Resource extraction and nature conservation are often seen as opposing concepts.Traditionally,from the viewpoint of nature conservationists,they are only positively associated when rehabilitation efforts are made to r...Resource extraction and nature conservation are often seen as opposing concepts.Traditionally,from the viewpoint of nature conservationists,they are only positively associated when rehabilitation efforts are made to restore biodiversity in degraded lands due to extractive activities.Despite these conflicting relationships,in UNESCO Global Geoparks(UGGps),mining and quarrying can act as opening windows in the Earth’s surface exposing geoheritage.展开更多
Global framework for nature management requires identifying areas of high priority for biodiversity conservation and restoration.The unique environments of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP) provide irreplaceable habitats fo...Global framework for nature management requires identifying areas of high priority for biodiversity conservation and restoration.The unique environments of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP) provide irreplaceable habitats for biodiversity which is prominent under future climate change.Despite the recent increase in research interest on conservation priorities,there is a lack of comprehensive and targeted protection strategies for pandemic species under climate change.Here,we compiled an exhaustive dataset with the variables of extinction risk and occurrence records of ectothermic lizards to investigate the conservation priorities in the QXP.We assessed the conservation status of the QXP lizards and identified the priority protected areas within the QXP under future climate scenarios using phylogenetic generalized least squares and ensemble species distribution models.Our analyses suggested nine lizard species to be prioritized for protection,with the most critical priority species being Dopasia gracilis,D.harti,and Phrynocephalus putjatai.Moreover,the priority protected areas covered~4.7%area of the QXP,mostly in the southern QXP and southeastern Hengduan Mountains.Protecting these regions would achieve a conservation effectiveness of≥95%for species richness,phylogenetic and functionaldiversity under climate change.Our findings provide realistic guidance for improving the conservation effectiveness of specific-lizard and-regions in the QXP under climate change.Our“bottom-up”approach could help the conservation efforts of other regions and species as an alternative to“top-down”global maps.展开更多
We review achievements in the conservation of orchid diversity in China over the last 21 years.We provide updated information on orchid biodiversity and suggestions for orchid conservation in China.We outline national...We review achievements in the conservation of orchid diversity in China over the last 21 years.We provide updated information on orchid biodiversity and suggestions for orchid conservation in China.We outline national policies of biodiversity conservation,especially of orchid conservation,which provide general guidelines for orchid conservation in China.There are now approximately 1708 known species of Orchidaceae in 181 genera in China,including five new genera and 365 new species described over the last 21 years.The assessment of risk of extinction of all 1502 known native orchid species in China in 2013 indicated that 653 species were identified as threatened,132 species were treated as data-deficient,and four species endemic to China were classified as extinct.Approximately 1100 species(ca.65%)are protected in national nature reserves,and another~66 species in provincial nature reserves.About 800 native orchid species have living collections in major botanical gardens.The pollination biology of 74 native orchid species and the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of 29 orchid species have been investigated at a local scale and/or across species distributions.The mycorrhizal fungal community composition has been investigated in many genera,such as Bletilla,Coelogyne,Cymbidium,Cypripedium,and Dendrobium.Approximately 292 species will be included in the list of national key protected wild plants this year.Two major tasks for near future include in situ conservation and monitoring population dynamics of endangered species.展开更多
Livelihood improvement and sustainable natural resource utilization are among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;however,most farm households either randomly select or just imitate livelihood strategies ...Livelihood improvement and sustainable natural resource utilization are among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;however,most farm households either randomly select or just imitate livelihood strategies being practiced in other areas.As the livelihoods of farm households are vulnerable to several challenges in ecologically fragile areas,identifying the livelihood strategies of farm households in arid and semi-arid areas will help for promoting both livelihood security and environmental conservation.Hence,in this study,we constructed a sustainable evaluation index system for the livelihood of farmers in the Loess Plateau region of China by conducting field research and interviews.We employed the composite index method to measure the livelihood capital and the livelihood strategies chosen by farmers,and then analyzed the resource endowment of farmers under different livelihood strategies using logistic regression and structural equation modeling.The results revealed that under the combined influences of livelihood capital and government policy,farm households in the Loess Plateau region selected agro-dependent,agro-pastoral,agro-industrial,non-agricultural livelihood strategies.The key factors influencing the selection of these household livelihood strategies included the household labor capacity,the farmland owned per household,the number of livestock,and the grassland forage-supply ratio.The grassland forage-supply ratio was a crucial factor influencing the choice between agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood strategies.In this context,the grassland forage-supply ratio increased with the stocking rate.However,once the stocking rate exceeded 56.5 sheep/hm^(2),the grassland forage-supply ratio no longer increased rapidly under the agriculture-based livelihood strategy.The strategy of ecological resource conservation and moderate utilization based on the quality and quantity of natural resources ensures win-win benefits for the environment and human well-being in arid and semi-arid areas.Moderate grazing therefore has the potential to improve farmers’livelihoods without causing grassland degradation.These results contribute to the synergistic co-adaptation of livelihood improvement and ecological conservation in arid and semi-arid areas.展开更多
Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation calls for 'at least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available fo...Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation calls for 'at least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes by 2020'.Botanic gardens make a significant contribution to ex situ conservation of wild species with more than a third of plant species represented in botanic gardens collections. These collections are a combination of living collection and seed banked material. Seed banking can provide an efficient form of conservation for wild plant genetic diversity.Information from Botanic Gardens Conservation International's(BGCI) databases(GardenSearch,PlantSearch, ThreatSearch and GlobalTreeSearch) has been analysed as well as survey data to report on global, regional and national seed banking trends.Information from BGCI's databases indicates that there are at least 350 seed banking botanic gardens in 74 countries. In total 56,987 taxa have been banked including more than 9000 taxa that are threatened with extinction. 6881 tree species are stored in ex situ seed bank collections. More than half(3562) of these tree species are single country endemics and represent species from more than 166 countries.This study suggests that institutions are increasingly conserving plant species via seed banking.However the majority of species in collections that have a conservation assessment are not threatened with extinction. This disjunction between species that are threatened and those conserved in seed banks needs to be addressed. Data from BGCI's databases can be used to enable prioritisation of threatened plant species for collection and conservation in seed banks. Further recommendations for botanic gardens involved in seed conservation are presented.展开更多
