The palm has its time: an Ethnoecology ofSabal uresana in Sonora,Mexico

Participant observation and formal interviews were used to learn what local people understood of palm natural history and how palms were managed. Ecological and ethnographic methods were combined to assess traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and traditional resource management (TRM). Palm workers understood TEK and TRM for palms. This knowledge was not general in the population, however. Residence, harvester status, and gender were strongly correlated with TEK and TRM. Harvest practices included limiting access, “sparing,” controlling harvest times and levels, and choice of leaf age and palm size. “Alpha” management is proposed as practices which maintain populations long-term. In this case, sparing was the single most important practice. “Beta” management is shorter term and important for obtaining good quality product in sufficient quantities. Although the impacts are more subtle, it can affect population structure over time. This study provides one prototype for identifying practices which function as de facto conservation traditions for wild-harvested species.     

Chinanteco management ofAechmea Magdalenae: Implications for the use of TEK and TRM in management plans

The importance of incorporating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and traditional resource management (TRM) into resource management plans is increasingly recognized, but little quantitative data exists on the ecological and economic implications of these systems. We quantitatively evaluate the TEK and TRM associated with the nontimber forest species, Aechmea magdalenae, in indigenous Chinanteco communities in Mexico. Two TRM systems forA. magdalenae are described and their effects on growth rates of individuals and populations are measured. Simulations using matrix population models combined with yield experiments reveal that one management system is higher yielding and less costly than the other. Thinning and transplanting are two of the most important management practices that enable populations to withstand higher rates of harvest than those predicted in a management plan that was not based on TRM. Quantitative evaluation of Chinanteco TEK is used to discuss how it may be best combined with science in management plans for nontimber forest species.     

基于民族生态学视角的哈尼梯田农业生态系统水资源管理

作为山地农业的典型模式之一,哈尼梯田以其悠久历史和文化景观成为世界文化遗产和全球重要农业文化遗产。哈尼梯田农业生态系统的成功之处在于有效的水资源管理,但对其制度建设和生态文化内涵的综合分析尚待完善。基于民族生态学视角,结合生态学、民族学等自然科学和社会科学的理论与方法,对哈尼梯田水资源管理的制度建设及其生态文化内涵进行解读。研究表明,哈尼族社区通过以涵养和分配为核心的水资源管理制度建设完美地解决了水资源时空分布不均这一难题,而以迁徙文化、宗教文化、习惯法以及传统知识为支柱构建的生态文化体系则是保障水资源管理制度建设和有效实施的生态文化内涵。哈尼梯田水资源管理的制度建设与生态文化理念对于应对气候变化、促进农业可持续发展以及完善我国的水资源管理制度理论体系具有重要的借鉴价值。     

南宁市湖库型饮用水源景观结构与涵养功能关系耦合优化

为探明湖库型饮用水源景观结构与涵养功能间的内在机理,优化水源涵养林功能,保护水源安全,借助遥感解译技术得到各用地类型面积并计算水源涵养功能指数,依据取水量和水源涵养量间水量平衡模式计算所需最小森林面积,应用多元数量分析方法探究水源涵养功能指数、景观格局指数、水质指标之间的耦合关系。结果表明:(1)水源地3 km缓冲区较500 m缓冲区的水源涵养功能有所下降。(2)用最小面积法优化筛选出以软阔叶林、栎林、硬阔叶林、竹林为主的岸边带森林生态系统可有效提高水源涵养功能,最大限度的满足饮用水源保护区面积、集雨区面积和涵养区面积间的数量关系。(3)水源涵养功能与景观格局、水资源、水质和污染物排放间可建立起通过显著性检验的多元回归拟合模型方程。(4)多维尺度综合分析过程可诊断出南宁市湖库型饮用水源在生态系统稳定性、水资源量和水质方面存在的生态安全与风险隐患问题,建议南宁市开展饮用水源环境综合整治、生态系统保护与修复工作。     

