Determining priority areas for native woodland expansion and restoration in Snowdonia National Park, Wales

There has been much interest recently in large-scale forest conservation and the development of forest habitat networks, but the available work is mainly couched in general terms, or lies inaccessible in commissioned reports. In this study we developed a method for identifying priority areas for native woodland creation and restoration using a Geographical Information System (GIS). Ecological criteria were employed that integrate the requirements for successful woodland expansion from the nature conservation point of view and specific policy aims. The Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK, was used as a pilot area for developing and testing the methodology, but it could be used in any analysis requiring the identification of optimal locations for native woodland expansion at a regional or large-district scale.     

Designing protected areas to conserve riverine biodiversity: Lessons from a hypothetical redesign of the Kruger National Park

The process of designing protected areas to represent all ecosystems in an area adequately is becoming increasingly sophisticated. To date freshwater aquatic ecosystems have seldom been considered in this process. How much of a difference does it make when they are considered as well?This study examined the conservation of riverine biodiversity within 17 assessment units contained by the catchment areas of five perennial rivers flowing through Kruger National Park and two seasonal rivers that are largely contained within this park. Physical river types, fish species and invertebrate families or genera were used as surrogates of riverine biodiversity. Conservation planning software was used to select an optimal set of planning units to represent and maintain riverine biodiversity.The current spatial configuration of Kruger National Park, largely an accident of history, is particularly poor when assessed against the objective of conserving riverine biodiversity. Several alternative layouts are examined. These options are theoretical since there is little current opportunity to reassign land uses in the region. This study shows that substantially improved layouts for both riverine and terrestrial biodiversity are possible, under the constraint of the same total area under protection. The study also shows that even these optimal layouts are only partially successful in efforts to conserve fully representative samples of riverine biodiversity. Because of the longitudinal connectivity of rivers, conservation strategies that extend beyond protected areas are essential. Explicit conservation visions, targets and strategies need to be included in integrated water resource management plans.Based on the results of this study, nine recommendations are provided for increasing the effectiveness of current and future protected areas in conserving riverine biodiversity. These are to use systematic conservation planning to make biodiversity benefits explicit; mend the disconnect between terrestrial and freshwater conservation; use multiple surrogates wherever possible; be strategic about the collection and management of primary data; strive for maximum hydrologic connectivity; resist development pressure; foster good relationships across park fences; where relevant, pursue multi-national cooperation at the basin scale; and engage the value debate and resolve awareness and capacity constraints.     

Visible Ozone Injury on Forest Trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

During the summer of 1991 ozone injury trend plots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, consisting of mature black cherry, sassafras and yellow-poplar were established near three ozone monitors, ranging in elevation from 597-1265 m. Beginning in mid-August 1991-1993, three exposed branches each from the upper- and mid- to lower-crown of each tree were collected and evaluated for ozone injury. Of the trees examined, 63%, 52% and 36% exhibited some amount of foliar injury in 1991, 1992 and 1993, respectively. Ozone injury across species was the greatest at Cove Mountain in all three years of the study. Overall, across sites and years, 11, 12 and 11% of all leaves examined exhibited visible injury for black cherry, sassfras and yellow-poplar, respectively. The percentage of injured leaves per branch was greater in the mid- to lower-canopy for black cherry, across all sites. Trees for each species that exhibited the greatest or least amounts of visible injury did so in all three years of the study, indicating a differential sensitivity within each species population. No significant ozone exposure-tree response relationships were observed with any variable tested. These data indicate that ozone concentrations are high enough to cause visible symptoms to selected trees within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA.     

