Spatio-temporal evolution analysis of landscape pattern and habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 based on InVEST model

Habitat quality is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of ecosystem.The Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin plays an important role in the ecological protection of the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin.To comprehensively analysis the alterations of habitat quality in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin,this study utilized the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST)model to calculate the habitat quality index and analyze the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of habitat quality in the study area from 2000 to 2022,and calculated seven landscape pattern indices(number of patches,patch density,largest patch index(LPI),landscape shape index(LSI),contagion index(CONTAG),Shannon diversity index,and Shannon evenness index)to research the variation of landscape pattern in the study area.The results showed that the number of patches,patch density,LPI,LSI,Shannon diversity index,and Shannon evenness index increased from 2000 to 2022,while the CONTAG decreased,indicating that the landscape pattern in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin changed in the direction of distribution fragmentation,shape complexity,and heterogeneity.The average value of the habitat quality index in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2022 was 0.90.Based on the value of habitat quality index,we divided the level of habitat quality into five categories:lower(0.00-0.20),low(0.20-0.40),moderate(0.40-0.60),high(0.60-0.80),and higher(0.80-1.00).Most areas were at the higher habitat quality level.The lower habitat quality patches were mainly distributed in Longyang Gorge and Yellow River-Huangshui River Valley.From 2000 to 2022,the habitat quality in most areas was stable;the increase areas were mainly distributed in Guinan County,while the decrease areas were mainly distributed in Xining City,Maqen County,Xinghai County,Qumarleb County,and Darlag County.To show the extent of habitat quality variation,we calculated Sen index.The results showed that the higher habitat quality area had a decrease trending,while other categories had an increasing tendency,and the decreasing was faster than increasing.The research results provide scientific guidance for promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Qinghai Province section of the Yellow River Basin.

Traditional Chinese Aesthetics and Urban Landscape Design

Landscape designs for modern urban open spaces are studied on the basis of traditional aesthetics, while aesthetic basis and development orientation can be provided for such designs through studies on traditional aesthetics. It is hoped that landscape designs from aesthetic perspective can correct people’s aesthetic attitudes towards the city, transform their habitual aesthetic modes, so as to cultivate new aesthetic tastes.

Forest and Landscape——By Combining with Ecology and Aesthetics

Forest as the largest ecosystem on the land can provide people recreational spaces and pleasant environments,and ensure the sustainable development,which contributes a lot in reliving environmental crises of cities and realizing the optimized utilization of resources.The authors,from the perspective of ecological and visual landscape researches,elaborated the intimate relationship between forest and landscape,to achieve the greatest exploitation and integration of the ecological value,aesthetic value and sustainable value of forest.

Behavioral fragmentation of waterfowl habitat and its landscape ecological design in Shuangtai-hekou Reserve,Liaoning,China

Behavioral fragmentation of wildlife habitat is discussed. Using “buffer” module in ARC/INFO, behavioral fragmentation habitat of Red crowned crane, Saunders gull, Oriental white stork and Siberian white crane was calculated in the Shuangtai hekou National Reserve, Liaoning Province, China. The result showed that breeding Red crowned crane, Siberian white crane and breeding Saunders gull are very sensitive to fragmentation factors. Suitable habitat is so little for more than 2000 Saunders gull to breed. The reserve only has a capacity of 38 pairs for breeding Red crowed crane. Two key measures were made. First, dismantles all the abandoned oil wells and recovers the original ecosystem to decrease the fragmentation effect, directly benefit to breeding or migration of Red crowned crane and Oriental white stork. Second, recovers the Suaeda tidal mud flat from artificial shrimp and crab pond in the kernel zone of the reserve to enlarge the habitat area of Saunders gull and Siberian white crane.

Analysis on Landscape Pattern of Habitat of Sichuan Golden Monkey in Baihe Nature Reserve

The paper had analyzed landscape pattern of habitat of Sichuan golden monkey in Baihe Nature Reserve.The result showed:① there were altogether 5 069.00 patches at habitat of Sichuan golden monkey in Baihe Nature Reserve,the patch density was 2 595 p/hm2,average patch area was 3.20 hm2,Shannon's diversity index was 2.49,patch richness was 68.00,total length of edge was 19 011 119.91 m,edge density was 97.34 m/km2,and landscape shape index was 35.19.② The quality of habitat of Sichuan golden monkey reduced,patches at the habitat were seriously fragmentized,and it urgently needed to enhance protection and increase investment.The paper suggested connecting fragmented habitats through establishing habitat corridor in nature reserve;strengthening resources protection and strictly examining development projects of tourist products;increasing scientific research and capital investment;adopting effective measures to ameliorate local community environment and relieving the pressure of nature reserve caused by people;intensifying relevant publicity and education,so as to improve quality of habitat of Sichuan golden monkey in the nature reserve and effectively protect this valuable species.

