Main Land Use Research Articles

Assessing how spatial variations of land use pattern affect water quality across a typical urbanized watershed in Beijing, China

Understanding the relationship between land use patterns and water quality in urbanized areas can provide insight into urban water quality management. In this study, a self-organizing map (SOM) and a linear mixed effects (LME) model were applied to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of nutrients and their relationship with land use characteristics in the highly urbanized Beiyun River watershed. The SOM classified 324 sampling data from 2014 to 2015 at 25 typical river sampling sites into nine clusters, with differences in land use patterns and seasonal (rainy and dry seasons) distributions. In the urbanized upstream reach of the river, concentrations of most pollutants were low, while in downstream sites the concentrations were higher for these pollution parameters. Nitrate-N (NO3−-N), however, exhibited the opposite pattern, probably due to the sources of pollutants and biochemical processes. The explanatory ability of the LME model in the established urbanized area and newly developed area in the upstream portion of the watershed was much better than in the downstream area, probably due to the influence of upstream nutrient contributions and the point source inputs in the downstream area. These statistical results indicated that sewage disposal and the main urbanized land use types were the most important drivers of river contamination. Forest land positively or negatively influenced river water quality depending on its spatial location as well as the water quality indicators. Therefore, sewage disposal as well as spatial non-stationarity of land-use impacts should be taken into consideration to reduce water pollution in the Beiyun River watershed.

MODIS estimates of pasture productivity in the Cerrado based on ground and Landsat-8 data extrapolations

With ∼175 Mha (38% of which is in the Cerrado biome), pastures are the main land use forms in Brazil. Aiming at improving pasture utilization, in this study we combined field and satellite data to assess the biophysical characteristics and productivity patterns of the Cerrado pasturelands. From October 2013 to September 2014, field data of total and green biomass and percent green cover (%GC) were collected in two study areas located in the municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State. These data were extrapolated to the entire Cerrado biome through regression equations involving normalized vegetation index values derived from Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Terra MODIS sensors for the year 2014. Total green biomass in the growing season was used to estimate potential livestock intensification in terms of animal unit (AU) per hectare. Average green biomass values ranged from 1482 kg ha − 1 in August (dry season peak) to 2878 kg ha − 1 in March (end of the rainy season), whereas %GC ranged from 49% in August to 66% in January and April 2014. Considering the estimated availability of green forage, cattle stocking rate in the Cerrado could increase, on average, from 1.11 to 2.56 AU ha − 1.

Impact of land use/cover change on the relationship between precipitation and runoff in typical area

Abstract To study the impact of land use/cover change (LUCC), the relationship between precipitation and runoff was investigated. Our main objective was to ensure reasonable development, management, and sustainable utilization of water resources at a watershed scale. To investigate the relationship between precipitation and runoff, a SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model was developed by analyzing LUCC in Naoli River basin. Then, runoff response was analyzed under different LUCC conditions. The contribution coefficient of different land use types to runoff was calculated. The results of this research study are as follows. From 1986 to 2014, dry land, forest land, paddy fields, and unused land were the major land use types, accounting for more than 93% of the total catchment. On the other hand, grass land, building land, and water bodies accounted for a small proportion. Among the four main land use types, the contribution coefficient of forest land was 3.10 mm·km−2. This indicates that forest land was suitable for runoff generation. The contribution coefficient of dry land, unused land (fluvial wetland in Naoli River basin), and paddy field are −0.11, −0.37, and −0.83 mm·km−2, respectively. This implies that these three land use types were adverse factors for runoff generation.

