基于条件价值法评估三亚海域生态系统多样性及物种多样性的维持服务价值

基于条件价值法(CVM)开展了三亚海域海洋保护区生态系统多样性和重要海洋物种多样性的维持服务价值评估。于2014年12月通过面对面调研的形式对三亚当地城镇居民进行问卷调查,建立了支付意愿(WTP)多元线性回归方程,再将此回归模型推广到海南全省城镇居民,从而评估了三亚海域海洋保护区生态系统多样性和重要海洋物种多样性的维持服务价值;同时也对CVM研究中的相关问题如问卷设计、偏差分析和CVM的可靠性与有效性等进行了验证和探讨。研究结果表明:(1)2014年三亚海域海洋保护区生态系统多样性及重要海洋物种多样性的维持服务总价值分别为3.734亿元和4.442亿元。(2)受教育程度和家庭人均年收入等社会经济信息变量对支付意愿具有显著的影响水平,符合经济学理论。(3) CVM作为陈述偏好性价值评估方法,评估结果受偏差的影响较大。为了尽可能减小偏差,需要从问卷的设计、调查员筛选培训、调查方式和被调查者等诸多方面严格把关。(4) CVM问卷支付数额的设计较好地界定了支付意愿的范围和分布形态,支付意愿具有较高的统计效率,CVM的可靠性得到较好的验证,显示了CVM评估法在估算生态系统服务非使用价值的有效性。鉴于居民的学历和收入在短时间内很难得到提升,建议相关海洋管理部门加强对三亚海域海洋保护区和海洋生物多样性的宣传教育,增强居民对三亚海洋保护区和海洋珍稀濒危生物的认知及保护意识。     

基于选择实验的三江平原湿地生态系统服务功能价值评价及偏好异质性研究

维持与保护生态系统服务功能是实现可持续发展的基础,定量评价湿地生态系统服务功能的经济价值已成为当前生态学领域研究的前沿课题。以三江平原湿地为研究对象,应用选择实验法,选取湿地面积、生物多样性、水源涵养和自然景观等4项湿地属性,运用随机参数Logit模型(RPL)对其进行货币化评价,并结合潜在分类模型(LCM)证实并解释公众对湿地生态系统服务功能的偏好异质性。研究结果显示:湿地生态系统服务功能的价值依次为水源涵养湿地面积生物多样性自然景观。对于维持当前各项湿地生态系统服务功能的总价值为14.61亿元/a,改善价值为98.58亿元/a。此外,研究发现受访者可分为资源偏好型、景观偏好型和价格敏感型等3个潜在类别,不同类型的群体对湿地生态系统服务功能存在不同偏好;女性和更高学历的受访者更偏好于资源保护,高收入和到景区旅游次数多的受访者更偏好于景观保护,而教育和收入水平越低的受访者更倾向于选择价格较低的湿地管理方案。研究有助于湿地可持续管理政策的优化设计,为相关环境政策的制定提供理论依据。     

雷州半岛红树林鱼类群落结构及其与人类活动强度的关系

水产养殖、城镇建设等引起的土地利用变化使红树林生态系统遭受严重破坏,是红树林生物多样性面临的主要威胁之一。了解雷州半岛红树林鱼类群落结构,探究人类活动强度对鱼类群落结构的影响,对红树林鱼类资源保护至关重要。基于2021—2022年雷州半岛7片红树林共21条潮沟的鱼类数据,结合周边土地利用数据,研究鱼类群落结构及其与土地利用类型的关系。结果显示,共采集鉴定鱼类49种,隶属于8目25科,鲈形目鱼类最多,共33种占总种类数的75.5%,其中,虾虎鱼科种数最多,共15种占30.6%;食性上,主要为杂食性和肉食性鱼类,分别为53.06%和44.90%;各红树林Shannon-Wiener多样性指数在秋冬春三季的变化范围均为0—2.5,Simpson多样性指数均为0—0.9;各红树林鱼类个体数、物种数和生物量均存在显著差异(P>0.05);除秋季北潭与流沙湾的鱼类群落无显著差异(P>0.05)外,其余红树林间的鱼类群落在三个季度均有显著差异(P<0.05);人类活动强度、红树林面积和东西岸对鱼类多样性指数、个体数、物种数和生物量均有显著的主效应和交互效应(P<0.05);青...     