Diazotrophs make important contributions to nitrogen(N) inputs in agricultural ecosystems. However, strong evidence of the effects of conservation tillage(CT) on the coexistence and assembly of soil diazotrophic commu...Diazotrophs make important contributions to nitrogen(N) inputs in agricultural ecosystems. However, strong evidence of the effects of conservation tillage(CT) on the coexistence and assembly of soil diazotrophic community and related mechanisms is lacking. Here, a long-term experiment was conducted to study the impacts of CT on the coexistence and assembly patterns of soil diazotrophic community in Lishu County, Jilin Province, North China. Compared to traditional tillage(control, CK), CT significantly reduced both the N fixation rate in top 0–10 cm soil and the alpha diversity of diazotrophic community while increasing the density of diazotrophic and overall bacterial communities. Conservation tillage also reduced the competitive relationships within the diazotrophic community and enhanced network stability. Furthermore, diazotroph assembly was dominated by deterministic processes(relative influence =68.63%) under CK and stochastic processes(relative influence = 58.82%) under CT. Soil depth and total N(TN) were identified as crucial predictors shaping the assembly processes of diazotrophic community under different tillage practices. The relative influence of stochastic processes on diazotrophic community under CT varied more significantly with increasing soil depth. Overall, tillage practice and soil depth had significant influences on the coexistence and assembly processes of soil diazotrophic community. Moreover, long-term CT may impact the selection of N fixation agents and the specific taxa associated with N fixers. Our results indicated that in CT systems, relatively sufficient nutrient availability led to a reduction in interspecies competition, an increase in network stability, and a greater influence of stochastic processes on community assembly. These findings may help us better understand biological N fixation in sustainable agricultural systems.展开更多
Conservation genetics and genomics are two independent disciplines that focus on using new techniques in genetics and genomics to solve problems in conservation biology. During the past two decades,conservation geneti...Conservation genetics and genomics are two independent disciplines that focus on using new techniques in genetics and genomics to solve problems in conservation biology. During the past two decades,conservation genetics and genomics have experienced rapid progress. Here, we summarize the research advances in the conservation genetics and genomics of threatened vertebrates(e.g., carnivorans, primates, ungulates, cetaceans, avians, amphibians and reptiles) in China. First, we introduce the concepts of conservation genetics and genomics and their development. Second, we review the recent advances in conservation genetics research, including noninvasive genetics and landscape genetics. Third, we summarize the progress in conservation genomics research, which mainly focuses on resolving genetic problems relevant to conservation such as genetic diversity, genetic structure, demographic history, and genomic evolution and adaptation. Finally, we discuss the future directions of conservation genetics and genomics.展开更多
The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP)serves as a vital ecological security barrier in China and the broader Asian region.The delineation of urban growth boundaries(UGBs)in this region with consideration of socioeconomic dev...The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP)serves as a vital ecological security barrier in China and the broader Asian region.The delineation of urban growth boundaries(UGBs)in this region with consideration of socioeconomic development and ecological protection is urgently needed,but there is a lack of such research.The objective of this study is to delineate the UGBs on the QXP during 2020-2100 to simultaneously meet the needs of socioeconomic development and ecosystem services(ESs)protection.To achieve this purpose,under a scenario matrix integrating shared socioeconomic pathways(SSPs)and ESs protection,the urban expansion on the QXP during 2020-2100 was simulated by coupling the ESs assessment models and the zoned Land Use Scenario Dynamics-urban(LUSDurban)model.Finally,we compared the spatial patterns of the UGBs and the conservation effectiveness of ESs under different scenarios.The extent of UGBs on the QXP is projected to reach 2,045.60-2,231.10 km^(2),which is 62.23%-76.95%greater than the urban land area(1,260.90 km^(2))in 2020.Protecting the ESs can reduce the loss of the average natural habitat quality,food production,and carbon sequestration by 33.29%-34.27%,8.61%-18.23%,and 36.56%-40.34%,respectively.Protecting food production and carbon sequestration in Qinghai Province are more effective,but in the Xizang Autonomous Region,protecting ESs has a considerable trade-off effect.The UGBs delineated in this study can offer a reference for future urban planning on the QXP.展开更多
Tetracentron sinense is a‘living fossil’tree in East Asia.Understanding how this‘living fossil’responds to climate change and adapts to local environments is critical for its conservation.Here,we used resequenced ...Tetracentron sinense is a‘living fossil’tree in East Asia.Understanding how this‘living fossil’responds to climate change and adapts to local environments is critical for its conservation.Here,we used resequenced genomes to clarify the evolutionary history and adaptive potential of T.sinense.We identifiedsix divergent lineages in T.sinense:three lineages from southwestern China(Yunnan Province)and three lineages from the central subtropical region of China.Additionally,we detected hybridization events between some adjacent lineages.Demographic analysis revealed that over the past 10,000 years the effective population size(Ne)of three T.sinense lineages(i.e.,NORTH,SWEST,and YNWEST)increased after their last bottleneck and then remained stable,whereas that of the remaining three lineages(i.e.,YSEAST,YC,and EAST)declined steadily.The decline in effective population size in the Yunnan lineages aligned well with the decrease in genome-wide diversity and a significantincrease in the frequency of runs of homozygosity.Deleterious variants and positively selected sites were involved in the evolution of different lineages.Further,genotype–environment association(GEA)analyses indicated adaptation to temperature-and precipitation-related factors.Genomic offset analyses found the most vulnerable populations,while SC and SC-yad were predicted to better handle extreme changes.Our findingsprovide insights into the evolutionary history and conservation of T.sinense and enhance our understanding of the evolution of living fossil species.展开更多
China is experiencing conflicts between its large population and scarce arable land,and between a demand for high productivity and the severe soil erosion of arable land.Since 1949,China has committed to soil and wate...China is experiencing conflicts between its large population and scarce arable land,and between a demand for high productivity and the severe soil erosion of arable land.Since 1949,China has committed to soil and water conservation(SWC),for which eight regions and 41 subregions have been developed to improve the environment and increase land productivity.To obtain information from the regional planning and strategies for SWC and to explore whether SWC practices simultaneously contribute to soil conservation,ecosystem functioning,and the livelihoods of local farmers,and to summarize the successful experiences of various SWC paradigms with distinct characteristics and mechanisms of soil erosion,this paper systematically presents seven SWC regions(excluding the Tibetan Plateau region)and 14 typical SWC paradigms,focusing on erosion mechanisms and the key challenges or issues in the seven regions as well as on the core problems,main objectives,key technologies,and the performance of the 14 typical paradigms.In summary,the 14 typical SWC paradigms successfully prevent and control local soil erosion,and have largely enhanced,or at least do not harm,the livelihoods of local farmers.However,there remain many challenges and issues on SWC and socioeconomic development that need to be addressed in the seven SWC regions.China,thus,still has a long way to go in successfully gaining the win-win objective of SWC and human aspects of development.展开更多
