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。     

Application of frequency ratio and logistic regression models for assessing physical wetland vulnerability in Punarbhaba river basin of Indo-Bangladesh

Growingly scarce ecologically viable flood plain wetland of the Punarbhaba river basin is further endangered due to flow modification through Komardanga dam. This work intends to discover physical vulnerability of the wetlands in Punarbhaba river basin of Indo-Bangladesh considering seven conditioning parameters, e.g., water presence frequency (WPF) map, flood inundation map, frequency of pixel being non-permanent, agriculture presence frequency (APF) map, fragmentation of wetland, normalized differentiation built up index (NDBI), and wetland changes (WC). Frequency Ratio and Logistic Regression models have been used for deriving the vulnerability of wetland for both pre (1988–1992) and post dam (1993–2016) periods. From computed FR models it is exhibited that out of the total wetland area (194.81 km²), 5.88% and 2.92% area are high and very highly vulnerable in pre-dam period but such vulnerable area is increased to 33.45% and 23.10% in post-dam state (total wetland: 126.11 km²). LR models also state that in pre-dam period, high and very high vulnerable wetland area were 5.02% and 3.82% (total wetland: 194.79 km²) and it is enhanced to 28.94% and 24.49% in post-dam state (total wetland: 126.11 km²). Extensions of agricultural land, squeezing of active flood plain, lowering flood frequency are dominant determinants for growing wetland vulnerability.     

上海市湿地景观格局时空演变与驱动机制的量化研究

基于1980-2018年上海市历史遥感数据,定量研究上海市湿地景观格局变化及其驱动机制。为此,采用Fragstats 4.2.1计算了景观格局指数,并在数据处理系统软件平台使用灰色关联系统分析了湿地景观格局与社会、经济以及自然环境之间的灰色关联度。结果表明：（1）自1980以来,上海市湿地面积持续缩减,尤其水田损失最多。截至到2018年,上海市共损失了21.06×10⁴hm²的湿地,现存湿地面积为38.22×10⁴hm²,其中人工湿地占85%,自然湿地占15%。人工湿地以水田为主,自然湿地以河流湿地为主。水田和河流斑块平均面积总体上呈波动缩小趋势。河流湿地的形状复杂性最高,其总面积在年际间缓慢缩减,平均分形维度指数年际间波动持平。水田平均分形维度指数年际间波动上升,景观形状向复杂化趋势发展。（2）1980-2010年间,湿地景观破碎化程度总体加剧,最大斑块指数呈波动下降趋势。2010年后,景观破碎化局势向好,最大斑块面积扩大。1980-2015年间,蔓延度指数呈波动下降趋势,香农多样性指数呈波动上升趋势。2015年是蔓延度指数和香农多样性指数变化的转折点。水库坑塘斑块形状较简单,年际间变化小,而且具有结构的自相似性。（3）湿地景观格局受自然、人为双重因素影响。城市扩张导致人工湿地面积减少。自然湿地的演变则主要受气温和降雨的影响。自然因素往往在较大的时空尺度上控制着湿地的景观格局变化。但随着经济的迅速发展,在较短的时间尺度上,国家政策等人为因素对景观格局的影响力逐渐增强。未来,国家对城市湿地保护政策的实施可以使湿地景观格局向好的方向演化。     

Implications of global climatic change and energy cost and availability for the restoration of the Mississippi delta

Over the past several thousand years, inputs from the Mississippi River formed the Mississippi delta, an area of about 25,000 km². Over the past century, however, there has been a high loss of coastal wetlands of about 4800 km². The main causes of this loss are the near complete isolation of the river from the delta, mostly due to the construction of flood control levees, and pervasive hydrological disruption of the deltaic plain. There is presently a large-scale State-Federal program to restore the delta that includes construction of water control structures in the flood control levees to divert river water into deteriorating wetlands and pumping of dredged sediment, often for long distances, for marsh creation. Global climate change and decreasing availability and increasing cost of energy are likely to have important implications for delta restoration. Coastal restoration efforts will have to be more intensive to offset the impacts of climate change including accelerated sea level rise and changes in precipitation patterns. Future coastal restoration efforts should also focus on less energy-intensive, ecologically engineered management techniques that use the energies of nature as much as possible. Diversions may be as important for controlling salinity as for providing sediments and nutrients for restoring coastal wetlands. Energy-intensive pumping-dredged sediments for coastal restoration will likely become much more expensive in the future.     

