Areas Of Natural Habitat Research Articles

Ecological filtering in scrub fragments restructures the taxonomic and functional composition of native bee assemblages.

Predicting the long-term consequences of habitat alteration for the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function requires an understanding of how ecological filters drive taxonomic and functional biodiversity loss. Here, we test a set of predictions concerning the role of ecological filters in restructuring native bee assemblages inhabiting fragmented coastal sage scrub ecosystems in southern California, USA. In 2011 and 2012, we collected native bees in scrub habitat belonging to two treatment categories: large natural reserves and small habitat fragments embedded in an urban landscape. We compared bee assemblages in reserve and fragment sites with respect to their taxonomic and functional alpha diversity, beta diversity, assemblage composition, and mean geographical range size estimated via distribution maps compiled for this study from digitized specimen records. We found multiple lines of evidence that ecological filtering drove bee diversity loss in fragments: a disproportionate loss of functional diversity relative to taxonomic diversity, shifts in assemblage composition driven largely by the preferential extirpation of reserve-associated indicator species, and disproportionate loss of range-restricted species. However, we found no evidence of taxonomic or functional homogenization across fragment bee assemblages, suggesting that filtering was not sufficiently strong to cause a subset of functional traits (and their associated species) to dominate assemblages in fragments. Our results suggest that ecological filtering altered bee assemblages in habitat fragments, even when such fragments contained well-preserved native plant assemblages, underscoring the importance of preserving large areas of natural habitat for the conservation of bees (especially range-restricted taxa) and their associated ecological functions.

The consequences of land sparing for birds in the United Kingdom

Abstract Land sparing has been proposed as a strategy to reconcile biodiversity conservation with agricultural production, with empirical studies on five continents indicating that most species would benefit if food demand was met through high‐yield farming combined with the protection or restoration of natural habitat. Most such studies come from landscapes covered by large areas of natural habitat and without a long history of intense human modification. However, much of Europe consists of human‐dominated landscapes, where biodiversity responses to land sparing may differ. To test this, we use estimates of bird population density in different (semi‐)natural habitats, and forecasts of population density in farmland habitat, to assess the future consequences for birds of land‐sparing scenarios in the United Kingdom. Our scenarios predict that whilst up to 18 of the 156 species assessed (predominantly farmland associated species) might decline in UK conservation status under land sparing, up to 35 UK bird species (mainly woodland and wetland species) might improve in status. This contrasts with a maximum of eight species likely to improve in conservation status without land sparing, with up to seven species deteriorating. Combining land sparing with demand management measures (reducing food waste and the consumption of animal products) led to more positive population changes under all scenarios. Synthesis and applications. Land sparing has the potential to benefit UK bird populations in aggregate but would likely have negative impacts on farmland bird species. These findings are likely to be applicable across human‐dominated landscapes beyond the UK, though effects on other taxa, implementation mechanisms and the sustainability of higher yields all require careful consideration.

Conservation Incentives from an Ecosystem Service: How Much Farmland Might Be Devoted to Native Pollinators?

Some conservation advocates hope the ecosystem services that areas of natural habitat provide will generate sufficient incentives to offset the opportunity costs of habitat preservation. In this paper I consider a service that has received considerable attention: pollination. While many crops are pollinated by rented honeybees, wild organisms might also pollinate crops if habitats were maintained to sustain them. I develop conditions under which a farmer might choose to maintain such habitats rather than to pay to rent bees. For pollination, as with many other ecosystem services, there may be a “paradox of efficiency”. If areas of habitat provide services efficiently, they might prove to be quite valuable. Under the same circumstances, however, appeals to ecosystem services values might motivate only modest conservation. I illustrate these ideas using the example of California almond farming. Even if almond farmers could profitably rely on wild pollinators, they might devote only a small fraction of their holdings to habitat for such pollinators. It may be important in light of these findings to ask what the objectives of conservation really are, and whether they can be best achieved by instrumental arguments as opposed to appeals to the less tangible benefits of conservation.

Preferences for biodiversity offset contracts on arable land: a choice experiment study with farmers

Biodiversity offsetting (BO) is aimed at achieving no net loss of biodiversity in the context of economic development. Through a choice experiment in Northern France, we show that farmers have a clear preference for not signing up BO contracts. The contracts they accept may only be suitable for offsetting temporary impacts on already degraded areas of natural habitat but not for permanent impacts on high-quality habitat. We find that the introduction of a conditional monetary bonus can improve the organisational and ecological efficiency of BO because it increases the enrolled acreage in a BO contract per farmer albeit at an increased cost for developers.