Bird diversity is often used as surrogates for other species diversity,but there is a limited understanding of the extent of this surrogate in identifying representative priority conservation areas(PCAs).We used Yunna...Bird diversity is often used as surrogates for other species diversity,but there is a limited understanding of the extent of this surrogate in identifying representative priority conservation areas(PCAs).We used Yunnan Province in China as a case to measure the surrogacy of birds in systematic conservation planning.Here,we collected distribution records of mammals,amphibians,reptiles,and birds from public databases and literature,and applied systematic conservation planning methods to identify PCAs.We targeted four taxonomic groups at conservation targets of 17%,31%,and 50%of the total study area,and used the Jaccard similarity index to evaluate the surrogate extent of bird PCAs for the other three groups.Then,we overlapped different portfolios of PCAs with six categories of protected areas(PAs)in Yunnan,calculated the protection rates,and evaluated the effect of sustainable-use PAs on improving the protection rate of strict Nature Reserves.The results showed that bird PCAs generally had the highest surrogacy for representing PCAs of the other three taxa.At the 50%conservation target,the Jaccard indices between birds and the other taxa reached about 0.50.Moreover,amphibian PCAs had a good surrogacy for conserving reptiles,with a Jaccard index of 0.30,0.44 and 0.51 at the 17%,31%and 50%conservation targets,respectively.The existing PA system had quite low coverages for PCAs of these four taxa,and the average protection rates were 22.97%,19.78%and 16.52%at the three levels of conservation targets,respectively.The sustainable-use PAs can greatly complement the strict Nature Reserves by achieving average increased PA coverages of 10.00%,9.20%and 7.90%at the three conservation targets.Our findings provide a basis for surrogate-based conservation planning for areas with insufficient biodiversity information.展开更多
Climate change has been linked to well-documented changes in physiology, phenology, species distributions, and in some cases, extinction. Projections of future change point to dramatic shifts in the states of many eco...Climate change has been linked to well-documented changes in physiology, phenology, species distributions, and in some cases, extinction. Projections of future change point to dramatic shifts in the states of many ecosystems. Aceommodating these shifts to effectively conserve biodiversity in the context of uncertain climate regimes represents one of the most difficult challenges faced by conservation planners. A number of adaptation strategies have been proposed for managing species and ecosystems in a changing climate. However, there has been little guidance available on integrating climate change adaptation strategies into contemporary conservation planning frameworks. The paper reviews the different approaches being used to integrate climate change adaptation into conservation planning, broadly categorizing strategies as continuing and extending on ＂best practice＂ principles and those that integrate species vulnerability assessments into conservation planning. We describe the characteristics of a good adaptation strategy emphasizing the importance of incorporating clear principles of flexibility and efficiency, accounting for uncertainty, integrating human response to climate change and understanding trade-offs.展开更多
This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fiel...This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fields of study have established how critical it is to conserve these natural resources in the ecosystem and to ensure sustainability in not only green livelihoods but also to enhance living conditions of the life on earth. The aim of this research was to generate high priority sites for establishing soil and water conservation techniques in the Lower Bogoria Landscapes in Baringo, Kenya using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis. Various criteria were analyzed to generate the final conservation priority sites, such as land use land cover, rainfall runoff, soil erosion and slope. The criteria were assigned weights using the AHP technique and overlayed using the weighted overlay tools to produce the final outputs. Land use land cover maps were generated using supervised maximum likelihood technique, rainfall run-off maps were generated using the SCS-CN method and soil erosion maps were generated using RUSLE model. The final soil and water conservation maps showed that high and moderate priority areas requiring the establishment of techniques and mechanisms to control soil erosion and conserve water increased from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, more than 50% of the total study area was classified as moderate to high priority for water and soil conservation. Soil and water conservation structures such as water pans, percolation tanks, farm ponds and stop dams should be constructed in such areas.展开更多
Springs are unique phenomena that document water circulation conditions.Their economic importance and use often gives rise to the degradation of their natural features.But they should be understood as a form of natura...Springs are unique phenomena that document water circulation conditions.Their economic importance and use often gives rise to the degradation of their natural features.But they should be understood as a form of natural heritage and protected like other abiotic elements of nature.According to the Polish Act for Nature Conservation(2004),nature parks and nature reserves are the most effective legal means of protecting springs.Springs are the most valuable elements of the several nature reserves located in the Polish mountains,uplands,and lowlands.展开更多
The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixin...The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province,Northeast China.This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices.Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites(ER,FP,FR,SS,and VR)and two controls(BL and CT)to investigate their properties.To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality,an integrated quantitative index,soil quality index(QI),was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices.The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties,especially soil organic carbon(SOC),can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term.Moreover,the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order:ER>VR>BL>FR>CT>SS>FP.ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale.In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China,ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program.展开更多
Earthen sites, which are mainly made of earth, are cultural heritages with historical, artistic and scientific values. Many extremely valuable earthen sites have been preserved in the arid areas in China. The earthen ...Earthen sites, which are mainly made of earth, are cultural heritages with historical, artistic and scientific values. Many extremely valuable earthen sites have been preserved in the arid areas in China. The earthen site of Jiaohe Ancient City is one of the earliest National Protected Important Cultural Heritage Sites. The Jiaohe Ancient City site exhibits all kinds of deteriorations, which can be found in the earthen sites in arid environments in China. Through a case study of the Jiaohe ancient earthen site, we present in this paper the comprehensive conservation technologies, including the mud bricklaying and reparation, wooden rod anchorage, crack grouting, surface potassium silicate （PS） penetration consolidation, and suspended steel beam ceiling, etc. Results of this case study showed that better conservation effects could be achieved by selecting proper PS penetration and crack grouting processes based on the deterioration characteristics of the earthen sites. The technology of mud bricklaying and reparation was also an effective method for preventing the earthen body from collapsing. Compared with traditional conservation technologies, the suspended steel beam ceiling technology could effectively reduce the negative impacts to the original state of the earthen site. As for unstable cliffs, a new method using composite anchor rod of bamboo and steel with massive loose earth was applied. Deformation monitoring and temporary supports were critical and indispensable measures for the safe of site conservation projects. Through years of monitoring and practical operation at the Jiaohe ancient earthen site, deterioration at the site has been effectively controlled.展开更多
