Coastal Strip Research Articles

Landscape Ecological Structures and Patterns for Green Space Conservation in Forest Monasteries in Northeast Thailand

The green spaces in Wat Pah play an important role in forest conservation in Thailand. This study identified and analyzed the structures and patterns of landscape ecology in Wat Pah Nanachart, Ubon Ratchathani Province, to guide a conceptual framework for green space conservation in forest monasteries. Spatial analysis and modeling using geoinformatics technology were employed to recognize and characterize these landscapes. Information on the green space conservation and management of Wat Pah was also obtained using an in-depth interview and site observation. The results revealed that most of the green space in Wat Pah is forest, characterized by an ecological matrix and a dry evergreen forest. The forest structure can be divided into three canopies, dominated by the Dipterocarpaceae family, which has regenerated into upper and lower canopies. It is an edge matrix and ecological corridor connected to the internal and external green spaces of Wat Pah. It plays an important role in supporting cultural, religious, and aesthetic activities for ordained monks and Buddhists. The spatial landscape model can be divided into three main zones: Thoranisangha, Buddhawas, Sanghawas. Thoranisangha is an open space covered with traditional and artificially planted tree species. It is located in front of the temple and designed for public utilities in the context of managing and conserving the remaining trees. Buddhawas is a semi-open space mostly covered with traditional tree species. It represents Buddhism’s identity and uniqueness and is used for religious ceremonies and dissemination—listening to sermons, meditating, and praying. Meanwhile, Sanghawas is covered with natural forest and contains residences for monks that are designed to be in harmony with the forest ecosystem.

Enhancing Ecological Security in Ili River Valley: Comprehensive Approach

The growing tension between economic development and ecological preservation in the Ili River Valley underscores the need for advanced analytical methods to effectively balance these interests. In this study, we utilized the InVEST model to quantify ecosystem services, combined with an analysis of ecological sensitivity, to comprehensively assess the ecological health of the region. By applying circuit theory, the research identified key ecological components such as sources, corridors, and critical nodes, alongside barriers; thus, mapping an ecological security pattern tailored specifically for the wetland oasis of the Ili River Valley. The analysis identified 15 ecological source sites covering 43,221.17 km2, 31 ecological corridors totaling 782 km in length, and 32 vital ecological nodes each exceeding 1 km2. Notably, 81.8% of these ecological source areas exhibited high ecological resilience, thus emphasizing their crucial role in maintaining the region’s ecological balance. The findings provide essential guidance for the ecological stewardship and management of the Ili River Valley and underscore the importance of incorporating ecological considerations within economic planning frameworks in arid regions.

Constructing Ecological Networks for Mountainous Urban Areas Based on Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis and Minimum Cumulative Resistance Models: A Case Study of Yongtai County

In order to alleviate the increased habitat fragmentation caused by the accelerating urbanization and ecological deterioration, constructing ecological networks is an effective way to improve ecological connectivity, facilitate regional energy flow, and promote biodiversity enhancement. In this study, Yongtai County was taken as the research object, and the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) method was used to analyze the landscape pattern, identify the ecological source sites, classify the ecological source sites according to the importance degree by possible connectivity index (PC) and the Delta values for probability index of connectivity (dPC), and then construct the potential ecological corridors with the help of the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model to generate the ecological network, and then put forward the optimization strategy according to the current situation. The results show that (1) the core area of Yongtai County is 1071.06 km2, the largest among all landscape types, with a fragmented distribution, high degree of fragmentation, and poor connectivity, mainly in the east and southwest, and sparser in the middle. (2) The area of highest resistance value is mainly located in the built-up areas of towns and rural settlements in the central and northwestern parts of the country; the lowest value is distributed in the southwest and southeast, and the land use mode is mainly expressed as woodland. (3) The ecological network consists of 13 ecological sources and 78 potential ecological corridors. The ecological sources are mainly located in the east and southwest, with high connectivity; the potential ecological corridors are distributed in the form of a network, with fewer in the center, resulting in the phenomenon of ecological disconnection. (4) Lack of ecological sources and corridors, serious landscape fragmentation, and optimization of ecological network by adding and protecting ecological sources, repairing ecological breakpoints and building stepping stones. This study is of guiding significance for urban green space system planning, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem function enhancement in Yongtai County, and also provides reference for ecological protection and optimization in other mountainous cities.

