ecosystem services provision was positively related to the amount of vegetation and negatively related to its degree of fragmentation. A high provision of ecosystem services was found in less populated areas, with more educated and affluent people, highlighting the strong relations existing between social vulnerabilities and areas of low provision of services. Results from this research provide insights on the role of policy makers on better distributed supply of ecosystem services and on how the landscape structure can be modified to plan for sustainable cities.     

Non-linear effects of pesticide application on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services and disservices in a cacao agroecosystem: A modeling study

Growing concerns have been raised regarding the effects of disturbance due to agricultural practices on associate biodiversity and on the ecosystem services that biodiversity provides. Surprisingly little is known about the effects of such disturbances on complex agroecosystems with multiple interacting species. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of management by pesticide spraying on the productive outputs and the ecological functioning of a cacao agroecosystem. We built a mechanistic dynamic model including the dynamics of the crop, a pest (Cacao Pod Borer, Conopomorpha cramerella) and two beneficial insects: a hymenopteran egg–parasitoid and a ceratopogonid pollinator. Using this model, we tested the effects of a range of pesticide types characterized by their impacts on both the Cacao Pod Borer and the beneficial insects. Our results showed that yield strongly varies according to both pesticide type and timing of pesticide application. The type of pesticide had a strong influence on the flexibility of management. No simple spraying decision rule led to maximal yields for all types of pesticide. Although optimal spraying strategies differed with the type of pesticide used, they all showed a similar pattern, i.e. they limited and postponed the Cacao Pod Borer population peak while limiting the negative impacts on beneficial organisms. The results highlight the non-trivial effects of pesticide application in complex agroecosystems where associated biodiversity provides both ecosystem services and disservices. They illustrate the critical importance of providing good information to farmers on pesticide management because the use of pesticides can have a negative effect on production by decreasing ecosystem services such as pollination.     

Alien vs. native plants in a Patagonian wetland: elemental ratios and ecosystem stoichiometric impacts

Wetlands are subject to invasion by exotic plant species, especially during the dry season when they resemble terrestrial systems; therefore, terrestrial plants could exploit this situation to colonize this environment. We analyzed P. anserina invading Patagonian wetlands in terms of elemental ratios that would modify wetland stoichiometry due to organic matter inputs. We studied the elemental relationship (carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus) of P. anserina in comparison with native emergent macrophytes (Eleocharis pachicarpa and Carex aematorrhyncha). These plant species are common and dominant in the wetland. Additionally, we analyzed the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots and their proportion of root infection. Our study reveals that the invasive species presented nutrient (especially phosphorus) allocation in roots and differences in mycorrhizal infection, with a predominance of arbuscular mycorrhiza, compared with native species. During flooded periods with the decay of aerial parts, P. anserina stores phosphorus in the roots and releases dissolved organic matter of high molecular weight molecules, high color, and a high C-to-nutrient ratio in comparison with native macrophytes. These results show the strategy of an invasive terrestrial plant in temporary aquatic systems, and how the elemental relationships of the invasive plant can modify the stoichiometry of the environment.     

Integrating the third dimension into the concept of urban ecosystem services: A review

The spatial configuration of urban environments and its impact on local and global ecological functions were the subject of recent urban ecosystem service (UES) research projects. The outcomes of these projects with respect to the data they used, however, mainly consisted of two dimensions (2D). Studies that assess aspects of the third dimension (3D) of UES – such as height, volume and shadowing effects – were absent. The objective of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the local ecological functions based on knowledge of three-dimensional UES. 298 articles were selected for in-depth critical analyses. The technical and computational approaches for extracting urban 3D structures and 3D structures of vegetation were the focus of the reviewed literature. Authors’ affiliations would be a better indicator for assessing the spatial distribution of articles. Uneven distribution of knowledge among countries is related to the technical and scientific advancement of countries. There was a shift in the sub-theme of reviewed publications discussing the concept of ecosystem services in the first few years, while later researchers’ interests moved towards UES and adaptation of cities to the changing climate. Further studies should progress in the development of both 3D data and results. Implementing 3D data and results helps to better understand the coupling of humans and their environs. It will be then a critically important step toward developing ecologically friendly cities.     

Linking herbivory and ecosystem services in urban forests

Urban forests provide important benefits for humans. Species interactions, in particular herbivory, can alter their function and ultimately threaten their ecosystem service provisioning. We call for research that identifies herbivory drivers in urban forests and tests for links between herbivory and forest services. Knowledge gained can inform management of urban ecosystems.     