面向生态系统服务的森林生态系统经营:现状、挑战与展望

森林生态系统是地球陆地生态系统的主体,它具有很高的生物生产力和生物量以及丰富的生物多样性,对全球生态系统和人类经济社会发展起着至关重要和无可替代的作用。伴随着人口的不断增长和经济社会的迅猛发展,对森林资源和森林生态系统服务的需求不断高涨,而且人类对森林资源价值的认识也发生了很大程度的改变。推进森林资源可持续经营,增加森林总量、提高森林质量、增强生态功能,已成为中国林业可持续发展乃至推进中国生态文明建设和建设美丽中国的战略任务。本文全面综述了森林生态系统经营发展历程,分析了森林生态系统经营的现状和存在问题,在此基础上,提出整合基于生态系统管理与满足现代人类福祉对森林多重需求的新的森林生态系统经营理念,面向生态系统服务的森林生态系统经营理念是未来的发展趋势。森林经营发展战略表现为:1)从单纯的森林面积数量扩张,转变到提高单位面积的森林生产力和森林质量;2)从单一追求木材生产逐步转变为多目标经营,将森林林产品单一的经营目标转变为广泛的生态、经济和社会等多目标经营;3)森林经营重点从林分水平转变为森林景观的经营,强调森林景观的时空异质性和动态变化,权衡和协同多种生态系统的服务功能,倡导森林景观的多样性和连通性,提高森林与其它土地利用模式镶嵌构成的复合景观的可持续性和稳定性,增强森林生态系统对气候变化影响的适应能力;4)森林生态系统经营将从依赖传统经验的主观决策转变为信息化、数字化和智能化的决策,发展森林生态系统经营决策支持系统和森林景观恢复与空间经营规划系统。     

Community Turnover of Wood-Inhabiting Fungi across Hierarchical Spatial Scales

For efficient use of conservation resources it is important to determine how species diversity changes across spatial scales. In many poorly known species groups little is known about at which spatial scales the conservation efforts should be focused. Here we examined how the community turnover of wood-inhabiting fungi is realised at three hierarchical levels, and how much of community variation is explained by variation in resource composition and spatial proximity. The hierarchical study design consisted of management type (fixed factor), forest site (random factor, nested within management type) and study plots (randomly placed plots within each study site). To examine how species richness varied across the three hierarchical scales, randomized species accumulation curves and additive partitioning of species richness were applied. To analyse variation in wood-inhabiting species and dead wood composition at each scale, linear and Permanova modelling approaches were used. Wood-inhabiting fungal communities were dominated by rare and infrequent species. The similarity of fungal communities was higher within sites and within management categories than among sites or between the two management categories, and it decreased with increasing distance among the sampling plots and with decreasing similarity of dead wood resources. However, only a small part of community variation could be explained by these factors. The species present in managed forests were in a large extent a subset of those species present in natural forests. Our results suggest that in particular the protection of rare species requires a large total area. As managed forests have only little additional value complementing the diversity of natural forests, the conservation of natural forests is the key to ecologically effective conservation. As the dissimilarity of fungal communities increases with distance, the conserved natural forest sites should be broadly distributed in space, yet the individual conserved areas should be large enough to ensure local persistence.     

Forest protection in Central India: do differences in monitoring by state and local institutions result in diverse social and ecological impacts?

Protection of forests and wildlife outside protected areas (PAs) is necessary for the conservation of wildlife. Extension of conservation efforts outside the existing PA may result in restrictions on local forest resource use. Such situations arise due to differences in understanding of forest as a resource for communities and as a conservation space for endangered species. A clearer focus is needed on the functionality and socio-ecological outcomes of different forest management institutions to address such issues. We conducted a study in a forest landscape connecting Pench and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves (TRs) in Central India. The two main forest management institutions were the Forest Department (FD) and local communities managing forest resources. We conducted vegetation surveys and focus group discussions in 15 villages selected based on presence or absence of active protection and monitoring of forest resources by either FD or local people. We found that forests with monitoring had significantly higher tree density and vegetation species richness compared to forests without monitoring. Tree density was observed to be higher in sites monitored by villagers rather than those monitored by FD. Self-regulation and resource sharing in locally monitored forests were more acceptable to local communities. In forests monitored by the FD, local communities indicated a feeling of alienation from the forest that weakened their motivation to protect the forest and wildlife. Recognition of local community rights is essential to achieve conservation goals and reduce social conflicts outside PAs, requiring collaboration between state and local institutions.     