Children as urbanites: mapping the affordances and behavior settings of urban environments for Finnish and Japanese children

ABSTRACTIncreasingly, children are residing in urban environments, yet little is known about the urban affordances for children. A place-based approach was employed to map the urban experiences of over 1300 children residing in Helsinki (Finland) and in Tokyo (Japan) in terms of meaningful places (affordances), travel mode and accompaniment to these places. Shared affordances were considered behavior settings, and audited on-site by trained experts for their main function, land use, openness, and communality. Significant differences were found between countries for all affordance categories. Although differences in behavior settings were observed between countries, a number of patterns emerged: outdoor settings and those with shared communality were the most prevalent behavior settings, traffic settings were predominantly evaluated negatively and commercial and indoor settings most positively. Findings suggest that although the context is important, independent mobility and the possibility to actualize environmental affordances seem to be fundamental in both contexts as the key criteria for environmental child-friendliness.

MAPPING OF SUMMER AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN THE ALTO PARAGUAI BASIN THROUGH EVI/MODIS TIME SERIES

The main land use and land cover (LULC) changes that a given area passes over the time can be evaluated by using spatial-temporal analysis of satellites images. Then, it is possible to identify the LULC changes, as well as the main causes of environmental impacts. The objective of this paper was to analyze the LULC changes of the main agricultural lands cultivated in the Alto Paraguai Basin (BAP). This paper focused on the summer crops (soybean and corn) and the analysis of agricultural expansion. The results, considering a16-year comparison, showed an increase of 40.60% in the expansion of agricultural areas. The evaluation of the accuracy showed the efficiency of the methodology of agricultural mapping, presenting a Kappa Index of 0.85 for the 2000/2001 and 0.86 for the 2015/2016 crop seasons

Ecosystem assessment and protection effectiveness of a tropical rainforest region in Hainan Island, China

Ecosystem services have become one of the core elements of ecosystem management and evaluation. As a key area of ecosystem services and for maintaining national ecological security, ecosystem changes and implementation effect evaluation are important in national key ecological function zones, for promoting the main function zone strategy and for improving the construction of an ecological civilization. This article studies the ecological zone of a tropical rainforest region in the central mountain area of Hainan Island, China. Multi- source satellite data and ground observation statistics are analyzed with geo-statistics method and ecological assessment model. The core analysis of this paper includes ecosystem patterns, quality and services. By means of spatial and temporal scale expansion and multidimensional space-time correlation analysis, the trends and stability characteristics of ecosystem changes are analyzed, and implementation effect evaluation is discussed. The analysis shows a variety of results. The proportion of forest area inside the ecological zone was significantly higher than the average level in Hainan Island. During 1990–2013, settlement gradually increased inside the ecological zone. After implementation of the zone in 2010, human activity intensity increased, with the main land use being urban construction and land reclamation. Water conservation in the ecological function zone was higher than that outside the zone. In general, it increased slightly, but had obvious fluctuations. Soil conservation inside the zone was also better than that outside. However, it demonstrated dramatic fluctuations and relatively poor stability during 1990–2013. The human disturbance index inside the zone was significantly lower than that outside, and had a lower biodiversity threat level. Especially in 2010–2013, the increased range of the human disturbance index inside the zone was significantly less than that outside.

The place character as land use change determinant in Deli Serdang

The Mebidangro concept of development (Medan, Binjai, Deli Serdang, Karo) in Sumatera Utara creating peri urban area in region hinterland Medan city especially in Tembung village, Percut Sei Tuan District. This peri urban area is a conjunction of several rural-urban activities that forming a friendly atmosphere. The dynamic of population structure shows occurrence the sprawl of land use change condition. In the site of the urban region showing the unique performance that built the place character. The aim of the study is to uncover the place character as one of land use change determinant factors. The study conducted with quantitative approach intended at obtaining variables which describing several factors forming land use change. Descriptive approach give an idea, justification, and fact-finding with correct interpretation. Data collected through a purposive sampling of 320 respondents who stay and built the building and land between 2010 till 2014. With overlay figure/ground technique, scoring analysis, descriptive quantitative and SEM (Structural Equational Models) gained a result that urban heritage (p=0,008) potentially as one of the main land use change driving factors besides accessibility (p=0,039), infrastructure (p=0,010), social-economic (p=0,038) in fact topographic factor (p=0,663) was inversely potentially. The implication of the findings is required intensive attention toward the form of place character (mosque, the quarter, district activity, peri urban edges city and railway) as determinant factors of land use change considering forming the identity of the rapid change in land use transformation.

