Vertical distribution of two sympatric labrid fishes in the Western Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic rocky subtidal: local shore topography does matter

Changes in the shore topography (e.g. slope) occur at a scale of hundreds of meters in several locations in the Lusitanian and the Mediterranean Sea provinces. We tested whether differences in the bottom inclination might affect the vertical distribution patterns of two sympatric coastal labrid fishes, the rainbow wrasse Coris julis and the ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo. Visual censuses were used to determine the distribution and abundance of these labrid species in high (≥30°) and low (≤3°) slope rocky substrates covered by brown macroalgae and at two different depths (shallow, 4–7 m, and deep 14–20 m). Pectoral fin aspect ratio was used as an estimate of swimming performance to potentially explain the patterns observed. Despite the intrinsic biogeographical differences in the overall density of T. pavo and C. julis, on steep coasts the ornate wrasse dominated in shallow waters, whereas the two species coexisted both in shallow and deeper depths on gentle slope coasts. These distribution patterns were consistent across locations, and fin aspect ratio was not a good predictor of between‐habitat use for wrasses. We show that, under specific topographical conditions, the depth segregation pattern seems to be an interactive segregation (likely related to resource competition) rather than a result of selective segregation due to morphological differences in the pectoral fin. Significant ecological changes might occur in locations where the density of T. pavo has recently increased as a result of water warming.     

Representation of Ecological Regions by Protected Areas at the Global Scale

Over the past 30 years, conservationists have sought ways to assess the quality of coverage provided by protected areas and to guide future site selection. One scheme among these addresses the degree to which areas protected for environmental conservation are representative of the ecological regions of a specified area. This has already been attempted at the scale of countries and regions. With the recent publication of the World Database of Protected Areas, quantitative analysis of representativeness at the global scale is finally feasible. We use GIS technology to overlay a map of ecological regions with a map of protected areas in order to identify biomes and geographic realms that are "under-represented" and "well represented" by protected areas. The results confirm an overemphasis on marginal land and dramatic landscapes, and the relative neglect of biomes with strong, alternative economic uses. Smaller biomes are typically better protected, as are those that have been targeted by conservation campaigns. Industrialized lifestyles and population pressure also appear to act as stimuli to protection. Our discussion suggests that analyses of patterns of representation are critical, but "over-representing" certain ecosystems—particularly those that contain high levels of biodiversity or are most threatened—should not be discounted as a conservation strategy.     

中国水生态区划方法体系及淮河范例研究(英文)

本文提出的水生态区划方法体系包括指导思想、基本原则、分区方法、命名与编码规则几个部分。其核心指导思想是科学发展观及人与自然和谐的理念;基本原则有区域相关性原则、协调原则、主导功能原则和分及区划原则;分区方法、命名与编码规则则随分区等级和研究尺度而异。本文采用2级分区的思路,提出了全国水生态区划分方案,包括6个水生态一级区和34个水生态二级区。基于以下3类7种水生态服务功能:水生态保育类(包括水源涵养、水土保持和物种保护),水生态调控类(包括洪水调蓄和生境维持),水生态服务类(包括产品提供和景观保障),以淮河流域为例,将3级水生态区划方法应用于流域尺度。在实例区共划分出2个水生态一级区、3个水生态二级区和21个水生态三级区。     

Typology of streams in Germany based on benthic invertebrates: Ecoregions, zonation, geology and substrate

Based on 390 benthic invertebrate samples from near-natural streams in Germany we defined eight stream type groups by Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS). The taxa lists were restricted to Mollusca, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Coleoptera and Trichoptera species and evaluated on presence/absence level. At genus level, streams located in the lowlands differ from streams in lower mountainous areas and the Alps, while the two latter groups were undistinguishable. At species level, a clear separation of different stream size classes is visible in the lowlands; a second gradient is related to the bottom substrate. Streams in the Alps can be distinguished from streams in lower mountainous areas at species level. Within the lower mountainous regions a size gradient is detectable, a less obvious gradient indicates catchment geology. The resulting “bottom-up” stream typology is compared to other stream typological systems in Germany.     

湖泊型流域水生态功能分区的理论与应用

地域分异是地理学核心研究方向之一,水生态功能分区是地学分区面向生态环境领域的发展和应用。基于水生态分区的管理是流域水环境管理的趋势,流域水生态功能分区是建立中国新型水环境管理的基础。论文在界定水生态功能分区涉及的主要概念基础上,分析了湖泊型流域水生态系统的尺度,为湖泊型流域水生态功能分区体系的建立奠定了理论基础;根据分区的目的,建立了分区的原则和指标体系,研发了分区技术、结果验证校核方法;以巢湖流域为例,进行了一级至四级水生态功能分区,并对分区结果进行验证。湖泊型流域水生态功能分区有助于丰富地域分异规律研究,对水生态目标管理的理论与方法具有指导作用。     

生态区边界智能识别模型构建分析

大量生态分区研究资料表明,对生态区边界的智能识别、自动分区是生态格局与过程、生态系统服务功能等生态环境研究内容的关键。本文基于专家知识经验和生态分区原则,以地理信息系统为建模平台,运用栅格生成技术,对生态区边界智能识别模型进行机理探讨和框架构建。生态区边界的自动识别和生态区的自动分区,旨在克服目前生态区边界确定过程中的精度低、周期长、更新难等诸多问题。这对数字生态建设也有重要的现实意义。     

生态区评价中的空间范围确定及其对全球变化的响应——自然单元、社会单元与信息单元的复合

针对正在兴起的集科学、政策、管理于一体进行综合分析的"生态区评价”理论与方法,本项研究就生态区评价中的空间范围确定的方法进行了探讨,并就其对全球变化的响应机制进行了讨论.提出把自然单元、社会单元和信息单元进行复合(集成)的概念化模型,并以此论证了生态区重要性与安全性水平排序的系统分析法.     

Unnatural Selection: An Analysis of the Ecological Representativeness of Natural World Heritage Sites*

In 1994, the World Heritage Committee adopted a strategy to make World Heritage Sites more “representative.” This article assesses the biogeographic representativeness of natural World Heritage Sites, identifying well‐represented and underrepresented biomes and ecological realms. The analysis reveals that sites are not representative in biogeographic terms. However, the identification of an optimal definition of representation is a controversial challenge. Furthermore, the value of representativeness as a goal for a program geared toward protecting exceptional sites is questionable. Instead, representativeness is of greater importance across all protected areas, leaving the World Heritage Convention to fulfill its original mission of protecting the “outstanding.”     

内蒙中部地区不同生态区土地利用 格局分布特征

土地利用变化对全球变化和可持续发展有着深刻的影响,同时生态背景因素对土地利用变化也有着相应的反馈关系。采用单元匹配和空间叠加分析的方法,分析了内蒙古中部地区不同自然生态区土地利用空间分布格局特征。其结果表明：不同的生态因素对土地利用空间分布的约束状况不同,土地利用在数量结构和空间格局两个方面存在很强的地带性差异。