Landscape and Ecological Engineering最新文献

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.

Abstract

Mangroves are estuarine and coastal ecosystems strongly influenced by the local tidal regime and climate, so there is a strong variation between seasons of the year. Assessing seasonal characteristics and fluctuations allows for an understanding of changes in mangrove ecosystems during each period of the year. In this study, we used images collected from the Multispectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to determine the current status and fluctuations between summer and winter of the mangrove area of Dong Rui commune according to five vegetation indicators, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), and Green Chlorophyll Index (GCI). The results show that the current state of mangroves in the UAV flight area is relatively good, with the value of vegetation indicators at a high level. In the summer, the value of vegetation indicators is stable and higher than in the winter. In low-tide areas, vegetation index values fluctuate higher than in high-tide areas. Based on the results of the analysis of vegetation indicators, the degree of correlation between NDVI and the remaining four values was determined. The results showed that the correlation coefficient was at a high level, with the highest being between NDVI and SAVI with a correlation coefficient of approximately equal to 1, followed by NDVI and EVI with a correlation coefficient above 0.9. We propose that UAV is an effective tool for monitoring and assessing fluctuations, serving the management and conservation of mangrove ecosystems.

Semi-captive elephants have been extensively used in the tourism sector in Myanmar. However, these elephants have not been provided with the range of habitats they require, resulting in increased Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) within the local community. In addition, there are very limited studies on the assessment of their home ranges, habitat preferences, and preferred food plants. We aimed to address three research questions: (1) What is the size of semi-captive elephants’ daily home range? (2) In which habitat types do they prefer to stay? (3) What are their preferred food plants? We fitted GPS devices on the six semi-captive elephants 3–4 times a month in three study sites over seven months. The sample collection of food plants was carried out at each site. The results indicated that the mean average size of the daily home range for semi-captive elephants was 0.90 km² (95% KDE), with a range of 0.38 to 2.38 km². We found that the habitat provided for semi-captive elephants was not large enough to be inhabited. The analysis of habitat selection showed that elephants prefer to use secondary forests. The Poaceae family was found to be the main food taxon. We suggest that more areas be provided around elephant camps and that the currently permitted habitats be protected from land use that overlaps with other forestry operations.

Recently, rapid urbanization has contributed to an increasingly dominant trend of people congregating around river basins. As a result, significant changes in land use structure occur, leading to alterations in ecosystem structure and gradual degradation of ecological service functions. Using the DLB (Dianchi Lake Basin) in southwestern China as the research area, this essay analyzed its land use structure in 2020 and constructed an urban eco-resilience evaluation system based on the three dimensions of “resistibility, adaptability, and recuperability” derived from the eco-resilience theory. Meanwhile, the physical coupling model was used to calculate the coupling coordination degree of land use and eco-resilience in the area. Research shows: (1) the DLB is a complete and relatively independent ecosystem, with diverse land use types in the watershed, and the land use structure of the watershed is related to altitude and economic development; (2) the overall eco-resilience of the area has significant spatial differences in distribution. The eco-resilience of the lakeside built-up area is the lowest eco-resilience, and the regions with higher resilience are primarily those surrounding the lake or hills. (3) According to the coupling coordination degree model, the calculated coupling degree of land use and eco-resilience is 0.49, and the coordination degree is 0.38, indicating early stages of the coupling coordination progress. This paper developed a comprehensive evaluation model of land use and river basin eco-resilience, and studied the coupling relationship between the two. This holds theoretical and practical significance for ecological protection and sustainable development of DLB.