Landscape Ecosystem Research Articles

Multiscapes and Urbanisation: The Case for Spatial Agroecology

The two most significant signatures of the Anthropocene—agriculture and urbanisation—have yet to be studied synoptically. The term periurban is used to describe territory where the urbanising trend of the planet extends into multiscapes. A periurban praxis is required that spatially reconciles urbanisation and agriculture, simultaneously permitting urban growth and the enhancement of critical ecosystem services provided by agricultural hinterlands. This paper presents a synthesis of four fields of ecological research that converge on periurban multiscapes—ecological urbanism, landscape ecology, ecosystem services science and agroecology. By applying an ecosystem services approach, a diagram is developed that connects these fields as a holistic praxis for spatially optimising periurban multiscapes for ecosystem services performance. Two spatial qualities of agroecology—‘ES Density’ and ‘ES Plasticity’—potentiate recent areas of research in each of the other three fields—ecology for the city from ecological urbanism, landscape metrics from landscape ecology (particularly the potential application of fractals and surface metrics) and ecosystem services supply and demand mapping and ‘ES Space’ theory from ecosystems services science. While the multifunctional value of agroecological systems is becoming widely accepted, this paper focuses on agroecology’s specific spatial value and its unique capacity to supply ecosystem services specifically tailored to the critical ecosystemic demands of periurban multiscapes.

Agricultural Transformation and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being in Peri-Urban Areas: The Case of Xi’an, China

There is a gap in understanding the relationships between the transformation of agricultural landscapes, ecosystem services and human well-being in the peri-urban fringe of major cities worldwide. In this paper, we use semi-structured interviews, perception surveys, social surveys and field mapping to examine linkages between agricultural and landscape transition, ecosystem services and human well-being in five sample villages in Xi’an metropolitan zone, China. The results indicate that: (1) Agricultural change has increased landscape fragmentation, with a shift from grain to more profitable horticulture and nursery production. The farming system is more diversified and exhibits a multifunctional character. (2) This transformation has had a significant impact on the character of the agroecosystem. (3) The agricultural transformation towards greater multifunctionality has increased the supply of ecosystem services, including tourism-related activities, potentially improving human well-being. (4) Different combinations of activities in the sample villages were evaluated with respect to a well-being index, indicating the importance of combining horticulture and tourism. (5) Linkages identified between agricultural transformation, ecosystem services and human well-being may have significant implications for potential approaches within future studies.

Synthesis of Inland Freshwater Shallow Lakes' Ecosystem Services, Landscape Dynamics, Livelihood, Ecological Dynamics, and Restoration: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi

Synthesis of Inland Freshwater Shallow Lakes' Ecosystem Services, Landscape Dynamics, Livelihood, Ecological Dynamics, and Restoration: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi

Socio-psychological rehabilitation of scientific and pedagogical workers by means of landscape therapy

The article highlights the essence of landscape therapy as an interdisciplinary concept and the place of this method among other means of social and psychological rehabilitation. The psychological and aesthetic aspects of human perception of landscape complexes as a means of social and psychological rehabilitation are revealed. The application of the landscape therapy method is presented in the context of three of the most modern and promising approaches in international social work: an approach based on clients' strengths, an approach focused on "empowerment" or "activation" of clients and the concept of green social work. The article proves the fallacy of approaching landscape therapy only as a natural background during the application, so to speak, of the basic techniques of art therapy. The forms of application of landscape therapy in social practices accepted in the world (for example, garden therapy in hospitals and rehabilitation centers) and social practices introduced at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine are described. The categories of scientific and pedagogical workers for whom landscape therapy is the most recommended are defined. It is emphasized that landscape therapy's therapeutic and rehabilitative effect during interaction with scientific and pedagogical workers is aimed not only at obtaining aesthetic satisfaction, but also at optimizing negative emotional states. The state of studying the problem of the influence of different types of landscape ecosystems on the psycho-emotional sphere of a person is analyzed. Landscape therapy as an autonomous method of social and psychological rehabilitation is perceived in the world as an effective tool for influencing clients and patients with a number of mental, social and physical problems. Ecotherapy (nature therapy) and garden therapy (therapeutic gardens) are actively developing in the world as branches that are close in concept to landscape therapy. The rehabilitative potential of the means of landscape therapy in the conditions of sanatorium-resort treatment has been clarified. The results of an empirical study conducted on the basis of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine on the study of daily (routine) self-recovery techniques of scientific and pedagogical workers during the working day are presented.

