Land use and land cover modification and its impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem services in District Kurram, Pakistan / Uso del suelo y modificación de la cobertura terrestre y su impacto en la biodiversidad y los servicios de los ecosistemas en el distrito de Kurram, Pakistán

Modifications of land use and vegetation cover are proceeding faster than ever before in human history, with a considerable reduction in forest cover in biodiversity hotspots. We investigated the land use and vegetation cover changes, their impact on biodiversity in the Kurram District, Pakistan, for 27 years (1989 to 2015). Temporal satellite imagery was processed using a supervised maximum likelihood classification algorithm in ARCGIS 10.1 to elucidate information regarding land use/land cover changes,with conducted structured interviews to obtain the inhabitants' perspectives on their dependence on ecosystems in Kurram, and how their environment is changing. We found that the land under forest cover and rangeland showed a remarkable decrease over the study period. This decline in rangeland and forest cover was a result of the increased of farmland, barren land. The study area is part of a biodiversity, with important medicinal, rare and unique plant species.

Las modificaciones del uso de la tierra y la cobertura vegetal están avanzando más rápido que nunca en la historia de la humanidad, con una reducción considerable de la cobertura forestal en los puntos críticos de biodiversidad. Investigamos el uso de la tierra y los cambios en la cobertura vegetal, su impacto en la biodiversidad en el distrito de Kurram, Pakistán, durante 27 años (1989 a 2015). Las imágenes satelitales temporales se procesaron utilizando un algoritmo de clasificación de máxima verosimilitud supervisada en ARCGIS 10.1 para dilucidar información sobre los cambios en el uso del suelo/cobertura del suelo, con entrevistas estructuradas realizadas para obtener las perspectivas de los habitantes sobre su dependencia de los ecosistemas en Kurram y cómo está cambiando su entorno. Descubrimos que la tierra cubierta por bosques y pastizales mostró una disminución notable durante el período de estudio. Esta disminución en los pastizales y la cubierta forestal fue el resultado del aumento de las tierras de cultivo, tierras estériles. El área de estudio es parte de una biodiversidad, con importantes especies de plantas medicinales, raras y únicas.

Non-invasive genetic sampling reveals a habitat use extension of Chrysocyon brachyurus and Leopardus guttulus inside a protected area of Southeastern Brazil / Amostragem genética não-invasiva revela uma extensão do uso de habitat por Chrysocyon brachyurus e Leopardus guttulus em uma área protegida do Sudeste do Brasil

Abstract Anthropogenic activities have modified landscapes leading to environmental damages and to a threatened biodiversity. As a result, protected areas have become the last refuge for many species. Protected areas surrounded by a highly modified landscape may accumulate species, especially large mammals, which may alter their habitual habitat use. Here we used non-invasive DNA analysis, molecular species identification, and landscape analyses to assess the habitat use of carnivore species in an isolated protected area, Itatiaia National Park (PNI). Two species were by far the most sampled within PNI, Chrysocyon brachyurus and Leopardus guttulus. The spatial distribution of each species was assessed to the following landscape variables: altitude; land use/land cover; slope and Euclidean distances from water and from urban buildings. The habitat use of C. brachyurus and L. guttulus was related to altitude and land use/land cover. We tested whether there were differences in the environmental indicators considering both species, which showed that higher altitudes, forest and/or grassland formation were indeed associated with them. We highlighted the unprecedented presence of both species at altitudes up to 2,631 meters. Our results suggest a habitat use extension for both species inside the PNI that could be a consequence of the highly modified landscape where PNI is inserted. Therefore, the results can be helpful for better understanding the species dynamics and their conservation in the face of landscape changes. Further, this study may be of help for management and conservation policies of this emblematic protected area.

