Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011

This review describes outcomes of a 2010 horizon-scanning exercise building upon the first exercise conducted in 2009. The aim of both horizon scans was to identify emerging issues that could have substantial impacts on the conservation of biological diversity, and to do so sufficiently early to encourage policy-relevant, practical research on those issues. Our group included professional horizon scanners and researchers affiliated with universities and non- and inter-governmental organizations, including specialists on topics such as invasive species, wildlife diseases and coral reefs. We identified 15 nascent issues, including new greenhouse gases, genetic techniques to eradicate mosquitoes, milk consumption in Asia and societal pessimism.     

水平扫描技术及其在生态学中的应用前景

水平扫描是一项在计算科学、工程和医学等领域被广泛应用的技术,其原理即是对潜在的新兴事物、威胁、机遇和技术体系进行系统检查。该技术自2008年被引入生态学领域以来,迅速在生物多样性和生态安全监管研究中展现出广阔的应用潜力。水平扫描技术不仅有助于政府决策层与管理机构积极面对各种在未来难以预测的生态环境风险,进而在制定和实施与生态环境检测和保护等相关的政策措施时更加谨慎、全面和有据可依,而且能够提升政府和环保部门应对与生态环境变化密切相关的重大突发性事件的能力。目前,我国在利用水平扫描进行生态环境风险评估、生物多样性保护和生物安全检测等领域的应用研究或报道还处于空白。在全球化导致重大生态环境事件突发风险日益增加的背景下,国内的生态学研究机构和团队可优先在外来物种入侵监管、重大地质灾害、环境生态安全和生物多样性丧失这四个领域进行水平扫描研究,以应对当前日益严峻的生态环境保护形势。     

A global biological conservation horizon scan of issues for 2023

We present the results of our 14th horizon scan of issues we expect to influence biological conservation in the future. From an initial set of 102 topics, our global panel of 30 scientists and practitioners identified 15 issues we consider most urgent for societies worldwide to address. Issues are novel within biological conservation or represent a substantial positive or negative step change at global or regional scales. Issues such as submerged artificial light fisheries and accelerating upper ocean currents could have profound negative impacts on marine or coastal ecosystems. We also identified potentially positive technological advances, including energy production and storage, improved fertilisation methods, and expansion of biodegradable materials. If effectively managed, these technologies could realise future benefits for biological diversity.     

干旱半干旱荒漠地区一年生植物研究综述

1年生植物是干旱半干旱地区植被的重要组成部分,并以其独有的植物特性成为许多植物生态学关键问题研究的最佳试验材料。本文综述了干旱半干旱地区1年生植物的种子萌发对策、幼苗对环境的适应机制、种子传播和种子库等方面的研究成果,并探讨了影响1年生植物种群、群落组成和动态的生物与非生物因素。基于1年生植物类群在荒漠植被系统中重要的生态功能,有关1年生植物的研究成果将有利于荒漠生态系统的保护和恢复、资源的合理利用以及区域的可持续发展。     

基于图论的景观图表达、分析及应用

景观结构和空间格局一直是景观生态学的核心问题,图论的应用为景观格局的分析提供了一种研究框架,基于图论的景观图逐渐被应用于生物多样性保护的连通性建模和景观规划的决策支持研究,景观图的表达、分析和应用已成为保护生物学和景观生态学研究的热点。本文首先介绍了景观图的图论基础,在Scopus数据库的基础上,检索了1993—2019年在标题、摘要和关键词中出现 “landscape graph”、“connectivity”和“network”词汇的257篇已发表的期刊论文。从年发文量、来源期刊、研究区域、研究机构、景观类型等方面分析了该领域的研究进展和发展趋势。分析发现,2017年之前,发表的期刊论文数量整体呈上升趋势,2017年之后年发文量逐年下降;主要研究力量集中在美国、西班牙、法国、加拿大和中国,发文量占到86.8%。大部分研究成果发表在“Landscape Ecology”、“Landscape and Urban Planning”和“Biological Conservation”期刊上。在研究内容上,景观图表达主要包括点的定义、边的度量和景观的模拟3方面,景观图分析研究包括分析指数、景观图划分两方面。我们重点关注了景观图在生物多样性保护、景观(生态网络)规划和管理、景观影响评价等科学与实践中的应用。基于图论的景观图通过帮助理解景观连通性变化、动物行为和栖息地保护,影响着保护科学和规划实践者。图论对保护科学和规划的影响来自于丰富的理论基础和成熟的研究方法,基于图论的景观图为景观结构和格局的生态学理解提供了跳板,并将继续成为全球研究人员和实践者的重要工具。     