Grazing, forest density, and carbon storage: towards a more sustainable land use in Caatinga dry forests of Brazil

Grazing is the main land use in semi-arid regions of the world, and sustainable management practices are urgently needed to prevent their degradation. However, how different grazing intensities affect forest density and ecosystem functions is often not sufficiently understood to allow for management adaptations that safeguard the ecosystems and their functions in the long run. We assessed the aboveground carbon stocks and plant densities along a grazing gradient in the semi-arid seasonally dry tropical forest of north-eastern Brazil (Caatinga). On 45 study plots, we analysed the aboveground carbon stocks of the vegetation and determined forest density and recruitment as well as the population structure of the most abundant tree species. Grazing intensity was accounted for based on the weight of livestock droppings and classified as low, intermediate, or high. Mean aboveground carbon stock was 15.74 ± 1.92 Mg ha−1 with trees and shrubs accounting for 89% of the total amount. Grazing at high intensities significantly reduced aboveground carbon stocks of herbs but not of other plant functional types. Instead, aboveground carbon stocks of trees and shrubs were negatively related to altitude above sea level, which is a proxy for reduced water availability along with lower anthropogenic impact. The population structure of the most common tree species was characterised by abundant recruitment, irrespective of grazing, whereas the recruitment of less frequent woody species was negatively affected by grazing. Overall, our data imply that grazing and forage management need to be adapted, including the reduction of free-roaming livestock and storage of fodder, to maintain carbon storage and forest density.

Multielement geochemistry identifies the spatial pattern of soil and sediment contamination in an urban parkland, Western Australia

Urban environments are dynamic and highly heterogeneous, and multiple additions of potential contaminants are likely on timescales which are short relative to natural processes. The likely sources and location of soil or sediment contamination in urban environment should therefore be detectable using multielement geochemical composition combined with rigorously applied multivariate statistical techniques. Soil, wetland sediment, and street dust was sampled along intersecting transects in Robertson Park in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Samples were analysed for near-total concentrations of multiple elements (including Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Gd, La, Mn, Nd, Ni, Pb, Y, and Zn), as well as pH, and electrical conductivity. Samples at some locations within Robertson Park had high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Pb above Health Investigation Limits; As, Ba, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn above Ecological Investigation Limits). However, these concentrations carry low risk due to the main land use as recreational open space, the low proportion of samples exceeding guideline values, and a tendency for the highest concentrations to be located within the less accessible wetland basin. The different spatial distributions of different groups of contaminants was consistent with different inputs of contaminants related to changes in land use and technology over the history of the site. Multivariate statistical analyses reinforced the spatial information, with principal component analysis identifying geochemical associations of elements which were also spatially related. A multivariate linear discriminant model was able to discriminate samples into a-priori types, and could predict sample type with 84% accuracy based on multielement composition. The findings suggest substantial advantages of characterising a site using multielement and multivariate analyses, an approach which could benefit investigations of other sites of concern.