Salal Harvester Local Ecological Knowledge, Harvest Practices and Understory Management on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Despite growing interest in traditional and local ecological knowledge for conservation and resource management, the role of migrant resource users is largely unexplored. Challenging many assumptions about what constitutes “local knowledge,” migrant and immigrant harvesters of non-timber forest products on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington possess useful ecological knowledge of overstory–understory relationships and how forestry practices affect understory biological and commercial production. Harvesters of salal (Gaultheria shallon), a shrub used in the multi-million dollar floral greens industry, were interviewed in Mason County, Washington in 2001–2003. Interviews revealed that harvesters possess different kinds of resource management knowledge depending on whether they are experienced harvesters or more recent newcomers to the area. These differences may also correlate with differences in their harvesting practices. Understanding how resource management knowledge differs between experienced and newcomer harvesters can inform forest managers in their efforts to develop effective management and permitting policies for floral greens and other non-timber forest resources in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Tangible evidence of historic Australian indigenous savanna management

Knowledge of historic indigenous management practices in north Australian tropical savannas can benefit contemporary management by providing a long‐term ecological context. This study provides understanding of how indigenous peoples managed their resources during the period of colonization by Europeans. Traditional management practices and resource use were observed by the European explorers and missionaries, anthropologists and ethnographers who followed. The historic record shows that the savannas were managed intensively by indigenous peoples, even during the colonization era. Across the region they used fire throughout the dry seasons, which is recognized by ecologists today. Importantly, and not previously reported in the ecological literature, they constructed water wells that provided them with extended use of country into the dry seasons, built and managed fisheries to enhance and extend their food supplies, and created extensive walking paths. These findings are significant because previous ecological research has assumed implicitly that indigenous people in the region were dependent on natural waters and therefore subject to seasonal availability of water to enable them to penetrate and live in dry country, and has given scant acknowledgement of manipulation of resources. The anthropological studies were compromised by the devastating social disruptions caused by the colonizers (mostly cattle ranchers and miners) and subsequent missionaries and government administrators. Despite these disruptions, the evidence demonstrates continuity of knowledge and management practices in much of the region. This history provides contemporary ecologists and managers with evidence of consistent patterns of resource management from earlier times. The evidence also shows that indigenous people were less at the mercy of the environment than has been assumed previously. The combined evidence suggests that contemporary management should consider that traditional management practices over many thousands of years were active and ubiquitous, and continued into the present era and probably shaped the biota of the region.     

Recognition of Aboriginal rights, interests and values in river research and management: Perspectives from northern Australia

Summary Aboriginal people perceive land and water as equal components of country, and hold distinct perspectives on water relating to identity and attachment to place, environmental knowledge, resource security, and the exercise of custodial responsibilities to manage interrelated parts of customary estates. This paper documents Aboriginal perspectives from certain areas in northern Australia, defined as the region of tropical savannas stretching from Townsville to Broome, and offers a number of suggestions for improving current knowledge of Aboriginal values and Aboriginal participation rates in water and catchment management. The paper highlights the cultural significance of rivers and water in selected northern regions, and provides a preliminary outline of research and management priorities as determined by key north Australian Aboriginal land management organizations. Priorities include developing the capacity for collaborative aquatic resource management, conservation of traditional ecological knowledge, riparian resource inventories and threat assessment, as well as improved Aboriginal participation in catchment management and water policy. Although there is a strong north Australian focus to this paper, the issues raised are relevant to water and natural resource management policy throughout Australia.     

