Landscape Ecology最新文献

{"title":"The role of ecosystem services within safe and just operating space at the regional scale","authors":"Qin Tao, Yu Tao, Conghong Huang, Weixin Ou, Brett A. Bryan, Carla L. Archibald","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01934-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01934-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>The Regional Safe and Just Operating Space (RSJOS), serving as a conceptual framework that supports environmental governance and policy formulation, has garnered growing recognition. However, the application of ecosystem services in the RSJOS framework still constitutes a knowledge gap in the realm of landscape sustainability science.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Our objective was to discuss the role of ecosystem services within the Safe and Just Operating Space (SJOS) framework to promote regional sustainability.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We analyzed the relationship between ecosystem services and the SJOS framework, including their similarities in core concepts and research objectives, as well as how ecosystem services relate to environmental ceilings and social foundations. Based on these analyses, we discussed the potential and challenges of bridging safe space and just space using an ecosystem services approach.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>We found that ecosystem services have the potential to help understand the interaction between ecological ceilings and social foundations when assessing RSJOS, using ecosystem service flows to link “safe” and “just” boundaries. However, challenges in applying ecosystem services to assess RSJOS can limit the benefits of this framework.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The examination of RSJOS should extend beyond snapshots of the current regional state and encompass their inherent interconnections and impact mechanisms. This broader perspective can subsequently inform policy decisions. Ecosystem services play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges within the RSJOS framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141741437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of landscape composition, complexity, and heterogeneity on bird richness: a systematic review and meta-analysis on a global scale","authors":"Xinghao Lu, Yifei Jia, Yuncai Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01933-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01933-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Birds, as indicators of biodiversity, are experiencing habitat reduction and loss due to landscape changes. Evidence is mounting that the response of bird richness to landscape patterns remains controversial on a global scale. In this study, we conducted a quantitative global synthesis to gain a comprehensive understanding of this relationship. Our findings contribute to the development of bird conservation strategies that align with the objectives of SDG15.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objective</h3><p>Through a quantitative review, this study investigated the effects of landscape patterns on bird richness and analyzed the sources of heterogeneity in the results.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>A random-effects model was utilized to merge the impacts of landscape metrics on bird richness, and a meta-regression analysis was performed to investigate the origins of heterogeneity.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The review encompassed 101 articles from 51 countries worldwide. Field sampling emerged as the primary method for acquiring bird data, with multiple linear regression and generalized linear models as the main analytical approaches. The meta-analysis results highlighted landscape area as a crucial factor influencing bird richness. Regarding landscape composition, the proportions of forests, shrublands, and water bodies positively impacted bird richness, while agricultural land and urban land had negative effects. The relationship between landscape complexity and bird richness is influenced by factors, including net primary productivity (NPP) and precipitation. Landscape heterogeneity was identified as a contributing factor to increased species richness.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Compared to landscape complexity, indicators of landscape composition and heterogeneity are more suitable as reference tools for bird conservation. The results of landscape complexity exhibit variation. Moreover, our findings underscore the crucial role of preserving forested areas in supporting bird diversity, emphasizing the necessity to account for regional variations when establishing forest cover thresholds.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141719975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Placing landscape ecology in the global context","authors":"Amy E. Frazier","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01928-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01928-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141569102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of urban-rural integration on landscape patterns and their implications for landscape sustainability: The case of Changsha, China","authors":"Yanhua He, Chubing Wen, Xuening Fang, Xiao Sun","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01926-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01926-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Landscape patterns result from complex social-ecological interactions, such as urban-rural integration which is especially notable in China. However, the impacts of urban-rural integration on landscape sustainability remain understudied.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Our objectives were to examine the impacts of urban-rural integration on landscape patterns and to explore its implications for landscape sustainability.