Contribution of live fences to the ecological integrity of agricultural landscapes

2005 ◽  
Vol 111 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 200-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Harvey ◽  
C. Villanueva ◽  
J. Villacís ◽  
M. Chacón ◽  
D. Muñoz ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhianna Rachelle Hohbein ◽  
Nathan P. Nibbelink

Abstract Context Conserving or restoring connectivity is a common objective of landscape-scale conservation initiatives. However, precise species occurrence or movement data to inform or validate spatial models are often lacking. Objectives Our objectives were to 1) produce the first approximation of country-wide connectivity for Andean bears ( Tremarctos ornatus ) in Colombia and 2) demonstrate a novel approach for model validation which uses publicly available web and social media records of a flagship species. Methods We used general knowledge about Andean bear habitat associations and indices of ecological integrity to construct a resistance surface across the Colombian Andes. We used this resistance surface to model omnidirectional connectivity using circuit theory. We validated our model with coarse location data acquired from local news stories and social media posts. Results Our model was most sensitive to changes in the resistance values of agricultural landcover and the mid-elevational zone, but uncertainty analysis demonstrated these had little impact on our conclusions regarding the municipalities most conducive to Andean bear movement. Just over one-third of those areas most conducive to Andean bear movement were within protected areas, while 8% coincided with agricultural landcover. Conclusions We constructed a model of connectivity that did not rely on independent, empirically derived location data. Our model is coarse (1 km resolution) but can still provide useful information to practitioners in Colombia who are working with scarce ecological data. More information about how Andean bears move through agricultural landscapes would help improve our understanding of connectivity for this species in Colombia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha Sohil ◽  
Neeraj Sharma

Abstract Land-use sprawl in the Himalayas has caused the conversion of natural habitat into human-modified habitats, thus degrading ecosystem health. Adaptation of birds to changing physical environment can be well understood by analyzing their habitat preferences, and foraging dynamics explored to a limited extent in the Himalayan region, as yet. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of avian guild structure, we used multivariate statistical techniques to classify bird species according to their similarities in foraging patterns and habitat preferences. Observations based on habitat and diet affinities accounted for rich avian diversity with a total of 208 bird species (about 15% of country’s avifauna) recorded from six different sites during 1 year survey. Unweighted pair-group average cluster analysis performed on the families revealed ten feeding and fifteen habitat guilds among 63 bird families observed. Subtropical forests harbored more species followed by urban forests and agricultural landscapes. Insectivorous and omnivorous outnumbered other feeding guilds in the study area. Bird assemblages were richer in protected areas and semi-disturbed landscapes and did not show significant variation between the seasons. Results of the study revealed that different functional groups of birds behaved differently, primarily induced by choice of food. The site heterogeneity favored avifaunal persistence by providing favorable foraging, roosting, and nesting opportunities to birds. Composition of avian guilds indicated level of intactness and ecological integrity of ecosystems studied. This outcome thus sets the background for long-term analysis of bird-habitat relationship and their foraging dynamics. The study has the relevance for decision-makers to integrate avian guild structure as an essential ingredient in formulating conservation strategies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymeric Mondiere ◽  
Michael S Corson ◽  
Lois Morel ◽  
Hayo MG van der Werf

