Partition among niche and neutral explanations for metacommunity patterns of fish from Cerrado streams

The Species-Sorting concept, one of the models developed to explain patterns in metacommunity structure, suggests that relationships between biological communities and environmental conditions is the basic means of the species selection processes. A second concept is Neutral Theory, and the idea of neutral dynamics underpinning metacommunity structure, cannot be overlooked. The third mechanism is the Mass-Effect concept, that focuses on the interaction between environmental condition and neutral effects. In the present study, we partitioned fish communities in streams between niche and neutral theory concepts, identifying the best representation of metacommunity structure, and assessed if linear and hydrographic distance were equivalent in the representation of neutral processes. The result points to the importance of species sorting mechanisms in structuring fish communities with neutral processes best represented by the linear distances. These results are important for the fish fauna conservation leading to three considerations: (i) the variation of the landscape and habitat is important for the stream fish, (ii) the natural barriers are an important landscape component to be considered, and (iii) the artificial barriers (dams and impoundments) need to be planned taking in account the catchment basin as the landscape unit.

Characterization of soils cultivated with cassava under different managements

ABSTRACT Although cassava is an undemanding crop in terms of soil chemical fertility, the scarcity of nutrients affects crop productivity, and it is common to cultivate it in soils with low natural fertility, as occurs in Coastal Tablelands. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical attributes of soils cultivated with cassava under different managements. The study was carried out in the municipality of São Felipe, located in the landscape unit of Coastal Tablelands, Bahia state, Brazil. Fifteen properties were selected to evaluate the characteristics of soils cultivated with cassava under different types of management. Soil sampling was carried out during the months of October and November 2018, a dry period in the region. The medium-textured soil was predominant in the different areas of management of cassava cultivation. Most areas showed pH below the recommended range for cassava (5.5 to 6.5), base saturation below 50% and low phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents, according to the crop’s nutritional needs. The first two principal components explained 84.65% of the total variance. Thus, it was possible to verify that the diversity of management of cassava production areas results in high or very high variability of soil chemical attributes. The attributes pH, P, Al, H + Al, V, CEC and OM are the most representative in the distinction of soils of the cassava cultivation areas evaluated.

Landscape management strategy of pekarangan to increase community immunity during the covid-19 pandemic in Java Indonesia – inductive research

The research results in the last two decades show the important role of pekarangan as a micro-scale landscape unit in providing space for growing various types of plants, i.e., multi-layers from the grasses to the trees, livestock, and fish. Pekarangan is defined with distinctive spatial patterns and elements as a representation of the harmonious relationship between the owner and the ecological character. Perceptions and preferences based on different social, cultural, and environmental factors shape the pekarangan pattern and function to become more diverse as a form of community local wisdom. The important role of pekarangan needs to be deeper elaborated in efforts to increase community immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pekarangan has great potential to be developed as a mitigation and rehabilitation space by providing a variety of medicinal plants as well as outdoor activity spaces with a healthy environment quality. This research was designed for three years with three main approaches: (1) inductive method, which focuses on building theory from practices that have been known and carried out for generations, (2) implementation as an effort to actualize local knowledge, (3) multiplicative for the benefit of the important value of pekarangan. Studies start from basic research of pekarangan; research on the development of spatial planning and elements forming pekarangan; research on nutritional content contributed from pekarangan products. Data were obtained through pekarangan mapping, structured questionnaires at four selected locations in Cisadane, Citarum, Kali Progo, and Brantas Watersheds. The results of this research are expected to be implemented in public spaces on a meso scale and macro scales.