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>The study area is the Changsha metropolitan area in central China, which has undergone urban-rural integration since 2005. A three-step approach was used to (1) assess the spatiotemporal patterns of urban-rural integration dynamics with a multidimensional indicator system, (2) quantify landscape pattern dynamics using landscape metrics, and (3) explore the main drivers and processes involved in urban-rural integration responsible for the observed changes in landscape patterns through a time-fixed effects model.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our findings reveal a significant increase in the level of urban-rural integration in the Changsha metropolitan area from 2005 to 2020. Concurrently, the regional landscape has experienced increasing trends characterized by the loss and fragmentation of natural and agricultural patches, as well as heightened connectivity among constructed patches. Urban-rural integration exerts notable impacts on landscape patterns through processes such as societal convergence, economic interaction, technology sharing, and spatial interlinkage, subsequently influencing landscape (un)sustainability.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The different drivers and processes of urban-rural integration have varying effects on landscape patterns, with complex and intertwined impacts on landscape sustainability. Therefore, integrated landscape governance is imperative for addressing the disadvantages of urban-rural integration while strategically leveraging its advantages in various social-ecological contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141549733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ungrazed seminatural habitats around farms benefit bird conservation without enhancing foodborne pathogen risks","authors":"Elissa M. Olimpi, Alison Ke, Patrick Baur, Liz Carlisle, Kenzo E. Esquivel, Tyler Glaser, William E. Snyder, Hannah Waterhouse, Timothy M. Bowles, Claire Kremen, Daniel S. Karp","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01907-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01907-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Conservation in working landscapes is critical for halting biodiversity declines and ensuring farming system sustainability. However, concerns that wildlife may carry foodborne pathogens has created pressure on farmers to remove habitat and reduce biodiversity, undermining farmland conservation. Nonetheless, simplified farming landscapes may host bird communities that carry higher foodborne disease risks.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We analyzed the effects of local farming practices and surrounding landscapes on bird communities and food-safety risks across 30 California lettuce farms. Specifically, we sought to determine how farmland diversification affects bird diversity, fecal contamination, and foodborne pathogen incidences, thereby identifying potential tradeoffs between managing farms for bird conservation versus food safety.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We surveyed birds at 227 point-count locations, quantified fecal contamination along 120 transects, and assayed 601 bird feces for pathogenic <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Campylobacter</i> spp<i>.</i>, and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. We then used hierarchical models to quantify effects of farm management and landscape context on bird communities and food-safety risks.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Surrounding ungrazed seminatural areas were associated with higher bird diversity, more species of conservation concern, and fewer flocks that may increase risks from foodborne pathogens. In contrast, on-farm diversification practices and surrounding grazing lands offered weaker bird conservation benefits. Surrounding grazed lands were associated with more potentially pathogenic bird feces in crop fields.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Our results suggest that habitat conservation around produce farms could support bird conservation without increasing foodborne pathogens, especially on farms further from grazing lands. Thus, interventions that diversify farming systems offer potential to simultaneously conserve biodiversity and provide safe food for human consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141552972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating ecosystem services, stakeholders’ perspective, and land-use scenarios to safeguard sustainability of the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System","authors":"Jingya Lin, Lu Huang, Yihong Zheng, Chongzhi Chen, Li Wang, Ke Wang, Jiangxiao Qiu","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01886-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01886-0","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Optimizing landscape patterns by considering ecosystem services and human well-being is crucial for landscape sustainability research. Such optimization process shall also consider multiple stakeholders’ perspectives, interests and benefits, which remain less well investigated.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>The study aims to integrate ecosystem services and land-use scenario analysis to design sustainable landscapes. The overall goal of spatial optimization is to explore pathways towards sustainable development.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>This study uses the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond System as a representative agricultural landscape. It analyzes the spatiotemporal pattern of the landscape from 1975 to 2019. The market value method, InVEST model, and MaxEnt model are used to quantify the ecosystem services of the landscape. The analytic hierarchy process is used to set the weight of ecosystem services from the perspective of three stakeholder groups. We compare the outcomes of different scenarios and assessed through emergy yield ratio, environmental loading ratio, and environmental sustainability index.