Assessing the extinction risk of the spontaneous flora in urban tree bases.

As the spatial arrangement of trees planted along streets in cities makes their bases potential ecological corridors for the flora, urban tree bases may be a key contributor to the overall connectivity of the urban ecosystem. However, these tree bases are also a highly fragmented environment in which extinctions are frequent. The goal of this study was to assess the plant species' ability to survive and spread through urban tree bases. To do so, we developed a Bayesian framework to assess the extinction risk of a plant metapopulation using presence/absence data, assuming that the occupancy dynamics was described by a Hidden Markov Model. The novelty of our approach is to take into account the combined effect of low-distance dispersal and the potential presence of a seed bank on the extinction risk. We introduced a metric of the extinction risk and examined its performance over a wide range of metapopulation parameters. We applied our framework to yearly floristic inventories carried out in 1324 tree bases in Paris, France. While local extinction risks were generally high, extinction risks at the street scale varied greatly from one species to another. We identified 10 plant species that could survive and spread through urban tree bases, and three plant traits correlated with the extinction risk at the metapopulation scale: the maximal height, and the beginning and end of the flowering period. Our results suggest that some plant species can use urban tree bases as ecological corridors despite high local extinction risks by forming a seed bank. We also identified other plant traits correlated with the ability to survive in tree bases, related to the action of gardeners. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that our Bayesian estimation framework based on percolation theory has the potential to be extended to more general metapopulations.

Construction and Optimization Strategy of Ecological Security Pattern in County-Level Cities under Spatial and Temporal Variation of Ecosystem Services: Case Study of Mianzhu, China

Climate change and human activities are seriously affecting the ecological level and economic development of county-level cities. Mianzhu City is a typical county-level city located within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The study selected primary ecological sources by analyzing high-level ecosystem service functions over time, using Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA). Ecological resistance surfaces were constructed using natural factors to address ecological risks associated with future urbanization. The construction of the ecological security pattern (ESP) followed the source–corridor–node paradigm, incorporating changes in ecosystem service risks. From 2010 to 2020, ecosystem service functions and values in Mianzhu City declined overall, with significant spatial variations. Human activities increased in ecologically fragile areas, aggravating exposure to ecological risks from climate change and urban expansion. Ecological protection and restoration zones were identified, with nature reserves in the north and the southern center as the core. In 2020, 19 ecological sources and 46 ecological corridors were identified, with a spatial distribution pattern of “more length and short resistance in the north, less length and long resistance in the south”. Additionally, 41 ecological pinch points and 16 ecological barrier points were determined. Considering the spatial distribution of the core areas of ecosystem services and lands with human-intensive activities, setting up the general idea of the ecological restoration pattern centered on forests, river corridors, and natural and artificial landscapes. The study provides new insights into constructing and optimizing the ESP, offering crucial references for the rapid urbanization of ecological restoration and development planning in urban regions.

Assessment of Sentinel-6 SAR mode and reprocessed Jason-3 sea level measurements over global coastal oceans

With dedicated coastal processing strategies and advanced Delay-Doppler technique, the quality of altimeter data from Low-Resolution Mode (LRM) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode altimeters in coastal areas have been greatly improved. In this study, we present a new 20-Hz along-track sea level anomaly (SLA) dataset of Jason-3 within 100 km to the global coastlines using the modified SCMR (Seamless Combination of Multiple Retrackers) processing strategy. The new reprocessed Jason-3 dataset, along with Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (MF) SAR mode data, are evaluated and validated over global coastal oceans. The evaluation results show that the modified SCMR has significantly increases the data availability by 16%–67% for Jason-3 when compared to the official SGDR MLE4 dataset, especially in the last 5 km to the coast. The resultant data availability retains >90% beyond 5 km to the coast and 80% within 5 km to the coast, which is slightly higher (2%–10%) than that obtained by the Sentinel-6 MF. Most importantly, the modified SCMR mitigates the hump artifacts observed for the SLA spectrums of LRM altimeters, which makes the noise level of 20-Hz SLA estimates from Jason-3 (5.52 cm) comparable with that from Sentinel-6 MF (5.42 cm). This result demonstrates that the modified SCMR strategy would improve the LRM altimeters' capability of monitoring the mesoscale eddies. The evaluation results also show that the Sentinel-6 MF SAR mode data obtain higher data precision but lower data availability than reprocessed Jason-3 LRM data, especially in the 0–5 km coastal strip and mid-to-high latitude (>40°N or < 40°S) regions. Although the quality of altimeter data in the 0–5 km coastal strip has been significantly improved, the validation results against tide gauges demonstrate that the degraded performance still occurs when compared to the results beyond 5 km offshore. The significant discrepancy between tide gauge records and altimeter data is found in places such as sheltered bays and archipelagos where the land contamination is severe, and thus the development of dedicated coastal retrackers and corrections for SAR mode altimeters is still of great importance. Finally, the good consistency between reprocessed Jason-3 LRM and Sentinel-6 MF SAR mode altimeter datasets has been found by examining the inter-mission SLA biases (−0.12 ± 0.01 m).

