Regional Conservation Research Articles

Attribution of vegetation fluorescence changes in China based on a decision tree stratification strategy

Vegetation photosynthesis plays a key role in maintaining carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) was utilized as a proxy for vegetation photosynthesis in this study, and the Theil-Sen and Mann-Kendall methods were used to examine trends of vegetation change in China. The impacts of climate conditions on vegetation photosynthesis were examined with the correlation analysis and recursive feature elimination (RFE) method. To distinguish the contributions of climate change and human activities on vegetation photosynthesis, land use data and SIF change trends were employed as inputs to a decision tree model. The results revealed that 81.5% of the areas in China exhibited an improving trend of vegetation photosynthesis. Vegetation degradation areas were mainly located in Northern arid and semi-arid region (NASR), Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP) and Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP). Precipitation dominated the effect of vegetation photosynthesis in these regions. The increase of vegetation photosynthesis in the southern regions was positively impacted by solar radiation. The growth of agricultural technology obviously benefited the improvement of vegetation photosynthesis in the Middle-lower Yangtze Plain (MLYP) and Northeast China Plain (NCP). Furthermore, the establishment of ecological conservation programs has helped to restore vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas. The detrimental effects of human activities included overgrazing disturbance and coal mining activities, which resulted in vegetation deterioration in areas of QTP and HHHP. The methodologies and findings of this study can help to comprehend changes in vegetation dynamics and give a theoretical foundation for evaluating regional ecological conservation initiatives.

Species-specific ecological traits, phylogeny, and geography underpin vulnerability to population declines for North American birds

Abstract Species declines and extinctions characterize the Anthropocene. Determining species vulnerability to decline, and where and how to mitigate threats, are paramount for effective conservation. We hypothesized that species with shared ecological traits also share threats, and therefore may experience similar population trends. Here, we used a Bayesian modeling framework to test whether phylogeny, geography, and 22 ecological traits predict regional population trends for 380 North American bird species. Groups like blackbirds, warblers, and shorebirds, as well as species occupying Bird Conservation Regions at more extreme latitudes in North America, exhibited negative population trends; whereas groups such as ducks, raptors, and waders, as well as species occupying more inland Bird Conservation Regions, exhibited positive trends. Specifically, we found that in addition to phylogeny and breeding geography, multiple ecological traits contributed to explaining variation in regional population trends for North American birds. Furthermore, we found that regional trends and the relative effects of migration distance, phylogeny, and geography differ between shorebirds, songbirds, and waterbirds. Our work provides evidence that multiple ecological traits correlate with North American bird population trends, but that the individual effects of these ecological traits in predicting population trends often vary between different groups of birds. Moreover, our results reinforce the notion that variation in avian population trends is controlled by more than phylogeny and geography, where closely related species within one region can show unique population trends due to differences in their ecological traits. We recommend that regional conservation plans, i.e. one-size-fits-all plans, be implemented only for bird groups with population trends under strong phylogenetic or geographic controls. We underscore the need to develop species-specific research and management strategies for other groups, like songbirds, that exhibit high variation in their population trends and are influenced by multiple ecological traits.

Impacts of land use transitions on ecosystem services: A research framework coupled with structure, function, and dynamics

Rapid urbanization in China has resulted in drastic land use transitions (LUT) and has had a severe impact on the supply of regional ecosystem services (ESs). To improve ecosystem security and promote sustainable development regionally, it is essential to clarify spatial correlations between the multi-dimensional characteristics of LUT and ESs. We developed a theoretical framework to examine how LUT influenced regional ESs in three dimensions: land use structure, function, and dynamics. Using the Taihu Lake Rim urban agglomeration (TLRUA) as an example, we explored the process by which LUT affected the change in regional ESs. The results indicated that the TLRUA experienced accelerated urbanization between 2000 and 2018, with LUT and ESs exhibiting distinct characteristics in urban, suburban, and rural areas in different regions. The impact of LUT on ESs, as we analyzed them from different dimensions, embraced interactive effects and significant spatial spillover effects. The land use structural transitions were globally positively correlated with habitat maintenance, carbon sequestration, and recreation potential, whereas land use intensity and dynamics transitions exhibited negative correlations. Given their interactions at the local scale, we propose corresponding land management strategies, which can offer practical guidance for coordinating regional land resource development and ecosystem conservation.

High Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Recombination of Porcine Sapelovirus in Pig Farms in Fujian, Southern China.

Porcine sapelovirus (PSV) is a ubiquitous virus in farmed pigs that is associated with SMEDI syndrome, polioencephalomyelitis, and diarrhea. However, there are few reports on the prevalence and molecular characterization of PSV in Fujian Province, Southern China. In this study, the prevalence of PSV and a poetical combinative strain PSV2020 were characterized using real-time PCR, sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. As a result, an overall sample prevalence of 30.8% was detected in 260 fecal samples, and a farm prevalence of 76.7% was observed in 30 Fujian pig farms, from 2020 to 2022. Noteably, a high rate of PSV was found in sucking pigs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the full-length genome of PSV2020 was 7550 bp, and the genetic evolution of its ORF region was closest to the G1 subgroup, which was isolated from Asia and America; the similarity of nucleotides and amino acids to other PSVs was 59.5~88.7% and 51.7~97.0%, respectively. However, VP1 genetic evolution analysis showed a distinct phylogenetic topology from the ORF region; PSV2020 VP1 was closer to the DIAPD5469-10 strain isolated from Italy than strains isolated from Asia and America, which comprise the G1 subgroup based on the ORF region. Amino acid discrepancy analysis illustrated that the PSV2020 VP1 gene inserted twelve additional nucleotides, corresponding to four additional amino acids (STAE) at positions 898-902 AAs. Moreover, a potential recombination signal was observed in the 2A coding region, near the 3' end of VP1, owing to recombination analysis. Additionally, 3D genetic evolutionary analysis showed that all reference strains demonstrated, to some degree, regional conservation. These results suggested that PSV was highly prevalent in Fujian pig farms, and PSV2020, a PSV-1 genotype strain, showed gene diversity and recombination in evolutionary progress. This study also laid a scientific foundation for the investigation of PSV epidemiology, molecular genetic characteristics, and vaccine development.

Identification of priority areas to provide insights for ecological protection planning: A case study in Hechi, China

The prolonged disregard for the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) has limited the effectiveness of regional ecological conservation. However, identifying and safeguarding areas with high GEP, and optimizing their distribution and spatial structure, are of great immense for preserving ecosystem services (ESs). Our goal is to refine the spatial configuration of ecological network (EN), and subsequently augment and sustain the stability of ESs. We have specifically chosen Hechi City, situated in the Karst region of southwest China, as our case study. Firstly, we devised a GEP evaluation system to pinpoint crucial areas as ecological sources. Subsequently, we utilized the circuit theory and minimum cumulative resistance model to construct the preliminary EN. Through the circuit theory model identified the key nodes in the EN and optimized the EN. Finally, by combining complex network analysis methods, we evaluated the robustness and topological characteristics of the EN. Our results showed that the area of ecological sources increased from 71 to 161 after optimization. The number of corridors increased from 161 to 423, resulting in an overall increment of 8.8% in the source area. The connectivity and stability of the optimized EN can be significantly enhanced. The addition of new nodes increases the overall importance of the network, making the importance of each node more balanced. Additionally, the complex network analysis method provided a detailed understanding about the spatial topology of the overall and local elements of the EN. The study results can provide a valuable reference for optimizing, restoring and evaluating ENs in karst areas.

Spatial-temporal differentiation and driving factors of ecological resilience in the Yellow River Basin, China

Ecological problems are considered to be the key constraint to high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), so accurately grasping and understanding the spatial–temporal differentiation characteristics and driving factors of ecological resilience (ER) in the YRB is crucial for the sustainable development of the YRB. This study develops a three-dimensional ER evaluation index system comprising resistance (RE), adaptability (AD), and recovery (RC), measures the ER of 76 cities in the YRB using the entropy method, and investigates the spatial–temporal evolutionary characteristics and drivers of ER in the YRB using the Dagum Gini coefficient (DGC), Kernel density estimation (KDE) and geographic detector methods (GDM). The results show that the spatial differences in ER of the YRB showed a narrowing trend. The primary cause of the overall differences was the interregional differences. There is no significant polarization of ER in the basin as a whole, and the differentiation between the three regions is gradually weakening. Economic development (ED) is a key factor influencing the spatial differences in ER in the YRB and downstream regions. Average annual precipitation (AP) and adaptability (AD) are the most important drivers affecting ER in the upper and middle reaches, respectively. The combined impact of multiple factors on the spatial differences of ER in the YRB is significantly more pronounced than that of individual factors. This study provides empirical evidence and decision-making reference to comprehensively grasp the current ER development characteristics in the YRB, and to develop and implement differentiated regional ecological conservation strategies.