Spontaneous urban vegetation as an indicator of soil functionality and ecosystem services

Questions

Our study focused on spontaneous vegetation in urban greenspaces in a Mediterranean city with the aim of relating plant community properties with ecological services along soil disturbance gradients. We asked which plant communities have the greatest plant biodiversity and soil carbon storage and the best-performing nutrient cycles and water regulation.

Location

Madrid City (Central Spain).

Methods

We studied four types of plant communities following soil disturbance gradients: vegetation on trampled soils, roadside vegetation, annual grasslands and perennial forbs. Regarding vegetation, we studied plant composition and productivity, plant diversity, plant growth forms and functional groups. Regarding soils, we determined soil organic carbon (TOC), available nutrients, the activity of seven enzymes relating to the main macronutrient cycles, and physical properties such as bulk density (BD) and soil water-holding capacity (WHC). We used one-way ANOVA to determine the influence of the plant community type on both soil and vegetation variables. Canonical correspondence analysis was performed to interpret the relationships between plant species assemblages with environmental gradients.

Results

Perennial forbs showed greater biomass and developed on soils with the greatest TOC and available phosphorus. Annual grasslands displayed the highest plant diversity. Roadside vegetation developed on soils with higher phenoloxidase activity when compared to vegetation on trampled soils and annual grasslands. Vegetation on trampled soils developed on soils with lower WHC, lower beta-glucosidase, arylamidase and phosphatase activities and higher BD when compared to perennial forbs. Plant community distribution followed gradients most significantly associated with soil organic matter content, soil compaction and nutrient cycling performance.

Conclusions

We conclude that plant communities are good indicators of ecosystem function and services which are unevenly distributed throughout urban habitats. The management in Mediterranean unmaintained urban greenspaces should be aimed at avoiding soil compaction to promote biodiversity, carbon storage and water regulation.     

植物功能性状对生态系统服务影响研究进展

全面认识和理解生态系统服务的形成机制是维持其持续供给的前提。植物功能性状直接参与多种生态系统过程, 影响生态系统服务供给, 探讨植物功能性状与生态系统服务的关系是揭示生态系统服务形成机制的重要途径。该文采用系统的文献综述方法, 分析了植物功能性状与生态系统服务关系的研究特点, 总结了影响不同生态系统服务的主要植物功能性状, 阐述了可能的影响途径。结果表明: 植物功能性状与生态系统服务关系研究以草地和森林等自然生态系统为主; 大部分研究集中在生态系统供给服务和支持服务, 包括生物量、净初级生产力、土壤肥力等; 根据植物功能性状对不同生态系统服务的影响程度, 植物功能性状可以聚类为土壤保持服务相关性状、水分循环相关性状、多功能相关性状、产品提供服务与养分循环相关性状以及授粉与生物控制服务相关性状; 并阐述了植物功能性状指标影响不同的生态系统服务途径。围绕植物功能性状对生态系统服务的影响, 今后尚需进一步探讨生态系统多功能性、植物功能性状相关性、气候变化和人类活动不确定性、时空尺度差异等因素对二者关系的影响。     

生态系统服务功能非货币量核算研究

区别于价值量核算方法,基于生态热力学的环境核算方法从物质计量角度开展环境核算,以期打破大多数以人类为中心框架下的经济学方法,而新的方法框架进一步关注对人类及生态有益的生态服务的价值,即不忽视自然界提供的无关人类的相关服务功能。综述了基于生态热力学的环境核算理论基础,从禀赋价值视角重新解读了社会经济系统,从更深层次明确了"当前的"自然资产和生态服务实际是生态系统对资源使用的一种努力和结果,其"过去的"生态过程经历了长时间"试错和优化"。以美国森林生态服务功能案例研究展现了基于生态热力学的生态服务功能核算方法与基于支付意愿的市场价值核算方法与异同,并提出了使用能值方法进行生态系统服务功能核算的六大步骤。最后,针对近期能值方法的改进,给出四点发展展望:1)能值基准的不断更新夯实了生态系统服务功能非价值量核算的基础;2)已有大量能值分析在生态资产和生态服务功能应用案例可为今后的研究提供方法参照和比较的可能;3)生态服务功能价值量和非价值量的差异的根源在于从人类中心论到生态中心论的环境伦理观的转移;4)从生态热力学的视角研究生态服务功能为从能量的角度提出环境税确立了可能性。本研究建议采用双重核算方法,即类似于金融会计中使用的方法一样,用能量来记录环境负债,并建立一个货币化的资产负债表说明经济情况及环境对经济生产的贡献。     

