Quercus arkansana(Arkansas oak)is at risk of becoming endangered,as the total known population size is represented by a few isolated populations.The potential impact of climate change on this species in the near futur...Quercus arkansana(Arkansas oak)is at risk of becoming endangered,as the total known population size is represented by a few isolated populations.The potential impact of climate change on this species in the near future is high,yet knowledge of its predicted effects is limited.Our study utilized the biomod2 R package to develop habi-tat suitability ensemble models based on bioclimatic and topographic environmental variables and the known loca-tions of current distribution of Q.arkansana.We predicted suitable habitats across three climate change scenarios(SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,and SSP5-8.5)for 2050,2070,and 2090.Our findings reveal that the current suitable habitat for Q.arkansana is approximately 127,881 km^(2) across seven states(Texas,Arkansas,Alabama,Louisiana,Mississippi,Georgia,and Florida);approximately 9.5%is encompassed within state and federally managed protected areas.Our models predict that all current suitable habitats will disap-pear by 2050 due to climate change,resulting in a northward shift into new regions such as Tennessee and Kentucky.The large extent of suitable habitat outside protected areas sug-gests that a species-specific action plan incorporating pro-tected areas and other areas may be crucial for its conserva-tion.Moreover,protection of Q.arkansana habitat against climate change may require locally and regionally focused conservation policies,adaptive management strategies,and educational outreach among local people.展开更多
Forest degradation induced by intensive forest management and temperature increase by climate change are resulting in biodiversity decline in boreal forests.Intensive forest management and high-end climate emission sc...Forest degradation induced by intensive forest management and temperature increase by climate change are resulting in biodiversity decline in boreal forests.Intensive forest management and high-end climate emission scenarios can further reduce the amount and diversity of deadwood,the limiting factor for habitats for saproxylic species in European boreal forests.The magnitude of their combined effects and how changes in forest management can affect deadwood diversity under a range of climate change scenarios are poorly understood.We used forest growth simulations to evaluate how forest management and climate change will individually and jointly affect habitats of red-listed saproxylic species in Finland.We simulated seven forest management regimes and three climate scenarios(reference,RCP4.5 and RCP8.5)over 100 years.Management regimes included set aside,continuous cover forestry,business-as-usual(BAU)and four modifications of BAU.Habitat suitability was assessed using a speciesspecific habitat suitability index,including 21 fungal and invertebrate species groups.“Winner”and“loser”species were identified based on the modelled impacts of forest management and climate change on their habitat suitability.We found that forest management had a major impact on habitat suitability of saproxylic species compared to climate change.Habitat suitability index varied by over 250%among management regimes,while overall change in habitat suitability index caused by climate change was on average only 2%.More species groups were identified as winners than losers from impacts of climate change(52%–95%were winners,depending on the climate change scenario and management regime).The largest increase in habitat suitability index was achieved under set aside(254%)and the climate scenario RCP8.5(>2%),while continuous cover forestry was the most suitable regime to increase habitat suitability of saproxylic species(up to+11%)across all climate change scenarios.Our results show that close-to-nature management regimes(e.g.,continuous cover forestry and set aside)can increase the habitat suitability of many saproxylic boreal species more than the basic business-as-usual regime.This suggests that biodiversity loss of many saproxylic species in boreal forests can be mitigated through improved forest management practices,even as climate change progresses.展开更多
We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in...We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran.We compared selected features of nesting,territory,and outside territory tree stands of the studied woodpeckers.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker occupied only oak forests,but the Syrian Woodpecker inhabited heterogenic forests that included the preferred tree of this species,the Mount Atlas Mastic.We recorded that in the breeding territories of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker,a greater area covered by tree crowns,as well as a larger number of trees,and a larger trunk basal area were observed in comparison to the territories occupied by the more plastic Syrian Woodpecker.Different habitat preferences demonstrated by both species could be a result of the selection of tree stands that provide the necessary food resources for each woodpecker species.Adaptation of Syrian Woodpecker to use heterogenic forest stands including tree species that produce fruits and as Mount Atlas Mastic trees,which likely allowed this species to colonise in Asia and Europe non-forest tree stands as orchards or gardens.Our results showed that poor tree condition and large tree trunk dimensions had a positive impact on the selection of nesting sites by both species.The presence of trees with large trunk dimensions was associated with multiple years of use of woodpecker breeding sites in the studied forests.Maintaining habitats in suitable condition for both studied woodpeckers can be achieved by preserving natural forests in the mountain regions of Iran.展开更多
Artificial/seminatural environments,such as aquacultural ponds,saltpans,and croplands,have recently been acknowledged as important habitats for coastal waterbirds.Although coastal waterbirds tend to use artificial hab...Artificial/seminatural environments,such as aquacultural ponds,saltpans,and croplands,have recently been acknowledged as important habitats for coastal waterbirds.Although coastal waterbirds tend to use artificial habitats around tidal flats as roosting sites during high-tide,it remains unclear whether the importance of surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats varies among landscape types,seasons,species,or tidal conditions.The Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor)and Eurasian Spoonbill(P.leucorodia)are two closely related sympatric species in East Asia with narrow and wide distribution ranges and habitat requirements,respectively.We therefore expect that both species will use surrounding artificial habitats across seasons at high tides,but Blackfaced Spoonbills will use them less frequently than Eurasian Spoonbills.Here,we address these hypotheses in the Imazu tidal flat and its surrounding environments in southern Japan.We investigated the habitat use and behavioral patterns of both species through route and behavioral surveys during the fall migration and wintering seasons in 2021.We found that both species used surrounding habitats including artificial ones more frequently than the tidal flat regardless of the tidal condition or season,but spoonbills used these habitats more frequently in winter than in autumn.We also found that Eurasian Spoonbills foraged in surrounding artificial habitats more frequently than Black-faced Spoonbills.These results not only demonstrate how coastal waterbirds exploit surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats but also suggest that the importance of surrounding habitats varies among species and seasons.Our study thus emphasizes that valuing and managing surrounding habitats in addition to tidal flats are key to conserving globally declining waterbirds.展开更多
With the acceleration of urbanization,changes in the urban ecological environment and landscape pattern have led to a series of prominent ecological environmental problems.In order to better coordinate the balanced re...With the acceleration of urbanization,changes in the urban ecological environment and landscape pattern have led to a series of prominent ecological environmental problems.In order to better coordinate the balanced relationship between city and ecological environment,we selected land use change data to evaluate the habitat quality in Hohhot City of China,which is of great practical significance for regional urban and economic development.Thus,the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs(InVEST)and Cellular Automata-Markov(CA-Markov)models were used to analyze,predict,and explore the Spatiotemporal evolution path and characteristics of urban land use,and forecast the typical evolution pattern of land use in 2030.The results showed that the land use types in Hohhot City changed significantly from 2000 to 2020,and the biggest change took place in cultivated land,grassland,shrub,and artificial surface.The decrease of cultivated land area and the increase of artificial surface area were the main impact trend of land use change.The average value of habitat quality had been decreasing continuously from 2000 to 2020,and the values of habitat degradation were 0.2605,0.2494,and 0.2934 in 2000,2010,and 2020,respectively,showing a decreasing trend.The decrease of habitat quality was caused by the needs of economic development and urban construction,as well as the impact of land occupation.During this evolution,many cultivated land and urban grassland had been converted into construction land.The simulated land use changes in 2030 are basically the same as those during 2000-2020,and the habitat quality will still be declining.The regional changes are influenced by the urban rapid development and industrial layout.These results can provide decision-making reference for regional urban planning and management as well as habitat quality evaluation.展开更多
