Diversity of desert rangelands of Tunisia

Plants are important components of any rangeland. However, the importance of desert rangeland plant diversity has often been underestimated. It has been argued that desert rangelands of Tunisia in good ecological condition provide more services than those in poor ecological condition. This is because rangelands in good condition support a more diverse mixture of vegetation with many benefits, such as forage for livestock and medicinal plants. Nearly one-quarter of Tunisia, covering about 5.5 million hectares, are rangelands, of which 87% are located in the arid and desert areas (45% and 42%, respectively). Here, we provide a brief review of the floristic richness of desert rangelands of Tunisia. Approximately 135 species are specific to desert rangelands. The predominant families are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Fabaceae. These represent approximately 50% of Tunisian desert flora.     

DETECTING DESERTIFICATION PROCESSES USING TM AND ETM+ DATA, NORTH OF ISFAHAN, IRAN

 Aims Desertification results in ecological and biological diminution of the earth, and can happen naturally or cause by anthropogenic activities. This process especially affects arid and semi-arid regions, such as the Isfahan region, where the spread of desertification is reaching critical proportions. The aim of this study is to use remotely sensed data to review the trend of desertification in the northern of Isfahan, Iran. Methods Multi-temporal images were employed to evaluate the trend of desertification, specifically the TM and ETM+ data of September, 1990 and September, 2001. Geometric and radiometric corrections were applied to each image prior to image processing and supervised classification, and vegetation indices were applied to produce a land use map of each image in nine classes. The land use classification s in the two map images were compared and changes between land use classes were detected over the 11 year period using a fuzzy and post-classification technique. Important findings The maps and their comparison with false color composite images showed the differences efficiently. With the fuzzy and post-classification method the land use changes were sited on the map. Fuzzy confirmed 53% changed area and 47% unchanged areas in the study region. The results verify the desertification expansion in the study areas. Because of poor land management, agricultural lands converted to desert and abandoned areas, and some marginal pasture lands had to be changed to agricultural land which are desertification spreading according to United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCOD). Also farmland and pastures have been converted to urban and industrial areas, and the rangelands have been spoiled due to opencast mine excavations. With the mine margins eroding as well as their debris accumulating on the pasture lands, desertification has become worse. Three areas of less-elevated mountains have remained unchanged. This study confirmed that the anthropogenic activities accelerated the desertification process and severely endangered the remaining areas.     

Vegetation mapping of the Great Fish River basin,South Africa: Integrating spatial and multi‐spectral remote sensing techniques

Abstract. We present a remote sensing based vegetation mapping technique well suited to a heterogeneous, semi‐arid environment. 10 structural vegetation classes were identified and described on the ground. Using Landsat‐TM from two different seasons and a combination of three conventional classification techniques (including a multi‐temporal classification) we were unsuccessful in delineating all of the desired vegetation classes. We then employed a simple tex‐tural classification index, known as the Moving Standard Deviation Index (MSDI), that has been used to map degradation status. MSDI measures spatial variations in the landscape and is calculated by passing a 3 × 3 standard deviation filter across the Landsat‐TM red band. High MSDI values are associated with degraded or disturbed rangelands whilst low MSDI values are associated with undisturbed rangeland. A combination of two conventional multi‐spectral techniques and MSDI were used to produce a final vegetation classification at an accuracy of 84 %. MSDI successfully discriminated between two contrasting vegetation types of identical spectral properties and significantly strengthened the accuracy of the classification. We recommend the use of a tex‐tural index such as MSDI to supplement conventional vegetation classification techniques in heterogeneous, semi‐arid or arid environments.     

Desertification,no‐change or alternative states: Can we trust simple models on livestock impact in dry rangelands?

Abstract. It is remarkable that after many thousands of years of pastoralism in arid and semi‐arid savannas, there is still no clear answer to the basic question: Does livestock grazing have more than a marginal effect on the dynamics of arid and semi‐arid land vegetation? A small study of semi‐arid savanna vegetation along a spatial gradient in grazing pressure, repeated three times over 19 years is used as a basis for discussing the behaviour of dry land vegetation under heavy grazing. Three basic theories are compared: (1) the theory that heavy grazing causes desertification; (2) the theory that heavy grazing causes no directed change in the vegetation of arid and semi‐arid rangelands; and (3) the theory that heavy grazing leads to a switch between alternative states of vegetation. On the basis of the current data the first two theories are rejected, but the conclusion is that there is much evidence for a more complex behaviour of dry rangelands under grazing than what is accommodated in any of the three theories. Probably, site‐specific properties including interactive and indirect effects of herbivory in the system are important for vegetation development under grazing in arid and semi‐arid rangelands.     