Resumo As atividades antropogênicas modificaram as paisagens levando a danos ambientais e a uma biodiversidade ameaçada. Como resultado, as áreas protegidas se tornaram o último refúgio para muitas espécies. Áreas protegidas cercadas por uma paisagem altamente modificada podem acumular espécies, especialmente grandes mamíferos, o que pode alterar o uso de seu habitat habitual. Neste trabalho, usamos análise de DNA não-invasivo, identificação molecular de espécies e análises de paisagem para avaliar o uso de habitat de carnívoros em uma área protegida isolada, o Parque Nacional de Itatiaia (PNI). Duas espécies foram de longe as mais amostradas dentro do PNI, Chrysocyon brachyurus e Leopardus guttulus. A distribuição espacial de cada espécie foi avaliada com as seguintes variáveis paisagísticas: altitude; uso e cobertura do solo; declividade e distâncias euclidianas da água e de construções urbanas. O uso de C. brachyurus e L. guttulus no habitat estava relacionado à altitude e ao uso e cobertura do solo. Testamos se existiam diferenças nos indicadores ambientais considerando ambas as espécies, o que mostrou que altitudes mais elevadas, formação de florestas e/ou campestres estavam de fato associadas a elas. Destacamos a presença incomum de ambas as espécies em altitudes de até 2.631 metros. Nossos resultados sugerem uma extensão do uso do habitat conhecido para ambas as espécies como possível consequência da paisagem altamente modificada onde o PNI está inserido. Portanto, os resultados podem ser úteis para entender melhor a dinâmica das espécies e sua conservação diante das mudanças na paisagem. Além disso, este estudo pode ser útil para as políticas de manejo e conservação desta emblemática área protegida.

The impact of land use/cover structure and changes on plague prevalence of Spermophilus Dauricus plague foci in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To study the relationship between land use/cover structure and changes and risk of plague prevalence.Methods Chifeng,Aohan,Alukeerqin and Wengniute were selected as typical areas of Spermophilus Dauricus plague foci in Inner Mongolia,density of Spermophilus Dauricus,plague epidemic and land use data in 1986,1995,2000 were collected,and risk of plague prevalence was represented by the density of Spermophilus Dauricus and epizooty of Spermophilus Dauricus.The percentage of land type structure,change degree of integrated land cover,division index of grassland for plague suitable habitat were calculated with ArcGIS 9.3.The relationship between the land use,cover change and the plague epidemic were analyzed by the methods of comparative.Results From 1982 to 2000,the density of Spermophilus Dauricus was lower than 0.4/hm2 and no epizooty of Spermophilus Dauricus was observed both in Aohan Banner and Chifeng City,which indicated low risk of plague prevalence.Contrarily,from 1982 to 2000,the density of Spermophilus Dauricus was higher than 1.0/hm2,and epizooty of Spermophilus Dauricus was prevalent in Alukerqin Banner,which implied high risk of plague prevalence.In Wenguiute Banner,the density of Spermophilus Dauricus was lower than 0.3/hm2 from 1982 to 1990,after then showed a rising trend,reached higher than 1.0/hm2 in 1991,1995-1997,and epizooty of Spermophilus Dauricus was also monitored,which denoted high risk of plague prevalence;In 1986,1995 and 2000,the proportions of grassland of Wengniute Banner,Alukerqinqi Banner (51.36％,49.14％,48.28％;56.97％,57.48％,57.44％) were much higher than Chifeng and Aohan Banner (35.99％,33.24％,32.95％;38.94％,34.46％,31.31％),but those of arable land (16.81％,18.78％,20.22％;13.28％,14.92％,15.15％) were lower than Chifeng and Aohan Banner (39.73％,42.25％,42.67％;41.21％,43.99％,49.53％).The highest of comprehensively dynamic degree of land cover changes appeared in Aohan Banner,and it was 0.53 and 1.11 in 1986 vs.1995 and 1995 vs.2000,respectively,and the lowest in Alukeerqin Banner,it was 0.22 and 0.05 during those periods.The grassland division index in Alukeerqin Banner was the lowest,which was 0.29 in 1986,0.28 in 1995,and 0.29 in 2000.The grassland division index was higher and showed a upward trends in Aohan Banner,which was 0.57 in 1986,0.69 in 1995 and 0.71 in 2000.Conclusion There is a certain relation between risk of plague prevalence and land use/cover structure and changes.

