The Benthic Invertebrates Floodplain Index – Extending the assessment approach

Floodplains are highly diverse landscape elements within river systems and among the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. In this paper we complement indices developed to assess the ecological status of floodplain systems, compliant with the EU Water Framework Directive, to an overall “Benthic Invertebrate Floodplain Index” (BIFI). With the addition of taxa (mainly oligochaetes, chironomidae and amphipoda) to the floodplain index (FI), caddisfly (CHI), and dragon fly (OHI) indices a new extended BIFI can be calculated. We provide values for the calculation of the index derived from a comprehensive dataset of Austrian floodplain waters complemented by literature data. Values are given for those taxonomic groups which are abundant in the Austrian Danube and determinable in reasonable time. The new index was compared to published floodplain indices and tested with an independent data set at two floodplain segments along the Austrian Danube. The newly classified benthic invertebrates (NCBI) showed a good performance in comparison to the so far published indices and extend these to a better coverage of dynamic water bodies. Further the inclusion of abundant and species rich taxa improves the robustness of calculated values already with a low sampling effort. Altogether it is a promising tool for the integrated assessment of the ecological status of river-floodplain systems according to the EU Water Framework Directive.     

面向管理目标的国家公园生态监测指标体系构建与应用

国家公园具有生态系统保护、自然资源可持续利用等管理目标,这些管理目标的实现需要大量监测数据和信息的支持。对国家公园开展生态监测有助于了解国家公园内生态系统的动态变化并揭示管理活动的影响,从而为管理决策的规划和实施提供有用信息。为推动我国国家公园生态监测体系的建立,提出了面向管理目标的国家公园生态监测指标构建方法。该方法由确定国家公园生态监测目标、识别国家公园管理目标、识别国家公园关键生态过程、确定需要监测的生态过程并制定初始监测指标清单、确定最终监测指标清单5个部分组成。该方法在三江源国家公园进行了应用。三江源国家公园的管理目标包括生态系统保育、维持江河径流量持续稳定等13项,在区域、景观、生态系统和种群尺度上共识别出16个关键生态过程。通过匹配三江源国家公园的关键生态过程与管理目标,构建了一个由两级共93个指标组成的三江源国家公园生态监测指标体系,为三江源国家公园生态监测体系的构建奠定了基础。     

功能约束条件下的钱江源国家公园体制试点区游憩利用适宜性评价研究

国家公园功能分区根据生态系统和文化资源的保护要求划定不同的区域,并通过对区域内活动开展的范围和强度进行管控,实现生态保护、游憩利用等目标。从功能约束条件出发,以钱江源国家公园体制试点区(简称"钱江源国家公园")为例,采用德尔菲法和层次分析法,选取自然游憩资源、景观美景度、人文游憩资源、游憩利用能力、生态环境承载力、社会条件等6个因子构建了国家公园游憩利用适宜性评价体系。运用GIS空间分析工具对其进行单因子分级评价和综合评价,定量评估了钱江源国家公园游憩利用的适宜性,并将其适宜性从低到高依次划分为I—IV的4个等级。结果表明,钱江源国家公园游憩利用适宜性4个等级的面积呈"橄榄"型分布格局。在游憩利用适宜性分析结果及国家公园功能分区管理要求的基础上,本文进一步将钱江源国家公园游憩利用划分为6大游憩利用类型,并提出不同游憩利用类型的主导服务功能与管理措施。研究结果可为国家公园功能分区管理和游憩利用提供规划与管理指导。     

Visitor management and ecological integrity: one example of an integrated management approach using Decision Analysis

In this paper we argue in favour of using a decision analysis framework for more integrated decision-making when managing protected areas. Such an approach will enable agencies to balance between the frequently conflicting goals of visitor management and ecological integrity. We present a case study from the West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, BC, Canada, in which we use a hybrid of ELECTRE and AHP to establish a ranking of several management options. We conclude by suggesting that such a more formal framework constitutes a more objective decision support tool, assists in framing relevant management questions and tradeoffs, and at the same time provides guidance for data collection.     

