整合空间信息在生物多样性丧失等研究中的重要性

无数证据表明,地球可能正经历着有史以来的第六次物种大灭绝。在这一背景下,研究生物多样性丧失机制及其对生态系统功能的影响具有重要意义。从先前的相关研究中,已逐渐清晰地认识到造成多样性丧失的几大机制,并对这些机制发生的空间尺度有了一定了解。然而,空间本身对多样性丧失研究的影响仍被该领域的很多研究所忽视。因为生物多样性丧失过程发生在不同空间尺度中,所造成的多样性丧失格局也具有不同的空间尺度特征。忽略空间信息很可能会对多样性丧失等相关研究造成很大干扰,甚至得出错误的结论,其结果也很难正确地运用于不同空间尺度的多样性保护当中。整合空间信息已成为当前生物多样性丧失研究,乃至整个生态学研究的前沿和热点之一。为促进这一趋势在国内的发展,将结合多样性丧失的估计与监测、几大多样性丧失机制(全球环境变化与生境片段化、生物入侵等)来阐述空间信息对当前及今后多样性丧失机制研究的重要性,并用实例展示未充分考虑空间信息而可能造成的后果。最后探讨我国当前科技条件下进行整合空间信息的生物多样性丧失等研究的可行性。

The importance of integration of spatial information in the study of biodiversity loss

Evidence indicates that the sixth mass extinction might already be upon us or imminent. In this context, it is of vital importance to study mechanisms of biodiversity loss and its influence on ecosystem function. From the previous researches, we have learned several main processes causing biodiversity loss, and have some preliminary understanding of their spatial scales on biodiversity loss. However, effect of spatial per se on the biodiversity loss research are still neglected by many studies in this field Because the processes of biodiversity loss occur in various spatial scales, the patterns of biodiversity loss created by these processes should have different characteristics among spatial scales. Ignoring the spatial information is likely to add bias in diversity loss and other related researches, and even draws wrong conclusions that lead improper applications at different spatial scales in the biodiversity protection. Integration of spatial information has become one of the frontiers or hot topics in the current biodiversity loss research, or even in the whole ecological researches. In order to promote domestic development of this trend, this article elaborated the importance of spatial information on contemporary and future biodiversity loss researches from the following two perspectives, estimation and monitoring of biodiversity loss, and several main mechanisms of biodiversity loss （e.g. global environmental change, habitat fragmentation and biological invasion, et al.）. Possible problems and consequences of not fully taking into account of the spatial information in biodiversity loss researches were also illustrated by examples. Finally, feasibility and practicability of integrating spatial information into the study of biodiversity loss were discussed under current infrastructures of science and technology in China.