基于土地利用变化的黄土丘陵区生境质量时空演变特征——以榆中县为例

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 基于土地利用变化的黄土丘陵区生境质量时空演变特征——以榆中县为例 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201710101800 作者: 作者单位: 西北师范大学地理与环境科学学院; 甘肃省土地利用与综合整治工程研究中心,西北师范大学地理与环境科学学院;甘肃省土地利用与综合整治工程研究中心 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（41771130） Spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of habitat quality in the Loess Hilly Region based on land use change: a case study in Yuzhong County Author: Affiliation: Geography and Environment College of Northwest Normal University,Geography and Environment College of Northwest Normal University Fund Project: The Spatial Effect of Multi-scale Geographical Patterns in the Hehuang Region and the Interaction with Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:生境质量是生态系统服务水平的重要表征，是区域生态安全保障和人类福祉提升的关键环节，评估土地利用变化引起的生境质量时空演变可为区域生态保护和土地管理提供科学依据。以典型黄土丘陵区县域——榆中县为例，基于ArcGIS平台和InVEST模型探讨了该县1995、2005和2015年生境质量空间格局及其演变特征。结论如下：①研究区土地类型和景观格局变化明显，主要土地利用变化是耕地转向建设用地和林地，以及草地和耕地之间的相互转变，这些变化导致景观异质性增强和破碎度上升。②生境质量空间格局一直表现为"南部高、中部居中、北部低"的态势。生境质量上升区域主要在北部，原因是"退耕还林"及"生态北山"工程的实施使得林地面积增加，下降区域主要在中部，主要是由建设用地扩张占用耕地造成的。③生境质量热点以及"H-H"型聚集区主要位于南部山区，而冷点和"L-L"聚集区主要位于北部黄土丘陵区，2015年生境质量空间集聚程度较1995年有所增强，"H-H"聚集区增加0.68%，"L-L"聚集区增加0.67%。对该类型区域生境质量优化提出了相应的政策建议。 Abstract:Habitat quality is an important representation and reflection of the level of ecosystem services, as well as the key link in guaranteeing regional ecological security and improving human welfare. Assessment of the temporal and spatial changes in habitat quality caused by land use change can provide a scientific basis for a region's ecological protection and land management, especially in ecologically fragile areas. For a long time, the Loess Hilly Region has been a typical ecologically vulnerable area in China, and since the 1990s the social and economic conditions of Chinese counties have undergone rapid development. Considering these factors, we used a typical Loess Hilly Region county, Yuzhong County in Gansu province, as an example, and based on ArcGIS platform and the InVEST model, using the land use data of Yuzhong County in 1995, 2005, and 2015, studied for the first time the changes in land use, landscape patterns, and habitat quality from 1995 to 2015; we then analyzed the response of habitat quality to land use change and landscape pattern change, using hot spot analysis and LISA clustering analysis to study and identify the spatial distribution, clustering type, and evolution characteristics of habitat quality of the Loess Hilly Region in 1995, 2005, and 2015. The main conclusions are the following:1) During the study period, both the land use type and landscape pattern changed obviously, and the main land use changes in the study area were that cultivated land was converted to construction land and forest, and there was mutual conversion between grassland and cultivated land; these changes led to an improvement in landscape heterogeneity and the degree of fragmentation; 2) The spatial distribution of habitat quality was:high in the southern areas, medium in the middle areas, and low in the northern areas. During the study period, the area in which habitat quality improved was mainly in the north of the county because of the implementation of the "Grain for Green Project" and the "Ecological Beishan" project; the area of deterioration was primarily located in the center of the county, mainly due to the expansion of construction land, which occupied the farmland and led to an increased degree of fragmentation and a decline in connectivity; 3) The hot spot areas and areas of "High-High" habitat quality type clusters were mainly located in the southern mountain area, while the cold spot areas and areas of "Low-Low" habitat quality type clusters were mainly located in the Loess Hilly Region in the north. Compared with 1995, the degree of habitat quality clustering in 2015 was enhanced:the areas of both the "High-High" type clustering and the "Low-Low" type clustering increased from 1995; the "High-High" type clustering area increasing by 0.68% and the "Low-Low" type clustering area increasing by 0.67%. The paper also puts forward policy suggestions for the optimization of habitat quality in similar areas. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Land use change and soil fertility assessment in the vicinity of Zagreb landfill

The aim of this study was to give quantification of the present land use, land use change and assessment of agricultural soil in the area surrounding Jakusevec landfill in Zagreb, Croatia. A map of land use types of approximately 2 km zone around the landfill was created, based on photointerpretation during 2012 and according to Corine Land Cover 2000, 2006 and 2012 database. For soil fertility evaluation, soil was sampled at four locations at a distance of up to 300 m around the landfill. Spatial analysis revealed thirteen land use categories of total size around 3,161 ha. These categories were divided into three larger groups based on land use types (water: 5%, agricultural land: 50% and city: 45% of the total analysed area). Mixed agriculture is very important in this urban area regardless of the closeness of the waste landfill, because it relies on fertile soil and vicinity of large market of the capital city. The main land use changes included increase in industrial or commercial units and transport infrastructure, and decrease of agricultural land.