A framework towards a composite indicator for urban ecosystem services

This article describes a composite indicator for ecosystem services. This composite is composed of several sub-indices, each representing either land use types or ecosystem services. While the overall composite indicates a general overview of the performance of a system in terms of ecosystem services provision, the sub-indices provide sources of variation. Taking into consideration potential trade-offs between making the framework complex and keeping it simple, the composite was developed on two levels. The first level, a simpler one, requires few indicators and therefore needs less data as inputs. The second level, in contrast, is more complex requiring more indicators, involving more detailed measurements, and therefore can be applied with more confidence.     

生态系统服务与景观格局集成研究综述

生态系统服务是综合科学和政策应用的有效工具,可用于应对人类干扰下的景观和生态系统服务的快速退化等复杂生态环境问题。综述生态系统服务与景观格局集成的学科发展、基础理论和模型开发的进展与存在的问题,建立可用的集成建模框架,并提出知识集成的概念框架:1)在要素层,"政策-决策—景观—生态系统服务—社会经济系统"的跨学科知识反馈环是集成理论基础; 2)在模型层,结构化、多层次的集成模拟模型是核心方法; 3)在数据层,多源数据集成是模拟模型的数据基础。集成生态系统服务与景观格局为区域生态环境治理实践提供了科学参考,能更好地应对生态系统服务科学与应用的挑战。     

Remote sensing of ecosystem services: A systematic review

Appropriate integration of remote sensing technologies into ecosystem services concepts and practices leads to potential practical benefits for the protection of biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable use of Earth's natural assets. The last decade has seen the rapid development of research efforts on the topic of ecosystem services, which has led to a significant increase in the number of scientific publications. This systematic review aims to identify, evaluate and synthesise the evidence provided in published peer reviewed studies framing their work in the context of spatially explicit remote sensing assessment and valuation of ecosystem services. Initially, a search through indexed scientific databases found 5920 papers making direct and/or indirect reference to the topic of “ecosystem services” between the years of 1960 and 2013. Among these papers, 211 make direct reference to the use of remote sensing. During the search we aimed at selecting papers that were peer-reviewed publications available through indexed bibliographic databases. For this reason, our literature search did not include books, grey literature, extended abstracts and presentations. We quantitatively present the growth of remote sensing applications in ecosystem services’ research, reviewing the literature to produce a summary of the state of available and feasible remote sensing variables used in the assessment and valuation of ecosystem services. The results provide valuable information on how remotely sensed Earth observation data are used currently to produce spatially-explicit assessments and valuation of ecosystem services. Using examples from the literature we produce a concise summary of what has been done, what can be done and what can be improved upon in the future to integrate remote sensing into ecosystem services research. The reason for doing so is to motivate discussion about methodological challenges, solutions and to encourage an uptake of remote sensing technology and data where it has potential practical applications.     

城市生态系统中AM真菌侵染与群落结构特征

丛枝菌根(AM)真菌作为土壤微生物的重要成员之一,对城市生态系统可持续发展具有重要意义.本文系统总结了城市生态系统中AM真菌着生状况和群落结构特点,探讨了城市生态因子,如人类行为、植被重建与维护、城市土壤状况等对AM真菌着生状况和群落结构的影响,认为今后应加强城市生态系统中AM真菌群落结构与功能的研究,如关键城市生态因子(如水资源匮乏、热岛效应等)改变AM真菌群落结构的效应与机制.     

生态系统服务研究文献现状及不同研究方向评述

生态系统服务研究是生态学研究的前沿和热点。对生态系统服务文献发表情况和生态系统服务主要研究方向进行阐述分析。(1)通过Thomson Reuters公司ISI Web of knowledge 信息平台提供的Science Citation Index Expanded 数据库为数据源检索分析得到:生态系统服务研究从文献数量、作者、国家和机构上近年来都表现出陡增的趋势;最主要的研究国家为美国、英国、德国、澳大利亚和中国;涉及54 个学科,不同的国家侧重的研究领域不同;来自258 个期刊,55% 的文献集中在24 个主要期刊上,主要期刊平均影响因子5.976。(2)从生态系统服务评价方法、生态系统内部和生态系统外部驱动因素、基于生态系统服务的生态系统管理4个方面来评述生态系统服务的研究进展。其中生态系统内部驱动主要是指生物多样性和土地利用变化,生态系统外部驱动因素包括自然因素和人为活动。最后,对生态系统服务研究的发展做了展望。     