以国家公园为主体的保护地体系管理机制的构建

十八届三中全会提出"建立国家公园体制"以来,关于国家公园试点区、机构体制改革等方案相继推出,国家公园的建设稳步进行着。从机构设置、权力配置以及运行机制三个方面探讨以国家公园为主体的保护地体系管理机制的构建。分析发现：国家林业和草原局的设立使得国家公园有了统一的管理机构;先前多部门的职能被重新整合,权力的上交和流转、日趋完善的监管机制极大地促进了国家公园体制的建设。结合国外经验,得出我国在国家公园管理机制的构建中应重视基层机构的设置、监督机制的加强以及法律法规的完善等结论。并且对生态补偿以及多样化的管理方式做出了展望。     

三江源国家公园草地地上生物量时空动态及其气候影响

三江源区位于青藏高原腹地,作为长江、黄河、澜沧江三大河流的发源地,是我国重要的生态安全屏障。基于三江源区域草地AGB的野外调查数据,本研究采用多种机器学习算法集成分析的方式构建模型,实现了高精度的三江源国家公园草地AGB时空估算。基于AGB时空模拟结果,分析了近19年(2000—2018年)三江源国家公园区域草地AGB的时空动态变化。研究结果显示：(1)通过多种机器学习结合贝叶斯平均模型,草地AGB模拟值与实测值的r为0.88,RMSE为71.60g/m²,表明多模型集成分析的方式对草地AGB估算获得了较好的模拟效果。(2)三江源国家公园区域草地AGB的空间分布具有明显的空间异质性,呈从东南向西北递减的趋势。(3)2000—2018年长江源国家公园、黄河源国家公园和澜沧江国家公园区域草地AGB多年平均值分别为82.96 g/m²、117.54g/m²和168.39 g/m²。(4)近19年间,在黄河和长江源园区受到温度上升的影响草地AGB呈现出非显著性上升趋势;澜沧江区域,由于2015和2016年的...     

Fire regimes of World Heritage Kakadu National Park., Australia

Abstract LANDSAT Multi‐Spectral Scanner imagery was used to determine aspects of the fire regimes of Kakadu National Park (in the wet‐dry tropics of Australia) for the period 1980–1995. Three landscape types recognized in this Park were Plateau, Lowlands and Floodplain. Areas burned in early and late dry seasons each year were documented using a Geographical Information System. Regression analyses were used to examine time trends in the areas burned each year and the interrelationships between early and late dry season burning. The proportions of landscapes having different stand ages (years since fire), and the proportions having had different fire intervals, were compared with results expected from the simplest random model (i.e. one in which the probability of ignition at a point [PIP] burning annually was constant). Using overlays of successive stand‐age maps, PIP could be calculated as a function of stand age. The Lowlands burned extensively each year; the areas burned by late dry season fires adding to those burned in the early dry season such that around 50–60% of the total area burned annually. Early dry season fires have lower intensities than late dry season fires, on average. Using a theoretically constant PIP and the mean proportion burned per year as the only input, predictions of areas burned as a function of stand age and fire interval were reasonable when compared with the empirical data, but best for the Lowlands landscape. PIP functions for Lowlands and Floodplains had negative slopes, an unexpected result. The nature of these PIP functions may reflect heterogeneity in fire proneness of the various vegetation types within landscapes. The scale of measurement, the scale of variation in vegetation types within a landscape, and the accuracy of the determination of burned areas, are constraints on the accuracy of fire‐interval and seasonally determination perceived from an analysis of satellite data.     

Monitoring vegetation recovery in the early stages of the Dirk Hartog Island Restoration Programme using high temporal frequency Landsat imagery

Dirk Hartog Island is the largest island off the West Australian coast. From the 1860s to 2008, the island was managed as a pastoral lease. In 2009, the island was gazetted as a National Park and the process of removing introduced animals, to allow for the reintroduction of a suite of 12 native mammal species, began. With the removal of high numbers of goats and sheep concerns were raised regarding the proliferation of weed species (which would no longer be controlled through grazing) and the ability of the island’s native vegetation to recover. A vegetation monitoring programme was developed which integrated detailed floristic surveys, repeated site photography and Landsat time series data to provide a comprehensive picture of how the island’s vegetation cover had changed since destocking. The integration of these elements has allowed present‐day observations to be put into context of longer term landscape dynamics. Through statistical analysis of temporal sequences of Landsat satellite imagery, the timing of changes to phenology and cover at monitoring sites was related directly to the management action of stock removal. With the use of field observations, the species responsible for the increase in cover were identified. These data sources, when analysed together, allowed management to have confidence that, following destocking, native vegetation cover is increasing.     

