Impacts of dam-regulated flows on channel morphology and riparian vegetation: a longitudinal analysis of Satsunai River, Japan

We examined the impacts of the Satsunai River Dam on the hydrology and development of riparian vegetation along the upper and lower reaches of the Satsunai River downstream from the dam. We estimated frequency curves of the flood discharge during the pre-dam (1976–1996) and post-dam (1997–2006) periods and simulated the flood frequency at sampling points within sites under pre-dam, post-dam and dam-removal (using the pre-dam flood discharge and post-dam cross-sections) scenarios. Changes in channel morphology and land cover were investigated by analyzing aerial photographs. Our results indicate that the 20-year flood at the upper site decreased substantially (from 599 to 271 m³/s) after dam operation, while that of the lower site decreased slightly (from 1025 to 977 m³/s). Within the upper site, the proportion of >20-year return periods increased considerably (from 31.0 to 48.6%) while the proportion of 1- to 20-year return periods decreased (from 30.5 to 8.9%) after dam operation. Flood frequency results for the dam-removal scenario were similar to those for the pre-dam period, suggesting that a return to pre-dam discharge rates would restore the pre-dam distribution of flood frequency at the upper site. Within the lower site, however, the distribution of flood frequency varied little between the pre- and post-dam scenarios, because tributary inflows between the sites mitigated the impacts of dam-regulated flows. Land cover types were associated with flood frequency at both sites. The reduced flood frequency of the upper site resulted in increased area of riparian vegetation and decreased area of active channel.     

Exploring the forms of wetland modifications and investigating the causes in lower Atreyee river floodplain area

The current study focuses on the various kinds of external and interior hydrological and morphological modifications of wetlands in the lower Atreyee river basin of India and Bangladesh. The relevant eight diverse causes were carefully investigated adopting various approaches such as consistency scaling, change detection, landscape fragmentation, and 2D floodplain modelling. As per the results, only 274.79 km² (2019) of wetland area is now available. A total of 650.04 km² of wetland area has been changed to other land uses in last 30 years and 106.97 km² of consistent wetland area has been turned into inconsistent. Reduction of the depth of water (77.09%) can be easily identified by NDWI intensity. Integrated large core wetlands have become fragmented into small patches increasing edge area ratio. Agricultural and built-up area expansions have been identified as the most important causes contributing to wetland conversion. According to the findings, 292.51 km² of wetlands have been replaced by agricultural land, with an additional 99.44 km² taken up by built-up area. Besides that, the construction of a dam across the Atreyee river has decreased maximum and average flow by 37% and 66.86%, respectively, which in turn has reduced overall flood frequency and the lateral flood extent of inundation areas (1627.3 km² or 15.97%). As a result, 231.23 km² wetland area in stress state is now left beyond the present active flood limit. Disconnection of drainage networks, groundwater-lowering, embankment of rivers, extension of infrastructure etc. are some of the other crucial causes of wetland transformation and loss. This study will undoubtedly be beneficial to decision-makers in their efforts to take a significant step towards conserving the wetland landscape, as well as to environmental preservation.     

Assess the human and environmental vulnerability for coastal hazard by using a multi-criteria decision analysis

This study provides an integrated approach using geographical information system (GIS) based on a multi-criteria approach (MCDA) to assess coastal vulnerability, resulting from human activity, population density, erosion, and climate change-induced sea level rise. A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) for erosion and floods was calculated and mapped (～24 km in length; ～400 m in width, and 11.47 km² in surface) for the lagoon barrier of Nador located on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Results suggest that 54% (～13 km) of the shoreline is moderately vulnerable, while 42% (～10 km) is highly vulnerable and only 4% (1 km) present a low vulnerability. The vulnerability map of the socio-economic activities indicates that most wetlands and forest areas 83% (～31 ha) and 50% (～440 ha) respectively, present low vulnerability. 52% percent of artificial areas (～23 ha), 73% of agricultural land (～128 ha), and 41% of natural areas (～363 ha) present moderate vulnerability. However, the level of vulnerability of the remaining artificial and agricultural areas classifies from high to very high. The north-western sector was classified as the most vulnerable area, characterized by an erosion (?0.6 m/yr to ?1.20 m/yr) for 70% of this area, while the south-eastern part shows a low to moderate vulnerability marked by an erosion (?0.1 m/yr to ?1m/yr) for 40% of this area. Coastal vulnerability maps have potential as decision tools to prepare and respond to sea level rise, and identify exposed coastal zones, as such contributing to national climate action and disaster risk reduction sustainable development goals (goals 13 and 11, respectively).     