基于长时间序列landsat数据的科尔沁沙地土地利用演变分析

以科尔沁沙地沙丘-草甸过渡带区域主要土地覆被类型为研究对象,以1987-2017年多时相Landsat TM/OLI遥感影像解译分类为基础,参考生态学植被演替研究方法,系统分析研究区30年来的土地利用/覆被动态演变规律,研究结果表明：（1）决策树法在复杂下垫面不同覆被类型的同步识别效果较好,所有影像分类精度均达到88%以上,分类效果较好,其中2017年分类精度最高为95.24%,达到了分类研究的要求;（2）研究区存在着"半灌丛-草甸地-灌丛"的植被结构特征,且整体表现为"南进北退"的变化趋势。结合土地利用动态度分析结果表明人类活动干涉下,研究区整体上遵循了半干旱区植被条件改善的一般规律,侧面反映该研究区域生态环境的持续不稳定性和脆弱性;（3）研究区覆被类型发生变化的总面积达到2623.59 hm²,总变化强度为63.76%。其中正向演替的比例为52.61%,以半灌丛面积的持续减小与沙地草甸面积的持续扩张为主要变化特征。但同时,半灌丛转为沙地的面积为184.95 hm²,表明以放牧为主的研究区同时发生着局部的逆行演变;（4）质心迁移结果反映了1987-2017年间,除人为影响较大的林地、草地以及耕地向北迁移外,其他植被类型的质心都有很明显的南迁,主要植被类型重心迁移距离依次由大到小为耕地 > 半灌丛 > 灌丛 > 沙地草甸 > 湿地草甸 > 林地。研究通过记录科尔沁沙地连续扩展的时空模式,展示了遥感-生态和时间序列影像在30 m分辨率下跟踪土地利用/覆被变化的潜力,为提高干旱半干旱区土地利用情况的动态监测效率,开展土地利用/覆被动态演变研究提供参考。     

Pastoralism and conservation

Traditional subsistence pastoralists are often seen as causing environmental degradation through overgrazing, and are also seen as responsible for a decline in wildlife numbers through resource competition and habitat change. This paper investigates recent ideas on the interaction of pastoralism and conservation that question the validity of the concepts of overstocking and overgrazing as applied to arid and semiarid rangelands. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a Maasai pastoralist/wildlife conservation joint land use area in northern Tanzania, shows no clear signs of pastoralist-induced environmental degradation despite a preoccupation with this possibility by successive administrations. Ecological studies together with other considerations suggest that joint land use works to the long-term benefit of both pastoralism and conservation in this and other areas.     

ITE Merlewood Land Classification of Great Britain

Abstract. The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) has classified the 1 km squares in Great Britain (GB) into thirty-two environmental strata, termed land classes, as a basis for ecological survey. The classes have been used in biogeographical studies of the distribution of individual species and species assemblages. The concept behind the technique is that there is an association between the environmental character of land and ecological parameters. The initial classification was based on a sample of squares drawn from a regular grid. The data for the 12121 km squares classified were drawn from published maps; the number of squares was limited by the available computing power. Subsequently the availability of more powerful computers and the need to improve geographical definition have led to the allocation of every 1 km square to its appropriate class. This paper has been written to summarise the principles involved in the development of the system and indicate the range of projects for which it has been used. The extension of the classification from a sample to the complete coverage of GB revealed the importance of the structure and style of data used to produce the classification. The significance of these conclusions for future work is discussed, with particular reference to automated methods of data capture.     

