Seasonal patterns of habitat selection of the House Sparrow Passer domesticus in the urban landscape of Valencia (Spain)

The habitat selection and the factors influencing the distribution of the House Sparrow Passer domesticus in the municipality of Valencia (76 km²) were studied during the winter and breeding season. House Sparrows positively selected urban parks and gardens, patches of derelict land and horticultural fields; they avoided the built-up habitat and the orange groves. In the urban landscape, the abundance of sparrows peaked in areas providing intermediate cover of the built-up habitat; it was positively driven by the amount of park land per unit area, and negatively by the size of urban parks. Our results suggest that the conservation and habitat enhancement of even the smallest parks and gardens are likely key factors in addressing the decline of the House Sparrow in many cities.     

Bumble Bees (Bombus spp) along a Gradient of Increasing Urbanization

Background

Bumble bees and other wild bees are important pollinators of wild flowers and several cultivated crop plants, and have declined in diversity and abundance during the last decades. The main cause of the decline is believed to be habitat destruction and fragmentation associated with urbanization and agricultural intensification. Urbanization is a process that involves dramatic and persistent changes of the landscape, increasing the amount of built-up areas while decreasing the amount of green areas. However, urban green areas can also provide suitable alternative habitats for wild bees.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied bumble bees in allotment gardens, i.e. intensively managed flower rich green areas, along a gradient of urbanization from the inner city of Stockholm towards more rural (periurban) areas. Keeping habitat quality similar along the urbanization gradient allowed us to separate the effect of landscape change (e.g. proportion impervious surface) from variation in habitat quality. Bumble bee diversity (after rarefaction to 25 individuals) decreased with increasing urbanization, from around eight species on sites in more rural areas to between five and six species in urban allotment gardens. Bumble bee abundance and species composition were most affected by qualities related to the management of the allotment areas, such as local flower abundance. The variability in bumble bee visits between allotment gardens was higher in an urban than in a periurban context, particularly among small and long-tongued bumble bee species.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results suggest that allotment gardens and other urban green areas can serve as important alternatives to natural habitats for many bumble bee species, but that the surrounding urban landscape influences how many species that will be present. The higher variability in abundance of certain species in the most urban areas may indicate a weaker reliability of the ecosystem service pollination in areas strongly influenced by human activity.     

沈阳市市区和农村建设用地时空扩展分析

基于1985、1995、1997、2000和2004年的遥感影像和GIS技术,引入建设用地密度、扩展强度指数和分形维数,对1985-2004年间沈阳市市区和农村建设用地扩展的时空特征、空间分异和形态变化进行分析,并探讨了其主要驱动因素.结果表明：1985-2004年间,沈阳市市区建设用地的高密度区面积逐年增加;1997年以前,农村建设用地各级密度区面积的变化不大,1997年以后其高密度区面积逐渐增加;研究期间,市区建设用地的增加面积、扩展速度和扩展强度明显大于农村地区.市区和农村建设用地扩展的空间分异明显,高速扩展区主要集中在市区.市区建设用地分形维数值逐渐增大,总体形态日趋复杂,农村建设用地由于缺乏合理的规划建设,分形维数波动较大.经济发展、人口增长、交通、自然环境、政策导向和城市规划是沈阳市建设用地扩展的主要驱动力.     

基于夜间灯光数据的环杭州湾城市扩张及植被变化

综合运用遥感与GIS技术,基于2000、2007和2013年的DMSP/OLS夜间灯光数据和MODIS NDVI数据,利用灯光阈值提取法、植被指数分析等方法,研究环杭州湾地区城市扩张和建成区植被变化特征.结果表明: 采用最佳阈值方法,能够实现对城市地区用地信息的有效提取;环杭州湾地区城市用地整体围绕杭州湾呈“V”型模式扩展,并表现出面状、线状和点状3种扩张模式;从城市扩张速度、动态度和形态紧凑度来看,各地级市表现出较大的时空差异,但整个研究区的城市扩张速度和动态度普遍呈现降低趋势,平均城市形态紧凑度则经历了先下降后上升的过程.各城市建成区的植被状况也存在显著差异,2000—2007年,除嘉兴市建成区植被状况变差外,其余各地级市建成区植被状况均变好;2007—2013年,所有城市建成区植被状况变差;2000—2013年,城市扩张对建成区植被均产生了不利影响.     

