Direct and indirect losses of natural habitat caused by future urban expansion in the transnational area of Changbai Mountain

Human population growth and the resultant expansion of urban landscapes are drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Impacts of urbanisation on wildlife are not well understood, although the importance of preserving biodiversity in urban areas is widely recognised. The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), a common species of large macropod, can be found in high densities in many urban landscapes across Australia. South East Queensland is a subtropical region of Australia that has experienced high rates of urban expansion. Human population growth in the region has resulted in widespread changes to the landscape and much of the eastern grey kangaroo’s natural habitat has been modified. Declines in kangaroo populations have been anecdotally reported; however, the impact of urbanisation on kangaroo populations has not been quantified. This study used a modelling approach, collecting data from the community, and private and government organisations to: (1) map the current distribution of eastern grey kangaroos; (2) quantify trends in kangaroo abundance; and (3) identify anthropogenic drivers of changes in kangaroo abundance in the region. Of the kangaroo populations identified, 42% were reported to have undergone an overall decline in abundance since 2000. Higher human population growth rate and smaller area remaining under natural land use were predictors of kangaroo population declines. Further kangaroo declines can be anticipated in the region, particularly in areas with projected human population growth rates over 80% for the next decade. This study emphasises the importance of integrated urban development over large spatial extents to mitigate impacts of urbanisation on terrestrial mammals.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the Influences of Urban Expansion on the Concurrent Loss of Multiple Ecosystem Services in Drylands

10.21203/rs.3.rs-632977/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shixiong Song ◽

Chunyang He ◽

Zhifeng Liu ◽

Tao Qi

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Air Quality ◽

Habitat Quality ◽

Food Production ◽

Water Retention ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Land Planning ◽

Quality Regulation ◽

Expansion Model

Abstract Context Effectively estimating the influences of urban expansion on multiple ecosystem services (ESs) is of great importance for improving urban planning in drylands. However, there are some shortcomings in the existing urban expansion models, which lead to great uncertainties in the assessment of the influences of urban expansion on the concurrent loss of multiple ESs.Objectives This study sought to effectively estimate the influences of urban expansion on the concurrent loss of multiple ESs in drylands.Methods We combined the improved the urban expansion model and ES models to estimate the influences of urban expansion on five key ESs, including food production (FP), water retention (WR), air quality regulation (AQR), natural habitat quality (NHQ), and landscape aesthetic (LA).Results The results showed that (1) our method can effectively evaluate the influences of urban expansion on the concurrent loss of multiple ESs in drylands, and the accuracy increased by more than 20% on average. (2) Under the effect of future urban expansion, FP, WR, AQR, NHQ and LA will accelerate the decline. (3) These five ESs will show concurrent degradation, and the degree will be further intensified. (4) Future urban expansion will occupy more cropland and grassland which will be the dominating reason for the intensified degradation of multiple ESs. Conclusions We suggest that urban expansion through occupying a large amount of cropland and grassland should be strictly controlled via urban land planning to alleviate the potential influences of future urbanization on the concurrent loss of multiple ESs.

Download Full-text

Rebuilding Libya a Bird’s Eye View

The Academic Research Community Publication ◽

10.21625/archive.v3i1.429 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Hailana Ben Ali

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Migratory Birds ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Place Identity ◽

Wildlife Habitat ◽

Mortality Factors ◽

Related Factors ◽

Rapid Urbanization

There are numerous important human activity factors which cause drastic reduction of the population of migratory birds as well as resident birds in the Libyan coastal areas and inner land too. Resulting into the deterioration of the ecosystems which support life, urban health, and simultaneously causes loss of urban heritage and place identity. The urban sprawl has increased significantly over the past few decades as a result of population growth and economic activity. This rapid urbanization seriously invaded agricultural land and natural environment to the extent of endangering rural and urban landscape. In the absence of legislative regulations; this uncontrolled spatial development is threatening wildlife habitat. Therefore, we see how urban expansion has gone out of control in many Libyan cities to an alarming rate surmounting the increase rate of population caused by extensive economic policies. These policies lack an ecological vision of preservation of cultural and natural heritage which would have ensured the realization of healthy ecosystem and a sustained vision towards the future of rebuilding Libya. This paper aims to identify the relationship between built environment and natural habitat for migratory and resident birds. The paper is using archival research methods by drawing together mortality causes from various sources so that human related factors can be placed in perspective with one another and perhaps, eventually, with other mortality factors in future studies. The paper attempts to shed light on the dangers faced by these birds including those inflicted by human activities. Finally, the paper tries to formalise general outlines for presenting safer urban environment for birds in the city. A strategy for green buildings and sustained urban design in order to preserve the fragile natural landscape and the endangered biological diversity in our Libyan cities.