Tree reactions and dune movements: Slowinski National Park,Poland

The effects on tree growth of both climatic and non-climatic variables were investigated in relation to dune dynamics at three sites on the Czolpinska dune in the Slowinski National Park, Poland where aeolian sediments are invading a forest of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). We found that where dune advance was relatively rapid, tree vitality declined after stem burial was over 1.9 m, but where advance was under 1 m/yr survival was remarkably increased, one tree survived, albeit with thinning needles, after an estimated 11.4 m burial. Below sand-surface stem discs, cut 0.5 m apart, from a heavily suppressed tree revealed a difference in narrow-ring reactions of up to 2 years over a 2 m burial distance; the discs also showed a time lag of 4 years before compression wood formation. Consequently, when estimating sand-movement rates we discounted compression wood reactions; we also excluded climatic events and pest infestations. The remaining data supplied a sand-advance rate at Site 1 from 2.4 to 3.5 m/yr. At Site 2, rates were from 1.2 to 2.5 m/yr, with a direct measurement of 0.3 m/yr between 2006 and 2007. At Site 3 rates were from 0.3 to 1.2 m/yr, with dune migration here virtually at a standstill over the last seven years. Direct measurement of sand movement (3.03 m/yr) at Site 1 was slower than the lowest rate (3.5 m/yr) previously recorded by Borówka (1980) for the larger dune system.     

Episodic acidification of three streams in Shenandoah National Park,Virginia, USA

Short-term acidification of surface waters in the eastern United States accompanying rainfall and snowmelt events represents an important aspect of the regional acidification problem. The objectives of this field study were to (1) examine the changes in acid-base chemistry during stormflow conditions, (2) understand the hydrological flowpaths that control streamwater acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), and (3) evaluate the contribution of individual ions to the overall changes in streamwater ANC. Three forested mountain streams in Shenandoah National Park (Paine Run, Piney River, and Staunton River) were chosen based on their similar catchment size (11–13 km²) but different bedrock geology and baseflow ANC. Throughout the three-year study, samples were collected at eight-hour intervals (primarily to establish antecedent baseflow conditions), and at two-hour intervals during events until the flow receded. All samples were analyzed for pH, ANC, and all major cations and anions. During storm events, pH and ANC decreases were observed in all streams, with ANC becoming negative several times in Paine Run. Base cation concentrations typically increased in Paine Run and Staunton River, but usually decreased in Piney River. Sulfate and nitrate concentrations generally increased in all streams. Antecedent baseflow ANC was found to be the best predictor of the minimum ANC. The data from more than 40 episodes on these streams (initiated by 25 different storm events) are interpreted to evaluate the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of acidity to these acid-sensitive natural waters.     

Oil prospecting and its impact on large rainforest mammals in Loango National Park, Gabon

Resource extraction is increasingly affecting protected areas worldwide. However, aside from studies on logging, limited information is available about the effect this has on wildlife, which may be of great consequence, especially when endangered species could be affected. Specifically, the effect of intense human-induced noise during oil exploration on wildlife is poorly understood. We explore the effect of seismic oil exploration on large mammal distribution in an 80 km² area of Loango National Park, Gabon. Following the ecological theory of habitat disturbance, we predicted that changes in habitat use in response to noise disturbance would scale with the body/home range size of each species examined. Our study was conducted over six months before, during and after low-impact seismic operations. We recorded counts along transects of indirect signs of elephants (Loxondota africana cyclotis), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), duikers (Cephalophus spp.), and the vocalizations of five monkey species (Cercocebus torquatus,Cercopithecus cephus, C. nictitans, C. pogonias and Lophocebusalbigena) and modeled seismic impact over different spatial scales (small, intermediate and large). We found that elephants avoided seismic activity on all three spatial scales, apes avoided on the intermediate and small scales, and there was no effect for duikers and monkeys. We conclude that low-impact seismic operations can cause considerable temporary habitat loss for species with large ranges and suggest that the impact on those endangered species can be minimized by adequately spacing seismic lines and activity in space and time to enable species to move away from the progressive noise disruption.     

