The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodivers...The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.展开更多
Sand encroachment into urban areas represents a high risk factor for transportation infrastructural and urban development in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is located in one of the world’s largest arid regions wit...Sand encroachment into urban areas represents a high risk factor for transportation infrastructural and urban development in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is located in one of the world’s largest arid regions with a strong prevalence of sand movement and encroachment into urban areas, particularly in the last few years. The objective of this research is to develop a land surface process platform that models sand movements and further generates an encroachment risk index map of potential encroachment risk areas season-wise in the UAE. To achieve this objective, this research used elevation and land cover maps generated from Lands at 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data which represent the topography of the study area coupled with meteorological information on wind speed, temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, the study considered the vegetation cover as a major contribution factor to reduce sand encroachment. Using developed sand movement model for this research, sand encroachment risk maps were generated to help urban planners in cities making informed decisions of future urban protection structures and transportation networks that mitigate the effects of sand dunes encroachments in the UAE. A major finding of this research results conclude that during the summer season encroachment risk reaches 30% higher compared to the winter season due to the extremely high temperature which leads to reduced vegetation in the country. Urban planning decision maker may consider the finding of this research for future infrastructural adjustments.展开更多
Abstract Forests have been expanding over typical savanna sites for the past 3000 years in the Neotropics. Such invasion can produce a series of environmental modifications on typical savanna; however, it remains uncl...Abstract Forests have been expanding over typical savanna sites for the past 3000 years in the Neotropics. Such invasion can produce a series of environmental modifications on typical savanna; however, it remains unclear how modifications in soil properties, caused by the encroachment of woody species, facilitate the expansion of forest ecosystems under dystrophic conditions. Here we examined chemical and microbiological changes associ- ated with tree encroachment in oxisols of a Neotropical Savanna at Assis Ecological Station, Southeastern Brazil. We predicted that tree encroachment caused by typical forest species would cause significant changes in the chemical and microbiological properties of savanna soils. Soils were sampled at Assis Ecological Station, from savanna sites differing in tree encroachment (typical, dense and forested savanna) caused by decades of fire exclusion. We analysed vegetation leaf area index and leaf litter volume deposited in the studied plots and chemical (pH,organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, A1, NO3-, NH4+) and microbiological (microbial C biomass and dehydrogenase activity) properties of soils under distinct encroachment conditions. Most soil chemical properties did not change along the tree encroachment gradient; however, total P, soil organic matter, soil microbial C and dehydrogenase activity increased from typical savanna to forested savanna. The changes in soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity were correlated with the values of leaf area index and litter volume along the encroachment gradient. Our results demonstrate that forest species can increase carbon and phosphorus supplies in tropical savanna soils.展开更多
A survey on different aspects of Buriganga River encroachment was conducted in a 300 meter long encroached part of the river located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed and three Focus Group...A survey on different aspects of Buriganga River encroachment was conducted in a 300 meter long encroached part of the river located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed and three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were arranged prior to the semi-structured questionnaire survey. It was observed that almost all of the respondents migrated to the study area. The majority of the respondents had better business opportunity (69.23%) as the cause of encroachment. Significant portions of the respondents occupying the encroached area were found to be landless (36.84%), small businessmen (31.58%) and people with political affluence (26.32%). Major portions (23.33%) of the encroached land were used for industrial development as well as housing and developmental projects. Negative health impact (40%) was found to be the main adverse effect of encroachment of the river. Other adverse effects included economic loss through obliteration of fisheries (35.71%), scarcity of clean water (32.14%), reduction of aesthetic value of the surroundings (25%) etc. For the protection of the river, the majority of the respondents opted for relocation of the industries (46.15%) and enforcement of strict rules and regulations (38.46%).展开更多
Increasing human activities around protected area pinpoint to looming degradation and alteration of the component of such areas, especially where adequate measures are not taken to forestall encroachment. The Oban div...Increasing human activities around protected area pinpoint to looming degradation and alteration of the component of such areas, especially where adequate measures are not taken to forestall encroachment. The Oban division of the Cross River National Park is one of the oldest rainforests and has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot. However, communities settling around the park have been involved in some economic activities for their livelihood. Resource utilization at the edge of the park may alter the components of the park such as species diversity. Therefore this study is geared towards assessing the impact of human encroachment and the concomitant impact on the distribution of species within the park. The study adopted participatory research methods which included Focus Group Discussion and participatory mapping as well as a plot based survey which involved the laying of sample plots within two zones of the park designated as areas bounded by cultivated land and areas bounded by fallow. Three 40 m × 40 m square plots are laid along a 320 meter transect measured from the boundary of the park at each buffer zone. The plots are separated by 100 m gap. From the result obtained, it is discovered that Musanga cercropoides dominates the outer plots of the cultivated zones and fallow zones comprising 20.2 and 21.5 percent respectively while Terminalia ivorensis dominates the middle and inner areas of the park. Moreover the composition of species decreases inward to the inner part of the park. Diversity index decreases in the order of 2.566 < 2.348 < 2.163 at the cultivated zones and 2.443 < 2.376 < 2.366 at the fallow zones. It is concluded that human activities close to the park alters the species composition of the park. Hence, it’s recommended that adequate alternatives livelihood and incentive be provided to support zone communities to reduce their dependents on the edge of the park.展开更多
文摘The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.