Urban expansion and wetland shrinkage estimation using a GIS-based model in the East Kolkata Wetland,India

The usefulness and need for wetland ecosystems are in general, manifold. Nonetheless, their current situation in many parts of the world is truly a matter of concern, both in terms of biodiversity as well as human well-being. While policy development and decision-making are vital, there is also a great need to understand the wetlands transition process, taking into account measures for their conservation. In an attempt towards such an understanding, this study analyses the eco-social transformation of the East Kolkata Wetland (EKW). As a primary step to examine the patterns and drivers of wetland change in the EKW, land cover changes have been quantified. In addition, the significance of the driving factors has been adjudged and modelled using Wetland Shrinkage Monitoring (WSM) model. The outcome shows that wetland shrinkage largely determined by proximity forces of urban growth. While the Markov transition indicates that 46% out of 38 km² wetland tends to alter to other classes, wetland transition 2025 points out that almost 9 km² area is at critical risk. In addition to these findings, the study ascertains that a decent functioning of the local authorities and a comprehensive land use planning are indispensable to curb wetland degradation.     

Nitrate-nitrogen retention in wetlands in the Mississippi River Basin

Nitrate-nitrogen retention as a result of river water diversions is compared in experimental wetland basins in Ohio for 18 wetland-years (9 years × 2 wetland basins) and a large wetland complex in Louisiana (1 wetland basin × 4 years). The Ohio wetlands had an average nitrate-nitrogen retention of 39 g-N m⁻² year⁻¹, while the Louisiana wetland had a slightly higher retention of 46 g-N m⁻² year⁻¹ for a similar loading rate area. When annual nitrate retention data from these sites are combined with 26 additional wetland-years of data from other wetland sites in the Basin Mississippi River (Ohio, Illinois, and Louisiana), a robust regression model of nitrate retention versus nitrate loading is developed. The model provides an estimate of 22,000 km² of wetland creation and restoration needed in the Mississippi River Basin to remove 40% of the nitrogen estimated to discharge into the Gulf of Mexico from the river basin. This estimated wetland restoration is 65 times the published net gain of wetlands in the entire USA over the past 10 years as enforced by the Clean Water Act and is four times the cumulative total of the USDA Wetland Reserve Program wetland protection and restoration activity for the entire USA.     

Distribution of waterfowl in the wetland of Northern Nigeria

Agbelusi, E.A. & Afolayan, T.A. 2000. Distribution of waterfowl in the wetland of Northern Nigeria. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 73.

Nigeria with a land area of 923 850 km² has approximately 24 000 km² of wetland. These wetlands are scattered all over the country and include the man-made lakes. The wetlands of northern Nigeria are important breeding sites for Afrotropical duck and also serve as the winter refuge for Palearctic birds from Europe. About 13 sites have been identified as the actual habitat and concentration points for waterfowl in the wetlands of northern Nigeria. Among these areas, the Hadeija-Nguru wetland represents one of the most productive and ecologically significant wetlands in Nigeria. This area supports about 58 000 waterbirds, belonging to about 376 species, which consist mostly of Palearctic and Afrotropical migratory birds. Some of the important bird species that are associated with the wetland of northern Nigeria are Black Crowned Crane, Pintail, White Pelican, White-faced Tree Duck, Knob-billed Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Gull-billed Tern and Saddle-billed Stork. The paper also discusses the management implications for waterfowl conservation and tourism in Nigeria.     

Modelling bird habitat suitability based on landscape parameters at different scales

Habitat suitability as characterized by the presence of a species and by reproductive success was modelled in relation to different parameters of landscape diversity at different scales. Parameters characterizing landscape pattern were determined for the UTM 10 km × 10 km cells covering the whole of Estonia and were correlated to the distribution of over 30 forest bird species. The landscape parameters include areas of lakes, mires and built-up areas, length of borders between different land cover units and length of selected line elements, share of different kinds of forest and peatland. The bird species are grouped by correlation into three major groups: (a) independent, (b) wetland preferring (with subgroups of those avoiding built-up areas and roads and those not) and (c) built-up area dependent (with subgroups depending on the importance of line elements). For selected predator species, nesting success was related to landscape parameters on a finer scale, using cells of 10 km². Land pattern was characterized by total length of line elements (streams, roads, borders, ecotones) and certain areal coverage (forest, mires, fields, built-up areas) within the cell. The impact of variations of food availability was linked to the relation. Possibilities for downscaling and upscaling of relations determined at different scales and areal coverage are discussed.     

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.     