Trade-offs between wood production and forest grouse habitats in two regions with distinctive landscapes

Background:Forest management affects the viability of forest grouse populations,causing alterations to habitat quality.At the regional level,common targets for wood harvesting and safeguarding of specific habitats are negotiated between various stakeholders.Analysing potential trade-offs between forest grouse habitats and wood production in the region could support resource-smart decision making.Methods:In this paper,we compiled trade-off curves represented as production possibility frontiers demonstrating the relationship between forest grouse habitat area and wood removal,using a Finnish forestry dynamics model and the Finnish Multi-Source National Forest Inventory.For the modelling of forest grouse habitats,a landscape-level occurrence model based on nationwide wildlife triangle census data was used.Five alternative forest scenarios in terms of wood removal were compiled for two study areas in Finland representing two different landscape structures.Results and conclusions:Results showed that impacts on forest grouse habitats were case-specific.In the southern study area,increasing the roundwood harvesting rate affected grouse habitats more strongly as forests were already fragmented for other land uses and became more spruce-dominated over time.If the maximum sustainable removal rate was implemented,predicted grouse habitat area was 55%less than in a no-removal scenario.In the eastern study area,a more heavily forested region,the decrease was far lower at 22%.Scenario results were also compared to levels of recorded(business as usual)wood removal and that envisaged by valid regional forestry programmes,and their sustainability in terms of grouse habitat area was discussed.The production possibility frontiers calculated in this study support the evaluation of the loss of suitable habitat caused by different wood harvesting rates,or vice versa,the economic cost of increasing habitat areas.

Application of landscape connectivity in habitat suitability evaluation——case study in Wolong Nature Reserve,Sichuan,China

Landscape connectivity is a parameter of landscape function, which measures the processes by which the sub populations of organisms are interconnected into a functional demographic unit. It is a landscape phenomenon which describes the relationships between landscape subunits. Landscape connectivity can be measured by measuring the degree to which the landscape pattern facilitates or impedes movement of animals among resource patches, particularly for conserved animal species. In this paper, the landscape connectivity for Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve was evaluated by using landscape ecological model on the base of choosing three natural affecting factors on Giant Panda and using geographic information system. The results demonstrate that only about 90 36 km 2 (c.a.4 47%) of total area 2023 31 km 2 is most suitable for Giant Panda survival, the suitable area is about 226 42 km 2 (11 19%), the moderately suitable area is 286 09 km 2 (14 13%), as much as 1236 51 km 2 is completely unsuitable for Giant Panda living. The result will be helpful for making a decision on improving eco environment and protecting Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve.

Ecological Landscape Planning Considering Landscape Aesthetics (Case Study: Part of Tehran-Qom Freeway)

Visual quality is a significant issue in today’s modern world which needs to be evaluated. This assessment is based on the observer’s perception and sight of space and attempts to introduce the criteria of spatial desirability in the landscape. Analysis of the relationships between visual quality and structural features of the landscape is an effective way of conducting cognitive research. For this purpose, the analysis of visual quality was considered by compiling measurement and evaluation criteria, based on the concept of user preferences, in the part of Tehran-Qom Freeway, near the northeastern side of Imam Khomeini International Airport (Iran). The main objective of this research is to present a strategic plan for preserving and restoring the ecological landscape, creating a sense of place in the region, emphasizing gradual changes in the landscape during the movement and considering its relation to landscape aesthetics. For this purpose, after the questionnaire was prepared, the classifying visual quality method (Q-Sort) was used. Finally, using the results obtained from landscape analysis, identifying the components which led to the lack of visibility of individuals, and by using the geographic information systems (GIS), the strategic design of the area was designed.

Epochal Criticism of Landscape Aesthetics From the Perspective of Ecology

On the basis of traditional aesthetics, contemporary western aesthetic circles add environmental aesthetics with ecological ethical thinking, trying to solve the increasingly serious ecological environment problems and subvert people’s inherent values through its theory and practice. Landscape aesthetics, as an important branch of environmental aesthetics, should seek effective intervention of new ideas with epochal criticism on the basis of in-depth exploration of its historical form. Based on the vertical time axis, this study combed the traditional aesthetic theory and its application in landscape practice, summed up the transformation of landscape aesthetics from subject-object dichotomy to experience-based empiricism, and introduced ecological ethics and scientific knowledge into contemporary landscape aesthetics to determine its value orientation of the times, in order to provide theoretical reference for solving ecological crisis and expanding the study of landscape aesthetics.