From rookeries to foraging grounds: understanding regional connectivity and genetic diversity in hawksbill turtles

This study investigated the genetic structure, diversity, and migratory patterns of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) from two nesting locations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing and satellite telemetry. Tissue samples collected from nesting female hawksbill turtles (n=75) in PNG revealed a total of 6 haplotypes from the Conflict Group site and 5 haplotypes from Kavieng site, with the Conflict Group and Kavieng samples significantly differing from one another and all other known Asia-Pacific stocks. This finding expands our understanding of the genetic stock structure of hawksbill turtles in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 9 Management Units (MUs) now published. Satellite tracking of 15 hawksbill turtles revealed that all individuals migrated from the Conflict Group westerly towards foraging areas in eastern Australia (93%) and PNG (7%). With a mean migration path distance of 1241 ± 108 km, three distinct migration strategies were used by the 10 hawksbill turtles that made it to their foraging grounds in the I) eastern Torres Strait, II) Far North Queensland, and III) western PNG waters. A broad scope of home-range strategies and sizes (95% UD) were used, and in comparison to other studies further postulates that hawksbills are connected to non-specific foraging grounds associated with food source availability. This study provides for the first time in PNG essential insights into hawksbill turtle population structure and connectivity in the western Pacific region, highlighting the importance of effectively conserving and managing this critically endangered species as distinct population stocks. Furthermore, we make recommendations for national and regional conservation strategies and transboundary management to ensure the long-term survival and recovery of western Pacific’s hawksbill turtle populations.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Carbon Emission in China’s Tertiary Industry: A Decomposition of Influencing Factors from the Perspective of Energy-Industry-Consumption

The development of the tertiary industry is of great significance for promoting industrial structure, optimizing and upgrading it, and achieving regional energy conservation and emission reduction goals. This study adopts a quantitative method to analyze the spatio-temporal pattern of carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry from 2004 to 2019. In order to analyze emissions from aspects such as energy structure, energy intensity, energy carrying capacity, industrial structure, level of industrial development, income level, consumption capacity, energy consumption intensity, and population size, this study establishes a hybrid factor decomposition model called the “energy-industry-consumption” research framework. The study shows that carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry have been increasing year by year from 2004 to 2019, with a growth rate of 353.10%. Transportation is the largest contributor to the increase in carbon emissions from China’s tertiary industry. The carbon emissions from the tertiary industry in each province show four types: high-speed growth, low-speed growth, fluctuating growth, and stable growth. During the study period, carbon emissions produce a spatial heterogeneity with the highest emissions in the south and lowest in the northwestern part of China. The spatial pattern of per capita carbon emissions is not significant. Guangdong has the highest carbon emissions, and Shanghai and Beijing have higher per capita carbon emissions. Industrial factors and consumption factors have a positive effect on carbon emissions in China’s tertiary industry, while energy factors have a negative effect. The leading factor of carbon emissions in China’s tertiary industry has gradually shifted from energy to industry.

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of wild wintering whooper swans (Cygnus Cygnus), captive black swans (Cygnus Atratus), and mute swans (Cygnus Olor) in Sanmenxia Swan National Wetland Park of China.

