Landscape and Ecological Engineering最新文献

Human activities affect all ecosystems, within that the grasslands have often been subject to intensive modification due to agricultural use and fragmentation. The result is a biodiversity crisis, on which detailed agri-environment schemes can help. For the compilation of perspective schemes, it is crucial to know the minimal area that can provide habitats for stable, species-rich insect assemblages in optimal land use.

This research aimed to collect detailed data for phrasing patch-size centric conservation strategies on orthopteran assemblages, being an umbrella taxon, in two areas of the Pannonian Ecoregion. In narrow (radius = 25 m) and broader (r = 50, 75, 100 m) environments of the assemblages, we have searched for that habitat patch size, where the primary vegetation characteristics (cover, height, composition) affect the main features of the orthopteran assemblages and relative abundances of the species to the highest degree.

According to our results, ecotype diversity of orthopteran assemblages showed the strongest correlations with average maximum grassland height and density at the finest studied scale (r = 25 m). Still, the vegetation heterogeneity significantly determines the life-form diversity of the assemblages in the larger habitat patches. Consequently, a minimum of one hectare-sized well-managed habitat patches are needed to conserve diverse, species-rich orthopteran assemblages. Specific conservation implications are adequate for preserving the main characteristics of the minimal-sized grassland patches under global warming are simulate the traditional low-intensity land use (dominated by mowing diversified both spatially and temporally).

Frogs play crucial roles in ecosystems as both predator and prey within food webs. The decline in their populations is attributed, in part, to modern, intensive rice farming practices. In the Tajima region of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, a subset of farmers has embraced a “white stork friendly farming” (WSFF) method since 2003, which promotes environment-friendly rice production to preserve and restore biodiversity while aiding the reintroduction of the Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) into the ecosystem. Here, we hypothesize that the WSFF method has a positive impact on the conservation of black-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) populations inhabiting paddy fields. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the influence of the WSFF method on the population density of P. nigromaculatus. Using a line transect method, we identified and quantified individual frogs observed on the paddy field levees in June 2016. Subsequently, we analyzed the effects of rice production using the WSFF method and land-use factors on the frogs’ population density. Our findings indicate that P. nigromaculatus population density increased with the expansion of paddy-field areas managed under the WSFF method within a 100 m radius of the paddy-field center. These results suggest that rice production following the WSFF method has a positive impact on the conservation of this frog species.

Ecosystem service values are divided into three categories: direct use values, indirect use values, and non-use values. In this research, the economic value of ecosystem services in canola (Brassica napus L.) fields was investigated during 2020–2021. These fields are located in Gorgan County (Sorkhankalateh region) north of Iran. We calculated the carbon sequestration by the carbon emission tax policy as shadow value of carbon, and to estimate some ecosystem services including the oxygen supply, grain yield and soil conservation, we applied the substitute cost methods, direct market method and replacement cost, respectively. Also, the value of pollination service was estimated along with the effect of pollinators on yield production, and the value of agrotourism estimated based on contingent valuation method. In this research, the logit model was used by the maximum likelihood method to investigate the influencing factors on people's willingness to pay. The required data for each of these variables were collected through field methods, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 117 visitors from the mentioned region. The results showed that the average total value of ecosystem services was equal to 3,685.91$ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. In this research, the value of the provisioning service was equal to 1,720.81$ ha⁻¹. Also, the grain yield had the highest value among ecosystem services and accounted as 46.69 percent of all the ecosystem services. While, atmospheric services (oxygen production and carbon sequestration) included 1,155.12$ (31.34%), pollination 516.24$ (14.01%) and soil conservation 292.19$ (7.93%) of the total economic value. The share of agrotourism service from the total value of services was about 1.53$ (0.04%). In general, canola fields are more important in terms of provisioning services (grain yield) than regulating services such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, soil conservation and pollination, as well as agrotourism services. Therefore, maintaining and enhancing market and non-market services in the canola fields of the study area is crucial for both the human and economic aspects.

The functional connectivity of nature reserve networks affects species dispersal, conservation effectiveness and even the integrity of local ecosystems. Drastic land transformation might bring about challenges in the formation of nature reserve networks. In this study, we combined land cover data from 1992 to 2020 and terrestrial nature reserves to model potential ecological corridors with the least cost-weighted distance method in Guangdong Province, China. We analyzed the changes in potential ecological corridors and defined the variations in the cumulative cost-weighted distance with long-term land transformation. Inefficient corridors and conservation priorities were also identified. Our results indicate that the number, spatial distribution and patch pairing pattern of potential ecological corridors are affected by the increasing cost-weighted distance. Before 2015, the cost and total length of the potential ecological corridors increased and then decreased until 2020. The variations in potential ecological corridors are induced by the transformation of multiple land covers, with the expansion of croplands and urban areas, and the degradation of shrublands and grasslands. The grids with higher resistance values, namely, urban areas and croplands, in the potential ecological corridors increase, resulting in the increase of the functional connectivity cost. In terms of the composition of potential ecological corridors, compared with urban expansions, the proportion of cropland grids increased slightly but with a larger base and contributed more to the cost increase. Therefore, it is recommended that key ecological corridors and nodes are not to be utilized, which would increase dispersal cost of wild species, and we suggest a more dynamic and integral perspective for effectively managing land resources and designing regional ecological corridors.

