基于机器学习方法的景观斑块属性对物种丰富度的影响研究

景观破碎化对物种的影响依赖于斑块属性,斑块属性体现了斑块的类型、面积、形状及其与周围斑块间关系。然而,在破碎化农业景观中这些斑块属性对关键物种的联合影响仍知之甚少。选取中国海南地区的典型农业破碎化景观,实测了180个斑块中三类关键物种,分别为害虫-橡胶材小蠹虫(Xyleborus affinis)、传粉昆虫-中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana)和天敌物种-玉米螟赤眼蜂(Trichogrammatid ostriniae Pang et Chen),刻画了各斑块属性,包括斑块类型、斑块面积、形状指数、距天然林距离、是否与橡胶接触、景观中天然林所占比例、是否有林下植物,并使用3种机器学习模型(神经网络、随机森林、支持向量机)拟合斑块属性与三类物种丰富度关系,解析斑块属性的相对重要性。结果表明,与支持向量机和神经网络相比,随机森林模型对三个物种的丰富度预测效果均最好,其R²在橡胶材小蠹虫、中华蜜蜂和赤眼蜂中分别达到0.785、0.845和0.798;基于随机森林模型的结果表明,斑块类型对橡胶材小蠹虫和中华蜜蜂丰富度相对重要性高于其他斑块属性;斑块面积对赤眼蜂丰富度影响高于其他斑块属性,且与斑块类型存在交互作用;橡胶林中橡胶材小蠹虫与中华蜜蜂丰富度高于天然林和其他斑块类型,玉米螟赤眼蜂丰富度则在天然林与农田中最高。研究揭示了斑块属性对不同物种丰富度的相对影响,阐明了斑块类型在不同物种中的重要作用,并证实了机器学习是推导斑块属性对物种影响的有效方法。     

景观连接度的概念、度量及其应用

景观连接度是指景观促进或阻碍生物体或某种生态过程在源斑块间运动的程度,反映了景观的功能特征。景观连接度理论与方法是景观评价、管理和生态规划的重要基础,对于区域可持续发展和生物多样性保护等方面的研究都具有重要指导意义。综述了国内外近10a来有关景观连接度概念、度量方法及其生态学意义的最新进展,并探讨了景观连接度与景观要素间的关系及其潜在应用前景,以期为深入开展景观空间格局与生态过程间关系的研究与应用提供参考。     

宏生态尺度上景观破碎化对物种丰富度的影响

生物多样性的地理格局及其形成机制是宏生态学与生物地理学的研究热点。大量研究表明,景观尺度上的生境破碎化对物种多样性的分布格局具有重要作用,但目前尚不清楚这种作用是否足以在宏生态尺度上对生物多样性地理格局产生显著影响。利用中国大陆鸟类和哺乳动物的物种分布数据,在100 km×100 km网格的基础上生成了这两个类群生物的物种丰富度地理格局,进一步利用普通最小二乘法模型和空间自回归模型研究了物种丰富度与气候、生境异质性、景观破碎化的相关关系。结果表明,景观破碎化因子与鸟类和哺乳动物的物种丰富度都具有显著的关联关系,其方差贡献率可达约30%—50%(非空间模型)和60%—80%(空间模型),略低于或接近于气候和生境异质性因子。方差分解结果显示,景观破碎化因子与气候和生境异质性因子的方差贡献率的重叠部分达20%—40%。相对鸟类而言,景观破碎化对哺乳动物物种丰富度的地理格局具有更高的解释率。     

南京市区景观破碎化过程中的斑块规模结构动态

基于南京市1988、1998和2003年3期TM影像,将农田、林地、居民聚居地及在建用地按斑块面积分为16个级别,研究了景观破碎化过程中,不同级别斑块数量的变化情况。结果表明,农田面积持续萎缩,破碎度上升,中小型斑块数量以较稳定速度增长;林地总面积略有波动,大中型斑块数量较为稳定,而中小型斑块受城市化进程影响,数量高度不稳定;居民聚集地在1988~1998年以在原有基础上扩张为主,在1998~2003年出现了大量新斑块,且两个时段的各级别斑块数量增长率呈极显著负相关;在建用地数量迅速增长,土地利用更加规模化。以上表明,斑块类型和大小对斑块的稳定性及变化趋势均有影响。     

基于最小费用模型的景观连接度评价

作为物种扩散的重要影响因子,景观连接度反映了景观促进或阻碍生物体在资源斑块间运动的程度,它也是区域土地可持续利用和生物保护领域的主要指标.最小费用模型起源于图论,其结合了景观中的详细地理信息和生物体的行为特征,通过费用距离分析可直观形象地描绘出物种在异质景观中的连接度,且可在GIS程序包中实现简便运算和适度的数据需求量,使其在大尺度景观连接度评价中受到广泛关注.本文结合当前的景观连接度研究,详细阐述了最小费用模型评价景观连接度的意义、原理及运算过程,并探讨了该模型应用中存在的问题,以期为进一步开展相关研究及生物多样性保护提供依据.     

