Competition between commercial and sport fishermen: An ecological analysis

The competition between the two major user groups of fishermen in northeastern Lake Erie is analyzed in terms of models of interspecific competition used in animal ecology. Treating the two user groups as two cultural species, neither the fishing areas used (geographical distribution of the species) nor the composition of the catch (food of the species) shows significant overlap. Nevertheless, both parties believe that a conflict exists. There are two possible explanations for this discrepancy: (1) the conflict may be real in some areas and seasons, even though on the whole there is no significant competition under the usual standards used in ecological niche overlap studies, and (2) the conflict may be due to perceptions, and may therefore be of cultural rather than of ecological origin, suggesting that biological models provide incomplete tools for the analysis of problems in human ecology.     

A vector-based method for drawing RNA secondary structure.

MOTIVATION: To produce a polygonal display of RNA secondary structure with minimal overlap and distortion of structural elements, with minimal search for positioning them, and with minimal user intervention. RESULTS: A new algorithm for automatically drawing RNA secondary structure has been developed. The algorithm represents the direction and space for a structural element using vector and vector space. Two heuristics are used. The first heuristic is concerned with ordering structural elements to be positioned and the second with positioning them in space. The algorithm and a graphical user interface have been implemented in a working program called VizQFolder on IBM PC compatibles. Experimental results demonstrate that VizQFolder is capable of automatically generating nearly overlap-free polygonal displays for long RNA molecules. The only distortion performed to avoid overlap is the rotation of helices, leading to efficient generation of a polygonal display without sacrificing its readability. VizQFolder is not coupled to a specific prediction program of RNA secondary structure, and thus can be used for visualizing secondary structure models obtained by any means. AVAILABILITY: The executable code of VizQFolder is available at http://automation.inha.ac.kr/khan. It can also be obtained from the authors upon request.     

Identifying and quantifying uncertainty and spatial disagreement in the comparison of Global Land Cover for different applications

This paper provides a methodology for comparing global land cover maps that allows for differences in legend definitions between products to be taken into account. The legends of the two maps are first reconciled by creating a legend lookup table that shows how the legends map onto one another. Where there is overlap, the specific definitions for each legend class are used to calculate the degree of overlap between legend classes. In this way, one‐to‐many mappings are accounted for unlike in most methods where the legend definitions are often forced into place. Another advantage over previous map comparison methods is that application‐specific requirements are captured using expert input, whereby the user rates the importance of disagreement between different legend classes based on the needs of the application. This user‐defined matrix in conjunction with the degree of overlap between legend classes is applied on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis to create maps of spatial disagreement and uncertainty. The user can then highlight the areas of highest thematic uncertainty and disagreement between the different land cover maps allowing for areas that require further detailed examination to be readily identified. It would also be possible for several users to input their knowledge into the process, leading to a potentially more robust comparison of land cover products. The methodology of map comparison is illustrated using different land cover products including Global Land Cover 2000 (GLC‐2000) and the MODIS land cover data set. Two diverse applications are provided including the estimation of global forest cover and monitoring of agricultural land. In the case of global forest cover, an example was provided for Columbia, which showed that the MODIS land cover map overestimates forest cover in comparison with the GLC‐2000. The agricultural example, on the other hand, served to illustrate that for Sudan, MODIS tends to underestimate crop areas while GLC‐2000 overestimates them.     

Bioacoustics for species management: two case studies with a Hawaiian forest bird

The management of animal endangered species requires detailed information on their distribution and abundance, which is often hard to obtain. When animals communicate using sounds, one option is to use automatic sound recorders to gather information on the species for long periods of time with low effort. One drawback of this method is that processing all the information manually requires large amounts of time and effort. Our objective was to create a relatively “user‐friendly” (i.e., that does not require big programming skills) automatic detection algorithm to improve our ability to get basic data from sound‐emitting animal species. We illustrate our algorithm by showing two possible applications with the Hawai'i ‘Amakihi, Hemignathus virens virens, a forest bird from the island of Hawai'i. We first characterized the ‘Amakihi song using recordings from areas where the species is present in high densities. We used this information to train a classification algorithm, the support vector machine (SVM), in order to identify ‘Amakihi songs from a series of potential songs. We then used our algorithm to detect the species in areas where its presence had not been previously confirmed. We also used the algorithm to compare the relative abundance of the species in different areas where management actions may be applied. The SVM had an accuracy of 86.5% in identifying ‘Amakihi. We confirmed the presence of the ‘Amakihi at the study area using the algorithm. We also found that the relative abundance of ‘Amakihi changes among study areas, and this information can be used to assess where management strategies for the species should be better implemented. Our automatic song detection algorithm is effective, “user‐friendly” and can be very useful for optimizing the management and conservation of those endangered animal species that communicate acoustically.     