福建集体林权制度改革对生态公益林水源涵养能力变化的影响——基于723个村的实证研究

水源涵养等生态功能是生态公益林的首要功能,维护生态安全是集体林权制度改革（简称"林改"）的重要目标。为了厘清福建林改对生态公益林水源涵养能力变化的影响,以促进生态公益林质量的精准提升。运用综合蓄水能力法测算分析了福建省5县（区）723个村林改前后生态公益林水源涵养能力变化,并运用多元线性回归模型探讨了林改对生态公益林水源涵养能力变化的关键影响因素。结果表明：（1）林改后生态公益林水源涵养量普遍增加,但单位面积水源涵养能力多数下降,少数提升。（2）产权归属通过经营管护行为对单位面积水源涵养能力产生显著影响,其中,国有权属存在正向影响,集体权属与私有权属存在负向影响。（3）面积、人工林占比、防护林占比、蓄积量变动和降雨量等因素,主要通过资源结构、经营条件和外部环境对单位面积水源涵养能力产生显著影响。据此提出,在提高生态公益林数量的同时要注重提升生态公益林质量,加大政府赎买,重点挖掘幼龄人工生态林生态潜力,做好天然林和防护林保护等政策建议。     

传统生态知识的民族生态学分析框架

传统生态知识是民族生态学研究的核心范畴,国外已有多年的研究基础,国内的相关研究正是方兴未艾。通过文献查询和比较分析等方法,介绍了国外已有的传统生态知识的民族生态学分析框架的3个模型:知识-实践-信仰的三角形框架;本土经验知识-资源管理知识-社会制度知识-世界观知识的四椭圆框架;事实观察-管理体系-旧有及当下利用-伦理价值-文化特征-宇宙观的五边形框架。结合田野调查研究,提出了一个立体的传统生态知识的民族生态学分析模型,强调了传统生态知识的动态特征,将民族对于自然的被动认识和主动认知、民族人际关系规范、民族的哲学与伦理等方面所呈现出的传统生态知识进行了分类,从而为民族生态学的调查研究提供了方法上的建议。最后总结了这个立体的传统生态知识分析框架的意义,并建议在我国的生态文明建设中发展和应用民族生态学。     

林地资源变化对森林生态系统服务功能的影响——以南水北调核心水源地淅川县为例

森林生态系统是人类生存与发展的基础,其服务功能不可替代。以南水北调中线工程渠首所在地淅川县为研究区,使用2004年TM、2009年TM、2014年GF1号影像等数据,在PIC、Arcgis10.0等软件支持下,分析其2004—2014年的林地资源变化,并利用InVEST模型对森林生态系统服务功能(水源涵养、水质净化和土壤保持)进行定量评估。结果表明:(1)2004—2014年县域林地资源以有林地为主,面积增长迅速,灌木林地和苗圃地面积增长缓慢,疏林地和未成林造林地面积均呈现先增后减趋势;(2)伴随林地资源变化,森林生态系统服务功能产生相应显著变化,10年间县域水源涵养量功能减少19%,森林水质净化功能提高29%,土壤保持功能增加6%;(3)同一森林类型,其生态服务功能在不同年际之间的差异表现为平均水源涵养功能逐年下降,平均水质净化能力不断提升,平均土壤保持能力先增后减;(4)对比5种森林类型的生态服务功能,有林地的服务功能最强,其次为灌木林地和疏林地;(5)10年间县域森林生态系统的水源涵养、水质净化和土壤保持服务功能的高低与森林覆被的高低程度呈正相关,呈现出北高南低的空间分布格局;(6)科学管理森林生态系统服务的关键在于合理配置林地与其他用地的分布格局,提高林地与其它用地镶嵌构成的复合土地利用的可持续性。同时加强服务功能重要区域的保护,避免对对服务功能较差区域的破坏。此外,未来森林经营需要从单纯的森林面积扩张,转变为提高森林质量和生产力,从而加强森林生态系统对气候变化影响的适应能力。     

The microbial diversity of inland waters

The conservation and sustainable use of freshwater resources is of global importance. Microorganisms are not only the most abundant organisms in natural freshwater systems, but are also key players in ecological processes controlling water quality. Detailed knowledge of the diversity and function of microorganisms dwelling in freshwater habitats is an essential prerequisite for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Freshwater systems are inhabited by microbial communities that are indigenous to this habitat type and usually do not occur in marine systems, saline inland waters and terrestrial habitats. Despite recent advances in the characterization of the diversity of freshwater microorganisms, knowledge essential for a holistic understanding of their ecological roles is still lacking.     