Evaluation of ecosystem service based on scenario simulation of land use in Yunnan Province

Climate change and rapid urbanization are important factors restricting future land use. Situational analysis, as an important foundation for the optimization of land use, needs to focus on the impact of climate factors and socio-economic factors. In this paper, the Markov model and the DLS (Simulation of Land System Dynamics) model are combined for the first time, and the land use pattern in 2020 is simulated based on the data of land use in 2000 and 2010 as well as the climate, soil, topography and socio-economic factors of Yunnan Province. In his paper, we took Yunnan Province as the case study area, and selected 12 driving factors by logistic regression method, then the land use demands and layout of Yunnan Province in 2020 has been forecasted and simulated under business as usual (BAU) scenario and farmland protection (FP) scenario and the changes in ecosystem service value has been calculated. The result shows that: (1) after the regression analysis and ROC (Relative Operating Characteristics) test, the 12 factors selected in this paper have a strong ability to explain the land use change in Yunnan Province. (2) Under the two scenarios, the significant reduction of arable land area is a common feature of land use change in Yunnan Province in the future, and its main land use type will be construction land. However, under FP scenario, the current situation where construction land encroach on arable land will be improved. Compared with the change from 2000 to 2010, the trend of arable land, forest land, water area, construction land and unused land will be the same under the two scenarios, whereas the change trend of grassland was opposite. (3) From 2000 to 2020, the value of ecosystem services in Yunnan Province is on the rise, but the ecosystem service value under FP scenario is higher than that of the ecosystem services under BAU scenario. In general, land use in 2020 in Yunnan Province continues the pattern of 2010, but there are also significant spatial differences. Under the BAU scenario, the construction land is mainly in the south of Lijiang City and the northeastern part of Kunming. Under the FP scenario, the new construction land is concentrated near the Lashi dam in northern Yunnan Province, and the high-quality arable land in the valley will be better protected. The research results can provide reference for the optimization of land use pattern in Yunnan Province, and provide scientific basis for land use management and planning. Based on the value of ecosystem services, we should implement the policy of strict protection of arable land, both to ensure food supply and promote the healthy development of ecological environment.

Common bats are more abundant within Natura 2000 areas

The Natura 2000 network is the largest conservation effort in Europe. However, despite the known importance of conserving common and widespread biodiversity, criteria used to designate a Natura 2000 site are oriented toward rare and/or emblematic biodiversity. In this study, we took advantage of the fact that the management of Natura 2000 is just beginning to assess whether the five most common bat (Chiroptera) species and one genus in France exhibit a greater relative abundance within rather than outside Natura 2000 boundaries, and three bats communities index: total relative abundance, species richness, Community Habitat specialization index. We model the relative abundance of each taxa and indices using data from a nationwide volunteer-based acoustic survey. We found that three of the six taxa studied exhibit greater relative abundance within Natura 2000 sites (this increase is noteworthy for E. serotinus (×2.1) and Myotis ssp. (×3.6)). We also provide evidence that total relative abundance of bat activity and richness are globally higher in Natura 2000 sites (respectively +24% and +14%) and on average communities are more specialized within Natura 2000 sites. In addition, when the effect of Natura 2000 is adjusted to the main land use types, a significant positive effect of Natura 2000 remains for most metrics. The positive Natura 2000 effect appears relatively small compared to the main land use pressure: intensive agriculture and artificial light at night. However, Natura 2000 has a comparable sized effect as habitat widely recognized as having a positive impact on bats, such as streams.