荒漠草原与典型草原NPP、碳积累对不同降雨年份和利用方式的响应

不同草原利用方式正在影响着内蒙古的草原生态系统,而且在未来降水空间格局变化的背景下,它们共同决定了生态系统植被类型、净初级生产力(NPP)和生态系统碳积累。选取内蒙古中部两个重要的草地类型:荒漠草原和典型草原,研究不同草原利用方式(围栏禁牧、划区轮牧、割草、自由放牧)植物群落在降雨量不同的两个生长季节地上(ANPP)、地下净初级生产力(BNPP)的变化,同时也评估了植物群落的碳积累,研究结果表明:1)在降雨量亏缺年份,与围封相比,荒漠草原自由放牧区ANPP、BNPP及碳积累分别下降了57.1%、51.7%和56.0%,而典型草原自由放牧区分别下降了18.4%、25.1%和17.9%。2)在降雨量充足年份,与围封相比,荒漠草原划区轮牧区ANPP、BNPP以及碳积累分别增加了18.2%、9.8%和21.9%,而典型草原各处理下围封禁牧区ANPP仍是最高;3)两种草地类型下,降雨量对自由放牧的调控作用高于其它草地利用方式;4)荒漠草原ANPP在丰雨年是欠雨年的2倍,而典型草原仅增加了79.0%,降雨量对荒漠草原生产力的季节调控作用远高于典型草原。在未来全球气候变暖和降水格局变化的情况下,荒漠草原降雨量是影响荒漠植物群落NPP和碳积累的主导因子。     

干旱区荒漠景观的植被自然更新机制初探

根据实地调在和参阅资料．依山前洪积扇、河流沿岸阶地、沙丘及丘间低地、戈壁、盐沼的景观斑块,初步探讨干旱区植被的自然更新机制。干旱区的高温干燥、温差强烈、风蚀沙埋已成为植物繁衍后代的动力;萌蘖、劈裂、地下茎萌生等多种繁殖方式．使荒漠植物在严酷的条件下实现自然更新,形成以母株为中心的母系居群。地貌形态和种子传播动力决定了群落外形。在干旱区,以种子繁殖的植物之种子成熟期与年内的丰水期相吻合,有利于植被更新．只有在连续2年降水较大时（超过多年平均降水量）,沙丘和丘间地,戈壁植被的自然更新才可能发生;河流沿岸植被的自然更新受地下水影响最明显;湖盆盐碱地植被带有水生植被的痕迹,自然更新相对较难;景观斑块镶嵌分布．形成微环境均异的廊道．有利于植被的自然更新。     

绿洲化进程中不同利用强度农田对土壤质量的影响

土壤质量研究对于区域土地可持续利用及当地环境维护具有重要价值。以处于极端干旱背景下的塔里木盆地南缘策勒绿洲为研究区,以农田这一重要的土地利用类型为研究对象,探讨在绿洲化进程中不同农田利用强度对绿洲荒漠土壤的影响。2004年根据当地农民耕作习惯建立4块试验农田,分别代表当地典型的农田利用强度。通过土壤粒径分布分形特征,及基于土壤养分指标的土壤质量指数(SQI)、基于生产力数据的产量可持续性指数(SYI)分析,多角度探讨农田在不同利用强度下的土壤质量分异特征。研究表明农田位置与人为管理强度会对土壤质量产生重要影响,在绿洲边缘对农田开发利用应当采取谨慎的态度及合理的管理方式。研究在客观分析并揭示绿洲化进程中农田土壤质量分异的同时,也为绿洲农田可持续利用管理提供科学建议。     

黑河中游土地利用转型过程及其对区域生态质量的影响

干旱区土地利用转型作为影响区域生态系统变化的主要因素,直接关系人类福祉.本文以生态脆弱的黑河中游地区为研究对象,基于1987、2001、2016年的遥感影像数据,采用土地利用转型检测评估模型、生态响应模型系统研究了1987—2016年黑河中游地区土地利用转型的过程及其区域生态质量响应规律.结果表明: 1987—2016年,研究区土地利用转型变化显著,总变化量呈增加趋势,耕地和建设用地持续增加;在随机新增和减少状态下,未利用地向其他地类转型的倾向性不强,草地向耕地转型具有很强的倾向性;研究区生态质量总体呈下降趋势,生态用地呈缩减态势,净减少2.8%,对于生态环境退化影响最大的土地利用转型类型是草地向耕地和未利用地的转型.为促进区域土地资源的可持续利用以及改善区域生态质量状况,需根据区域水资源状况合理分配区域生产用地和生态用地的比例.     