Exploring the connection of physical habitat health of the wetland with its gas regulating services

Many scholars assessed habitat health and measured gas regulation service of wetlands separately. However, no such targeted work was done to answer how habitat health can control gas regulation? Therefore, the present study investigated the role of habitat health on the gas regulation service of wetlands. Multi-parametric Machine Learning (ML) based modelling approach was applied to assess habitat health considering physical wetland hydrological factors and habitat degrading factors. Three primary atmospheric gas regulation functions of wetland, namely Methane (CH₄) emission, Carbon (C) sequestration, and Oxygen (O₂) release, were observed associating with habitat health. Very poor habitat health prevailed over 227 km² of wetland, whereas very good habitat health covered 299 km² of wetland. But out of the very good habitat health zone, 69% belonged to the perennial river of this region. On the other hand, it was estimated that the amount of annual CH₄ emission, C sequestration, and O₂ release from the wetlands of this region were respectively 8.01 × 1000 tons, 908.98 × 1000 tons and 664.51 × 1000 tons. The association of habitat health was positive with CH₄ emission and negative with C sequestration and O₂ release. Following the association, habitat health zone-wise variation of emission, sequestration, and release was also very prominent. The very good zone of habitat health was observed to have 60% higher CH₄ average emission and 56% lesser C sequestration than very poor habitat health.     

Spatio-temporal habitat assessment of the Gangetic floodplain in the Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary

Remote sensing provides multi-dimensional and multi-temporal information about habitat, insights into the significant drivers of change, and the key factors affecting landscape dynamics. Such information is crucial to provide perspective and a more profound understanding of ecological surveys. This study utilizes Google Earth Engine's capability to assess a riverine wetland grassland floodplain in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary (HWS) along the Ganga River, which is a critical habitat for wintering migratory birds, the critically endangered gharial, turtles, aquatic mammals such as otters and dolphins, and cervid species such as swamp deer. We have developed a framework for regular monitoring through rapid habitat assessment, which visualizes the spatio-temporal change in land cover, the seasonal dynamics in water and vegetation, changes due to anthropogenic influences on the landscape, and finally, how these factors affect the habitat availability of species of concern in the HWS. The results show a dynamic river system with high seasonal variations. The vegetation trend shows increasing greenness, indicative of the conversion of grassland, scrubland, and herbaceous cover to more permanent vegetation, which will adversely affect the riparian habitat structure. A habitat suitability index generated through geospatial analysis using the weighted overlay method suggests that 40.07% of the HWS, nearly 767.12 km², comprising mainly the riverscape, wetland, and riparian grasslands, is suitable habitat for aquatic and semi-aquatic species. However, only 9.93% of the sanctuary comprising 197.27 km², is available as a core habitat. Further, the area is threatened by encroachment evident from the rapidly increasing land-use intensity and night light pollution, which puts the grasslands sheltered to swamp deer and other wildlife at higher risk leaving almost 27.9% of the area comprising 533.63 km² unsuitable for wildlife. Urban and agricultural land use has taken over 67% of the sanctuary. An increase in minimum radiance value representing ALAN, from 0.41 to 0.73 W/m²-sr in just six years from 2015 to 2021, shows a reduction in nocturnal darkness, reducing safe niches for wildlife. The study results provide critical baseline information for ecological surveys and a rapid assessment platform for future sanctuary management. Constant monitoring of anthropogenic activities such as farming, settlements, and transport routes threatening the habitat is essential for informed conservation management decisions.     

Area reduction and trace element pollution in Nile Delta wetland ecosystems

The three main Nile Delta wetland ecosystems, Manzala, Burullus and Edku lagoons, are among the most ecologically important and productive habitats in Egypt. We studied the area degradation and the human health risks associated with trace metal accumulation in Tilapia zillii harvested from these lakes. The area of Manzala lagoon has shrunken from about 3035 km² in 1800 to about 288 km² in 2015, the area of Edku has shrunken from about 336 km² in 1824 to about 18 km² in 2014, and the area of Burullus has shrunken from about 1116 km² in 1949 to about 546 km² in 2014. This area degradation is attributed to drying for housing, land reclamation and fish farming. As a result, the concentration of pollutants and nutrients has subsequently increased, and large parts of the lakes have been overgrown with aquatic vegetation, which increased the rate of degradation and land transformation. Metal pollution was detected in water, sediment and edible fish harvested from the lakes. The hazard index, an indicator of human health risks associated with fish consumption, showed adverse health effects of zinc and lead metals for habitual fish consumers. The impact of the high dam on the lakes was discussed.     

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.     