LAND USE ANALYSIS USING TIME SERIES OF VEGETATION INDEX DERIVED FROM SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING IN BRANTAS RIVER WATERSHED, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

In this study, time series datasets of MODIS EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) data from 2002 and 2011 in the Brantas River watershed located in eastern Java, Indonesia were analyzed and classified to make ten land use maps for each year, in order to support watershed land use planning which takes into account local land use and trends in land use change. These land use maps with eight types of main land use categories were examined. During the 10 years period, forested area has expanded, while upland, paddy rice field, mixed garden and plantation have decreased. One of the reasons for this land use change is ascribed to tree planting under the joint forest management system by local people and the state forest corporation.

Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides in a tropical lake basin.

This study investigates the presence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides in streams and the lake in the Sembrong Lake Basin in Malaysia. The catchment of Sembrong Lake has been converted to agricultural areas over the past 30years, with oil palm plantations and modern agricultural farming being the main land use. Surface water samples were collected from eight sites comprising the stream and lake and analysed for 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). In situ measurement of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity were also undertaken at each site. Aldrin, endrin, δ-BHC, 4,4-DDT, methoxychlor and endosulfan were the main OCPs detected in the lake basin. The total OCP concentration ranged between 5.42 and 349.2ng/L. The most frequently detected OCPs were δ-BHC, heptachlor and aldrin. The maximum values detected were 23.0, 43.2 and 50.4ng/L respectively. The highest concentration of OCPs was attributed to 4,4-DDT, but such high residue was rare and only detected once. Other OCP residues were low. Significant differences in the mean values were observed between lake and stream for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and α-endosulfan concentration (p<0.05). The highest endosulfan, endrin and methoxychlor residues were found in lake sites, while the highest 4,4,-DDT residues were observed for the river sites. Temporal variation of OCP residues was observed for heptachlor and β-endosulfan. The highest concentrations of pesticide residues were found in October. DDX and α/ɣ ratios indicate possible fresh inputs of the OCP pesticide in the basin.

Land use change and its driving forces toward mutual conversion in Zhangjiakou City, a farming-pastoral ecotone in Northern China

Land use/cover change (LUCC), a local environmental issue of global importance, and its driving forces have been crucial issues in geography and environmental research. Previous studies primarily focused on major driving factors in various land use types, with few explorations of differences between driving forces of mutual land use type conversions, especially in fragile eco-environments. In this study, Zhangjiakou City, in a farming-pastoral ecotone in Northern China, was taken as an example to analyze land use change between 1989 and 2015, and explore the driving forces of mutual land use type conversions using canonical correlation analysis. Satellite images and government statistics, including social-economic and natural data, were used as sources. Arable land, forestland, and grassland formed the main land use structure. From 1989 to 2015 forestland, orchard land, and construction land significantly increased, while arable land, grassland, unused land, and water areas decreased. Conversions from grassland to forestland; from arable land to orchard land, forestland and construction land; and from unused land to grassland and forestland were the primary land use changes. Among these, the conversion from grassland to forestland had the highest ranking. Average annual precipitation and per capita net income of rural residents positively affected the conversion of arable land to forestland and unused land to grassland. GDP, total population, and urbanization rate contributed most significantly to converting arable land to construction land; total retail sales of social consumer goods, average annual temperature, and GDP had important positive influences in converting arable land to orchard land.

