Incorporating landscape transformation into local conservation prioritization: a case study in the Western Ghats, India

In fast-changing tropical landscapes, effective strategies for conservation must incorporate information on ecosystems and species distribution with that on landscape change. A possible methodology for conservation prioritization is developed and illustrated using a 27.5 km² tropical landscape in the Western Ghats hill chain of southern India. Vegetation types or ecosystems within the landscape are ranked based on the ecosystem services they might provide: number of endemic species harbored, species richness, contribution to carbon uptake, economic value of produce per ha and contribution to soil renewal. For a vegetation type, the weighted average of these ranks indicates its net conservation value. Weights thus provide a means of ascribing differential importance to an ecosystem service. Information on landscape change is also summarized by a matrix depicting the likelihood of transformations between vegetation types present in the landscape, projected 5 years into the future. For each transformation between two vegetation types, information on ecosystem service and dynamics is then integrated. Implications from the perspective of conservation are assessed as the product of transformation probability and the resultant gain/loss in conservation value. Strongly positive transformations are likely to result in positive impacts on conservation value, and occur without any additional conservation effort. Strongly negative transformations are likely to occur and have a strong negative impact on conservation value. Maximum conservation effort may be directed at halting or reversing these. This study thus describes a method for conservation prioritization, which integrates information on ecosystem function and services with ecosystem dynamics.     

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。     

中国陆地生态系统服务价值测量

利用遥感技术,结合生态学方法,在对生态参数遥感测量的基础上,计算了中国陆地生态系统2000年的生态服务价值.结果表明,中国陆地生态系统2000年所产生的生态服务价值为9.17×10¹²元,总体空间分布由东向西递减、由中部向东北和南部递增,与植被的地带性分布梯度基本一致;森林的平均单位面积价值最高,为18789元·hm^-2,占总生态服务价值的40.80%;其次是灌丛(13789元·hm^-2)和耕地(13054元·hm^-2),分别占总生态服务价值的10.79%和24.23%.从生态系统服务功能来看,气体调节价值的贡献率最大,占总价值的45.16%;其次是水土保持价值(28.83%)和涵养水源价值(14.44%);有机物质生产和营养物质循环的价值最小,其贡献率为11.57%.生态遥感测量方法克服了传统生态统计方法以点代面的缺点,计算结果能更加客观地反映生态系统服务价值及其空间分布,但该方法本身也存在一些不确定性,对生态系统各项服务功能及其价值的评估只是保守和粗略的估计,有待于深入研究.     

广东省森林生态系统服务功能

广东省森林生态系统的服务功能在保障了广东省的经济发展的同时带来了巨大的直接或间接经济效益。参考Costanza等人的分类方法与经济参数,采用物质量和价值量结合的评价方法,根据1999年广东省森林资源档案数据及1998年遥感数据,对广东省森林生态系统的林副产品及木材的产品价值和生态旅游、涵养水源、水土保持、净化空气、营养元素循环等5方面服务功能的总价值进行评估。结果表明,1999年广东森林系统总体服务价值达374.19亿元(以1999年人民币为基准),其中经济林提供的价值为5.93亿元,只占总值的1.58%。在12种林型中面积最大价值也最大的松林总值为101.05亿元,单位面积价值最高的是红树林为8.27万元/公顷·年。考虑到迄今对生态系统服务功能了解的局限性以及计算方法和参数的缺陷,得出的估计值应偏低于实际价值。     

The protective role of coastal marshes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Salt marshes lie between many human communities and the coast and have been presumed to protect these communities from coastal hazards by providing important ecosystem services. However, previous characterizations of these ecosystem services have typically been based on a small number of historical studies, and the consistency and extent to which marshes provide these services has not been investigated. Here, we review the current evidence for the specific processes of wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization and floodwater attenuation to determine if and under what conditions salt marshes offer these coastal protection services.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We conducted a thorough search and synthesis of the literature with reference to these processes. Seventy-five publications met our selection criteria, and we conducted meta-analyses for publications with sufficient data available for quantitative analysis. We found that combined across all studies (n = 7), salt marsh vegetation had a significant positive effect on wave attenuation as measured by reductions in wave height per unit distance across marsh vegetation. Salt marsh vegetation also had a significant positive effect on shoreline stabilization as measured by accretion, lateral erosion reduction, and marsh surface elevation change (n = 30). Salt marsh characteristics that were positively correlated to both wave attenuation and shoreline stabilization were vegetation density, biomass production, and marsh size. Although we could not find studies quantitatively evaluating floodwater attenuation within salt marshes, there are several studies noting the negative effects of wetland alteration on water quantity regulation within coastal areas.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results show that salt marshes have value for coastal hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation. Because we do not yet fully understand the magnitude of this value, we propose that decision makers employ natural systems to maximize the benefits and ecosystem services provided by salt marshes and exercise caution when making decisions that erode these services.     