The gastrointestinal microbiota, a complex ecosystem, is involved in the physiological activities of hosts and the development of diseases. Birds occupy a critical ecological niche in the ecosystem, performing a variety of ecological functions and possessing a complex gut microbiota composition. However, the gut microbiota of wild and captive birds has received less attention in the same region. We profiled the fecal gut microbiome of wild wintering whooper swans (Cygnus Cygnus; Cyg group, n = 25), captive black swans (Cygnus Atratus; Atr group, n = 20), and mute swans (Cygnus Olor;Olor group, n = 30) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal differences in the gut microbial ecology. The results revealed that the three species of swans differed significantly in terms of the alpha and beta diversity of their gut microbiota, as measured by ACE, Chao1, Simpson and Shannon indices, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and non-metricmulti-dimensional scaling (NMDS) respectively. Based on the results of the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and random forest analysis, we found that there were substantial differences in the relative abundance of Gottschalkia, Trichococcus, Enterococcus, and Kurthia among the three groups. Furthermore, an advantageous pattern of interactions between microorganisms was shown by the association network analysis. Among these, Gottschalkia had the higher area under curve (AUC), which was 0.939 (CI = 0.879-0.999), indicating that it might be used as a biomarker to distinguish between wild and captive black swans. Additionally, PICRUSt2 predictions indicated significant differences in gut microbiota functions between wild and captive trumpeter swans, with the gut microbiota functions of Cyg group focusing on carbohydrate metabolism, membrane transport, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism pathways, the Atr group on lipid metabolism, and the Olor group on cell motility, amino acid metabolism, and replication and repair pathways. These findings showed that the gut microbiota of wild and captive swans differed, which is beneficial to understand the gut microecology of swans and to improve regional wildlife conservation strategies.

Research on the Evolution Characteristics and Dynamic Simulation of Habitat Quality in the Southwest Mountainous Urban Agglomeration from 1990 to 2030

In the context of promoting high-quality development of mountainous urban areas, it is of great significance to explore the evolutionary trajectory of habitat quality in the future based on policy-driven backgrounds, particularly for the protection of the Western mountainous ecosystem. This study takes the Chongqing metropolitan area, a typical southwestern mountainous city, as the study area. Based on land use data from 1990 to 2020, the study combines the InVEST and PLUS models, considering the constraints imposed by urban construction planning and ecological control policies, to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of habitat quality from 1990 to 2030. The findings are as follows: (1) From 1990 to 2020, there was a significant decrease in cultivated land area in the study area, while forestland and unused land showed a declining trend. Conversely, built-up land, grassland, and water bodies exhibited an increasing trend. In the land use simulation for 2030, under the scenarios of natural growth and ecological protection, the cultivated land area further decreased, while forestland and grassland received a certain degree of protection. In the scenario of development, a large amount of cultivated land was converted into built-up land. (2) From 1990 to 2030, significant overall habitat quality changes were observed among different regions within the study area. Except for Nanchuan District and Qijiang District, other administrative regions experienced a certain degree of decline in habitat quality. The distribution of habitat quality exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. The low-value habitat areas were centered in the middle of the metropolitan area and gradually expanded outward. The high-value habitat areas were concentrated in the study area, including the Huaying Mountain range and other mountainous ecological corridor regions. (3) Habitat quality in the study area showed a decreasing trend with an increasing slope gradient. With the development of urbanization, habitat quality degradation gradually spread to high-altitude and steep-slope areas. (4) The expansion of built-up land is the main cause of habitat degradation in the study area. From 1990 to 2030, against the background of development strategies in the study area, the expansion of built-up land encroached upon cultivated land and forestland. In the habitat quality prediction for 2030, habitat degradation in the region will continue to intensify. This study provides scientific references and the basis for promoting regional sustainable land use and ecological conservation.

Esthetic characteristics of Mount Jingfu’s “Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands” landscape based on the cultural and regional disposition theory

To inherit the essential characteristics of regionality, diversity, and artistry of the landscape “Grotto-Heavens and Blissful Lands,” this study takes Mount Jingfu, a model of that in the Lingnan Region, as the research object. It is based on the Cultural and Regional Disposition Theory under landscape architecture esthetics and summarizes the esthetic features of Mount Jingfu from three dimensions: (i) regional and technical characteristics of adaptation to local conditions, elaborately utilizing and arranging the space, and drawing on local materials; (ii) social milieu of seeking inner pleasure and integrating different cultures, worshipping numeral immortals and benefiting the folks, and embracing simplicity and bold innovation; (iii) artistic and human qualities of clarity and quiescence, exquisiteness and elegance, and morality and righteousness. The study is conducive to promoting the regional conservation and living inheritance of Lianzhou’s culture of blissful lands and presenting the esthetic characteristics of renowned mountain landscape resources.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Habitat Quality Analysis in the Temperate Desert Sub-Region of Ordos Plateau, China