Home range utilization by chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Rapid urbanization coupled with decreasing areas of natural habitat are causing baboon populations to become scattered and isolated, often resulting in increased levels of human-baboon conflict. To implement baboon-human conflict management strategies, it is essential to formulate realistic conservation policies that deal with all stakeholder concerns and ensure the conservation of viable baboon populations. A study was initiated in response to complaints of perceived excessive baboon numbers and associated lack of food resources on Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in South Africa. Data obtained from GPS tracking collars fitted to one baboon from each of 10 identified troops were analyzed to determine home range size and utilization. The spatial representation of home ranges generated from this study will allow reserve management to identify areas of potential high and low human-baboon conflict and will contribute to the development of a formal baboon management plan to reduce human-baboon conflict on and around the reserve. Home ranges were unevenly distributed and had a mean size of 26.72 km2 ± 13.91 SD in the cold/dry season and 26.54 km2 ± 12.76 SD in the warm/wet season. Troop home ranges overlapped to some degree and five troops utilized areas outside the reserve. Although no significant relationship between troop size and home range was found, there was a positive relationship between troop size and daily distance travelled. All troops had significantly longer mean daily distances during the warm/wet season than during the cold/dry season (P ≤ 0.02).

Violent Green Spaces in Neoliberal Central America

Violent Green Spaces in Neoliberal Central America Mary Finley-Brook Correction: The last line of the first paragraph has been updated to read "...roles in mitigating climate change, supplying clean air and water,...". In the ten years since i wrote ‘green Neoliberal Space,’ international finance institutions (IFIs) have continued to intervene in Central America, but regional challenges are greater than ever. A decade ago, I never imagined per capita homicide rates in many Central American countries would rival the world’s deadliest war zones, as they do currently, with violence occurring even in protected areas. Similarly, I did not appreciate how grave Mesoamerican ecological threats were because it seemed these concerns were finally gaining overdue attention. In hindsight, I wish I had advocated for biological corridors and pointed out their essential roles in mitigating climate change, supplying clean air and water, and supporting rural livelihoods. spatializing and fragmenting conservation A vision for a Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) was nascent when I critically assessed planning processes in Nicaragua’s portion of the regional initiative (see Finley-Brook 2007). Subprojects proposed to lower rural poverty and reduce extraction pressures in protected areas seemed likely to expand markets without biodiversity protection. Corridor-related projects in indigenous and Mestizo communities allowed inadequate consultation and replicated ‘cookie cutter’ plans for resource use and entrepreneurship. Indeed, just as I suggested, experts with the Independent Evaluation Group examining MBC implementation across the region found community initiatives poorly aligned with conservation objectives and local benefits unverifiable (IEG 2011: 21–23). Following more than $500 million in donor investment in the MBC, ambitious plans for regional networks of corridors quietly scaled back to support a small number of transboundary reserves (Holland 2012). While it was easy to find fault with the donor-driven MBC, regional corridors have merit. Many species require habitat protection beyond official parks, as the majority of their territory remains outside of protected areas (Mendoza et al. 2013). Yet ecological and technical capacity in Central America is often insufficient to design and implement landscape connectivity (IEG 2011), thus encouraging indiscriminate application [End Page 267] of corridors and increasing risk that poorly executed plans fail. The MBC’s paired goals of conservation and development remain in tension in the few places where successful corridor projects emerged. For example, deforestation remains high in Costa Rican corridors surrounded by road building and resource marketization (Wood et al. 2017). In much of Central America, economic development initiatives disrupt habitat and place rural livelihoods at risk without creating viable, accessible, or acceptable alternatives. Following construction of a highway connecting southern and northern Panama, intersecting the country’s major east-west biological corridor, an initiative offensively dubbed the ‘Conquest of the Atlantic’ promotes global investment in new mining, tourism, and energy projects in northern Panama (Bilbao 2017). Throughout Central America, infrastructure expansion intersects high biodiversity zones, which are generally racially and ethnically diverse, instigating land and resource conflicts between local inhabitants and developers. green violence: securitization and racialized dispossession “Inside the protected area, inside the bubble, social welfare would be assured. Outside, it was hell” (Carr quoted in Finley-Brook 2007: 102). In 2004, ecologist Archie Carr III, an early advocate for biological corridors throughout the Western hemisphere, suggested that protected areas forming the backbone of the MBC might become “little green enclaves of social justice and opportunity” or utopian “bubbles” (Carr quoted in Finley-Brook 2007: 102). Such idealized socio-spatial constructs have proven inaccurate as wildlife poaching, deforestation, drug cultivation and trafficking, and mining transgress the region’s porous and contested green spaces. Newcomers, often labelled as colonists, encroach in even the core of large reserves. Indigenous inhabitants with territorial rights within Nicaragua’s Bosawas Reserve confront illegal homesteaders at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Mayangna Sauni As, an indigenous territory traversing the Bosawas, recently declared a state of emergency and community members fled to Honduras to avoid violent exchanges with colonists (Ariel Artola 2017). This border area includes the transboundary biosphere reserve El Corazón (the Heart), the largest remaining area of natural habitat in Mesoamerica, which pairs the Bosawas with Honduran reserves. Sadly, transborder protected areas are some of the most insecure and violent spaces in Mesoamerica (Ybarra 2016). Depicting...