Applicability of Earth Observation for Identifying Small-Scale Mining Footprints in a Wet Tropical Region

The unpredictable climate in wet tropical regions along with the spatial resolution limitations of some satellite imageries make detecting and mapping artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) challenging. The objective of this study was to test the utility of Pleiades and SPOT imagery with an object-based support vector machine (OB-SVM) classifier for the multi-temporal remote sensing of ASM and other land cover including a large-scale mine in the Didipio catchment in the Philippines. Historical spatial data on location and type of ASM mines were collected from the field and were utilized as training data for the OB-SVM classifier. The classification had an overall accuracy between 87% and 89% for the three different images—Pleiades-1A for the 2013 and 2014 images and SPOT-6 for the 2016 image. The main land use features, particularly the Didipio large-scale mine, were well identified by the OB-SVM classifier, however there were greater commission errors for the mapping of small-scale mines. The lack of consistency in their shape and their small area relative to pixel sizes meant they were often not distinguished from other land clearance types (i.e., open land). To accurately estimate the total area of each land cover class, we calculated bias-adjusted surface areas based on misclassification values. The analysis showed an increase in small-scale mining areas from 91,000 m2—or 0.2% of the total catchment area—in March 2013 to 121,000 m2—or 0.3%—in May 2014, and then a decrease to 39,000 m2—or 0.1%—in January 2016.

Butterflies show different functional and species diversity in relationship to vegetation structure and land use

AbstractAimBiodiversity is rapidly disappearing at local and global scales also affecting the functional diversity of ecosystems. We aimed to assess whether functional diversity was correlated with species diversity and whether both were affected by similar land use and vegetation structure drivers. Better understanding of these relationships will allow us to improve our predictions regarding the effects of future changes in land use on ecosystem functions and services.LocationThe Netherlands.MethodsWe compiled a dataset of c. 3 million observations of 66 out of 106 known Dutch butterfly species collected across 6,075 sampling locations during a period of 7 years, together with very high‐resolution maps of land use and countrywide vegetation structure data. Using a mixed‐effects modelling framework, we investigated the relationship between functional and species diversity and their main land use and vegetation structure drivers.ResultsWe found that high species diversity does not translate into high functional diversity, as shown by their different spatial distribution patterns in the landscape. Functional and species diversity are mainly driven by different sets of structural and land use parameters (especially average vegetation height, amount of vegetation between 0.5 and 2 m, natural grassland, sandy soils vegetation, marsh vegetation and urban areas). We showed that it is a combination of both vegetation structural characteristics and land use variables that defines functional and species diversity.Main conclusionsFunctional diversity and species diversity of butterflies are not consistently correlated and must therefore be treated separately. High functional diversity levels occurred even in areas with low species diversity. Thus, conservation actions may differ depending on whether the focus is on conservation of high functional diversity or high species diversity. A more integrative analysis of biodiversity at both species and trait levels is needed to infer the full effects of environmental change on ecosystem functioning.

Dragonfly (Odonata) Species Diversity in Different Land Use Patterns of Lowland Tropical Wet Zone, Colombo District of Sri Lanka

Many species of Odonates inhabiting in agro-ecosystems, play a crucial role in controlling pest populations and can be considered as a pollution indicator. Damselflies are important bio-control agents especially in the control of mosquito larvae. Individual Odonata species have a wide range of environmental tolerances, and are good indicators of ecosystem health, particularly for wetlands. Odonata are also known to be highly responsive to ecosystem conditions in relation to broad-scale factors such as climate and urbanization. Huge knowledge gap displays in ecology of Odonata species and this preliminary study would provide a considerable knowledge on formulating conservation strategies and ecosystem services of dragonflies. The ecological survey examined the Dragonfly & Damselfly (Odonata) species diversity and habitat preference in different land use types at low country wet zone of Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Five (05) main land use patterns were selected as sub-urban land set up at Waga Area: a natural forest (Indikada Mukalana), a rubber plantation, a paddy field as an agricultural land use; Urban land setup: The Open university premises (OUSL) at Nawala,Colombo and “Diyatha Uyana” Battaramulla. The ecological survey was carried out with layout of belt transect (100m×2.5 ) adjacent (5-15 m distance) to selected water ways in each different sampling areas of different land use patterns which adapting purposive random sampling technique. Visual observations will be carried out adapting internationally accepted techniques for sampling of flying insects to identify and quantify of Dragonflies. Dragonfly and damselfly species specific parameters were recorded in selected sampling sites.Total number of 26 Odonata species including 09 endemics was recorded in all land using patterns all land use patterns. Species diversity (richness and abundance) measured within study sites using Shannon wiener index indicated that the paddy field (2.185), rubber plantation (1.885), natural forest (0.9507), OUSL along polluted Wellawatte canal (0.6745) and Diyatha Uyana (0.619) respectively. The number of dragonfly species and abundance is remarkably higher in urban sites while number of damselfly is higher in sub-urban paddy field and rubber plantation. Neurothemis tulia and Rhyothemis variegata species were recorded at all study sites except natural forest. Brachythemis contaminata is the most abundant species which is only recorded in urban sites. A considerable species diversity and variation of Odonata species among study sites were recognized. As a conclusive remark, further studies on find limiting factors for diversity, distribution and abundance of dragonfly & damselfly species is recommended. Keywords: Dragonfly diversity, Different land uses, Lowland wet zone, Colombo