白洋淀流域湿地连通性研究

湿地在流域防洪减灾、水资源调节、缓解环境污染、保护生物多样性和维持区域生态环境方面具有重要功能和价值。作为我国北方平原湿地系统之一,白洋淀流域湿地对于保障雄安新区的水资源安全和良好生态环境等方面具有关键性作用。了解目前白洋淀流域湿地生态系统的现状对于新区建设和未来科学规划也具有重要意义。以2017年9月欧空局提供的10米分辨率的Sentinel-2B影像为主要数据源,并结合谷歌地球高分辨率卫星影像(分辨率0.23m),通过人工目视解译和机器自动分类等多种方式,绘制了白洋淀流域最新的湿地生态系统网络分布图;在此基础上,利用地理信息系统分析了白洋淀流域湿地的连通性(包括水文连通性和景观连通性)。结果显示:(1)2017年白洋淀流域湿地面积为4596.6km~2,包括沼泽、洪泛区、沟渠、湖泊、河流,主要分布在坡度为0°至2°,海拔在100m以下的平坦地区;而流域内非湿地面积约86%,以耕地和林地为主。(2)2017年白洋淀流域河道长度为2440km,面积为514 km~2,其中山区河道177 km~2,平原河道337 km~2。河道内耕地面积比例达27%,建设用地比例约为8%,河道占用明显。河道两侧1km、2km和3km距离范围内耕地比例分别占61.77%、62.53%、62.63%。随着距离的扩大,湿地面积减少,非湿地面积增加。(3)由于人类活动的直接和间接影响,河道的水文连通性下降,与河道没有受到干扰时的连通性水平相比,减少了三分之一。(4)从景观格局指数SPLIT和DIVISION指示的流域湿地连通性看,景观级别上流域内自然湿地的景观连通性最差,人工湿地次之。在类型级别上沼泽类型的连通性最差,河流、沟渠与洪泛区湿地类型的连通性较好,湖泊的景观连通性最好。为保障白洋淀流域水安全,以流域湿地网络为整体,恢复和增强流域湿地网络连通性,将有效提高雄安新区水资源安全和生态环境保护的能力。     

Identifying nascent wetland forest conversion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Wetlands cover large areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, their extent and distribution have not been accurately mapped. While wetland forests remain largely undisturbed, increasing threats by anthropogenic activities have been observed in areas with high population density per arable or exploitable land. The scarcity of terra firma forests in some territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has forced local communities to develop cropping methods that allow for cultivation in periodically flooded areas. Assessing wetlands extent and status is critical for long term conservation of these highly vulnerable ecosystems. In this study, we use multi-source and multi-resolution optical and radar remotely sensed data and elevation derived indices to map the wetlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Results showed that wetlands are a significant part of the landscape in the country, covering an estimated 440,000 km² or 19.2 % of the total country area. By combining the wetlands map with a previously produced land cover depiction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a map including forested wetlands as a thematic class was derived. We investigated whether high terra firma population density and low percent remaining terra firma forest are related at the lowest administrative level (Sector); specifically, we tested these two variables as predictors of wetland forest cover loss. A polynomial regression relating population and primary terra firma forest to wetland forest cover loss yielded an r ² of 0.76, illustrating a nascent and significant land cover change dynamic. Areas most at risk for future wetland forest loss lie in the western Cuvette, and include (north–south) the Sud-Ubangi, Mongala, Equateur and Mai-Ndombe Districts. By quantifying available upland forest resources and overlaying with population density, it was possible to identify stressed areas inside of the forest domain (traditionally known for having generically high levels of forest resources). Results illustrate the need for addressing issues of wetland forest management and protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially where increasing populations are exhausting primary terra firma forest resources.     