Dissolved Organic Carbon Leaching from a Coniferous Forest Floor -- A Field Manipulation Experiment

Leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the O layer is important for the carbon cycling of forest soils. Here we study the role of the Oi, Oe and Oa horizons in DOC leaching from the forest floor in field manipulations carried out in a Norway spruce forest stand in southern Sweden. The manipulations involved the addition and removal of litter and the removal of Oi, Oe and Oa horizons. Our data suggest that both recent litter and humified organic matter contribute significantly to the leaching of dissolved organic matter from the O layer. An addition of litter corresponding to four times annual litterfall resulted in a 35% increase in DOC concentrations and fluxes although the specific UV absorbance remained unchanged. The removal of litterfall and the Oi horizon resulted in a decreased DOC concentration and in a significant increase in the molar UV absorptivity. The DOC concentration under the Oa horizon was not significantly different from that under the Oe horizon and there were no increase in DOC flux, but rather a decrease, from the bottom of the Oe horizon to the bottom of the Oa horizon, suggesting that there is no net release of DOC in the Oa horizon. However, significant leaching of DOC occurred from the Oa horizon when litterfall and the Oi and Oe horizons were removed. This indicates that there is both a removal of DOC from the Oi and Oe horizons and a substantial production of DOC in the Oa horizon. Quantitatively, we suggest that the Oi, Oe and Oa horizons contributed approximately 20, 30 and 50%, respectively, to the overall leaching of DOC from the O layer.     

Making predictive ecology more relevant to policy makers and practitioners

One of the aims of ecology is to aid policy makers and practitioners through the development of testable predictions of relevance to society. Here, we argue that this capacity can be improved in three ways. Firstly, by thinking more clearly about the priority issues using a range of methods including horizon scanning, identifying policy gaps, identifying priority questions and using evidence-based conservation to identify knowledge gaps. Secondly, by linking ecological models with models of other systems, such as economic and social models. Thirdly, by considering alternative approaches to generate and model data that use, for example, discrete or categorical states to model ecological systems. We particularly highlight that models are essential for making predictions. However, a key to the limitation in their use is the degree to which ecologists are able to communicate results to policy makers in a clear, useful and timely fashion.     

Adaptive divergence along environmental gradients in a climate‐change‐sensitive mammal

In the face of predicted climate change, a broader understanding of biotic responses to varying environments has become increasingly important within the context of biodiversity conservation. Local adaptation is one potential option, yet remarkably few studies have harnessed genomic tools to evaluate the efficacy of this response within natural populations. Here, we show evidence of selection driving divergence of a climate‐change‐sensitive mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps), distributed along elevation gradients at its northern range margin in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia (BC), Canada. We employed amplified‐fragment‐length‐polymorphism‐based genomic scans to conduct genomewide searches for candidate loci among populations inhabiting varying environments from sea level to 1500 m. Using several independent approaches to outlier locus detection, we identified 68 candidate loci putatively under selection (out of a total 1509 screened), 15 of which displayed significant associations with environmental variables including annual precipitation and maximum summer temperature. These candidate loci may represent important targets for predicting pika responses to climate change and informing novel approaches to wildlife conservation in a changing world.     

What's on the horizon for community-based conservation? Emerging threats and opportunities

Community-based conservation can support livelihoods and biodiversity, while reinforcing local and Indigenous values, cultures, and institutions. Its delivery can help address cross-cutting global challenges, such as climate change, conservation, poverty, and food security. Therefore, understanding trends in community-based conservation is pertinent to setting and implementing global goals. We undertook a horizon scan to prioritize 15 emerging threats and opportunities expected to impact the future effectiveness of community-based conservation. Topics relate to global biodiversity policy; human rights; shifting human geography; inclusion, diversity, equity, and access; conservation finance and income; and economic reforms. Our findings offer guidance on strengthening community-based conservation to achieve global environmental and development goals.     