ГЕОДИНАМІКА

The article presents the analysis and monitoring of land-use/land cover (LULC) changes considering the case study of Stebnyk, Lviv region, Ukraine, as an area of increased anthropogenic hazard impact (characterized by the karst sinkholes creation which is the result of extracting the potassium salt from underground mines and the violation of their conservation). The extraction was carried out without backfilling the underground excavations, resulting in the void formation of about 33 million m3 lying under the residential sector and road infrastructure, and could potentially be the site of future landslides/sinkholes that threaten the inhabitants and landscape ecosystem of the region as a whole. The research is based on Landsat 7 and 8 satellite images (made in February 2002 and December 2019, respectively), and ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper) data. Supervised classification conducted by maximum likelihood method was used to identify and analyze the spatial and temporal LULC changes on the territory divided into four classes. Vegetation indices NDVI have been calculated, analyzed and featured for further supervised classification. The accuracy of the obtained data had been improved by raster image filtering. A post-classification comparison approach was used to analyze LULC changes over the research period. It was established that for the period 2002-2019 the built-up area has increased by 5.61%, and the areas of forests and fields have decreased by 2.77% and 2.36%, respectively. The area of water bodies has undergone the least changes (+0.37%). The accuracy estimation of carried out classifications showed that the classification based on RGB images is more accurate than the classification based on the NDVI; the filtered classification showed more accurate results for most classes, than the unfiltered one. LULC monitoring for balanced regional, local and national development, as well as territorial planning, is a new area of the application of the Earth remote sensing (ERS) data in Ukraine. It allows assessing the state of the geocomponents system and predicting their further changes. The study of anthropogenic activity makes it possible to predict dangerous technogenic processes and thus avoid or reduce their consequences. The results of the research can be used as a basis for further monitoring of the Stebnyk region. They will also be useful to territorial communities for harmonious, sustainable development and land management of the studied area.

Guiding restoration of riparian ecosystems degraded by plant invasions: Insights from a complex social-ecological system in the Global South.

Restoring riparian ecosystems in human-dominated landscapes requires attention to complexity, and consideration of diverse drivers, social actors, and contexts. Addressing a Global North bias, this case study uses a mixed-method approach, integrating historical data, remote sensing techniques and stakeholder perceptions to guide restoration of a river in the Western Cape, South Africa. An analysis of aerial photographs of the riparian zone from 1953 to 2016 revealed that although anthropogenic land conversion happened primarily before the 1950s, several land use and land cover classes showed marked increases in area, including: waterbodies (+ 1074%), urban areas (+ 316%), alien weeds (+ 311%) and terrestrial alien trees (+ 79%). These changes have likely been driven by land fragmentation, disturbance, and agricultural intensification. Stakeholder interviews revealed that despite the clear need for restoration, several barriers exist to successful implementation; these stem from inadequate financial resources, inappropriate funding models, institutional challenges, and a lack of techno-scientific knowledge. We give several recommendations to overcome these barriers.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01691-y.

Spatio-temporal assessment on land use and land cover (LULC) and forest fragmentation in shifting agroecosystem landscape in Ukhrul district of Manipur, Northeast India.

The information on land use and land cover (LULC) plays a critical role in understanding the interactions between human activities and the natural environment. The changes in LULC have a significant impact on the ecological integrity of forests, biodiversity, and natural resources, which in turn trigger global environmental change. Forest fragmentation is an important conservation challenge that includes interdependent forest loss components and spatial shift patterns. Over the years, Northeast India has experienced major changes in LULC and forest fragmentation. There are limited information and data regarding the change in LULC patterns and causes of forest fragmentation. The present study was carried out with an attempt to analyze the change in LULC and forest fragmentation using satellite data of three different time series: 1991, 2005, and 2020 for Ukhrul district, Manipur, Northeast India. Different LULC classes were classified using the supervised method, viz., maximum likelihood algorithm in ERDAS Imagine 2014 and generated thematic maps in ArcGIS 10.4 software. Considering the classified forest class, fragmentation in the forest area was grouped into different categories of fragmentation using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFT v 2.0). The distribution of the perforated category has tremendously increased in 2020 from 1991. The outcome of the present study will help to understand the inherent forest vulnerability and to adopt sustainable management strategies for forest and agriculture ecosystems in the hill landscape.

