黄河干流河岸带植物群落特征及其影响因子分析

作为河岸带生态系统的关键组成部分,河岸带植被为许多动植物提供了栖息地以及迁徙或扩散的廊道,并对非点源污染物有着缓冲和过滤作用。黄河是我国湿地的重要组成部分,也是生物多样性分布的关键地带。但是,目前黄河水资源的过度利用如农业灌溉和干流拦河水利工程的兴建在很大程度上改变了原有的水文情势,对河岸带植被发育带来了不利影响。另外,黄河两岸的加固硬化进一步破坏了河岸带植物的生存环境。然而,过去对于黄河河岸带植被仅有对个别河段的调查。为了解目前黄河河岸带植被现状,于2008年4-6月及2008年9-10月对黄河干流河岸带植被进行了两次系统调查,以期为黄河河岸带植被多样性的保护、河岸带的开发管理提供理论支持。对群落的物种组成、多样性进行了分析,并采用双向指示种分析法对黄河干流河岸带植被进行了数量分类。共采集到木本和草本植物169种,隶属于37科124属。区系分析表明黄河干流河岸带植被区系地理成分多样。空间分布方面,中游河段草本植物无论在种类数、密度、生物量上都较上游和下游河段丰富。TWINSPAN将植被划分为17个群落,论述了各群落的特征。环境分析表明,影响黄河干流河岸带植被空间分布的主要生态因子是海拔、年均气温、年均降雨量、年均径流量和平均最大流速。       

河岸带生态系统植被与土壤对水文变化的响应研究进展

河岸带的植被与土壤是生态系统重要组成部分,对于维持河岸带的生态健康、生态系统服务与可持续性具有至关重要的作用。水文变化是河岸带生态系统的首要干扰因子,系统总结了水文变化对河岸带植被的特征以及植被形态、群落分布、繁殖、生存策略的影响,并阐述了河岸带水文和植被对土壤氮磷迁移转化的影响机制。根系作为土壤与植物地上部分之间物质、能量流动与信号传导的关键纽带,目前对根系的研究还较欠缺,需要加强水文变化对河岸带湿地植物根系形态、结构、功能特征的影响机理研究,以及湿地植物对水文变化的适应机制和耐受阈值方面的探究。在微观方面,应加强水文变化与植被等多因素耦合对土壤氮磷迁移转化过程的机理研究。河流形态和土壤的多样性决定着河岸带水文作用特征的复杂性,今后需注重河岸带个性特征与水文响应的关系研究。河岸带是横向的水陆生态过渡带和河流上下游的纵向生态廊道,亟需综合考虑和模拟流域土壤、植被与水文、人类活动之间的耦合关系,预测未来气候与社会经济情境下的河岸带生态系统演变规律,为河岸带生态系统的生态调节、生物多样性保护与生态恢复等提供理论依据与技术支撑。     

Changes in vegetation and soil properties following 6 years of enclosure in riparian corridors

河岸带是维持生物多样性的重要生态系统之一。然而,由于过度放牧引起的植被消耗和过度开垦等人类活动的干扰,河岸带植被多样性和植被盖度受到严重的破坏,甚至威胁了河道的稳定性。围栏封育在退化草地生态系统修复中被广泛应用,但对退化河岸带植被群落和土壤性质的影响尚不明确。本研究的目的旨在明确围封的实施是否会促进河岸带植被群落的物种组成、物种丰富度和物种多样性恢复,土壤氧分如何随围封年限的增加而变化。辽河干流自2012年起被围栏封育管理,本研究在辽河干流河岸带沿岸设置了20个草本群落长期观测样地,记录了2012–2017年样地中植被高度、盖度和个体数量等参数用于物种丰富度和物种多样性的统计分析。同时,分别测定了2012年和2017年植被群落土壤氧分含量,验证了植被群落和土壤氧分对围封的反馈,研究了2012–2017年辽河干流河岸带的围栏封育对物种多样性和土壤氧分的影响。结果表明,随着围封年限的增加,辽河干流河岸带草本群落植被丰富度和多样性显著增加。物种组成方面,菊科植物的优势度显著增加,禾本科植物优势度显著下降。围封后植被群落的恢复和禁止耕作,加速了土壤中磷和钾的消耗,表现为显著降低,土壤有机质含量对围封的响应表现的相对滞后,并没有显著变化。综上所述,本研究为河岸带植被群落物种多样性、物种组成对围封的响应提供了新的见解。     