Livestock loss caused by predators outside the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Human-carnivore conflict is a serious management issue often causing opposition towards conservation efforts. In a survey of 481 households in seven different villages outside the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, 67.4% of respondents owned livestock and 27.4% of all the households surveyed reported losses of a total of 4.5% of their livestock to wild predators over 12 months. This loss equated to an average annual financial loss of 19.2% (US $26.8) of their cash income. Livestock depredation was reported to be caused most often by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) (97.7%), leopard (Panthera pardus) (1.6%), baboon (Papio cynocephalus) (0.4%), lion (Panthera leo) (0.1%) and lastly black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) (0.1%). Total reported losses during 2003 amounted to US $12,846 of which spotted hyena kills were reported to account for 98.2%. The mean annual livestock loss per household (of those that reported loss) was 5.3 head of stock, which represents more than two-thirds of the local average annual cash income. Depredation by large felids occurred only in a narrow zone along the protected area (<3 km), whereas spotted hyenas killed livestock even in households located far away (>30 km). Tolerance of livestock depredation among the respondents was low. Logistic regression models indicated that education improved tolerance, while for livestock owners higher depredation rates was linked to approval of lethal retaliation and effective protection measures was associated with a reduced desire of retaliation. We recommend that further research should identify the precise causes of livestock loss and which protection measures that can reduce depredation.     

Livestock predation by carnivores in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan

Villages in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, central Bhutan, report livestock depredation by wild carnivores including leopard (Panthera pardus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibettanus), and dhole (Cuon alpinus). In a survey of 274 households in six different geogs (sub-districts) within the park, 21.2% of households surveyed reported losses of a total of 2.3% of their domestic animals to wild predators over 12 months. This loss equated to an average annual financial loss equal to 17% (US$ 44.72) of their total per-capita cash income. Total reported losses during 2000 amounted to US$ 12,252, of which leopard and tiger kills accounted for 82% (US$ 10,047). Annual mean livestock loss per household (of those that reported loss) was 1.29 head of stock, equating to more than two-thirds of their annual cash income of $250. Lax herding, inadequate guarding practices, and overgrazing may have contributed to livestock losses. Approximately 60% of the households lacked proper stables for corralling their livestock at night and there was a significant correlation between the number of livestock lost and the distance between the household and the grazing pasture. Overall, reported predation rates have increased since the inception of the park in 1993 and since implementation of the Forest and Nature Conservation Act in 1995, which prioritises some of Bhutan’s key livestock predators for conservation. We propose livestock intensification programmes, including pasture improvement, and financial compensation as short-term measures to reduce conflict between people and predators. In the long-term, we recommend that the feasibility of an insurance scheme should be tested, the possibility of relaxing the resource use restrictions in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of 1995 be explored, and that farmers should be involved in managing human-wildlife conflicts - particularly through improving their own herding and guarding practices, and building proper corralling facilities and adopting reliable corralling procedures.     

Chemical characterization of several wetlands in Kejimkujik National Park,Nova Scotia

Results are presented from an investigation of wetland chemistry in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. Significant differences in the major ionic constituents occurred between wetlands classified as bogs and those classified as fens, indicating the more minerotrophic status of the latter. The fens, however, were categorized as extremely poor, being very low in pH and base cations, indicating almost no buffering capacity. This type of wetland is regarded as transitional to bog and is viewed as highly sensitive to acid deposition by Gorham et al. (1987). Further alkalinity losses may result in abrupt changes in floral assemblages with rapid invasion of carpet forming Sphagnum species.     