The Use of Neopterin as a Noninvasive Marker in Monitoring Diseases in Wild Chimpanzees

Pathogen analysis in wild great apes is both time- and resource-consuming. Therefore, we examined the potential use of urinary neopterin, a sensitive marker of cell-mediated immune system activation, as a disease marker and unspecific screening tool to facilitate informed pathogen analysis in great ape health monitoring. To test this, urinary neopterin was correlated to other disease markers such as sickness behaviors, fever, and urine parameters. Seasonal variation in urinary neopterin levels was investigated as well. The study encompassed noninvasively collected longitudinal data of young wild chimpanzees from the Taï National Park, Côte d´Ivoire. Relationships between disease markers were examined using a linear mixed model and a case study approach. Seasonal variation in urinary neopterin was tested using a linear mixed model. While the linear mixed model found no obvious relationship between urinary neopterin levels and other disease markers, the case study approach revealed a pattern resembling those found in humans. Urinary neopterin levels indicated seasonal immune system activation peaking in times of low ambient temperatures. We suggest the use of urinary neopterin as an unspecific screening tool in great ape health monitoring to identify relevant samples, individuals, and time periods for selective pathogen analysis and zoonotic risk assessment.     

土地利用演变对国家公园生态系统服务价值的影响——以三江源国家公园为例

研判土地利用演变对国家公园生态系统服务价值的影响,是推进国家公园生态文明体制建设的重要依据。为厘清土地利用演变对生态系统服务价值的影响效应,基于2000—2020年三江源国家公园土地利用数据,首先采用生态系统服务价值修正模型测算生态系统服务价值,继而运用价值变率模型、GIS空间分析方法刻画三江源国家公园生态系统服务价值演变的空间差异特征,最后引入交叉敏感性系数揭示三江源国家公园土地利用演变对生态系统服务价值的影响趋势。结果表明：(1)20年间三江源国家公园的土地利用演变表现为荒漠、草地、水体三地类间的互相转换,变化速率最大的时间段在2015—2020年,集中发生于长江源园区西北部和北部;(2)从时间序列来看,三江源国家公园的生态系统服务价值呈现“趋好”态势,其中,2015—2020年的变化量高达82.42亿元,草地和水体对园区生态环境贡献较大,土地利用类型的演变与生态系统服务价值存在一定的关联;(3)从空间演变来看,三江源国家公园三园区(长江源、黄河源和澜沧江源)的生态系统服务价值从高值到低值依次为：长江源>黄河源>澜沧江源,呈现出从西北向东南递增的分布特征;(4)土地利用...     

基于多源数据空间分析的国家公园管控分区研究——以钱江源国家公园体制试点区为例

《关于建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系的指导意见》提出国家公园实行管控分区的要求,以便实现国家公园最严格保护目标。然而,国家公园管控分区评价的指标尚不明确,以浙江钱江源国家公园体制试点区（以下简称"钱江源国家公园"）为研究对象,采用层次分析法从基础环境（包括高程、植被指数、交通道路影响和基本农田）、重点野生动植物分布（野生动植物、黑麂生境适宜性和白颈长尾雉生境适宜性）、自然资源保护基础（古田山国家级自然保护区、钱江源国家森林公园、钱江源风景名胜区和生态公益林）和生态现状（生态功能适宜性评价、自然资源承载力、三区三线和土地利用现状）等指标构建多源数据空间分析指标体系,利用空间叠加分析技术获取钱江源国家公园的管控分区结果,并与管控分区最终结果进行对比分析。结果表明：（1）基于多源数据的方法能有效地识别钱江源国家公园内生态保护价值较高区域;（2）多源数据空间分析结果与最终管控分区结果对比显示,其总体精度为78.07%（197.70 km²）,在核心保护区精度为83.55%（127.99 km²）,一般控制区精度为69.67%（69.71 km²）;（3）影响精度主要原因是新调入区域基础数据不足,以及通过定性分析解决管控分区破碎化等。研究认为基于多源空间数据分析技术能够客观、高效地划分国家公园管控分区,具有一定普适性,但仍需通过增加数据数量或优化算法提高精度。     