广西桂林漓江河岸带植被配置类型与退化机制研究

河岸带植被结构与组成等配置状况直接影响其稳定河岸、净化水质、生物多样性、生物栖息地以及旅游景观等重要功能。查明漓江河岸带主要植被配置类型及其各自退化表现、原因与恢复途径, 是开展河岸带退化植被恢复的基础与前提。该研究通过野外实地调查与测量, 对漓江桂林-阳朔河段 51 个河岸带断面的地形、土壤、植被等进行了系统调查, 分析了河岸带植被退化的主要表现、主导干扰因素, 并通过流域与河岸带尺度综合的角度 , 提出了漓江河岸带植被恢复的思路。从岸坡地形与植被组合出发, 按照自然、近自然、人工等干扰程度 , 广西漓江河岸带可划分为江心洲宽滩地疏林灌草自然型、丘陵陡坡林灌草自然型、平原农田缓坡灌草近自然型、平原滩地林草近自然型、聚落阶地疏灌林草人工-自然混合型、城镇岸坡林草人工型等 6 种典型植被配置模式。漓江河岸带植被退化主要表现为多样性差、景观破碎、生态功能弱 , 而城镇、交通、旅游等不合理开发建设是主导性的干扰因素。从生态稳定和景观美观的角度 , 提出了漓江河岸带植被恢复与优化的思路, 以期为广西漓江河岸带生态修复提供科学依据。     

荒漠区垂直河岸带植物多样性格局及其成因

荒漠区河岸植物多样性格局特征和影响机制研究可为河岸带生物多样性保护和管理提供依据。艾比湖荒漠区垂直河岸样带的植物多样性格局及其土壤影响机制的研究表明:(1)距河2.0—3.0 km(T3.0)和0.9—1.5 km(T1.5)的样带植物本质多样性、α多样性整体高于距河0.1—0.2 km(T0.2)和0.2—0.4 km(T0.4)的样带(P0.05);(2)T0.4样带多样性最低,物种相似性最高,且植物生活型和土壤属性均较T0.2有较大的变化,反映了距河0.2—0.4 km区域群落性质的转变,0.2—0.4 km可作为确定河岸带宽度的参考样带;(3)影响植物多样性的土壤因素和途径沿T0.2—T3.0样带趋于简单化,即由近河带(T0.2)贫营养(碳磷比(C/P)、土壤有机质(SOM))和高土壤水分(SWC)、盐分(TS)的限制作用,到远离河流旱胁迫加剧时对植物多样性影响逐渐突出的土壤全磷(P)和SWC;(4)根据T1.5、T3.0植物多样性特征,研究区土壤水分在7.0—7.5%间,C/P在26.1—30.2之间以及盐分低于1.0%时能维持较高的多样性。最后对保护区河岸带和缓冲带宽度的确定、河岸带管理、植被资源保护以及生态系统恢复等提出针对性建议,以期为制定有效的河岸带生物多样性维护和资源管理对策提供理论参考和科学依据。     

金马河温江段河岸带不同生境植物物种多样性与土壤理化性质的动态变化

为评价植被恢复过程中生物多样性和土壤性质的变化,对2015和2018年金马河温江段河岸带内河滩地、砾石地、芦苇地、斑茅地和沙坑地5种生境的植物多样性和土壤理化性质进行了比较分析.结果表明,2015年金马河温江段河岸带共有32科80属113种草本植物,2018年共有57科118属161种草本、灌木植物,以河滩地和斑茅地的...     

河岸带生态系统退化机制及其恢复研究进展

恢复和重建自然和人为干扰导致的退化河岸带生态系统是目前恢复生态学、流域生态学等学科研究的重要内容之一．对河岸带生态系统的干扰表现在河流水文特征改变、河岸带直接干扰和流域尺度干扰3个方面,分别具有不同的影响机制．河流水文特征改变通过改变河岸土壤湿度、氧化还原电位、生物生存环境以及沉积物传输规律对河岸带生态系统产生影响;河岸带直接干扰通过人类活动及外来物种入侵而直接影响河岸带植被多样性;流域尺度干扰则主要表现在河道刷深、河道淤积、河岸带地下水位降低和河流冲刷过程改变等．河岸带生态恢复评价对象包括河岸带生态系统各要素,评价指标已从单一的生态指标转向综合性指标．河岸带生态恢复应在景观或者流域尺度上进行考虑,识别对其影响的生物和物理过程以及导致其退化的干扰因子,通过植被重建与水文调控来进行．扩展研究尺度和研究对象及采用多学科的研究方法将是今后相关研究中的重要问题．     