Land abandonment as a precursor of built-up development at the sprawling periphery of former socialist cities

In former socialist countries, as cities expanded they permeated into nearby agricultural areas. The periphery then became a mosaic of built-up and agricultural patches. Due to small sizes, inconvenient shapes and scattered locations, the parcels often became unprofitable for agricultural use, and were later abandoned and frequently transformed into built-up areas. Our paper aims to assess whether agricultural land abandonment can be considered a valid precursor of built-up development. The periphery of Bucharest was chosen as the study area, and analyzed over a period of 11 years (2002–2013) based on data sets derived from aerial images. Logistic regression models were used to test whether land abandonment was a significant explanatory variable of built-up development along with other socio-economic, land use, and urban planning variables. The results showed that land abandonment has the potential to be considered a precursor of built-up development. It acts within a cause and effect framework, being influenced by ongoing economic transformations, and changes in urban regulations. Its addition as an explanatory variable in a built-up prediction model significantly increased the prediction power, which makes it a useful variable in urban land use change scenarios. The type of observed abandonment at the periphery of urban areas follows a different pathway compared to land abandonment observed in remote or rural areas. Here, land abandonment is the result of anticipated higher profits through new economic opportunities and urbanization. Monitoring of abandoned land and urban sprawl could enable local authorities to evaluate the outcomes of planning policies and economic incentives.     

Urban nectarivorous bird communities in Cape Town,South Africa,are structured by ecological generalisation and resource distribution

Biological communities are increasingly faced with novel urban habitats and their response may depend on a combination of biological and habitat traits. The response of pollinator species to urban habitats are of particular importance because all species involved in the pollination mutualism may be affected. Nectarivorous bird communities worldwide show varying tolerances to urban areas, but studies from Africa are lacking. We investigated nectarivorous bird communities in a medium‐sized South African city and asked which biological and garden traits best predict the community assembly of specialist and opportunistic nectarivorous birds. Information was collected on garden traits and the frequency of nine nectarivorous bird species for 193 gardens by means of a questionnaire. Information on biological traits of birds was obtained from published literature. Habitat generalism and tree nesting were identified as the most important biological traits influencing bird occurrence in gardens. A greater diversity of indigenous bird‐pollinated plants and the presence of sugar water feeders increased the numbers of nectar specialist birds and species richness of nectarivorous birds. While bird baths increased the species richness of nectar specialist birds, opportunistic birds’ urban adjustment was further facilitated by large vegetated areas in gardens and limited by the distance to the nearest natural habitat. In conclusion, though some biological traits and dispersal barriers seem to limit urban adjustment, a combination of natural and artificial nectar resource provisioning could facilitate this adjustment.     

西安市城乡建设用地时空扩展及驱动因素

城乡建设用地变化及驱动机制是国内外研究的热点领域,我国正处在城镇化快速发展时期,建设用地的迅速扩张已成为当前中国土地利用变化的主要特征。以5期(1975、1990、2000、2005和2010年)土地利用现状数据为基础,利用GIS空间分析技术,提取建设用地变化及空间分布信息,利用建设用地扩展指数和建设用地密度分析方法对近35年来(1975—2010年)西安市建设用地扩展的时空特征进行分析。并结合社会经济数据,对建设用地空间扩展驱动力进行分析。结果表明:西安市建设用地面积急剧增长,建筑密度不断加大,并且城乡空间差异较大。西安市建设用地扩展是多因素综合作用的结果,高程和坡度控制着建设用地的分布格局,城市沿河谷扩展。西安市城市建设应加强区域宏观规划和土地利用详细规划,切实保护秦岭北麓林草地,加强历史文化名城特色,避免低层次文化复古创修。     