A methodological study on the identification of ecological security change processes and zoning control strategies —— Based on the perspective of sustainable development

Ecological security (ES) is a crucial indicator for assessing the sustainable development of a region. Currently, most studies on ES primarily focus on process analysis, and the integration of environmental variability into the development of tailored control strategies for regions with varying ecological quality is overlooked. Therefore, in this study, we identified regional ES change processes, employed an optimized system to calculate the ecological security index (ESI), and identified ecological corridors (ECs) through the Minimum Constrained Resource (MCR) model to determine zoning strategies for typical arid regions, using the Ningxia region in the Yellow River Basin of China as an example. The findings showed that (1) from 2006 to 2020, the ESI values of most regions were between 0.2 and 0.4, with small but consistent increases in the ESI values over the years. (2) The proportion of regions with high ES ratings increased by 9.08 % across all districts and counties, and the center of gravity of ES shifted in a north–south and east–west direction. (3) The ESI exhibited a strong positive spatial correlation, characterized by spatial diffusion and spillover effects in most regions. (4) The ECs were predominantly distributed in a north–south direction, involving a total of 20 districts and counties. Based on the principles of sustainable development, we developed a model for the dynamic identification and zoning control of regional ES, aiming to provide a practical framework for effective ecological restoration and protection measures. Additionally, the strategies and methodologies presented in this study serve as important references for similar regions worldwide to facilitate the zoning control of ES, highlighting the broader significance and applicability of the study.

Urban green spaces, self-rated air pollution and health: A sensitivity analysis of green space characteristics and proximity in four European cities

Exploring the influence of green space characteristics and proximity on health via air pollution mitigation, our study analysed data from 1,365 participants across Porto, Nantes, Sofia, and Høje-Taastrup. Utilizing OpenStreetMap and the AID-PRIGSHARE tool, we generated nine green space indicators around residential addresses at 15 distances, ranging from 100m to 1500m. We performed a mediation analysis for these 135 green space variables and revealed significant associations between self-rated air pollution and self-rated health for specific green space characteristics. In our study, indirect positive effects on health via air pollution were mainly associated with green corridors in intermediate Euclidean distances (800-1,000m) and the amount of accessible green spaces in larger network distances (1,400–1,500m). Our results suggest that the amount of connected green spaces measured in intermediate surroundings seems to be a prime green space characteristic that could drive the air pollution mitigation pathway to health.

Disentangling the invasion process of subtropical native forests of Uruguay by the exotic tree Ligustrum lucidum: establishment and dominance determinants

BackgroundWhat factors, processes and mechanisms regulate invasive processes and their effects? This is one of the main questions addressed by the ecology of biological invasions. Ligustrum lucidum, a tree species native to East Asia, became an aggressive invader of subtropical and temperate forests around the world. We analyzed here the L. lucidum invasion in Uruguayan forests to determine the factors controlling two stages of the invasive process, the establishment, and the dominance. Establishment was assessed by the occurrence, measured in 1525, 1 × 1 km-cells, and dominance by remotely measuring the L. lucidum coverage at the forest canopy in 5554, 1 × 1 km-cells. The occurrence and dominance were modeled using Generalized Linear Models in function of independent environmental and geographic variables.ResultsLigustrum lucidum has become established in 13.4% of the Uruguayan forests and has dominated the forest canopy in 1.2%. Our models explained 45% and 35% of the occurrence and dominance spatial variance respectively and detected in both cases strong diffusion patterns from the S-SW region to rest of Uruguay. Occurrence increased mainly in function of urban areas, and with the proximity to towns, probably because L. lucidum trees planted in gardens are seed sources, and near railways and highways, that could function as biological corridors. Occurrence also increased in loamy soils and near rivers, suggesting moisture conditions are favorable for establishment. Dominance increased with reduced forest area, in high productive soils and at higher altitudes. Moreover, dominance increased near urban areas, roads, and railways, as well as in highly afforested landscapes, and in loamy and low-rockiness soils.ConclusionsThe invasion of Uruguayan forests by L. lucidum is in the spread and impact stages, currently in expansion from the invasion focus on the S-SW region, where the oldest urbanizations are settled, towards the rest of the country. The geographic proximity to the invasion focus is currently the main predictor of both L. lucidum establishment and dominance. Additionally, whereas establishment is manly facilitated by human infrastructures improving propagule pressure and dispersion, dominance is enhanced in small or fragmented forest patches, in rich-nutrient soils, and at higher altitudes, suggesting ecosystem resistance is also operating.