Understanding the spatial distribution and habitat preference for rare and endangered species are essential for effective conservation practice.We examined the spatial distribution and habitat preference of four Diplo...Understanding the spatial distribution and habitat preference for rare and endangered species are essential for effective conservation practice.We examined the spatial distribution and habitat preference of four Diploderma species(Diploderma drukdaypo,D.laeviventre,D.batangense,and D.vela),which are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are currently under state protection.We used the ensembles of small models(ESM)approach and predicted potential distribution ranges of the species in current and two future climate scenarios(SSP126 and SSP585).The degree of overlap between the predicted distribution ranges and existing natural reserves was further analyzed.Habitat preference was examined using a paired quadrat method.Our results predicted that D.drukdaypo has a current distribution range of 600 km^(2),which would decrease to 50 km^(2)and 55 km^(2)under the SSP126 and SSP585 respectively.For D.laeviventre,the current distribution range is 817 km^(2),with minimum changes in the two future climate scenarios(774 km^(2)and 902 km^(2)).For D.batangense,the current distribution range is 875 km^(2),which would expand to 1522 km^(2)and 3340 km^(2)in the two future climate scenarios.Similarly for D.vela,the current distribution range is 1369 km^(2),which would change to 1825 km^(2)and 2043 km^(2)respectively under the two future climate scenarios.The effect of protection of current nature reserves are likely low for those species;we found no overlap(D.drukdaypo,D.laeviventre)or little overlap(D.batangense 2.04%–3.56%,D.vela 15.52%–16.87%)between the currently designated protection area and distribution range under current and future climate scenarios.For habitat preference,stones appear to be the critical habitat element for those species although different species had different stone requirements.Taken together,we provided critical information on potential distribution ranges and habitat preference for four endangered Diploderma species,and confirmed the inadequacy of current nature reserves.The establishment of new or expansion of existing nature reserves is urgent for the conservation of those species.展开更多
Climate change has affected and will continue to affect the spatial distribution patterns of marine organisms.To understand the impact of climate change on the distribution patterns and species richness of the Sciaeni...Climate change has affected and will continue to affect the spatial distribution patterns of marine organisms.To understand the impact of climate change on the distribution patterns and species richness of the Sciaenidae in China’s coastal waters,the maximum entropy model was used to combine six environmental factors and predict the potential distribution of 12 major species of Sciaenidae by 2050s under Representative Concentration Pathways(RCPs)2.6 and 8.5.The results showed that the average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was 0.917,indicating that the model predictions were accurate and reliable.The main driving factors affecting the potential distribution of these fishes were dissolved oxygen,salinity,and sea surface temperature(SST).There was an overall northward shift in the potential habitat areas of these fishes under the two climate scenarios.The total potential habitat areas of Larimichthys polyactis,Pennahia argentata,and Pennahia pawak decreased under both climate scenarios,while the total habitat area of Johnius belengerii,Pennahia anea,Miichthys miiuy,Collichthys lucidus,and Collichthys niveatus increased,suggesting that these might be loser and winner species,respectively.The expansion rate,contraction rate,degree of centroid change,and species richness in the potential habitats were generally more significant under RCP8.5 than RCP2.6.The mean shift rates of the potential distribution were 41.50 km/(10 a) and 29.20 km/(10 a) under RCP8.5 and RCP2.6,respectively.The changes in Sciaenidae species richness under climate change were bounded by the Changjiang River Estuary waters,with obvious north-south differences.Some waters with increased species richness may become refuges for Sciaenidae fishes under climate change.The richness and habitat area change rate of some aquatic germplasm resources will decrease,meanings that these reserves are more sensitive to climate change,and more attention should be paid to the potential challenges and opportunities for fishery managers.This study may provide a scientific basis for the management and conservation of Sciaenidae in China under climate change.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Movement patterns can reflect species-specific characteristics of individuals and animal groups at a given scale. Accurate three-dimensional(3D) assessment can quantify the relationship between movement pa...DEAR EDITOR,Movement patterns can reflect species-specific characteristics of individuals and animal groups at a given scale. Accurate three-dimensional(3D) assessment can quantify the relationship between movement patterns of an animal and its unique habitat. Here, we evaluated the effects of habitat structure on movement patterns of the golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana). We used airborne light detection and ranging(LiDAR) to map the 3D structure of the temperate forest in the Qinling Mountains(Shaanxi, China).展开更多
Stomatopods are better known as mantis shrimp with considerable ecological importance in wide coastal waters globally. Some stomatopod species are exploited commercially, including Oratosquilla oratoria in the Northwe...Stomatopods are better known as mantis shrimp with considerable ecological importance in wide coastal waters globally. Some stomatopod species are exploited commercially, including Oratosquilla oratoria in the Northwest Pacific. Yet, few studies have published to promote accurate habitat identification of stomatopods, obstructing scientific management and conservation of these valuable organisms. This study provides an ensemble modeling framework for habitat suitability modeling of stomatopods, utilizing the O. oratoria stock in the Bohai Sea as an example. Two modeling techniques(i.e., generalized additive model(GAM) and geographical weighted regression(GWR)) were applied to select environmental predictors(especially the selection between two types of sediment metrics) that better characterize O. oratoria distribution and build separate habitat suitability models(HSM). The performance of the individual HSMs were compared on interpolation accuracy and transferability.Then, they were integrated to check whether the ensemble model outperforms either individual model, according to fishers’ knowledge and scientific survey data. As a result, grain-size metrics of sediment outperformed sediment content metrics in modeling O. oratoria habitat, possibly because grain-size metrics not only reflect the effect of substrates on burrow development, but also link to sediment heat capacity which influences individual thermoregulation. Moreover, the GWR-based HSM outperformed the GAM-based HSM in interpolation accuracy,while the latter one displayed better transferability. On balance, the ensemble HSM appeared to improve the predictive performance overall, as it could avoid dependence on a single model type and successfully identified fisher-recognized and survey-indicated suitable habitats in either sparsely sampled or well investigated areas.展开更多
Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength ...Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength of CNDD at early life stages of trees(e.g.,seedlings),it remains unclear how they affect the strength of CNDD at later life stages.We examined the degree of spatial aggregation between saplings and trees for species dispersed by wind and gravity in four topographic habitats within a 25-ha temperate forest dynamic plot in the Qinling Mountains of central China.We used the replicated spatial point pattern(RSPP)analysis and bivariate paircorrelation function(PCF)to detect the spatial distribution of saplings around trees at two scales,15 and 50 m,respectively.Although the signal was not apparent across the whole study region(or 25-ha),it is distinct on isolated areas with specific characteristics,suggesting that these characteristics could be important factors in CNDD.Further,we found that the gravity-dispersed tree species experienced CNDD across habitats,while for wind-dispersed species CNDD was found in gully,terrace and low-ridge habitats.Our study suggests that neglecting the habitat heterogeneity and dispersal mode can distort the signal of CNDD and community assembly in temperate forests.展开更多