Mallard resource selection trade‐offs in a heterogeneous environment during autumn and winter

Animals select resources to maximize fitness but associated costs and benefits are spatially and temporally variable. Differences in wetland management influence resource availability for ducks and mortality risk from duck hunting. The local distribution of the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is affected by this resource heterogeneity and variable risk from hunting. Regional conservation strategies primarily focus on how waterfowl distributions are affected by food resources during the nonbreeding season. To test if Mallard resource selection was related to the abundance of resources, risks, or a combination, we studied resource selection of adult female Mallards during autumn and winter. We developed a digital spatial layer for Lake St. Clair, Ontario, Canada, that classified resources important to Mallards and assigned these resources a risk level based on ownership type and presumed disturbance from hunting. We monitored 59 individuals with GPS back‐pack transmitters prior to, during, and after the hunting season and used discrete choice modeling to generate diurnal and nocturnal resource selection estimates. The model that classified available resources and presumed risk best explained Mallard resource selection strategies. Resource selection varied within and among seasons. Ducks selected for federal, state and private managed wetland complexes that provided an intermediate or relatively greater amount of refuge and foraging options than public hunting areas. Across all diel periods and seasons, there was selection for federally managed marshes and private supplemental feeding refuges that prohibited hunting. Mallard resource selection demonstrated trade‐offs related to the management of mortality risk, anthropogenic disturbances, and foraging opportunities. Understanding how waterfowl respond to heterogeneous landscapes of resources and risks can inform regional conservation strategies related to waterfowl distribution during the nonbreeding season.     

外来树种的耗水特征及其对环境水资源的影响

外来树种常被作为"先锋树种"广泛引种,在荒山造林和水土保持方面发挥了积极作用;然而,不少外来树种具有高耗水和强抗旱的水分利用特性,耗水量大、水分消耗快,若不加甄别地引种会影响甚至危害本土森林生态系统的健康。目前,部分被引种的外来树种已造成入侵;同时,在当前水资源缺乏的形势下,外来树种的引种安全问题已成为全球关注的生态环境问题。本文综述了外来树种在生态系统、整树、叶片及枝条水平的耗水特性,分析了外来树种对引种地水资源的影响。前期的研究结果显示,被引种的外来树种在生态系统及整树水平的耗水量普遍高于乡土树种,但对水资源的影响却因受控于多个因素如环境、气候、植物个体等而不尽相同;同时还显示,外来树种在叶片和枝条水平的耗水特性更多地体现了其应对环境变化的水分利用策略。研究还就提高外来树种耗水特性研究的准确性和提升外来树种危害风险的预警能力方面,提出了若干研究方向,旨在为森林管理者和政府部门平衡外来树种的经济效益和生态效应提供借鉴和指导,以期降低外来树种引种风险,增进生态安全。     

三北防护林体系建设工程区森林水源涵养格局变化研究

三北防护林体系水源涵养功能是三北地区生态环境状况的重要指示器,然而,三北防护林体系水源涵养研究仍较缺乏。动态评估三北防护林体系建设工程区(三北工程区)森林水源涵养功能及其影响因素,对科学认识、保护和调控三北防护林体系森林水源涵养,制定三北工程植被建设与保护决策具有重要意义。以三北工程区森林为研究对象,通过收集和分析相关数据,在植被分区的基础上,分析三北工程区森林水源涵养时空格局与变化特征,对比研究各区不同森林类型水源涵养功能差异,揭示各区森林水源涵养功能与地形及森林状况与质量的定量关系。结果表明:(1)三北工程区森林水源涵养功能持续增强,单位面积水源涵养量从1990年的73.92mm增加到2015年的75.14mm,空间格局呈东高西低、南高北低态势。(2)森林水源涵养功能在植被分区和森林类型间差异显著,森林植被区是三北工程区森林水源涵养的主体;针阔混交林是三北工程区水源涵养功能最强的森林类型。(3)三北工程区森林水源涵养受其地形、状况与质量的影响显著,除个别植被区外,各区森林水源涵养量随坡度、覆盖度和NPP增加而增大,随生物量增加而降低,这是区域植被适应及滥砍滥伐、毁林开垦、植被建设与保护等人为干扰共同作用的结果。因此,可通过调整与优化林分结构,调控区域森林水源涵养功能。     