The giant spiny frog （Quasipaa spinosa） is an endangered species with a relatively small distribution limited to southern China and Northern Vietnam. This species is becoming increasingly threatened because of over-...The giant spiny frog （Quasipaa spinosa） is an endangered species with a relatively small distribution limited to southern China and Northern Vietnam. This species is becoming increasingly threatened because of over-exploitation and habitat degradation. This study provides data on the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the giant spiny frog to facilitate the further development of effective conservation recommendations for this economically important but threatened species. We examined 10 species-specific microsatellite loci and Cyt b genes （562 bp） collected from 13 wild populations across the entire range of this species. Results of 10 microsatellite loci analysis showed a generally high level of genetic diversity. Moreover, the genetic differentiation among all 12 populations was moderate to large （overall Fs7= 0.1057）. A total of 51 haplotypes were identified for Cyt b, which suggests high haplotype nucleotide diversities. Phylogeographic and population structure analyses using both DNA markers suggested that the wild giant spiny frog can be divided into four distinct major clades, i.e., Northern Vietnam, Western China, Central China, and Eastern China. The clades with significant genetic divergence are reproductively isolated, as evidenced by a high number of private alleles and strong incidence of failed amplification in microsatellite loci. Our research, coupled with other studies, suggests that Q. spinosa might be a species complex within which no detectable morphological variation has been revealed. The four phylogenetic clades and some subclades with distinct geographical distribution should be regarded as independent management units for conservation purposes.展开更多
Previous attempts to elucidate the drivers of speciation mechanisms and spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity in mountain regions have treated different floras within a single geological region as one flora,ig...Previous attempts to elucidate the drivers of speciation mechanisms and spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity in mountain regions have treated different floras within a single geological region as one flora,ignoring the potential contributions of high habitat/ecosystem heterogeneity.Furthermore,current conservation strategies largely focus on forest ecosystems and/or specific flagship species,ignoring marginal ecosystems,leaving species in these ecosystems at risk.Here,we compared the spatial patterns of biodiversity and the potential drivers of these patterns in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains region(HDM)in southwestern China.Specifically,we compared spatial patterns of diversity,endemism,and threatened species in these ecosystems based on both traditional measurements and recent phylogenetic approaches.We then examined how those patterns were related to environmental factors and human activity in these same regions.We found that the middle-southern HDM supports the highest diversity and endemism for the river valley and subnival ecosystems;however,the distribution patterns of neo-and paleo-endemism in these two ecosystems differ.Regression models indicate that habitat diversity and paleo-climatic fluctuation are important drivers of diversity and endemism for these two ecosystems.Temperature and precipitation,however,showed different influences on the spatial patterns in different ecosystems.Categorical analysis of neo-and paleoendemism(CANAPE)indicated that most endemism centers are not covered by current nature reserves.Moreover,the intensity of human activity is highest in the southern and southeastern HDM,which coincides with the distribution patterns of diversity,mixed-endemism and high-priority(and threatened)species.These findings suggest that different floras within a single geographic/floristic region respond differently to environmental factors and show different spatial phylogenetic patterns.We,therefore,recommend that future research into the drivers of biodiversity consider the contributions of various ecosystem types within a single geological region.This study also provides a theoretical basis for protecting habitat diversity.Our work confirms that current conservation efforts are insufficient to protect ecosystem diversity in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains.Therefore,we recommend the establishment of nature reserves in the regions identified in this study;furthermore,we strongly recommend improving current and establishing new management policies for biodiversity conservation in this region.展开更多
Regionalization of soil and water conservation is a base for the planning of soil and water conservation in China. It can provide scientific basis for constructing healthy eco-environment and regional management and d...Regionalization of soil and water conservation is a base for the planning of soil and water conservation in China. It can provide scientific basis for constructing healthy eco-environment and regional management and development. It makes a brief review of related regionalization of study and makes clear the concept of regionalization of soil and water conservation. In this paper, based on synthetical analysis of the characteristics of eco-environments of China, the principles, indices and nomenclature of the regionalization of soil and water conservation are proposed. Through the construction of the regionalization of soil and water conservation collaboration platform and data reporting system, combined with existing soil and water conservation research, this paper uses the top-down and bottom-up and the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to build soil and water conservation regionalization preliminary scheme, with 8 regions, 41 sub-regions and 117 sections divided in China.展开更多
Plant diversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an associated decrease in ecosystem services. About a third of the world＇s vascular plant species face the threat of extinction due to a ...Plant diversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an associated decrease in ecosystem services. About a third of the world＇s vascular plant species face the threat of extinction due to a variety of devastating activities, including, over-harvesting and over exploitation, destructive agricul- tural and forestry practices, urbanization, environmental pollution, land-use changes, exotic invasive species, global climate change, and more. We therefore need to increase our efforts to develop integrative conservation approaches for plant species conservation. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of plants, as well as making the world＇s plant species diversity known to the public. These gardens also play a central role in meeting human needs and providing well-being. In this minireview, a framework for the integrated missions of botanical gardens, including scientific research, inJex situ conservation, plant resource utilization, and citizen science are cataloged. By reviewing the history of the development of Kunming Botanical Garden, we illustrate successful species conservation approaches （among others, projects involving Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Begonia, Alliurn, Ne- penthes, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and Plant Species with Extreme Small Populations）, as well as citizen science, and scientific research at Kunming Botanical Garden over the past 80 years. We emphasize that Kunming Botanical Garden focuses largely on the ex situ conservation of plants from Southwest China, especially those endangered, endemic, and economically important plant species native to the Yunnan Plateau and the southern Hengduan Mountains. We also discuss the future chal- lenges and responsibilities of botanical gardens in a changing world, including： the negative effects of outbreeding and/or inbreeding depression; promoting awareness, study, and conservation of plant species diversity; accelerating global access to information about plant diversity; increasing capacity building and training activities. We hope this minireview can promote understanding of the role of botanical gardens.展开更多
基金supported by Portuguese national funding awarded by FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology,I.P.,projects UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020a grant from the Palaeontology,Geoheritage and Applications European Master Program(Erasmus+Programme of the European Union)conceded to the first author。
文摘Resource extraction and nature conservation are often seen as opposing concepts.Traditionally,from the viewpoint of nature conservationists,they are only positively associated when rehabilitation efforts are made to restore biodiversity in degraded lands due to extractive activities.Despite these conflicting relationships,in UNESCO Global Geoparks(UGGps),mining and quarrying can act as opening windows in the Earth’s surface exposing geoheritage.