Habitat quality has great significance in terms of regional ecological conservation and human welfare. In this study, we evaluated the spatial and temporal characteristics of land use and habitat quality in the temperate desert sub-region of the Ordos Plateau using patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) and integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) models. From 2000 to 2020, the areas of grassland, cropland, and unused land in the study area increased significantly; the areas of water bodies and woodland increased slightly; and the area of wasteland decreased significantly. Moreover, the habitat quality in the temperate desert subzone of the Ordos Plateau showed a trend of initial increase and then decrease between 2000 and 2020. The areas of lower and low habitat quality first decreased and then increased, and the overall area decreased over time. Conversely, the areas of high and higher habitat quality initially increased and then decreased, and the overall area increased over time. The area of medium habitat quality first decreased and then increased, although the overall change was minimal. Based on the PLUS model, the predicted habitat quality of the study area in 2025 under the natural development scenario was compared to that predicted under the ecological conservation scenario. The comparison of results showed higher habitat quality and lower habitat degradation under the ecological conservation development scenario. These results can be used to provide a scientific basis and decision reference for the sustainable use of land resources and encouragement of high-quality socio-economic development in the temperate desert sub-region of the Ordos Plateau.

Re-appraisal of the global climatic role of natural forests for improved climate projections and policies

Along with the accumulation of atmospheric greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, the loss of primary forests and other natural ecosystems is a major disruption of the Earth's system and is causing global concern. Quantifying planetary warming from carbon emissions, global climate models highlight natural forests' high carbon storage potential supporting conservation policies. However, some model outcomes effectively deprioritize conservation of boreal and temperate forests by suggesting that increased albedo upon deforestation could cool the planet. A potential conflict of global cooling vs. regional forest conservation could harm environmental policies. Here we present theoretical and observational evidence to demonstrate that, compared to the carbon-related warming, modeling skills for assessing climatic impacts of deforestation is low. We argue that estimates for deforestation-induced global cooling result from the models' limited capacity to account for the global effect of cooling from evapotranspiration of intact forests. Specifically, transpiration of trees can change the greenhouse effect via small modifications of the vertical temperature profile. However, due to their convective parameterization (which postulates a certain critical temperature profile), global climate models do not properly capture this effect. This may lead to an underestimation of warming from the loss of forest evapotranspiration in both high and low latitudes. As a result, conclusions about deforestation-induced global cooling are not robust and could result in action that immediately worsened global warming. To avoid deepening the environmental crisis, these conclusions should not inform policies of vegetation cover management, especially as studies from multiple fields are accumulating that better quantify the stabilizing impact of natural ecosystems evolved to maintain environmental homeostasis. Given the critical state and our limited understanding of both climate and ecosystems, an optimal policy with immediate benefits would be a global moratorium on the exploitation of all natural forests.

Terrain‐derived measures for basin conservation and restoration planning

AbstractCenturies of human development have altered the connectivity of rivers, adversely impacting ecosystems and the services they provide. Significant investments in natural resource projects are made annually with the goal of restoring function to degraded rivers and floodplains and protecting freshwater resources. Yet restoration projects often fall short of their objectives, in part due to the lack of systems‐based strategic planning. To evaluate channel‐floodplain (dis)connectivity and erosion/incision hazard at the basin scale, we calculate Specific Stream Power (SSP), an estimate of the energy of a river, using a topographically based, low‐complexity hydraulic model. Other basin‐wide SSP modeling approaches neglect reach‐specific geometric information embedded in Digital Elevation Models. Our approach leverages this information to generate reach‐specific SSP‐flow curves. We extract measures from these curves that describe (dis)connected floodwater storage capacity and erosion hazard at individual design storm flood stages and demonstrate how these measures may be used to identify watershed‐scale patterns in connectivity. We show proof‐of‐concept using 25 reaches in the Mad River watershed in central Vermont and demonstrate that the SSP results have acceptable agreement with a well‐calibrated process‐based model (2D Hydraulic Engineering Center's River Analysis System) across a broad range of design events. While systems‐based planning of regional restoration and conservation activities has been limited, largely due to computational and human resource requirements, measures derived from low‐complexity models can provide an overview of reach‐scale conditions at the regional level and aid planners in identifying areas for further restoration and/or conservation assessments.