Root-associated microbes play an essentialrole in mediating plant growth,health,and habitat adaptability.However,it is unknown which microbial taxa help develop host fitness and how habitats shape root-associated micr...Root-associated microbes play an essentialrole in mediating plant growth,health,and habitat adaptability.However,it is unknown which microbial taxa help develop host fitness and how habitats shape root-associated microbial assembly patterns.As an endemic species of subalpine forests in western Sichuan,China,Minjiang fir(Abies fargesii var.faxoniana)is dominant on cold-shaded northwestern slopes while absent on warm sunlit southwestern slopes.In this study,fungal and bacterial communities were investigated in three spatial compartments(endosphere,rhizosphere,and bulk soil)associated with Minjiang fir saplings on a cold-shaded northwestern slope and a warm sunlit southwestern slope.Habitats differentiated the microbial communities regardless of the spatial compartment and microbial taxa.Slope aspect variations caused shifts in root-associated(rhizosphere and endosphere)microbial compositions.Compared with the southwestern slope,the cold-shaded northwestern slope harbored a higher abundance of the growth-promoting bacteria Burkholderia and ectomycorrhizal fungi Cortinarius and Piloderma.The slope aspect had stronger effects on fungal diversity than bacterial diversity,with higher fungal endemism and lower bacterial endemism.Slope aspect variations were the dominant drivers of root-associated microbial communities,with lower contribution by soil properties and higher contribution by plant traits on the northwestern slope.Findings from this study could improve the understanding of plant habitat adaptability from the perspective of microbial community assembly.It is suggested that forest management should consider root-associated microbiomes for enhancing species fitness and habitat adaptability.展开更多
The resorption of nutrients from senescent leaves allows plants to conserve and recycle nutrients. To explore the adaptation strategies of desert plants to nutrient-limited environments, we selected four typical deser...The resorption of nutrients from senescent leaves allows plants to conserve and recycle nutrients. To explore the adaptation strategies of desert plants to nutrient-limited environments, we selected four typical desert plants(Populus euphratica Oliv., Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal., and Alhagi camelorum Fisch.) growing in the desert area of the northern margin of the Tarim Basin,China. The contents of nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), potassium(K), calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg), and Ferrum(Fe) in the leaves of these four typical desert plants and their resorption characteristics were analyzed. The relationship of nutrient resorption efficiency with leaf functional traits and soil physical-chemical properties in two different habitats(saline-alkali land and sandy land) was discussed.The results showed that the four plants resorbed most of the elements. Ca was enriched in the leaves of P.euphratica, G. inflate, and A. camelorum;Mg was enriched in the leaves of G. inflata;and Fe was enriched in the leaves of the four plants. The results of the redundancy analysis showed that leaf thickness, soil electrical conductivity, and soil P content were the major factors affecting the nutrient resorption efficiency of the four plants. Leaf thickness was negatively correlated with N resorption efficiency(NRE),P resorption efficiency, and Fe resorption efficiency;soil electrical conductivity was positively correlated with the resorption efficiency of most elements;and soil P content was negatively correlated with the resorption efficiency of most elements in the plant leaves. The results showed that soil physical-chemical properties and soil nutrient contents had an important impact on the nutrient resorption of plant leaves.The same species growing in different habitats also differed in their resorption of different elements. The soil environment of plants and the biological characteristics of plant leaves affected the resorption of nutrient elements in different plants. The purpose of this study is to provide small-scale data support for the protection of ecosystems in nutrient-deficient areas by studying leaf functional strategies and nutrient conservation mechanisms of several typical desert plants.展开更多
The Hooded Crane(Grus monacha)is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list.Tidal wetland(tideland),the major habitat for wintering Hooded Cranes at East China’s Chongming Dongtan,has dramatically changed in...The Hooded Crane(Grus monacha)is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list.Tidal wetland(tideland),the major habitat for wintering Hooded Cranes at East China’s Chongming Dongtan,has dramatically changed in the past two decades,but there is limited knowledge about the population and habitat changes of the Hooded Cranes.This study investigated the population size and distribution of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan from 2000 to 2021.We used remote sensing images combined with a vegetation classification algorithm to analyse the distribution of saltmarsh vegetation.The quadrat method was used to investigate the density and weight of the underground corms of Sea Bulrush(Scirpus mariquter),the main food on tideland for the Hooded Cranes.From 2000 to 2021,the population number of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan remained stable at approximately 100.In 2000,the area of Scirpus spp.and Common Reed(Phragmites australis)accounted for approximately half of the total saltmarsh area at Chongming Dongtan,respectively.The invasive Smooth Cordgrass(Spartina alterniflora)rapidly expanded on tideland in the 2000s while the Scirpus spp.was competed out and thus significantly reduced in area.After the implementation of an ecological project to control Smooth Cordgrass and to restore Scirpus spp.in the 2010s,the area of the Smooth Cordgrass decreased considerably while the area of Scirpus spp.increased.The corms of Sea Bulrush decreased on the southeastern tideland during the study period,which might be the cause of the northward movement of the foraging Hooded Cranes on tideland.We also found Hooded Cranes foraged crops in the nearby farmland in mid-winter,causing human-bird conflicts in the recent decade.Our results found that changes in habitat and food conditions on tideland impacted wintering Hooded Cranes.Foraging in farmland with human disturbance in the recent decade might be related to insufficient food on tideland.We suggest active intervention to accelerate the restoration of Sea Bulrush on tideland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality of the wintering Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan.展开更多
As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs...As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs,Sousa chinensis),are poorly understood.Here,modeling revealed that the suitable habitats of IPHDs are affected mainly by the sea surface temperature(SST),and the habitat suitability decreases as the distance to the nearest coastline increases.In addition,anthropogenic activities involving demersal fishing,contamination and shipping have narrowed IPHD habitats and reduced the habitat suitability.We found that climate change will further narrow suitable habitats located farther than 7 km from coastlines and trigger habitat losses in the eastern Taiwan Strait by 2090-2100 under the Representative Concentration Pathway(RCP)8.5 scenario.The projected decreases in habitat suitability and area emphasize the urgency of establishing connected marine protected areas(MPAs)while considering climate change,intergovernmental cooperation,and public involvement.展开更多