Land use and cover with intensity of agriculture for Canada from satellite and census data

Aim To develop the first national databases on land use and agricultural land use intensity in Canada for a wide variety of environmental monitoring applications. Location Canada. Methods In this paper, we describe a new system for the construction of both land use and land use intensity (within agricultural regions) called LUCIA (land use and cover with intensity of agriculture). Our methodology combines the highly detailed Canadian Census of Agriculture and recent growing season composites derived from the SPOT4/VEGETATION sensor. Census data are of much coarser resolution than the remotely sensed data but, by removing non‐agricultural pixels from each census sampling area, we were able to refine the census data sufficiently to allow their use as ground truth data in some areas. The ‘refined’ census data were then used in the final step of an unsupervised classification of the remotely sensed data. Results and main conclusions The results of the land use classification are generally consistent with the input census data, indicating that the LUCIA output reflects actual land use trends as determined by national census information. Land use intensity, defined as the principal component of census variables that relate to agricultural inputs and outputs (e.g. chemical inputs, fertilizer inputs and manure outputs), is highest in the periphery of the great plains region of central Canada but is also very high in southern Ontario and Québec.     

1995～2000年中国沙地空间格局变化的遥感研究

利用遥感方法 ,在覆盖全国的 Landsat-TM数据的基础上 ,对 1 995年和 2 0 0 0年中国沙地的空间分布格局与动态变化进行了调查。结果显示了 2 0 0 0年中国沙地总面积为 5 9× 1 0 4 km2 ,主要分布于各主要沙漠和我国的 7个主要省份。1 995～ 2 0 0 0年 ,有 470 9.7km2的土地转化为沙地 ,同时又有 2 1 5 6.4km2的沙地转化为其它土地利用类型 ,沙地总面积扩大了2 5 5 3 .3 km2 。对变化为沙地的土地进行分析 ,发现草地占主要部分 ,但耕地所占的比重也非常突出 ,同时也表明有部分沙地变化为草地和耕地。根据土地沙化的空间分布特征 ,将土地沙化过程分为 5种格局 :沙地 -绿洲型、沙漠型、沙地 -黄土过渡型、沙地 -草地型和高原风蚀型。通过对中国发生土地风蚀沙化的主要省份在 1 995～ 2 0 0 0年间的土地利用动态变化发现 ,土地利用变化是促使土地发生沙化的一个重要因素。在 5 a的时间里 ,7个省份耕地总面积扩大了 90 3 9.7km2 ,草地减少了 1 1 5 97.9km2。耕地的增加部分几乎均表现为对草地的侵占 ,土地变为沙地也主要发生在草地区。人为因素导致的耕地面积扩大是促使土地沙化的重要原因。对主要省份的土地利用方式进行分析 ,探讨不同地区减轻土地沙化趋势下的土地利用布局。     

Carbon emissions in the field of land use,land use change,and forestry in the Vietnam mainland

The biennial report of Vietnam includes updated information on the greenhouse gas emissions for the base years which are specified by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for reporting on greenhouse gas emissions by member nations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The estimation of greenhouse gas emissions in general and carbon emissions in particular in the field of land use, land use change, and forestry using advanced technology to provide the input data was recommended. Remote sensing technology with transparency, multi-time characteristics, and wide coverage is useful in this area. An experiment on carbon emission estimation was carried out based on land cover change over ten years between 2002 and 2012. The results obtained by remote sensing data classification for the land cover categories achieved a reliability of 68% for the year 2002 and 67% for the year 2012. Data in relation to the land cover change, soil zoning, and ecological/climate zoning in the Vietnamese mainland, through the process of integrating, processing, and synthesizing data, and using the reported activity data and carbon emission coefficients, were input into the Agriculture and Land Use Greenhouse Gas Inventory Software for carbon emission estimations based on the quality control and quality assurance work.