国土空间生态修复与保护空间识别——以北京市为例

构建国土空间修复与保护识别体系可以有效实现区域生态系统修复与保护,然而,当前国土空间生态修复与保护研究和规划缺乏从系统性和完整性的角度识别关键生态修复与保护区。因此构建了系统的生态修复与保护空间识别方法,以实现区域协调发展、保障区域生态安全。基于该方法,以北京市为例,通过评估生态系统服务、生态系统质量和生态问题,构建生态修复与保护空间格局。研究结果表明：(1) 2000—2015年生态系统服务和质量退化区主要集中在平原区和密云水库北部,面积为760.4 km~2;生态系统质量低下区主要分布在西南部山区和东北部山区,面积为4925 km~2;水土流失问题区零星分布在山区,面积为130.1 km~2;基于以上三者的北京生态修复建议区总面积5606 km~2。(2)建议北京生态保护区6391 km~2,主要分布在北部山区和西南部山区,保护了79.63%的水源涵养功能,74.97%的土壤保持功能,58.79%的洪水调蓄功能和60.3%的自然栖息地。本研究构建的生态修复与保护空间识别方法体系,为北京生态修复和保护规划与生态安全格局构建提供科学依据,还可以为其他地区的生态修复与保护规划提供参考。     

Analysis of multi-decadal wetland changes,and cumulative impact of multiple storms 1984 to 2017

Land-cover classification analysis using Landsat satellite imagery acquired between 1984 and 2017 quantified short- (post-Hurricane Sandy) and long-term wetland-change trends along the Maryland and Virginia coasts between Metompkin Bay, VA and Ocean City, MD. Although there are limited options for upland migration of wetlands in the study area, regression analysis showed that wetland area increased slightly between 1984 and 2011, indicating that marsh aggradation rates were sufficient to maintain wetland elevation relative to mean sea level. Following Hurricane Irene (August 2011), the Halloween Nor’Easter (October 2011), and Hurricane Sandy (October 2012), wetland area decreased by more than 7 km² compared with average pre-storm extents. We assume that Hurricane Sandy had the greatest impact due to the size and intensity of the storm. However, the cumulative effects of multiple storms within a short time period likely contributed to the greater observed losses in coastal wetlands relative to earlier periods. Five years after Hurricane Sandy, wetland area had not significantly recovered, but more time may be necessary to assess if the observed wetland losses will persist or if new growth within flooded marsh areas will be sufficient for the wetlands to recover to pre-storm extents. Comparisons of long-term and storm-driven wetland changes can lead to improved accuracy of habitat vulnerability models and greater understanding of potential impacts of future storms and SLR to coastal wetlands.     

黄河三角洲自然保护区湿地植被生物量空间分布及其影响因素

以黄河三角洲自然保护区为研究区域,以野外实测湿地植被地上生物量数据、Landsat-8影像数据和土壤各因子检测数据为数据源,通过分析各遥感因子与实测植被生物量的相关关系,建立生物量模型,进行生物量的定量反演。通过研究生物量与土壤、水环境因子的关系,筛选影响生物量的关键因子,进而分析生物量的空间分布规律。结果表明:湿地植被地上生物量的干重与各遥感因子的相关性较高;以NDVI、EVI、MSAVI、DVI、RVI、Band1、Band2、Band3、Band4、Band6共10个因子作为自变量建立的反演模型最优;反演计算的生物量干重分为5个等级区,最低的1级区和最高的5级区面积较小,为82.23、72.16 km2,分别占研究区湿地植被总面积的13.35%、11.71%。生物量干重适中的2、3、4级区所占面积较大,为211.99、136.39、113.29 km2,分别占研究区湿地植被总面积的34.41%、22.14%、18.39%;在各环境因子中水深对芦苇生物量干重影响最大,土壤含水率对碱蓬生物量干重影响最大,水、盐条件是导致优势种植被生物量干重出现空间分异的主导因素;植被生物量干重呈现由陆向海减小,由黄河河道两岸向外递减的趋势。     

Impact of climate variability on the hydrology of the Sudd wetland: signals derived from long term (1900–2000) water balance computations

