scholarly journals Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damber Bista ◽  
Greg S. Baxter ◽  
Nicholas J. Hudson ◽  
Sonam Tashi Lama ◽  
Janno Weerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Eastern Himalaya ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Habitat Specialist ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Daily Distance

Abstract Background Habitat specialists living in human-dominated landscapes are likely to be affected by habitat fragmentation and human disturbances more than generalists. But there is a paucity of information on their response to such factors. We examined the effect of these factors on movement patterns of red pandas Ailurus fulgens, a habitat and diet specialist that inhabits the eastern Himalaya. Methods We equipped 10 red pandas (six females, four males) with GPS collars and monitored them from September 2019 to March 2020 in Ilam, eastern Nepal. We collected habitat and disturbance data over four seasons. We considered geophysical covariates, anthropogenic factors and habitat fragmentation metrics, and employed linear -mixed models and logistic regression to evaluate the effect of those variables on movement patterns. Results The median daily distance travelled by red pandas was 756 m. Males travelled nearly 1.5 times further than females (605 m). Males and sub-adults travelled more in the mating season while females showed no seasonal variation for their daily distance coverage. Red pandas were relatively more active during dawn and morning than the rest of the day, and they exhibited seasonal variation in distance coverage on the diel cycle. Both males and females appeared to be more active in the cub-rearing season, yet males were more active in the dawn in the birthing season. Two sub-adult females dispersed an average of 21 km starting their dispersal with the onset of the new moon following the winter solstice. The single subadult male did not disperse. Red pandas avoided roads, small-habitat patches and large unsuitable areas between habitat patches. Where connected habitat with high forest cover was scarce the animals moved more directly than when habitat was abundant. Conclusions Our study indicates that this habitat specialist is vulnerable to human disturbances and habitat fragmentation. Habitat restoration through improving functional connectivity may be necessary to secure the long-term conservation of specialist species in a human-dominated landscape. Regulation of human activities should go in parallel to minimize disturbances during biologically crucial life phases. We recommend habitat zonation to limit human activities and avoid disturbances, especially livestock herding and road construction in core areas.

scholarly journals Determinants of Distribution of Large Mammals in Seti River Basin, Tanahun District of Western Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagan Nath Adhikari ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai ◽  
Tej Bahadur Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Community Forests

Forest landscape in Seti River basin of Western Nepal is not conserved within the protected area network. Wildlife habitats in Seti River basin are more vulnerable due to high anthropogenic disturbance and habitat fragmentation. Present study mainly focused to evaluate the major factors that determine the distribution of large mammals in Seti River basin by walking through 34 line transects that covered a total of 59.89 km. The distribution of large mammals was greatly affected by habitat types, human disturbances, topography and altitude. Himalayan gorals were recorded in the steep grass covered areas where as Muntjacs were found in most of the habitats and slopes. There was low occurrence of all species nearer to the settlements and roads. Besides, water sources played a vital role in distribution of wildlife, as there were more occurrences of signs of large mammals nearby water resources. In the study area, community forests played a major role in the conservation of viable population of large mammals. However, habitat fragmentation due to scattered human settlements and degradation of foraging grounds such as grasslands by succession and invasion of alien plant species added more threats to the survival of large mammals. Therefore, such situation can be improved through the protection of connecting forest patches and scientific management of forests and grasslands.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic Influences on Environmental Changes of Lake Bosten, the Largest Inland Freshwater Lake in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Liu ◽  
Long Ma ◽  
Jilili Abuduwaili
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
The 1960S