Plant endemism and natural protected areas in the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico

The Peninsula of Baja California, Mexico has long been recognized as a hotspot for plant richness and endemism. However, its extraordinary diversity is not adequately protected by the existing protected areas. We analyzed the distribution of the endemic vascular flora of the peninsula, and its presence or absence in protected areas. We also identified regions with greater numbers of endemic species not currently under protected status. The families Asteraceae, Cactaceae, and Fabaceae alone contain 40% of the endemic species. All the peninsular species within the Begoniaceae, Thymeliaceae, Araliaceae and Hippocastanaceae are endemic. Of the total number of endemic taxa in the region, 76.4% are present within protected areas. The endemic genera Adenothamnus, Carterothamnus, Faxonia, and Ornithostaphylos are entirely absent from protected areas. Of the 567 endemics found in protected areas 75 represent varieties or subspecies Of the 175 not found in protected areas 21 are varieties or subspecies. A gap analysis identified that the areas with the highest number of unprotected endemic species are in the Mediterranean-type ecosystems of the north-west part of the peninsula and in the deciduous dry tropical communities of the cape region at the southernmost tip of Baja California. Our findings suggest that it is necessary to create several protected areas along the peninsula for the successful conservation of rare and endemic taxa These new areas should encompass a latitudinal gradient of biogeographical units (including Mediterranean communities and montane habitats of the Sierras) along the peninsula.     

Effects of nonnative fish and habitat characteristics on lentic herpetofauna in Yosemite National Park, USA

Nonnative fishes have been introduced into naturally fishless mountain lakes worldwide, often with negative consequences for native fauna. In this study, I used data collected during a census of native herpetofauna, nonnative trout, and habitat characteristics at all lentic water bodies in Yosemite National Park (n=2655) to quantify the effect of trout introductions and habitat on the distribution of four amphibian species and two reptile species. Impacts of trout on amphibians and reptiles were characterized using generalized additive models that included as predictor variables fish presence/absence, amphibian presence/absence (only in models for the two reptile species), elevation, water depth, littoral zone and shoreline substrate composition, relative survey date, and location. All species showed significant associations with habitat characteristics, and elevation and water depth appeared particularly important in influencing distributions. In addition, distributions of the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) and Pacific treefrog (Hyla regilla) were strongly negatively associated with the presence of nonnative trout while those of the Yosemite toad (Bufo canorus) and Sierra newt (Taricha torosa sierrae) were unrelated to trout presence. The distribution of the mountain garter snake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) was strongly negatively associated with the presence of nonnative trout and positively associated with the presence of native amphibians. Regression results for the Sierra garter snake (Thamnophis couchi couchi) were similar except that the direct effect of nonnative trout was considerably weaker. Together, these results indicate that trout introductions have resulted in considerable alteration of Yosemite's herpetofauna. Long-term studies will be necessary to determine whether removal of nonnative trout populations, where possible, would allow these impacts to be partially reversed.     

Covadonga National Park,Asturias, Spain. Its history,conservation interest and management problems

The Covadonga National Park was the first to be established (1918) in Spain and is one of the oldest in Europe. Its fauna and flora include many species of interest and the park area is representative of the prevailing ecosystem throughout the wet zone of Spain neighbouring the Cantabrican mountain range. Its history is complex, having been influenced by different political ideologies dominant within the Government. The last few years have been particularly critical as the massive promotion of the country's tourism has led to the occupation of even the most wild and remote areas.For its future protection it would be advisable to adopt basic reforms which should include an extension of its present limits and the reintroduction of species which have recently disappeared.     

A variable edge effect on trees of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, and its bearing on measurement parameters

With tropical forests under increased pressure from fragmentation and nascent effects of climate change, it is imperative to reliably predict change for timely reduction of impacts. This depends on measuring the right variables and analyzing them in ways that best detect change. I compared the usefulness of density, species richness, species diversity, and size in detecting edge penetration; and other parameters in revealing edge effect on tree species in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Trees were sampled in 104 1 km edge-interior transects set around the entire park. Density and species richness were better indicators of edge-width than girth size and diversity measurements, both showing edge penetration as most intense within 300 m, although effect was detectable up to 900-1000 m. This estimate compared closely with an earlier estimate of 300-350 m obtained using incidences of resource harvest. Among other measures, measures of tree species abundance and frequency showed significant response to the edge by both early succession and primary forest species; while analyses of density showed edge response primarily by forest interior species. Parameters of tree size and their derivatives showed edge response by the lowest number of species. These results suggest that to measure edge effects reliably, it is important to select the right parameters.     