The framework proposed in this article has investigated the effects of physical and vegetational features of tall building scapes on restoration likelihood. This framework focuses on the form of window openings and gaps in the building and, in the case of vegetation of tall building scapes, studies the amount and type of vegetation. Physical and vegetational variables were manipulated in simulation environments to obtain 120 color images. 54 participants in 6 groups evaluated these images based on restoration likelihood, fascination, being away, preference, perceived complexity, and perceived enclosure. Results indicated a more significant role of physical variables than vegetation in restoration likelihood. Moreover, increasing openings and gaps in the physics of a tall building has reduced restoration; however, they had no indirect effect on restoration through mediator variables of fascination and being away. Increasing vegetation and using more bulky vegetation (from flowers to trees and green walls) have shown positive effects on restoration and indirectly affected it through the mediator variable of being away. Moreover, analyzing different categories of physical and vegetational variables of tall building scapes showed that horizontal opening, absence of gap, increasing horizontal vegetation, and using more bulky vegetation significantly impact restoration (positively).

Abstract

In response to the constant loss of biodiversity in European ecosystems, which is partly due to the impacts of climate change, the European Commission urges member states to include Green Infrastructure (GI) in their land-use plans. However, although the European Commission establishes the fundamental principles to be applied, the ambiguity of some terms generates a certain degree of complexity regarding the delineation of GI elements, especially Ecological Corridors (ECs). Thus, a straightforward methodology for delineating GI elements is required. Here, we propose a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) that could help non-expert planners identify areas with a high potential to function as ECs and that could thus facilitate the inclusion of these areas in regional GI plans. Probability distribution maps were constructed by fitting a maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to publicly available data on selected focal species. The maps were combined with other variables that negatively affect species mobility and later inserted in a graph theory tool to determine the least-cost path that would serve as the basis for delineating ECs. The method was applied to the design of an EC network in Galicia (NW Spain), and use of the system as a tool to help spatial decision-making was evaluated. Despite some limitations, the method yielded promising results that could help non-expert planners to establish the basis for delineating EC networks and other GI elements.

Abstract

Owing to the rare occurrence of tsunamis in the Arabian Sea, and the lack of reliable records on them, tsunami preparedness has not been prioritized in plans for the development of coastal cities in the Middle East. However, an increase in the number of earthquakes in the region in the recent past has highlighted the vulnerability of low-lying coastal areas to tsunamis. We investigate the potential of date palm forests to mitigate tsunamis in the Middle East. Experiments were conducted at a scale of 1:100 to assess the effectiveness of forests in reducing the intensity of tsunamis. The reflection at the front of the forest was negligibly small when the depth of flow was lower than the height of the canopy, and increased with the height of the tsunami wave when the depth of flow was higher than the height of the canopy. This shows that the structure of the canopy of date palm trees is key to reducing the energy of the tsunami. The reduction in the maximum depth of flow behind the forest increased with the height of the tsunami when the forest was longer than 120 m. The largest reductions obtained in the depth and velocity of flow behind the forest were 37% and 40%, respectively, when the forest was 180 m long and the tsunami wave was 7 m high. The results suggest that a date palm forest with a length of at least 150 m on flat ground can mitigate tsunamis in the Middle East.

Coastal forests on sandy beaches in Japan are mainly established by Pinus thunbergii Parl.. These forests prevent and mitigate disasters such as wind, sand, tide, and tsunami. But Pinus thunbergii die-off is progressing nationwide in Japan and the function of coastal forests is declining. Therefore, a multi-tiered forest has been proposed composed of Pinus thunbergii and broadleaf trees instead of Pinus thunbergii trees. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated the shade-tolerance characteristics of the broadleaf trees that comprise these forests. To this end, we measured chlorophyll levels (SPAD value) in eight representative evergreen broadleaf tree species inhabiting coastal areas in Japan and evaluated their shade-tolerance.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) damage human activities by invading farmlands and farms in South Korea. Recently, research has been conducted to predict their mobility to prevent damage. This study predicted the movement of wild boars in Jinju-si (712.95 km²), South Korea. Home range analysis and point density analysis were conducted with the collected wild boar coordinate data, and two cost scenarios were constructed that were applied as weights in the basic resistance value (BR) based on previous studies. Using Circuitscape, the connectivity of wild boars’ movement applied with the two scenarios was predicted and the results were compared. As a result of home range analysis, wild boars primarily utilized forests compared to other land types. In the result of point density, only forest and grass were identified in C5, which had the highest density. As a result of connectivity analysis, the average current density of Scenario 1 was 0.75 (max = 2.52, min = 0.20), and the average current density of Scenario 2 was 0.75 (max = 2.26, min = 0.25). The visual differences in the results of the two scenarios were not significant. However, upon closer inspection of enlarged areas, discrepancies were observed, particularly around grass near water and grass surrounding used areas. Utilizing actual wild boar data, we identified the movement routes of wild boars, enhancing the ability to predict areas where they may appear. This study can be used as basic data when preparing damage prevention measures or establishing wild boar management plans in areas where wild boars are expected to appear.

Abstract

The UK has a long history of providing and managing urban parks. The formal park and garden, developed as a morally improving ‘place apart’ in the city, can inform people’s idea of what a park is. This paper aims to explore the legacy of this conceptualisation of the park through an extensive review of literature and policy documents. This paper examines prevailing discourses by locating them more accurately within its political, economic and social context of the times. The paper also examines why, despite being described as ‘treasured assets’ by national government today, UK urban parks continue to be undervalued and taken for granted? Why does the lamenting of the fate of UK urban parks sector persist in the twenty-first century? To answer this question, the paper will focus on the formal urban park by applying the analytical framework of place-keeping as a conceptualisation of long-term green space management and stewardship.