Ecology of Land Cover Change in Glaciated Tropical Mountains

Tropical mountains contain unique biological diversity, and are subject to many consequences of global climate change, exasperated by concurrent socioeconomic shifts. Glaciers are in a negative mass balance, exposing substrates to primary succession and altering downslope wetlands and streams. A review of recent trends and future predictions suggests a likely reduction in areas of open habitat for species of high mountains due to greater woody plant cover, accompanied by land use shifts by farmers and pastoralists along the environmental gradients of tropical mountains. Research is needed on the biodiversity and ecosystem consequences of successional change, including the direct effects of retreating glaciers and the indirect consequences of combined social and ecological drivers in lower elevations. Areas in the high mountains that are protected for nature conservation or managed collectively by local communities represent opportunities for integrated research and development approaches that may provide ecological spaces for future species range shifts.

Las montañas tropicales incluyen una singular diversidad biológica sujeta a las numerosas consecuencias del cambio climático global, exacerbado por concurrentes cambios socio-económicos. Los glaciares están en un balance negativo de su masa, promoviendo la exposición de los suelos a la colonización primaria, y alterando pantanos y riachuelos en las partes bajas. Revisiones de las tendencias actuales y predicciones sugieren que las especies de alta montaña sufrirían una reducción en las áreas de hábitats abiertos, debido al incremento en la cobertura de plantas leñosas, acompañado por los cambios en el uso del paisaje causados por agricultores y pastores a lo largo de las gradientes ambientales en las montañas tropicales. Es necesaria la investigación de las consecuencias en la biodiversidad y en los ecosistemas por causados por los cambios sucesionales, incluyendo los efectos directos del retroceso de los glaciares y las consecuencias indirectas de la acción combinada de factores sociales y ecológicos que ocurren en altitudes inferiores. Las áreas protegidas en las altas montañas usadas en la conservación de la naturaleza o manejadas colectivamente por comunidades locales representan oportunidades donde puede integrarse investigación y planes de desarrollo que podrían proveer espacios ecológicos para los futuros desplazamientos de los rangos de distribución de las especies.

Larval habitats of mosquito fauna in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria

Objective:To determine the larval habitats of mosquito fauna and possible impact of land use/land cover changes on the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern, Nigeria. Methods: All accessible larval habitats were surveyed between May and September, 2011 in Osogbo metropolis while Land Use/ Land cover of the city was analyzed using 2 Lansat Multispectral Scanner satellite imagery of SPOT 1986 and LANDSAT TM 2009. Results:A total of six species namely, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes vittatus, Anopheles gambiae complex, Culex quinquefasciatus and Eretmapodite chrysogaster were encountered during the study. The occurrence and contribution of disused tyres was significantly higher (P0.05). The accessible land use/land covered of the study area between 1986 and 2009 showed that the wet land coverage and settlement area increased from 0.19 to 9.09 hectare and 1.00 to 2.01 hectare respectively while the forest area decreased from 60.18 to 50.14 hectare. Conclusion: The contribution of the habitats coupled with the increasing rate of flooded environment which could provide ample breeding sites for mosquitoes call for sustained environmental sanitation and management in Osogbo metropolis.

Simulating future urban growth in the city of Kahramanmaras, Turkey from 2009 to 2040.

City of Kahramanmaras has witnessed a rapid growth in the last five decades due to its agricultural and industrial potential. Urbanization has brought great challenges to the sustainable development of cities, especially in developing countries. A modeling system that could provide regional assessments of future development and explore the potential impacts of different regional management scenarios would be useful for the future health of the cities. The main goal of this study was to create a modeling system capable of depicting, quantitatively and graphically, the growth impacts of two land use policies and trends in the city of Kahramanmaras. Given its success with regional scale simulation, its ability to incorporate different levels of land protection through an “excluded” layer, and the relative ease of implementation and computation, the model developed by Keith Clarke from University of California at Santa Barbara, known as SLEUTH, was adopted for this study. SLEUTH is a pixel-based cellular automaton (CA) model and has been applied to several cities worldwide successfully. The model was calibrated using historic time series of developed areas derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery between 1984 and 2009, and future growth was projected out to 2040. Two alternative growth scenarios were modeled: (1) current trends, and (2) managed growth: regions with high landscape potential were protected from urbanization. This application of the SLEUTH model demonstrates an ability to address a range of regional planning issues and provides useful information for the cities’ future planning and development.