不同规模城镇的扩展过程分析——以北京为例

基于遥感和地理信息系统技术,利用Landsat系列遥感图像的解译成果,分析了北京地区1984～2002年不同规模城镇的扩展过程。研究表明,（1）北京近18a来,各区县城镇规模对其扩展度具有较大的正面影响,且随着城市化的进程其影响程度日益增长。（2）北京近18a来,各区县的城镇用地的扩展强度是以城区为中心,四周辐射逐渐变慢,且对扩展度起到重要作用的是空间位置和地形条件,也就是说地形条件越趋向于平原,空间位置越接近于市中心,城镇用地扩展机会将越大。（3）北京近18a来,大部分区（县）城镇用地不断向外扩张,迅速侵占、同化周边其他土地利用类型（以农业用地、草地、其他用地为主）,原有城镇扩展迅速,城镇分布局部集中,范围也不断扩大。     

城市土地利用变化对生态系统服务的影响——以淮北市为例

城市是一类以人类活动为中心的社会-经济-自然复合生态系统.城市的快速蔓延及强烈的人类活动显著地改变了城市的土地利用结构,进而严重影响了城市生态系统服务及人居环境.通过遥感、GIS技术及生态系统服务价值评估等方法,对淮北市1987年、2000年和2007年3个时期20a间的土地利用结构及生态系统服务价值的演变进行定量评价.研究结果表明:1987-2007年间淮北市生态用地空间结构和面积发生剧烈变化,生态用地占城市面积的比例由91.45％降低至71.86％.1987-2000年,农田面积大幅度下降,而林地和水体都呈不同程度的增加趋势,建设用地面积增长迅速.2000-2007年,农田面积有所增加,林地和水体面积却明显下降,建设用地总面积虽然没有明显变化,但其聚集度显著增加.20年间,城市生态服务功能的价值呈现先增加后减少的趋势,在2000年达31.32亿元.2000-2007年,以废物处理和水源涵养功能退化最为严重.可见,城市土地利用结构的变化与生态服务功能密切相关,此结果可为淮北市景观格局优化及土地合理调控和管理提供一定的科学依据.     

1997-2006年中国城市建成区有机碳储量的估算

随着城市区域碳排放的增加,城市碳循环在全球碳循环中的地位越来越重要,而城市碳排放和碳储量的估算是城市碳循环研究的基础.本研究利用统计资料,参考国内外相关研究成果,对1997-2006年中国城市建成区有机碳储量进行估算.结果表明:1997-2006年,中国城市建成区总有机碳储量呈上升趋势,由0.13 ～0.19 Pg C(平均值为0.16 Pg C)增加到0.28 ～0.41 Pg C(平均值为0.34 Pg C);建成区有机碳密度由9.86 ～ 14.03 kg C·m-2 (平均值为11.95 kg C·m-2)增加到10.54～15.54 kg C·m-2(平均值为13.04 kg C·m-2).建成区的有机碳主要储存在土壤中,其次是建筑物和绿地,居民有机体的碳储量可忽略不计.1997和2006年,土壤、建筑物、绿地和居民有机体在总碳库中的比例分别为78％、12％、9％、1％和73％、16％、10％、1％.     