Forested field edges support a greater diversity of wild pollinators in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Agricultural landscapes vary widely in the degree to which they provide natural habitat. This is in spite of the fact that the availability of natural habitat has been identified as a critical factor influencing the diversity and abundance of beneficial crop insects, including native pollinators. We examined the effect of the type of field edge habitat (forested or deforested) on the abundance and diversity of bee species foraging in 15 managed lowbush blueberry fields in the vicinity of St. Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada. Additionally, we tested whether edge habitat type was associated with differences in pollen limitation, fruit set, and seed set of adjacent lowbush blueberry plants. Finally, we used GIS to determine the influence of larger scale land use patterns on the pollinator community and crop success of individual fields. Our forested field edges were distinguished as having lower light availability, greater canopy cover, and a greater bee nesting habitat index than deforested edges. Forested edges also had a greater diversity of bees. In particular, they supported more species of cleptoparasitic bees than deforested edges. Meanwhile, the abundance of non-parasitic (i.e., pollen-seeking) bees was greater along deforested edges. Blueberry plants along deforested edges tended to have more flowers, higher fruit set and marginally higher seed set than plants along forested edges. We found no difference in pollen limitation between edge types, suggesting that differences in fruit set were due to resource limitation. At the landscape level, we found no association among the amount of forest cover surrounding a field and the abundance or diversity of pollinators. However, on the forested edges of fields, we did find a positive correlation between the amount of forest surrounding a field and the abundance of pollinators. Our finding that forested edges had greater nesting habitat index and higher diversity of bees together suggest that the maintenance of areas of natural habitat within agricultural ecosystems helps to support greater pollinator diversity.

Bumble bee colony growth and reproduction depend on local flower dominance and natural habitat area in the surrounding landscape

Conservation measures for bees often focus on increasing the diversity and abundance of floral resources. But it has not been clear if observed benefits of floral enhancements result from greater population growth, which is critical for the long-term success of conservation, or from mobile foragers aggregating in high-resource locations. Experimental evidence is only beginning to emerge in favor of the former mechanism and it is not well-established how different aspects of floral resources affect population growth. For example, bumble bee colonies may benefit from greater overall floral abundance, richness, or relative dominance of resource species. Because bumble bees are highly mobile, resource variability in the surrounding landscape is also important for colonies and may mediate local-scale effects. We experimentally assessed the growth and reproduction of bumble bee colonies (Bombus impatiens) deployed in grasslands in different local- and landscape-scale resource environments. We found that floral dominance, rather than the overall abundance or richness of floral resources, was the most important local factor for colony growth and reproduction. This may reflect more efficient foraging on a few numerically dominant and abundant resource species. Local- and landscape-scale predictor variables had interacting effects on colony growth and reproduction, suggesting that foraging distance depends on where in the landscape efficiently used resources are located. Our results provide further evidence that conservation strategies aimed at enhancing floral resources can increase bumble bee population growth. However, the most effective form of floral enhancement may vary among bee species.

Urban biodiversity in China: Who are winners? Who are losers?

