Land use change and its corresponding ecological responses:a review

This paper reviews the research on land use change and its corresponding ecological responses. Patterns of land use changes in spatio-temporal level are produced by the interaction of biophysical and socio-economic processes. Nowadays, the studies derived from different socioeconomic conditions and scales show that at short-term scale, human activities, rather than natural forces, have become a major force in shaping the environment, while biophysical factors control the trends and processes of land use change under the macro environmental background. Providing a scientific understanding of the process of land use change, the impacts of different land use decisions, and the ways that decisions are affected by a changing environment and increasing ecological variability are the priority areas for research： （1） explanation of scale dependency of drivers of land use change; （2） quantification of driving factors of land use change; （3） incorporation of biophysical feedbacks in land use change models： and （4） underlying processes and mechanisms of ecological impacts of land use change.

An environmental flow assessment method based on the relationships between flow and ecological response: A case study of the Three Gorges Reservoir and its downstream reach

The current environmental flow assessment of Chinese rivers is thought to have three shortcomings: The first is that environmental flow requirements of reservoirs in dammed rivers are usually not explicitly considered; the second is that enough attentions have not been paid to the inherent links between flow regime and ecological processes; the third is that most studies focus on the variable range of merely one hydrological element such as discharge needed by riverine ecosystems. Here, first proposed is a holistic method for environmental flow assessment, the flow-ecological response relationship method that is suitable for large rivers with relatively abundant ecological data. Based on the conceptual models and quantitative relationships between flow and ecological response, this method comprehensively considers the ecological conservation requirements of both reservoir and its downstream reach. Then, it is applied to assessing the environmental flows of the Three Gorges Reservoir and its downstream reach by the following steps: 1) Construction of conceptual models of flow-ecological response; 2) identification of ecological targets of environmental flows and their key periods; 3) development of the quantitative relationships between hydrological indicators and ecological indictors; 4) preliminary assessment of environmental flow according to the tradeoff between ecological targets and water demands of human. The environmental flow hydrographs obtained have explicit ecological conservation targets, time schedule of achieving each target, and characteristics of multiple hydrological elements such as flow, water level, frequency, timing, duration and rate of change. The case study has tested the reasonability and feasibility of this method, and the results of this study are expected to provide technical support and decision reference for improving the operation of the Three Gorges-Gezhouba cascade reservoirs.

Composition of fish species in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and their responses to changes in the ecological environment

Based on trawl surveys in the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea during the 2010 Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition, fish biodiversity characteristics, such as fish composition, dominant species, biodiversity, and faunal characteristics were conducted. We also discussed the responses of fishes to the quick changes in Arctic climate. The results showed that a total of 41 species in 14 families were recorded in these waters. The dominant species were Hippoglossoides robustus, Boreogadus saida, Myoxocephalus scorpius, Lumpenus fabricii, and Artediellus scaber. There were 35 coldwater species, accounting for 85.37%, and six cold temperate species, occupying 14.63%. The habitat types of fish could be grouped as follows： 35 species of demersal fishes, five benthopelagic fishes, and one pelagic fish. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index （H＇） （range between 0 and 2.18, 1.21 on average） was not high, and descended from south to north. Climate change has caused some fishes to shift along their latitudinal and longitudinal distribution around the Arctic and Subarctic areas, and this could lead to the decline of Arctic fishery resources.

Runoff change in the Yellow River Basin of China from 1960 to 2020 and its driving factors

Analysing runoff changes and how these are affected by climate change and human activities is deemed crucial to elucidate the ecological and hydrological response mechanisms of rivers.The Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration and the Range of Variability Approach(IHA-RVA)method,as well as the ecological indicator method,were employed to quantitatively assess the degree of hydrologic change and ecological response processes in the Yellow River Basin from 1960 to 2020.Using Budyko's water heat coupling balance theory,the relative contributions of various driving factors(such as precipitation,potential evapotranspiration,and underlying surface)to runoff changes in the Yellow River Basin were quantitatively evaluated.The results show that the annual average runoff and precipitation in the Yellow River Basin had a downwards trend,whereas the potential evapotranspiration exhibited an upwards trend from 1960 to 2020.In approximately 1985,it was reported that the hydrological regime of the main stream underwent an abrupt change.The degree of hydrological change was observed to gradually increase from upstream to downstream,with a range of 34.00%-54.00%,all of which are moderate changes.However,significant differences have been noted among different ecological indicators,with a fluctuation index of 90.00%at the outlet of downstream hydrological stations,reaching a high level of change.After the mutation,the biodiversity index of flow in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River was generally lower than that in the base period.The research results also indicate that the driving factor for runoff changes in the upper reach of the Yellow River Basin is mainly precipitation,with a contribution rate of 39.31%-54.70%.Moreover,the driving factor for runoff changes in the middle and lower reaches is mainly human activities,having a contribution rate of 63.70%-84.37%.These results can serve as a basis to strengthen the protection and restoration efforts in the Yellow River Basin and further promote the rational development and use of water resources in the Yellow River.