THE GROWTH OF ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE COASTAL PROTECTIVE STRIPS OF THE STRYI RIVER BASIN

Currently, there is of today, there is practically no information about the current state and land use of coastal protection strips (CPS) and water protection zones in the Stryi river basin. This creates many misunderstandings and abuses during their use and leads to intensive degradation of the ecosystem of both this and other rivers of the Dniester basin into which it flows. Using the Google Earth Pro program, an assessment of the CPS structure in the Stryi River basin was carried out by comparing space images for the past 14 years. The analysis showed that illegal construction within the CPS of the river began after 2009, which creates the danger of possible inundation during floods and the development of erosion processes. This is also a threat to the hydroecosystem of the Stryi River, due to the settlement load on the floodplain, as well as non-compliance with sanitary standards and clogging with household waste.

Construction of regional multi-scenario spatially balanced ecological security pattern based on self-organizing feature map: A case study of Guangzhou, China

Constructing ecological security patterns (ESPs) is the ecological basis for achieving sustainable regional development. This study explored a framework of spatially balanced ESPs suitable for rapidly urbanizing areas to address the issues of overreliance on ecological land and subjective parameter settings in traditional ESP construction methods. Three ecosystem service bundles (product supply, water conservation, and habitat maintenance) were identified in Guangzhou using the self-organizing feature map method. These bundles were then used to identify multifunctional sources. The minimum size of the ecological source was determined to be 10 km2 through the “structure-pattern-function” framework, and a total of 19 ecological sources from three ecological functions were extracted. In these three scenarios, the 102 ecological corridors were classified into five categories based on their connected sources. Ecological node parameters were set based on local planning and dominant species characteristics, enhancing the explanatory power of the circuit theory. The multi-scenario ESP framework proposed in this study achieved a spatially balanced distribution of the entire region at the point, line, and surface levels, as confirmed by the ecological network assessment results. Future planning in Guangzhou should value the ecological functions of non-conventional ecological land, such as cropland and urban green spaces, while considering the impact of human activities on the environment and promptly modifying crucial node areas.

Analyzing the coastal sea level trends from SCMR-reprocessed altimeter data: A case study in the northern South China Sea

With improved altimeter data near the coast, it is possible to use them in analysis of coastal sea level trends. In this study, we assess the sea level trends over January 2002-April 2022 with the SCMR-reprocessed altimeter dataset in the coastal zone of the northern South China Sea (SCS). The reliability of this dataset is confirmed by the inter-comparison with the CMEMS (Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service) Level-3 along-track data product and the ESA CCI (European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative) v2.2 virtual station product, along with the validation against tide gauge records. Compared to two altimeter products, the SCMR has a higher number of data points for the analysis of sea level trends in the study region (28439 vs 1408 for CMEMS and 868 for ESA CCI). The monthly SLA time series from the SCMR dataset are more consistent with those from tide gauge records in terms of higher correlation coefficients (0.37–0.83) and lower root mean square of the differences (RMSD, 33.98–92.19 mm) between altimeter and tide gauge. The along-track sea level trends within the 0–20 km coastal strip range between 2–5 mm yr−1, and the degradation of sea level trends occurs when the along-track trends show significant fluctuations at the spatial scales of ∼ 300 m. Therefore, a further data editing strategy is recommended in this regard. We also find that the ENSO-related signals mainly impact on sea levels in the west of Luzon Strait and of the Philippine coast, but are dampened along the Chinese coast over 2002–2022. The regional mean sea level trend is reduced from 3.54 ± 0.85 mm yr−1 to 3.00 ± 0.84 mm yr−1 after removing the ENSO-related low-frequency variability. Finally, the variation of sea level trends from offshore oceans to coasts is found to be nonlinear, indicating the complexity of sea level changes in the study area. The blending of tide gauge records and the SCMR dataset has been successfully conducted in four tide gauges over a longer period of January 1993-April 2022, which would contribute to the analysis of long-term sea level trends at the local scales.