Application of Classical Garden Cultural Aesthetics in Landscape Planning and Design:A Case Study of Huaqing Palace in Xi'an City of China

Taking Huaqing Palace in Xi'an City for example,landscape architectural features of Huaqing Palace,its classical garden cultural heritage and aesthetic consciousness of landscape culture were analyzed.It was proposed that its rich cultural characteristics and aesthetic elements should be fully used,modern landscape planning theories and design techniques applied to integrate into the designs,satisfy requirements of modern people's life,fully demonstrate history,culture and aesthetic characteristics of the scenic area,and also support its future construction.

Landscape Aesthetics under the Power of Nature

Aesthetic is everywhere.Both industrial design and landscape design should meet aesthetic requirements.In fact,when people are engaged in industrial activities,they often only pay attention to its functionality but ignore the landscape aesthetics.For example,when people use solar energy or wind energy,they usually consider whether solar panels or wind turbines can meet the electricity demand,but do not care whether those infrastructures are beautiful on the site.It is exactly because of this that huge renewable energy facilities will always play the role of giants on site and require more space.And this particularity also makes people realize that starting from the spatial structure may be the key to solving the problem.

A Comparative Study of Kant’s and Hegel’s Aesthetics of Landscape Architecture

Both Kant and Hegel showed their attention to landscape architecture art in their aesthetic works,their aesthetic ideas were different but also related.This paper sorted out and interpreted the landscape architecture aesthetics of Kant and Hegel based on relevant aesthetic literature,analyzed the differences between them according to the historical background of landscape architecture development and their philosophic concepts,then summarized the historical causes for the development of their landscape architecture aesthetics.

Effects of habitat configuration on biodiversity along gradients of forest cover on the Swiss Plateau

The negative effects of habitat loss on biodiversity are undisputed,while the effect of habitat configuration,i.e.,the spatial arrangement of habitat area,has been debated for decades.To develop a more comprehensive understanding,it is important to know when and how configuration matters.In this study,we tested whether forest configuration influences the richness of species in groups characterized by varying shade tolerance in different ways and how such effects are related to habitat amount(i.e.,the percentage of forest cover)at the landscape scale.Based on 104 survey plots(each measuring 1km^(2))of vascular plants on the Swiss Plateau,and using two statistical approaches(i.e.,multiple regression and path analysis),we modeled the effects of habitat amount and configuration(measured as number of forest patches,total edge length,and proximity index)across all the plots and separately for three habitat amount classes:<10%,10%–30%,and>30%forest cover.When we modeled all plots together,we found that,after controlling for habitat amount,the forest configuration significantly affected species richness.When we considered the different habitat amount classes separately,most of the significant effects of habitat configuration on species richness occurred only for habitat amounts of<10%forest cover.Additionally,the response to forest configuration differed among species with different shade tolerances.When forest area was<10%,the effects of the number of patches and the total edge length on the species richness of light-demanding forest species were greater than the effect of habitat amount,whereas neither configuration metric affected the richness of shade-tolerant species.In conclusion,our findings highlight the importance of configuration in landscapes with a small amount of habitat.At the same time,they demonstrate that considering the confounding factors(e.g.species traits)is important for understanding the effects of forest configuration on biodiversity and that generalizations remain a challenge for landscape ecology.

Construction and Cultural Analysis of Pavilion in Garden Landscape

Pavilion is a significant architectural component in traditional Chinese garden,which can not only provide a rest space for people appreciating garden views,but also play a particular aesthetic role due to its flexible architectural forms.In this study,cultural connotations and construction laws of pavilion in traditional Chinese garden were specifically analyzed,and it was believed that different cultural connotations should be given to pavilions on the basis of diversified cultural orientations.Cultural orientations are mainly to show natural functions,enhance personal quality and create poetic atmosphere.In addition,diversified styles reflect different aesthetic tastes,which should be dealt with based on construction principles,that is to say,regional and geographical differences should be fully understood;the location of pavilion should be properly designed;pavilion design should be put into the general layout of garden.Therefore,pavilion requires not only rich styles and beautiful appearances,but also full consideration about coordinated components(such as color and materials) and environment,which can achieve the organic integration of its functions and arts.

Influence of Huizhou Culture on Plant Landscapes in Huizhou-style Gardens

Huizhou-style gardens have been greatly influenced by Huizhou culture, their plant landscapes have also been integrated with various aspects of Huizhou culture, which demonstrated the ideology, historical and cultural connotation of the society in an abstract and impalpable way. In this study, Huizhou-style miniature landscapes, plants of virtual implications, flowers or fruit trees of special connotations are taken for examples to analyze the influence of Xin’an Neo-Confucianism on plant landscapes in Huizhou-style gardens, the demonstration of Huizhou businessmen’s aesthetic tastes, as well as folk cultures of Huizhou, which implies that plant landscapes in Huizhou-style gardens are those incorporating with humanistic spirits, ornamental and practical uses. This study aims to provide references for further researches in the present situation of ancient Huizhou areas, protection of ancient Huizhou-style gardens and construction of new-style Huizhou gardens.