     

1997—2003年广州市土地利用变化遥感监测研究及动态分析

分析了前人在土地利用研究中所用到的技术方法的基础上,利用广州市1997年和2003年的Landsat TM影像,在遥感和地理信息系统软件的支持下对广州市1997～2003年的土地利用/土地覆盖信息进行了提取并进行了统计分析,同时从土地利用变化的数量、速度、空间转移和区域差异等几个方面探讨广州市这6年来的土地利用变化规律以及其转化机理。通过本研究可以得出:(1)广州市1997～2003年间的土地利用变化状况处于一个平稳变化的阶段,其变化速度和强度都相对比较弱;(2)广州市各类土地利用类型变化存在着明显的区域差异,同时各类土地利用类型之间的转化强度不是很明显。     

Comparing socioeconomic vulnerability index and land cover indices: Application of fuzzy TOPSIS model and geographic information system

Vulnerability Assessment (VA) has numerous management implications, particularly for locating the most vulnerable areas affected by land cover degradation. This study aims to assess and compare the relationship between socioeconomic vulnerability (SEV) and land cover indices (LCIs) in summer rangelands (Natanz county) and winter rangelands (Aran-V-Bidgol county) in Isfahan Province, Iran. To assess the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SEVI), a survey was conducted. Based on the SEVI, summer and winter rangelands were classified and mapped using a combination of fuzzy TOPSIS model and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Field research was conducted to estimate LCIs, including plant cover, plant yield, litter (dead biomass), sand and gravel, bare soil, and forage production. Finally, the correlations between SEVI and LCIs were verified, and the SEV of winter rangelands and summer rangelands was examined. Results showed the rangelands of Chah Robat, Bidhend, and Tar were the most vulnerable summer rangelands, while the rangelands of Chah Zard, Cheshmeh Sefid, and Kandeh Matin were the most vulnerable winter rangelands. Findings further revealed more LCIs, including total ground cover, the yield of shrubs, and total yield had a significant relationship with SEVI in summer rangelands compared to winter rangelands (yield of annual forbs and total yield). Moreover, there was a significant difference between SEVI, determined by the fuzzy TOPSIS model, in summer and winter rangelands. It can be concluded that while the fuzzy TOPSIS model and GIS can be used to gain a better understanding of VA, the type of rangeland has an impact on how well these techniques can assess the SEV of rangelands.     

Comparison of phenology trends by land cover class: a case study in the Great Basin, USA

Direct impacts of human land use and indirect impacts of anthropogenic climate change may alter land cover and associated ecosystem function, affecting ecological goods and services. Considerable work has been done to identify long‐term global trends in vegetation greenness, which is associated with primary productivity, using remote sensing. Trend analysis of satellite observations is subject to error, and ecosystem change can be confused with interannual variability. However, the relative trends of land cover classes may hold clues about differential ecosystem response to environmental forcing. Our aim was to identify phenological variability and 10‐year trends for the major land cover classes in the Great Basin. This case study involved two steps: a regional, phenology‐based land cover classification and an identification of phenological variability and 10‐year trends stratified by land cover class. The analysis used a 10‐year time series of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer satellite data to assess regional scale land cover variability and identify change. The phenology‐based regional classification was more detailed and accurate than national or global products. Phenological variability over the 10‐year period was high, with substantial shifts in timing of start of season of up to 9 weeks. The mean long‐term trends of montane land cover classes were significantly different from valley land cover classes due to a poor response of montane shrubland and pinyon‐juniper woodland to the early 1990s drought. The differential response during the 1990s suggests that valley ecosystems may be more resilient and montane ecosystems more susceptible to prolonged drought. This type of regional‐scale land cover analysis is necessary to characterize current patterns of land cover phenology, distinguish between anthropogenically driven land cover change and interannual variability, and identify ecosystems potentially susceptible to regional and global change.     