Rapid urbanization in the last three decades has impacted biogeographic patterns of wildlife in China profoundly. Large areas of natural habitats have been converted into concentrated industrial and residential areas [1]. Remaining habitats in vicinities of cities are often fragmented and degraded [2]. Besides land use/land cover changes, anthropogenic disturbances such as the introduction of exotic species further add pressure on local biodiversity [3]. How does wildlife respond to these impacts? Who will win and who will lose in this urbanization process in China? Answers to these questions will help conservation agencies to manage the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity more effectively. A general finding from urban biodiversity studies is that urbanization favors exotic species over native species because of the environmental filtering effect and anthropogenic influences [3]. The temporal change of species composition of birds in Beijing serves as a good example. By comparing the species composition of birds in Beijing recorded during 1954–1978 [4, 5] to those recorded during 2003–2013 (Chinese Bird Reports, http://www.chinabirdnet. org/report.html; eBird, http://www.ebird.org/), one can find that the proportion of species whose distribution ranges are outside of Beijing increased significantly, up from 22 % of the 172 observed species to 46 % of the 409 observed species. Three species whose distribution ranges encompass Beijing could not be observed in the later time (Names of species listed in supplementary Table S1). The gain of exotic species and loss of native species cause biotic homogenization, which is considered one of the most prominent forms of biotic impoverishment worldwide [6]. The diversity pattern of urban woody plants in China bears the evidence of this trend. Assemblages of urban woody plants from 35 Chinese cities had lower dissimilarities of species composition between urban areas than these of woody plants in natural areas (Fig. 1a, b, paired t test, P 0.001), which indicated that urbanization had a homogenization effect. This effect was significant and detectable as social factors explained 11 % of variation in the composition dissimilarity (Fig. 1c). Species from families like Prunus, Populus, and Magnolia have contributed to the homogenization of urban woody plants, which may be due to their wide use in landscaping. That rapid urbanization in China has caused negative impacts on urban biodiversity is supported bymore andmore evidences. The question is: ‘‘Why bother?’’ China has the largest urban population in the world—670 million and an additional 100million by 2020 is expected [7].Many of them experience ‘‘nature’’ primarily in urban areas. Preservation of urban biodiversity will increase their awareness to the importance of biodiversity conservation in nature [8]. Values of urban biodiversity are not restrict to psychological and educational benefits. Urban biodiversity is the foundation of a healthy urban ecosystem. Preserving biodiversity in urban ecosystems can sustain the supply of much-needed Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11434-016-1187-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Forest Management for Enhancing Ecosystem Services in the Climate Change Scenario of Bangladesh

Ecosystem services of forests are essential for human life. As the human population increases, the demand for ecosystem services also increases and thereby the amount of forest is declining, taking their ecosystem services with them and leaving the remaining forests and their services more significant and scarce. The once biodiversity rich forests of Bangladesh have undergone massive deforestation and degradation due to high population pressure and lack of proper management. In recent years there has been a substantial shift in emphasis in forest management from maximizing yield towards maximizing sustainability through increased participation of local population, conserving biodiversity, and maintaining ecosystem services. New forest management systems are added to address climate change scenario, such as agroforestry, strip plantation, participatory forestry on encroached forest, community based mangrove afforestation on newly accreted land in the coastal area and conservation area management to preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity. This paper presents a brief account of ecosystem services of forests that are crucial for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Some studies related to ecosystem services interaction with their management implications are reviewed; valuation of ecosystem services is studied and recommends management techniques to ensure more effective conservation of existing forest and biodiversity resources are recommended. Conservation area management proved as efficient, successful and cost-effective tool for maintaining ecosystem services in the climate change context, as they often protect the last remaining large areas of natural habitats. Increasing the protected area network and improving management techniques can enhance the resilience of ecosystem to climate change and safeguard vital ecosystem services.

Impacts of hunting on tropical forests in Southeast Asia.

Although deforestation and forest degradation have long been considered the most significant threats to tropical biodiversity, across Southeast Asia (Northeast India, Indochina, Sundaland, Philippines) substantial areas of natural habitat have few wild animals (>1 kg), bar a few hunting-tolerant species. To document hunting impacts on vertebrate populations regionally, we conducted an extensive literature review, including papers in local journals and reports of governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Evidence from multiple sites indicated animal populations declined precipitously across the region since approximately 1980, and many species are now extirpated from substantial portions of their former ranges. Hunting is by far the greatest immediate threat to the survival of most of the region's endangered vertebrates. Causes of recent overhunting include improved access to forests and markets, improved hunting technology, and escalating demand for wild meat, wildlife-derived medicinal products, and wild animals as pets. Although hunters often take common species, such as pigs or rats, for their own consumption, they take rarer species opportunistically and sell surplus meat and commercially valuable products. There is also widespread targeted hunting of high-value species. Consequently, as currently practiced, hunting cannot be considered sustainable anywhere in the region, and in most places enforcement of protected-area and protected-species legislation is weak. The international community's focus on cross-border trade fails to address overexploitation of wildlife because hunting and the sale of wild meat is largely a local issue and most of the harvest is consumed in villages, rural towns, and nearby cities. In addition to improved enforcement, efforts to engage hunters and manage wildlife populations through sustainable hunting practices are urgently needed. Unless there is a step change in efforts to reduce wildlife exploitation to sustainable levels, the region will likely lose most of its iconic species, and many others besides, within the next few years.