从自然保护区到国家公园体制试点: 三江源国家公园环境覆盖的变化及其对两栖爬行类保护的启示

三江源地区具有丰富的高原生物多样性, 是我国重要的生态安全屏障。作为我国第一个体制试点的国家公园, 三江源国家公园将被建成青藏高原大自然保护展示和生态文化传承区。为更好地服务于三江源国家公园建设, 本研究从海拔、年均温和年降水等方面, 在环境空间上系统比较了国家公园与三江源和可可西里自然保护区的差异; 以4种两栖爬行动物即高原林蛙(Rana kukunoris)、倭蛙(Nanorana pleskei)、西藏齿突蟾(Scutiger boulengeri)和青海沙蜥(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)分布点环境条件在国家公园内外的异同为例, 探讨分布受环境制约大、扩散能力弱的物种保护在国家公园建设中可能面临的机遇和挑战。结果表明, 国家公园与已建自然保护区在地理空间上重叠较大, 但它们在自然环境上的差别很明显; 自然保护区内两栖爬行类所偏好的环境条件较多未包含在国家公园内。鉴于三江源的区位特殊性及对气候变化的敏感性, 区域内两栖爬行动物等对环境依赖性强、扩散能力弱物种的有效保护不仅有助于保持物种遗传多样性和区域生态系统的完整性, 也有利于更好地实现国家公园目标定位并服务于生态文明建设。为此, 在国家公园内, 应开展两栖爬行动物种群动态和群落结构的长期监测, 加强基础生物学研究, 掌握环境变化对两栖爬行动物分布、遗传、行为、形态、种群动态及群落可能产生的影响, 实现区域内两栖爬行动物及其类似物种在环境变化下的永续生存。     

Plain tales from the grasslands: extraction, value and utilization of biomass in Royal BardiaNational Park, Nepal

Royal Bardia National Park in Southern Nepal contains a number of internationally endangered wildlife species, and a mix of habitats, including areas of grassland known as phantas. The conservation and current use of these areas is briefly described, including the extraction of grass from inside the National Park by local people living in adjacent villages. The products collected fulfil a range of human needs, both practical and ceremonial. The study attempts to quantify the annual offtake in both material and monetary terms, and comments on the sustainability of the practice. Alternative sources of roofing materials are apparently outside the scope of poorer households. The use of these materials has particular significance given the initiation of a Parks and People Project to implement a Buffer Zone around the National Park and effectively to link conservation and development needs.     

Noninvasive genetic monitoring of tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) population of Orang National Park in the Brahmaputra floodplain, Assam, India

The Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India, is one of the prime habitats for the endangered Royal Bengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris. With dwindling global population, estimation of the minimum number of tigers has always been a curiosity to wildlife researchers as well as to protected area managers. In the present study, DNA-based techniques were used for identifying individual tigers present in Orang National Park of Assam, from 57 faecal samples collected during February 2009. Orang National Park stands as an island of a single forest patch along the north bank of river Brahmaputra. The present study confirms the presence of 17 individual tigers in Orang National Park, with five male and 12 female. DNA-based capture–recapture analysis yielded minimum range estimate of 18 and 19 individuals, with possible overestimates of population size following two models of capture probability in CAPWIRE. The results of our genetic counting of tigers are compared with the estimates of 19 tigers based on pugmark analysis by the state Forest Department in 2000 and an independent capture–recapture estimate of 14 (±3.6) individuals based on photographic identity study in 2009. Looking at high mortality of tigers in the area, with 19 reported deaths during 2000 to 2009, our results indicate high individual turnover in the area. This study shows that Orang National Park harbours a healthy breeding population of tigers. However, the possibility of a source-sink dynamics operating in the landscape could not be ruled out, with possible immigration from nearby Kaziranga National Park on the south bank of Brahmaputra, which has the highest reported density of the species in the world.     

Assessing the cost of living with elephants (Loxodonta africana) in areas adjacent to Meru National Park,Kenya

Crop raiding by the elephants is a serious and recurring management problem around protected areas in Kenya such as Meru National Park. Crop-raiding menace is one of the most significant of human–elephant conflicts in Meru National Park. The distribution, impact, and conservation implications of the increased elephant crop raiding in areas adjacent to Meru National Park is attributed to the changes in land use systems within these areas. Crop raiding by African elephants (Loxodonta africana) was monitored in the area adjacent to Meru National Park between August 2010 and July 2011. From the study, 144 farms were raided and farmers lost crops amounting to USD 120,308.60. Crop raiding was higher during the month of August 2010 (KES 2,714,295 or USD 33,928). The study suggests capacity building for communities in order to safeguard their crops against elephant raiding. Other probable measures put forward to mitigate this include the development of alternative water sources and the need to implement electric fence around the remaining section of the Park boundary which is affected by elephant.     

