The longitudinal range-gorge region (LRGR) in Southwestern China, characterized by longitudinal mountain ranges and deep valleys, includes the basins of four major international rivers: the Yuanjiang-Red, Lancang Meko...The longitudinal range-gorge region (LRGR) in Southwestern China, characterized by longitudinal mountain ranges and deep valleys, includes the basins of four major international rivers: the Yuanjiang-Red, Lancang Mekong, Nujiang Salween and Irrawaddy. This region is classified as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and provides an important ecological and economic corridor linking China and Southeast Asian countries. Over the past half century, it has served as a resource base for timber and minerals needed to fuel economic development, which resulted in rapid and drastic changes in ecosystem and species diversity. Proposed and ongoing development programs, such as China’s Great Western Development campaign, Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation (GMS) and China-ASEAN free trade zone development (“10+1”), threaten to bring unprecedented disturbance to the region’s ecosystems. Present and emerging threats to eco-security have caught tremendous attention worldwide. Therefore, studies on such problems are critical for enhancing ecosystem health and transboundary eco-security. This paper indicates several multi-disciplinary and cross-sector studies on transboundary resources in this region that will meet three major national needs: 1) identifying core scientific issues of ecological development and infrastructure construction in highplateau and mountainous areas for the Western Development campaign; 2) developing maintenance mechanisms and control methodologies for transboundary eco-security and resource base development; 3) providing scientific grounds for multi-lateral diplomacy, trade and economic cooperation, and conflict resolution as part of China’s opening-up to south Asia. The key subjects to be solved include dynamics and major drive forces of this area, ecological effects caused by major projects construction, and transboundary eco-security and its controlling. The research projects proposed in this article will develop theories on ecosystem change and transboundary eco-security, and provide a scientific basis for national and international development strategies.展开更多
The Three-River Headwaters Region(TRHR)of Qinghai Province,in the Tibetan Plateau of China,is the main source of the Yangtze,Yellow,and Lancang rivers,and is very significant to the security of freshwater resources fo...The Three-River Headwaters Region(TRHR)of Qinghai Province,in the Tibetan Plateau of China,is the main source of the Yangtze,Yellow,and Lancang rivers,and is very significant to the security of freshwater resources for China and southeastern Asia.It is a critical ecological region of China for its ecological functions,and has been changed or even degraded in recent decades owing to climate change and human pressure.To effectively protect and restore the degraded ecosystems,the Chinese government initiated a series of ecological conservation projects in TRHR.It is essential to quantitatively assess ecosystem changes and their relationship to driving factors for indepth understanding of long-term changes of ecosystems and effects of ecological restoration policies and offer practical insights for ecological restoration.Here,land cover data has been interpreted with the series data of Landsat during 1990–2015.The patterns of different ecosystems and their developing process have been derived from land cover change.The results show that ecosystem types in TRHR include forest,grassland,cropland,wetland,artificial surface and barren land,accounting for 4.51%,70.80%,0.15%,9.47%,0.16%and 14.90%,respectively.Barren land converted to wetland was the significant ecosystem change from 1990 to 2015.Increases in temperature and precipitation and implementation of ecological rehabilitation helped maintain relatively stable ecosystem patterns.It is necessary to continue ecological projects to improve and/or maintain the ecosystems in TRHR because there is still a risk of land degradation under increasing climate change and human activity.展开更多
'Scientific Frontier on Human Activities and Ecosystem Changes' compiled by the innovation team 'Human Activities and Ecosystem Change',one of International Partnership Programs of Chinese Academy of S...'Scientific Frontier on Human Activities and Ecosystem Changes' compiled by the innovation team 'Human Activities and Ecosystem Change',one of International Partnership Programs of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),was published by Higher Education Press展开更多
The Lake Kinneret (Israel) ecosystem has undergone limnological changes. The trend of changes started in the mid 1990’s. The deviation from the previously known as stable long-term structure of the ecosystem included...The Lake Kinneret (Israel) ecosystem has undergone limnological changes. The trend of changes started in the mid 1990’s. The deviation from the previously known as stable long-term structure of the ecosystem included, among others, phytoplankton community structure, nutrient dynamics, zooplankton densities, water temperature increase, water level decline, and fishery management. This study is aimed at identifying ecosystem stability by focusing on three major compartments of the ecosystem: Total Dissolved Solids (TSS), Plankton (Phyto and Zoo), and Detritus (TSS minus plankton). It is suggested that although significant temporary changes of biotic and abiotic parameters were recorded and despite the existence of the normal seasonal fluctuations, the major compartments’ structural relations were not modified. The objective of the study is to analyze the process initiation of the modification trend. Previous studies and reports were focused on descriptive evaluation of the modified parameters. The expected outcome is a comprehensive evaluation of the modification process. Consequently, resulted prediction might be a tool for managers to improve management design.展开更多