基于陈述性偏好法的三江平原湿地生态保护价值比较

陈述性偏好法是当前用于评估环境物品非市场价值的主要方法,包括条件价值评估法(CVM)和选择实验(CE).本文利用陈述性偏好法对三江平原湿地的生态保护价值进行评估,基于随机效用理论构建陈述性偏好方法的支付意愿评价模型,求出基于CVM与CE的三江平原湿地生态保护价值的支付意愿(WTP).结果表明: 基于CE的平均支付意愿为每年379元,不同选择属性的边际支付意愿分别是水源涵养为每年114.00元,湿地面积为每年72.55元,自然景观为每年59.55元,生物多样性为每年37.09元;CVM的平均支付意愿为每年134元.分析支付意愿的影响因素,并对受访者拒绝支付原因进行探讨.CE方法得到受访者的支付意愿显著高于CVM方法,社会经济属性中受教育程度和个人平均年收入与受访者的支付意愿呈显著正相关,而拒绝支付原因没有显著差异.CE可以进行多属性、多水平分析,求出湿地各选择属性的支付意愿,因此CE比CVM更能揭示受访者的偏好信息,其评估结果更接近于实际.     

基于CVM的太湖湿地生态功能恢复居民支付能力与支付意愿相关研究

采用意愿调查价值评估法(CVM)法定量评估湿地生态功能修复保护非使用价值,力图探讨支付能力与支付意愿的相关机理.研究结果显示:(1)支付意愿调研综合置信度为2.652,处于可信程度较高的范畴,3个调研区的集中度均呈现不规则偏正态分布,WTP中位数与平均数重现性良好,中支付区域集中度达86％,符合经济学原理,说明WTP结果可信度较高.(2)公务员、教师、律师、高薪企业工人、部分高收入农民、军人支付意愿较高,两者的相关性高达0.937以上.(3)按CVM法计算,当地居民对世行工程的平均支付意愿为户均支付19.19元/月,产生区域支付差异的原因主要在于不同区域随机被访者职业构成和收入构成存在差异.(4)在估算湿地生态功能恢复项目支付意愿时CVM法是可靠的基本方法,支付能力是支付意愿的重要制约因素,中等支付能力者支付金额最高,支付能力与支付意愿之间存在不仅仅是正相关而是复杂的关联性.     

褐马鸡非使用价值评估及影响因素

野生物种资源的价值评估是保护生物学研究的核心内容,也是物种保护、生态补偿以及TEEB行动计划的理论基础和依据。运用条件价值法(CVM)对珍稀濒危鸟类褐马鸡(Crossoptilon mantchuricum)进行非使用价值评估。研究共回收有效样本503份,其中70.97%有支付意愿,通过平均值法和中位值法估算得出我国城镇人口对褐马鸡的人均支付意愿为28.39—36.88元/a,由此得到褐马鸡的非使用价值在21.89×10~9—28.44×10~9元/a之间。通过建立Logit计量经济模型对支付意愿的影响因素进行分析,进而得到受访者对褐马鸡的了解程度、见过褐马鸡次数、受教育程度及收入水平等因素对支付意愿具有正的影响,其中了解程度的影响最大,而年龄对支付意愿具有负的影响。除此以外,评估的范围、支付意愿的单位以及总样本的设定也会直接影响物种价值评估的结果。     

黄渤海濒危水鸟栖息地动态变化研究

中国滨海湿地是东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线上候鸟重要的停歇地、繁殖地和越冬地,土地利用变化所引发的滨海湿地退化导致水鸟栖息地类别和面积发生了很大转变,影响迁徙水鸟种群数量的稳定性。然而,土地利用变化在哪些区域和多大程度上影响了迁徙水鸟的栖息地分布尚不清晰。以土地围垦典型区域黄渤海滨海湿地为研究区,以受胁濒危水鸟物种勺嘴鹬、大滨鹬、大杓鹬、小青脚鹬、黑脸琵鹭、黄嘴白鹭、遗鸥、黑嘴鸥为研究对象,结合物种分布模型MaxEnt和GIS空间分析,模拟2000、2015、2020年水鸟栖息地时空分布,探索过去20年栖息地分布的时空变化,分析水鸟种群变化趋势,识别水鸟栖息地保护优先区域,提出水鸟栖息地保护管理建议。结果显示：2000—2020年,8个水鸟物种栖息地主要分布在渤海湾、莱州湾、江苏盐城沿岸、如东-东台沿岸区域。所有物种的栖息地面积均呈不同程度的下降趋势,其中7个物种栖息地下降比例超过50%,下降的区域主要分布在渤海湾、江苏盐城沿岸、东台条子泥、小洋口沿岸,滨海湿地丧失是导致水鸟栖息地面积下降的直接因素。7个物种种群数量呈下降趋势。研究所确定的水鸟保护优先区面积达240.32 km^2...     