Mapping marine habitats in a shallow beach-reef environment combining direct methods and hyperspectral remote sensing

Human occupation of coastal strips generates pressures that can trigger severe degradation processes in marine ecosystems and threaten human livelihoods and the sustainability of the socio-ecological system. In this context, monitoring the conservation status of algal and benthic plant communities, as the basis of coastal ecosystems, is essential for the sustainability of coastal environments. The paper presents a bionomic investigation in a shallow water beach-reef coastal system called Las Canteras, in the Canary Islands (Spain). The work aims to generate a high-resolution mapping, according to standardised rules, of the marine habitats of an area with high ecological value showing signs of severe degradation due to anthropogenic pressure. For this purpose, direct observation techniques were combined with hyperspectral remote sensing techniques. The bathymetric, sedimentological and biological data collected were combined to generate detailed mapping of 13 marine habitats according to the Spanish Inventory of Marine Habitats and Species (IEHEM by its initials in Spanish) classification system. Comparison of these results with previous studies since 1960 shows total regression of the most sensitive species of marine habitats in the Canary Islands, such as Cymodocea nodosa, as well as the decline of sandy substrates which are fundamental for maintenance of the local coastal socio-ecological system.

Prioritization of Ecological Conservation and Restoration Areas through Ecological Networks: A Case Study of Nanchang City, China

Rapid urbanization has led to ecosystem fragmentation, conversion, and degradation, posing great threats to natural habitat and biodiversity. The utilization of ecological networks has gained importance in ecological restoration planning to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on ecosystems. This study focused on Nanchang City, China, as a case study area to examine the application of integrated ecological networks in 2000, 2010 and 2020. This study analyzed the dynamic characteristics and spatial differences in landscape connectivity, providing evidence-based support for ecological conservation and restoration. The results indicate the following: (1) a decrease in the number of ecological sources and corridors, especially general sources and corridors, along with a decreasing trend in their importance; (2) an increase in ecological barrier points and breakpoints over time, especially in the southeastern region of the study area; and (3) the identification of ecological conservation priority areas, ecological improvement priority areas, and ecological restoration points based on connectivity and dynamic analysis. Multiple priority actions were proposed, which remarkably improved network connectivity and strengthened biodiversity conservation. Our research provides a valuable reference for identifying ecological priorities and developing ecological protection and ecological restoration actions in highly urbanized areas.

Integrating Risk-Conflict assessment for constructing and optimizing ecological security patterns of Polder landscape in the Urban-Rural fringe

Jianghan Plain is an important grain-producing area in China, and the transformation of the natural environment by the long-term polder activities of the people in this area has created a characteristic polder landscape. After 2000, urbanization has led to the destruction of ecosystems in these polder landscapes, especially in sensitive areas at the urban–rural interface. ESP can help mitigate this threat by systematically identifying and connecting ecologically significant areas to enhance ecosystem stability and sustainability. In this paper, taking Dongxihu Polder as an example, we apply multi-source remote sensing data to develop LER and LUC models. Combining these with MCR model, we construct an ESP for Dongxihu Polder. The study shows that (1) the growth of LER and LUC in Dongxihu Polder is characterized by “strong dynamics, high complexity and weak protection”, which is closely related to the urban expansion of the urban–rural boundary area; (2) Watersheds, woodlands, and farmlands play an important role in controlling LERs and LUCs, so we identified 33 ecologically important source areas that are mainly concentrated in these regions; (3) In this paper, 46 ecological strategic nodes and 16 ecological corridors were extracted to construct the Dongxihu Polder ESP of “one ring, five axes, multiple points and multiple chains”, and suggested specific optimization strategies. The study provides feasible ecological management policy recommendations for the protection as well as sustainable development of Dongxihu Polder.

In defence of the entity of Macaronesia as a biogeographical region.