Changes in groundwater levels and the response of natural vegetation to transfer of water to the lower reaches of the Tarim River

Restoration and reconstruction of the degraded Tarim River ecosystem is an important challenge. A goal of an ecological water conveyance project is to protect and restore the natural vegetation in the lower reaches of Tadm River by transferring water from Bosten Lake, through the river channel, to the lower reaches. This study describes the changes in groundwater depth during the water transfer and the respondence of riparian vegetation to alterations in groundwater levels. The results indicate that groundwater depth along the Tarim River channel has a significant spatial-temporal component. Groundwater levels closest to the river channel show the most immediate and pronounced changes as a response to water transfer while those further away respond more slowly, although the observed change appears to be longer in duration. With a rise in the groundwater level, natural vegetation responded with higher growth rates, biomass and biodiversity. These favorable changes show that it is feasible to protect and restore the degraded natural vegetation by raising the groundwater depth. Plant communities are likely to reflect the hysteresis phenomenon, requiting higher water levels to initiate and stimulate desired growth than what may be needed to maintain the plant community. Because different species have different ecologies, including different root depths and densities and water needs, their response to increasing water availability will be spatially and temporally heterogenous. The response of vegetation is also influenced by microtopography and watering style. This paper discusses strategies for the protection and restoration of the degraded vegetation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River and provides information to complement ongoing theoretical research into ecological restoration in add or semi-arid ecosystems.

Application of an integrated methodology for eutrophication assessment:a case study in the Bohai Sea

An integrated methodology for eutrophication assessment,which integrates both water quality indicators(causative factors) and ecological response indicators(effect factors),is described.It is then applied to rank the eutrophication status of the years 2007 and 2008 in the southwest Bohai Sea.The assessment model identified that north Bohai Bay and west Laizhou Bay were the two areas with the most serious eutrophication problems in the southwest Bohai Sea.In addition,compared to that in the west Laizhou Bay,the eutrophication conditions in the north Bohai Bay was more serious in both years.Eutrophication problems such as harmful algal blooms(HABs) and low dissolved oxygen(DO) events in north Bohai Bay were frequent.The integrated method outmatched the currently used Chinese nutrient index method by definitely identifying areas with the most serious eutrophication problems,while the nutrient index method gave ambiguous results between the two years.Inclusion of both causative factors and effect factors,combining concentration,spatial coverage and frequency of indicators,as well as use of multi-season monitoring datasets in the methodology result in a more accurate,representative and useful assessment.

A 2200-year Record of Seabird Population on Ganquan Island,South China Sea

Geochemical characteristics of a 107 cm long sediment profile,collected from Ganquan Island,South China Sea,were analyzed.Based on concentrations of bio-elements（Cu,Zn,Cd,Ba,As, Se,P）,^（210）Pb and AMS^（14）C dating,we reconstructed seabird population of Ganquan Island over the past 2200 years.Seabirds inhabited this island more than 2200 years ago,and their population displayed remarkable fluctuations with two peaks around 2100-1850 yr BP and 900-300 yr BP,respectively.The seabird population change profile on Ganquan Island is similar to that on Dongdao Island over the past 1800 years.We examined the relationship between the seabird population and climate,and found it quite complicated.The seabird population did not reach the maximum during the Medical Warm Period（MWP）with relatively high average temperature;however,it remained near the peak value for about 600 years during the climatic transition period and the Little Ice Age（LIA）,indicating that a relatively cool climate is favorable for seabirds on Ganquan Island.

Niche Characteristics of Herbaceous Plants under Pinus tabuliformis Plantation Forest in Feldspathic Sandstone Area

[Objectives] To explore the niche characteristics of herbaceous plants under Pinus tabuliformis plantation forest in the feldspathic sandstone area,and to provide basic data for maintaining biodiversity and community stability in the local P.tabuliformis plantation forest.[Methods] The types,quantity,average plant height,and coverage of various herbaceous plants were recorded by field survey in a well-growing P.tabulaeformis forest area.Based on the survey data,Shannon and Levins niche breadth index,Levins niche overlap index and ecological response were used to analyze the niche characteristics of herbaceous plants under P.tabulaeformis plantation forest.[Results]( i) There were 35 species of herbaceous plants in the P.tabulaeformis plantation forest in the feldspathic sandstone area.Among them,Stipa bungeiensis had the largest niche breadth indexes with better performance.Because of its strong adaptability,its community was in an obviously advantageous position.( ii) The overall niche width and niche overlap index were generally not high,and understory herb species showed differentiation.( iii) Among the understory herbaceous species,37.15% of the species were developed species,and 62.86% of the species were declining species.Among the 14 dominant species,11 were developmental species.The species with largest the resource occupancy were S.bungeiensis( 0.188 5),Heteropappus altaicus( 0.053 1),and Cleistogenes squarrosa( 0.037 9).[Conclusions] Competition among under herbaceous plants in P.tabulaeformis plantation forest in the feldspathic sandstone area was weak,and the community species had poor utilization of resources and environment.Most of the dominant herbaceous species were in the developing stage,indicating that the P.tabulaeformis plantation community tends to be relatively stable at the current stage.