内蒙古荒漠草原防风固沙服务变化及其驱动力

荒漠化是内蒙古荒漠草原面临的最严重的生态环境问题之一,而风蚀则是造成土地退化的主要因素。采用修正风蚀方程（Revised wind erosion equation,RWEQ）定量评估了内蒙古荒漠草原2000和2017年的固沙量,并结合土地利用、降水、风速、植被覆盖度数据分析了该区域防风固沙服务的影响因素。结果表明：内蒙古荒漠草原的防风固沙服务表现出明显的空间异质性,不同土地利用类型提供的防风固沙服务有所差异,其中高覆盖度草地的固沙量相对较高。总体来说,2000年固沙量与降水、风速、植被覆盖度均为正相关,2017年固沙量与降水为负相关,与风速和植被覆盖度为正相关。2000-2017年内蒙古荒漠草原固沙物质总量增幅为53.95%,其中9.65%来源于土地利用变化区域,土地利用方式发生变化的面积占研究区总面积的5.6%。2000-2017年土地利用变化以林地的恢复、建设用地的扩张以及不同覆盖度间草地的转换为主。2000-2017年,风力因子的分布模式对防风固沙服务的空间分布变化的影响较大。总的来说,土地利用变化对内蒙古荒漠草原的防风固沙服务有一定的增强作用,防风固沙服务的空间分布在时间上的变化主要受气候因子的影响。     

Anthropogenic transformation of the biomes, 1700 to 2000

Aim To map and characterize anthropogenic transformation of the terrestrial biosphere before and during the Industrial Revolution, from 1700 to 2000. Location Global. Methods Anthropogenic biomes (anthromes) were mapped for 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2000 using a rule‐based anthrome classification model applied to gridded global data for human population density and land use. Anthropogenic transformation of terrestrial biomes was then characterized by map comparisons at century intervals. Results In 1700, nearly half of the terrestrial biosphere was wild, without human settlements or substantial land use. Most of the remainder was in a seminatural state (45%) having only minor use for agriculture and settlements. By 2000, the opposite was true, with the majority of the biosphere in agricultural and settled anthromes, less than 20% seminatural and only a quarter left wild. Anthropogenic transformation of the biosphere during the Industrial Revolution resulted about equally from land‐use expansion into wildlands and intensification of land use within seminatural anthromes. Transformation pathways differed strongly between biomes and regions, with some remaining mostly wild but with the majority almost completely transformed into rangelands, croplands and villages. In the process of transforming almost 39% of earth's total ice‐free surface into agricultural land and settlements, an additional 37% of global land without such use has become embedded within agricultural and settled anthromes. Main conclusions Between 1700 and 2000, the terrestrial biosphere made the critical transition from mostly wild to mostly anthropogenic, passing the 50% mark early in the 20th century. At present, and ever more in the future, the form and process of terrestrial ecosystems in most biomes will be predominantly anthropogenic, the product of land use and other direct human interactions with ecosystems. Ecological research and conservation efforts in all but a few biomes would benefit from a primary focus on the novel remnant, recovering and managed ecosystems embedded within used lands.     

Are plant functional types relevant to describe degradation in arid,southern Tunisian steppes?

Abstract. In the Tunisian arid zone disturbances (e.g. overgrazing and agriculture) and stresses (e.g. aridity, low fertility) drive changes in the structure and functioning of rangelands, with a decrease in perennial plant cover, changes in floristic composition and erosion. Long‐term monitoring requires (1) an understanding of the dynamics of vegetation change and associated ecological processes and (2) identification of relevant indicators. Using data from the arid zone of southern Tunisia we tested the hypothesis that plant functional response types could be used to address these two goals. We identified plant functional response types in response to a gradient of soil and vegetation types characterized by changes in perennial plant cover, dominant species and associated soil types. Vegetation samples were stratified by contrasted vegetation patch types with varying perennial plant cover (1.6 to 22%). We focused our analysis of trait responses within dwarf–shrubs, which are the dominants in typical steppe ecosystems of south Tunisia. Available trait data concerned morphology (plant height, leaf type), regeneration (dispersal mode, phenology and regeneration mode) and grazing value. Although we found it difficult to recognize ‘indicator response types’ that could be used directly to monitor changes in community composition, we were able to identify plant response syndromes that are relevant to long‐term vegetation changes, and in particular degradation processes, in the region. Two main response types were identified: the decreaser type, made up of small or medium chamaephytes with high grazing palatability and the increaser type with medium to tall chamaephytes and low grazing palatability. These response types are proposed as key elements in a state‐and‐transition model of vegetation dynamics in the context of agropastoral disturbances and climatic and edaphic stresses.