南昌地区城市建成区景观结构特征对建设用地扩张的影响

利用南昌地区 1988～ 2 0 0 0年期间的 4景城市建设用地分布图和叠图代数计算方法 ,分两个比较时段 (1988～ 1991年及1998～ 2 0 0 0年 )研究了快速城市化地区建成区景观格局特征对建设用地扩张的影响 ;重点分析了边缘非城镇像元的邻域特征、非城镇像元与最近建成区像元的距离以及建成区斑块的规模对边缘及全区非城镇像元向建设用地转化比率的影响。结果表明 ,非城镇边缘像元的邻域水平与其向建设用地转化比率之间的相互关系可以用一阶直线方程加以表述 ;非城镇像元与最近建成区像元之间的距离对转化率的影响呈幂函数关系 ,建成区斑块规模的对数与周围非城镇像元向建设用地转化比率之间的关系可以用二项式方程进行拟合。尽管两个比较时段之间的城市化程度差异明显 ,但拟合方程的类型保持一致 ,表明建成区格局特征对新增建设用地的影响是一种机制性的联系。最后探讨了将上述相关关系引入城市化景观动态模拟研究中的可能性以及在具体变量赋值过程中应当注意的有关问题。     

Characteristics of built-up land change in resource-based cities and their impact on land surface temperature—Taking Wu'an as an example

The effects of built-up land on land surface temperature (LST) and its spatial patterns remain poorly understood over resource-based cities. Using Landsat-5,8 satellite imagery of Wu'an, a resource-based city in China, from 2001, 2007, and 2015, this paper classified the land use types and calculated the percentage of built-up land (PLAND). Changes in built-up land and their effects on the distribution of LST were analyzed through statistics and regression analysis. Statistical results showed that the amount of built-up land in 2007 and 2015 increased significantly compared with 2001. The same PLAND level increased LST more in 2007 and 2015. Furthermore, PLAND = 35% split the heating effects of PLAND on LST. The LST in areas with high PLAND (PLAND >35%) was mainly impacted by the local built-up land. However, the LST in the areas with low PLAND (PLAND <35%) was mainly correlated with the built-up land of areas with high PLAND. The results of regression analysis showed that the k value (slope of the correlation analysis) in 2007 and 2015 was larger than that in 2001, indicating the local heating effects of built-up land on LST. The spatial regression analysis results revealed that there was a closer spatial correlation between PLAND and LST in 2015, and built-up land with high PLAND (PLAND >35%) would increase the LST of surrounding built-up land with low PLAND (PLAND <35%). These research results could provide more references for urban expansion in urban design and planning.     

Plant species composition in green spaces within the built-up areas of Beijing,China

Plant species composition is a critical issue in ecological research. Studies on the characteristics of plant species composition in the built-up areas, however, are hampered by a lack of basic field-based investigation. In this article, the plant species composition in the built-up areas of Beijing, China, is investigated using abundant field observations. The origin of species, chorological spectra, life forms and plant communities were determined. The characteristic species in each type of green space were determined by k-means classification, and urban plant communities were identified by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). Plant species composition in the built-up areas was further compared with that in natural mountain floras in Beijing to reveal the differences in life form composition and chorological spectra, and the coincidence of species in the two communities. A total of 618 plant species belonging to 349 genera and 103 families were identified. Our results revealed wide chorological spectra with trees dominated by deciduous species. Although native plant species were widely distributed, 53% of the plant species were aliens, among which 67% were introduced from America and other Asian countries. Furthermore, the characteristics of the plant species composition in the built-up areas are significantly different from those of the natural habitats. Our results highlight the dramatic changes in characteristics of plant species composition in the built-up area of Beijing. Several suggestions are proposed to increase the diversity of native species through the planning and management of green spaces.     