The Sudd wetland is a huge swampy area (30,000–40,000 km²), with vegetation composed mainly of papyrus, water hyacinth and grasslands. It is located in South Sudan, and is of vital importance for livelihoods, ecosystem services and water resources. Half of the White Nile flow evaporates when passing through the Sudd (~16,000 10⁶ m³/year). Historically, this phenomenon triggered several water conservation projects in the Nile region (the Jonglei Canal Project). However, the available information on the hydrology of the Sudd is very limited, and mostly outdated. This paper investigates the long term dynamics of the Sudd hydroclimatology (water balance components), and how it affects the wetland areal extent. The water balance results show that the extent of the Sudd wetland area is determined both by the regional climate (outflow from Lake Victoria) and the local climate, represented by precipitation and evaporation over the wetland itself. The long term trends of the Sudd hydrology from 1900 to 2000 have been analyzed with the Mann–Kendall test statistics. The water flows into and out of the Sudd demonstrate a statistically significant increasing trends during the last 100 years. This can be attributed to increasing rainfall over Lake Victoria in the early 1960s. The daily maximum and minimum temperature in the Sudd shows an increasing trend of 0.6 and 1.5 °C, respectively, over the last 100 years. However, this has not caused any change of the wetland actual evaporation (open water evaporation plus plant transpiration). The impact of the temperature rise has likely been compensated by a reduction of the relative humidity and solar radiation over the wetland. The statistical test shows that both relative humidity and solar radiation (sunshine hours) has significantly decreased, each reduced by 10 % over the last 50 year. The precipitation over the Sudd showed no significant change during the last 100 years. On the other hand, the areal extent of the Sudd wetland increased by 19,000 km² (80 %) during the last 100 years, as a result of the increased inflows. The long term variability of the Sudd areal extent provides new results and deeper insights of the two-way land surface climate feedbacks, and informs wetland conservation and water resources management for this important tropical wetland.     

西南山区生态保护红线划定方法优化—基于生态地质环境脆弱性评估

生态系统服务功能重要性评估及生态环境敏感性评估是划定生态保护红线的基本方法。以生态系统敏感性及服务功能为核心的红线划定指标体系,未能准确反映山地复杂地质环境对生态环境的影响,使得生态红线划定缺乏地质-地理过程的支撑。以地质环境与地理环境互馈为基础,构建西南山区生态地质环境脆弱性评估指标体系,以我国典型山区四川省为研究区,通过将脆弱性格局与基本方法划定的生态保护红线叠置分析,提出了基于"生态地质环境共同体"理念的山区生态保护红线划定优化方法。结果表明：生态保护红线与脆弱性评估格局基本一致,面积有差异;生态保护红线划定方法充分刻画生态系统保护格局,脆弱性格局更好反映国土空间开发保护状况,山区地质与地理过程是塑造生态红线分布格局的关键影响因素,基于生态地质环境脆弱性评估视角的2种优化方案,集中、全面反映生态系统优先保护及国土空间开发保护格局,但应合理预留人类聚居空间及生产空间。     

Marsh wetland degradation risk assessment and change analysis: A case study in the Zoige Plateau,China

Wetlands play an important role in regional development and environmental protection. Under the impact of natural and artificial factors, the plateau wetlands have degenerated and even disappeared, resulting in serious problems for society and the ecological environment. It is necessary to establish a reasonable risk assessment method to evaluate the risk of wetland degradation, and then to analyze changes in the range and features of risk. For this work, the Zogie Plateau wetland was selected as the study area. For this site, a wetland degradation risk assessment method was established based on the conceptual model of Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). The method included nine indicators used to analyze the wetland hazard index, wetland vulnerability index, and wetland degradation risk synthetically. From the spatial-temporal pattern, the wetland degradation risk was analyzed using data from 2000 to 2014. The calculated results revealed the following: (1) from 2000 to 2014, the wetland hazard index (WHI) showed a trend of increase, the value of which increased from 0.29 to 0.42, with a growth rate of 44.83%. Similarly, the wetland vulnerability index (WVI) significantly increased from 0.30 to 0.54, with a growth rate of 80%. Over the same time, the total wetland area decreased from 3910.25 km² to 2777.38 km², a reduction of 28.97%. (2) Using the equidistant method, the risk value was divided into three risk grades. The wetland degradation risk in the whole region is increasing, and the risk rank has changed from the low risk zone (0.092) to the medium risk zone (0.25). The degradation risk becomes greater with distance from the center to fringe areas.     