广州新垦红树林湿地鸟类多样性动态研究

2005年1月(冬季)、4月(春季)、7月(夏季)和10月(秋季),对广州市南沙区新垦红树林湿地区利用样带法进行了鸟类多样性动态研究。广州新垦红树林主要是以人工种植(海桑)为主,研究该湿地鸟类群落多样性,对于红树林生态恢复和物种多样性具有重要意义。在野外调查的基础上对广州新垦红树林鸟类多样性指数(Hˊ)进行了计算,结果表明:1月Hˊ=3.051;4月Hˊ=2.6314;7月Hˊ=2.6867和10月Hˊ=3.0382。该湿地鸟类多样性动态表明出明显的季节性。新垦红树林湿地是广州市鸟类重要的繁殖地和越冬地。     

城市河流生态系统服务的CVM估值及其偏差分析

城市河流具有特殊的景观生态学意义,并能提供重要的生态系统服务,其价值逐渐受到社会各界的广泛关注。以全国河道治理的样板工程——上海浦东张家浜综合整治为例,采用条件价值评估法(CVM),共回收507份有效二分式CVM调查问卷,研究了城市河流生态系统服务改善的支付意愿及其总经济价值,同时也重点对二分式CVM研究中的相关问题如问卷设计、偏差分析和CVM可靠性与有效性的计量经济学验证过程等进行了适量探讨。二分式CVM研究表明(1)张家浜生态系统服务改善的平均支付意愿为1289.08元/(a·户),张家浜作为一条城市河流在未来3a内每年为浦东新区提供的生态系统服务价值为RMB6.34亿元。这与国际上的研究结论在数量级上是接近的,但与国内研究结果相比明显较高,应与研究区域的经济水平差异有关。(2)二分式CVM问卷投标数额的设计较好地界定了支付意愿的范围和分布形态,支付意愿平均值具有较高的统计效率,问卷的设计调查过程较好地控制了CVM研究中一些常见的偏差。(3)收入、学历、捐款经历、环境态度等社会经济信息变量对支付意愿具有显著的影响水平,符合经济学理论,CVM的可靠性得到较好的验证。(4)58.10%的非张家浜沿线居民对张家浜生态系统服务的改善和保护具有正支付意愿,城市河流的非使用价值(存在价值)得到了良好体现,显示了条件价值评估法在估算生态系统服务非使用价值的有效性。     

生态旅游资源非使用价值评估——以达赉湖自然保护区为例

以达赉湖自然保护区为例,使用条件价值法对达赉湖自然保护区生态旅游资源的非使用价值进行了研究,并探讨了在虚拟情景和真实情景下被调查者支付意愿的差别。采用实地调研方式,进行支付意愿问卷调查,共发放调查问卷700份,回收有效问卷551份。同时,引入8个变量,并采用logit模型分别在虚拟和真实情景下建立各变量和支付意愿之间的关系。结果显示:(1)在真实情景下被调查者的支付意愿(47元/a)要小于虚拟情景下的支付意愿(59元/a),可见,在虚拟情景下评估结果会夸大被调查者的支付意愿。(2)达赉湖自然保护区2010年生态旅游资源非使用价值从4634×104元/a到12765×104元/a。该值仅是根据呼伦贝尔市人口来估计的支付意愿值,其总价值是有限的。但如果用全国总人口进行估计,其内在价值将成倍增加。研究表明:对于达赉湖自然保护区生态旅游资源的保护不仅从生态学角度是非常必要的,而且它对人类也具有巨大的经济价值。对其资源无序的开发既会降低达赉湖自然保护区生态系统的质量也会减少其经济价值。研究结果使得达赉湖自然保护区的开发和保护的价值对比成为可能,并为该保护区制定保护管理策略提供理论基础与科学依据。     