Download Full-text

A comparative assessment on ant communities in three vegetation types located at Mfou Suburban locality of Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Journal of Insect Biodiversity ◽

10.12976/jib/2021.26.1.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

TADU ZEPHIRIN ◽

EDOA STEPHANIE ◽

MESSOP YOUBI EDITH-BLANDINE ◽

GUIBAÏ JEAN-PIERRE ◽

FOMEKONG-LONTCHI JUDICAËL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Indicator Species ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Congo Basin ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Ant Communities ◽

Natural Landscape ◽

Ant Community ◽

S 100 ◽

Ant Diversity

Urban expansion in Cameroon and many other Congo basin countries, involves the destruction of natural habitat previously colonized by a rich and diversified invertebrate and vertebrate fauna. In order to understand the dynamic of transformation of natural landscape into urban area on ant communities, a study was conducted at Mfou, a suburban agglomeration of Yaoundé. We aimed to evaluate the variation in ant diversity and ant community structure in relation to the type of habitat. Ants were collected on the ground and trees in cocoa farms, secondary forests, and palm groves using visual catch, pitfall traps, quadrat, and baits. We recorded 144 species belonging to 39 genera and 6 subfamilies. Cocoa farms (S= 102; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) were richer and more diversified than secondary forests (S= 100; H’= 3.83; E=0.83) and palm groves (S= 70; H’= 3.61; E=0.85). Myrmicinae, Formicinae and Ponerinae were the richest subfamilies both at genus and species levels. Based on their frequency of occurrence, Myrmicaria opaciventris (18.6%), Crematogaster striatula (17.1%), Crematogaster gabonensis (14.9%) and Camponotus crawleyi Emery, 1920 (14.2%) species were numerically dominant. Strumigenys sp.1, Strumigenys sp.2, Strumigenys sp.3, and Strumigenys sp.4 species were found only in secondary forests, suggesting the relatively stability of this habitat despite anthropogenic disturbance. Camponotus brevicollis, Technomyrmex sp.2 and Tetramorium guineensis were the indicator species in cocoa farms. In the secondary forests, Camponotus wellmani, Hypoponera punctatissima and Pheidole pulchella were found as indicator species while in palm groves H. punctatissima was the only indicator species.

Download Full-text

Projection of future direct and indirect impacts of urban expansion on carbon storage: A case study in Hubei, China

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21945 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lanping Tang ◽

Xinli Ke

Keyword(s):

Carbon Storage ◽

Global Climate ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Conservation Policies ◽

Ecological Protection ◽

Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽

Indirect Impacts

Urban expansion encroaches on natural habitat, which seriously affects carbon storage which plays an important role in global climate change. The projection of future effects of urban expansion on carbon storage have been the subject of attention, previous studies explored its direct impacts but ignored indirect effects: cropland loss caused by urban expansion needs to compensation from natural habitat for food security, which also affects carbon storage. China, as a populated country, is at an important stage of cropland conservation policies reform, rapid urbanization, and constructing of eco-civilization. In this case, it&#8217;s vital to figure out the change of carbon storage due to the direct and indirect impacts of urban expansion in the future. Taking Hubei as the study area, the aim of this study is to project both direct impacts (DI) and indirect impacts (II) of urban expansion on carbon storage during 2010&#8211;2030. Three scenarios are developed by integrating the current situation and policies: the scenarios where urban continues to expand and the cropland conservation policies are implemented with the priority to cropland in quantity (S1), with the priority to cropland in quantity and quality (S2), with the priority to cropland in quantity and quality, and ecological protection is also concerned (S3). Results show that, the total loss of carbon storage caused by urban expansion will be 1.83Tg&#8226;C (DI: 0.95Tg&#8226;C; II:0.88Tg&#8226;C) under the S1 scenario, will be 2.15Tg&#8226;C (DI: 1.46Tg&#8226;C; II:0.69Tg&#8226;C) under the S2 scenario, and will be 1.49Tg&#8226;C (DI: 0.94Tg&#8226;C; II: 0.55Tg&#8226;C) under the S3 scenario. This indicates that ignoring the indirect impacts of urban expansion on carbon storage will lead to the underestimation of real impacts of urban expansion with 48%, 32%, and 63%, respectively. This study highlights the importance of taking the carbon storage loss caused by the indirect impacts of urban expansion into consideration.

Download Full-text

Which impacts more seriously on natural habitat loss and degradation? Cropland expansion or urban expansion?

Land Degradation and Development ◽

10.1002/ldr.3768 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lanping Tang ◽

Xinli Ke ◽

Yuanyuan Chen ◽

Liye Wang ◽

Qiushi Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Loss ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat

Download Full-text

Measuring compactness of the urban landscape within a city territory for environmental capabilities: the case of 50 cities in eastern China

Proceedings 24th ISUF 2017 - City and Territory in the Globalization Age ◽

10.4995/isuf2017.2017.5094 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Shuang Sophia Chen ◽

Tong Zhang ◽

Guangyu Li ◽

Yue Yan

Keyword(s):

Urban Form ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Central City ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Eastern China ◽

Remote Sensing Data ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Environmental Capability ◽

The Developed Countries

When a compact city is pursued as the strategy for urban sustainability the understanding of compactness is varied from the developed countries to the developing countries. In China the historical cities are characterized with high density and mixed land use. After a short time of motorization they still show compact forms in the central city. A large amount of newly developed areas are distributed in clusters near or far from the center. The crop land and natural habitat are encroached to different degrees. This paper developed an approach to measure the structural compactness of urban landscape patches within a city territory. It included six spatial metrics to measure the shape and density of the central agglomeration, the area configuration and distant relationship between the central agglomeration and the other clusters, and the distribution of all urban patches. By this approach the 50 cities in eastern China were categorized into five classes of forms: one center, multi-centers, centralized groups, cluster groups and scatter. Then the vegetation biomass loss with urban expansion was calculated based on remote sensing data, and used to assess the environmental capability of the five types of urban form. The suggestions of urban form optimization could be put forward for the five categories of cities.

Download Full-text