Indonesia’s blue carbon: a globally significant and vulnerable sink for seagrass and mangrove carbon

The global significance of carbon storage in Indonesia’s coastal wetlands was assessed based on published and unpublished measurements of the organic carbon content of living seagrass and mangrove biomass and soil pools. For seagrasses, median above- and below-ground biomass was 0.29 and 1.13 Mg C ha^?1 respectively; the median soil pool was 118.1 Mg C ha^?1. Combining plant biomass and soil, median carbon storage in an Indonesian seagrass meadow is 119.5 Mg C ha^?1. Extrapolated to the estimated total seagrass area of 30,000 km², the national storage value is 368.5 Tg C. For mangroves, median above- and below-ground biomass was 159.1 and 16.7 Mg C ha^?1, respectively; the median soil pool was 774.7 Mg C ha^?1. The median carbon storage in an Indonesian mangrove forest is 950.5 Mg C ha^?1. Extrapolated to the total estimated mangrove area of 31,894 km², the national storage value is 3.0 Pg C, a likely underestimate if these habitats sequester carbon at soil depths >1 m and/or sequester inorganic carbon. Together, Indonesia’s seagrasses and mangroves conservatively account for 3.4 Pg C, roughly 17 % of the world’s blue carbon reservoir. Continued degradation and destruction of these wetlands has important consequences for CO₂ emissions and dissolved carbon exchange with adjacent coastal waters. We estimate that roughly 29,040 Gg CO₂ (eq.) is returned annually to the atmosphere–ocean pool. This amount is equivalent to about 3.2 % of Indonesia’s annual emissions associated with forest and peat land conversion. These results highlight the urgent need for blue carbon and REDD+ projects as a means to stem the decline in wetland area and to mitigate the release of a significant fraction of the world’s coastal carbon stores.     

A Hybrid Wetland Map for China: A Synergistic Approach Using Census and Spatially Explicit Datasets

Wetlands play important ecological, economic, and cultural roles in societies around the world. However, wetland degradation has become a serious ecological issue, raising the global sustainability concern. An accurate wetland map is essential for wetland management. Here we used a fuzzy method to create a hybrid wetland map for China through the combination of five existing wetlands datasets, including four spatially explicit wetland distribution data and one wetland census. Our results show the total wetland area is 384,864 km², 4.08% of China’s national surface area. The hybrid wetland map also shows spatial distribution of wetlands with a spatial resolution of 1 km. The reliability of the map is demonstrated by comparing it with spatially explicit datasets on lakes and reservoirs. The hybrid wetland map is by far the first wetland mapping that is consistent with the statistical data at the national and provincial levels in China. It provides a benchmark map for research on wetland protection and management. The method presented here is applicable for not only wetland mapping but also for other thematic mapping in China and beyond.     

Ranging behavior of Mahale chimpanzees: a 16 year study

We have analyzed the ranging patterns of the Mimikire group (M group) of chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. During 16 years, the chimpanzees moved over a total area of 25.2 or 27.4 km², as estimated by the grid-cell or minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, respectively. Annually, the M group used an average of 18.4 km², or approximately 70 %, of the total home-range area. The chimpanzees had used 80 % of their total home range after 5 years and 95 % after 11 years. M group chimpanzees were observed more than half of the time in areas that composed only 15 % of their total home range. Thus, they typically moved over limited areas, visiting other parts of their range only occasionally. On average, the chimpanzees used 7.6 km² (in MCP) per month. Mean monthly range size was smallest at the end of the rainy season and largest at the end of the dry season, but there was much variability from year to year. The chimpanzees used many of the same areas every year when Saba comorensis fruits were abundant between August and January. In contrast, the chimpanzees used several different areas of their range in June. Here range overlap between years was relatively small. Over the 16 years of the study we found that the M group reduced their use of the northern part of their range and increased their frequency of visits to the eastern mountainous side of their home range. Changes in home-range size correlated positively with the number of adult females but not with the number of adult males. This finding does not support a prediction of the male-defended territory model proposed for some East African chimpanzee unit-groups.     