Characterizing mauka-to-makai connections for aquatic ecosystem conservation on Maui,Hawaiʻi

Mauka-to-makai (mountain to sea in the Hawaiian language) hydrologic connectivity – commonly referred to as ridge-to-reef – directly affects biogeochemical processes and socioecological functions across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. The supply of freshwater to estuarine and nearshore environments in a ridge-to-reef system supports the food, water, and habitats utilized by marine fauna. In addition, the ecosystem services derived from this land-to-sea connectivity support social and cultural practices (hereafter referred to as socio-cultural) including fishing, aquaculture, wetland agriculture, religious ceremonies, and recreational activities. To effectively guide island resource management, a better understanding of the linkages from ridge-to-reef across natural and social usages is critical, particularly in the context of climate change, with anticipated increasing temperature and shifting precipitation patterns. The objective of this study was to identify spatial linkages that promote multiple and diverse uses, following the ridge-to-reef concept, at an island-wide scale to identify regions of high conservation importance for aquatic resources. We selected the Island of Maui as a study representative of many Pacific islands. Diverse datasets, including agricultural lands within watersheds, wetland locations, presence of stream species, indicators of freshwater input from streams, coral cover, nearshore fish biomass, socio-cultural data such as fishpond locations, wetland taro cultivation, beach recreation use, and lastly the dynamically downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase (CMIP5) future climate projections scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 & 8.5) were used to examine the spatial linkages through hydrological connectivity from land to the sea. Zonation spatial planning software was used to prioritize areas of high management and conservation value and to help inform aquatic resources management. The resulting prioritized areas included many minimally disturbed watersheds in east Maui and western nearshore and coastal zones that are adjacent to diverse coral reefs. These results are driven by the importance of fish biomass and coral reef distribution as well as traditional wetland taro cultivation and coastal access points for recreation. These results underline the importance of examining ridge-to-reef systems for aquatic resource management and including important social and cultural values in resource management upon planning adaptation strategies for climate change. Improving our understanding of diverse natural and socio-cultural influences on habitat conditions and their values in these areas provides an opportunity to strategically plan future management and conservation actions.     

The habitat function of mangroves for terrestrial and marine fauna: A review

Mangroves are defined by the presence of trees that mainly occur in the intertidal zone, between land and sea, in the (sub) tropics. The intertidal zone is characterised by highly variable environmental factors, such as temperature, sedimentation and tidal currents. The aerial roots of mangroves partly stabilise this environment and provide a substratum on which many species of plants and animals live. Above the water, the mangrove trees and canopy provide important habitat for a wide range of species. These include birds, insects, mammals and reptiles. Below the water, the mangrove roots are overgrown by epibionts such as tunicates, sponges, algae, and bivalves. The soft substratum in the mangroves forms habitat for various infaunal and epifaunal species, while the space between roots provides shelter and food for motile fauna such as prawns, crabs and fishes. Mangrove litter is transformed into detritus, which partly supports the mangrove food web. Plankton, epiphytic algae and microphytobenthos also form an important basis for the mangrove food web. Due to the high abundance of food and shelter, and low predation pressure, mangroves form an ideal habitat for a variety of animal species, during part or all of their life cycles. As such, mangroves may function as nursery habitats for (commercially important) crab, prawn and fish species, and support offshore fish populations and fisheries. Evidence for linkages between mangroves and offshore habitats by animal migrations is still scarce, but highly needed for management and conservation purposes. Here, we firstly reviewed the habitat function of mangroves by common taxa of terrestrial and marine animals. Secondly, we reviewed the literature with regard to the degree of interlinkage between mangroves and adjacent habitats, a research area which has received increasing attention in the last decade. Finally, we reviewed current insights into the degree to which mangrove litter fuels the mangrove food web, since this has been the subject of long-standing debate.     