基于生境斑块的滇金丝猴景观连接度分析

基于生境斑块,结合最小费用距离并运用图论法对滇金丝猴分布区进行栖息地连接度分析,研究利用猴群的现实分布结合Logistic回归模型确定了景观功能连接的最佳距离阈值,对于功能畅通的组分,以景观指数BC定量识别出作为"踏脚石"的优先保护区域;对于功能不连接的组分,绘制出最小费用路径,确定了该路径中优先恢复区域。结果表明:最佳的最小费用距离阈值为1400,该阈值下猴群主要存在于5个组分中,所有组分中猴群间的连接度优劣排序为组分3组分1组分5组分4,龙马山猴群(G15)没有"踏脚石"斑块使其与同一组分内的其他猴群相连接,应考虑优先恢复该区域的植被,研究成果对于该物种的保护和其他濒危物种的类似研究具有较强的参考价值和借鉴意义。     

漫湾库区景观破碎化对区域生境质量的影响

水利工程的建设不仅改变了库区的景观格局,还会导致区域生物生境质量的变化。以澜沧江漫湾库区为例,在综合海拔高度、植被类型和水源地距离生境因子的基础上,考虑生物扩散过程,研究了建坝前后整个库区以及典型研究小区(库首、库中、库尾、对照)的重要生境斑块空间分布变化。结果表明:漫湾水电站建成后库区的猕猴总体生境破碎化程度增加,景观连接度减少且重要生境斑块的比例也有所降低,生境质量整体下降;4个研究小区的景观格局变化情况同整个库区相一致。空间上,生境质量明显退化的地区主要分布在库区的西部和南部,尤其是库尾地区,其生境斑块数量相较于建坝前增长了9倍,而景观连接度指数下降了81.48%。回归分析结果表明景观连接度指数与占景观面积百分比指数(PLAND)呈显著正相关(R~2=0.973),与斑块数(NP)呈显著负相关(R~2=-0.611);肯德尔系数表明斑块数(NP)、最大斑块指数(LPI)、占景观百分比指数(PLAND)、相似邻近百分比指数(PLADJ)、连通度指数(CONNECT)和香农多样性指数(SHDI)7个景观格局指数与景观连接度指数均表现出显著一致性。由此看出,库区景观破碎化越严重、区域景观连接度越低生境质量退化越明显;而提高生境主要植被类型的覆盖率、保护连接度贡献大的重要斑块和建设生态廊道,可以有效恢复库区生物生境质量。     

农业景观生物多样性与害虫生态控制

现代农业的一个重要特征就是人类对农田生态系统的干扰强度及频率不断增加,严重影响农业景观的结构及其生物多样性.农业景观结构的变化及其生物多样性的丧失,必然引起生态系统服务功能的弱化,不利于实施以保护自然天敌为主的害虫生态控制.农业的集约化经营导致自然生境破碎化,减少了农业景观的复杂性,使得作物和非作物变成一种相对离散化的生境类型和镶嵌的景观格局;破碎化的生境不仅会减少某些物种的丰度,还会影响物种之间的相互关系及生物群落的多样性和稳定性.非作物生境类型如林地、灌木篱墙、田块边缘区、休耕地和草地等,是一种比较稳定的异质化环境.非作物生境较少受到干扰,可以为寄生性和捕食性节肢动物提供适宜的越冬或避难场所以及替代猎物、花粉和花蜜等资源,因此,非作物生境有利于自然天敌的栖息和繁衍,也有利于它们迁入邻近的作物生境中对害虫起到调节和控制作用.景观的格局-过程-尺度影响农田生物群落物种丰富度、多度、多样性以及害虫与天敌之间的相互作用.从区域农业景观系统的角度出发,运用景观生态学的理论和方法来研究作物、害虫、天敌等组分在不同斑块之间的转移过程和变化规律,揭示害虫在较大尺度和具有异质性的空间范围内的灾变机理,可为利用农业景观生物多样性来保护农田自然天敌,实施害虫的区域性生态控制提供新的研究思路和手段.     