Nowhere to hide: Sea turtle bycatch in Northwest Africa

Abstract Fisheries bycatch is considered the largest threat to sea turtle populations globally. However, it has been challenging to assess the impact of bycatch on sea turtles in some regions such as Northwest Africa (i.e. Cabo Verde, Guinea, Guinea–Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia) owing to large data gaps. This hampers effective management actions and interferes with conservation efforts in the region. Five sea turtle species occur in Northwest Africa (i.e. green turtle Chelonia mydas, hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, leatherback Dermochelys coriacea, loggerhead Caretta caretta and olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea). The region has regionally and globally important sea turtle nesting and foraging habitats and is a global fishing hotspot, with high and increasing fishing pressure. Available information on sea turtle bycatch in Northwest Africa was compiled from peer‐reviewed and grey literature from 2010 onwards to determine the impact of artisanal and industrial fisheries (by gear type) on regional sea turtle populations and assess the level of threat to individual species. All sea turtle species occurring in the region are impacted by bycatch. Reports suggest that green turtles and loggerheads have the highest bycatch rates, probably owing to their regional abundance and widespread distribution. Some of the potentially highest reported global bycatch rates (14,000–90,000 turtles/year/country) are noted, particularly in gillnets, longlines and handlines. However, further research is needed to understand mortality levels from artisanal fisheries and assess the impact of trawl fisheries operating in the region. Additional sources of mortality include deliberate capture for consumption or trade. To strengthen regional sea turtle conservation and reduce sea turtle bycatch and mortality, urgent action is needed to implement and enforce national protection, establish a bycatch reduction framework (including gear modifications and spatio‐temporal closures), improve fisheries data collection and build capacity.

The diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit species in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Suwardi AB, Syamsuardi, Mukhtar E, Nurainas. 2023. The diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit species in Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 3245-3257. Sumatra Island is recognized as the distribution center of tropical fruit species in Indonesia. However, increased human activity threatens the existence of edible wild fruit plants in nature. The study aims to assess the diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit plant species in Sumatra, Indonesia. The study was conducted in four provinces: West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and Bengkulu. For the sampling, a modified line transect method was used. A total of 331 wild edible fruit plant species at four studied sites in Sumatra consisted of 73 families. The highest number of fruit plant species was recorded in West Sumatra Province, i.e., 176 species, followed by Jambi (172 species), Riau (121 species), and Bengkulu (76 species). The diversity of wild edible fruit plant species was higher in West Sumatra Province (3.85) but lower in Riau Province (3.25). Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Baccaurea lanceolata (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea macrocarpa (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea polyneura Hook.f., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T.Anderson, Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.fil. ex J.Anderson, Mangifera foetida Lour., Mangifera laurina Blume, Mangifera odorata Griff., and Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. were the most frequently recorded wild fruit plant species in all of the study area. However, 74 wild edible fruit plant species were recorded only in West Sumatra, 45 in Riau, 79 in Jambi, and 9 in Bengkulu. Among the 331 wild edible fruit species in the present study, 1 taxon was classified as endangered (0.30%), 9 taxa (2.72%) as vulnerable, 11 taxa (3.32%) as near threatened, and 139 taxa (41.99%) as least concern, and 171 taxa (51.67%) as Data Deficient.

Plantation clear‐fell patches benefit heathland arthropods

Abstract Plantation forests constitute a significant amount of the wooded area in many parts of the globe. However, the extent of biological provision conferred by plantation forest depends on regional conservation priorities and biogeographical context. Here, we evaluate the arthropod biodiversity in a chronosequence of pine plantation (clear‐felled, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 21‐years) in the largest lowland conifer forest in the UK. We compare the assemblage within 37 plantation stands and eight important open habitat remnants in a formerly heathland dominated region. We also assess the configuration and potential isolation of ephemeral open early growth stage habitat across a 60‐year plantation rotation. Carabid and spider assemblages changed throughout the sampled chronosequence. In the early growth stages (1–7 years) before canopy closure, arthropod assemblages contained many individuals and species associated with dry‐open habitats, greater numbers of rare species than closed canopy plantation and had similar composition (non‐metric multidimensional scaling) to heathland samples. Early growth stages and heathlands primarily differed in the additional presence of generalist species in the plantation. Species associated with woodland increased in abundance as the plantation aged, but remained far less numerous than dry‐open or generalist species. The spatial distribution of young growth stages across the rotation cycle was significantly clustered in the early and late rotation phases. Plantation landscapes often support high species richness but we highlight their value for vulnerable heathland biodiversity early in the rotation cycle. To increase plantation value regional conservation priorities should be supported with appropriate consideration of growth stage configuration across the full rotation.