CONTEXT: Agricultural intensification is a major cause of biodiversity loss. Biodiversity conservation and restoration generally involve human intervention. In comparison, rewilding, a radically different approach to address the erosion of biodiversity, aims to increase the ability of ecological processes to act with little or no human intervention, and thus to enhance biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services. OBJECTIVE: In this review and call to explore the potential of rewilding for agriculture, in particular for livestock systems, we identified effects of agroecological livestock systems on biodiversity and analysed similarities, differences and complementarities between the agroecological transition and the rewilding of livestock systems.METHODS: We researched literature in the Web of Science Core Collection that focussed on biodiversity, livestock, agriculture, rewilding and interactions among them.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural rewilding is an emerging form of land use that we conceptually position between agroecology and rewilding. It combines restoration of ecological processes with some degree of agricultural production, most often of animals. Over time, human land-use has aimed to increase plant and animal output, which has degraded the ecological integrity of ecosystems. This process of dewilding accelerated with the advent of agriculture. In recent decades, certain agricultural landscapes and farms have evolved in the opposite direction, decreasing material human inputs and improving ecological integrity. This evolution takes three forms: agroecological transition, agricultural rewilding and rewilding. Of these, the first and third concern relatively large areas. A selection of 11 agricultural rewilding projects established for at least 5 years in the United Kingdom had areas of 121-4402 ha. The projects targeted 48 key species/breeds, 23 of which were ecosystem engineers: 18 grazers, 4 pig breeds and beavers. The main actions to enhance rewilding were extensive grazing and habitat restoration. The main economic activities were meat or animal sales, tourism and education programmes. Agricultural rewilding may provide a multifunctional model to which livestock farms may transition to respond better to societal demands.SIGNIFICANCE: Agricultural rewilding offers a new and inspiring prospect for livestock systems and poses research questions about its relation to agroecology and rewilding, its implementation, its potential for plant production and its value for livestock farmers. The forms it can take remain to be explored, and the potential influence of these forms on biodiversity, ecosystem services and environmental impacts needs to be characterised. Exploring the forms that agricultural rewilding may take requires close collaboration among ecologists, animal scientists and agronomists.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Nikolay Dubenok ◽  
Andrey Novikov ◽  
Sergei Borodychev ◽  
Maria Lamskova

At the stage of water treatment for irrigation systems, the efficiency capture coarse and fine mechanical impurities, as well as oil products and organic compounds affects the reliability of the equipment of the irrigation network and the safety of energy exchange processes in irrigated agricultural landscapes. The violation of work irrigation system can cause disruptions in irrigation schedules of agricultural crops, crop shortages, degradation phenomena on the soil and ecological tension. For the combined irrigation system, a water treatment unit has been developed, representing a hydrocyclone apparatus with a pipe filter in the case. For the capacity of 250 m3/h the main geometrical dimensions of hydrocyclone have been calculated. To organize the capture petroleum products and organic compounds, it has been proposed a modernization of a hydrocyclone unit, consisting in dividing the cylindrical part of the apparatus into two section. The first is section is for input irrigation water, the second one is for additional drainage of clarified irrigation water after sorption purification by the filter, placed on the disk and installed coaxially with the drain pipe and the pipe filter.


10.1596/25171 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola K. Braimoh ◽  
Xiaoyue Hou ◽  
Christine Heumesser ◽  
Yuxuan Zhao

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmina Saouache ◽  
Salaheddine Doumandji ◽  
Nadia Ouchtati

Author(s):  
Inna Nikonorova ◽  
Inna Nikonorova

Cheboksary reservoir impact to the coast is manifested in the geophysical impact associated with abrasion activities. Geomorphological area of influence at the moment reaches a width of about 40 m, where are the coasts reformation (erosion, collapse, slumping, sliding, transfer or accumulation of sediments, waterlogged processes). Hydrogeological impact is effect on the level of groundwater. We have proposed the conceptual foundations of functional zoning of the reservoir banks that will help to optimize its operation. Selection zones came in accordance with the principles of landscape planning: 1. The zone of strict water protection: the main purpose – preservation of needing special protection areas. 2. The zone of moderate restrictions: preservation extensively used landscapes. 3. The zone of partial restrictions: improving the pre-emptive particularly vulnerable areas and changing intensity or type of use. 4. The zone of conservation of natural components in agricultural landscapes: ensuring health of the natural environment in the habitats used in agricultural economy. 5. The zone of preservation of vacant space and the natural environment in the settlements: to maintain the required quantity and quality of available green space in the large towns. 6. The zone of improving heavily used areas: elimination of harmful stress and environmental sanitation in the countryside where economic activities and the lack of measures to reduce their risks lead to degradation natural system.


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