This paper presents the latest developments in the re search progress on mechanisms by which natural plants and crops respond to the doubled concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, resultant climatic change and the mo...This paper presents the latest developments in the re search progress on mechanisms by which natural plants and crops respond to the doubled concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, resultant climatic change and the modeling of vegetation and eco-systems in China. In addition, it points out that the future study on global change and terrestrial ecosystems should stress m(?)iti-disciplinary teamwork and inter-discipline penetration. Finally, the paper emphasizes 10 research realms in the field to be enhanced in the future.展开更多
According to the latest research of ecosystem service（ ES）,the background and connotation of ecosystem services were briefly summarized,the relationship among human activity,climate change,and biodiversity and ecosy...According to the latest research of ecosystem service（ ES）,the background and connotation of ecosystem services were briefly summarized,the relationship among human activity,climate change,and biodiversity and ecosystem service function（ ESF） was synthetically analyzed,the research trends of ecosystem services function assessment（ ESFA） were discussed from multi-scale,and the perspectives was given based on the past studies. The ecological long-term location monitoring method based on the ESFA should be studied,evaluation index of ESFA should be further improved,and the ESF research on the arid region should be reinforced.展开更多
Ecosystem changes can simultaneously generate various climate-related effects,such as evapotranspiration(vapor flux)effects,carbon-cycle effects,and surface temperature effects.These effects are coupled with one anoth...Ecosystem changes can simultaneously generate various climate-related effects,such as evapotranspiration(vapor flux)effects,carbon-cycle effects,and surface temperature effects.These effects are coupled with one another because they are generated through the same biophysical and biogeochemical processes.Consequently,given an easily measurable effect,other effects can be predicted from the measured effect.Here,based on global eddy covariance(EC)observations,we show that the ratio of the daytime to daily vapor flux(RATIO)reflects the complexity of various ecosystem types and is highly coupled with climate effects of ecosystem changes.For the same daily RATIO,the magnitudes of the same EC variable remain unchanged across all of the ecosystems and,thus,EC observations for an ecosystem or place can be mapped to other ecosystems or places in accordance with their daily RATIO values.By applying the daily RATIO,the effects of ecosystem changes on the surface temperature in different climatic zones(including the Tibetan Plateau)can be predicted,which is highly consistent with all previous studies.We found that cooling or warming effects are controlled by the RATIO,not by enhanced or reduced evapotranspiration as many studies have suggested.This study provides a new and simple approach for evaluating the climate effects of ecosystem changes at all spatial-temporal scales worldwide.展开更多
The reality of climate change in the northern regions of Ghana is noticeable among the inhabitants of the territory.One of the obvious impacts of climate change is the reduction in numbers and yield of the indigenous ...The reality of climate change in the northern regions of Ghana is noticeable among the inhabitants of the territory.One of the obvious impacts of climate change is the reduction in numbers and yield of the indigenous cash tree,shea tree in the region.This study explored the influence of ecosystem services of shea tree in promoting the adaptation strategies among community members of the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region.This study involved a stratified sample of 387 community members and four key informants.Using mixed-research methods and guided by environmentally-specific transformational leadership theory,this study revealed that the shea tree provides ecosystem services such as provisional ecosystem services,regulating ecosystem services,supporting ecosystem services and cultural ecosystem services.The specific services include food,income,cosmetic,buffer,habitat,shelter,microclimates,absorb flood,folktales,aesthetic,and traditional knowledge.The oneway Anova results showed that the provisional and regulating ecosystem services significantly differed across zones,age and educational levels of participants.Second,the study showed that ecosystem services significantly contribute to climate change adaptation among the inhabitants of Lawra municipality.The Ordinary Least Square results(B=0.001,t=0.03,p=0.977*)showed that supporting ecosystem services have a significant and positive impact on climate change adaptation.This study recommends that policy makers should take active role in providing effective climate change and adaptation communication plan to enhance climate change response among communities in Ghana.展开更多