According to one of the theses of optimal foraging theory,main prey species abundance in the hunting area is the main factor determining the diet and habitat choices of birds of prey.However other factors can also be ...According to one of the theses of optimal foraging theory,main prey species abundance in the hunting area is the main factor determining the diet and habitat choices of birds of prey.However other factors can also be important.The habitat structure influences the predators’diets as well.In this study we examined the influence of habitat structure on diet compositions of three species of birds:Long-eared Owl(Asio otus),Short-eared Owl(A.flammeus)and Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus).The study was carried out from 2007 to 2019 in a 48 km2area of the Crane’s Homeland Reserve,Moscow Region,Russia.The habitat structures of model species’hunting territories(ratio of different types of landscape elements)were classified in module"Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin"based on the QGIS.A boosted regression tree analysis identified that the share of the main prey species in the diet is primarily determined by the landscape structure of hunting territories.The largest share of Common Vole(Microtus arvalis)in birds’diet was determined by the shrubs area(15%of hunting area),the meadow area(75%),the habitat heterogeneity(70%)and the arable land area(5%).The same predictors determined the largest share of Root Vole(Microtus oeconomus):the shrubs area 25%,the meadow area 70%,and the arable land area 3%.The annual mean abundance of prey species did not determine their importance in the diet of birds of prey.Thus,the main prey abundance in the hunting area is not a determining factor for the formation of diet composition of birds of prey.展开更多
The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, ...The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, we photographed 454 salamanders in moist habitats where water flows year round;100 of these were sampled to measure the percentage of yellow and black color on the back, and the number of spots on the head. At Kibbutz Sasa, 201 salamanders were photographed, of which 62 were sampled for the measurements. In Kibbutz Yehiam, 200 salamanders were photographed, and 60 were sampled for the measurements. At all sites, about a third of the salamanders were photographed more than once. For all three populations, yellow spots on the salamander back were found in one row, two rows or scattered. For two indices (proportion of yellow/black and number of spots on the head), the Dan population (under wet, running water all year round conditions) differed from the two other populations of salamanders (under semi-arid mountain conditions). The number of yellow spots on the head of the salamanders in the three populations varied from 1 to 7. In all populations, 4 spots pattern was the most common. In the Dan population, there were significantly more salamanders with 1 to 3 spots on their head than in the Sasa or Yehiam populations. No difference was found in the number of head spots for Sasa vs. Yehiam salamanders. The percentage of yellow on the black back was significantly larger for the Dan salamanders vs. the two other populations. The main question examined was whether there is an effect of the habitat conditions in isolated populations on the spot pattern on the salamander back. The answer is positive and is supported by previous studies.展开更多
[Objectives]To analyze the change of urban habitat quality in different periods and study the influence of land use change on habitat quality,which plays an important role in regional sustainable development.[Methods]...[Objectives]To analyze the change of urban habitat quality in different periods and study the influence of land use change on habitat quality,which plays an important role in regional sustainable development.[Methods]Taking Kunming as an example,based on land use change,InVEST model was used to evaluate the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of habitat quality.[Results]During 2000-2020,cultivated land,grassland and woodland in Kunming decreased by 277.43,324.99 and 141.72 km 2,respectively;land use transfer presented obvious stage characteristics,with cultivated land,grassland and woodland changing into construction land as the main characteristics during 2005-2010,and 2015-2020.The average value of habitat quality index in Kunming decreased from 0.3119 to 0.3022,showing a downward trend as a whole;the spatial distribution pattern of habitat quality was"low in the middle and high around"(the high value areas of habitat quality are mainly distributed around Kunming,while the low value areas are mainly distributed in the urban aggregation areas of Kunming).[Conclusions]This study can provide theoretical support for future land use planning.展开更多
The relationship between habitat and behaviour provides important information for species management.For large,free roaming,marine animals satellite tags provide high resolution information on movement,but such datase...The relationship between habitat and behaviour provides important information for species management.For large,free roaming,marine animals satellite tags provide high resolution information on movement,but such datasets are restricted due to cost.Extracting additional biologically important information from these data would increase utilisation and value.Several modelling approaches have been developed to identify behavioural states in tracking data.The objective of this study was to evaluate a behavioural state prediction model for blue shark(Prionace glauca)ARGOS surface location-only data.The novel nature of the six SPLASH satellite tags used enabled behavioural events to be identified in blue shark dive data and accurately mapped spatio-temporally along respective surface location-only tracks.Behavioural states modelled along the six surface location-only tracks were then tested against observed behavioural events to evaluate the model’s accuracy.Results showed that the Behavioural Change Point Analysis(BCPA)model augmented with K means clustering analysis performed well for predicting foraging behaviour(correct 86%of the time).Prediction accuracy was lower for searching(52%)and travelling(63%)behaviour,likely related to the numerical dominance of foraging events in dive data.The model’s validation for predicting foraging behaviour justified its application to nine additional surface location-only(SPOT tag)tracks,substantially increasing the utilisation of expensive and rare data.Results enabled the critical behavioural state of foraging,to be mapped throughout the entire home range of blue sharks,allowing drivers of critical habitat to be investigated.This validation strengthens the use of such modelling to interpret historic and future datasets,for blue sharks but also other species,contributing to conservational management.展开更多
For the earth material construction is the most used one in Chad, the object of this work is the assessment of the thermal quality of earthen adobe mixed with straw. Different simulation software analyzes the CoDyBa w...For the earth material construction is the most used one in Chad, the object of this work is the assessment of the thermal quality of earthen adobe mixed with straw. Different simulation software analyzes the CoDyBa which is conducted to determine the behavior of this material compared to living comfort thanks to the Fanger model, which is a method of approach to thermal comfort standpoint. The study focused on two configurations on the formation of the walls of a room. The first of these configurations led to the definition of a first cell constructed earthen adobe named Batter roofing sheet aluminum and a second cell built in blocks named Batbet which had the same geometric characteristics (thickness, dimensions and side openings) and covered in the same manner as the ground cell. The different comfort indices PMV and PPD values of these two configurations of habitat were identified and were used to determine their thermal comfort rating.展开更多
Little is known about the ecology of the Chinese Giant Salamander(Andrias davidianus),a critically endangered species.Such information is needed to make informed decisions concerning the conservation and management of...Little is known about the ecology of the Chinese Giant Salamander(Andrias davidianus),a critically endangered species.Such information is needed to make informed decisions concerning the conservation and management of this species.Four A.davidianus raised in a pool were released into their native habitat on 04 May 2005 and were subsequently radio-tracked for approximately 155–168 days.Following their release,the giant salamanders traveled upstream in search of suitable micro-habitats,and settled after 10 days.Later,a devastating summer flash flood destroyed the salamanders' dens,triggering another bout of habitat searching by the animals.Eventually,the salamanders settled in different sections of the stream where they remained until the end of the study.On average,each habitat searching endeavor took 7.5 days,during which a giant salamander explored a 310 m stretch of stream with a surface area of about 1157 m2and occupied 3.5 temporary dwellings.Each giant salamander spent an average of 144.5 days in semi-permanent micro-habitats,and occupied territories that had a mean size of 34.75 m2.Our results indicate that the Chinese giant salamander responds to habitat disturbance by seeking new habitats upstream,both water temperature and water level affect the salamander's habitat searching activity,and the size of the salamander's semi-permanent territory is influenced by the size of the pool containing the animal's den.展开更多
基金The work was partially supported by research project funding from the Undergraduate Research Grant,Arkansas Tech University.