Morphogenetic features of soils in the Cat Tien National Park,southern Vietnam

Morphogenetic features of soils on the selected plots in the Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam have been studied with the use of a set of morphological, analytical, and instrumental methods. The lithological factor and topographic position play the leading role in the development of the particular genetic soil features. The soils can be subdivided into four groups according to these factors. The soils developing from volcanic deposits with a predominance of tephra can be classified as thin clayey brown tropical soils (Dystric Skeletic Rhodic Cambisols (Clayic)), and the soils developed from less weathered colluvial derivatives of basalts with some admixture of tephra can be classified as dark-humus clayey tropical soils (Skeletic Greyzemic Umbrisols (Clayic)). Very poor soils developed from the eluvium of argillites are classified as thin weakly developed clayey tropical soils (Dystric Regosols (Clayic)). The soils forming from the alluvial sediments of different textures are classified as alluvial loamy sandy soils (Dystric Fluvisols (Arenic, Drainic)) and as alluvial clay loamy soils (Eutric Fluvisols (Episiltic, Endoclayic)).     

Mercury Transport in a High-Elevation Watershed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Mercury (Hg) was measured in stream water and precipitation in the Loch Vale watershed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, during 2001–2002 to investigate processes controlling Hg transport in high-elevation ecosystems. Total Hg concentrations in precipitation ranged from 2.6 to 36.2 ng/L and showed a strong seasonal pattern with concentrations that were 3 to 4 times higher during summer months. Annual bulk deposition of Hg was 8.3 to 12.4 μ g/m² and was similar to deposition rates in the Midwestern and Northeastern U.S. Total Hg concentrations in streams ranged from 0.8 to 13.5 ng/L and were highest in mid-May on the rising limb of the snowmelt hydrograph. Stream-water Hg was positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon suggesting organically complexed Hg was flushed into streams from near-surface soil horizons during the early stages of snowmelt. Methylmercury (MeHg) in stream water peaked at 0.048 ng/L just prior to peak snowmelt but was at or below detection (< 0.040 ng/L) for the remainder of the snowmelt season. Annual export of total Hg in Loch Vale streams ranged from 1.2 to 2.3 μ g/m², which was less than 20% of wet deposition, indicating the terrestrial environment is a net sink of atmospheric Hg. Concentrations of MeHg in stream water and corresponding watershed fluxes were low, indicating low methylation rates or high demethylation rates or both.     

Trophic cascades involving cougar, mule deer, and black oaks in Yosemite National Park

Using a historical reconstruction, we discovered a potential trophic cascade involving cougar (Puma concolor), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) in the Yosemite Valley of Yosemite National Park in California. Our objective was to determine whether large deer populations in the absence of a top-level carnivore were suppressing tree regeneration. As human visitation increased in the early 1900s and cougar became increasingly scarce, the mule deer population irrupted in the 1920s. In August 2006, we undertook a retrospective study of black oak recruitment (i.e., growth of seedling/sprouts into tall saplings and trees) by inventorying all black oaks in stands accessible to deer and greater than 0.5 ha in size (18 stands, 2921 trees). We similarly inventoried oaks within sites representing refugia from deer browsing (4 stands, 481 trees). While significantly diminished oak recruitment has occurred since the 1920s in stands accessible to deer (p < 0.01), continuous recruitment of oaks was found in refugia sites. We also found less oak recruitment in areas of high human activity near the park’s visitor center (p < 0.01), possibly due to behaviorally-mediated effects of lower cougar and higher deer densities. Overall our results are consistent with trophic cascade theory involving large predators, herbivores, and plants. The long-term lack of oak recruitment is also an indicator of a probable loss of biodiversity.