Analysis of the Structure and Ecological Function of an Extreme Landscape in a Tropical Region of West Java, Indonesia

An extreme landscape is a spatially heterogeneous area with unusual topography that is prone to natural disasters but still exhibits interrelated structures and functions. One of the important functions of an extreme landscape is its ecological function. This study aimed to determine the structure and reveal the ecological functions of an extreme landscape in a tropical region of West Java, with special reference to Rongga Sub-district. The method used was a combination of remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems, which were required to process, analyze, and interpret Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS data. The landscape structure was quantified by landscape metrics, after which an analysis of ecological functions was carried out based on the constituent elements of the landscape. The results showed that the landscape structure of Rongga Sub-district consists of various elements of agroforestry land, open fields, settlements, shrubs, plantations, and rainfed and irrigated rice fields. Additionally, secondary forest land acted as a landscape matrix where rivers crossed as natural corridors. The amount of each element varied; agroforestry land had the highest value, indicating that this element showed a high degree of human intervention. Each patch was adjacent to other patch types, and the landscape diversity was quite high. The extreme topography of Rongga Sub-district supports the landscape connectivity and consequently the presence of wild animals in this area. Therefore, Rongga Sub-district has an essential ecological function as a refuge for protected animals living in non-conservation areas.

Selected Aspects of Carbon Stock Assessment in Aboveground Biomass

Given the significance of national carbon inventories, the importance of large-scale estimates of carbon stocks is increasing. Accurate biomass estimates are essential for tracking changes in the carbon stock through repeated assessment of carbon stock, widely used for both vegetation and soil, to estimate carbon sequestration. Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the variability of several aspects of the carbon stock value when the input matrix was (1) expressed either as a vector or as a raster; (2) expressed as in local (1:10,000) or regional (1:100,000) scale data; and (3) rasterized with different pixel sizes of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 m. Method: The look-up table method, where expert carbon content values are attached to the mapped landscape matrix. Results: Different formats of input matrix did not show fundamental differences with exceptions of the biggest raster of size 1000 m for the local level. At the regional level, no differences were notable. Conclusions: The results contribute to the specification of best practices for the evaluation of carbon storage as a mitigation measure, as well as the implementation of national carbon inventories.

A Landscape Matrix Proposal For Haliç (Golden Horn) Coastal Zone

The impacts of urbanization on landscapes andecosystems have been increasing globally. Howurban landscape is shaped, in other wordsdesigned, is a fundamental human activity interms of urban sustainability. Landscape is oftendealed with mostly by aesthetic concerns whichpresents sustainable/ecological/naturalqualities only at formal level, is limited bylegislative framework, hardly responds tohuman needs and behavioral patterns and lacksa holistic approach within the Turkish spatialdesign practice. This study aims to develop alandscape matrix in the example of Istanbul(Golden Horn) region as an open spaceoperation model within the existing urbantexture, which the built environment has beenrepresented with different layers of historicaldevelopments. The matrix presented in thisstudy presents a design process on the basis ofurban ecology as well as the physical and socialrelations of the study area located in the GoldenHorn, one of the cultural identity values ofIstanbul, formed by urban layers belonging todifferent historical periods. It is thought that theconstruction of the coastal and hinterlandrelationship through the open space system bothcontributes to the dissolution of the urbantexture towards the coastal zone andstrengthens the character of the waterfront.

The ecological importance of moss ground cover in dry shrubland restoration within an irrigated agricultural landscape matrix

1. Kānuka (Kunzea serotina, Myrtaceae) dryland shrubland communities of the lowland plains of South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) New Zealand (Aoteoroa) contain a ground cover largely consisting of mosses, predominantly Hypnum cupressiforme. There has been no previous study of the role of mosses in this threatened habitat which is currently being restored within a contemporary irrigated and intensively-farmed landscape that may be incompatible with this component of the ecosystem. 2. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of moss ground cover on hydrology, nitrogen (N) availability and vascular plant interactions, and in relation to nutrient spillover from adjacent farmland. Experimental work was a combination of glasshouse experiments and field-based studies. 3. Extremes of soil temperature and moisture were found to be mediated by the moss carpet, which also influenced N speciation; available N declined with moss depth. The moss layer decreased the amount of germination and establishment of vascular plants but, in some cases, enhanced their growth. Spillover of mineral nitrogen and phosphate from farmland enhanced invasion of exotic grasses which may have benefited from conditions provided by the moss carpet. 4. Synthesis: We found the moss layer to be crucial to ecosystem functioning in these dry habitats with low nutrient substrate. However, when the moss layer is accompanied by nutrient spillover it has the potential to increase exotic weed encroachment. Our results emphasise the importance of non-vascular plant inclusion in restoration schemes but also highlights the importance of mitigating for nutrient spillover.