文摘Quercus arkansana(Arkansas oak)is at risk of becoming endangered,as the total known population size is represented by a few isolated populations.The potential impact of climate change on this species in the near future is high,yet knowledge of its predicted effects is limited.Our study utilized the biomod2 R package to develop habi-tat suitability ensemble models based on bioclimatic and topographic environmental variables and the known loca-tions of current distribution of Q.arkansana.We predicted suitable habitats across three climate change scenarios(SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,and SSP5-8.5)for 2050,2070,and 2090.Our findings reveal that the current suitable habitat for Q.arkansana is approximately 127,881 km^(2) across seven states(Texas,Arkansas,Alabama,Louisiana,Mississippi,Georgia,and Florida);approximately 9.5%is encompassed within state and federally managed protected areas.Our models predict that all current suitable habitats will disap-pear by 2050 due to climate change,resulting in a northward shift into new regions such as Tennessee and Kentucky.The large extent of suitable habitat outside protected areas sug-gests that a species-specific action plan incorporating pro-tected areas and other areas may be crucial for its conserva-tion.Moreover,protection of Q.arkansana habitat against climate change may require locally and regionally focused conservation policies,adaptive management strategies,and educational outreach among local people.
基金Open access funding provided by Norwegian University of Life Sciences。
文摘Forest degradation induced by intensive forest management and temperature increase by climate change are resulting in biodiversity decline in boreal forests.Intensive forest management and high-end climate emission scenarios can further reduce the amount and diversity of deadwood,the limiting factor for habitats for saproxylic species in European boreal forests.The magnitude of their combined effects and how changes in forest management can affect deadwood diversity under a range of climate change scenarios are poorly understood.We used forest growth simulations to evaluate how forest management and climate change will individually and jointly affect habitats of red-listed saproxylic species in Finland.We simulated seven forest management regimes and three climate scenarios(reference,RCP4.5 and RCP8.5)over 100 years.Management regimes included set aside,continuous cover forestry,business-as-usual(BAU)and four modifications of BAU.Habitat suitability was assessed using a speciesspecific habitat suitability index,including 21 fungal and invertebrate species groups.“Winner”and“loser”species were identified based on the modelled impacts of forest management and climate change on their habitat suitability.We found that forest management had a major impact on habitat suitability of saproxylic species compared to climate change.Habitat suitability index varied by over 250%among management regimes,while overall change in habitat suitability index caused by climate change was on average only 2%.More species groups were identified as winners than losers from impacts of climate change(52%–95%were winners,depending on the climate change scenario and management regime).The largest increase in habitat suitability index was achieved under set aside(254%)and the climate scenario RCP8.5(>2%),while continuous cover forestry was the most suitable regime to increase habitat suitability of saproxylic species(up to+11%)across all climate change scenarios.Our results show that close-to-nature management regimes(e.g.,continuous cover forestry and set aside)can increase the habitat suitability of many saproxylic boreal species more than the basic business-as-usual regime.This suggests that biodiversity loss of many saproxylic species in boreal forests can be mitigated through improved forest management practices,even as climate change progresses.
文摘We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran.We compared selected features of nesting,territory,and outside territory tree stands of the studied woodpeckers.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker occupied only oak forests,but the Syrian Woodpecker inhabited heterogenic forests that included the preferred tree of this species,the Mount Atlas Mastic.We recorded that in the breeding territories of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker,a greater area covered by tree crowns,as well as a larger number of trees,and a larger trunk basal area were observed in comparison to the territories occupied by the more plastic Syrian Woodpecker.Different habitat preferences demonstrated by both species could be a result of the selection of tree stands that provide the necessary food resources for each woodpecker species.Adaptation of Syrian Woodpecker to use heterogenic forest stands including tree species that produce fruits and as Mount Atlas Mastic trees,which likely allowed this species to colonise in Asia and Europe non-forest tree stands as orchards or gardens.Our results showed that poor tree condition and large tree trunk dimensions had a positive impact on the selection of nesting sites by both species.The presence of trees with large trunk dimensions was associated with multiple years of use of woodpecker breeding sites in the studied forests.Maintaining habitats in suitable condition for both studied woodpeckers can be achieved by preserving natural forests in the mountain regions of Iran.
文摘Artificial/seminatural environments,such as aquacultural ponds,saltpans,and croplands,have recently been acknowledged as important habitats for coastal waterbirds.Although coastal waterbirds tend to use artificial habitats around tidal flats as roosting sites during high-tide,it remains unclear whether the importance of surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats varies among landscape types,seasons,species,or tidal conditions.The Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor)and Eurasian Spoonbill(P.leucorodia)are two closely related sympatric species in East Asia with narrow and wide distribution ranges and habitat requirements,respectively.We therefore expect that both species will use surrounding artificial habitats across seasons at high tides,but Blackfaced Spoonbills will use them less frequently than Eurasian Spoonbills.Here,we address these hypotheses in the Imazu tidal flat and its surrounding environments in southern Japan.We investigated the habitat use and behavioral patterns of both species through route and behavioral surveys during the fall migration and wintering seasons in 2021.We found that both species used surrounding habitats including artificial ones more frequently than the tidal flat regardless of the tidal condition or season,but spoonbills used these habitats more frequently in winter than in autumn.We also found that Eurasian Spoonbills foraged in surrounding artificial habitats more frequently than Black-faced Spoonbills.These results not only demonstrate how coastal waterbirds exploit surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats but also suggest that the importance of surrounding habitats varies among species and seasons.Our study thus emphasizes that valuing and managing surrounding habitats in addition to tidal flats are key to conserving globally declining waterbirds.
基金The authors thank anonymous reviewers and editors for their helpful comments on improving the quality of this manuscript.
文摘With the acceleration of urbanization,changes in the urban ecological environment and landscape pattern have led to a series of prominent ecological environmental problems.In order to better coordinate the balanced relationship between city and ecological environment,we selected land use change data to evaluate the habitat quality in Hohhot City of China,which is of great practical significance for regional urban and economic development.Thus,the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs(InVEST)and Cellular Automata-Markov(CA-Markov)models were used to analyze,predict,and explore the Spatiotemporal evolution path and characteristics of urban land use,and forecast the typical evolution pattern of land use in 2030.The results showed that the land use types in Hohhot City changed significantly from 2000 to 2020,and the biggest change took place in cultivated land,grassland,shrub,and artificial surface.The decrease of cultivated land area and the increase of artificial surface area were the main impact trend of land use change.The average value of habitat quality had been decreasing continuously from 2000 to 2020,and the values of habitat degradation were 0.2605,0.2494,and 0.2934 in 2000,2010,and 2020,respectively,showing a decreasing trend.The decrease of habitat quality was caused by the needs of economic development and urban construction,as well as the impact of land occupation.During this evolution,many cultivated land and urban grassland had been converted into construction land.The simulated land use changes in 2030 are basically the same as those during 2000-2020,and the habitat quality will still be declining.The regional changes are influenced by the urban rapid development and industrial layout.These results can provide decision-making reference for regional urban planning and management as well as habitat quality evaluation.
