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Management of marine ecosystems
Published in David R. Green, Jeffrey L. Payne, Marine and Coastal Resource Management, 2017
Roger J.H. Herbert, Justine Saunders
Marine ecological and oceanographic survey data is often complex and yet over the past 150 years of exploration, global patterns have emerged which have led to several attempts to describe and interpret variations in marine communities. Most recently, Spalding et al. (2007) developed a higher resolution system of ‘marine ecoregions’ that are more appropriate for the management of marine resources within coastal and shelf areas. Around the European coast, communities of marine organisms are being classified and mapped to provide an inventory of marine species and resources in support of environmental assessment and conservation. The Marine Habitat and Classification System of Britain and Ireland is a tool based on the identification of ‘biotopes’ that can be cross-referenced with the European Nature Information System (EUNIS, 2005). A biotope description includes information on the biological assemblage present (i.e. seaweeds and animals) and the physical characteristics of the habitat, such as sediment type and wave energy. The classification system is continually being refined for both intertidal and subtidal habitats and is being used in the design of a network of Marine Protected Areas in the UK to ensure that there is an adequate level of replication of broad-scale habitat types across the network. Biotopes can now be easily mapped using marine geographical information systems (GISs) with associated bathymetry (Figure 12.2).
Organisation at Population Level
Published in Kimon Hadjibiros, Ecology and Applied Environmental Science, 2013
A sub-total of the concept “ecological niche” is the ecological habitat, i.e. the set of the geographical, abiotic and biotic conditions of the natural environment that suit a population. In the past, the biotope had a similar meaning. Currently, the term biotope is mostly used to define a geographical area important for the conservation of the natural environment because one or more protected biological species dwell there. The adoption of the biotope concept gives an existing and expanding use of the term.
From landscape consumption to landscape production
Published in Wang Yuehan, Ge Shirong, Guo Guangli, Mining Science and Technology, 2004
There is no denying the fact that die landscape is strongly disturbed, but with the reconstruction of the landscape in mining areas the question rises: which chances offer abandoned mining landscape for tomorrow? – Without doubt the mining activities are concerned with enormous destructions of nature and landscape. But it is also to be understood that the landscape of the mining regions bear a distinct impress of abandoned mining lands based on their size and form. They are unchangeable and irreplaceable and are becoming firm component of the culture landscape. They are sign for the industry history stamped by the coal mining and of the regional development, also over the boundary out.– With rational planning the abandoned mining land and its surrounding field can be reconstructed into new free time place and place of entertainment without utilization of new natural landscape, on the other hand the abandoned mining land can be reclamated and used as settlement and/or residential area of new enterprises.– The materials of the mining dumps could be used in the streets building, dike building and reconstruction of landscape or to electrical power production.– After termination of the mining only formative measures can be taken for the biotope development apart from the cover viewed effects. Ecological niches should be offered as many as possible for distinctive plant and animal species, in order to achieve an optimal working order for the natural protection. In according to the model of nature the different relief, water state and substrate conditions are in its logical combinations base and initial for the development of the landscape type biotope mosaic, which variety increases both under the conditions of the natural succession and under special uses and maintenance.– Additionally the succession areas on waste dumps, in which the tilted overburden remains without remachining, have large contribution to the natural protection. Constant opening of raw floor spaces, erosion and slips in connection with sun-exposed slopes create optimal living conditions for plants and animals of open sand areas. Along with the reclamation new protected areas in the abandoned mine land can also be created.
From water sensitive to floodable: defining adaptive urban design for water resilient cities
Published in Journal of Urban Design, 2019
AS3. Multiscalarity: Understanding blue-green networks across different scales is a priority in the urban design process (Ahern 2013). This concept has its origins in both landscape architecture (Benedict 2006; Mostafavi and Doherty 2015) and in landscape ecology (Forman 1986, 1995; Farina 2006). The urban water system is a complex network of streams and catchment basins of different orders, connecting various landscape scales (Farina 2006). A localized disturbance or interruption along the catchment network may impair the whole urban ecosystem. Therefore, multiscalarity has been identified as one of the key concepts for sustainable urban rainwater management. Achieving a sustainable rainwater management system requires simultaneous governance and planning at the neighbourhood, urban and regional scales through a network of ecological systems, either natural or semi-natural, providing ecosystem services at all spatial scales of the urban landscape (Tzoulas et al. 2007; Matthews, Lo, and Byrne 2015). Architectural, urban and planning projects, from roof and facade biotopes to larger urban forests or wetlands, must be integrated coherently in a comprehensive regulatory framework. Working at multiple scales allows the benefits of integrated water management to be achieved (Wong 2006; Wong and Brown 2008; Backhaus, Dam, and Jensen 2012; Demuzere et al. 2014). Examples of multiscale design include large nature and leisure parks, such as Arnhem Floodable city park in the Netherlands designed under the Dutch Room of the river programme.
Periphytic diatoms of the Mediterranean karst spring Sa Vena (Su Gologone system, Sardinia, Italy): relationships with environmental variables and effects of an extreme flash flood
Published in Inland Waters, 2018
Giuseppina G. Lai, Luc Ector, Carlos E. Wetzel, Nicola Sechi, Antonella Lugliè, Bachisio M. Padedda
Sa Vena spring was characterized by a high species richness and biotic integrity despite some direct impacts (e.g., water abstraction). The diatom assemblages showed significant differences between the 2 substrates (according to our initial hypothesis) and on the same substrate (contrary to our initial hypothesis), mainly due to seasonal variations in water level (irregular rainfall, water abstraction, and periodic floods). The extreme flash flood induced changes in environmental conditions and mainly affected the epiphytic assemblages. Epiphytic diatoms are highly sensitive to temporal variations in water level and they can highlight changes due to the hydrologic disturbance in spring environments. The results suggest the importance of the proper management and preservation of this biotope, both for the high biodiversity and potential vulnerability to climate change.