Ants and plants as indicators of biodiversity,ecosystem services,and conservation value in constructed grasslands

Grasslands are constructed for soil and wildlife conservation in agricultural landscapes across Europe and North America. Constructed grasslands may mitigate habitat loss for grassland-dependent animals and enhance ecosystem services that are important to agriculture. The responses of animal species richness and abundance to grassland habitat quality are often highly variable, however, and monitoring of multiple taxa is often not feasible. We evaluated whether multiple animal taxa responded to variation in constructed grassland habitats of southwest Ohio, USA, in ways that could be predicted from indicators based on quality assessment indices, Simpson diversity, and the species richness of ants and plants. The quality assessment indices included a widely used Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) index, and a new Ant Quality Assessment (AntQA) index, both based on habitat specificity and species traits. The ant and plant indicators were used as predictor variables in separate general linear models of four target taxa—bees, beetles, butterflies and birds—with response variables of overall species richness and abundance, and subsets of taxa that included the abundance of ecosystem-service providers and grassland-associated species. Plant Simpson diversity was the best-fitting predictor variable in models of overall bee and beetle abundance, and the abundance of bees classified as ecosystem-service (ES) providers. FQA and plant richness were the best predictors of overall butterfly species richness and abundance. Ant species richness was the best predictor of overall bird species richness and abundance as well as the abundance of ES birds, while the AntQA index was the best predictor for the abundance of grassland bird and butterfly species. Thus, plant Simpson diversity and ant species richness were the most effective indicators for complementary components of grassland animal communities, whereas quality assessment indices were less robust as indicators and require more knowledge on the habitat specificity of individual ant and plant species.     

Granulocyte proteinases as mediators of unspecific proteolysis in inflammation: a review

In severe inflammatory response, various blood and tissue cells, including polymorphonuclear granulocytes, release lysosomal proteinases, extracellularly and into the circulation. Such enzymes, as well as normally intracellular oxidizing agents produced during phagocytosis, enhance the inflammatory response by degrading connective tissue structures, membrane constituents and soluble proteins by proteolysis or oxidation. We first used polymorphonuclear elastase (E) as a marker of such release reactions. The liberated proteinase competes with susceptible substrates, including alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) and alpha 2-macroglobulin, and is eliminated finally as inactive enzyme-inhibitor complexes by the reticulo-endothelial system. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we determined the plasma levels of E-alpha 1PI following major abdominal surgery, multiple trauma and pancreatogenic shock. Whereas the operative trauma was followed by up to 3-fold increase of the E-alpha 1-PI, postoperative septicemia was associated with a 10 to 20 fold increase. The increase of E-alpha 1-PI and a concomitant decrease of plasma factors, such as antithrombin III, clotting factor XIII and alpha 2-macroglobulin, were correlated. Multiple trauma causes a substantial increase of E-alpha 1-PI up to 14 hours after accident. The released elastase seems to correlate with severity of injury, but assessing the relationship to consumption of plasma factors is complicated by concomitant transfusions. In acute pancreatitis, peaks, of E-alpha 1-PI coincide with a massive consumption of antithrombin III and alpha 2-macroglobulin during shock.     

景感生态学在城市生态系统服务中的应用研究——以城市公园景观设计为例

城市生态系统服务和可持续发展是当前城市生态学研究的热点问题。景感生态学作为联系生态系统服务和可持续发展的桥梁,可作为研究城市生态系服务和可持续发展的一种有效途径。随着社会发展所伴随的人们经济生活的生活压力增大,城市居民的亚健康状态日益突出。城市公园作为城市生态系统的重要构成,其设计目的应考虑应对城市居民健康问题和促进人类精神文明建设方面的作用。以城市公园景观设计为例,从园路、建筑、植物、水体景观和小品等方面探讨景感生态学在城市公园景观设计中的应用价值。景感生态学作为探索城市公园景观设计的新思路,以实现生态效益和居民福祉的提升,丰富和提升城市公园的生态系统服务功能,从而有利于促进为人类当代和后代提供可持续的福祉,以期驱使人类行为和言行规律朝着对生态系统有益的方向演化,自觉维护和改善生态系统服务,从而可持续地保障城市生态系统服务。     

全球水稻梯田生态系统服务研究进展

水稻梯田生态系统具有多重服务价值,全球尺度上相关研究的系统梳理和总结可促进该领域的理解和认识.本文依据千年生态系统服务分类系统,采用系统文献分析法对全球水稻梯田生态系统服务研究进行整理并综述其进展.已发表的全球水稻梯田生态系统服务研究文献主要分布在中国、越南、菲律宾.从评价方法看,中国偏重于价值量评价,而国外偏重于物质...     