Analysis of Plant Configuration in Urban Landscape of Xianning City with the Beauty of Naturalness and Harmony

With the analysis of the natural geology, greening status and green plant resources in Xianning City, urban greening status of Xianning City is analyzed as a whole, the important role of plants in urban landscape is elaborated, and the relationship among regional environment, plant configuration and landscape aesthetics is proposed. The aesthetic features are interpreted through the growing habits and individual ornamental features of landscape plants. Landscape beauty presented by plants is emphasized through the aspects of thematic beauty, artistic beauty, composition and rhythm. In the respect of configuration principles of landscape plants, principles of natural, regular and combined configurations are highlighted. The discussion of rational thinking upon plant configuration in urban greening is discussed so as to improve urban ecological environment, save construction investment, and enhance the artistic taste and ornamental value of urban landscape.

Study on Application of Landscape Plants in Residential Area—A Case Study of "Senqiao Yinxiang" Residential Area in Chizhou City

With ecological theory followed during disposition and application of landscape plants in residential area as the guidance,ecological landscape concept was established.It emphasized that landscape plants disposition should aim at making the nature reappear,ameliorating and maintaining ecological balance in residential area,with harmonious coexistence between human and nature as the goal,and with systematicness of landscape greening,diversity of biological development and sustainability of plant landscaping as the mission,so as to achieve plane systematicness,spatial hierarchy and temporal relevance.

Creation of Visual Beauty in Modern Garden Landscape Space

Four aspects of elements of the landscape spatial pattern are elaborated, that is, point-line-surface-object, form, color, texture, aesthetic characteristics of modern garden landscape space were specifically analyzed, and from the perspective of the artistic component, expression ways of its visual image are studied.

The influence of land use change on the spatial–temporal variability of habitat quality between 1990 and 2010 in Northeast China

Land use changes are a direct consequence of interactions between humans and nature.Analysing the spatial and temporal changes in habitat quality brought about by land use change can provide a scientific basis for ecological protection and land planning.Based on the analysis of land use change from 1990 to 2010 in Northeast China,we used the InVEST(integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs)module to evaluate habitat quality based on watershed subdivision.The results show that:(1)the main land use changes from 1990 to 2010 were the transition from grasslands and forest lands to agricultural lands,which led to a decrease in connectivity of landscape and an increase in fragmentation;(2)areas of high habitat quality were distributed north of the Greater Khingan Mountains,the region of the Lesser Khingan Mountains and east of the Changbai Mountains,while the central plain had low habitat quality;(3)agricultural lands had the largest effect on habitat degradation among all habitat threats.During these 2 decades,the contribution of agricultural lands to habitat degradation were 43.4%in 1990,44.6%in 2000 and 43.9%in 2010;and,(4)at a landscape scale,patch density and splitting index present noticeable negative correlations with habitat quality index.Habitat quality was significantly affected by landscape fragmentation and decreased connectivity.

Tourist preferences for agricultural landscapes:a case study of terraced paddy fields in Noto Peninsula,Japan

Many agricultural landscapes have been formed through the interaction and co-evolution of nature and people, and represent the living landscapes shaped over time through intensive and continuous human cultivation. Terraced paddy fields are being re-evaluated to take into account the multiple functions they fill beyond only rice cultivation, particularly their contribution to the national biodiversity strategy of Japan. Since the 1990 s, terraced paddy fields have been considered a representative cultural landscape of Japan and, at the same time, multi-stakeholder conservation activities have been conducted throughout Japan to reverse the increasing abandonment of terraces. Shiroyone Senmaida is an outstanding cultural landscape and a major tourist attraction in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was designated through an initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) pilot site in 2011. It is important to clarify tourist preference for terraced paddy field landscapes to contribute to future policy making toward improved agricultural landscape conservation. A key finding of this study is that tourists visiting toenjoy the agricultural landscape are also concerned on the sustainability of the farming methods and preferred to maintain the naturalness of the landscape. Respondents with higher educational levels and greater concern for the biological and traditional farming knowledge aspects of the rice terraces were also more inclined to favor sustainable farming practices. Tourists preferred to maintain the naturalness and rurality of the agricultural landscape, and indicated that construction of excessive tourist facilities would cause the landscape to deteriorate. It was suggested that the local community and surroundings, including rural settlements, hills, and forests, should also be conserved together with the scenic terrace.