Characteristics and conservation of biodiversity in Xinjiang

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region covers nearly 1/6 territory of China, with vari-ous landscape patterns, environmental conditions and three key regions of biodiversity of China.The ecosystem here has a relatively simple structure and fragile ecological stability. The coverageof sparse vegetation here is only 2.1% which is far lower than 14%, the average coverage all overthe country. Although the fragile and unstable ecosystems are improved partly in the past, the totalsituation in Xinjiang has worsened (such as drying up of rivers and lakes, desertification andsalinization of soil, deterioration of meadow, reduction of biodiversity, etc.). Although the speciesnumbers of Xinjiang are few, the diversity of taxa is very high. The types of plant communities areabundant, and the flora abounds in one-species genus, one-genus family and few-species genus.Also, the fauna abounds in endangered species and endemic species, of which 108 species ofvertebrates were listed as nationally protected species. In addition, there are abundantanti-adversity gene pools. The present paper puts forwards several suggestions for biodiversityconservation in Xinjiang.     

Habitat, occurrence and conservation of Saharo-Arabian-Turanian element Forsskaolea tenacissima L. in the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this study is to assess the Iberian populations of Forsskaolea tenacissima L. according to its biogeographical interest, habitat, geographical range and conservation status. Results point out that they are restricted to gravel wadis of Tabernas Desert (SE Spain), are scarcely included in protected areas and represent historically isolated populations with relict behaviour. We also describe a new association, Senecioni-Forsskaoleetum tenacissimae. Conservation status of species is cause for concern and two conservation actions must be carried out. Firstly, protected areas should house Forsskaolea populations and secondly, phytosociological characterization of a community allows inventorying its habitat and directing conservation efforts to community level.     

南极海洋保护区建设及法律政治争论

《南极海洋生物资源养护公约》框架下的海洋保护区建设备受国际社会关注。2009年,南极海洋生物资源养护委员会建立了第一个海洋保护区,但2012年以来,罗斯海海洋保护区提案以及东南极海洋保护区代表体系提案却一直没有进展,其中涉及了南极条约体系解读与海洋保护区定义等法律争论、保护区建设与地缘政治控制以及排斥其他国家渔业活动等政治争论。研究表明,虽然委员会有权建立海洋保护区,以实现养护南极生物资源的目标,但两个提案一定程度上超越了委员会的职责范围;且这两个提案一定程度上都与提案国的南极领土主权以及渔业活动相关联,无法排除其他国家的政治关切;提案每年变化,也体现了政治妥协。因此,为真正实现按公约养护南极生物资源的目标,应切实解决相关的法律与政治关切,提高程序的透明度,扩大参与度,并认真实施对已建立的海洋保护区的研究与监测。     

镇江长江豚类省级自然保护区鱼类多样性及年际变化

【目的】调查了解镇江豚类保护区鱼类资源状况,丰富鱼类资源本底数据。【方法】于2013、2016和2019年,分别开展3次渔业资源调查,对该区域鱼类种类组成、优势种、体型大小及群落多样性进行统计分析。【结果】共记录鱼类68种属于7目13科47属;鲤形目(Cypriniformes)鱼类种类占比较为稳定,鲇形目(Siluriformes)鱼类资源量有下降趋势,鲈形目(Siluriformes)鱼类种类占比上升明显;不同年份优势种替代较为明显;2016年的物种丰富度指数和多样性指数最高,分别为6.528、3.026。【结论】保护区鱼类资源较为丰富,但不同年份鱼类群落变化较为明显,渔业资源面临小型化趋势。     

天然固定沙地与人工固沙植被区土壤种子库的比较研究

土壤种子库是退化生态系统植被恢复重建的重要基础,研究土壤种子库特征对于阐明退化生态系统受损与恢复机理具有重要的科学意义。通过野外土样采集、野外种子萌发定位跟踪调查和室内周期性种子萌发实验,对腾格里沙漠东南缘人工固沙植被区和天然固定沙地的土壤种子库特征进行了对比研究。结果表明：人工固沙植被区土壤种子库包含21个物种,分属于8科;天然固定沙地土壤种子库有33种植物,属于11科。人工固沙植被区以一年生植物为主,天然固定沙地以多年生植物为主。人工固沙植被区的种子总密度明显低于天然固定沙地,但不同物种种子的密度变化存在显著差异。人工固沙植被区的物种丰富度和多样性指数均较天然固定沙地低。人工固沙植被区和天然固定沙地的土壤种子库与地上植被物种的相似性系数分别为0.73和0.71。尽管人工固沙植被区土壤种子库存在少量多年生植物种子,但仍未发展到以多年生草本植物为主的群落演替阶段,说明人工固沙植被区的植物多样性恢复尚需要漫长的过程。     