Towards a core set of landscape metrics for biodiversity assessments: A case study from Dadia National Park,Greece

Spatial heterogeneity has an important influence on a wide range of ecological patterns and processes, and many landscape metrics in GIS environment are used to facilitate the investigation of the relation between landscape structure and biodiversity. Data reduction analyses have been applied to tackle the problem of highly correlated indices, but valid landscape predictors for fine scale Mediterranean forest-mosaics are still missing. Therefore, we analyzed the landscape structure of Dadia National Park, Greece, a Mediterranean forest landscape of high biodiversity, characterized by pine, oak and mixed woodland. By distinguishing nine land cover classes, 119 variables were computed and factor analysis was applied to detect the statistical dimensions of landscape structure and to define a core set of representative metrics. At landscape level, diversity of habitats, fragmentation and patch shape and at class level dominance of mixed forest and the gradient from one pure forest type to another turned out to be the crucial factors across three different scales. Mapping the encountered dimensions and the representative metrics, we detected that the pattern of landscape structure in Dadia National Park was related to dominating habitat types, land use, and level of protection. The evaluated set of metrics will be useful in establishing a landscape monitoring program, to detect the local drivers of biodiversity, and to improve management decisions in Dadia NP and similar mosaic-landscapes.     

2015—2020年间海南热带雨林国家公园景观格局变化

海南热带雨林国家公园森林资源富集，探究该地区景观格局时空演变特征，对维护海南岛生态安全屏障具有重要意义。该研究依托2015年和2020年海南热带雨林国家公园地表覆盖数据，建立景观分布格局体系，采用景观格局指数、单一景观动态度和景观转移矩阵的方法，分析海南热带雨林国家公园10类土地覆盖类型的景观格局变化特征，探究其变化的影响因素。结果表明：(1)2015—2020年，海南热带雨林国家公园整体景观破碎度呈现降低趋势，空间集聚性增加，综合动态度较小，景观类型整体较稳定。(2)雨林优势种常绿阔叶林面积不断增加，破碎度减小，呈正向增长态势；针叶林与灌木林面积减少；部分水体转化为湿地等，面积减小；其余景观类型面积占比较小，按自然演替方向发展变化。(3)景观格局演变主要以雨林自然演替为主，其次受政策、气候等因素综合影响。综上所述，自开展海南热带雨林国家公园体制试点以来，其景观格局趋于稳定。政策引导发挥着重要的正向作用，有针对性地开展热带雨林景观保护及修复工作，有助于海南热带雨林国家公园可持续发展。     

三江源国家公园兽类物种多样性及区系分析

为了解三江源国家公园野生兽类的分布现状,2015-2017年对园区进行了实地调查。根据调查结果并参考相关文献资料,三江源国家公园内野生兽类共62种,分别隶属8目19科44属。园区内兽类呈现出物种多样性高,珍稀濒危物种多,特有种多的特点：三江源国家公园内的兽类物种多样性G-F指数为0.77,表明该区域物种多样性处于很高水平。根据中国物种红色名录,20个物种受威胁（极危、濒危和易危）,比例为32.26%,远高于国家整体水平;中国或青藏高原特有种29种,占46.77%。三江源国家公园在动物地理区划上属于古北界青藏区,在地理分布型上,以古北界成分为主,东洋界成分为辅,以古北界高山型成分最多,有25种,且资源量大,表明三江源国家公园的兽类以适应高寒气候的特殊种类为主。3个园区的平均动物区系相似性比较结果表明,长江源园区与澜沧江源园区为共同关系,黄河源园区与长江源园区和澜沧江源园区为密切关系。近些年,三江源地区的兽类保护工作取得了很好的效果,并得到国内外认可,本研究结合园区生物多样性和区系特点,根据保护现状,提出了今后的监测保护建议。     

基于多源数据的三江源国家公园土地生态安全综合评价

开展国家公园尺度的土地生态安全综合评价,对优化三江源国家公园土地利用管理规划、加强生态网络建设具有重要借鉴价值。在“压力-状态-响应”(PSR)理论框架中融入草地退化指数、冻土稳定型分布、生态系统服务价值和景观生态脆弱性等指标,分析三江源国家公园土地生态安全状况及其主导因素。研究表明：(1)三江源国家公园景观生态脆弱性整体较低,不同园区景观生态脆弱性指数略有差异,长江源园区为中等脆弱区,黄河源园区脆弱性次之,澜沧江源园区景观生态脆弱性优于其他两园区。(2)三江源国家公园整体土地生态安全状况为较不安全,其中,长江源园区、澜沧江源园区以较不安全区等级为主、临界安全等级次之,黄河源园区临界安全及以上等级的面积比重为93.94%。(3)土地生态较安全区和安全区分布于长江源园区中南部,以及黄河源园区南北两侧边缘区,较不安全区和临界安全区在长江源园区、澜沧江源园区以及黄河源园区交错且连片分布。(4)基于地理探测器模型的自然生态和社会经济影响因素识别结果显示,居民点密度、水网密度和景观生态脆弱性是影响三江源国家公园土地生态安全的主导因素,揭示了人类活动扰动程度与生态系统脆弱性对国家公园土地生态安全状...