Since its coinage ca. 1850 AD by Philip Barker Webb, the biogeographical region of Macaronesia, consisting of the North Atlantic volcanic archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira with the tiny Selvagens, the Canaries and Cabo Verde, and for some authors different continental coastal strips, has been under dispute. Herein, after a brief introduction on the terminology and purpose of regionalism, we recover the origins of the Macaronesia name, concept and geographical adscription, as well as its biogeographical implications and how different authors have positioned themselves, using distinct terrestrial or marine floristic and/or faunistic taxa distributions and relationships for accepting or rejecting the existence of this biogeographical region. Four main issues related to Macaronesia are thoroughly discussed: (i) its independence from the Mediterranean phytogeographical region; (ii) discrepancies according to different taxa analysed; (iii) its geographical limits and the role of the continental enclave(s), and, (iv) the validity of the phytogeographical region level. We conclude that Macaronesia has its own identity and a sound phytogeographical foundation, and that this is mainly based on three different floristic components that are shared by the Macaronesian core (Madeira and the Canaries) and the outermost archipelagos (Azores and Cabo Verde). These floristic components are: (i) the Palaeotropical-Tethyan Geoflora, formerly much more widely distributed in Europe and North Africa and currently restricted to the three northern archipelagos (the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries); (ii) the African Rand Flora, still extant in the coastal margins of Africa and Arabia, and present in the southern archipelagos (Madeira, the Canaries and Cabo Verde), and (iii) the Macaronesian neoendemic floristic component, represented in all the archipelagos, a result of allopatric diversification promoted by isolation of Mediterranean ancestors that manage to colonize Central Macaronesia and, from there, the outer archipelagos. Finally, a differentiating floristic component recently colonized the different archipelagos from the nearest continental coast, providing them with different biogeographic flavours.

Feeding en route: Prey availability and traits influence prey selection by an avian predator on migration.

During animal migration, ephemeral communities of taxa at all trophic levels co-occur over space and time. The interactions between predators and prey along migration corridors are ecologically and evolutionarily significant. However, these interactions remain understudied in terrestrial systems and warrant further investigations using novel approaches. We investigated the predator-prey interactions between a migrating avivorous predator and ephemeral avian prey community in the fall migration season. We tested for associations between avian traits and prey selection and hypothesized that prey traits (i.e. relative size, flocking behaviour, habitat, migration tendency and availability) would influence prey selection by a sexually dimorphic raptor on migration. To document prey consumption, we sampled trace prey DNA from beaks and talons of migrating sharp-shinned hawks Accipiter striatus (n = 588). We determined prey availability in the ephemeral avian community by extracting weekly abundance indices from eBird Status and Trends data. We used discrete choice models to assess prey selection and visualized the frequency of prey in diet and availability on the landscape over the fall migration season. Using eDNA metabarcoding, we detected prey species on 94.1% of the hawks sampled (n = 525/588) comprising 1396 prey species detections from 65 prey species. Prey frequency in diet and eBird relative abundance of prey species were correlated over the migration season for top-selected prey species, suggesting prey availability is an important component of raptor-songbird interactions during fall. Prey size, flocking behaviour and non-breeding habitat association were prey traits that significantly influenced predator choice. We found differences between female and male hawk prey selection, suggesting that sexual size dimorphism has led to distinct foraging strategies on migration. This research integrated field data collected by a volunteer-powered raptor migration monitoring station and public-generated data from eBird to reveal elusive predator-prey dynamics occurring in an ephemeral raptor-songbird community during fall migration. Understanding dynamic raptor-songbird interactions along migration routes remains a relatively unexplored frontier in animal ecology and is necessary for the conservation and management efforts of migratory and resident communities.

WATER RESOURCES OF THE KHOROSTKIV TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY: ECOLOGICAL STATUS, WATER USE PROBLEMS, OPTIMISATION MEASURES