Overexploitation and anthropogenic disturbances threaten the genetic diversity of an economically important neotropical palm

The Caatinga biome is one of the largest areas of the South American seasonally dry tropical forest that has been severely affected by unsustainable natural resource use. Furthermore, the biome has been identified as an ecologically sensitive region that is particularly susceptible to climate changes. One of the most economically important native palm tree for traditional communities from the semi-arid Caatinga is the carnauba palm, Copernicia prunifera, which offers diverse natural resources, yet its natural populations suffer intense exploitation. To inform conservation and population management strategies, we sought to determine if remaining natural populations of this species in an intensively exploited area in Northeast Brazil displayed evidence of negative genetic impacts because of exploitation and how this might interact with expected environmental changes. Mantel’s test revealed a positive and significant correlation between geographic and genetic distances, suggesting natural populations are structured by isolation by distance, while also experiencing genetic barriers as identified through Monmonier's algorithm. The studied populations showed evidence of genetic bottlenecks, while future climate scenarios suggest that potentially suitable habitats for C. prunifera within its native range will be reduced. Significant genetic differentiation among populations resulted in three distinct genetic groups which are consistent with ecological niche modelling. In addition to the need for in situ conservation of C. prunifera populations to minimize the loss of important alleles, the creation of germplasm banks for ex situ conservation and strategies for developing planted productive forests are urgently required to maintain natural populations and ensure sustainability resources for traditional communities.

     

Plant virtues are in the eyes of the beholders: A comparison of known palm uses among indigenous and folk communities of Southwestern Amazonia

Despite its central importance to tropical forest conservation, the understanding of patterns in traditional resource use still is incipient. To address this deficiency, we compared known palm uses among two indigenous (Yawanawd and Kaxinawá) and two folk (rubber tapper and ribeirinho) communities in Southwestern Amazonia (Acre, Brazil). We conducted one-hundred-and -forty semi-structured “checklist” interviews about palm uses with male and female adults in the four communities. The knowledge of each community about the uses of the 17 palm species common to all communities was compared by testing for significant differences in the mean number of uses cited per informant and by calculating the Jaccard similarity index of known uses of palm species among the four communities. The following three hypotheses were confirmed: 1) the use of palms differs according to the cultural preferences of each community; 2) indigenous communities know significantly more about palm uses than folk communities; and 3) part of the indigenous knowledge was acquired through contact with Amazonian folk communities.     

Mapuche perceptions and conservation of Andean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus</Emphasis> forests and their medicinal plants: a case study from a rural community in Patagonia,Argentina

In a Mapuche community situated in the sub-antarctic forest of the northwest of Argentine Patagonia, analysis was carried out on forest environmental perception and its relation to the resilience of the body of traditional botanical knowledge regarding medicinal plants. Data was obtained on the ethno-classification and differential use of the forest gathering environment with respect to its practical and cultural value. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 randomly chosen inhabitants, and the data were analysed using qualitative methods and non-parametric statistics. Most citations (64.5%) were of species gathered in Nothofagus antarctica forest, 26.2% were of species from N. pumilio forest, and 20.3% referred to species from a mixed forest, with N. dombeyi. The forests studied have low values for similarity in terms of medicinal species richness, indicating a unique offer of therapeutic resources in each one. The use of the different forest types seems to be associated with the search for therapeutic resources for specific ailments. However, the redundancy of functions of species in each forest type can offer alternative remedies, which provides plant conservation, security and the possibility of reorganisation of their traditional medicinal knowledge. This case study showed the importance of considering folk systems and the role that this knowledge has played in plant resource management and forest protection. Different forests are used and valued differentially, not only with regard to usefulness but also in symbolic-religious terms, and together they fulfil a cushioning function, protecting holistically traditional botanical knowledge, people’s health and forests. It is of great importance, therefore, that conservation policies favouring environmental heterogeneity are implemented, and that local inhabitants participate in the development of management plans.