基于生态单元制图的宝鸡市城区生物多样性保护规划研究

为探寻适合我国城乡生物多样性保护的有效措施和方法,以宝鸡城区为研究对象,通过实地调研和室内制图相结合的研究方法,创建一套融入植被结构因子(植被水平结构因子、植被优势种的年龄因子、植被垂直结构因子、林木类型因子)的生态单元分类系统,将研究区域内的城市绿地现状以图谱形式表示。通过对不同植被结构的绿地中维管束植物物种丰富度的对比,以检验此分类系统在城乡生物多样性信息采集中的有效性。基于制图信息和检验结果,分析研究区域内绿地空间结构存在的问题并针对宝鸡市城乡生物多样性保护提出相应策略,以期为今后我国城乡生物多样性保护提供理论依据和实践方法。     

安庆西江长江江豚迁地保护基地河岸带植物群落结构特征

安庆西江是长江下游唯一的长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)迁地保护区。为了解安庆西江河岸带植物群落结构, 进而评价西江长江江豚栖息地的生境情况, 于2017年夏季对西江河岸带10个断面的植被进行了系统调查。研究结果表明, 西江河岸带植被中共有维管植物166种, 隶属于50科131属, 其中藻类植物1科1属1种, 蕨类植物1科1属2种, 种子植物48科129属163种, 以蝶形花科、菊科、禾本科为优势科, 科、属的分布类型较为丰富。对植物群落结构分析的结果显示, Shannon-Wiener指数变幅为0.213—0.899, 均值为0.629±0.399; Simpson指数变幅为0.135—0.465, 均值为0.315±0.204, 物种丰富度变化范围在3—14, 多样性指数与丰富度指数变化一致。西江河岸带植被分布还呈现出显著的空间特征, 两岸受人类活动影响较大的区域, 河岸带植被多样性指数较低; 自然区域的植物覆盖面积大, 群落多样性指数和丰富度则较高。总体而言, 西江河岸带植被物种丰富, 覆盖率高, 既可以改善水质, 又可以为小型定居性鱼类提供良好的产卵场和索饵场, 对于维持长江江豚迁地种群的栖息和繁衍生境具有重要意义。     

九龙江源头山地河流河岸带植物区系研究

在野外调查、标本采集和综合分析国内有关山地河流河岸带植被研究的基础上,探讨山地河流河岸带植物区系特征。调查表明：九龙江源头山地河流共有维管植物145科390属574种,其中蕨类植物29科54属80种,裸子植物6科8属10种,被子植物110科328属484种。综合分析表明,山地河流（以九龙江源头河段为例）河岸带植被具有如下典型特征：（1）植物区系组成丰富,优势科、属明显,单型属、单种属和少种属,单种科、少种科比例大;（2）植物区系起源古老,珍稀、孑遗植物众多;（3）区系地理成分复杂,联系广泛,能充分反映区域气候、地形地貌和人为活动等自然和人为干扰条件。表明山地河流河岸带在区域生物多样性保护中具有极其重要的价值。     

Airborne pollen records and their potential applications to the conservation of biodiversity

The magnitude and complexity of the current erosion of plant biodiversity call for the development of interdisciplinary tools that enable an early detection of its effects and the establishment of effective management strategies. Indeed, plant sciences face the complex task of identifying the ecological information needed for the conservation challenge. Along this line should be placed the approach of aerobiology to gather the essential information for the development of plant recovery guidelines. In this work, we aim to discuss the potential role of airborne pollen monitoring in providing relevant data for the protection of plants and its potential applications to the management of plant diversity. To this end, we review three study cases where aerobiological monitoring can provide significant insights on conservation science. The present study is a contribution to plant conservation biology through long-term aeropalynological sampling, on the basis that pollen records constitute a suitable indicator for evaluating resource conservation of vegetation responding to environmental fluctuations. In view of its position between botany and meteorology, the contribution of aerobiological knowledge to biodiversity conservation can be very relevant and should be explored thoroughly.     

