Effect of mangrove restoration on crab burrow density in Luoyangjiang Estuary,China

Background： Mangrove restoration seeks to restore or rebuild degraded mangrove systems. The methods of mangrove restoration include ecological projects and restoration-oriented technologies, the latter of which are designed to restore the structure, processes as well as related physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wetlands and to ensure the provision of ecosystem services. As important components of mangrove ecosystem, benthic organisms and crabs play a key role in nutrient cycling. In addition, mangrove restoration, such as vegetation restoration measures, can lead to changes in the benthic faunal communities. This study investigates whether the presence of different mangrove species, age and canopy cover of mangrove communities affect the density of crab burrows. Methods： The Luoyangjiang Estuary, in the southeast of Fujian Province, was selected as our research area. A survey, covering 14 sites, was conducted to investigate the impacts of mangrove restoration on the density of crab burrows in four rehabilitated forests with different stand ages and canopy. Results： It was found that differences in vegetation types had a large impact on crab density and that the density of crab burrows was lower on exposed beaches （non-mangrove） than under mature Kondelio condel, Aegiceros corniculatum and Avicennio morina communities. In general, the amount of leaf litter and debris on mangrove mudfiats was greater than on the beaches as food sources for crabs. Two-factor analysis of variance （ANOVA） shows that changes in mangrove species and age since restoration had different effects on crab burrow density. The effect of canopy cover was highly significant on crab burrow density. Conclusions： The results suggest that in the process of mangrove restoration the combined effects of mangrove stand age, canopy cover and other factors should be taken into account. This study further supports the findings of the future scientific research and practice on mangrove restoration and management measures.

Migration drivers in mountain regions in the context of climate change:A case study in Shangnan County of China

Climate change has become widely accepted as a challenge that humans will face in the not-too-distant future.Mountain ecosystems and their inhabitants are among the most vulnerable to climate change.This paper seeks to explain migration drivers in specific mountain regions in the context of climate change based on Foresight's conceptual framework.A climate change sensitive field named Shangnan County in southern Shaanxi Province is chosen as the case study area to investigate local migration drivers.A series of qualitative research methods is employed in the case study including participant observation,semi-structured interviews,and focus group discussions.The evidence of survey suggests that migration decisions are not only shaped by macro factors in aspects of environmental,economics,demographic,social,politics and psychological,but also influenced by placed-related barriers and facilitating mechanisms and personal characteristics.

Soil fauna diversity at different stages of reed restoration in a lakeshore wetland at Lake Taihu,China

Introduction:Wetland soil fauna support material cycling and restoration processes in wetland ecosystems.In our study,we observed variations in wetland soil fauna on the shores of Lake Taihu,China.We examined the relationships between fauna and major environmental factors,and looked at the short-and long-term changes in reed wetlands under restoration and in the natural reed lakeshore.Outcomes:We identified 93 groups of soil fauna in different wetlands and found significant differences in the lakeshore wetlands’soil fauna assemblages,depending on the length of the restoration period.By analyzing the soil fauna community evenness,dominance,number of taxa,and diversity,we found minimal seasonal variation in the soil fauna community diversity and abundance.The abundance of soil fauna in the sites under restoration decreased with depth below the soil surface.The reed restoration was obvious in the succession of the soil fauna groups in the long-term site.Although the restoration had an overall positive long-term effect on the soil fauna communities,there were no obvious short-term changes in the number of individuals.Conclusion:The study explored various potential measures to restore soil fauna in the Lake Taihu wetland and developed a theoretical basis for restoring the lakeshore wetland ecosystem.

Distribution patterns of plant communities and their associations with environmental soil factors on the eastern shore of Lake Taihu,China

Introduction:Plant communities and soil factors might interact with each other in different temporal and spatial scales,which can influence the patterns and processes of the wetland ecosystem.To get a better understanding of the distribution of plants in wetlands and analyze their associations with environmental soil factors,the structure and types of plant communities in the eastern shore area of Lake Taihu were analyzed by two-way indicator species analysis and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA)ordination.The spatial distribution patterns of vegetation and the main factors affecting the distributions were investigated.Outcomes:Sixty-six sampling sites were selected to obtain vegetation species and soil environmental factor data.Results showed that 22 species from the 66 sites could be divided into seven communities:I:Arundo donax;II:A.donax+Phragmites australis;III:Zizania latifolia+Typha orientalis;IV:P.australis+Alternanthera philoxeroides+Polygonum hydropiper;V:P.australis;VI:P.australis+Humulus scandens;and VII:Erigeron acer+Ipomoea batatas+Rumex acetosa.Plant species and soil factors in the CCA analysis showed that I.batatas,E.acer,Chenopodium album,Polygonum lapathifolium,and Acalypha australis were mainly affected by pH,whereas Echinochloa crus-galli,Setaria viridis,and H.scandens were mainly affected by soil total phosphorus.Mentha canadensis and A.donax were mainly affected by soil conductivity,A.philoxeroides was mainly affected by soil organic matter and,Z.latifolia,Metaplexis japonica and P.hydropiper were mainly affected by available phosphorus.Conclusion:These results indicated that different plants adapted to different soil environmental factors and provided basic information on the diversity of Lake Taihu wetland vegetation.