Landscape ecology emphasizes large areas and ecological effects of the spatial patterning of ecosystem. Recent developments in landscape ecology have emphasized the important relationship between spatial patterns and ...Landscape ecology emphasizes large areas and ecological effects of the spatial patterning of ecosystem. Recent developments in landscape ecology have emphasized the important relationship between spatial patterns and many ecological processes. Quantitative methods in landscape ecology link spatial patterns and ecological processes at broad spatial and temporal scales. In turn the increased attention on temporal change of ecosystem has highlighted the need for quantitative methods that can analyze patterns. This research applies quantitative methods——change detection to assess the ecosystem temporal change in the arid and semiarid area. Remote sensing offers the temporal change of ecosystem on landscape characteristics.展开更多
文摘The longitudinal range-gorge region (LRGR) in Southwestern China, characterized by longitudinal mountain ranges and deep valleys, includes the basins of four major international rivers: the Yuanjiang-Red, Lancang Mekong, Nujiang Salween and Irrawaddy. This region is classified as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and provides an important ecological and economic corridor linking China and Southeast Asian countries. Over the past half century, it has served as a resource base for timber and minerals needed to fuel economic development, which resulted in rapid and drastic changes in ecosystem and species diversity. Proposed and ongoing development programs, such as China’s Great Western Development campaign, Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation (GMS) and China-ASEAN free trade zone development (“10+1”), threaten to bring unprecedented disturbance to the region’s ecosystems. Present and emerging threats to eco-security have caught tremendous attention worldwide. Therefore, studies on such problems are critical for enhancing ecosystem health and transboundary eco-security. This paper indicates several multi-disciplinary and cross-sector studies on transboundary resources in this region that will meet three major national needs: 1) identifying core scientific issues of ecological development and infrastructure construction in highplateau and mountainous areas for the Western Development campaign; 2) developing maintenance mechanisms and control methodologies for transboundary eco-security and resource base development; 3) providing scientific grounds for multi-lateral diplomacy, trade and economic cooperation, and conflict resolution as part of China’s opening-up to south Asia. The key subjects to be solved include dynamics and major drive forces of this area, ecological effects caused by major projects construction, and transboundary eco-security and its controlling. The research projects proposed in this article will develop theories on ecosystem change and transboundary eco-security, and provide a scientific basis for national and international development strategies.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0608)the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41730752 and No.41971277).
文摘The Three-River Headwaters Region(TRHR)of Qinghai Province,in the Tibetan Plateau of China,is the main source of the Yangtze,Yellow,and Lancang rivers,and is very significant to the security of freshwater resources for China and southeastern Asia.It is a critical ecological region of China for its ecological functions,and has been changed or even degraded in recent decades owing to climate change and human pressure.To effectively protect and restore the degraded ecosystems,the Chinese government initiated a series of ecological conservation projects in TRHR.It is essential to quantitatively assess ecosystem changes and their relationship to driving factors for indepth understanding of long-term changes of ecosystems and effects of ecological restoration policies and offer practical insights for ecological restoration.Here,land cover data has been interpreted with the series data of Landsat during 1990–2015.The patterns of different ecosystems and their developing process have been derived from land cover change.The results show that ecosystem types in TRHR include forest,grassland,cropland,wetland,artificial surface and barren land,accounting for 4.51%,70.80%,0.15%,9.47%,0.16%and 14.90%,respectively.Barren land converted to wetland was the significant ecosystem change from 1990 to 2015.Increases in temperature and precipitation and implementation of ecological rehabilitation helped maintain relatively stable ecosystem patterns.It is necessary to continue ecological projects to improve and/or maintain the ecosystems in TRHR because there is still a risk of land degradation under increasing climate change and human activity.
文摘'Scientific Frontier on Human Activities and Ecosystem Changes' compiled by the innovation team 'Human Activities and Ecosystem Change',one of International Partnership Programs of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),was published by Higher Education Press
文摘The Lake Kinneret (Israel) ecosystem has undergone limnological changes. The trend of changes started in the mid 1990’s. The deviation from the previously known as stable long-term structure of the ecosystem included, among others, phytoplankton community structure, nutrient dynamics, zooplankton densities, water temperature increase, water level decline, and fishery management. This study is aimed at identifying ecosystem stability by focusing on three major compartments of the ecosystem: Total Dissolved Solids (TSS), Plankton (Phyto and Zoo), and Detritus (TSS minus plankton). It is suggested that although significant temporary changes of biotic and abiotic parameters were recorded and despite the existence of the normal seasonal fluctuations, the major compartments’ structural relations were not modified. The objective of the study is to analyze the process initiation of the modification trend. Previous studies and reports were focused on descriptive evaluation of the modified parameters. The expected outcome is a comprehensive evaluation of the modification process. Consequently, resulted prediction might be a tool for managers to improve management design.