基于植物多样性特征的武汉市城市湖泊湿地植被分类保护和恢复

湿地植被多样性特征及其影响因素的调查分析是湿地植被保护与恢复策略制定的基础。借鉴生物多样性热点分析原理,在武汉市城市湖泊湿地植物多样性调查的基础上,研究了湖泊湿地的植被多样性特征,探讨了城市湖泊湿地植被分类保护与恢复对策。结果表明,武汉市湿地维管束植物的物种丰富度、植物多样性、优势度和均匀度指数在各湖泊间的变化趋势较为一致,但在空间变化幅度上存在一定差异。按照物种丰富度、多样性、优势度、均匀度、湿地植被群丛数目,以及典型湿地植物的物种所占比例、丰富度和优势度的差异,可将调查涉及的26个典型湖泊湿地分为原生植被湖泊、次生植被湖泊、人工植被湖泊和退化植被湖泊4类。原生植被湖泊应建立相对严格的湿地保护区,优先保护原有湿地植被。次生植被湖泊最多,城市发展区内的次生植被湖泊应建立30-100m的植被缓冲带,促进植被自然恢复和发育;而农业区的次生植被湖泊应引导和规范湖泊周围的农业生产模式,以减少人类活动干扰。人工植被湖泊应通过建立城市湿地公园,人工促进植被的近自然恢复。而退化植被湖泊则应尽快采用生态工程法促进湿地植被生境改善,并积极开展近自然湿地植被重建与恢复。     

Spatial analysis of Tasmania’s native vegetation cover and potential implications for biodiversity conservation

Summary The landscape modification model proposed by McIntyre and Hobbs (1999) was used to assess the modification of Tasmania’s native vegetation and its potential implications for biodiversity conservation. The inclusion of new ‘substates’ in the model allowed the varying degrees of landscape variegation and fragmentation observed in Tasmania to be quantified. The mapped extent of Tasmania’s native vegetation is approximately 5.06 million ha or 74% of the land area. The extent of native vegetation varies across bioregions from a low of around 36% in the Tasmanian Northern Midlands bioregion to a high of 94% in the Tasmanian West bioregion. Overall, the Tasmanian landscape can be described as medium variegated as the State retains 76% cover of native vegetation, by area. Two of Tasmania’s nine bioregions are in an intact state, four are variegated, and three are fragmented. Seven of the State’s 48 catchments are in an intact state, 24 catchments are variegated, and 17 are fragmented. Tasmania was estimated to support 33 760 patches of native vegetation. Fewer than 3% of these patches exceed 50 ha in area. Small and medium patches occur predominantly on freehold land with grazing as a major land use, whereas large patches occur predominantly on crown land with conservation and production forestry as the major land uses. One feature of the State’s native vegetation is the large tract of native vegetation ecosystems in western Tasmania. Opportunities arise to sustain the resilience of these native ecosystems both by consolidating the formal protection of vegetation within catchments such as the Arthur and Pieman and by strengthening environmental management in adjacent areas. Bioregions and catchments where climate change may be of particular concern for biodiversity conservation and management include the Tasmanian Northern Midlands bioregion and Cam catchment in north‐western Tasmania. The maintenance and enhancement of patches of remnant vegetation in these areas will be challenging and appears likely to require strategic, multiscale and coordinated natural resource management over decades. Limiting the loss of native vegetation across the entire range of landscape states in Tasmania appears essential to mitigate the further decline of biodiversity.     

Mammal indicator species for protected areas and managed forests in a landscape conservation area of northern India