基金supported by grants from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20050201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31861143023,31872250 and 31872252)。
文摘Global framework for nature management requires identifying areas of high priority for biodiversity conservation and restoration.The unique environments of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP) provide irreplaceable habitats for biodiversity which is prominent under future climate change.Despite the recent increase in research interest on conservation priorities,there is a lack of comprehensive and targeted protection strategies for pandemic species under climate change.Here,we compiled an exhaustive dataset with the variables of extinction risk and occurrence records of ectothermic lizards to investigate the conservation priorities in the QXP.We assessed the conservation status of the QXP lizards and identified the priority protected areas within the QXP under future climate scenarios using phylogenetic generalized least squares and ensemble species distribution models.Our analyses suggested nine lizard species to be prioritized for protection,with the most critical priority species being Dopasia gracilis,D.harti,and Phrynocephalus putjatai.Moreover,the priority protected areas covered~4.7%area of the QXP,mostly in the southern QXP and southeastern Hengduan Mountains.Protecting these regions would achieve a conservation effectiveness of≥95%for species richness,phylogenetic and functionaldiversity under climate change.Our findings provide realistic guidance for improving the conservation effectiveness of specific-lizard and-regions in the QXP under climate change.Our“bottom-up”approach could help the conservation efforts of other regions and species as an alternative to“top-down”global maps.
基金supported by Grants from National Forestry and Grassland Administration,China(No.2019073018,2019073019)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31870195,31670194)。
文摘We review achievements in the conservation of orchid diversity in China over the last 21 years.We provide updated information on orchid biodiversity and suggestions for orchid conservation in China.We outline national policies of biodiversity conservation,especially of orchid conservation,which provide general guidelines for orchid conservation in China.There are now approximately 1708 known species of Orchidaceae in 181 genera in China,including five new genera and 365 new species described over the last 21 years.The assessment of risk of extinction of all 1502 known native orchid species in China in 2013 indicated that 653 species were identified as threatened,132 species were treated as data-deficient,and four species endemic to China were classified as extinct.Approximately 1100 species(ca.65%)are protected in national nature reserves,and another~66 species in provincial nature reserves.About 800 native orchid species have living collections in major botanical gardens.The pollination biology of 74 native orchid species and the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of 29 orchid species have been investigated at a local scale and/or across species distributions.The mycorrhizal fungal community composition has been investigated in many genera,such as Bletilla,Coelogyne,Cymbidium,Cypripedium,and Dendrobium.Approximately 292 species will be included in the list of national key protected wild plants this year.Two major tasks for near future include in situ conservation and monitoring population dynamics of endangered species.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF1300802)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42130717)the“Light of the West”Cross Team-Key Laboratory Cooperative Research Project(A314021402-1912).
文摘Livelihood improvement and sustainable natural resource utilization are among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;however,most farm households either randomly select or just imitate livelihood strategies being practiced in other areas.As the livelihoods of farm households are vulnerable to several challenges in ecologically fragile areas,identifying the livelihood strategies of farm households in arid and semi-arid areas will help for promoting both livelihood security and environmental conservation.Hence,in this study,we constructed a sustainable evaluation index system for the livelihood of farmers in the Loess Plateau region of China by conducting field research and interviews.We employed the composite index method to measure the livelihood capital and the livelihood strategies chosen by farmers,and then analyzed the resource endowment of farmers under different livelihood strategies using logistic regression and structural equation modeling.The results revealed that under the combined influences of livelihood capital and government policy,farm households in the Loess Plateau region selected agro-dependent,agro-pastoral,agro-industrial,non-agricultural livelihood strategies.The key factors influencing the selection of these household livelihood strategies included the household labor capacity,the farmland owned per household,the number of livestock,and the grassland forage-supply ratio.The grassland forage-supply ratio was a crucial factor influencing the choice between agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood strategies.In this context,the grassland forage-supply ratio increased with the stocking rate.However,once the stocking rate exceeded 56.5 sheep/hm^(2),the grassland forage-supply ratio no longer increased rapidly under the agriculture-based livelihood strategy.The strategy of ecological resource conservation and moderate utilization based on the quality and quantity of natural resources ensures win-win benefits for the environment and human well-being in arid and semi-arid areas.Moderate grazing therefore has the potential to improve farmers’livelihoods without causing grassland degradation.These results contribute to the synergistic co-adaptation of livelihood improvement and ecological conservation in arid and semi-arid areas.
文摘Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation calls for 'at least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes by 2020'.Botanic gardens make a significant contribution to ex situ conservation of wild species with more than a third of plant species represented in botanic gardens collections. These collections are a combination of living collection and seed banked material. Seed banking can provide an efficient form of conservation for wild plant genetic diversity.Information from Botanic Gardens Conservation International's(BGCI) databases(GardenSearch,PlantSearch, ThreatSearch and GlobalTreeSearch) has been analysed as well as survey data to report on global, regional and national seed banking trends.Information from BGCI's databases indicates that there are at least 350 seed banking botanic gardens in 74 countries. In total 56,987 taxa have been banked including more than 9000 taxa that are threatened with extinction. 6881 tree species are stored in ex situ seed bank collections. More than half(3562) of these tree species are single country endemics and represent species from more than 166 countries.This study suggests that institutions are increasingly conserving plant species via seed banking.However the majority of species in collections that have a conservation assessment are not threatened with extinction. This disjunction between species that are threatened and those conserved in seed banks needs to be addressed. Data from BGCI's databases can be used to enable prioritisation of threatened plant species for collection and conservation in seed banks. Further recommendations for botanic gardens involved in seed conservation are presented.