Extent, properties, and landscape setting of geographically isolated wetlands in urban southern New England watersheds

We assessed the extent and characteristics of geographically isolated wetlands (i.e., wetlands completely surrounded by upland) in a series of watersheds in the urban northeast US. We applied a previously developed index of urbanization to a sample of 10 watersheds selected at random from a set of 30 watersheds whose boundaries lay within the borders of Rhode Island, USA. The index of urbanization in our sample watersheds ranged over more than an order of magnitude and increased with increasing amount of urban land use in the watersheds (r ² = 0.51, F = 8.22, P = 0.02). The density of isolated wetlands in the watersheds averaged 1.93 ± 0.21 wetlands km⁻² and comprised 38.2 ± 1.77% of all wetlands. Isolated wetlands were smaller than those connected to other waters (non-isolated), and accounted for 6.01–16.5% of the total wetland area in the watersheds. The area of isolated wetlands as a percent of all wetland area significantly increased with increasing watershed urbanization (r ² = 0.62, F = 12.9, P = 0.007). Isolated wetlands were predominantly deciduous forested wetlands, and urban land cover in the 50 m buffer surrounding isolated wetlands was significantly higher than in the 50 m surrounding non-isolated wetlands. The proportion of urban land cover was greater in a 150 than a 50 m buffer surrounding the wetlands. Our results suggest that an increase in the index of urbanization of 50 will result in 7% of the watershed’s wetlands being lost from federal protection. These findings indicate that the process of urbanization, along with accompanying habitat fragmentation, may result in an increase in the vulnerability of wetlands to loss and degradation and therefore has implications for the management and conservation of geographically isolated wetlands.     

Effects of climate change,coal mining and grazing on vegetation dynamics in the mountain permafrost regions

The ecological environment in alpine regions is fragile and sensitive to land-use and land-cover (LULC) change and climate warming. However, there are limited studies on the response of LULC and vegetation activity to climate change and human interference in mountainous permafrost regions. Based on in-situ meteorological and multi-source remote sensing data, we performed time trend and partial correlation analyses to investigate the spatial and temporal variation of LULC, landscape pattern, and vegetation growth under the impact of climate change and human activities in the source region of the Datong River from 2000 to 2019. Our results showed that the alpine desert area decreased significantly at a rate of −13.1 km² yr⁻¹ (p < 0.05), while the alpine meadow area increased at a rate of 8.3 km² yr⁻¹ (p < 0.1). Mining and road areas showed a significant increasing trend at a rate of 3.2 km² yr⁻¹ and 1.2 km² yr⁻¹, respectively. The increasing alpine meadow and mining areas were mainly derived from alpine deserts and alpine wetlands, respectively. The number of alpine wetland patches increased significantly along with a significant decrease in the landscape shape index of the rivers. Vegetation growth, as indicated by the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) was positively correlated with temperature but negatively correlated with precipitation and solar radiation in 59.6%, 52.3%, and 56.5% of the vegetated areas, respectively (p < 0.05). Temperature was the dominant climate factor controlling vegetation dynamics, and the recent warming hiatus resulted in a significant increase in EVI for alpine deserts, but no significant changes in EVI for alpine wetlands and alpine meadows. Increasing risk of negative impacts from human activities, including mineral exploration and grazing, on vegetation distribution and growth was observed. This study provides clear evidence of the upward invasion of alpine meadows into alpine desert areas under warm and humid climatic conditions. As climate warming intensifies, alpine meadow expansion may be impeded by extreme precipitation and permafrost thawing.     

An expert system model for mapping tropical wetlands and peatlands reveals South America as the largest contributor

Wetlands are important providers of ecosystem services and key regulators of climate change. They positively contribute to global warming through their greenhouse gas emissions, and negatively through the accumulation of organic material in histosols, particularly in peatlands. Our understanding of wetlands’ services is currently constrained by limited knowledge on their distribution, extent, volume, interannual flood variability and disturbance levels. We present an expert system approach to estimate wetland and peatland areas, depths and volumes, which relies on three biophysical indices related to wetland and peat formation: (1) long‐term water supply exceeding atmospheric water demand; (2) annually or seasonally water‐logged soils; and (3) a geomorphological position where water is supplied and retained. Tropical and subtropical wetlands estimates reach 4.7 million km² (Mkm²). In line with current understanding, the American continent is the major contributor (45%), and Brazil, with its Amazonian interfluvial region, contains the largest tropical wetland area (800,720 km²). Our model suggests, however, unprecedented extents and volumes of peatland in the tropics (1.7 Mkm² and 7,268 (6,076–7,368) km³), which more than threefold current estimates. Unlike current understanding, our estimates suggest that South America and not Asia contributes the most to tropical peatland area and volume (ca. 44% for both) partly related to some yet unaccounted extended deep deposits but mainly to extended but shallow peat in the Amazon Basin. Brazil leads the peatland area and volume contribution. Asia hosts 38% of both tropical peat area and volume with Indonesia as the main regional contributor and still the holder of the deepest and most extended peat areas in the tropics. Africa hosts more peat than previously reported but climatic and topographic contexts leave it as the least peat‐forming continent. Our results suggest large biases in our current understanding of the distribution, area and volumes of tropical peat and their continental contributions.     