海河流域森林生态系统服务功能评估

森林生态系统在流域中发挥着极其重要的生态作用,为流域发展提供着巨大的服务功能。本研究根据生态系统服务功能的内涵,建立了流域森林生态系统服务功能评价指标体系,利用市场价值法、影子工程法和生产成本法等,定量评价了海河流域森林生态系统服务功能的经济价值。结果表明：海河流域森林生态系统总价值2349.4亿元,其中直接价值358.7亿元,间接价值1990.7亿元。从不同的服务功能类型来看,其价值量大小依次为：涵养水源>固碳释氧>环境净化>提供产品>土壤保持>营养元素循环;从不同的森林类型来看,其价值量大小依次为：松柏类>灌丛>栎类>桦木类>混交林>杨树类>松杉类。但是从各种森林类型单位面积价值量来看,大小依次是：松杉类>松柏类>桦木类>混交林>栎类>杨树类>灌丛。从研究结果来看,海河流域森林生态系统服务功能价值巨大,该结果有利于加强人们对森林生态系统的认识,可以为流域生态系统管理、生态保护和生态补偿提供依据。     

Ecosystem services provided by armadillos

Awareness of the natural ecological processes provided by organisms that benefit human well‐being has significantly progressed towards the goal of making conservation a mainstream value. Identifying different services and the species that provide them is a vital first step for the management and maintenance of these so‐called ecosystem services. Herein, we specifically address the armadillos, which play key functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems, including as ecosystem engineers, predators, and vectors of invertebrates and nutrients, although these roles have often been overlooked. Armadillos can control pests, disperse seeds, and be effective sentinels of potential disease outbreaks or bioindicators of environmental contaminants. They also supply important material (meat, medicines) and non‐material (learning, inspiration) contributions all over the Americas. We identify key gaps in the understanding of ecosystem services provided by armadillos and areas for future research required to clarify their functional role in terrestrial ecosystems and the services they supply. Such information will produce powerful arguments for armadillo conservation.     

基于地质灾害敏感性的山地生态安全格局构建——以云南省玉溪市为例

区域生态安全格局构建作为景观生态学的研究热点之一,为区域可持续发展和国土生态屏障建设提供了重要途径,尤其对于灾害频发、生态脆弱的滇中地区,其能够有效规避自然灾害、促进区域生态系统和社会经济系统协调发展.本文以玉溪市为例,针对区域生态环境基底特征,选取水源涵养、固碳释氧、土壤保持和生物多样性等生态系统服务评估自然生境重要性,综合考虑单一类型生态系统服务质量和多功能性识别生态源地;并采用地质灾害敏感性修正基于地类赋值的基本阻力面,运用最小累积阻力模型识别生态廊道,从而构建玉溪市生态安全格局.结果表明: 玉溪市生态源地斑块数量为81个,占玉溪市土地总面积的38.4%,与各级自然保护区重合率达75.2%,主要分布在市域西部的山林地和东部的湖泊湿地区域;玉溪市生态廊道总长度1642.04 km,呈“一横三纵”的空间分布格局,沿河谷、断陷盆地等植被覆盖较好的区域延伸.本文针对滇中山地生态脆弱区地质灾害频发特征,构建山地生态安全格局,对于区域山地开发与生态保护能够提供决策指引.     