基金funded by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA28020202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42277336)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BK20221561)the China Agriculture Research System (Nos. CARS-03 and CARS52)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFD1500401)the Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund of China (No. CX(24)1003)。
文摘Diazotrophs make important contributions to nitrogen(N) inputs in agricultural ecosystems. However, strong evidence of the effects of conservation tillage(CT) on the coexistence and assembly of soil diazotrophic community and related mechanisms is lacking. Here, a long-term experiment was conducted to study the impacts of CT on the coexistence and assembly patterns of soil diazotrophic community in Lishu County, Jilin Province, North China. Compared to traditional tillage(control, CK), CT significantly reduced both the N fixation rate in top 0–10 cm soil and the alpha diversity of diazotrophic community while increasing the density of diazotrophic and overall bacterial communities. Conservation tillage also reduced the competitive relationships within the diazotrophic community and enhanced network stability. Furthermore, diazotroph assembly was dominated by deterministic processes(relative influence =68.63%) under CK and stochastic processes(relative influence = 58.82%) under CT. Soil depth and total N(TN) were identified as crucial predictors shaping the assembly processes of diazotrophic community under different tillage practices. The relative influence of stochastic processes on diazotrophic community under CT varied more significantly with increasing soil depth. Overall, tillage practice and soil depth had significant influences on the coexistence and assembly processes of soil diazotrophic community. Moreover, long-term CT may impact the selection of N fixation agents and the specific taxa associated with N fixers. Our results indicated that in CT systems, relatively sufficient nutrient availability led to a reduction in interspecies competition, an increase in network stability, and a greater influence of stochastic processes on community assembly. These findings may help us better understand biological N fixation in sustainable agricultural systems.
基金funded by Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB31000000 and QYZDY-SSW-SMC019)Ministry of Science and Technology (2016YFC0503200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.91531302 and 31670386)
文摘Conservation genetics and genomics are two independent disciplines that focus on using new techniques in genetics and genomics to solve problems in conservation biology. During the past two decades,conservation genetics and genomics have experienced rapid progress. Here, we summarize the research advances in the conservation genetics and genomics of threatened vertebrates(e.g., carnivorans, primates, ungulates, cetaceans, avians, amphibians and reptiles) in China. First, we introduce the concepts of conservation genetics and genomics and their development. Second, we review the recent advances in conservation genetics research, including noninvasive genetics and landscape genetics. Third, we summarize the progress in conservation genomics research, which mainly focuses on resolving genetic problems relevant to conservation such as genetic diversity, genetic structure, demographic history, and genomic evolution and adaptation. Finally, we discuss the future directions of conservation genetics and genomics.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0405)the Science and Technology Department of Qinghai Province(Grant No.2023-ZJ-929 M)supported by the project from State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Hazards Risk Governance,China。
文摘The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau(QXP)serves as a vital ecological security barrier in China and the broader Asian region.The delineation of urban growth boundaries(UGBs)in this region with consideration of socioeconomic development and ecological protection is urgently needed,but there is a lack of such research.The objective of this study is to delineate the UGBs on the QXP during 2020-2100 to simultaneously meet the needs of socioeconomic development and ecosystem services(ESs)protection.To achieve this purpose,under a scenario matrix integrating shared socioeconomic pathways(SSPs)and ESs protection,the urban expansion on the QXP during 2020-2100 was simulated by coupling the ESs assessment models and the zoned Land Use Scenario Dynamics-urban(LUSDurban)model.Finally,we compared the spatial patterns of the UGBs and the conservation effectiveness of ESs under different scenarios.The extent of UGBs on the QXP is projected to reach 2,045.60-2,231.10 km^(2),which is 62.23%-76.95%greater than the urban land area(1,260.90 km^(2))in 2020.Protecting the ESs can reduce the loss of the average natural habitat quality,food production,and carbon sequestration by 33.29%-34.27%,8.61%-18.23%,and 36.56%-40.34%,respectively.Protecting food production and carbon sequestration in Qinghai Province are more effective,but in the Xizang Autonomous Region,protecting ESs has a considerable trade-off effect.The UGBs delineated in this study can offer a reference for future urban planning on the QXP.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.32570426)the Key Basic Research Program of Yunnan Province,China(202101BC070003)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(QNTD202502)the STI 2030—Major Program(2022ZD0401605-2).
文摘Tetracentron sinense is a‘living fossil’tree in East Asia.Understanding how this‘living fossil’responds to climate change and adapts to local environments is critical for its conservation.Here,we used resequenced genomes to clarify the evolutionary history and adaptive potential of T.sinense.We identifiedsix divergent lineages in T.sinense:three lineages from southwestern China(Yunnan Province)and three lineages from the central subtropical region of China.Additionally,we detected hybridization events between some adjacent lineages.Demographic analysis revealed that over the past 10,000 years the effective population size(Ne)of three T.sinense lineages(i.e.,NORTH,SWEST,and YNWEST)increased after their last bottleneck and then remained stable,whereas that of the remaining three lineages(i.e.,YSEAST,YC,and EAST)declined steadily.The decline in effective population size in the Yunnan lineages aligned well with the decrease in genome-wide diversity and a significantincrease in the frequency of runs of homozygosity.Deleterious variants and positively selected sites were involved in the evolution of different lineages.Further,genotype–environment association(GEA)analyses indicated adaptation to temperature-and precipitation-related factors.Genomic offset analyses found the most vulnerable populations,while SC and SC-yad were predicted to better handle extreme changes.Our findingsprovide insights into the evolutionary history and conservation of T.sinense and enhance our understanding of the evolution of living fossil species.