Reframing the payments for ecosystem services framework in a coupled human and natural systems context:strengthening the integration between ecological and human dimensions

Introduction:As challenges to biodiversity mount,land-use policies have been implemented to balance human needs and the integrity of ecological systems.One such program,Payments for Ecosystem Services(PES),incentivizes resource users to protect ecosystem services and has been implemented around the world to reduce soil erosion,create or improve wildlife habitats,and improve water quality and other environmental goals.The PES policy,at its core,is a concept that aims to capture the reciprocal relationships between human systems and ecological function and process.As such,PES epistemologically embodies a coupled human and natural systems approach.Outcomes:Yet,despite this conceptual alignment,the on-the-ground implementation or evaluation of PES typically does not adopt this coupled approach and PES programs have little integration between socioeconomic,sociocultural,human demographic,and ecological elements.To advance the evolution of PES,we consider what and how socioeconomic and ecological factors have been incorporated into PES program implementation and evaluation.We also present a conceptual model to articulate how PES research can capture the reciprocal relationships among socioeconomics,demography,and ecology and discuss the quantitative modeling approaches that can support this conceptual development,i.e.,structural equation and agent-based modeling,and latent trajectory models.Conclusions:By strengthening the conceptual framework for PES within a coupled human and natural systems approach and identifyinganalytical approaches that can be used to quantify and characterize these complex cross-disciplinary relationships,we aim to support the evolution and advancement of PES,in service of more meaningful and positive outcomes for human well-being and ecological sustainability.

Physiological responses of four herbaceous plants to aluminum stress in South China

Different plants have physiological responses under Al stress,but there is no systematic study to examine physiological responses of herbaceous plants under Al stress.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Al on physiological characteristics of four herbaceous plants,which distributed in red soil area in South China,and to analyze the differences in physiological responses to Al stress between the four herbaceous plants.Four herbaceous plants(Pharbitis nil,Cassia occidentlis,Echinochloa colonum and Aeschynomene indica)were used,and the seed germi-nation percentage,the contents of chlorophyll,proline,and malondialdehyde(MDA),membrane permeability(MP),soluble sugar,and activities of peroxides(POD)and cata-lase(CAT)in leaves under five Al^(3+)treatments(0,80,400,2000,and 10000 mg/L)were assayed with the sand culture method.The results showed remarkable effects of Al^(3+)on physiological characteristics of these four herbaceous plants.The seeds of all the four species could not germinate at 10000 mg/L,and the growth of all plants were retarded under the 2000 mg/L Al^(3+)treatment.Compared with the control,2000 mg/L Al^(3+)significantly(P<0.05)reduced the con-tents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll a+b,and increased the contents of MDA and MP.The content of proline in-creased very significantly(P<0.01)and activities of POD and CAT were depressed.The contents of MDA and MP in leaves of P.nil and A.indica decreased,and the activities of POD and CAT in leaves of the two plants increased under 80 mg/L and 400 mg/L.However,the changes in C.occidentlis leaves were opposite to those of the above two plants.The changes in leaves of E.colonum were similar to those of P.nil and A.indica at 80 mg/L,but were opposite to those at 400 mg/L Al^(3+).It is suggested that plants with higher ac-tivities of POD and CAT,more contents of chlorophyll and proline,and lower contents of MDA and MP consequently improve the tolerance to Al stress under low and middle Al treatments.

Part on Ecological and Environmental Responsibility of China's Environmental Code: Comparative Law Referencing and Compilation Philosophy

This paper discusses two questions:Is a specific part on ecological and environmental responsibility a common practice and trend in foreign environmental codes?How are its compiling principles and scope of work determined,and would administrative legal responsibility be arranged elsewhere than in this part?

Formation and functions of arbuscular mycorrhizae in coastal wetland ecosystems:A review

Context:Coastal wetlands are ecotones interspaced by land and ocean and are among the most sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems worldwide.They are unique in hydrological,edaphic,atmospheric,and biological characteristics,and play important roles in maintaining the ecological security and ecosystem services of coastal zones.Arbuscular mycorrhizae(AM)are symbiont composed of plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF),which are soilborne microorganisms widely distributed in various habitats.Many previous studies on mycorrhiza have focused on terrestrial ecosystems while few on wetlands,especially coastal wetlands.Method:We systematically reviewed previous relevant studies to explore the formation and functions of AM in coastal wetland ecosystems as well as the environmental factors that affect them.Habitat characteristics,morphological types,and species diversity of AMF in the coastal wetlands were summarized.Both responses of AMF to environmental factors during AM formation and the functions of AM in coastal wetlands were discussed.Result:AMF are worldwide distributed in coastal wetland and are mainly limited by flooding,hypoxia,soil pH,salinity and the host plants identification.AMF play important roles in coastal wetlands,involving promoting nutrient uptake of host plants,improving the characteristics of rhizospheric soil,and enhancing plant resistance to salt and flooding stress.Conclusion:More comprehensive studies of AMF in vitro in coastal wetlands would be helpful for the conservation and restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems in the changing world.