济南市森林生态系统服务功能的维持机制

森林作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,在维持生物多样性、固碳、水源涵养和木材供应等方面起着不可替代的作用。依据《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范》(LY/T1721—2008),以济南市12个林分类型为研究对象,对济南市森林生态系统服务功能维持机制进行研究,得出济南市年森林生态系统涵养水源、保育土壤、固碳释氧、林木积累营养物质、净化大气环境、生物多样性保护的价值为251.80亿元。其中,涵养水源、固碳释氧、生物多样性保护排在前3位;不同林分类型生态系统服务功能价值量中黑杨类和柏类占绝对优势,而泡桐、落叶松和竹林生态系统服务功能较弱;不同林龄生态系统服务功能价值量以中幼龄林为主;济南市森林生态系统服务功能的维持机制,受到森林资源面积、林龄结构、森林起源以及自然保护区建设等诸多因素的影响。     

基于生物量因子的山西省森林生态系统服务功能评估

根据森林生态系统的特征和服务功能的内涵,采用物质量和价值量相结合的评价方法,基于生物量因子和前人研究成果,定量评价了山西省森林的生态系统服务价值。结果表明:山西省1995、2000和2005年森林生态系统服务的总价值量分别为377.24×108、428.79×108和501.12×108元,服务单价分别为2.60×104、2.72×104和2.93×104元,均呈加速增加趋势;山西省10 a间增加的森林生态系统服务价值量由栎类贡献最大(39%),油松次之(17%),云杉贡献了14%。10 a间山西省森林面积约增加了18%,生态系统服务的各种物质量和价值量却增加了33%,表明山西省森林生态系统具有极为重要的服务功能。10 a间山西省单位面积森林生态系统服务的物质量和价值量约均增加了13%;各项功能的价值量依次为涵养水源>生物多样性保护>保育土壤>固碳释氧>净化大气环境>积累营养物质。如果不考虑生物量因子,山西省森林生态系统服务的物质量和价值量将比实际值明显偏高,表明生物量因子对森林生态系统服务功能具有重要影响。     

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...     

山西省森林生态系统服务功能评估

森林生态系统服务功能评估一直是国内外研究热点之一,森林不仅具有经济价值,更有巨大的生态价值。基于山西省2016年森林资源2类调查数据,根据中华人民共和国林业行业标准LY/T1721—2008《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范》,对山西省11个地市的主要植被类型生态系统服务功能进行评估。结果表明:1)2016年,山西省森林生态系统服务功能总价值为3172.64亿元,其价值量由大到小的顺序为涵养水源、净化大气环境、保育土壤、固碳释氧、生物多样性保护、林木积累营养物质、森林游憩,其中涵养水源、净化大气环境和保育土壤的价值量共占山西省森林生态系统服务功能总价值的78.98%;2)山西省各市森林生态系统服务功能价值量由大到小的顺序为吕梁市、忻州市、临汾市、晋中市、长治市、运城市、晋城市、大同市、太原市、朔州市、阳泉市,而单位面积价值量最大的是晋城市,最小的是朔州市;3)不同林分类型生态系统服务功能价值量由大到小的顺序为乔木林(油松、栎类、针阔混、阔叶混、桦木及山杨类、落叶松、杨树及软阔类、槐类、柏木、针叶混、云杉、硬阔类和竹林)、灌木林和经济林;4)不同龄组提供的生态系统服务功能价值量由大到小的顺序为中龄林、幼龄林、成过熟林、近熟林。     

基于Meta分析的中国湖沼湿地生态系统服务价值转移研究

Meta分析价值转移方法作为资源价值评估的一种有效方法,在国外已经有大量的实证研究出现,但是在国内相应的实证研究非常稀少,有关该方法在湖沼湿地生态系统服务价值评估的应用研究还尚未见报道。通过收集有关中国湖沼湿地生态系统服务价值评估的实证研究文献的价值评估结果,建立价值转移数据库,应用Meta分析和多元回归分析方法构建中国湖沼湿地生态系统服务的Meta分析价值转移模型,并对该模型用于样本外价值转移的有效性做出评估,探讨Meta分析价值转移方法在中国湖沼湿地生态系统服务价值评估领域的可应用性及发展前景。研究结果表明:(1)在样本文献中,通常洪水调蓄和水源涵养服务是湖沼湿地提供的经济价值最高的生态系统服务,而水质净化服务的经济价值最低;(2)湖沼湿地面积、生态系统服务受益人口数量、不同生态系统服务之间的价值差异以及不同价值评估方法的使用会影响湖沼湿地生态系统服务价值的变化;(3)Meta分析价值转移模型用于样本外价值转移的有效性检验结果显示,样本外价值转移的转移误差范围在0.09%—234.61%之间,平均转移误差为19.99%,在自然资源价值转移的可接受误差范围内,因此Meta分析价值转移方法是评估湿地生态系统服务价值的一种可行且快速的方法。     