Spatio-temporal land-use changes in the Colima-Villa de Álvarez metropolitan area, and their relationship to floodings

El crecimiento demográfico, y por consiguiente los cambios de uso de suelo, se consideran entre los principales factores que pueden provocar el incremento de inundaciones en ciudades de países en desarrollo. Durante las últimas décadas en la Ciudad de Colima se ha incrementado la frecuencia con la que suceden inundaciones. Estos fenómenos ocurren mayormente durante tormentas tropicales asociadas a huracanes, como es el caso de Jova en 2011, Manuel en el 2013 y Patricia en el 2015, todas con lluvias acumuladas promedio de 200 mm en 24 h. También suceden con tormentas intensas y de corta duración a comienzos de la temporada de lluvia. Para definir los mecanismos que aumentan la ocurrencia de este fenómeno, se presenta un análisis espacio-temporal del cambio de uso de suelo, junto con la caracterización de suelos naturales y urbanos para el área metropolitana de Colima.Se definieron tres categorías principales de uso de suelo: Nativo (N1), Urbano (N4) y Agrícola (N5). Cada categoría tiene subcategorías dependiendo de la cobertura vegetal y/o nivel de urbanización. Imágenes SPOT adquiridas en 2005, 2009 y 2015 fueron clasificadas para analizar espacial y temporalmente los cambios de uso de suelo. Se analizaron treinta y dos muestras de suelo representativas de diferentes usos de suelo para obtener sus propiedades físicas y químicas, como granulometría, densidad aparente y de partícula, porosidad y contenido de materia orgánica. Pruebas de conductividad hidráulica in situ se hicieron usando un infiltrómetro por goteo.Con base en el análisis temporal y espacial de las imágenes SPOT, se pudo detectar que la mayoría de los cambios de uso de suelo corresponden al área urbana y agrícola; la primera mostrando un incremento y la segunda una drástica disminución, especialmente hacia el norte donde el crecimiento urbano es evidente durante el periodo 2005-2009. Los suelos en las áreas agrícolas resultaron ser los más permeables, mientras que los suelos constituido por material compactado para construcción corresponden a los menos permeables en el área; por lo tanto, el reemplazo de las zonas agrícolas por zonas habitacionales tiene un impacto significativo en el proceso de lluvia-escurrimiento. Estos resultados indican que mientras más zonas permeables sean substituidas por suelos perturbados, la capacidad de infiltración será reducida, incrementando la frecuencia de inundaciones en el área metropolitana Colima-Villa de Álvarez.Para prevenir y reducir el impacto destructivo de las inundaciones en el área metropolitana de Colima, se recomienda tener un manejo adecuado del cambio de uso de suelo y conservar las superficies permeables alrededor de la ciudad. Adicionalmente, es necesario revisarla infraestructura hidráulica existente de las zonas urbanas y definir los sitios adecuados para las futuras. Evitar desarrollos urbanos en zonas susceptibles a inundación a través de la buena planificación y la reglamentación, podría reducir las pérdidas de vidas y daños materiales producto de estos eventos.