中国香港淡水鱼类的生物多样性与保护

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China,has an area of1095km2and is located at the edge of thenorthern tropical zone.The landscape is dominated byhills and ravines withflat landrestrictedtothe lowflood-plains and coastal regions.Inthis hilly domain,the smallrocky streams are typically fast flowing at their uplandsources,and graduallyreduceinspeed asthey wind alonghill cuttings to reach the lowlands.While streams arecommonlyfound,rivers are very limited in number.Thefewlong and meanderi…     

典型气候条件下东北地区生态系统水源涵养功能特征

东北地区是我国重要的生态功能区,其包含的典型生态系统具有独特的水源涵养功能,在防洪减灾,保障生态安全和人居安全中发挥着关键作用。以往有关水源涵养功能的研究主要是依托不同水文模型方法,从单一年份或多个年份的角度进行研究,较少考虑不同气候条件下水源涵养功能的空间分异特征。采用标准化降水蒸散发指数(Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index,SPEI)划分研究区的典型气候年份(干旱、正常和湿润);基于水量平衡法,结合SCS-CN模型以及Penman-Monteith方程对东北地区典型气候条件下生长季内的水源涵养功能进行研究。结果表明:(1)研究区水源涵养功能在不同气候条件下差异明显,三个典型气候年份生长季内的水源涵养总量分别为:干旱年(SPEI=-1.26)为2214.64亿m~3、正常年(SPEI=-0.22)为3231.49亿m~3和湿润年(SPEI=1.05)为3969.33亿m~3。(2)水源涵养功能空间变异突出,但在三种典型气候条件下呈现出一致变化,均表现为长白山地区水源涵养量最大,大小兴安岭地区次之,水源涵养量最低的地方主要出现在呼伦贝尔以西的草原地区,在东北平原的部分地区也有低值的出现,如白城、通辽、鸡西等地区,水源涵养量较一般的地方出现在东北平原大部分以农田为主的地区。(3)水源涵养功能除受气候因素的影响外,还取决于土地利用类型的变化,对于整个东北地区来讲,水源涵养总量表现为林地农田草地湿地,单位面积水源涵养量在干旱年和正常年表现为林地农田湿地草地,在湿润年份表现为林地湿地农田草地。研究结果揭示了东北地区三种典型气候条件下重要生态系统的水源涵养功能大小、空间分布特征及其主要驱动因素,可为区域生态空间规划和生态系统管理提供科学指导。     

Assessing wetland services for improved development decision-making: a case study of mangroves in coastal Bangladesh

Mangroves provide valuable ecosystem services for the wellbeing of coastal communities. Assessment and valuation of these mangroves services are increasingly advocated in development and conservation decision-making. Translating the values of services into more explicit monetary terms requires understanding of stakeholder activities, socio-economic context and local organizational structure to effectively support decision-making. Based on a survey of 100 households of three villages of Sundarban in Bangladesh, mangroves services to local communities were identified and their economic values estimated. The households perceived 18 mangroves services, of which capture fisheries, fuel energy, storm protection, habitat for fish breeding and nursery grounds and aesthetic enjoyment were ranked the most important. For provisioning services, households obtained important monetary benefits annually from capture fishery (US$ 976 per ha), fuel energy (US$ 80 per ha), honey (US$ 53 per ha) and fodder (US$ 26 per ha). The average annual willingness to pay for storm protection, erosion control and habitat for fish breeding and nursery services were estimated, respectively, as US$ 13 per ha, US$ 2 per ha and US$ 9 per ha. However, unsustainable exploitation and salinity intrusion impacted the services provided by mangroves. This study provides an important insight into the services and values of mangroves for local welfare, and thus can inform policy for protection and better use of mangrove resources.     

生态保护价值的距离衰减性——以三江平原湿地为例

应用二分式条件价值评估法对三江平原湿地生态保护价值进行定量评价。运用支付意愿函数模型构建双边界二分式CVM数据分析模型,应用生存分析中的参数回归模型建立支付意愿影响因素分析模型。建立具有距离变量及个人社会、经济属性变量的支付意愿函数,验证支付意愿具有"距离衰减性"。研究采用以面访调查为主、网上调查为辅的方式,进行支付意愿问卷调查,得出2010年三江平原湿地生态保护的人均支付意愿为134.582元/a,三江平原湿地的生态保护价值为33.412亿元/a。研究结论为政府相关政策的制定提供参考依据。     