基于生态系统服务价值和景观生态风险的生态分区识别与优化策略——以祁连山国家公园青海片区为例

生态空间分区识别是支撑自然保护地生态资产管理的前提性和基础性工作。以祁连山国家公园青海片区(以下简称为“园区”)为例,集成遥感技术、地理信息模型方法、景观生态学方法、GIS格网法,分析了园区1998—2018年土地利用、生态系统服务价值、景观生态风险的时空演变特征,选用Z-score标准化构建了四类生态分区。结果表明：(1)草地占园区面积的55.00%以上,30年间(1998—2018年)园区土地利用之间转移总面积为102.49 km²。(2)3个时期(1998年、2008年、2018年)园区生态系统服务价值(ESV)约为274亿元/a,单位面积ESV为172.94万元/km²。不同ESV等级呈现“大分散、小集聚”的镶嵌交错分布格局,高寒河源湿地区和寒温带针叶林区为ESV的高值区。(3)3个时期园区景观生态风险指数(ERI)分别为0.2287、0.2286和0.2310,生态安全状态整体较好,景观生态风险以低生态风险等级和较低生态风险等级占主导地位,占园区面积的90.00%左右。人工牧草地、旱地、建设用地的景观生态风险等级较高。(4)结合生态...     

Landscape-scale greater prairie-chicken–habitat relations and the Conservation Reserve Program

Both the abundance of greater prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the area of grassland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in northwestern Minnesota, USA, have recently declined. Although wildlife conservation is a stated objective of the CRP, the impact of the CRP on greater prairie-chicken populations has not been quantified. To address that information need, we evaluated the association between greater-prairie chicken lek density (leks/km²), the number of males at leks (males/lek), and CRP enrollments in the context of landscape structure and composition in northwestern Minnesota. Using data from standardized prairie-chicken surveys and land cover in 17 41-km² survey blocks during 2004–2016, we used a mixed-effect model and a layered approach in an information-theoretic framework at multiple spatial scales to identify covariates related to prairie-chicken abundance. At the landscape scale, lek density was best explained by the amount of CRP grassland and wetland, grassland and wetland with long-term conservation goals (state, federal, and The Nature Conservancy owned); other wetlands managed with variable or no continuity in conservation goals; the contiguity of grasslands; and the number of patches of grasslands and wetlands in each survey block each year. Increasing the amount of CRP grassland in 41-km² survey blocks by 1 km² (2.4%) resulted in a corresponding increase of 6% in lek density. At the lek scale, the number of males per lek was best explained by the amount of CRP grassland and other grassland, CRP wetland and other wetland, forests, developed areas, shrubland, and the contiguity of CRP grassland. Increasing the amount of CRP grassland in the 2-km breeding-cycle habitat radius around a lek by 25% (3 km²) corresponded to a 5% increase in males per lek. Our results suggest that both increasing the quantity of grassland CRP and wetland CRP enrollments and aggregating CRP grassland enrollments may increase greater prairie-chicken abundance. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.     

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.     

Life cycles of nemerteans that are symbiotic egg predators of decapod Crustacea: adaptations to host life histories

The Netherlands occupy 41,864 km² of which about 6,600 km² (16%) have been classified as internationally important wetlands. About 3000 km² (7%) have been included in the Ramsar Convention list of internationally important wetlands. The situation of the wetlands in The Netherlands has seen large changes during the last 2000 years. Thousands of km² of peatlands have disappeared; thousands of km² of coastal salt marshes and a similar area of shallow lakes have been reclaimed for agriculture. The Dutch wetlands occupy a key position in the bird migration of the West-Palaearctic flyway. The hydrology of The Netherlands and of Dutch wetlands is dominated by the river Rhine. Hence, nutrients and contaminants imported by the Rhine and from other sources have a major impact on Dutch wetlands. Reduction of pollution and eutrophication is a major requirement for conservation of Dutch wetlands. Dutch politics appears to be moving in this direction.