黑龙江省完达山地区马鹿生境破碎化及其影响因子

应用景观生态学原理和地理信息系统技术,分析黑龙江省完达山地区马鹿生境相关因子重要性、对景观连接度进行模糊相对赋值,建立了景观连接度评价模型及景观斑块指数,研究了黑龙江省完达山地区关于马鹿生境的景观连接度水平、生境的适宜性以及景观的空间结构。结果表明:(1)在155.6km2的面积中,适宜地区的总面积仅为14.81km2,占研究地区的9.52%;次适宜地区的总面积为9.57km2,占研究地区的6.15%;一般适宜地区的总面积为130.05km2,占研究地区的83.58%;不适宜地区的总面积为1.17km2,占研究地区的0.75%;(2)研究地区马鹿各类适宜地区呈多个斑块且相互隔离,在空间分布上处于破碎状态,而且不适宜地区斑块(人为活动景观)的面积比例虽小,在生态系统中形态上的破碎化程度较小,但对马鹿的生境的生态功能的丧失起到重要作用。     

城市化背景下景观破碎化及连接度动态变化研究——以昆明市为例

城市化不仅改变景观类型和组成,也导致空间形态变化与自然生境连接度的降低,刻画不同城市化过程中人工表面、耕地与自然生境的空间关系对于研究其景观生态效应,尤其是对不同景观之间的相互作用以及结构和功能的变化具有重要意义。以云南省昆明市为研究区,分析了1990—2015年城市扩张导致的破碎化与形态变化对景观连接度的影响。利用城市破碎指数(UFI)刻画景观破碎水平,进一步基于形态学空间格局分析(MSPA)得到耕地和自然生境的七类景观形态要素(核心、岛状斑块、桥接、环岛、孔隙、边缘和支线),选取了3种边缘宽度比较边缘宽度对景观形态的影响差异,然后通过概率连接度指数(PC)和斑块重要值(dPC)评估景观连接度的变化。在4 km×4 km的网格基础上计算平均UFI和dPC,利用三维曲面分析不同变量之间的相关性。结果表明:过去25年间,昆明市人工表面不断扩大,占用大量耕地并导致景观破碎度的增加,速率呈逐年增加的趋势;MSPA结果显示,耕地表现出持续稳定的消减,自然生境景观形态类型前期变化不大,2010年后有较大幅度改变,表现出从稳定、波动到破碎的过程,不同边缘宽度下存在显著差别,边缘宽度越大则连接度变化...     

Individual dispersal,landscape connectivity and ecological networks

Connectivity is classically considered an emergent property of landscapes encapsulating individuals' flows across space. However, its operational use requires a precise understanding of why and how organisms disperse. Such movements, and hence landscape connectivity, will obviously vary according to both organism properties and landscape features. We review whether landscape connectivity estimates could gain in both precision and generality by incorporating three fundamental outcomes of dispersal theory. Firstly, dispersal is a multi‐causal process; its restriction to an ‘escape reaction’ to environmental unsuitability is an oversimplification, as dispersing individuals can leave excellent quality habitat patches or stay in poor‐quality habitats according to the relative costs and benefits of dispersal and philopatry. Secondly, species, populations and individuals do not always react similarly to those cues that trigger dispersal, which sometimes results in contrasting dispersal strategies. Finally, dispersal is a major component of fitness and is thus under strong selective pressures, which could generate rapid adaptations of dispersal strategies. Such evolutionary responses will entail spatiotemporal variation in landscape connectivity. We thus strongly recommend the use of genetic tools to: (i) assess gene flow intensity and direction among populations in a given landscape; and (ii) accurately estimate landscape features impacting gene flow, and hence landscape connectivity. Such approaches will provide the basic data for planning corridors or stepping stones aiming at (re)connecting local populations of a given species in a given landscape. This strategy is clearly species‐ and landscape‐specific. But we suggest that the ecological network in a given landscape could be designed by stacking up such linkages designed for several species living in different ecosystems. This procedure relies on the use of umbrella species that are representative of other species living in the same ecosystem.     

Measuring connectivity patterns in a macro-corridor on the south coast of Western Australia

Summary   Portions of the south coast of Western Australia are recognized as environmentally valuable because of high levels of biodiversity, but are at risk due to continued anthropogenic influences, particularly in the form of fragmentation and habitat loss. Corridors of habitat, either continuous or stepping-stone, are deemed to be valuable for the maintenance and increase of biodiversity in the region. Here we apply a series of betweenness centrality analyses to quantify the connectivity in the region. The method we describe here is an extended application of the betweenness centrality measure, which is a measure of spatial connectivity that is applied to fragmented landscapes. The method is used for significant corridors between the Stirling Ranges and the Fitzgerald River National Park to identify a series of locations that are important to the connectivity in this region and thus may provide effective locations for restoration inputs.     