Role of saprophagous fly biodiversity in ecological processes and urban ecosystem services

1. Direct consumption of organic matter by the saprophagous larvae provides the ecosystem with a fundamental service by recycling nutrients and reducing exposure to decomposing matter. The present study aimed to assess the functional role of saprophagous flies in the mass loss of different types of decomposing organic matter. 2. Two types of common urban waste were used to measure the role of flies in reducing organic matter: chicken viscera (chicken) and a mixture of flour and uncooked eggs (flour and eggs), representing leftover food. Ten traps baited with each substrate, under field conditions, allowed fly access (exposed to flies) and three traps from each substrate did not (unexposed controls); adult flies entering the traps or emerging from the substrates and substrate mass loss were recorded. 3. Species from Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, and Fanniidae families were collected mainly in traps baited with chicken, with Phoridae being the most abundant in traps with flour and eggs as bait. A significantly richer (P < 0.05) assemblage of fly species accessed the traps baited with chicken viscera (21 species) compared with those emerging (11 species), whereas similar numbers of species accessed (n = 5) or emerged (n = 1) from traps baited with flour and eggs (average richness accessing 7.97, emerging 2.83). Chicken substrate mass loss and species richness were positively related (r = 0.56, P = 0.001). In traps where richness was larger than 10 species, the substrates were reduced by more than 85% of their initial weight compared with unexposed controls, which lost 30%. Substrate mass loss significantly increased with the abundance of flies (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001). 4. The results of the present study support the functional role of saprophagous species diversity on the decomposition rates of organic matter, reinforcing the negative consequences of loss or gain of species in modified landscapes and for ecosystem function.     

The biodiversity–ecosystem service relationship in urban areas: a quantitative review

By 2050, up to 75% of people globally will live in cities. Despite the potential ramifications of this urbanization for ecosystem services (ES), and the importance of locally produced ES for the health and wellbeing of urban residents, syntheses addressing the underlying ecology of ES provision rarely include urban areas. Here, I conduct a quantitative review of urban ES studies in the ecological literature, synthesizing trends across the discipline. I also quantify the extent to which this work considers the organisms and ecosystem components responsible for ES provision using two approaches: assessment of biodiversity–ES relationships, and an adaptation of the service provider concept. The majority of urban ES studies were conducted in western, developed countries, and typically assessed a single service in a single city – largely ignoring ES synergies and tradeoffs, and cross‐city comparisons. While several different ES are studied in urban ecosystems, the field is dominated by weather and climate‐related regulating services, with assessments of cultural services particularly lacking. Most studies described a habitat type as the service provider; however, studies that considered the biodiversity–ES relationship were more likely to identify a specific functional group, community, or population as the key provider of an ES. The biodiversity–ES relationship itself was most frequently characterized as dependent on the composition of species, functional traits, or structures, rather than correlated with the magnitude of any specific biodiversity metric. While the study of ES in urban ecosystems is increasing, there exists considerable room for further research. Future studies would benefit by expanding the number and categories of ES assessed within and across cities, as well as broadening the geographical scope of urban ES research. Biodiversity–ES assessments in urban ecosystems would also benefit from an expansion of the biodiversity types considered, particularly regarding non‐species based approaches, and consideration of non‐native and invasive species. Synthesis Urban ecosystem services (ES) affect the health and wellbeing of over 3.5 billion people who live in cities. However, syntheses addressing ES provision rarely include urban areas. I conducted the first quantitative review focused explicitly on the ecology of urban ES, including the role of biodiversity in service provision. I found that studies typically measure only a single service in one city, precluding assessment of ES synergies, tradeoffs, and cross‐city comparisons. I also found that while most studies attribute ES provision to a habitat or land‐use type, studies that consider biodiversity‐ES relationships are more likely to recognize a specific functional group, community, or population as the key provider of an ES.