基金This work was supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2019QZKK0402)Science and Technology Plan Project of Tibet Autonomous Region to Yin QI(Grant No.XZ202201ZY0030G)China Biodiversity Observation Networks(Sino BON-Amphibian and Reptile)。
文摘Understanding the spatial distribution and habitat preference for rare and endangered species are essential for effective conservation practice.We examined the spatial distribution and habitat preference of four Diploderma species(Diploderma drukdaypo,D.laeviventre,D.batangense,and D.vela),which are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are currently under state protection.We used the ensembles of small models(ESM)approach and predicted potential distribution ranges of the species in current and two future climate scenarios(SSP126 and SSP585).The degree of overlap between the predicted distribution ranges and existing natural reserves was further analyzed.Habitat preference was examined using a paired quadrat method.Our results predicted that D.drukdaypo has a current distribution range of 600 km^(2),which would decrease to 50 km^(2)and 55 km^(2)under the SSP126 and SSP585 respectively.For D.laeviventre,the current distribution range is 817 km^(2),with minimum changes in the two future climate scenarios(774 km^(2)and 902 km^(2)).For D.batangense,the current distribution range is 875 km^(2),which would expand to 1522 km^(2)and 3340 km^(2)in the two future climate scenarios.Similarly for D.vela,the current distribution range is 1369 km^(2),which would change to 1825 km^(2)and 2043 km^(2)respectively under the two future climate scenarios.The effect of protection of current nature reserves are likely low for those species;we found no overlap(D.drukdaypo,D.laeviventre)or little overlap(D.batangense 2.04%–3.56%,D.vela 15.52%–16.87%)between the currently designated protection area and distribution range under current and future climate scenarios.For habitat preference,stones appear to be the critical habitat element for those species although different species had different stone requirements.Taken together,we provided critical information on potential distribution ranges and habitat preference for four endangered Diploderma species,and confirmed the inadequacy of current nature reserves.The establishment of new or expansion of existing nature reserves is urgent for the conservation of those species.
基金The Xiamen Youth Innovation Fund under contract No.3502Z20206096the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2019YFE0124700+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42176153,41906127,and 42076163the National Program on Global Change and Air-Sea Interaction under contract No.HR01-200701.
文摘Climate change has affected and will continue to affect the spatial distribution patterns of marine organisms.To understand the impact of climate change on the distribution patterns and species richness of the Sciaenidae in China’s coastal waters,the maximum entropy model was used to combine six environmental factors and predict the potential distribution of 12 major species of Sciaenidae by 2050s under Representative Concentration Pathways(RCPs)2.6 and 8.5.The results showed that the average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was 0.917,indicating that the model predictions were accurate and reliable.The main driving factors affecting the potential distribution of these fishes were dissolved oxygen,salinity,and sea surface temperature(SST).There was an overall northward shift in the potential habitat areas of these fishes under the two climate scenarios.The total potential habitat areas of Larimichthys polyactis,Pennahia argentata,and Pennahia pawak decreased under both climate scenarios,while the total habitat area of Johnius belengerii,Pennahia anea,Miichthys miiuy,Collichthys lucidus,and Collichthys niveatus increased,suggesting that these might be loser and winner species,respectively.The expansion rate,contraction rate,degree of centroid change,and species richness in the potential habitats were generally more significant under RCP8.5 than RCP2.6.The mean shift rates of the potential distribution were 41.50 km/(10 a) and 29.20 km/(10 a) under RCP8.5 and RCP2.6,respectively.The changes in Sciaenidae species richness under climate change were bounded by the Changjiang River Estuary waters,with obvious north-south differences.Some waters with increased species richness may become refuges for Sciaenidae fishes under climate change.The richness and habitat area change rate of some aquatic germplasm resources will decrease,meanings that these reserves are more sensitive to climate change,and more attention should be paid to the potential challenges and opportunities for fishery managers.This study may provide a scientific basis for the management and conservation of Sciaenidae in China under climate change.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB31020302)National Natural Science Foundation of China (32170507, 31730104,31870396, and 32070450)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Movement patterns can reflect species-specific characteristics of individuals and animal groups at a given scale. Accurate three-dimensional(3D) assessment can quantify the relationship between movement patterns of an animal and its unique habitat. Here, we evaluated the effects of habitat structure on movement patterns of the golden snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana). We used airborne light detection and ranging(LiDAR) to map the 3D structure of the temperate forest in the Qinling Mountains(Shaanxi, China).
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.31902375the David and Lucile Packard Foundation+1 种基金the Innovation Team of Fishery Resources and Ecology in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea under contract No.2020TD01the Special Funds for Taishan Scholars Project of Shandong Province。
文摘Stomatopods are better known as mantis shrimp with considerable ecological importance in wide coastal waters globally. Some stomatopod species are exploited commercially, including Oratosquilla oratoria in the Northwest Pacific. Yet, few studies have published to promote accurate habitat identification of stomatopods, obstructing scientific management and conservation of these valuable organisms. This study provides an ensemble modeling framework for habitat suitability modeling of stomatopods, utilizing the O. oratoria stock in the Bohai Sea as an example. Two modeling techniques(i.e., generalized additive model(GAM) and geographical weighted regression(GWR)) were applied to select environmental predictors(especially the selection between two types of sediment metrics) that better characterize O. oratoria distribution and build separate habitat suitability models(HSM). The performance of the individual HSMs were compared on interpolation accuracy and transferability.Then, they were integrated to check whether the ensemble model outperforms either individual model, according to fishers’ knowledge and scientific survey data. As a result, grain-size metrics of sediment outperformed sediment content metrics in modeling O. oratoria habitat, possibly because grain-size metrics not only reflect the effect of substrates on burrow development, but also link to sediment heat capacity which influences individual thermoregulation. Moreover, the GWR-based HSM outperformed the GAM-based HSM in interpolation accuracy,while the latter one displayed better transferability. On balance, the ensemble HSM appeared to improve the predictive performance overall, as it could avoid dependence on a single model type and successfully identified fisher-recognized and survey-indicated suitable habitats in either sparsely sampled or well investigated areas.
基金Shihong Jia was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32001120)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.31020200QD026)+1 种基金Qiulong Yin was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32001171)Ying Luo was supported by the Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi(Grant No.2022KRM090).