北京市生态涵养区生态资产时空格局及驱动因素

生态涵养区作为重要的生态屏障和水源保护地,是北京市实现绿色发展和生态保护的重要支撑。基于改进的生态资产估算模型,获得2000年、2005年、2010年和2015年4期北京市生态涵养区生态资产时空分布格局,基于栅格尺度数据进行面板固定效应回归和分位数回归,检验了生态资产时空格局的驱动因素。结果表明：（1）北京市生态涵养区4期生态资产呈先快速增长后缓慢降低的趋势,森林生态系统积累生态资产价值占比长期保持在70%以上,是生态涵养保护的重要支撑,但2015年其占比较2010年下降了3个百分点。（2）气候变化中年均降雨量对生态资产具有显著的促进作用,年均气温的升高对低分位水平下的生态资产具有显著的抑制作用,而对高分位水平的生态资产有正向推动作用;人为干扰度稳定在一定范围内时对生态资产具有显著的正向促进作用;像元单位空间人口的增加对生态资产有阻滞作用;像元单位空间GDP的增加对生态资产有显著的促进作用。（3）陡坡地和斜坡地的生态资产均在每年360亿元以上,远高于其他坡度的生态资产;南坡面积占比最大,其生态资产积累最高,东北坡次之;低山丘陵地带占比高达71.45%,生态资产的年均值远高于其他区域。     

Political polarization of conservation issues in the era of COVID-19: An examination of partisan perspectives and priorities in the United States

As a zoonotic disease with unprecedented global impacts, COVID-19 may influence how people prioritize issues related to wildlife conservation. Using a nationally representative sample of US residents, we investigated: (1) how COVID-19 affected the relative importance of conservation issues among adults with different political ideologies, and (2) how the pandemic affected political polarization of conservation issues during the 2020 general election in the United States. Conservation issues such as endangered species and controlling zoonotic disease ranked low in importance among the 14 policy issues considered, even lower than environmental issues such as climate change and environmental protection; however, the importance of all conservation issues increased as a result of COVID-19. Political polarization surrounding the perceived importance of conservation issues also increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Democrats reporting larger increases in importance than Republicans. Polarization was driven by the most conservative Republicans and the most liberal Democrats. But this polarization was less extreme than it was for other issues such as climate change and healthcare. Findings highlight the need for communicating links between zoonotic disease and human interactions with wildlife and the environment. Acting quickly may be critical in areas where conservation issues are primed to succumb to political polarization.     

Concentration and Fluxes of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in Three Norway Spruce Stands along a Climatic Gradient in Sweden

Leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the forest floor and transport in soil solution into the mineral soil are important for carbon cycling in boreal forest ecosystems. We examined DOC concentrations in bulk deposition, throughfall and in soil solutions collected under the O and B horizons in three Norway spruce stands along a climatic gradient in Sweden. Mean annual temperature for the three sites was 5.5, 3.4 and 1.2 °C. At each site we also examined the effect of soil moisture on DOC dynamics along a moisture gradient (dry, mesic and moist plots). To obtain information about the fate of DOC leached from the O horizon into the mineral soil, ¹⁴C measurements were made on bulk organic matter and DOC. The concentration and fluxes of DOC in O horizon leachates were highest at the southern site and lowest at the northern. Average DOC concentrations at the southern, central and northern sites were 49, 39 and 30 mg l⁻¹, respectively. We suggest that DOC leaching rates from O horizons were related to the net primary production of the ecosystem. Soil temperature probably governed the within-year variation in DOC concentration in O horizon leachates, but the peak in DOC was delayed relative to that of temperature, probably due to sorption processes. Neither soil moisture regime (dry, mesic or moist plots) nor seasonal variation in soil moisture seemed to be of any significance for the concentration of DOC leached from the O horizon. The ¹⁴C measurements showed that DOC in soil solution collected below the B horizon was derived mainly from the B horizon itself, rather than from the O horizon, indicating a substantial exchange (sorption–desorption reactions) between incoming DOC and soil organic carbon in the mineral soil.     