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our results indicated that: (1) The scale of the Mulberry-Dyke and Fish-Pond system decreased significantly from 1975 to 2019. (2) Among the six major ecosystem services, the average value of water purification service was the highest, while average value of mulberry supply service was the lowest. (3) Spatial optimization of the three design objectives, ‘sustainably intensify’, ‘increase landscape multifunctionality’, and ‘restore ecological integrity’, were primarily distributed in the study area’s eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. (4) All three stakeholder-oriented scenarios showed improvements in ecological quality or agricultural output.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Our study incorporates viewpoints of critical, diverse stakeholders in the assessment of ecosystem services and scenario analysis to establish sustainable and culturally important agricultural landscape. The framework and methods can help minimize environmental stress on the system, balance agricultural productivity and profitability, and enhance the sustainability of agricultural landscapes.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141549734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How is human well-being related to ecosystem services at town and village scales? A case study from the Yangtze River Delta, China","authors":"Yanmin Gao, Naijie Zhang, Qun Ma, Jingwei Li","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01925-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01925-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>The relationships between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB) have been found to be influenced by geographic locations and socioeconomic development, and vary from local to global scales. However, there is a lack of comparative analyses at fine administrative scales such as town and village scales.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objective</h3><p>This study took the core region of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of China as the study area to examine the spatial characteristics of the values of ES and the subjective satisfaction scores of HWB and then compare their relationships at the town and village scales.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>The values of 9 ES indicators were quantified using the ecosystem service equivalent factor method, and the subjective satisfaction scores of 11 HWB indicators were investigated using the questionnaire survey. The ES-HWB relationships between 9 ES and 11 HWB measures in the study area were investigated using Spearman's correlation analysis.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The value of ES per unit area in the study area in 2020 was about 15,202.90 USD/ha, nearly three times the average level in China, but the per capita value was relatively low, at 322.11 USD/person. The satisfaction score of HWB was relatively high, especially for the dimensions of social relations (4.46), health (4.26), and safety (4.22), based on a 5-point Likert scale. As spatial scales decreased from town to village scales and thematic scales increased from secondary to primary indicators, the strength of the ES-HWB correlations diminished and their direction changed as well. According to secondary indicators, most of the ES-HWB relationships were positive at the town scale but became negative or nonexistent at the village scale (e.g. the Spearman correlation coefficient between the value of raw material supply and the satisfaction score of leisure and entertainment shifted from 0.9 at the town scale to -0.51 at the village scale).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The correlation strength and direction of the ES-HWB relationships still changed with spatial and thematic scales at the town and village scales. Thus, better understanding the relationships requires studies at multiple and broader scales and calls for caution when using the aggregating indicators, because they can also lead to different ES-HWB relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141501688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological displacement in a Rocky Mountain hybrid zone informs management of North American martens (Martes)","authors":"Jocelyn P. Colella, Nicholas A. Freymueller, Danielle M. Land, Ben J. Wiens, Karen D. Stone, Joseph A. Cook","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01915-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01915-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Parapatric sister species are ideal for tests of ecological interactions. Pacific (<i>Martes caurina</i>) and American pine (<i>M. americana</i>) martens are economically and culturally valuable furbearers that hybridize in the north-central Rocky Mountains. Despite preliminary evidence of biased introgression, the hybrid zone has been geographically stable for 70 years, but interspecific ecological interactions have yet to be examined in detail.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We test whether ecological interactions may influence the outcome of hybridization in this system. To that end, we estimate the fundamental niche of each species and gauge how suitability landscapes change when the two species are in contact.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We genotyped &gt; 400 martens from the Rocky Mountain hybrid zone to diagnose individuals to species-level and identify putative hybrids. We then built range-wide ecological niche models for each species, excluding individuals in the hybrid zone, to approximate their respective fundamental niches. Those models were projected into the hybrid zone and compared with niche models trained on individuals within the hybrid zone to assess how niche dynamics change when the species are in sympatry.