Floral visitors in urban gardens and natural areas: Diversity and interaction networks in a neotropical urban landscape

Because cities concentrate 50% of the world’s population, and are experiencing a re-emergence of urban agriculture, we investigated the influences of urban agriculture and surrounding natural areas on floral visitors (bees, wasps, butterflies and flies) and plant species in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico.Throughout the frost, dry and rainy seasons of 2015, we sampled floral visitors in nine urban gardens and nine natural areas. We found 210 floral visitor species: 78% pollinators, 18% predators, and 4% florivores. Rarefaction curves showed that natural areas harbor significantly more floral visitor species (148) than home gardens (132). However, the differences in species composition between habitats and seasons highlight the need to view natural areas and home gardens as complementary habitats with which floral visitors interact in varying ways, during successive seasons, to meet different needs. Furthermore, mean species richness of floral visitors was influenced mainly by seasonality, and increased as seasons progressed from the dry, frost season to the rainy season. Nonetheless, some taxa were influenced by both season and habitat type. Floral visitor abundance was influenced by both habitat type and season, with home gardens showing higher abundance across seasons. Moreover, interaction networks for each season were more asymmetric in natural areas than in home gardens. Urban cover in the surrounding landscape influenced in a quadratic way the species number of floral visitors, but not their abundance. Thus, our results are evidence that natural areas surrounding cities and urban agriculture contribute to floral visitor communities and their networks.     

曼谷城市扩张生态环境效应

利用1990、2000、2010和2015年4期Landsat数据和2000—2015年的MODIS NDVI数据,开展了泰国曼谷地区近25年来城市扩张分析,包括城市建设用地扩张时空变化和扩张模式分析、扩张的生态环境效应分析以及扩张驱动力分析。结果表明:(1)自1990年以来,曼谷城市建设用地面积持续增长,经历了先快后慢再快的增长过程。城市扩张主要沿东北方向,且在距离城市中心14—20km的范围内扩张最为明显,扩张模式以边缘式和填充式为主。(2)在城市化进程中,植被和热岛对城市扩张分别有不同的响应。植被绿度整体呈下降趋势,下降明显的地区位于距城市中心10—20km的范围内,即城市建设用地明显扩张的区域。热岛分布与城市建成区分布具有空间一致性,自1990s以来,热岛效应整体增强,但局部变异越来越不明显。(3)曼谷城市扩张受到自然地理条件、社会经济、城市布局等多重因素的影响。     

Spillover of trap-nesting bees and wasps in an urban–rural interface

A mismatch of resource availability in certain periods can lead to spillover of insects between habitats, resulting in temporal differences in insect diversity. Urban gardens are important anthropogenic habitats but it is unknown whether, when and why spillover of beneficial insects occurs between gardens and agricultural habitats. We used trap nests for Hymenoptera to monthly monitor bee and wasp abundance and species richness in 12 gardens and 12 rapeseed fields. Half of the gardens and rapeseed fields were located in the urban–rural interface and bordered each other (a garden paired with a rapeseed field) and the other half were isolated in the rural landscape (isolated rapeseed fields) and in the urban city centre (isolated gardens). In general, gardens in the urban–rural interface comprised the highest richness of bees and wasps. The abundance of bees but not of wasps was highest in paired habitats and peaked at full rapeseed blooming, indicating that mass-flowering rapeseed offers foraging resources for bees nesting in adjacent gardens. Thus, bees nest and increase their populations in both areas, benefiting from the mass-flowering resource in the agricultural habitat as well as the nesting resources from gardens, suggesting spillover of bees but not of wasps between paired gardens and rapeseed fields. Our study highlights the value of gardens in the urban–rural interface for the biodiversity of functionally important insects. Implementing urban gardening and small-scale agriculture in cities and suburban habitats can promote local pollinator populations and benefit adjacent croplands.     