Leaf litter is an important mediator of soil respiration in an oak-dominated forest

The contribution of the organic (O) horizon to total soil respiration is poorly understood even though it can represent a large source of uncertainty due to seasonal changes in microclimate and O horizon properties due to plant phenology. Our objectives were to partition the CO₂ effluxes of litter layer and mineral soil from total soil respiration (SR) and determine the relative importance of changing temperature and moisture mediating the fluxes. We measured respiration in an oak-dominated forest with or without the O horizon for 1 year within the Oak Openings Region of northwest Ohio. Mineral soil and O horizon respiration were subtracted from mineral soil respiration (MSR) to estimate litter respiration (LR). Measurements were grouped by oak phenology to correlate changes in plant activity with respiration. The presence of the O horizon represented a large source of seasonal variation in SR. The timing of oak phenology explained some of the large changes in both SR and LR, and their relationship with temperature and moisture. The contribution to SR of respiration from the mineral soil was greatest during pre-growth and pre-dormancy, as evident by the low LR:MSR ratios of 0.65 ± 0.10 (mean ± SE) and 0.69 ± 0.03, respectively, as compared to the other phenophases. Including moisture increased our ability to predict MSR and SR during the growth phenophase and LR for every phenophase. Temperature and moisture explained 85% of the variation in MSR, but only 60% of the variation in LR. The annual contribution of O horizon to SR was 48% and the ratio of litter to soil respiration was tightly coupled over a wide range of environmental conditions. Our results suggest the presence of the O horizon is a major mediator of SR.     

Conservation genetics in a globally changing environment: present problems,paradoxes and future challenges

Despite recent advances in conservation genetics and related disciplines and the growing impact that conservation genetics is having in conservation biology, our knowledge on several key issues in the field is still insufficient. Here we identify some of these issues together with addressing several paradoxes which have to be solved before conservation genetics can face new challenges that are appearing in the transitory phase from the population genetics into the population genomics era. Most of these issues, paradoxes and challenges, like the central dogma of conservation genetics, the computational, theoretical and laboratory experiment achievements and limitations in the conservation genetics field have been discussed. Further knowledge on the consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding depression in wild populations as well as the capacity of small populations to adapt to local environmental conditions is also urgently needed. The integration of experimental, theoretical and applied conservation genetics will contribute to improve our understanding of methodological and applied aspects of conservation genetics.     

Using naturally shed feathers for individual identification, genetic parentage analyses, and population monitoring in an endangered Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) population from Kazakhstan

Genetic analyses on noninvasively collected samples have revolutionized how populations are monitored. Most noninvasive monitoring studies have used hair or scat for individual identification of elusive mammals, but here we utilize naturally shed feathers. The Eastern imperial eagle (EIE) is a species of conservation concern throughout Central Asia and, like most raptors, EIEs are inherently challenging to study because adults are difficult to capture and band using conventional techniques. Over 6 years, we noninvasively collected hundreds of adult feathers and directly sampled EIE chicks at a national nature reserve in Kazakhstan. All samples were genetically sexed and genotyped at a suite of microsatellite loci. Genetically profiled adult feathers identified and monitored the presence of individual eagles over time, enabling us to address a variety of issues related to the biology, demography, and conservation of EIEs. Specifically, we characterized (i) the genetic mating system, (ii) relatedness among mated pairs, (iii) chick sex ratios, and (iv) annual turnover in an adult breeding population. We show that EIEs are genetically monogamous and furthermore, there is no apparent relatedness-based system of mate choice (e.g. inbreeding avoidance). Results indicate that annual adult EIE survivorship (84%) is lower than expected for a long-lived raptor, but initial analyses suggest the current reproductive rate at our study site is sufficient to maintain a stable breeding population. The pristine habitat at our study site supports an EIE population that is probably the most demographically robust in the world; thus, our results caution that populations in marginal habitats may not be self-sustaining.     