基金Under the auspices of Strategic Priority Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(No.XDA20040200)the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2016YFC0501707)。
文摘China is experiencing conflicts between its large population and scarce arable land,and between a demand for high productivity and the severe soil erosion of arable land.Since 1949,China has committed to soil and water conservation(SWC),for which eight regions and 41 subregions have been developed to improve the environment and increase land productivity.To obtain information from the regional planning and strategies for SWC and to explore whether SWC practices simultaneously contribute to soil conservation,ecosystem functioning,and the livelihoods of local farmers,and to summarize the successful experiences of various SWC paradigms with distinct characteristics and mechanisms of soil erosion,this paper systematically presents seven SWC regions(excluding the Tibetan Plateau region)and 14 typical SWC paradigms,focusing on erosion mechanisms and the key challenges or issues in the seven regions as well as on the core problems,main objectives,key technologies,and the performance of the 14 typical paradigms.In summary,the 14 typical SWC paradigms successfully prevent and control local soil erosion,and have largely enhanced,or at least do not harm,the livelihoods of local farmers.However,there remain many challenges and issues on SWC and socioeconomic development that need to be addressed in the seven SWC regions.China,thus,still has a long way to go in successfully gaining the win-win objective of SWC and human aspects of development.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071650)the Candidates of the Young and Middle-Aged Academic Leaders of Yunnan Province(202105AC160070)+1 种基金the Program for Excellent Young Talents of Yunnan Universitythe Postgraduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Yunnan University(2021Y039)。
文摘Bird diversity is often used as surrogates for other species diversity,but there is a limited understanding of the extent of this surrogate in identifying representative priority conservation areas(PCAs).We used Yunnan Province in China as a case to measure the surrogacy of birds in systematic conservation planning.Here,we collected distribution records of mammals,amphibians,reptiles,and birds from public databases and literature,and applied systematic conservation planning methods to identify PCAs.We targeted four taxonomic groups at conservation targets of 17%,31%,and 50%of the total study area,and used the Jaccard similarity index to evaluate the surrogate extent of bird PCAs for the other three groups.Then,we overlapped different portfolios of PCAs with six categories of protected areas(PAs)in Yunnan,calculated the protection rates,and evaluated the effect of sustainable-use PAs on improving the protection rate of strict Nature Reserves.The results showed that bird PCAs generally had the highest surrogacy for representing PCAs of the other three taxa.At the 50%conservation target,the Jaccard indices between birds and the other taxa reached about 0.50.Moreover,amphibian PCAs had a good surrogacy for conserving reptiles,with a Jaccard index of 0.30,0.44 and 0.51 at the 17%,31%and 50%conservation targets,respectively.The existing PA system had quite low coverages for PCAs of these four taxa,and the average protection rates were 22.97%,19.78%and 16.52%at the three levels of conservation targets,respectively.The sustainable-use PAs can greatly complement the strict Nature Reserves by achieving average increased PA coverages of 10.00%,9.20%and 7.90%at the three conservation targets.Our findings provide a basis for surrogate-based conservation planning for areas with insufficient biodiversity information.
文摘Climate change has been linked to well-documented changes in physiology, phenology, species distributions, and in some cases, extinction. Projections of future change point to dramatic shifts in the states of many ecosystems. Aceommodating these shifts to effectively conserve biodiversity in the context of uncertain climate regimes represents one of the most difficult challenges faced by conservation planners. A number of adaptation strategies have been proposed for managing species and ecosystems in a changing climate. However, there has been little guidance available on integrating climate change adaptation strategies into contemporary conservation planning frameworks. The paper reviews the different approaches being used to integrate climate change adaptation into conservation planning, broadly categorizing strategies as continuing and extending on ＂best practice＂ principles and those that integrate species vulnerability assessments into conservation planning. We describe the characteristics of a good adaptation strategy emphasizing the importance of incorporating clear principles of flexibility and efficiency, accounting for uncertainty, integrating human response to climate change and understanding trade-offs.
文摘This study was meant to ensure that there is proper and efficient conservation of soil and water using geospatial tools to enable us identify priority areas to carry out conservation. Over the past years, various fields of study have established how critical it is to conserve these natural resources in the ecosystem and to ensure sustainability in not only green livelihoods but also to enhance living conditions of the life on earth. The aim of this research was to generate high priority sites for establishing soil and water conservation techniques in the Lower Bogoria Landscapes in Baringo, Kenya using GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis. Various criteria were analyzed to generate the final conservation priority sites, such as land use land cover, rainfall runoff, soil erosion and slope. The criteria were assigned weights using the AHP technique and overlayed using the weighted overlay tools to produce the final outputs. Land use land cover maps were generated using supervised maximum likelihood technique, rainfall run-off maps were generated using the SCS-CN method and soil erosion maps were generated using RUSLE model. The final soil and water conservation maps showed that high and moderate priority areas requiring the establishment of techniques and mechanisms to control soil erosion and conserve water increased from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, more than 50% of the total study area was classified as moderate to high priority for water and soil conservation. Soil and water conservation structures such as water pans, percolation tanks, farm ponds and stop dams should be constructed in such areas.
文摘Springs are unique phenomena that document water circulation conditions.Their economic importance and use often gives rise to the degradation of their natural features.But they should be understood as a form of natural heritage and protected like other abiotic elements of nature.According to the Polish Act for Nature Conservation(2004),nature parks and nature reserves are the most effective legal means of protecting springs.Springs are the most valuable elements of the several nature reserves located in the Polish mountains,uplands,and lowlands.
基金Under the auspices of Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau(No.10501-1210)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31101606)+1 种基金Basic Scientific Research Operating Expenses of Jilin University(No.200903377)National Key Projects in National Science&Technology Program during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period of China(No.2011BAD16B10-3,2012BAD04B02-3)
文摘The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province,Northeast China.This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices.Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites(ER,FP,FR,SS,and VR)and two controls(BL and CT)to investigate their properties.To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality,an integrated quantitative index,soil quality index(QI),was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices.The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties,especially soil organic carbon(SOC),can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term.Moreover,the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order:ER>VR>BL>FR>CT>SS>FP.ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale.In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China,ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program.