Current status and reflections of marine landscape related research

Marine landscapes are a global marine ecosystem with heterogeneous and complex subsystems and a class of landscape ecosystems with obvious hierarchical structures. Research on marine landscapes has also become the focus of domestic and foreign scholars. At present, the main research directions of domestic scholars include the conservation and protection of marine cultural landscapes; the main research directions of foreign scholars include marine landscape protection and biodiversity. In this paper, we analyze and summarize the status of marine landscape research visually through CiteSpace software, summarize the shortcomings and solutions to the problems, and find that the strength and speed of domestic research on marine landscapes is not sufficient compared with the strength of foreign endeavors; the current laws and regulations related to marine landscape protection are relatively few; and there is almost no research on natural marine landscapes. Future research directions should serve enlightening roles in future research work.

Towards the evaluation of regional ecosystem integrity using NDVI, brightness temperature and surface heterogeneity

Maintaining ecological integrity is globally acknowledged as a strategic goal, yet there is no consensus on a practical and widely usable methodology to assess it. This study proposes a comprehensive approach to quantify regional ecosystem integrity based on FAIR data, obtained using satellite remote sensing and image analysis. Three variables are central to this approach: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), at-satellite brightness temperature (BT) and vegetation surface heterogeneity (HG), corresponding to ecosystem integrity indicators exergy capture, biotic water flows and abiotic heterogeneity. The indicators are assessed across the vegetation period and a representative Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI) is proposed to express the integrity of two case study areas and representative land use types. The proposed approach proved powerful in representing the anthropogenic and autopoietic gradient within study regions in high detail. Arable lands and urban areas ranked lowest, while dense forests and wetlands highest, agriculture being the most significant factor reducing regional integrity. Areas with conservation significance ranked either having the highest integrity, when dense vegetation was present, and mediocre or even low in case of e.g., sand dunes, marches and rock formations. Limitations of the method comprise: insufficient representation of biodiversity, sensitivity to cloud cover and demanding in-situ validation. The approach can be scaled from global to local level, adapted to various remote sensing techniques and complemented by a diversity of data (e.g., ecosystem services, geomorphological, climatic) to provide deeper understanding of landscape ecosystem integrity.

Cool, CALM, collected: the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring program and network

ABSTRACT The Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) program is the primary global-change monitoring program concerned with the seasonally frozen active layer above permafrost. The active layer has been designated by the Global Climate Observing System and the Global Terrestrial Observing Network as an ‘Essential Climate Variable’. CALM was launched in 1991 on a volunteer basis in cooperation with the International Tundra Experiment. CALM observatories in Russia and Alaska have been supported since 1998 by the U.S. National Science Foundation through five consecutive five-year funding cycles. In its current configuration, the CALM network includes observation sites throughout the circum-Arctic region and a substantial number of sites in Antarctica. Open access to data and data harmonization are hallmarks of the program. In addition to its ongoing emphasis on field observations of active-layer thickness, temperature, soil moisture, and thaw subsidence are currently being monitored at many sites. Increased emphasis is being placed on observing the dynamics of other landscape and ecosystem parameters, including vegetation, landscape patterns, and soils. Other developing features of the program include expanded education and outreach activities, close cooperation with other international programs, and provision of quality-controlled, standardized data products that meet the needs of the wider scientific community.

Understanding the connectivity of ecosystems in the Anthropocene.

In focus: Nash, L. N., Antiqueira, P. A. P., Romero, G. Q., de Omena, P. M., and Kratina, P. (2021). Warming of aquatic ecosystems disrupts aquatic-terrestrial linkages in the tropics. Journal of Animal Ecology. Meta-ecosystem ecology offers a holistic framework linking populations, communities and ecosystems in heterogeneous landscapes. This perspective is particularly relevant as anthropogenic drivers of environmental change proliferate, with the potential for impacts to propagate to spatially connected habitats. In aquatic ecosystems, reciprocal exchanges of energy, materials and organisms that form strong connections with adjacent terrestrial habitats can be disrupted by human impacts. Nash et al. (2021) demonstrate how a warming environment alters aquatic-terrestrial linkages by measuring rates of aquatic insect emergence and decomposition in a tropical context. While decomposition predictably increased with warming, insect emergence was greatly reduced. Using metabolic theory, I highlight how these results deviate from previous studies and help underscore the need for comparative research in different biomes. I conclude by exploring where progress can be made in quantifying, predicting and utilising the connectivity of ecosystems to fully realise the potential of a meta-ecosystem perspective and help address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Trophic structure in response to land use in subtropical streams