The article analyses the ecological state of surface water resources of the Khorostkiv territorial community (ТС). According to the results of laboratory tests, pathogenic microorganisms, bacteriological indicators exceeding the regulatory requirements, faecal contamination and high content of organic matter were detected in the surface water bodies of the Khorostkiv TC. In addition to the pollution of surface water bodies in the Khorostkiv TC, an important environmental problem worth paying attention to is the lack of sanitary protection and water protection zones for rivers and ponds, as well as the littering of the coastal strip. It was found that the water supply network of the Khorostkiv territorial community includes only the water supply network of the town of Khorostkiv (30 km, unsatisfactory condition), since there are no centralised water supply systems in rural settlements. In the sources of centralised water supply in Khorostkiv, the levels of ammonium nitrogen and colour are exceeded. Hydrochemical analysis of water samples from private wells in Khorostkiv and the villages of Peremyliv and Khlopivka confirmed compliance with the requirements of SanR&amp;R № 400. The volume of daily water consumption and water disposal was analysed. The main sources of pollution of the community's water resources and the volume of wastewater discharges were identified. Priority areas for improving the ecological state of water resources of the Khorostkiv community are substantiated. Keywords: surface water, groundwater, pollutants, water supply, water disposal, territorial community (ТС).

Identification and prioritization of stepping stones for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems

AbstractHabitat degradation and fragmentation are two of the main drivers for biodiversity loss. To mitigate the negative impact of fragmentation in forests, conservation targets are increasingly addressing connectivity to facilitate the independent movement of species between habitat fragments to ensure genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change. In this article, we present a novel approach to identifying and prioritizing stepping stones for preserving connectivity based on national and regional biodiversity data for Austrian forest ecosystems. Our study identified forest areas where conservation measures should be taken to ensure future habitat connectivity by combining four indicator values with different requirements of a stepping stone habitat into a prioritization value. The four compounded indicators are: (i) the Protect Value, which includes distances to patches of protected areas with restricted management for the undisturbed development of retention areas, (ii) the Connect Value, which combines datasets of designated habitat corridors and connectivity areas in Austria based on landscape models and expert validation, (iii) the Species Value identifying species‐rich areas, and (iv) the Habitat Value identifying biotopes of high ecological value, key biodiversity areas, and sites of favorable protection status. Nonparametric tests revealed significant differences in prioritization value among the ecoregions of Austria and therefore encourage the consideration of stepping stone prioritization at local and regional context. Building upon the insights from this case study on Austrian forest ecosystems, we developed a robust framework derived from our methodology. This framework is designed to facilitate future implementations in diverse study regions, accounting for factors beyond connectivity crucial for identifying high value stepping stone habitats. We encourage adaptation of this framework to local data availability, species requirements, and local conditions. The compiled framework provides decision support for managers and conservationists for prioritizing areas to conserve and improve connectivity of forest habitats. However, it does not substitute on‐the‐ground field assessments of habitat quality and measures of functional connectivity.

Physicochemical characterization of the aquatic-terrestrial transition zone of a tropical wetland (Ayapel-Colombia)

Contextualization: The aquatic-terrestrial transition zone (ZTAT) in the floodplain (alluvial plain) Ramsar Ayapel (Colombia) remains flooded for more than half of the year, and its coastal strip generates a strong influence on the ecosystem. An approach to the spatial and temporal characterization of this zone is crucial for further functional analysis, especially when tropical floodplains are little explored except for some Amazonian ecosystems. Knowledge gap: Floodplain dynamics are mainly regulated by flood pulses, directly influencing he physical and chemical conditions of water and sediment. Therefore, the biota is adapted to the flooding and waterlogging conditions of the ecosystem. However, research has addressed the terrestrial and aquatic phases as separate systems, making it necessary to resort to methodologies that demonstrate connectivity in the system and facilitate the interpretation of key factors in the ecological functioning of tropical wetlands. Purpose: The research analyzed the structure and functioning of the ZTAT through physical and chemical variables at different times of the flood pulse. Methodology: In two wetlands of the muddy complex, sensitive to the flood pulse, three samplings were carried out: rising water (July/2021), high water (September/2021), and declining water (March/2022). The ZTAT was monitored by delimiting it into four subzones: water, sediments, floodable soil, and soil. Results and conclusions: Significant changes in time associated with water level and nitrogen concentrations were revealed; while in space, assisted by the contrast of the ZTAT at the two sites, differences were reflected through in situ variables and soil characteristics. It was detected that depth, transparency, and a higher concentration of nitrogen forms, and some ions such as aluminum and magnesium generated differences on a time level. On the contrary, conductivity, calcium concentration, and variables associated with soil characteristics expressed it at the spatial level due to exploring the ZTAT. Therefore, the physicochemical dynamics of moments and sites in a wetland require a sampling design that, using the ZTAT, facilitates the scale of physicochemical analysis.