基金Supported by the National Key Technology R and D Program of China (2010BAK67B16)
文摘Earthen sites, which are mainly made of earth, are cultural heritages with historical, artistic and scientific values. Many extremely valuable earthen sites have been preserved in the arid areas in China. The earthen site of Jiaohe Ancient City is one of the earliest National Protected Important Cultural Heritage Sites. The Jiaohe Ancient City site exhibits all kinds of deteriorations, which can be found in the earthen sites in arid environments in China. Through a case study of the Jiaohe ancient earthen site, we present in this paper the comprehensive conservation technologies, including the mud bricklaying and reparation, wooden rod anchorage, crack grouting, surface potassium silicate （PS） penetration consolidation, and suspended steel beam ceiling, etc. Results of this case study showed that better conservation effects could be achieved by selecting proper PS penetration and crack grouting processes based on the deterioration characteristics of the earthen sites. The technology of mud bricklaying and reparation was also an effective method for preventing the earthen body from collapsing. Compared with traditional conservation technologies, the suspended steel beam ceiling technology could effectively reduce the negative impacts to the original state of the earthen site. As for unstable cliffs, a new method using composite anchor rod of bamboo and steel with massive loose earth was applied. Deformation monitoring and temporary supports were critical and indispensable measures for the safe of site conservation projects. Through years of monitoring and practical operation at the Jiaohe ancient earthen site, deterioration at the site has been effectively controlled.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(No.31172116 and No.31472015)the Major Science and Technology Specific Projects of Zhejiang Province of China(No.2010C12008)+2 种基金the project of the Science Technology Commission of Zhejiang Province of China(No.2011C22006)the Found for the science and technology innovation team of Zhejiang Province of China(No.2012R10026-07)the Key Program of the Twelfth Five Year New Aquatic Varieties Breeding Cooperation of Zhejiang Province of China(2012C12907-9)
文摘The giant spiny frog （Quasipaa spinosa） is an endangered species with a relatively small distribution limited to southern China and Northern Vietnam. This species is becoming increasingly threatened because of over-exploitation and habitat degradation. This study provides data on the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the giant spiny frog to facilitate the further development of effective conservation recommendations for this economically important but threatened species. We examined 10 species-specific microsatellite loci and Cyt b genes （562 bp） collected from 13 wild populations across the entire range of this species. Results of 10 microsatellite loci analysis showed a generally high level of genetic diversity. Moreover, the genetic differentiation among all 12 populations was moderate to large （overall Fs7= 0.1057）. A total of 51 haplotypes were identified for Cyt b, which suggests high haplotype nucleotide diversities. Phylogeographic and population structure analyses using both DNA markers suggested that the wild giant spiny frog can be divided into four distinct major clades, i.e., Northern Vietnam, Western China, Central China, and Eastern China. The clades with significant genetic divergence are reproductively isolated, as evidenced by a high number of private alleles and strong incidence of failed amplification in microsatellite loci. Our research, coupled with other studies, suggests that Q. spinosa might be a species complex within which no detectable morphological variation has been revealed. The four phylogenetic clades and some subclades with distinct geographical distribution should be regarded as independent management units for conservation purposes.
基金This study was supported equally by the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0505200 to H Sun)the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31590823 to H Sun)+1 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20050203 to H Sun)USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture(McIntire Stennis#101869 to DS).
文摘Previous attempts to elucidate the drivers of speciation mechanisms and spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity in mountain regions have treated different floras within a single geological region as one flora,ignoring the potential contributions of high habitat/ecosystem heterogeneity.Furthermore,current conservation strategies largely focus on forest ecosystems and/or specific flagship species,ignoring marginal ecosystems,leaving species in these ecosystems at risk.Here,we compared the spatial patterns of biodiversity and the potential drivers of these patterns in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains region(HDM)in southwestern China.Specifically,we compared spatial patterns of diversity,endemism,and threatened species in these ecosystems based on both traditional measurements and recent phylogenetic approaches.We then examined how those patterns were related to environmental factors and human activity in these same regions.We found that the middle-southern HDM supports the highest diversity and endemism for the river valley and subnival ecosystems;however,the distribution patterns of neo-and paleo-endemism in these two ecosystems differ.Regression models indicate that habitat diversity and paleo-climatic fluctuation are important drivers of diversity and endemism for these two ecosystems.Temperature and precipitation,however,showed different influences on the spatial patterns in different ecosystems.Categorical analysis of neo-and paleoendemism(CANAPE)indicated that most endemism centers are not covered by current nature reserves.Moreover,the intensity of human activity is highest in the southern and southeastern HDM,which coincides with the distribution patterns of diversity,mixed-endemism and high-priority(and threatened)species.These findings suggest that different floras within a single geographic/floristic region respond differently to environmental factors and show different spatial phylogenetic patterns.We,therefore,recommend that future research into the drivers of biodiversity consider the contributions of various ecosystem types within a single geological region.This study also provides a theoretical basis for protecting habitat diversity.Our work confirms that current conservation efforts are insufficient to protect ecosystem diversity in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains.Therefore,we recommend the establishment of nature reserves in the regions identified in this study;furthermore,we strongly recommend improving current and establishing new management policies for biodiversity conservation in this region.
基金National Forestry Public Welfare Industry Research of China,No.201004018Project of the Ministry of Water Resources
文摘Regionalization of soil and water conservation is a base for the planning of soil and water conservation in China. It can provide scientific basis for constructing healthy eco-environment and regional management and development. It makes a brief review of related regionalization of study and makes clear the concept of regionalization of soil and water conservation. In this paper, based on synthetical analysis of the characteristics of eco-environments of China, the principles, indices and nomenclature of the regionalization of soil and water conservation are proposed. Through the construction of the regionalization of soil and water conservation collaboration platform and data reporting system, combined with existing soil and water conservation research, this paper uses the top-down and bottom-up and the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to build soil and water conservation regionalization preliminary scheme, with 8 regions, 41 sub-regions and 117 sections divided in China.
基金Support for this study was provided by grants from the NSFCYunnan joint fund to support key projects(Grant no.U1602264)the Young Academic and Technical Leader Raising Foundation of Yunnan Province(2015HB091)to G.Chenthe Ministry of Science and Technology of China granted funding for a National Key Programme of China:Survey and Germplasm Conservation of PSESP in Southwest China(2017FY100100)to W.B.Sun
文摘Plant diversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an associated decrease in ecosystem services. About a third of the world＇s vascular plant species face the threat of extinction due to a variety of devastating activities, including, over-harvesting and over exploitation, destructive agricul- tural and forestry practices, urbanization, environmental pollution, land-use changes, exotic invasive species, global climate change, and more. We therefore need to increase our efforts to develop integrative conservation approaches for plant species conservation. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of plants, as well as making the world＇s plant species diversity known to the public. These gardens also play a central role in meeting human needs and providing well-being. In this minireview, a framework for the integrated missions of botanical gardens, including scientific research, inJex situ conservation, plant resource utilization, and citizen science are cataloged. By reviewing the history of the development of Kunming Botanical Garden, we illustrate successful species conservation approaches （among others, projects involving Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Begonia, Alliurn, Ne- penthes, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and Plant Species with Extreme Small Populations）, as well as citizen science, and scientific research at Kunming Botanical Garden over the past 80 years. We emphasize that Kunming Botanical Garden focuses largely on the ex situ conservation of plants from Southwest China, especially those endangered, endemic, and economically important plant species native to the Yunnan Plateau and the southern Hengduan Mountains. We also discuss the future chal- lenges and responsibilities of botanical gardens in a changing world, including： the negative effects of outbreeding and/or inbreeding depression; promoting awareness, study, and conservation of plant species diversity; accelerating global access to information about plant diversity; increasing capacity building and training activities. We hope this minireview can promote understanding of the role of botanical gardens.