森林生态系统服务价值及其补偿校准——以马尾松林为例

森林补偿资金分配与生态系统服务脱钩,是长期以来制约森林生态保护制度发挥作用的关键因素。建立森林生态保护成效与资金分配挂钩的激励约束机制,对于完善生态补偿制度、保障国家生态安全具有重要意义。以马尾松林为例,运用野外调查、实验室实验等方法,精准计量评价马尾松林的固碳、水源涵养、固土保肥、生物多样性等4种主要生态系统服务;以皮尔(R.Pearl)生长曲线为基础构建生态补偿算法,测算基于生态系统服务价值的马尾松林补偿标准。第一,马尾松林生态系统服务价值为10335.86—16358.06元hm~(-2)a~(-1),固碳价值为165.93—521.03元hm~(-2)a~(-1),水源涵养价值为5024.47—11788.30元hm~(-2)a~(-1),固土保肥价值为3597.84—6405.04元hm~(-2)a~(-1),生物多样性价值为178.57—1346.15元hm~(-2)a~(-1)。第二,固碳价值、固土保肥价值在空间上呈现出随纬度增加而减小的格局,水源涵养价值、生物多样性价值与前两者分布格局相反。植被类型、经营方式影响马尾松林生态系统服务价值,混交林生态系统服务价值大于纯林,间伐补植的马尾松林生态系统服务价值高于皆伐后营造的林分。第三,马尾松林生态系统服务补偿标准为0.15×10~3—1.43×10~3元hm~(-2)a~(-1),大小主要受生态系统服务单价影响。本研究为森林生态系统服务精确计量评价、森林生态系统服务补偿标准的确定提供科学量化的依据。     

泰山森林生态系统服务功能及其价值评估

森林在给人类带来经济效益的同时,也带来了巨大的生态效益。随着经济社会的发展,人们越来越多地关注森林的生态效益。以泰山森林生态系统为研究对象,依据林业行业标准《森林生态系统服务功能评估规范》,从涵养水源、保育土壤、林木营养物质积累、固碳制氧、保护生物多样性、净化大气环境及森林防护7个方面对泰山森林生态系统的生态服务功能进行了定量评估,得出泰山森林生态系统每年的生态服务价值量为18214.97万元,以涵养水源(10376.84万元/a)、生物多样性保护(3796万元/a)和固碳制氧(2736.38万元/a)价值为主;泰山森林生态系统中松栎林的生态服务价值相对高于其他林种的,尤其是以侧柏林为最高;从不同林龄的角度进行评估,泰山森林生态服务价值以中龄林为主,占到生态服务价值总量的35%,过熟林的生态价值总量虽然排在最后,但其单位面积的价值量最高。     

Biogeochemical Change During Climate-Driven Afforestation: A Paleoecological Perspective from the Rocky Mountains

Shifts in an ecosystem’s state can alter biogeochemical cycling and the extent of nutrient conservation within a terrestrial landscape on multiple time scales. Transient biogeochemical changes may follow disturbance and succession, although persistent long-term differences may exist under different climates and vegetation types. We evaluate the potential for such biogeochemical changes in the context of long-term ecological history by measuring the nitrogen isotope composition of organic matter in a lake sediment core. We targeted Little Windy Hill Pond (LWH) in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming because reconstructions of the lake level, fire, and vegetation histories from the lacustrine sediments indicated a century-scale transformation from an arid, shrub-dominated landscape to a sub-alpine, tree-dominated ecosystem with extensive woody cover and large, live biomass pools. We demonstrate that the afforestation at the beginning of the Holocene transformed the Artemisia-dominated ecosystem, which had persisted for millennia during the Pleistocene. The changes affected nitrogen cycling dynamics, especially through intensified nutrient conservation when live biomass pools increased with greater woody cover. The LWH sediments record a baseline δ¹⁵N shift from 2.2–3.0 to 0.3–2.0‰ as less ¹⁵N-enriched organic matter accumulated in the lake. We also observed a transient pattern of maximum nutrient conservation and minimum δ¹⁵N values as terrestrial biomass increased during the aggradation (~175 years) and transition phases of ecological succession. Our nitrogen isotope results support theoretical expectations of long-term biogeochemical dynamics as nutrient conservation increases during afforestation.     