长江中游城市群建成区绿色基础设施对PM2.5的消减效应

研究城市群建成区绿色基础设施对PM_2.5的消减效应,有助于为城市群应对气候变化采取的可持续发展战略提供理论支撑。以长江中游城市群建成区为例,基于2000—2020年建成区面积数据、土地覆盖数据以及PM_2.5数据系统分析城市群PM_2.5浓度的时空演变特征,以林地、草地、耕地、湿地、水体等5种绿色基础设施为驱动因子,采用地理探测器模型中的因子探测与交互作用探测,探索城市群建成区绿色基础设施对PM_2.5浓度的削减效应。同时,结合夜间灯光数据以及约束线方法,进一步剖析城市化水平对建成区绿色基础设施的约束效应。结果表明：(1)2000—2020年期间,长江中游城市群年均PM_2.5浓度在时序上呈现先升后降的“倒U型”趋势,在空间上呈现由西北向东南级差化递减的分异特征。(2)2000—2020年期间,长江中游城市群建成区绿色基础设施对PM_2.5存在削减效应,但历年削减率均不超过4%,其中扩张区的削减效应显著高于老城区。(3)因子探测结果表明,长江中游城市群各绿色基础设施...     

Garden Size, Householder Knowledge, and Socio-Economic Status Influence Plant and Bird Diversity at the Scale of Individual Gardens

Domestic gardens collectively cover substantial areas within cities and play an important role in supporting urban biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The extent of their contribution to urban biodiversity is ultimately determined by the attitudes, motivations, and practices of their owners. We identified variables characterizing individual householders and their properties that explained variation in perennial plant and avian species richness and plant diversity among 55 gardens in New Zealand. The size of the vegetated area was most important in explaining bird and plant diversity, independent of property size. Also important and positively associated with plant richness were socio-economic status and ability to discriminate between native and exotic species. Median housing age and neighborhood green space were less important. Contrary to expectations, better educated householders who demonstrated pro-environmental orientation (NEP) did not necessarily have gardens with greater plant diversity, however, people with higher NEP scores tended to have gardens with more structurally complex vegetation. Similar variables were important in explaining native and exotic species richness, but higher exotic plant diversity was associated with older people with smaller properties of lower value. Avian species richness increased primarily with vegetated area, but also the areas of beds and hedges. We demonstrate that although householder knowledge is an important determinant of garden biodiversity, vegetated area is most important. Promoting urban garden biodiversity requires that larger vegetated properties be supported and encouraged, and that planners should consider biodiversity when formulating policies concerning garden size, property size, and consents that may result in a progressive increase in the proportion of built over/paved areas.     

Woody plant composition and diversity of urban green spaces in Istanbul,Turkey

Abstract

The high urbanization rate of Istanbul in response to rapid population decreased the size and amount of green spaces. Thereby, every green space types are of vital importance in terms of conservation of urban biodiversity. In this study, it was aimed to compare woody species composition of main green space types consist of artificial and natural sites. Botanical gardens had the highest diversity followed by gardens. Residential areas showed to be important in terms of shrub (52%) and evergreen species (58%), which are mostly exotics (71%). The ratio of the invasive plants in the composition was higher in parks, which contain highway greenings and public gardens. Since the most tree species used in public green areas of Istanbul were mostly same with the species used in European cities, all of the green space categories having varied composition must be considered as interconnected habitat patches in urban planning.     

城市绿色基础设施生态系统服务供给与需求的空间关系——以西安市为例

城市绿色基础设施(Urban Green Infrastructure,UGI)是城市自然景观和生态环境的主要营造者,为居民提供关键的生态系统服务。探讨UGI生态系统服务供给及其需求之间的空间关系,对城市生态建设和绿地系统规划具有重要科学意义。本文运用生态系统服务测算的方法基于人口、GDP以及土地利用数据构建需求测算模型,对西安市建成区UGI的生态系统服务供给与需求的空间格局进行研究,并分析了城市各功能区内UGI生态系统服务供给与需求的空间关系。结果表明:西安市建成区UGI生态系统服务供给总价值为4.23亿元;生态系统服务供给从研究区边缘向中心区逐渐减少,而生态系统服务需求表现出相反的格局,在空间上明显不一致,并且在城市各功能区内差别显著;西安市建成区UGI生态系统服务供给与城市对生态系统服务需求在空间分布上不相匹配。因此为了实现城市的生态环境与经济社会的可持续发展,迫切需要通过合理的UGI建设使生态系统服务供需趋于协调。