Quantitative Assessment of Land Cover Change Using Landsat Time Series Data: Case of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), Bangladesh

Due to inappropriate management and absence of land use planning, land cover change of developing country like Bangladesh is a common phenomenon. This land cover change phenomenon will have its tremendous effect if found at a greater extent on natural habitat area for numerous animal and tree species. In this study, land cover change of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) was assessed from (2005-2015) using Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor). ArcGIS v10.1 and ERDAS Imagine v14 were used to process satellite derived imageries and assess other quantitative data for land cover change assessment of this study area. Land cover change of the area was identified using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technique. Highest NDVI value was found in 2005 (0.71) which denotes presence of moderate-high vegetation cover at that time period. After 2005, highest NDVI value was found following a decreasing trend (0.56 in 2010 and 0.4 in 2015) which clearly represents the rapid vegetation cover change in the study area. Almost 7608 hectares of moderate to high density natural forest cover dominated the area during 2005 but was totally absent in 2015 which may be considered as a great threat regarding proper ecosystem functioning of CWS. From the findings of this research, it can be easily concluded that the sanctuary area has lost its valuable land cover both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Quantitative Assessment of Land Cover Change Using Landsat Time Series Data: Case of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), Bangladesh

Due to inappropriate management and absence of land use planning, land cover change of developing country like Bangladesh is a common phenomenon. This land cover change phenomenon will have its tremendous effect if found at a greater extent on natural habitat area for numerous animal and tree species. In this study, land cover change of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) was assessed from (2005-2015) using Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor). ArcGIS v10.1 and ERDAS Imagine v14 were used to process satellite derived imageries and assess other quantitative data for land cover change assessment of this study area. Land cover change of the area was identified using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technique. Highest NDVI value was found in 2005 (0.71) which denotes presence of moderate-high vegetation cover at that time period. After 2005, highest NDVI value was found following a decreasing trend (0.56 in 2010 and 0.4 in 2015) which clearly represents the rapid vegetation cover change in the study area. Almost 7608 hectares of moderate to high density natural forest cover dominated the area during 2005 but was totally absent in 2015 which may be considered as a great threat regarding proper ecosystem functioning of CWS. From the findings of this research, it can be easily concluded that the sanctuary area has lost its valuable land cover both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Landscape Diversity and Crop Vigor Influence Biological Control of the Western Grape Leafhopper (E. elegantula Osborn) in Vineyards.

This study evaluated how the proportional area of natural habitat surrounding a vineyard (i.e. landscape diversity) worked in conjunction with crop vigor, cultivar and rootstock selection to influence biological control of the western grape leafhopper (Erythroneura elegantula Osborn). The key natural enemies of E. elegantula are Anagrus erythroneurae S. Trjapitzin & Chiappini and A. daanei Triapitsyn, both of which are likely impacted by changes in landscape diversity due to their reliance on non-crop habitat to successfully overwinter. Additionally, E. elegantula is sensitive to changes in host plant quality which may influence densities on specific cultivars, rootstocks and/or vines with increased vigor. From 2010–2013, data were collected on natural enemy and leafhopper densities, pest parasitism rates and vine vigor from multiple vineyards that represented a continuum of landscape diversity. Early in the season, vineyards in more diverse landscapes had higher Anagrus spp. densities and lower E. elegantula densities, which led to increased parasitism of E. elegantula. Although late season densities of E. elegantula tended to be lower in vineyards with higher early season parasitism rates and lower total petiole nitrogen content, they were also affected by rootstock and cultivar. While diverse landscapes can support higher natural enemy populations, which can lead to increased biological control, leafhopper densities also appear to be mediated by cultivar, rootstock and vine vigor.