文摘Conspecific negative density dependence(CNDD)is a potentially important mechanism in maintaining species diversity.While previous evidence showed habitat heterogeneity and species’dispersal modes affect the strength of CNDD at early life stages of trees(e.g.,seedlings),it remains unclear how they affect the strength of CNDD at later life stages.We examined the degree of spatial aggregation between saplings and trees for species dispersed by wind and gravity in four topographic habitats within a 25-ha temperate forest dynamic plot in the Qinling Mountains of central China.We used the replicated spatial point pattern(RSPP)analysis and bivariate paircorrelation function(PCF)to detect the spatial distribution of saplings around trees at two scales,15 and 50 m,respectively.Although the signal was not apparent across the whole study region(or 25-ha),it is distinct on isolated areas with specific characteristics,suggesting that these characteristics could be important factors in CNDD.Further,we found that the gravity-dispersed tree species experienced CNDD across habitats,while for wind-dispersed species CNDD was found in gully,terrace and low-ridge habitats.Our study suggests that neglecting the habitat heterogeneity and dispersal mode can distort the signal of CNDD and community assembly in temperate forests.
基金jointly funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No.2021YFD2200405)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31930078)。
文摘Root-associated microbes play an essentialrole in mediating plant growth,health,and habitat adaptability.However,it is unknown which microbial taxa help develop host fitness and how habitats shape root-associated microbial assembly patterns.As an endemic species of subalpine forests in western Sichuan,China,Minjiang fir(Abies fargesii var.faxoniana)is dominant on cold-shaded northwestern slopes while absent on warm sunlit southwestern slopes.In this study,fungal and bacterial communities were investigated in three spatial compartments(endosphere,rhizosphere,and bulk soil)associated with Minjiang fir saplings on a cold-shaded northwestern slope and a warm sunlit southwestern slope.Habitats differentiated the microbial communities regardless of the spatial compartment and microbial taxa.Slope aspect variations caused shifts in root-associated(rhizosphere and endosphere)microbial compositions.Compared with the southwestern slope,the cold-shaded northwestern slope harbored a higher abundance of the growth-promoting bacteria Burkholderia and ectomycorrhizal fungi Cortinarius and Piloderma.The slope aspect had stronger effects on fungal diversity than bacterial diversity,with higher fungal endemism and lower bacterial endemism.Slope aspect variations were the dominant drivers of root-associated microbial communities,with lower contribution by soil properties and higher contribution by plant traits on the northwestern slope.Findings from this study could improve the understanding of plant habitat adaptability from the perspective of microbial community assembly.It is suggested that forest management should consider root-associated microbiomes for enhancing species fitness and habitat adaptability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32001145)。
文摘The resorption of nutrients from senescent leaves allows plants to conserve and recycle nutrients. To explore the adaptation strategies of desert plants to nutrient-limited environments, we selected four typical desert plants(Populus euphratica Oliv., Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal., and Alhagi camelorum Fisch.) growing in the desert area of the northern margin of the Tarim Basin,China. The contents of nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), potassium(K), calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg), and Ferrum(Fe) in the leaves of these four typical desert plants and their resorption characteristics were analyzed. The relationship of nutrient resorption efficiency with leaf functional traits and soil physical-chemical properties in two different habitats(saline-alkali land and sandy land) was discussed.The results showed that the four plants resorbed most of the elements. Ca was enriched in the leaves of P.euphratica, G. inflate, and A. camelorum;Mg was enriched in the leaves of G. inflata;and Fe was enriched in the leaves of the four plants. The results of the redundancy analysis showed that leaf thickness, soil electrical conductivity, and soil P content were the major factors affecting the nutrient resorption efficiency of the four plants. Leaf thickness was negatively correlated with N resorption efficiency(NRE),P resorption efficiency, and Fe resorption efficiency;soil electrical conductivity was positively correlated with the resorption efficiency of most elements;and soil P content was negatively correlated with the resorption efficiency of most elements in the plant leaves. The results showed that soil physical-chemical properties and soil nutrient contents had an important impact on the nutrient resorption of plant leaves.The same species growing in different habitats also differed in their resorption of different elements. The soil environment of plants and the biological characteristics of plant leaves affected the resorption of nutrient elements in different plants. The purpose of this study is to provide small-scale data support for the protection of ecosystems in nutrient-deficient areas by studying leaf functional strategies and nutrient conservation mechanisms of several typical desert plants.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF1301004)the Science and Technology Department of Shanghai(21DZ1201902)the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau(G201610)。
文摘The Hooded Crane(Grus monacha)is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list.Tidal wetland(tideland),the major habitat for wintering Hooded Cranes at East China’s Chongming Dongtan,has dramatically changed in the past two decades,but there is limited knowledge about the population and habitat changes of the Hooded Cranes.This study investigated the population size and distribution of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan from 2000 to 2021.We used remote sensing images combined with a vegetation classification algorithm to analyse the distribution of saltmarsh vegetation.The quadrat method was used to investigate the density and weight of the underground corms of Sea Bulrush(Scirpus mariquter),the main food on tideland for the Hooded Cranes.From 2000 to 2021,the population number of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan remained stable at approximately 100.In 2000,the area of Scirpus spp.and Common Reed(Phragmites australis)accounted for approximately half of the total saltmarsh area at Chongming Dongtan,respectively.The invasive Smooth Cordgrass(Spartina alterniflora)rapidly expanded on tideland in the 2000s while the Scirpus spp.was competed out and thus significantly reduced in area.After the implementation of an ecological project to control Smooth Cordgrass and to restore Scirpus spp.in the 2010s,the area of the Smooth Cordgrass decreased considerably while the area of Scirpus spp.increased.The corms of Sea Bulrush decreased on the southeastern tideland during the study period,which might be the cause of the northward movement of the foraging Hooded Cranes on tideland.We also found Hooded Cranes foraged crops in the nearby farmland in mid-winter,causing human-bird conflicts in the recent decade.Our results found that changes in habitat and food conditions on tideland impacted wintering Hooded Cranes.Foraging in farmland with human disturbance in the recent decade might be related to insufficient food on tideland.We suggest active intervention to accelerate the restoration of Sea Bulrush on tideland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality of the wintering Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China(NSFC)(Grant No.41901349)Marine Economy Develop-ment Foundation of Guangdong Province(Grant No.GDNRC[2022]21)+1 种基金Basic Scientific Research Program of National Nonprofit Research Insti-tutes(Grant No.ZX2022QT025)the Startup Foundation for Tal-ented Scholars in South China Normal University(Grant No.8S0472).
文摘As ecologically fragile areas,coastal zones are affected by both anthropogenic activities and climate change.However,the impacts of these factors on large nearshore mammals,such as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(IPHDs,Sousa chinensis),are poorly understood.Here,modeling revealed that the suitable habitats of IPHDs are affected mainly by the sea surface temperature(SST),and the habitat suitability decreases as the distance to the nearest coastline increases.In addition,anthropogenic activities involving demersal fishing,contamination and shipping have narrowed IPHD habitats and reduced the habitat suitability.We found that climate change will further narrow suitable habitats located farther than 7 km from coastlines and trigger habitat losses in the eastern Taiwan Strait by 2090-2100 under the Representative Concentration Pathway(RCP)8.5 scenario.The projected decreases in habitat suitability and area emphasize the urgency of establishing connected marine protected areas(MPAs)while considering climate change,intergovernmental cooperation,and public involvement.