Measuring the effect of an ongoing urbanization process on biodiversity conservation suitability index: integrating scenario-based urban growth modelling with Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS)

The present study adopts an integrative modelling methodology, which combines the strengths of the SLEUTH model and the Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS) method. By developing a scenario-based geographic information system simulation environment for Hashtpar City, Iran, the manageability of the landscape under each urban growth scenario is analysed. In addition, the CAPS approach was used for biodiversity conservation suitability mapping. The SLEUTH model was implemented to generate predictive urban layers of the years 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050 for each scenario (dynamic factors for conservation suitability mapping). Accordingly, conservation suitability surface of the area is updated for each time point and under each urban development storyline. Two-way analysis of variance and Duncan’s new multiple range tests were employed to compare the functionality of the three scenarios. Based on results, the managed urban growth scenario depicted better results for manageability of the landscape and less negative impact on conservation suitability values.     

甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐对黑土区农田土壤动物群落的影响

甲维盐属高效半合成抗生素杀虫剂。在哈尔滨市典型黑土农田区,研究不同浓度甲维盐处理对土壤动物群落结构的影响。结果表明:甲维盐处理显著降低了土壤动物群落的个体密度和类群数量,且这种趋势随着甲维盐浓度的增加而增强;显著改变了群落的垂直分布格局,表聚性特征被削弱,使动物较多地聚集于5~15 cm土层;改变了群落多样性特征,其中螨类和跳虫对多样性的贡献相对较大;显著改变了表层土壤化学性质,但不同动物类群对土壤环境变化的响应规律不同,螨类和跳虫对甲维盐干扰具有较强的适应能力。甲维盐处理可以显著改变黑土区农田土壤动物群落结构,浓度是影响该过程的重要因素,施用杀虫剂时需慎重评价其生态后果。     

Integration of InVEST-habitat quality model with landscape pattern indexes to assess mountain plant biodiversity change: A case study of Bailongjiang watershed in Gansu Province

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Mountains in western China, hosted rich biodiversity and millions of people and inhabitant with vital ecosystem services, had experienced the most serious...     

Human and Environmental Factors Affect Patterns of Crop Diversity in an Ethiopian Highland Agroecosystem

The Ethiopian highlands are a center of diversity for numerous globally important crops. Heterogeneous landscapes, traditional agricultural practices, and inaccessibility have created and maintained diverse subsistence agroecosystems. We surveyed sixty-three farms in twelve communities of the Gamo highlands and found high levels of on-farm diversity of crop species and varieties. The extent and nature of this diversity are related to both ecological factors, namely elevation, and anthropogenic factors such as land-use history, accessibility to markets and extension, and strength and scale of farmer exchange networks. These human landscape features have the potential to both enhance and mediate effects of elevation and other environmental factors on crop diversity. The interaction of environmental and anthropogenic forces on the diversity of crops grown by farmers affects the strategies farmers employ to adapt their farming to changing conditions.     

The Norwegian Nature Index: Expert evaluations in precautionary approaches to biodiversity policy

The Norwegian Nature Index is a comprehensive effort to ‘make nature visible’ in communications between policymakers and the general public. To ensure that appropriate ‘early warnings’ for biodiversity loss are made available as a basis for precautionary approaches to sustainability and biodiversity policy, different knowledge sources need to be applied, such as the Red List for threatened species and the Nature Index, which gives a comprehensive overview of biodiversity. The article shows how the Nature Index can be supplemented with ‘early warnings’ of biodiversity from involved scientific experts, who were asked to assess the situation in 2020 for the indicators, in view of all available knowledge. They also assessed the uncertainty in their forecasts and their considerations of the need for and difficulty of implementing management measures to maintain biodiversity at the current level. Particularly for the major ecosystems considered to have a poor state, namely forests and open lowlands, experts indicated that urgent action was needed to improve the state of many indicators and that such management action would be possible. The findings indicate potential for eliciting experts' formal and informal knowledge in assessing the need and potential approaches to biodiversity policy.