There is a realization that managed forests and other natural areas in the landscape matrix can and must make significant contributions to biodiversity conservation. Often, however, there are no consistent baseline vegetation or wildlife data for assessing the status of biodiversity elements across protected and managed areas for conservation planning, nor is there a rapid and efficient means to acquire those data. We used a unified vegetation classification and simple animal sampling design to describe the patterns of abundance of selected mammals as indicator, or characteristic, species in different vegetation types and protected areas vs. managed forest units in the Terai Conservation Area (TCA) in northern Uttar Pradesh state, India. We quantified the relative abundance of 15 mammals of conservation concern from dung counts in vegetation sampling plots within 122 sample patches in 13 vegetation types and 4 management units. Assemblages of species differed both among vegetation types and among management units. Species assemblages in the two protected areas differed strongly from those in two managed forests. Grasslands in protected areas were the most species diverse among vegetation types and had several indicator species. Protected forests were dominated by chital (Axis axis) and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in a second species group. A third species group in open grasslands and savannas in managed forests was characterized by cattle (Bos taurus) and Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis). Protected areas clearly are the core conservation area of the TCA for their relatively high habitat value and species diversity, and their protected status minimizes human disturbance. Impacts of human use are high in managed forests, indicating their compromised value for biodiversity conservation. Our simple assessment methodology gives managers a simple way to assess the status of important mammals across landscape conservation units.     

Managed livestock grazing for conservation outcomes in a Queensland fragmented landscape

Protecting native biodiversity is a difficult prospect in extremely modified landscapes, especially where high‐impact exotic species are widespread. Using new data and a review of the literature, this paper comments on the use of livestock grazing to manage the invasive and highly combustible pasture grass species, Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and thereby help conserve fire‐sensitive Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) vegetation in reserves in Queensland, Australia. We cite evidence that shows that grazing is a potentially useful management tool in such cases and its use can be compatible with the protection of both fire‐sensitive vegetation and other native plant species within the understorey. However, there are limitations in implementing grazing within conservation reserves including the lack of a clear understanding of the influence of grazing on biodiversity and resource condition. Importantly, we highlight secondary invasion by the exotic grass Indian Couch (Bothriochloa pertusa) as a key emerging threat that may undermine the biodiversity benefits gained by grazing in reserves. Grazing can be a useful tool for conservation management in particular scenarios, but the associated risks demand accompanying monitoring and reporting of positive and negative impacts to ensure the fundamental aim of biodiversity protection is being achieved.     

A novel approach to assess livestock management effects on biodiversity of drylands

In drylands livestock grazing is the main production activity, but overgrazing due to mismanagement is a major cause of biodiversity loss. Continuous grazing around water sources generates a radial gradient of grazing intensity called the piosphere. The ecological sustainability of this system is questionable and alternative management needs to be evaluated. We apply simple indicators of species response to grazing gradients, and we propose a novel methodological approach to compare community response to grazing gradients (double reciprocal analysis). We assessed degradation gradients of biodiversity under different management strategies in semiarid rangelands of the Monte desert (Argentina) by analyzing changes in vegetation, ants and small mammal richness and diversity, and variation due to seasonality. At the species level, we determined the trend in abundance of each species along the gradient, and the potential cross-taxa surrogacy. At the community level, the new methodological consists of assessing the magnitude of biodiversity degradation along different piospheres by comparing the slopes of linear functions obtained by the double reciprocal analysis. We found that most species showed a decreasing trend along the gradient under continuous grazing; while under rotational grazing fewer species showed a decreasing trend, and a neutral trend (no change in the abundance along the gradient of grazing intensity) was the most common. We found that vegetation cannot be used as a surrogacy taxon of animal response. Moreover, weak cross-taxa surrogacy was found only for animal assemblages during the wet season. The double reciprocal analysis allowed for comparison of multi-taxa response under different seasons and management types. By its application, we found that constrains in precipitation interacted with disturbance by increasing the negative effect of grazing on vegetation, but not on animal assemblages. Continuous grazing causes biodiversity loss in all situations. Rotational grazing prevents the occurrence of vegetation degradation and maintains higher levels of animal diversity, acting as an opportunity for biodiversity conservation under current scenarios of land use extensification. Our approach highlights the importance of considering multi-taxa and intrinsic variability in the analysis, and should be of value to managers concerned with biodiversity conservation.     

Habitat Fragmentation Intensifies Trade-Offs between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Heathland Ecosystem in Southern England

While habitat fragmentation represents a major threat to global biodiversity, its impacts on provision of ecosystem services are largely unknown. We analysed biodiversity value and provision of multiple ecosystem services in 110 fragments of lowland heathland ecosystems in southern England, in which vegetation dynamics have been monitored for over 30 years. Decreasing fragment size was found to be associated with a decrease in biodiversity and recreational values, but an increase in relative carbon storage, aesthetic value and timber value. The trade-off between either biodiversity or recreational values with the other ecosystem services therefore became more pronounced as heathland size decreased. This was attributed to a higher rate of woody succession in smaller heathland fragments over the past three decades, and contrasting values of different successional vegetation types for biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services. These results suggest that habitat fragmentation can reduce the potential for developing “win win” solutions that contribute to biodiversity conservation while also supporting socio-economic development. Approaches to multi-purpose management of fragmented landscapes should therefore consider the potential trade-offs in ecosystem services and biodiversity associated with fragmentation, in order to make an effective contribution to sustainable development.     