Relationship between biodiversity and landscape structure in the Gyungan stream basin,central Korea

The relationship between landscape structure and biodiversity was investigated in the Gyungan stream basin, central Korea, in order to prepare a biodiversity conservation plan. The study area was divided into upstream, midstream, downstream and Gonjiam stream sub‐watersheds based on the land use pattern of each sub‐watershed. The quality of the terrestrial landscape was assessed by connectivity and percentages of deciduous broad‐leaved forest and urbanized area. The quality of the terrestrial landscape was the highest in the downstream sub‐watershed followed by Gonjiam stream, midstream and upstream sub‐watersheds. The quality of the riparian landscape assessed by percentages of the number and the area that the wetland vegetation elements occupy in the whole area showed a similar trend to that of terrestrial landscape. The diversity of all taxa including fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals and wetland vegetation except benthic macroinvertebrates was the highest downstream. The diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates was the highest in the Gonjiam stream sub‐watershed. Thus, biodiversity was shown to be the highest in the downstream sub‐watershed, followed, in order, by Gonjiam stream, midstream and upstream sub‐watersheds in proportion to landscape quality. On the other hand, the quality of the aquatic environment based on the ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate (ESB) index was the highest downstream, followed, in order, by upstream, Gonjiam stream and midstream areas. This trend is different from that of biodiversity. In order to improve landscape quality degraded by excessive land use and to increase biodiversity, we recommended a restoration plan that addresses both ecosystem and landscape.     

Habitat loss over six decades accelerates regional and local biodiversity loss via changing landscape connectance

When habitats are lost, species are lost in the region as a result of the sampling process. However, it is less clear what happens to biodiversity in the habitats that remain. Some have argued that the main influence of habitat loss on biodiversity is simply due to the total amount of habitat being reduced, while others have argued that fragmentation leads to fewer species per site because of altered spatial connectance among extant habitats. Here, we use a unique data set on invertebrate species in ponds spanning six decades of habitat loss to show that both regional and local species richness declined, indicating that species loss is compounded by habitat loss via connectivity loss, and not a result of a sampling process or changes in local environmental conditions. Overall, our work provides some of the clearest evidence to date from a longitudinal study that habitat loss translates into species loss, even within the remaining habitats.     

Common reptiles unaffected by connectivity or condition in a fragmented farming landscape

Abstract Species need to disperse at a broad range of spatial scales, the recognition of which has spawned programmes such as Wildlands and WildCountry that aim to restore large‐scale connectivity. To achieve connectivity, a first step is to understand how wildlife uses existing remnants. In this study we examine the effect of remnant isolation and condition on the reptile fauna of fragmented mallee habitats in southern Australia. In three replicate landscapes we use pitfall traps to survey reptiles in five landscape elements: Conservation Park, connected, disconnected and isolated fragments, and the agricultural matrix. Reptile species richness, abundance, abundance of snakes, skinks and the 10 most common species had no significant association with landscape elements, excluding the matrix. This was despite a substantial reduction in plant species richness in the fragments, particularly of shrubs. Only seven individual reptiles were captured in the matrix, most on one site with deep sandy soils. The farmland on clay soils appeared to be relatively impermeable for reptiles, although four species could traverse 100 m of cleared sand‐dune. The lack of an isolation effect suggests that populations in remnants are persistent, or that occasional dispersal by common reptiles maintains populations. In contrast with common species, fewer rare species were captured in remnants compared with the Conservation Park, implying that some species may be entirely excluded from the remnants. Our study suggests that the spatial configuration and condition of the fragments sustain populations of many common reptile species. Remnants will therefore be invaluable as attempts are made to restore landscape‐scale permeability. However, additional conservation effort should be made to restore plant species that have been lost from the agricultural landscape. Future research should aim to better define the suite of reptile species that may not be able to use the remnants at all.     

The Landscape Game: A learning tool demonstrating landscape design principles

Summary A board game was developed for use in workshops to demonstrate some theoretical principles underpinning conservation planning at the landscape scale. The game is based on neutral landscape models and demonstrates the effects of habitat removal and arrangement on landscape connectivity for organisms with different mobility characteristics. This paper briefly describes the ecological principles underpinning the game, the equipment required to run a game session, and the rules of the game. The game was piloted in three workshops where it was played by a total of 75 people, primarily extension personnel. It proved to be an effective learning tool that was adopted by a number of the participants for their own communication activities.