Land use in the uplands can substantially impact the biological community in stream ecosystems, but how the trophic structure of aquatic communities within riverine food webs respond to catchment land use changes within their respective catchment remains unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of land use on aquatic communities in two streams in subtropical China. We measured isotopic compositions of basal resources, four macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (scrapers, collectors, shredders, and predators with 132 taxa), and three fish functional feeding groups (herbivores, omnivores, and piscivores with 26 species) in three land uses (woodland, agricultural, and urban). Isotopic values of δ13C and δ15N were used to estimate the dietary proportions of consumers (macroinvertebrates and fish) and community-level metrics (niche width and trophic diversity). We found that isotopic values of basal resources, macroinvertebrates, and fish varied significantly among sampling sites adjacent to the three land uses. Dietary analysis showed that terrestrial resources contributed relatively less (~20%) than aquatic resources to consumers (macroinvertebrates and fish) in higher trophic levels, especially in the urban sites. Compared to woodland sites, food webs in the urban sites had lower niche width and higher trophic redundancy, and agricultural sites had higher trophic length and lower niche width. Trophic structure alterations in response to land use primarily resulted from availability and variability of basal resources in the upstream river channel and the riparian zone, and also the feeding plasticity of macroinvertebrates and/or fish. These empirical findings indicate the importance of diversity across all trophic levels in the management of stream ecosystems in urban and agricultural landscapes.

Pristine soil property and mineralogy as the strategic rehabilitation basis in post-earthquake-induced liquefaction, tsunami and landslide in Palu, Indonesia

Unprecedented terrible and catastrophic disasters on September 28, 2018 triggered by earthquake-induced liquefaction, tsunami and landslide hit Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The objective of the study was to assess and evaluate soil mineralogical compositions, properties, heavy metals, and water quality in the areas of post-earthquake-induced liquefaction, tsunami and landslide to provide the basis for agricultural and ecosystem rehabilitation. The soil samples were collected by digging pits after 12-days of disaster at liquefied soils, tsunami sediments, and soil mass motion/landslide for analyses. Water samples for analysis were collected from soil pits, surface flow and new spring. Results showed that the earthquake-induced liquefaction, tsunami and landslide completely reshape the ecosystem landscape and reset the initial soil formation as revealed by the formation of sand boil microrelief, accumulation of tsunami sediment on initial soil surfaces, and redistribution of soil through mass movement on landscapes. Liquefaction increased the number of weatherable minerals in the sand fraction, varying from 28 to 58% as compared to natural soils (17–42%), indicating the high nutrient reserve of pristine liquefied soils in the long-term. The clay minerals were dominated by smectite followed by illite and kaolinite and were not affected by earthquake impacts. The liquefaction increased soil pH and sand fraction and decreased all soil nutrients, which collectively became severe limiting factors for crop establishment. The tsunami resulted in new material deposits of 5–10 cm thick overlain the natural soils in coastal areas. The deposits did not increase the number of weatherable minerals but resulted in the highest electrical conductivity of soil and water, and high concentrations of Ca, Na, Mg and K ions. The concentration of total and availability of all types of heavy metals is below the threshold limits, indicating no potential heavy metal risks in post-earthquake-induced disaster areas. Information of high weatherable minerals and pristine soil properties, water and heavy metals from this study may provide a strong effective basis for rehabilitation and management of agriculture and the environment in post-disaster areas in the long-term period of time.

Integrating Ecosystem Function and Structure to Assess Landscape Ecological Risk in Traditional Village Clustering Areas

Land use in traditional village clustering areas often exhibits slight dynamic changes; however, significant hidden ecological hazards may be present in local settlements. There is still a lack of dynamic ecological risk assessments for the corresponding classification-based prevention strategies and landscape ecosystem attributes’ enhancement. Based on the land-use changes, this study integrated the ecosystem structure and function to explore the characteristics of the landscape ecological risk in traditional village clustering areas. The clustering area of 24 national traditional villages in Songyang County of Lishui City in Zhejiang Province, China, served as the study region to evaluate and analyze the changes in the landscape ecological risk from 2010 to 2019. The results showed that the land-use transitions were subtle but dominated by changes from forest cultivated land, posing high risk and medium—high risk increased slowly in size. Additionally, significantly increased risks were located mainly in the boundary area of the five villages. Moreover, 22 settlements were found in the sensitive area with increased risks less than 600 m away. This assessment will provide a basis for traditional villages’ risk prevention and ecosystem protection.