文摘According to one of the theses of optimal foraging theory,main prey species abundance in the hunting area is the main factor determining the diet and habitat choices of birds of prey.However other factors can also be important.The habitat structure influences the predators’diets as well.In this study we examined the influence of habitat structure on diet compositions of three species of birds:Long-eared Owl(Asio otus),Short-eared Owl(A.flammeus)and Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus).The study was carried out from 2007 to 2019 in a 48 km2area of the Crane’s Homeland Reserve,Moscow Region,Russia.The habitat structures of model species’hunting territories(ratio of different types of landscape elements)were classified in module"Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin"based on the QGIS.A boosted regression tree analysis identified that the share of the main prey species in the diet is primarily determined by the landscape structure of hunting territories.The largest share of Common Vole(Microtus arvalis)in birds’diet was determined by the shrubs area(15%of hunting area),the meadow area(75%),the habitat heterogeneity(70%)and the arable land area(5%).The same predictors determined the largest share of Root Vole(Microtus oeconomus):the shrubs area 25%,the meadow area 70%,and the arable land area 3%.The annual mean abundance of prey species did not determine their importance in the diet of birds of prey.Thus,the main prey abundance in the hunting area is not a determining factor for the formation of diet composition of birds of prey.
文摘The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, we photographed 454 salamanders in moist habitats where water flows year round;100 of these were sampled to measure the percentage of yellow and black color on the back, and the number of spots on the head. At Kibbutz Sasa, 201 salamanders were photographed, of which 62 were sampled for the measurements. In Kibbutz Yehiam, 200 salamanders were photographed, and 60 were sampled for the measurements. At all sites, about a third of the salamanders were photographed more than once. For all three populations, yellow spots on the salamander back were found in one row, two rows or scattered. For two indices (proportion of yellow/black and number of spots on the head), the Dan population (under wet, running water all year round conditions) differed from the two other populations of salamanders (under semi-arid mountain conditions). The number of yellow spots on the head of the salamanders in the three populations varied from 1 to 7. In all populations, 4 spots pattern was the most common. In the Dan population, there were significantly more salamanders with 1 to 3 spots on their head than in the Sasa or Yehiam populations. No difference was found in the number of head spots for Sasa vs. Yehiam salamanders. The percentage of yellow on the black back was significantly larger for the Dan salamanders vs. the two other populations. The main question examined was whether there is an effect of the habitat conditions in isolated populations on the spot pattern on the salamander back. The answer is positive and is supported by previous studies.
文摘[Objectives]To analyze the change of urban habitat quality in different periods and study the influence of land use change on habitat quality,which plays an important role in regional sustainable development.[Methods]Taking Kunming as an example,based on land use change,InVEST model was used to evaluate the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of habitat quality.[Results]During 2000-2020,cultivated land,grassland and woodland in Kunming decreased by 277.43,324.99 and 141.72 km 2,respectively;land use transfer presented obvious stage characteristics,with cultivated land,grassland and woodland changing into construction land as the main characteristics during 2005-2010,and 2015-2020.The average value of habitat quality index in Kunming decreased from 0.3119 to 0.3022,showing a downward trend as a whole;the spatial distribution pattern of habitat quality was"low in the middle and high around"(the high value areas of habitat quality are mainly distributed around Kunming,while the low value areas are mainly distributed in the urban aggregation areas of Kunming).[Conclusions]This study can provide theoretical support for future land use planning.
文摘The relationship between habitat and behaviour provides important information for species management.For large,free roaming,marine animals satellite tags provide high resolution information on movement,but such datasets are restricted due to cost.Extracting additional biologically important information from these data would increase utilisation and value.Several modelling approaches have been developed to identify behavioural states in tracking data.The objective of this study was to evaluate a behavioural state prediction model for blue shark(Prionace glauca)ARGOS surface location-only data.The novel nature of the six SPLASH satellite tags used enabled behavioural events to be identified in blue shark dive data and accurately mapped spatio-temporally along respective surface location-only tracks.Behavioural states modelled along the six surface location-only tracks were then tested against observed behavioural events to evaluate the model’s accuracy.Results showed that the Behavioural Change Point Analysis(BCPA)model augmented with K means clustering analysis performed well for predicting foraging behaviour(correct 86%of the time).Prediction accuracy was lower for searching(52%)and travelling(63%)behaviour,likely related to the numerical dominance of foraging events in dive data.The model’s validation for predicting foraging behaviour justified its application to nine additional surface location-only(SPOT tag)tracks,substantially increasing the utilisation of expensive and rare data.Results enabled the critical behavioural state of foraging,to be mapped throughout the entire home range of blue sharks,allowing drivers of critical habitat to be investigated.This validation strengthens the use of such modelling to interpret historic and future datasets,for blue sharks but also other species,contributing to conservational management.
文摘For the earth material construction is the most used one in Chad, the object of this work is the assessment of the thermal quality of earthen adobe mixed with straw. Different simulation software analyzes the CoDyBa which is conducted to determine the behavior of this material compared to living comfort thanks to the Fanger model, which is a method of approach to thermal comfort standpoint. The study focused on two configurations on the formation of the walls of a room. The first of these configurations led to the definition of a first cell constructed earthen adobe named Batter roofing sheet aluminum and a second cell built in blocks named Batbet which had the same geometric characteristics (thickness, dimensions and side openings) and covered in the same manner as the ground cell. The different comfort indices PMV and PPD values of these two configurations of habitat were identified and were used to determine their thermal comfort rating.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Little is known about the ecology of the Chinese Giant Salamander(Andrias davidianus),a critically endangered species.Such information is needed to make informed decisions concerning the conservation and management of this species.Four A.davidianus raised in a pool were released into their native habitat on 04 May 2005 and were subsequently radio-tracked for approximately 155–168 days.Following their release,the giant salamanders traveled upstream in search of suitable micro-habitats,and settled after 10 days.Later,a devastating summer flash flood destroyed the salamanders' dens,triggering another bout of habitat searching by the animals.Eventually,the salamanders settled in different sections of the stream where they remained until the end of the study.On average,each habitat searching endeavor took 7.5 days,during which a giant salamander explored a 310 m stretch of stream with a surface area of about 1157 m2and occupied 3.5 temporary dwellings.Each giant salamander spent an average of 144.5 days in semi-permanent micro-habitats,and occupied territories that had a mean size of 34.75 m2.Our results indicate that the Chinese giant salamander responds to habitat disturbance by seeking new habitats upstream,both water temperature and water level affect the salamander's habitat searching activity,and the size of the salamander's semi-permanent territory is influenced by the size of the pool containing the animal's den.