Landscape planning for geodiversity conservation of Ciletuh geo area in Ciletuh Geopark using bioregional approach

Indonesia has 15 National Geoparks, and four of them have been recognized by UNESCO as the Global Geopark Network (GGN). The Ciletuh Geopark is one of the geo-parks in Indonesia that UNESCO has recognized. With the status of GGN, the management of the Ciletuh Geopark area must be directed according to the area development criteria set by UNESCO. The form of designated area development is related to efforts to increase cooperation, increase local communities’ welfare, develop infrastructure, and establish sustainable geopark areas. This Area’s result must pay attention to the Area’s sensitivity with geological uniqueness so as not to damage the geological diversity (geodiversity) in it. Therefore it is necessary to arrange the area with the direction of area development under the stipulations outlined. This research aims to develop a landscape plan to conserve the Ciletuh Geo Area geodiversity as part of Ciletuh Geopark using a bioregion approach. This process starts from inventory, literature study to analysis and synthesis, and planning. The research is carried out with a bioregion approach to determine the bioregion unit, landscape unit, and place the unit. Biophysical and geological characteristics are used in the preparation of bioregion classes. The synthesis was carried out by compiling the place units with significance values at 18 geological sites, making each place unit’s intrinsic value. The landscape plan prepared by referring to the rules of conservation of nature reserves can be considered in the development and management of the Ciletuh Geo Area in particular and Ciletuh Geopark area in general.

Planning Peri-Urban Open Spaces: Methods and Tools for Interpretation and Classification

Today, planning an urban–rural interface requires redefining the planner’s role and toolbox. Global challenges such as food security, climate change and population growth have become urgent issues to be addressed, especially for the implications in land use management. Urban–rural linkages, socio-economic interactions and ecological connectivity are the main issues on which the new urban agenda and sustainable development goals focus. Thus, urban and peri-urban agriculture (professional and not professional) in urban–rural interfaces has a crucial role in the maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality, urban green spaces and ecosystem services. The research presented in this article adopts a holistic approach, with a special focus on open spaces, in order to understand the complexity of peri-urban landscapes and to identify homogeneous units. It also defines map-based indices to characterize peri-urban landscape types and identify main functions to maintain and enhance. The method was applied to the peri-urban area of Turin (Italy), and maps of spatial and functional classification at the landscape unit level were generated, as well as a map of critical areas to improve. Despite some minor limitations, the method and tools proposed appear to have a range of applications in the context of global challenges and from a landscape perspective.

Seasonal color matching method of ornamental plants in urban landscape construction

Traditional seasonal color matching methods of ornamental plants only study the color attributes of plants, but not through qualitative and quantitative research on seasonal color matching of plants, resulting in imperfect matching methods. Five landscape units were selected from five representative streets in Harbin, namely, Central Avenue, Gogoli, Zhongshan Road, Xinyang Road, and Huanghe Road. Seasonal periods of Harbin from 2014 to 2018 were defined using the difference in seasonal time division and duration characteristics by the method of climate temperature division, and the beginning time of each season in 2019 was deduced. Meanwhile, according to the NCS color value data of each species in different seasons and the length of each season, the seasonal color matching results of each landscape unit case were established. The results of seasonal color matching of each landscape unit case were evaluated by weighted method. The results showed that the richer the NCS color value of plant species ornamental traits in plant landscape, the more the color seasonal encounter of ornamental traits and the longer the duration, the better the matching results of plant seasonal color. Based on the research results, the NCS color value and its ornamental period of ornamental characters of plant species, the color matching scheme of landscape color, and the selection of plant species were proposed.

EXPERIENCE IN DETAILED LANDSCAPE MAPPING OF THE BLACK SEA ABRASION COAST AT THE NORTH-WESTERN CAUCASUS

The landscape units of the Black Sea coast of the North-Western Caucasus have complex and dynamic structures. Mapping of such systems is possible only on a large scale, by superimposing remote sensing data on field research materials. The detailed landscape maps of the marine abrasive coasts of this region were produced for the first time. The landscape structure includes identified hierarchic units: stows, substows, narrow stretched belts, and land facies. A substow was selected as the main unit of analysis for the coastal mapping. The landscape unit map exposes the activity of slope processes and the potential danger areas in the coastal zone.