1980—2016年三江源国家公园水源供给及水源涵养功能时空变化研究

为实现三江源国家公园水源供给及涵养功能评估,服务区域生态服务价值估算,基于InVEST模型,利用1980—2016年期间共7期土地利数据,结合气象数据,土壤数据,地形数据等,评估了三江源国家公园水源供给及水源涵养量的时间变化特征与空间分布状况。结果表明:1)1980—2016年三江源国家公园年降水呈不显著增加趋势;潜在蒸散、实际蒸散显著增加。在此影响下,园区产水量及水源涵养量总体呈不显著增加趋势。在不同年代,园区水资源总量经历了骤降-好转-略微降低的变化过程。降水量与实际蒸散量对园区产水量及水源涵养量影响最为显著。2)园区产水量及水源涵养量空间分布趋势一致,呈由北向南先减少后增加的变化趋势。这种空间差异主要由降水差异及地表覆盖特征引起的蒸散差异引起。3)在极端降水条件下,园区产水量及水源涵养量的数量和空间分布差异十分显著。长江源园区生态水源对降水变化的响应最为敏感。     

植物保护遗传学

从遗传多样性、系统发育和地理系统发育角度对当前保护遗传学在植物保护中的作用进行了探讨。在植物保护过程中,要考虑多群遗传多样性的大小,在就地和迁地保护的过程要减少近交和远交衰退影响,并可利用遗传标记为提供关于种群大小、基因流动等方面的信息。系统发育和地理系统发育的研究在于了解物种进化的历史,以确定物种保护单元。同时结合两个具体生态学问题（生境片段化和外来种）对当前植物保护遗传学的研究进行了介绍,揭示了保护遗传学在植物保护上重要作用和不可取代性,为今后研究提供参考。     

Monitoring land cover changes in African protected areas in the 21st century

Africa is home to some of the most vulnerable natural ecosystems and species on the planet. Around 7000 protected areas seek to safeguard the continent's rich biodiversity, but many of them face increasing management challenges. Human disturbances permeating into the parks directly and indirectly affect the ecological functioning and integrity of protected areas. With the envisaged expansion of the protected area network and further expected population and economic growth in the region, the competition between nature conservation and resources demands is likely to increase. The regular monitoring of land cover in and around protected areas can support the early detection of conservation conflicts. In this paper, we evaluate the use of the annual time series of MODIS Land Cover (LC) type product between 2003 and 2009 to monitor land cover changes at continental scale. We use the mean classification confidence and change frequency as indicators to assess the temporal consistency of the MODIS LC classifier for accurately monitoring land cover changes. We discuss the perspectives and issues for an automated monitoring of land cover changes in African protected areas.     

柴达木盆地荒漠灌丛群落谱系结构研究

谱系信息是群落生态学和保育生物学研究的主要内容之一。为探究柴达木盆地荒漠灌丛群落谱系结构及其与环境因子的关系,该研究以柴达木盆地荒漠灌丛为对象,基于群落中物种存在与否的物种组成数据,使用R语言中picante软件包计算了灌丛群落谱系多样性指数和谱系结构指数,并且分析了谱系结构指数与年均温度、年均降水以及土壤含水量之间的关系,以揭示柴达木盆地灌丛群落物种之间的亲缘关系和群落生物多样性维持机制。结果表明:(1)柴达木盆地灌丛群落谱系结构与土壤含水量之间存在极显著相关性(P=2.77×10-6),随着土壤含水量的增加,群落谱系结构聚集程度逐渐降低,表现出生境过滤作用逐步减弱,生物间相互作用逐渐加强的变化趋势。(2)群落谱系结构与年均温度、年均降水之间无显著相关性。(3)典型荒漠生境灌丛和河谷(河漫滩)生境灌丛群落的谱系结构差异显著(P0.05),整体上分别表现为谱系聚集状态和谱系发散状态;河谷(河漫滩)生境灌丛群落的谱系多样性显著高于典型荒漠生境灌丛(P0.05)。(4)将群落谱系信息应用在生物多样性保护实践中,发现河谷(河漫滩)生境灌丛群落较典型荒漠生境的灌丛群落可能具有更高的保护价值。研究认为,将群落谱系研究与保育生物学理论结合将会使生物多样性保护策略更加科学有效。