文摘Sand encroachment into urban areas represents a high risk factor for transportation infrastructural and urban development in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is located in one of the world’s largest arid regions with a strong prevalence of sand movement and encroachment into urban areas, particularly in the last few years. The objective of this research is to develop a land surface process platform that models sand movements and further generates an encroachment risk index map of potential encroachment risk areas season-wise in the UAE. To achieve this objective, this research used elevation and land cover maps generated from Lands at 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data which represent the topography of the study area coupled with meteorological information on wind speed, temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, the study considered the vegetation cover as a major contribution factor to reduce sand encroachment. Using developed sand movement model for this research, sand encroachment risk maps were generated to help urban planners in cities making informed decisions of future urban protection structures and transportation networks that mitigate the effects of sand dunes encroachments in the UAE. A major finding of this research results conclude that during the summer season encroachment risk reaches 30% higher compared to the winter season due to the extremely high temperature which leads to reduced vegetation in the country. Urban planning decision maker may consider the finding of this research for future infrastructural adjustments.
文摘Abstract Forests have been expanding over typical savanna sites for the past 3000 years in the Neotropics. Such invasion can produce a series of environmental modifications on typical savanna; however, it remains unclear how modifications in soil properties, caused by the encroachment of woody species, facilitate the expansion of forest ecosystems under dystrophic conditions. Here we examined chemical and microbiological changes associ- ated with tree encroachment in oxisols of a Neotropical Savanna at Assis Ecological Station, Southeastern Brazil. We predicted that tree encroachment caused by typical forest species would cause significant changes in the chemical and microbiological properties of savanna soils. Soils were sampled at Assis Ecological Station, from savanna sites differing in tree encroachment (typical, dense and forested savanna) caused by decades of fire exclusion. We analysed vegetation leaf area index and leaf litter volume deposited in the studied plots and chemical (pH,organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, A1, NO3-, NH4+) and microbiological (microbial C biomass and dehydrogenase activity) properties of soils under distinct encroachment conditions. Most soil chemical properties did not change along the tree encroachment gradient; however, total P, soil organic matter, soil microbial C and dehydrogenase activity increased from typical savanna to forested savanna. The changes in soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity were correlated with the values of leaf area index and litter volume along the encroachment gradient. Our results demonstrate that forest species can increase carbon and phosphorus supplies in tropical savanna soils.
文摘A survey on different aspects of Buriganga River encroachment was conducted in a 300 meter long encroached part of the river located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed and three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were arranged prior to the semi-structured questionnaire survey. It was observed that almost all of the respondents migrated to the study area. The majority of the respondents had better business opportunity (69.23%) as the cause of encroachment. Significant portions of the respondents occupying the encroached area were found to be landless (36.84%), small businessmen (31.58%) and people with political affluence (26.32%). Major portions (23.33%) of the encroached land were used for industrial development as well as housing and developmental projects. Negative health impact (40%) was found to be the main adverse effect of encroachment of the river. Other adverse effects included economic loss through obliteration of fisheries (35.71%), scarcity of clean water (32.14%), reduction of aesthetic value of the surroundings (25%) etc. For the protection of the river, the majority of the respondents opted for relocation of the industries (46.15%) and enforcement of strict rules and regulations (38.46%).
文摘Increasing human activities around protected area pinpoint to looming degradation and alteration of the component of such areas, especially where adequate measures are not taken to forestall encroachment. The Oban division of the Cross River National Park is one of the oldest rainforests and has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot. However, communities settling around the park have been involved in some economic activities for their livelihood. Resource utilization at the edge of the park may alter the components of the park such as species diversity. Therefore this study is geared towards assessing the impact of human encroachment and the concomitant impact on the distribution of species within the park. The study adopted participatory research methods which included Focus Group Discussion and participatory mapping as well as a plot based survey which involved the laying of sample plots within two zones of the park designated as areas bounded by cultivated land and areas bounded by fallow. Three 40 m × 40 m square plots are laid along a 320 meter transect measured from the boundary of the park at each buffer zone. The plots are separated by 100 m gap. From the result obtained, it is discovered that Musanga cercropoides dominates the outer plots of the cultivated zones and fallow zones comprising 20.2 and 21.5 percent respectively while Terminalia ivorensis dominates the middle and inner areas of the park. Moreover the composition of species decreases inward to the inner part of the park. Diversity index decreases in the order of 2.566 < 2.348 < 2.163 at the cultivated zones and 2.443 < 2.376 < 2.366 at the fallow zones. It is concluded that human activities close to the park alters the species composition of the park. Hence, it’s recommended that adequate alternatives livelihood and incentive be provided to support zone communities to reduce their dependents on the edge of the park.