Large Roads Disrupt Insect Movement: A Case Study of the Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Roads are a growing mosaic in the landscape, splitting and reducing the area of natural habitats of organisms. To examine the effects of large roads on insect movements, the Egyptian cotton leaf worm moth Spodoptera littoralis was used as a model species in a mark-recapture experiment. The flight of male moths towards female sexual pheromone across a motorway and an open field was compared. Road constructions may disrupt movements of individual insects as recapture probability was lower when moths had to cross a road to reach the bait compared with that in undisturbed natural habitat. The observed road effect may appear a very general response among insects as noctuids are generally highly mobile. We conclude that increasing fragmentation of natural habitats due to road networks may not only affect many insect populations worldwide, but also deteriorate ecosystem function and services as insects are important pollinators of natural and cultivated plants.

Conservation lessons from the Pacific Islands

THE Pacific Islands have long been at the vanguard of the battle for our planet’s ecological sustainability, including biodiversity in this time of the Anthropocene. It was on these islands that the world began to understand the devastating impacts of invasive species, direct or indirect passengers on our invasion waves, on endemic animals, maladapted to avoid predation (Elton 1958). Devastating statistics on island extinctions are the frontispiece of any textbook on conservation biology. Further, the standout general rule for ecology, the relationship between biodiversity and natural habitat area, the species’ area curve, was underpinned by our understanding of the bird communities of Pacific Islands (Diamond and Mayr 1976). These are the conservation lessons of the past, an ever present reminder of the legacy of the impact of our species on natural environments and the other organisms with which we share this earth. Ultimately we all depend on the ecosystem services provided by our environments. Today, conservation in the Pacific Islands continues to teach us important lessons for focussing scientific research, implementing best practice management, disseminating educational material, and developing legislative and policy mechanisms. These are tied to ongoing acute and chronic threats, burgeoning human populations and the relatively poor capacity, compared to wealthy nations, to apply available conservation tools for effective change.

圈养大熊猫野化培训期的生境选择特征

大熊猫(<em>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</em>)是我国特有的珍稀物种,也是世界上最濒危的野生动物之一。为了将人工繁育的部分大熊猫个体重引入其历史分布区或复壮野生种群,中国保护大熊猫研究中心从2003年开始进行圈养大熊猫的野外放归工作,通过野化培训以提高圈养大熊猫适应和选择野外环境的能力。对野化培训大熊猫"淘淘"的生境选择研究表明:该野化培训大熊猫幼仔经常活动于新笋密度较大的区域[生境与对照:(2.68±1.14)对(1.58±0.66)],却避开成竹密度过大[(9.91±2.51)对(12.18±4.68)]、竹子较高[(4.57±1.09) m对(4.98±0.66) m]以及枯死竹过多[(2.52±0.86)对(3.39±1.33)]的区域;喜欢活动于离水源[(1.59±0.67)对(2.19±0.87)]和隐蔽场所较近[(5.37±2.14) m对(8.35±7.76)m],以及距离乔木较远[(3.09±0.69) m对(2.70±0.42) m]和郁闭度较低[(1.85±0.57)对(2.10±0.47)]的区域(<em>P</em> < 0.05),新笋密度大小是该栖息地在整个野化培训期间是否被利用的最重要因素。该野化培训大熊猫幼仔保持着与带仔母兽相近的生境选择特征,对竹子环境的选择也与卧龙野生大熊猫相似,野化培训对该大熊猫幼仔产生了积极的作用。野化培训大熊猫幼仔形成的家域和核域面积分别为9.21 hm² 和1.93 hm²,占野化培训圈面积的51.95%和10.89%,其中家域面积仅有卧龙野生大熊猫的1.4%-2.4%,所以在以后的野化培训过程中需要采取增加野化培训圈中环境丰富度等方式,促进野化培训大熊猫形成较大的家域面积。;The giant panda (<em>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</em>)is a rare endangered species listed on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)Red List of Threatened Species and in the Appendices of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The giant panda has encountered risks of gene loss and local extinction of metapopulations due to habitat loss as a result of both biogeological and anthropologenic disturbance. One way to save endangered species is to reintroduce captive animals to sparsely populated regions of their historical distribution area. However, in order for reintroduction to succeed, captive animals must be able to select habitat that ensures their survival in the wild, a crucial skill that can be honed during pre-release training. We conducted research involving pre-release training of a giant panda in an enclosure in an area of natural habitat at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Wolong Nature Reserve. We found that the panda selected areas with a high density of <em>Fargesia robusta </em>bamboo shoots (means±standard deviation of habitat plots and control plots: 2.68±1.14 vs. 1.58±0.66), but avoided areas with a high density of adult bamboo (9.91±2.51 vs. 12.18±4.68) dead bamboo (2.52±0.86 vs. 3.39±1.33) and areas with higher bamboo culms ((4.57±1.09) m vs. (4.98±0.66) m). The panda was found in areas near water ((1.59±0.67) m vs. (2.19±0.87) m) and shelter ((5.37±2.14) m vs. (8.35±7.76) m) more often than other areas, but avoided areas close to trees ((3.09±0.69) m vs. (2.70±0.42) m) and areas with higher canopy cover (1.85±0.57 vs. 2.10±0.47) (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that the density of new bamboo shoots was the main factor predicting habitat use by the pre-released giant panda. The pre-released giant panda had similar habitat selection patterns as its mother, suggesting that it may be able to learn skills from its mother, an important factor that can impact the success of the reintroduction. The pre-released giant panda also displayed similar habitat selection patterns as wild giant pandas in Wolong Nature Reserve, suggesting that it may be prepared for foraging in the wild. The fact that the pre-released giant panda selected areas close to the shelter suggests it might have learned predator avoidance skills from pre-release training, which could have a positive effect on its survival in the wild. Home range and home range core areas were 9.21 hm² and 1.93 hm², about 51.95% and 10.89% of the pre-release training enclosure respectively, while the home range was only 1.4%-2.4% of home ranges of wild giant pandas in Wolong Nature Reserve. It is essential to enrich the bamboo species richness of the pre-release training enclosure (such as by including <em>Bashania faberi </em>in the enclosure) in the future.