Wheat intraspecific diversity suppressed diseases with subdued yield, economic return and arthropod predation services

The push for sustainable intensification requires development of alternative strategies for managing crop production that improve yields while maintaining or enhancing environmental services. We propose that intraspecific mixtures potentially exploit landscape ecosystem services to help suppress pests, impede disease spread, and ultimately improve yields. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a three-year field study of wheat cultivar mixtures compared to sole cultivar stands and evaluated pest control, yield, and economic benefits. Arthropod pests were not abundant in our experiment and predator abundance varied unpredictably across mixtures and sole cultivar stands. We found that mixtures suppressed foliar diseases at a level comparable to that of a fungicide application but had less impact on head diseases. Yield and economic return over variable costs were similar for mixtures and sole cultivar stands (3875 vs 3817 Mg ha−1 of wheat, $473 vs $462 ha−1, respectively), indicating that mixtures may provide similar yields and economic returns. In the three years of this project, there was no substantial benefit of using mixtures, but neither was there a penalty, indicating that planting mixtures can minimize risks should insect pests or disease outbreak.

Using the Lonsdorf model for estimating habitat loss and fragmentation effects on pollination service

One of the most important issues related to landscape ecology and ecosystem services is finding the pattern of habitat patches that offers the highest pollination in agricultural landscapes. In this regard, two processes of habitat loss and fragmentation strongly affect the relationship between pollination and the pattern of habitat patches. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination separately. For this purpose, first, we generated different simulated agricultural landscapes, including two habitats of forest and agriculture. Then, according to the Lonsdorf model, we estimated the potential of the simulated landscapes in providing pollination in different scenarios. Finally, using statistical models, we estimated the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination at the landscape and farm levels. Our results showed that the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination were completely different at the landscape and farm levels. At the landscape level, fragmentation negatively affected pollination, but at the farm level, the maximum pollination rate was observed in the landscapes with a high degree of fragmentation. Regarding the habitat loss effects, our results showed that pollination decreased linearly at the landscape level as habitat amount decreased, but at the farm level, it decreased exponentially. The present study considered the level of analysis (i.e., landscape and farm levels) as a critical factor affecting pollination changes caused by fragmentation. We showed that using the Lonsdorf model could lead to confusing results for the landscape ecologists and alert farmers who want to reduce the adverse effects of fragmentation on their products by creating new forest patches. Therefore, agriculturalists and landscape ecologists should consider that the pollination rate at the landscape and farm levels is completely different according to the model and provide contradictory results about the process of habitat loss effects on pollination.

Моделювання поширення вивірки звичайної (Sciurus vulgaris) у Східній Європі в умовах зміни клімату, згідно зі сценаріями нового покоління (SSP) до 2100 року

In Ukraine during 2008–2010, the first SDM matched the red squirrel (S. vulgaris) based on GLM-by-2050, and which covered Eastern Europe, was developed and used by the Land and Resource Management Center (ULRMC, Kyiv). Our new study reveals further development of the analysis by using relevant IPCC climate change scenarios. We took into account materials on S. vulgaris (and S. anomalus) distribution, as well as selected associated species, and the WorldClim with respective maps and current bioclimatic variables, and its projections for four relevant scenarios which combined SSPs & RCPs by 2100. The simulations of scenario SSP1 & RCP2.6 associated with an average temperature increase of 1.5 °C show that climate change could cause the loss of 12 % of suitable habitats of the species in Eastern Europe and 49 % in Ukraine. The simulations for SSP2 & RCP4.5 (with average temperature increase of 1.8 °C) demonstrates, respectively, a potential loss of 14 % and 57 % of suitable habitats. Simulations of SSP3 & RCP7.0 and SSP5 & RCP8.5 scenario (with average temperature increase of >> 2 °C) shows a loss of 30 % and 41 % of suitable habitats within Eastern Europe, and more than 90 % in Ukraine. Since each percent of such changes provokes enormous losses in ecosystems and biodiversity, we emphasize the current need for countries to aim and achieve the most ambitious climate change commitments to stabilize the increase of temperature, i.e. within 1.5 °C. Our comparison platform included also SDMs of some trees (oak, beech, spruce, pine, linden, and birch — Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Pinus silvestris, Tilia cordata, Betula spp.), as well as SDM for the marten (Martes martes), for all of which we had already developed GLM-by-2050. Consequently, the new projections demonstrated that all habitats of the red squirrel and associated species are expected to shift mostly ‘to the north’ by 2100, and their localities in the Caucasus Mountain areas might be fragmented. Most likely, in nature, this complicated displacement revealed by the mentioned modelling will happen not in the form of direct migration of individuals ‘to the north’ directly, but through active synanthropization of the red squirrel. How durable and satisfactory this mechanism is for natural selection remains a mystery. The territories from which S. v. ukrainicus (Mygulin, 1928) historically originated and was described have changed significantly: the respective landscape ecosystem losses have reached up to 50 % and more. By 2100, significant habitat changes are likely to be also demonstrated by beech and birch. This research can be used by educators in teaching the history of science, applied ecology, nature conservation, and geoinformatics in biology. This research is dedicated to the Squirrel Year 2020.