Surface-active arthropods in organic vineyards,integrated vineyards and natural habitat in the Cape Floristic Region

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa, is a biodiversity hotspot challenged by intensive wine production. Innovative approaches are being explored to optimize wine production without compromising biodiversity. As organic farming enhances biodiversity conservation in many other regions, the aim here was to assess the potential of organic vineyard management for conserving CFR soil surface arthropod diversity. Pitfall traps were used to sample arthropods in three study areas, each of which included an organic vineyard, an integrated vineyard and a natural vegetation reference habitat. Overall arthropod morphospecies richness was highest in natural sites, followed by organic vineyards and then integrated vineyards. The same trend was seen for predators, saprophages and phytophages. The ability of organic vineyards to sustain more morphospecies than integrated vineyards were partially due to higher non-crop vegetation complexity and less intense management in the organic vineyards. Arthropod assemblages were similar in organic and integrated vineyards, while both land-uses differed greatly from natural sites. Variation among natural vegetation assemblages in different study areas was also much greater than among assemblages of cultivated sites. Organic vineyard management has the potential to make an important contribution to arthropod conservation in the CFR at the field scale. However, at the landscape scale, natural habitat supports a much wider variety of morphospecies, and the preservation of natural fragments in the vineyard landscape may be the most effective measure to increase biodiversity in the winelands.     

Climate change promotes transitions to tall evergreen vegetation in tropical Asia

Vegetation in tropical Asia is highly diverse due to large environmental gradients and heterogeneity of landscapes. This biodiversity is threatened by intense land use and climate change. However, despite the rich biodiversity and the dense human population, tropical Asia is often underrepresented in global biodiversity assessments. Understanding how climate change influences the remaining areas of natural vegetation is therefore highly important for conservation planning. Here, we used the adaptive Dynamic Global Vegetation Model version 2 (aDGVM2) to simulate impacts of climate change and elevated CO₂ on vegetation formations in tropical Asia for an ensemble of climate change scenarios. We used climate forcing from five different climate models for representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. We found that vegetation in tropical Asia will remain a carbon sink until 2099, and that vegetation biomass increases of up to 28% by 2099 are associated with transitions from small to tall woody vegetation and from deciduous to evergreen vegetation. Patterns of phenology were less responsive to climate change and elevated CO₂ than biomes and biomass, indicating that the selection of variables and methods used to detect vegetation changes is crucial. Model simulations revealed substantial variation within the ensemble, both in biomass increases and in distributions of different biome types. Our results have important implications for management policy, because they suggest that large ensembles of climate models and scenarios are required to assess a wide range of potential future trajectories of vegetation change and to develop robust management plans. Furthermore, our results highlight open ecosystems with low tree cover as most threatened by climate change, indicating potential conflicts of interest between biodiversity conservation in open ecosystems and active afforestation to enhance carbon sequestration.     

Priority areas for the conservation of South African vegetation: a coarse-filter approach

Abstract.  South Africa has an important responsibility to global biodiversity conservation, but a largely inadequate conservation area network for addressing this responsibility. This study employs a coarse-filter approach based on 68 potential vegetation units to identify areas that are largely transformed, degraded or impacted upon by road-effects. The assessment highlights broad vegetation types that face high biodiversity losses currently or in the near future due to human impacts. Most vegetation types contain large tracts of natural vegetation, with little degradation, transformation or impacts from road networks. Regions in the grasslands, fynbos and forest biomes are worst affected. Very few of the vegetation types are adequately protected according to the IUCN's 10% protected area conservation target, with the fynbos and savanna biomes containing a few vegetation types that do achieve this arbitrary goal. This investigation identifies areas where limited conservation resources should be concentrated by identifying vegetation types with high levels of anthropogenic land use threats and associated current and potential biodiversity loss.