A short lacustrine sediment core (41 cm) from Lake Bosten in arid central Asia was used to investigate the environmental changes that occurred in the past ≈150 years based on the superposition of climate and anthropogenic factors. Geochemical elements, total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN), and stable isotope data (δ13Corg and δ15N) were used to identify abnormal environmental changes. The average C/N ratio in the sediments of Lake Bosten suggested that the organic matter in lake sediments was mainly from aquatic plants. The δ13Corg and δ15N in the lake sediments mainly reflect changes in the structure of the lake’s ecosystem. Before the 1960s, the primary productivity of the lake was relatively low with a relatively stable lake water environment. From the 1960s to the mid-1980s, the lake’s ecosystem was closely related to a significant decline in water levels caused by human activities and an increase in salinity. From the late 1980s to ≈2000, the aquatic plant structure of Lake Bosten did not change significantly. After 2000, the upper part of the sedimentary record suggested enhanced productivity due to urban and industrial development in the catchment area. However, sedimentary perspectives of the responses of different environmental proxies in sediments to human activities were anisochronous, and the increasing heavy metal (Pb and Cu) and P accumulations appeared in 1970, reflecting heightened human impacts. Through the comparison between the Aral Sea and Lake Bosten, it was inferred that, under the intervention of human activities, the lake experienced a completely different evolution trend. Humans, as geological agents, should protect our living environment while satisfying social development. The results will provide an important supplement to a large spatial scale study of the influences of human activities on the environment in Central Asia, which also has some significant implications for the protection of the ecological environment and the realization of sustainable development in arid regions.

Movement patterns of southern bell frogs (Litoria raniformis) in response to flooding

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skye Wassens ◽  
Robyn J. Watts ◽  
Amy Jansen ◽  
David Roshier
Keyword(s):  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Flood Frequency ◽  
Resource Utilisation ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ephemeral Habitat ◽  
Full Capacity

Within the semiarid regions of New South Wales, Australia, the endangered southern bell frog (Litoria raniformis) occupies a landscape that is characterised by unpredictable rainfall and periodic flooding. Limited knowledge of the movement and habitat-occupancy patterns of this species in response to flood events has hampered conservation efforts. We used radio-tracking to assess changes in movement patterns and habitat occupancy of L. raniformis (n = 40) over three different periods (November, January and April/May) that coincided with the flooding, full capacity and subsequent drying of waterbodies within an irrigation landscape. We assessed (1) the use of permanent and ephemeral habitats in response to flooding and drying and (2) distances moved, turning angles and dispersion of frogs during wetland flooding, full capacity and drying. Individuals remained in permanent waterbodies in November but had abandoned these areas in favour of flooded ephemeral waterbodies by January. As the ephemeral waterbodies dried, radio-tracked individuals moved back into permanent waterbodies. The movement patterns of radio-tracked individuals were significantly different in the three radio-tracking periods, but did not differ significantly between sexes. Individuals moved significantly greater distances over 24 h, in straighter lines and movements were more dispersed while they occupied ephemeral waterbodies during January than when they occupied permanent waterbodies during November and April/May. Local weather conditions did not influence movement patterns when all three tracking periods were modelled together using a single linear stepwise regression. The dynamic distribution of habitat patches over space and time, combined with changing patterns of resource utilisation and movement of L. raniformis, highlights the importance of incorporating both permanent and ephemeral habitat patches into conservation plans. Reductions in flood frequency and extent of ephemeral wetlands due to modified flooding regimes have the capacity to limit dispersal of this species, even when permanent waterbodies remain unchanged.

Seasonal Variation in Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) Movement Patterns and Space Use in Peninsular Florida at Multiple Temporal Scales

Herpetologica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javan M. Bauder ◽  
David R. Breininger ◽  
M. Rebecca Bolt ◽  
Michael L. Legare ◽  
Christopher L. Jenkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Temporal Scales ◽  
Eastern Indigo Snake

scholarly journals INTERVENSI MANUSIA TERHADAP KOMUNITAS RHIZOSFIR: REVIEW (Human Disturbance on Rhizosphere Communities: Review)

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Enny Widyati
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Earth Planet ◽  
Phosphate Solubilizers ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
Composition And Structure