Genetic,ecological, and behavioural divergence between two sibling snapping shrimp species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheus)

Examination of genetic and ecological relationships within sibling species complexes can provide insights into species diversity and speciation processes. Alpheus angulatus and A. armillatus, two snapping shrimp species with overlapping ranges in the north-western Atlantic, are similar in morphology, exploit similar ecological niches and appear to represent recently diverged sibling species. We examined phylogenetic and ecological relationships between these two species with: (i) sequence data from two mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA and COI); (ii) data on potential differences in microhabitat distribution for A. armillatus and A. angulatus; and (iii) data from laboratory experiments on the level of reproductive isolation between the two species. DNA sequence data suggest A. armillatus and A. angulatus are sister species that diverged subsequent to the close of the Isthmus of Panama, and that haplotype diversity is lower in A. armillatus than in A. angulatus. Both species are distantly related to A. heterochaelis and A. estuariensis, two species with which A. angulatus shares some similarities in coloration. Ecological data on the distribution of A. angulatus and A. armillatus from two locations revealed differences in distribution of the two species between habitat patches, with each patch dominated by one or the other species. However, there was no apparent difference in distribution of the two species within habitat patches with respect to microhabitat location. Ecological data also revealed that heterospecific individuals often occur in close proximity (i.e. within metres or centimetres) where sympatric. Behavioural data indicated that these species are reproductively isolated, which is consistent with speciation in transient allopatry followed by post-divergence secondary contact. Our data further resolve taxonomic confusion between the sibling species, A. armillatus and A. angulatus, and suggest that sympatry in areas of range overlap and exploitation of similar ecological niches by these two recently diverged species have selected for high levels of behavioural incompatibility.     

CrossChip: a system supporting comparative analysis of different generations of Affymetrix arrays

SUMMARY: To increase compatibility between different generations of Affymetrix GeneChip arrays, we propose a method of filtering probes based on their sequences. Our method is implemented as a web-based service for downloading necessary materials for converting the raw data files (*.CEL) for comparative analysis. The user can specify the appropriate level of filtering by setting the criteria for the minimum overlap length between probe sequences and the minimum number of usable probe pairs per probe set. Our website supports a within-species comparison for human and mouse GeneChip arrays. AVAILABILITY: http://www.crosschip.org     

多中心格局对城镇化与生态环境耦合协调发展的影响研究——以福建省两大都市区为例

城镇化快速发展既推动了国家经济增长,又产生了严重的生态环境问题。随着集聚经济不断发展,城镇化形态逐渐由单中心向多中心空间格局（包括极化和扁平式两种类型）演变。而关于两种多中心模式下城镇化与生态环境协调发展关系研究仍然缺乏。以福州大都市区（极化式）和厦漳泉大都市区（扁平式）为研究案例,分析2011-2017年两种多中心城镇化模式对城镇化与生态环境耦合协调发展的影响。结果表明：（1）两种多中心空间格局均有利于区域城镇化水平、生态环境水平以及城镇化与生态环境耦合协调度的提高;（2）除生态环境外,极化式与扁平式多中心格局对城镇化水平、城镇化与生态环境耦合协调发展均具有均衡效应;（3）福建两大都市区城镇化水平相对滞后,不利于城镇化与生态环境协同发展。本研究对于优化福建省城镇化空间布局,提高城镇化可持续发展水平具有重要意义。     