Patterns and Drivers of Rodent Abundance across a South African Multi-Use Landscape

South Africa’s decentralized approach to conservation entails that wildlife outside formally protected areas inhabit complex multi-use landscapes, where private wildlife business (ecotourism and/or hunting) co-exist in a human-dominated landscape matrix. Under decentralized conservation, wildlife is perceived to benefit from increased amount of available habitat, however it is crucial to understand how distinct management priorities and associated landscape modifications impact noncharismatic taxa, such as small mammals. We conducted extensive ink-tracking-tunnel surveys to estimate heterogeneity in rodent distribution and investigate the effect of different environmental factors on abundance patterns of two size-based rodent groups (small- and medium-sized species), across three adjacent management contexts in NE KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a private ecotourism game reserve, mixed farms and traditional communal areas (consisting of small clusters of houses interspersed with grazing areas and seminatural vegetation). Our hypotheses were formulated regarding the (1) area typology, (2) vegetation structure, (3) ungulate pressure and (4) human disturbance. Using a boosted-regression-tree approach, we found considerable differences between rodent groups’ abundance and distribution, and the underlying environmental factors. The mean relative abundance of medium-sized species did not differ across the three management contexts, but small species mean relative abundance was higher in the game reserves, confirming an influence of the area typology on their abundance. Variation in rodent relative abundance was negatively correlated with human disturbance and ungulate presence. Rodent abundance seems to be influenced by environmental gradients that are directly linked to varying management priorities across land uses, meaning that these communities might not benefit uniformly by the increased amount of habitat promoted by the commercial wildlife industry.

Illicit Alcohol: Public Health Risk of Methanol Poisoning and Policy Mitigation Strategies

Illicit (unrecorded) alcohol is a critical global public health issue because it is produced without regulatory and market oversight with increased risk of safety, quality and adulteration issues. Undertaking iterative research to draw together academic, contemporary and historic evidence, this paper reviews one specific toxicological issue, methanol, in order to identify the policy mitigation strategies of interest. A typology of illicit alcohol products, including legal products, illegal products and surrogate products, is created. A policy landscape matrix is produced that synthesizes the drivers of illicit alcohol production, distribution, sale and consumption, policy measures and activity related signals in order to inform policy development. The matrix illustrates the interaction between capabilities, motivations and opportunities and factors such as access, culture, community norms and behavior, economic drivers and knowledge and information and gives insight into mitigation strategies against illicit alcohol sale and consumption, which may prove of value for policymakers in various parts of the world.

Novel Quantitative Method for Assessing Driving Forces of Landscape Succession: Case Study From Yancheng Coast, China

Variations in landscape patterns can provide key information on the effects human activity has on landscapes, and consequently, have received increased attention in recent years. This paper mainly deals with the spatio-temporal variation and driving force of the landscape pattern on the Yancheng coast using remote sensing and GIS. The results indicate the following: (1) The landscape was mostly farmland from 1984 to 2008, not wetlands. The landscape matrix changed from a situation in which the natural landscape was equal to the artificial landscape in 1984, while the latter was dominant between 1990 and 2008. The area of natural landscape decreased considerably—the proportion of natural landscapes was 51.07% in 1984, while it decreased to 28.82% in 2008. Artificial landscapes increased significantly—the majority of the increased artificial landscapes were farmland and aquaculture ponds. (2) The changes in these landscapes showed a trend, changing from natural landscapes to artificial landscapes. Salinity is the decisive factor of this fixed route o the landscape successions of the coast. (3) Although Yancheng wetland nature reserve was established in 1984 and was designated as a National Nature Reserve in 1992, anthropogenic activities on the Yancheng coast continue apace, and the trend of natural landscape loss has not changed. (4) According to the analysis of the landscape transition rate of the Yancheng coast during each phase, we concluded that the main driving force of coastal landscape succession was anthropogenic activities. Our method provides a novel quantitative method to assess the driving forces behind landscape successions.

Meta-ecosystem dynamics drive the spatial distribution of functional groups in river networks

Spatial flow of material and resources is a central process structuring ecological communities. The meta-ecosystem concept provides a theoretical framework to study the interplay between local and regional flows of resources and their implications for ecosystem dynamics and functioning. Yet, meta-ecosystem theory has been applied to highly simplified systems, and the effects of meta-ecosystem dynamics in real-world landscapes, characterized by specific spatial structures, remain largely unexplored. Here, we develop a spatially explicit meta-ecosystem model for dendritic river networks based on a highly realistic landscape matrix. By formalizing a seminal concept in freshwater ecology, we show that the spatial distributions and regional biomass of major functional groups observed in stream communities are determined by specific rates of resource flows. Overall, high rates of resource flow have a negative effect on the regional biomass of all the functional groups studied and can lead to extinctions at the meta-ecosystem scale.

Bat responses to changes in forest composition and prey abundance depend on landscape matrix and stand structure

Despite the key importance of the landscape matrix for bats, we still not fully understand how the effect of forest composition interacts at combined stand and landscape scales to shape bat communities. In addition, we lack detailed knowledge on the effects of local habitat structure on bat-prey relationships in forested landscapes. We tested the assumptions that (i) forest composition has interacting effects on bats between stand and landscape scales; and (ii) stand structure mediates prey abundance effects on bat activity. Our results indicated that in conifer-dominated landscapes (> 80% of coniferous forests) bat activity was higher in stands with a higher proportion of deciduous trees while bats were less active in stands with a higher proportion of deciduous trees in mixed forest landscapes (~ 50% of deciduous forests). Moth abundance was selected in the best models for six among nine bat species. The positive effect of moth abundance on Barbastella barbastellus was mediated by vegetation clutter, with dense understory cover likely reducing prey accessibility. Altogether, our findings deepen our understanding of the ecological processes affecting bats in forest landscapes and strengthen the need to consider both landscape context and trophic linkage when assessing the effects of stand-scale compositional and structural attributes on bats.