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Variations in Ecosystem Service Functions and Drivers in Anxi County Based on the InVEST Model

Background: Exploring the spatial and temporal evolution patterns of regional ecosystem service functions and their main drivers can provide effective support for formulating regional ecological conservation policies and coordinating sustainable economic–ecological development. Methods: This study quantifies the service functions of the water production, soil conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality, and net primary productivity (NPP) in the study area based on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model and the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model and constructs a comprehensive index for ecosystem services (CES) based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to reflect the total supply of various ecosystem services spatially and explore the main driving mechanisms of their spatial variation. The main driving mechanisms of the spatial variation were investigated. Results: (1) Water production in the study area from 2010 to 2020 showed a trend of increasing before decreasing, soil retention showed a trend of continuously decreasing, carbon storage and biotope quality showed a trend of decreasing before increasing, and the NPP showed a trend of continuously increasing. (2) The mean CES of the study area from 2010 to 2020 (0.5398, 0.5763, 0.5456) showed a trend of increasing before decreasing. The improvement areas were mainly concentrated in the western, southwestern, and northeastern parts of the study area, and the degraded areas were mainly distributed in the southeast and northwest. (3) The fit of the geographically weighted regression (GWR) was higher than that of the ordinary least squares (OLS) in all the periods, and the main driving factors affecting the spatial variation in the CES were the NDVI and tea plantation area (T-Area). Conclusion: This study constructed the CES model, explored the regional CES spatiotemporal evolution pattern and its main driving mechanism, and provided a reference basis for promoting the high-quality development of specialized tea regions.

Distinguishing the relative contributions of landscape composition and configuration change on ecosystem health from a geospatial perspective

Understanding the impact mechanisms of landscape composition and configuration change on ecosystem health (EH) is critical to ecosystem conservation and human well-being. However, existing studies mainly focused on EH changes due to combined effects of landscape composition and configuration change, while the individual impacts and spatial heterogeneity of these factors on EH remain unclear. Thus, taking Chongqing as an example, this study distinguished the relative contributions of landscape configuration and composition on EH based on scenario analysis method, and further explored how these impacts change between and within different topographic, geological and urbanization zones. The results showed that EH displayed an improving trend during 2000–2020, with the increasing areas distributed in the mountainous of southeast and northeast in Chongqing, largely influenced by increased forest landscape cohesion and their synergistic effects with forest expansion, accounting for 91.05 % and 87.86 % of the study area respectively, while the decreasing areas were mostly located in urban cores, dominated by changes in landscape composition (e.g. farmland reclamation and urban sprawl), accounting for 50.95 % of area proportion. The scenario analysis of EH showed that the areas dominated by landscape configuration were 5.39 times greater than the landscape composition under the same climate scenario. In terms of zoning comparison, the influence of landscape composition change on EH displayed the greatest difference within urbanization zones, while topographic zones for landscape configuration change. This paper provides a novel perspective to explore the impact of landscape pattern on EH, which is important to regional ecosystem conservation and land use management.

DNA barcoding reveals threatened and protected elasmobranchs in Tanzanian fish markets

Western Indian Ocean countries have banned elasmobranch finning and enacted legislation to protect endangered elasmobranchs, however finned and morphologically deformed specimens are still landed and traded on Tanzanian fish markets. Such specimens are difficult to identify morphologically, and it is possible that protected elasmobranchs are among these. This study used DNA barcoding to uncover protected elasmobranchs in 102 specimens traded on Tanzanian fish markets. The sampled specimens revealed 23 elasmobranch species, 12 of which (52.1 %) were classified as endangered (EN) or critically endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Three of the identified species (great hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran, oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus, and pelagic thresher Alopias pelagicus) are protected by Tanzanian laws. Hence, it is advised that steps be taken to strengthen law enforcement at landing sites and fish markets in the country. Furthermore, the Third Schedule of Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations of 2009 should be updated to include 11 EN and CR elasmobranchs that are not on the list. Additionally, national and regional elasmobranch conservation plans should be developed to prevent the exploitation of endangered elasmobranchs.