快速城镇化过程中的城市蔓延与生态保护冲突空间识别与量化评估——以长三角生态绿色一体化发展示范区为例

如何解决社会经济发展与生态环境保护之间的矛盾是实现区域和城市可持续发展的首要问题,表现在空间上就是城市无序蔓延与生态环境保护用地的冲突,本质上是建成区与非建成区的生态系统之间的冲突。以长三角生态绿色一体化发展示范区为例,基于自然环境因子和社会经济因子构建城市蔓延风险空间量化评估模型,得到城市蔓延风险空间分布并提取城市蔓延严重风险区;利用生态侵蚀度指数识别评估生态保护压力空间并提取生态保护压力高值区。根据城市蔓延严重风险区与生态保护压力高值区的重合空间,对城市无序蔓延与生态保护的冲突程度进行分析,进而探讨快速城镇化发展过程中二者的协调关系,为城市国土空间规划与区域生态保护决策提供科技支撑。长三角生态绿色一体化发展示范区案例研究结果表明:(1)城市蔓延的严重风险区与生态保护压力高值区的重合面积达到583.83km~2;其中较高风险区与侵蚀度高的地区重合面积为311.73km~2,冲突度为53.39%;高风险区与侵蚀度高的地区重合面积为47.70 km~2,冲突度为8.17%。(2)示范区内各类生态系统中,耕地生态系统受城市蔓延冲突程度均为最高,其在较高和高风险区的占比分别为91.58%、8...     

How to resolve the SLOSS debate: Lessons from species-diversity models

The SLOSS debate - whether a single large reserve will conserve more species than several small - of the 1970s and 1980s never came to a resolution. The first rule of reserve design states that one large reserve will conserve the most species, a rule which has been heavily contested. Empirical data seem to undermine the reliance on general rules, indicating that the best strategy varies from case to case. Modeling has also been deployed in this debate. We may divide the modeling approaches to the SLOSS enigma into dynamic and static approaches. Dynamic approaches, covered by the fields of island equilibrium theory of island biogeography and metapopulation theory, look at immigration, emigration, and extinction. Static approaches, such as the one in this paper, illustrate how several factors affect the number of reserves that will save the most species.This article approaches the effect of different factors by the application of species-diversity models. These models combine species-area curves for two or more reserves, correcting for the species overlap between them. Such models generate several predictions on how different factors affect the optimal number of reserves. The main predictions are: Fewer and larger reserves are favored by increased species overlap between reserves, by faster growth in number of species with reserve area increase, by higher minimum-area requirements, by spatial aggregation and by uneven species abundances. The effect of increased distance between smaller reserves depends on the two counteracting factors: decreased species density caused by isolation (which enhances minimum-area effect) and decreased overlap between isolates. The first decreases the optimal number of reserves; the second increases the optimal number. The effect of total reserve-system area depends both on the shape of the species-area curve and on whether overlap between reserves changes with scale.The approach to modeling presented here has several implications for conservational strategies. It illustrates well how the SLOSS enigma can be reduced to a question of the shape of the species-area curve that is expected or generated from reserves of different sizes and a question of overlap between isolates (or reserves).     

Technical note: standardized and semiautomated Harris lines detection

Arrest in long bone growth and the subsequent resumption of growth may be visible as radiopaque transverse lines in radiographs (Harris lines, HL; Harris, HA. 1933. Bone growth in health and disease. London: Oxford University Press). The assessment of individual age at occurrence of such lines, as part of paleopathological skeletal studies, is time-consuming and shows large intra- and interobserver variability. Thus, a standardized, automated detection algorithm would help to increase the validity of such paleopathological research. We present an image analysis application facilitating automatic detection of HL. On the basis of established age calculation methods, the individual age-at-formation can be automatically assessed with the tool presented. Additional user input to confirm the automatic result is possible via an intuitive graphical user interface. Automated detection of HL from digital radiographs of a sample of late Medieval Swiss tibiae was compared to the consensus of manual assessment by two blinded expert observers. The intra- and interobserver variability was high. The quality of the observer result improved when standardized detection criteria were defined and applied. The newly developed algorithm detected two-thirds of the HL that were identified as consensus lines between the observers. It was, however, necessary to validate the last one-third by manual editing. The lack of a large test series must be noted. The application is freely available for further testing by any interested researcher.     

Spatial analysis of vicariance: a method for using direct geographical information in historical biogeography

Based on Hovenkamp’s ideas on historical biogeography, we present a method for analysis of taxon history, spatial analysis of vicariance, which uses observed distributions as data, thus requiring neither predefined areas nor assumptions of hierarchical relations between areas. The method is based on identifying sister nodes with disjunct (allopatric/vicariant) distributions. To do this across the tree, internal nodes are assigned distributions (as the sum of the distributions of the descendant nodes). When distributions are less than ideal, ignoring the distribution of the problematic node(s) when assigning a distribution to their ancestors may allow us to consider additional sister nodes (i.e. those resulting from splits basal to the problematic node) as having disjunct distributions. The optimality criterion seeks to find the best (possibly weighted) compromise between the maximum possible number of disjunct sister nodes and the minimum number of eliminated distributions. The method can also take overlap into account. The methodology presented is implemented in VIP, a computer program available at http://www.zmuc.dk/public/phylogeny/vip . © The Willi Hennig Society 2011.     

Geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modelling for delimitation of near-sibling triatomine species

Identifying morphologically similar triatomine species is key to Chagas' disease vector control and surveillance, but remains challenging when only qualitative phenotypic data are available. We investigated whether morphometric and ecological variation can provide additional criteria for species delimitation by combining geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modelling to characterize two near-sibling triatomine species, Triatoma sordida and Triatoma garciabesi (Reduviidae: Triatominae). We analysed size and shape variation in 231 wings and 123 heads from one T. garciabesi and three T. sordida populations. Predicted distribution maps (21 climatic variables, 324 vector occurrence points) were produced using the Maxent method. Multivariate analyses summarized morphological and ecological variation. Wings and heads of T. sordida were significantly larger and more elongated than those of T. garciabesi. Discriminant analyses separated the species, with a partial overlap between Argentinean populations. The predicted distribution of T. garciabesi included northwest Argentina (mainly arid Chaco), whereas that of T. sordida included northeast Argentina (humid Chaco) and the Brazilian Cerrado and Caatinga ecoregions. Clear ecological niche differences were observed, with T. garciabesi occupying colder and drier areas than T. sordida. Our results show how morphometric variation and niche divergence can be used to enhance operational criteria for the delimitation of phenotypically similar triatomine species.     

Low and annually variable migratory connectivity in a long‐distance migrant: Whinchats Saxicola rubetra may show a bet‐hedging strategy

The spatial scale of non‐breeding areas used by long‐distance migrant animals can vary from specific, relatively small non‐breeding areas for each independent breeding population (high connectivity) to a distribution over a large non‐breeding area with mixing of breeding populations (low connectivity). Measuring variation in the degree of connectivity and how it arises is crucial to predict how migratory animals can respond to global habitat and climate change because low connectivity is likely to be an adaptation to environmental uncertainty. Here, we assess whether use of non‐breeding areas in a long‐distance migrant may be stochastic by measuring the degree of connectivity, and whether it is annually variable. Twenty‐nine wintering Whinchats tagged with geolocators over 2 years within 40 km² in central Nigeria were found to be breeding over 2.55 million km² (26% of the land area of Europe), without an asymptote being approached in the relationship between area and sample size. Ranges differed in size between years by 1.51 million km² and only 15% of the total breeding range across both years overlapped (8% overlap between years when only first‐year birds were considered), well above the range size difference and below the proportion of overlap that would be predicted from two equivalent groups breeding at random locations within the observed range. Mean distance between breeding locations (i.e. migratory spread) differed significantly between years (604 ± 18 km in 2013 and 869 ± 33 km in 2014). The results showed very low and variable connectivity that was reasonably robust to the errors and assumptions inherent in the use of geolocators, but with the caveat of having only ranges of 2 years to compare, and the sensitivity of range to the breeding locations of a small number of individuals. However, if representative, the results suggest the scope for between‐year variation (cohort effects) to determine migrant distribution on a large scale. Furthermore, for species with similarly low connectivity, we would predict breeding population trends to reflect average conditions across large non‐breeding areas: thus, as large areas of Africa become subject to habitat loss, migrant populations throughout Europe will decline.     

Effects of hunting on cougar spatial organization

The effects of increased mortality on the spatial dynamics of solitary carnivores are not well understood. We examined the spatial ecology of two cougar populations that differed in hunting intensity to test whether increased mortality affected home range size and overlap. The stability hypothesis predicts that home range size and overlap will be similar for both sexes among the two areas. The instability hypothesis predicts that home range size and overlap will be greater in the heavily hunted population, although may differ for males versus females due to behavior strategies. We marked 22 adult resident cougars in the lightly hunted population and 20 in the heavily hunted population with GPS collars from 2002 to 2008. Cougar densities and predation rates were similar among areas, suggesting no difference in per capita resources. We compared home range size, two‐dimensional home range overlap, and three‐dimensional utilization distribution overlap index (UDOI) among annual home ranges for male and female cougars. Male cougars in the heavily hunted area had larger sized home ranges and greater two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional UDOI overlap than those in the lightly hunted area. Females showed no difference in size and overlap of home range areas between study populations – further suggesting that differences in prey quantity and distribution between study areas did not explain differences in male spatial organization. We reject the spatial stability hypothesis and provide evidence to support the spatial instability hypothesis. Increased hunting and ensuing increased male home range size and overlap may result in negative demographic effects for cougars and potential unintended consequences for managers.     