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The fundamental niche of each species differed significantly, while the hybrid zone was equally suitable for both. Niches of each species based on models built within the hybrid zone showed that Pacific martens utilized significantly less suitable habitat than expected based on their range-wide fundamental niche, suggesting that species interactions shape local hybridization. We detected few admixed individuals (12%), with no evidence of directional (sex or species) biases. Interstate-90 further acts as a major dispersal barrier.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>North American martens are currently managed as a single species by some state agencies, yet significant ecological and genetic differences indicate they should be managed separately. The observed ecological displacement of Pacific martens by American pine martens may partially explain the mixed success of historical, mixed-species wildlife translocations and cautions such translocations in the future. Landscape-scale consideration of ecological dynamics, in addition to molecular compatibility, will be essential to the success of future translocations.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"214 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141528907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban oasis? Abundant dice snake (Natrix tessellata) populations along artificial lakeside habitats in urban landscapes","authors":"Boglárka Mészáros, József Bürgés, Mónika Tamás, Blanka Gál, Dénes Schmera, Andrew J. Hamer","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01917-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01917-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Human-induced landscape modification, such as urbanization, creates new environments that can have adverse effects on flora and fauna, posing threats to biodiversity. Understanding how reptiles respond to urbanization is crucial, especially in light of their ongoing population declines.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We examined the influence of landscape-scale and local-scale urbanization features on the abundance of an aquatic snake species. Our investigation focused on dice snakes (<i>Natrix tessellata</i>) inhabiting a lake with a heavily urbanized shoreline.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We conducted visual encounter surveys at 25 study sites during the activity period of dice snakes around Lake Balaton in Hungary. We measured both landscape-scale and local-scale variables, including urban land use cover, vegetation cover, road cover, distance of main roads and city size, emergent vegetation cover and the area of artificial rock and concrete shoreline protection structures. We analysed snake survey data using N-mixture models to estimate abundance and examine relationships with landscape-scale and local-scale variables.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Urban land use cover, road cover, the proximity of main roads and the extent of artificial rock and concrete shoreline protection structures positively affected the abundance of snakes. These findings imply that urban habitats may offer new ecological opportunities for dice snakes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The findings of this study indicate that both landscape-scale and local-scale human-induced landscape modifications may have a positive impact on the abundance of urban snakes. Taken together, our findings suggest that urbanization is a complex phenomenon, affecting species at different levels and with subtle effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141501689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal dynamics of fairy circles in Namibia are driven by rainfall and soil infiltrability","authors":"Stephan Getzin, Sönke Holch, Johanna M. Ottenbreit, Hezi Yizhaq, Kerstin Wiegand","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01924-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01924-x","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Namibia’s fairy circles (FCs) form an extraordinary vegetation pattern along the Namib Desert. Recent evidence from multiple fieldwork activities is increasingly supporting the view that FCs result from biomass-water feedbacks and plant self-organization.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>To shed light on these biomass-water feedbacks, we focused here on a temporal analysis of the spatial FC patterns with regard to vegetation response after rainfall events.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We analyzed the distribution of FCs in 10 drone-mapped study plots of the Namib and related their spatial patterns to the soil infiltrability. Additionally, we mapped three plots repeatedly during the rainfall seasons 2020–2023 to assess how the emerging grasses within FCs changed the FC patterns after rainfall.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>We found that the most regular, spatially periodic, FCs occurred in areas with deep aeolian sands where rain water infiltrates very quickly and homogenously across the study plot, which enables the most symmetric competitive interactions between the grasses. After ample rainfall following a drought period, between 58 and 34% of all mature FCs revegetated. These 1092 closing FCs were 73 times more than the 15 new FCs that formed during the same time. The closing FCs occurred in areas where there was locally a higher density of FCs, which act as underground water sources for the surrounding grasses.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Our study shows that the dynamic vegetation response to rainfall and soil water is the key driver of the FC patterns. Overall, the research underlines that Namibia’s fairy circles are a self-organized emergent vegetation pattern that is driven by biomass-water feedbacks and the competition of grasses for limiting water resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141501732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}