基于C-Plan规划软件的生物多样性就地保护优先区规划——以中国东北地区为例

以中国东北地区为研究区域,根据生物多样性属性特征,选择研究区域内具有代表性的濒危物种作为指示物种,利用系统保护规划方法(Systematic Conservation Planning,SCP)和保护规划软件(C-Plan),对该区域进行了优先保护规划研究。通过计算规划单元的不可替代性值(Irreplaceability,IR),找出区域生物多样性热点地区和保护空缺地区,然后利用C-Plan规划软件对该地区进行保护优先等级划分,确定必须保护(Mandatory Reserved,MR)、协商保护(Negotiated Reserved,NR)和部分保护(PartiallyReserved,PR)3个等级保护区域的具体位置和面积,并针对保护现状提出保护规划建议。结果显示,必须保护区域的总面积占区域总面积的8.17%,主要分布于长白山核心地区和大兴安岭北部原始林区;协商保护区域占总面积的7.51%,主要分布于大兴安岭东南部和松嫩平原湿地;部分保护区域占总面积的9%。保护空缺分析结果显示,现有国家级自然保护区对生物多样性的保护存在3个明显的保护空缺,即长白山林区的龙岗山地区、老爷岭北部和张广才岭南部;大兴安岭北部原始林区、呼玛河—黑龙江流域的平原湿地和伊勒呼里山东南部山区;大兴安岭南部森林草原过渡区的东南部森林地区。结合区域内已建立的国家级自然保护区情况,利用C-Plan规划软件对不同时期建立的保护区实现保护目标的贡献率做了分析。截止2000年,已建保护区可实现预期保护目标的17.5%,通过对贡献率大小的比较确定了不同时期保护的有效程度。研究打破了传统的对称几何形状的单元划分方法,根据植被类型和自然地形地貌,采用自然多边形进行单元划分,提高了物种分布范围准确度。研究通过C-Plan规划软件的实际应用,丰富了系统保护规划研究的方法,从理论上为区域保护规划提供了科学依据,并可指导我国自然保护区管理政策的制定和中长期规划的编制。     

综合模型法评估黄河三角洲湿地景观连通性

景观连通性是区域生态系统功能完整的重要表征。连通性的评估对生态系统管理和保护规划有重要意义。综合常用的景观连通性评估模型,即最小耗费距离模型与电路理论模型,根据生态网络构建的一般范式,采取两种不同阻力面赋值方案,对黄河三角洲的湿地景观连通性进行评估,并对比分析了两种模型的基本原理、工作性能、分析尺度等。结果表明：最小耗费距离模型能够识别最优生态廊道,为景观连通性评估提供基本模式。电路理论则能扩展到潜在生态廊道和关键生态点的量化识别,能确定具有生态功能的“夹点”和障碍区的空间位置。综合两种模型,可以量化评估黄河三角洲湿地景观连通性,空间化三角洲湿地保护恢复的管理目标,即潜在廊道和关键生态节点,为区域生态系统功能评估和管理提供精准的数据支持。     

Effects of marine reserves versus nursery habitat availability on structure of reef fish communities

No-take marine fishery reserves sustain commercial stocks by acting as buffers against overexploitation and enhancing fishery catches in adjacent areas through spillover. Likewise, nursery habitats such as mangroves enhance populations of some species in adjacent habitats. However, there is lack of understanding of the magnitude of stock enhancement and the effects on community structure when both protection from fishing and access to nurseries concurrently act as drivers of fish population dynamics. In this study we test the separate as well as interactive effects of marine reserves and nursery habitat proximity on structure and abundance of coral reef fish communities. Reserves had no effect on fish community composition, while proximity to nursery habitat only had a significant effect on community structure of species that use mangroves or seagrass beds as nurseries. In terms of reef fish biomass, proximity to nursery habitat by far outweighed (biomass 249% higher than that in areas with no nursery access) the effects of protection from fishing in reserves (biomass 21% lower than non-reserve areas) for small nursery fish (≤ 25 cm total length). For large-bodied individuals of nursery species (>25 cm total length), an additive effect was present for these two factors, although fish benefited more from fishing protection (203% higher biomass) than from proximity to nurseries (139% higher). The magnitude of elevated biomass for small fish on coral reefs due to proximity to nurseries was such that nursery habitats seem able to overrule the usually positive effects on fish biomass by reef reserves. As a result, conservation of nursery habitats gains importance and more consideration should be given to the ecological processes that occur along nursery-reef boundaries that connect neighboring ecosystems.