Niche overlap estimates based on quantitative functional traits: a new family of non-parametric indices

The concept of niche overlap appears in studies of the mechanisms of the maintenance of species diversity, in searches for assembly rules, and in estimation of within-community species redundancy. For plant traits measured on a continuous scale, existing indices are inadequate because they split the scale into a number of categories thus losing information. An index is easy to construct if we assume a normal distribution for each trait within a species, but this assumption is rarely true. We extend and apply an index, NO_K, which is based on kernel density functions, and can therefore work with distributions of any shape without prior assumptions. For cases where the ecologist wishes to downweight traits that are inter-correlated, we offer a variant that does this: NO_Kw. From either of these indices, an index of the mean niche overlap in a community can be calculated: NO_K,community and NO_Kw,community. For all these indices, the variance can be calculated and formulae for this are given. To give examples of the new indices in use, we apply them to a coastal fish dataset and a sand-dune plant dataset. The former exhibits considerable non-normality, emphasising the need for kernel-based indices. Accordingly, there was a considerable difference in index values, with those for an index based on a normal distribution being significantly higher than those from an index which, being based on kernel fitting, is not biased by an assumption for the distribution. The NO_K values were ecologically consistent for the fish species concerned, varying from 0.02 to 0.53. The sand-dune plant data also showed a wide range of overlap values. Interestingly, the least overlap was between two graminoids, which would have been placed in the same functional group in the coarse classification often used in functional-type/ecosystem-function work.     

大都市区生态源地识别体系构建及国土空间生态修复关键区诊断

构建生态安全格局是保障城市生态安全的必要手段,科学识别生态源地是构建生态安全格局的基础。以高度城市化的大都市区--上海市为研究对象构建生态源地识别体系,探究不同土地利用数据源与指标权重对生态源地识别的影响。在此基础上,基于最小累积阻力模型(MCR)与电路理论构建生态阻力面,识别生态保护与修复优先区域,对已有研究仅关注保护/修复的情况进行补充。结果表明：(1)自然生态本底仍是识别生态源地的重要指标,加入人类需求指标可填补已有研究对高度城市化源地识别针对性和丰富性的不足。生态系统服务格局、生态环境安全格局与环境友好格局权重为5 ∶ 2 ∶ 1时,源地识别效果最佳。(2)上海市生态源地空间和数量分布极不均匀,破碎化是首要问题。上海市现有(2017年)生态源地202个,共920.96 km²,占总面积14.53%,其中微型源地(面积<3 km²)数量高达82.67%。城市化水平影响生态源地分布,外环是源地数量与总面积的分水岭,郊环是源地平均面积的重要界线。(3)上海市以"面(源地)-线(廊道)-点(优先点)"组成生态保护网络,其中生态廊道442条,生态保护优先点306个,重要点线分布集中于中心城区边界。上海市生态修复优先区域325.47 km²,其中障碍点309.78 km²,需优化的非生态斑块95个(15.69 km²),大都市区的生态修复重点区域应聚焦于城市化扩散的阻力区域,且应多关注生态价值适中的草地与耕地。研究工作可为其他高度城市化区域,以及处于高速城市化发展进程城市的国土空间生态修复关键区识别提供借鉴与参考。     

Outdoor airborne fungi: sampling strategies

Summary A six-stage Andersens's sampler was compared with a single stage type (SAS) for the collection of airborne fungi particles. The efficiency of two non selective culture media, and namely malt agar (MA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA), which were both modified in order to inhibit bacterial growth, was compared as well. An overall assessment of quantitative results suggests that the two samplers have a comparable degree of efficiency. However, the SAS appears to collect a greater number of CFU/m³ in absence of wind and viceversa the Andersen one appears to be more efficient in the presence of wind. The number of species detected with the SAS device is smaller, thus requiring an increased number of suctions. Andersen sampler sieving, according to the aerodynamic characteristics of the particles, appears to be not too accurate: there is an overlap from stage to stage of the sampler and some larger particles settle on smaller particle-collecting stages and viceversa. The PDA, with streptomycin and chloramphenicol, is better and closer to the natural distribution pattern: the number of CFU/m³ is higher although the number of the collected species is about the same.     