文摘This paper presents the latest developments in the re search progress on mechanisms by which natural plants and crops respond to the doubled concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, resultant climatic change and the modeling of vegetation and eco-systems in China. In addition, it points out that the future study on global change and terrestrial ecosystems should stress m(?)iti-disciplinary teamwork and inter-discipline penetration. Finally, the paper emphasizes 10 research realms in the field to be enhanced in the future.
基金Supported by Science Research Item of Hubei Environmental Protection Agency,China(2013HB03)
文摘According to the latest research of ecosystem service（ ES）,the background and connotation of ecosystem services were briefly summarized,the relationship among human activity,climate change,and biodiversity and ecosystem service function（ ESF） was synthetically analyzed,the research trends of ecosystem services function assessment（ ESFA） were discussed from multi-scale,and the perspectives was given based on the past studies. The ecological long-term location monitoring method based on the ESFA should be studied,evaluation index of ESFA should be further improved,and the ESF research on the arid region should be reinforced.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(nos.42130506 and 42071031)the Special Technology Innovation Fund of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality in Jiangsu Province(no.BK20231515).
文摘Ecosystem changes can simultaneously generate various climate-related effects,such as evapotranspiration(vapor flux)effects,carbon-cycle effects,and surface temperature effects.These effects are coupled with one another because they are generated through the same biophysical and biogeochemical processes.Consequently,given an easily measurable effect,other effects can be predicted from the measured effect.Here,based on global eddy covariance(EC)observations,we show that the ratio of the daytime to daily vapor flux(RATIO)reflects the complexity of various ecosystem types and is highly coupled with climate effects of ecosystem changes.For the same daily RATIO,the magnitudes of the same EC variable remain unchanged across all of the ecosystems and,thus,EC observations for an ecosystem or place can be mapped to other ecosystems or places in accordance with their daily RATIO values.By applying the daily RATIO,the effects of ecosystem changes on the surface temperature in different climatic zones(including the Tibetan Plateau)can be predicted,which is highly consistent with all previous studies.We found that cooling or warming effects are controlled by the RATIO,not by enhanced or reduced evapotranspiration as many studies have suggested.This study provides a new and simple approach for evaluating the climate effects of ecosystem changes at all spatial-temporal scales worldwide.
文摘The reality of climate change in the northern regions of Ghana is noticeable among the inhabitants of the territory.One of the obvious impacts of climate change is the reduction in numbers and yield of the indigenous cash tree,shea tree in the region.This study explored the influence of ecosystem services of shea tree in promoting the adaptation strategies among community members of the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region.This study involved a stratified sample of 387 community members and four key informants.Using mixed-research methods and guided by environmentally-specific transformational leadership theory,this study revealed that the shea tree provides ecosystem services such as provisional ecosystem services,regulating ecosystem services,supporting ecosystem services and cultural ecosystem services.The specific services include food,income,cosmetic,buffer,habitat,shelter,microclimates,absorb flood,folktales,aesthetic,and traditional knowledge.The oneway Anova results showed that the provisional and regulating ecosystem services significantly differed across zones,age and educational levels of participants.Second,the study showed that ecosystem services significantly contribute to climate change adaptation among the inhabitants of Lawra municipality.The Ordinary Least Square results(B=0.001,t=0.03,p=0.977*)showed that supporting ecosystem services have a significant and positive impact on climate change adaptation.This study recommends that policy makers should take active role in providing effective climate change and adaptation communication plan to enhance climate change response among communities in Ghana.
文摘Landscape ecology emphasizes large areas and ecological effects of the spatial patterning of ecosystem. Recent developments in landscape ecology have emphasized the important relationship between spatial patterns and many ecological processes. Quantitative methods in landscape ecology link spatial patterns and ecological processes at broad spatial and temporal scales. In turn the increased attention on temporal change of ecosystem has highlighted the need for quantitative methods that can analyze patterns. This research applies quantitative methods——change detection to assess the ecosystem temporal change in the arid and semiarid area. Remote sensing offers the temporal change of ecosystem on landscape characteristics.