Monitoring and predicting regional land use and land cover changes in an estuarine landscape of India

Deciphering land use and land cover(LULC) change patterns, identifying the variables that act as the major driving forces of change, and predicting possible changes are necessary tools of decision support for policymakers. Estuarine landscapes world over are under extreme pressure of developmental activities because of their resources. The developmental activities lead to unforeseen changes in the traditional land use practices, making it necessary for investigation of the possible outcomes. The present study aims to study the changing pattern of LULC in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) landscape during 1977-2015 using temporal satellite data and to predict the possible LULC changes by 2029. Cellular Automata-Markov model (CAMM) with and without the multi-criteria evaluator (MCE) and the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) models were used for future LULC prediction. Between 1977 and 2015, mangroves were converted to aquaculture (5.81 km2) on the landward side and were also lost to submergence at the seaward side (15 km2). All of the coastal scrub (69 km2) was lost to beach clearing. Over this period, the aquaculture area rose to 177 km2. The CAMM with MCE was found to yield better predictions. A further rise was predicted in aquaculture (16%), built-up (30%), and Casuarina plantations (28%) by 2029. The study highlighted the LULC change patterns in EGREE,an important estuarine landscape of India. The information generated in this study can act as baseline information for the stakeholders and policy makers in decision-making of developmental projects, land acquisition, and diversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes.

Priority areas identified through spatial habitat suitability index and network analysis: Wild boar populations as proxies for tigers in and around the Hupingshan and Houhe National Nature Reserves

The decline and fragmentation of habitats areas are two main factors that lead to the reduction of biodiversity in landscape ecosystems. As a kind of large carnivores, South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is one of the most endangered tiger subspecies and considered to be extinct in the wild. The Chinese government has intended to release a certain number of tigers into two of their historically habitats areas, Hupingshan–Houhe national nature reserves (NNR) in central–south China that provides suitable habitats for P. tigris. Because wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a prey of P. tigris, spatially characterizing the populations of the prey and its habitats is critical for the success of habituating the tigers to the areas. Although there has been effort made to protect the habitats of wild boar, there have been no report that deal with investigation and analysis of the habitat suitability and potential for wild boar, especially in terms of landscape connectivity. Here we present the novel integration of the habitat suitability index (HSI) and graph–based network to identify the priority areas for wild boar dispersal in and around the NNR. In addition, a novel method to identify the proper connectivity distance to avoid excessive connectivity when the field data are essentially non-existent. Results showed that in summer and winter, the potential habitat areas were 6848–10,245 and 5984–10,152 km2, respectively. The total area of the priority patches was 1590 km2, approximately occupying 16% of the suitable habitat area. Our study indicated that the novel integration of the HSI and network analysis led to an effective approach to spatially characterize priority patches to support decision-making for landscape planning. The results shown here also have implications for future efforts for habituating large carnivores into their historical habitat regions.

Advances in Urban River Landscape Ecology Research

It is an inevitable trend to realize the sustainable development of “natural-human-water” through multi-scale and multi-disciplinary research on urban rivers with the principle of landscape ecology. Firstly, from the viewpoint of landscape ecology, and combined with the characteristics of urban rivers, the paper puts forward urban river landscape ecological theory and research framework. Secondly, the basic problems of urban river landscape ecology are studied. Finally, the theoretical development of urban river landscape ecology is studied, including the theory of urban river landscape ecosystem complexity, classification method of wetland and riverine ecosystem, and modeling of patch age and heteromorphosis. The research results have certain reference value for ecological river construction and river landscape ecology development.