Home ranges of horned lizards (Phrynosoma): circumscribed and exclusive?

Summary Two aspects of the use of space were studied for two species of horned lizard: (1) Do they restrict their movements to limited areas or do they wander more or less randomly? (2) Is overlap between home ranges reduced below what it would be if home ranges were placed at random with respect to one another?Forty-nine individuals were tagged with radiotransmitters or radioactive tags and their movements compared to a computer-generated random model. It was found that horned lizards typically occupy areas much smaller than they would if they moved randomly, that is, they occupy a limited home range. Home ranges calculated from location points generated by computer randomizations share several characteristics with the limited home ranges of lizards not moving randomly. Randomly derived location points can be surrounded by a minimum convex polygon, or characterized by a probability density function or utilization distribution, and lead to a percent-change in area vs. capture number curve very similar to that shown by lizards not moving randomly. Therefore, none of these techniques distringuishes between home ranges that result from nonrandom use of space and those that result from a randomly moving animal. Previous studies have failed to draw the distinction between these two types of home range. This distinction should be recognized, however, because the underlying processes differ so dramatically.Observed home range overlap was compared with overlap that would be expected if home ranges were located at random with respect to one another. In one of the years tested, reduced overlap was detected at a marginally significant level. This pattern becomes stronger if only overlap with conspecifics is considered. This strongly suggests that home range overlap is reduced between horned lizards. Contrary to expectation, overlap between individuals of opposite sex tended to be less than overlap between individuals of the same sex.     

Stable isotope analysis reveals ecological segregation in a bimodal size polymorphism in Arctic charr from Loch Tay, Scotland

The serendipitous discovery of a body-size dimorphism amongst the sexually mature Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus of Loch Tay is described. Sexually mature Arctic charr, collected by gill netting on spawning areas, showed a clear and distinct bimodal size distribution with no overlap in fork length distributions. The upper (19–29 cm L _F) and lower modes (8–16 cm) were not solely the result of sex or age differences. Analysis of stable isotope ratios of C and N in muscle showed highly significant differences in mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N between populations, demonstrating a difference in trophic ecology between the two body-size morphs. Overlap in the range of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values for the two morphs, however, suggested that they occasionally shared a common diet. Data from other studies strongly indicated that the proximate and ultimate mechanisms that control body-size dimorphisms in Arctic charr differed between sites. Clear differences in trophic ecology in the Loch Tay Arctic charr suggested that the available feeding opportunity may differ for the two morphs. The most likely proximate mechanism resulting in this dimorphism is growth rate differences resulting from differences in food availability for the two subgroups occupying alternative foraging niches in Loch Tay.     

长江经济带自然保护地边界重叠关系及整合对策分析

我国自然保护地类型多样,级别成体系,但由于我国自然保护地一直存在多头管理、权限不清等原因,导致边界混乱、重叠严重。对我国自然保护地空间分布和重叠情况进行梳理是构建以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系的重要基础,能为我国新型自然保护地的科学选址和优化整合提供有效依据。长江经济带作为我国生态、生活、生产均十分重要的区域,其生态保护具有重要的屏障作用。收集了长江经济带11省份建设开展较成熟的6类自然保护地矢量边界2383个,通过构建重叠关系模型,深入分析了不同类型自然保护地间的边界重叠关系,并针对重叠情况提出系统化对策,结果表明：（1）保护地之间具有重叠关系的数量达1296个,占已获取保护地边界总数的54.4%;重叠部分面积达29728.4 km²,占已获取自然保护地总面积的11.4%;总体呈现为西部重叠面积大、数量多,中部重叠数量多,东部重叠面积小的特点。（2）从重叠区域看,有一次重叠区域的保护地有1138组,有两次重叠区域的有249组,有三次重叠区域的有17组,无四次及以上重叠区域。（3）从重叠关系看,与其他5个及以上保护地有重叠的保护地有56个。（4）通过对重叠区域和关系的分析与政策研究,提出针对不同重叠特性的整合对策,包括勘界调整、合并和类型整合等,并将重叠热点区域提取,以期为自然保护地整合和国家公园建设提供数据支撑,为当前中国自然保护地体系改革的紧迫需求提供参考。