Reconciling Food Production and Biodiversity Conservation: Land Sharing and Land Sparing Compared

The question of how to meet rising food demand at the least cost to biodiversity requires the evaluation of two contrasting alternatives: land sharing, which integrates both objectives on the same land; and land sparing, in which high-yield farming is combined with protecting natural habitats from conversion to agriculture. To test these alternatives, we compared crop yields and densities of bird and tree species across gradients of agricultural intensity in southwest Ghana and northern India. More species were negatively affected by agriculture than benefited from it, particularly among species with small global ranges. For both taxa in both countries, land sparing is a more promising strategy for minimizing negative impacts of food production, at both current and anticipated future levels of production.

A Case of Respiratory Failure Due to Poison Hemlock Poisoning Presented to an Emergency Department

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. Accidental ingestion of the plant could result in central nervous system depression, respiratory failure and even death. Airway and breathing management followed by fluid resuscitation is the mainstay of treatment. Poison hemlock poisoning is an important differential diagnosis for patients with impaired consciousness and respiratory failure after plant ingestion in areas of natural habitat for the plant. Early and proper diagnosis is vital for patients with poison hemlock poisoning. In this report, we present a case of life‐threatening poisoning due to taking the poison hemlock mistaken for Helichrysum arenarium.

Protected areas of Borneo fail to protect forest landscapes with high habitat connectivity

Throughout the world, previously extensive areas of natural habitats have been degraded and fragmented, and improving habitat connectivity may help the long-term persistence of species, and their ability to adapt to climate changes. We focused on Borneo, where many remaining areas of tropical forest are highly fragmented, and we assessed the extent to which Protected Areas (PAs) protect highly-connected forest sites. We analysed remotely-sensed land cover data (0.86 km2 grid cell resolution) using ‘Zonation’ reserve design software, and we ranked grid cells (rank 0–1) according to forest extent and connectivity. PAs currently cover 9% of Borneo, but 60% of Borneo’s total land area lies below 200 m and only 15% of highly-connected cells occurred in these low elevation areas. These findings were relatively insensitive to assumptions about species’ dispersal ability (within the range 1–20 km; representing relatively mobile animal species). The percentage of highly-connected grid cells within PAs could rise from 50% under proposed new PAs (including the ‘Heart of Borneo’ project), although many other highly-connected sites will remain unprotected. On-going land-use changes mean that existing PAs in lowland areas are likely to become increasingly isolated within inhospitable agricultural landscapes, and improving connectivity through reforestation and rehabilitation of degraded forest may be required to maintain the conservation value of these PAs in future.