Analysis of land cover and landscape change patterns in Ebinur Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve,China from 1972 to 2013

For effective monitoring and protection, researchers need to analyze the trends and causes of landscape pattern change in wetlands. The present study used Geographic Information System and remote sensing technology to analyze temporal and spatial dynamics of landscape pattern and related driving forces in the Ebinur Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve (ELWNNR) in China. We used Landsat images from 1972, 1998, 2007 and 2013, and classified the landscape into six types of land cover: water body, wetland, vegetation, salinized land, desert, and other objects (i.e., Gobi and Mountain). Landscape transition matrices and change pattern analysis were used understand wetland dynamics. Our results showed that land cover had changed dramatically during 1972–2013. The spatial extent of much of the wetland areas in the ELWNNR had reduced gradually from 1972 to 2007, and wetland loss occurred more rapidly after 2007. From 1972 to 2013, 415.8 km² of wetland area had been lost and only 250.1 km² wetland area had expanded, which represents a 22% decrease in wetland area in the ELWNNR. At the same time, the landscape pattern experienced diverse changes in the Nature Reserve. The high-density human population of the region has an intensive effect on the region. Wetlands in the nature reserve have also changed with recent rapid development in the region. This study may provide scientific information for developing effective and sustainable conservation plans for the ELWNNR.     

Assessing vulnerability of giant pandas to climate change in the Qinling Mountains of China

Climate change might pose an additional threat to the already vulnerable giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Effective conservation efforts require projections of vulnerability of the giant panda in facing climate change and proactive strategies to reduce emerging climate‐related threats. We used the maximum entropy model to assess the vulnerability of giant panda to climate change in the Qinling Mountains of China. The results of modeling included the following findings: (1) the area of suitable habitat for giant pandas was projected to decrease by 281 km² from climate change by the 2050s; (2) the mean elevation of suitable habitat of giant panda was predicted to shift 30 m higher due to climate change over this period; (3) the network of nature reserves protect 61.73% of current suitable habitat for the species, and 59.23% of future suitable habitat; (4) current suitable habitat mainly located in Chenggu, Taibai, and Yangxian counties (with a total area of 987 km²) was predicted to be vulnerable. Assessing the vulnerability of giant panda provided adaptive strategies for conservation programs and national park construction. We proposed adaptation strategies to ameliorate the predicted impacts of climate change on giant panda, including establishing and adjusting reserves, establishing habitat corridors, improving adaptive capacity to climate change, and strengthening monitoring of giant panda.     

Evaluation of ecosystem health for the coastal wetlands at the Yangtze Estuary, Shanghai

Despite the growing awareness of the important ecological functions and values provided by coastal and estuarine wetlands, wetland degradation continues worldwide due to increasing anthropogenic disturbances. Chongming Dongtan wetlands, adjacent to Shanghai, the largest city and industrial and trading port in China in rapid urban expansion and socioeconomic development are currently threatened with biodiversity reduction, wetland loss, contamination, and invasion of exotic plant. Sustainable protection and management of Dongtan Nature Reserve necessitate research to develop diagnostic tools and indicators for a comprehensive and objective assessment of wetland ecosystem health condition. Based on the pressure-state-response framework and ecological and environmental surveys at the Dongtan wetlands, an indicator system was established for evaluating the coastal wetlands ecosystem health, using indicators detected from satellite imagery and current field surveys. Through the establishment of health assessment units and spatial quantification of the indicators, the spatial clustering analysis, integrated with remote sensing and geographic information system technique was applied to make an accurate diagnosis of ecosystem health for Chongming Dongtan wetlands and highlight the areas in subhealthy and unhealthy condition and urgent need of conservation and management. The results from this research indicated that the ecosystem health condition at the Dongtan wetlands showed spatial variation, to a certain extent, corresponding to the distributions of elevation and land cover types. More than 75 % of the total study area was at a relatively healthy level, with 34.19 km² for the very healthy zone and 41.08 km² for the healthy zone, while the subhealthy and unhealthy zones covered 18.23 and 4.76 km², respectively. This study demonstrated the potential for this integrated approach to give objective and effective evaluation of ecosystem health for the dynamic coastal and estuarine wetlands and provide up-to-date information to assist with early warning for ecological security and management decisions for Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve.     