AbstrakWalaupun tersembunyi di dalam tanah komunitas rhizosfir merupakan penentu kehidupan di muka bumi dan berperan penting pada pelestarian alam. Rhizosfir merupakan daerah di sekitar perakaran tanaman yang dihuni oleh berbagai mikrobia tanah yang berperan dalam menentukan pertumbuhan dan kesehatan tanaman. Struktur dan komposisi komunitas mikrobia sangat dipengaruhi oleh macam, konsentrasi dan komposisi eksudat akar. Perubahan yang terjadi pada tanaman (umumnya sangat dipengaruhi oleh aktivitas manusia) mempengaruhi komunitas rhizosfir, sebaliknya komunitas rhizosfir akan menentukan struktur tumbuhan dan fungsi ekosistem. Review ini membahas pengaruh aktivitas manusia yang mempengaruhi kualitas lingkungan terhadap komunitas mikrobia di rhizosfir, yang merupakan hasil kajian dari berbagai sumber terbaru yang dianalisis secara induktif. Aktivitas manusia yang dikaji meliputi praktek pertanian intensif, deforestasi hutan menjadi perkebunan serta perubahan iklim. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa praktek monokulturisasi telah menurunkan biodiversitas mikrobia rhizosfir, menurunkan kinerja enzim tanah dan menurunkan keragaman dan konsentrasi senyawa glukosinolat untuk melawan patogen. Pengolahan tanah, pemupukan anorganik dan penggunaan pestisida telah menurunkan biodiversitas mikrobia rhizosfir. Sebaliknya pemupukan organik tidak berpengaruh terhadap biodiversitas mikrobia tanah. Perubahan fungsi hutan menjadi kebun intensif telah merubah dominansi kelompok mikrobia serta kemampuan mikrobia sesuai fungsinya di ekosistem. Perubahan iklim berdampak pada peningkatan suhu tanah, hal ini telah mengubah komposisi mikrobia rhizosfir. Perubahan komposisi, dominansi dan kemampuan mikrobia di rhizosfir tersebut dapat merubah komposisi populasi tumbuhan di atasnya. Hal ini dapat mengubah keseimbangan dan fungsi ekosistem yang berakibat pada berubahnya kesejahteraan manusia.AbstractEven though it is hidden underground, rhizosphere communities define the life in this earth planet and has an important role on nature preservation. Rhizosphere is the zone of soil adjacent immediately to plant roots which inhabited by varies species of beneficial soil microbes for facilitating plants growth and health. Human activities are strongly influence on plant performance. Alteration on plant growth and health statues determine rhizosphere communities that will define the vegetation structures and ultimately ecosystem functions. This paper discuss the negative influences of human activities (anthropogenic factors) on the environment to the rhizosphere communities. Especially the impacts of intensive farming, deforestation and climate changes. It is sourced from current referrences in inductive analysis. One of intensive farming management is monoculture that is not only drastically depleted microbes diversity in the rhizosphere hence decresed soil enzimes activities, but also reduced glucocynolates production, a crucial compound against pathogen. Whereas, tillage, fertilizers and pesticide application significantly diminished microbe biodiversity. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, did not give crucial impacts this biodiversity. Modify forest into estate have changed domination of groups and lessened capability of phosphate solubilizers. While climate changes, that enhance soil temperature escalation, have altered rhizosphere microbes composition and structure. Replacement of composition, domination, abundance and capability of rhizosphere communities will modify composition and structure of vegetation aboveground. Eventually, will alter the ballance and functions of the ecosystem, which determine the wealth of human population in the earth.

scholarly journals Recent responses of grassland net primary productivity to climatic and anthropogenic factors in Kyrgyzstan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanwen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Grassland Degradation ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns

Net primary productivity (NPP) is an essential indicator of ecosystem function and sustainability and plays a vital role in the carbon cycle, especially in arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems. Quantifying trends in NPP and identifying the contributing factors are important for understanding the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on grassland degradation. We quantified spatial and temporal patterns in potential NPP (NPPP) and actual NPP (NPPA) in Kyrgyzstan from 2000 to 2014 based on the Zhou Guangsheng model and MOD17A3 NPP data, respectively. By calculating the difference between NPPP and NPPA, we inferred human-induced NPP (NPPH) and thereby characterised changes in grassland NPP attributable to anthropogenic activities. We found that over the past two decades, both climatic variation and anthropogenic activities have significantly affected Kyrgyzstan’s grasslands. Grassland NPP decreased overall but patterns varied between provinces. Climate change, in particular changes in precipitation was the dominant factor driving grassland degradation in the north but human pressures also contributed. In the south however, human activities were associated with extensive areas of grassland recovery. The results provide important contextual understanding for supporting policy for grassland maintenance and restoration under climate change and intensifying human pressures.

scholarly journals Possibility of use Artemisia austriaca Jacq. as an indicator of environmental pollution by certain heavy metals

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-39
Author(s):  
Yulia M. Kanibolotskaya
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
State Of The Environment

Due to the increasing negative impact of anthropogenic factors on the state of the environment in man-made regions, the possibility of using Artemisia austriaса Jacq. as an indicator of contamination of industrial areas by some heavy metals and transformation of plant communities under the influence of human activities is being considered. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the content of heavy metals (Ti, Mn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sr); in plant metals (A. austriaса) and soil samples selected in the suburbs of Pavlodar and Aksu (Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan) is analyzed at different distances from existing industrial enterprises. Geobotanic studies have also been carried out (using classical methods). A. austriaca, being a digressive-active species, under human-induced conditions often becomes a dominant or subdominant in plant communities (in regions where it has historically been represented in little abundance). Therefore, its capacity to accumulate some heavy metals (according to our research results – Zn and Cr) can be used (taking into account the distance from the source of emissions, age of plants, features of nanorelief and weather conditions) to determine the presence of contamination of industrial (or adjacent) areas, especially in areas of operation of metallurgical enterprises.

scholarly journals Irrigation, damming, and streamflow fluctuations of the Yellow River

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 1133-1150
Author(s):  
Zun Yin ◽  
Catherine Ottlé ◽  
Philippe Ciais ◽  
Feng Zhou ◽  
Xuhui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Land Surface Model ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
The Yellow River ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Monthly Streamflow ◽  
Dam Operation

Abstract. The streamflow of the Yellow River (YR) is strongly affected by human activities like irrigation and dam operation. Many attribution studies have focused on the long-term trends of streamflows, yet the contributions of these anthropogenic factors to streamflow fluctuations have not been well quantified with fully mechanistic models. This study aims to (1) demonstrate whether the mechanistic global land surface model ORCHIDEE (ORganizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic EcosystEms) is able to simulate the streamflows of this complex rivers with human activities using a generic parameterization for human activities and (2) preliminarily quantify the roles of irrigation and dam operation in monthly streamflow fluctuations of the YR from 1982 to 2014 with a newly developed irrigation module and an offline dam operation model. Validations with observed streamflows near the outlet of the YR demonstrated that model performances improved notably with incrementally considering irrigation (mean square error (MSE) decreased by 56.9 %) and dam operation (MSE decreased by another 30.5 %). Irrigation withdrawals were found to substantially reduce the river streamflows by approximately 242.8±27.8×108 m3 yr−1 in line with independent census data (231.4±31.6×108 m3 yr−1). Dam operation does not change the mean streamflows in our model, but it impacts streamflow seasonality, more than the seasonal change of precipitation. By only considering generic operation schemes, our dam model is able to reproduce the water storage changes of the two large reservoirs, LongYangXia and LiuJiaXia (correlation coefficient of ∼ 0.9). Moreover, other commonly neglected factors, such as the large operation contribution from multiple medium/small reservoirs, the dominance of large irrigation districts for streamflows (e.g., the Hetao Plateau), and special management policies during extreme years, are highlighted in this study. Related processes should be integrated into models to better project future YR water resources under climate change and optimize adaption strategies.

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