Forest ecosystem services of changbai mountain in china

The forest ecosystem of the Changbai Mountain is the most typical upland temperate forest ecosystem in eastern Asia. It is also of the most primitive vegetation type that came into being through the natural succession of soil and vegetation following volcanic eruption. The forest ecosystem has great importance for maintaining the structures and functions of the watershed ecosystems of the Songhua River, the Yalu River and the Tumen River. We combined physical assessment method (PAM) with the value assessment method (VAM) to evaluate the forest ecosystem services of the northern slope of the, including eco-tourism, forest by-products, timber, soil and water conservation, air purification, and the recycling of nutritive elements. We also assessed the integrated forest ecosystem service and analyzed its dynamics. The service value provided by the Changbai Mountain forest ecosystem amounts up to RMB 3.38 × 10¹² yuan, of which, water conservation is 66%, water conservation and air purification together make up 80%, while the timber value is only 7%. Therefore, developing the ecosystem services besides timber is the best way to exert the integrated value of the forest ecosystem services of Changbai Mountain.     

Habitat Fragmentation Intensifies Trade-Offs between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Heathland Ecosystem in Southern England

While habitat fragmentation represents a major threat to global biodiversity, its impacts on provision of ecosystem services are largely unknown. We analysed biodiversity value and provision of multiple ecosystem services in 110 fragments of lowland heathland ecosystems in southern England, in which vegetation dynamics have been monitored for over 30 years. Decreasing fragment size was found to be associated with a decrease in biodiversity and recreational values, but an increase in relative carbon storage, aesthetic value and timber value. The trade-off between either biodiversity or recreational values with the other ecosystem services therefore became more pronounced as heathland size decreased. This was attributed to a higher rate of woody succession in smaller heathland fragments over the past three decades, and contrasting values of different successional vegetation types for biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services. These results suggest that habitat fragmentation can reduce the potential for developing “win win” solutions that contribute to biodiversity conservation while also supporting socio-economic development. Approaches to multi-purpose management of fragmented landscapes should therefore consider the potential trade-offs in ecosystem services and biodiversity associated with fragmentation, in order to make an effective contribution to sustainable development.     

Forest ecosystem services of changbai mountain in china

The forest ecosystem of the Changbai Mountain is the most typical upland temperate forest ecosystem in eastern Asia. It is also of the most primitive vegetation type that came into being through the natural succession of soil and vegetation following volcanic eruption. The forest ecosystem has great importance for maintaining the structures and functions of the watershed ecosystems of the Songhua River, the Yalu River and the Tumen River. We combined physical assessment method (RAM) with the value assessment method (VAM) to evaluate the forest ecosystem services of the northern slope of the Changbai Mountain, including eco-tourism, forest by-products, timber, soil and water conservation, air purification, and the recycling of nutritive elements. We also assessed the integrated forest ecosystem service and analyzed its dynamics. The service value provided by the Changbai Mountain forest ecosystem amounts up to RMB 3.38×1012 yuan, of which, water conservation is 66%, water conservation and air purificatio     

江西高天岩自然保护区生态系统服务功能价值评估

高天岩自然保护区位于江西省莲花县,为当地人提供了多项生态服务功能。根据高天岩自然保护区生态与社会经济系统的特征,构建其生态系统服务功能价值评估指标体系,并以2014年数据为基础,综合运用成本替代、市场价值、影子工程、造林成本、成果参数和旅行费用等定量分析方法,评估其生态系统的经济价值。结果表明:2014年,高天岩自然保护区生态系统服务总经济价值为7.20×10~8元,其中,土壤保持和固碳释氧的经济价值居前两位,分别为4.39×10~8元和1.16×10~8元,各占服务总经济价值的60.89%和16.11%。9项服务指标按评估的经济价值大小排序为:土壤保持固碳释氧产品供给生物多样性保护环境净化气候调节旅游休憩调洪蓄水社会保障。直观的经济数字反映了高天岩自然保护区生态系统对人类社会的重要贡献,一方面有利于强化管理者和公众保护高天岩自然保护区的意识,另一方面为政府制定高天岩自然保护区生态系统补偿标准提供数据支撑。