Peat carbon stocks in the southern Mackenzie River Basin: uncertainties revealed in a high-resolution case study

The organic carbon (C) stocks contained in peat were estimated for a wetland‐rich boreal region of the Mackenzie River Basin, Canada, using high‐resolution wetland map data, available peat C characteristic and peat depth datasets, and geostatistics. Peatlands cover 32% of the 25 119 km² study area, and consist mainly of surface‐ and/or groundwater‐fed treed peatlands. The thickness of peat deposits measured at 203 sites was 2.5 m on average but as deep as 6 m, and highly variable between sites. Peat depths showed little relationship with terrain data within 1 and 5 km, but were spatially autocorrelated, and were generalized using ordinary kriging. Polygon‐scale calculations and Monte Carlo simulations yielded a total peat C stock of 982–1025 × 10¹² g C that varied in C mass per unit area between 53 and 165 kg m^?2. This geostatistical approach showed as much as 10% more peat C than calculations using mean depths. We compared this estimate with an overlapping 7868 km² portion of an independent peat C stock estimate for western Canada, which revealed similar values for total peatland area, total C stock, and total peat C mass per unit area. However, agreement was poor within ～875 km² grids owing to inconsistencies in peatland cover and little relationship in peat depth between estimates. The greatest disagreement in mean peat C mass per unit area occurred in grids with the largest peatland cover, owing to the spatial coincidence of large cover and deep peat in our high‐resolution assessment. We conclude that total peat C stock estimates in the southern Mackenzie Basin and perhaps in boreal western Canada are likely of reasonable accuracy. However, owing to uncertainties particularly in peat depth, the quality of information regarding the location of these large stocks at scales as wide as several hundreds of square kilometers is presently much more limited.     

松嫩平原苍鹭秋季栖息地选择及适宜性分布

苍鹭（Ardea cinerea）是松嫩平原湿地的常见鸟种,松嫩平原也是苍鹭重要的栖息地。为了了解苍鹭潜在栖息地的适宜性分布,利用GPS/GSM卫星跟踪技术,结合遥感影像和地理信息系统,应用Maxent模型对松嫩平原苍鹭秋季潜在的栖息地进行了评价,并对其适宜性分布进行了分析。结果显示：水源距离和绿度指数是影响松嫩平原苍鹭秋季栖息地适宜性的重要环境变量;松嫩平原内苍鹭适宜栖息地面积为2761.06 km²（占研究区域的1.24%）,主要分布在大庆（756.86 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的27.41%）、白城（537.14 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的19.45%）、齐齐哈尔（439.43 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的15.92%）等地市行政区,以大庆市杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县（429.90 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的15.57%）、白城市镇赉县（334.92 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的12.13%）、大庆市肇源县（185.54 km²,占适宜栖息地面积的6.72%）等县级行政区为主;其中,15.79%的适宜栖息地依次受到莫莫格保护区（10.34%）、扎龙保护区（3.47%）、向海保护区（0.67%）、查干湖保护区（0.54%）、大布苏保护区（0.41%）、乌裕尔河保护区（0.36%）等国家级自然保护区的保护。建议对未受到保护的零星小面积栖息地给与更多关注。     

盘锦湿地净初级生产力时空分布特征

主要采用中巴地球资源卫星(CBERS)、合成孔径雷达(SAR)和数字高程模型(DEM)数据,通过主成分变换融合算法、分类回归树CART算法和混合像元分解模型结合神经网络算法,进行了盘锦湿地土地覆盖类型分类。充分考虑湿地生态系统的典型特征,将盐分胁迫因子作为估算湿地耐盐植被净初级生产力(NPP)的环境影响因子之一,构建了基于光能利用率和遥感数据的湿地植被净初级生产力模型。分析了盘锦湿地植被NPP的时空分布特征,并研究了盘锦湿地植被NPP对气温和降水的响应特征。结果表明:2009年盘锦市植被净初级生产力介于0—1175 gC·m-·2a-1之间,平均值为553 gC·m-·2a-1。盘锦市植被NPP空间分布规律呈东北向西南逐渐递增的趋势。在湿地植被分类类型中,芦苇的单位面积平均NPP最高,达到1016 gC·m-·2a-1。2004—2009年盘锦植被单位面积平均NPP值在缓慢上升,湿地已呈现缓慢恢复的趋势。总体上气温对盘锦湿地主要植被类型芦苇月平均NPP的影响要强于降水。2004—2009年降水对盘锦地区植被年平均NPP的影响强于气温。