scholarly journals Habitat restoration opportunities, climatic niche contraction, and conservation biogeography in California's San Joaquin Desert

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph AE Stewart ◽  
H Scott Butterfield ◽  
Jonathan Q Richmond ◽  
David J Germano ◽  
Michael F Westphal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Habitat Protection ◽  
Exotic Grasses ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species ◽  
The Impact

A recent global trend toward retirement of farmland presents opportunities to reclaim habitat for threatened and endangered species. We examine habitat restoration opportunities in one of the world’s most converted landscapes, California’s San Joaquin Desert (SJD). Despite the presence of 35 threatened and endangered species, agricultural expansion continues to drive habitat loss in the SJD, even as marginal farmland is retired. Over the next decades a combination of factors, including salinization, climate change, and historical groundwater overdraft, are projected to lead to the retirement of more than 2,000 km2 of farmland in the SJD. To promote strategic habitat protection and restoration, we conducted a quantitative assessment of habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat suitability, climatic niche stability, climate change impacts, habitat protection, and reintroduction opportunities for an umbrella species of the SJD, the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila). We use our suitability models, in conjunction with modern and historical land use maps, to estimate the historical and modern rate of habitat loss to development. The estimated amount of habitat lost since the species became protected under endangered species law in 1967 is greater than the total amount of habitat currently protected through public ownership and conservation easement. We document climatic niche contraction and associated range contraction away from the more mesic margins of the species’ historical distribution, driven by the anthropogenic introduction of exotic grasses and forbs. The impact of exotic species on G. sila range dynamics appears to be still unfolding. Finally, we use NASA fallowed area maps to identify 610 km2 of fallowed or retired agricultural land with high potential to again serve as habitat. We discuss conservation strategies in light of the potential for habitat restoration and multiple drivers of ongoing and historical habitat loss.

scholarly journals Habitat restoration opportunities, climatic niche contraction, and conservation biogeography in California's San Joaquin Desert

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph AE Stewart ◽  
H Scott Butterfield ◽  
Jonathan Q Richmond ◽  
David J Germano ◽  
Michael F Westphal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Habitat Protection ◽  
Exotic Grasses ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species ◽  
The Impact

A recent global trend toward retirement of farmland presents opportunities to reclaim habitat for threatened and endangered species. We examine habitat restoration opportunities in one of the world’s most converted landscapes, California’s San Joaquin Desert (SJD). Despite the presence of 35 threatened and endangered species, agricultural expansion continues to drive habitat loss in the SJD, even as marginal farmland is retired. Over the next decades a combination of factors, including salinization, climate change, and historical groundwater overdraft, are projected to lead to the retirement of more than 2,000 km2 of farmland in the SJD. To promote strategic habitat protection and restoration, we conducted a quantitative assessment of habitat loss and fragmentation, habitat suitability, climatic niche stability, climate change impacts, habitat protection, and reintroduction opportunities for an umbrella species of the SJD, the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila). We use our suitability models, in conjunction with modern and historical land use maps, to estimate the historical and modern rate of habitat loss to development. The estimated amount of habitat lost since the species became protected under endangered species law in 1967 is greater than the total amount of habitat currently protected through public ownership and conservation easement. We document climatic niche contraction and associated range contraction away from the more mesic margins of the species’ historical distribution, driven by the anthropogenic introduction of exotic grasses and forbs. The impact of exotic species on G. sila range dynamics appears to be still unfolding. Finally, we use NASA fallowed area maps to identify 610 km2 of fallowed or retired agricultural land with high potential to again serve as habitat. We discuss conservation strategies in light of the potential for habitat restoration and multiple drivers of ongoing and historical habitat loss.

scholarly journals Climatic niche contraction, habitat restoration opportunities, and conservation biogeography in California's San Joaquin Desert

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph AE Stewart ◽  
H Scott Butterfield ◽  
Jonathan Q Richmond ◽  
David J Germano ◽  
Michael F Westphal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Exotic Grasses ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species

Aim: Habitat loss has been the greatest historical driver of species extinctions. A recent global trend toward retirement of marginally productive agricultural lands presents opportunities to reclaim critical habitat for endangered species. We examine habitat restoration opportunities in the context of historical sources of habitat loss, including agriculture, development, habitat fragmentation, and invasive-species-mediated climatic niche contraction. Location: California’s San Joaquin Desert (SJD) is one of the world’s most agriculturally productive landscapes. Fragments of remnant habitat serve as habitat for 34 threatened and endangered species. Retirement of agricultural land in the SJD is being driven by climate change, groundwater salinization, and historical groundwater overdraft—even as unmitigated loss of virgin habitat continues. Methods: To promote efficient habitat protection and restoration, we conducted a quantitative assessment of habitat suitability, habitat loss, climatic niche stability, projected effects of climate change, and reintroduction opportunities for an umbrella species, the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila). Results: Analyses indicate that G. sila habitat overlaps with occurrence records for 128 vulnerable species and that its habitat is broadly representative of the habitat of other vulnerable species in the SJD. We document an apparent climatic niche contraction for G. sila and associated range contraction away from more mesic margins of the historical distribution, apparently driven by introduction of exotic grasses and forbs. We use habitat suitability models, in conjunction with modern and historical land use maps, to estimate historical and modern rate of habitat loss to development and fragmentation. We use NASA fallowed area maps to identify 610 km2 of fallowed or retired agricultural land with high potential to be restored as habitat. We discuss conservation strategies in light of anticipated climate change and potential for habitat restoration. Main Conclusions: In the midst of multiple sources of historical and ongoing habitat loss, farmland retirement presents an opportunity to recover large amounts of endangered species habitat.

LAND RECLAMATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA) IN THE CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

2021 ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
M. I. LOSKIN ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Rural Settlements ◽  
Water Pipelines ◽  
Group Water ◽  
Agricultural Water Supply ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

The current state of agricultural land reclamation in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), its role in agricultural production of the republic, taking into account the impact of climate change on irrigation facilities, is considered. It has been established that at present in the sphere of public administration in the field of land reclamation in the republic there are estuary irrigation systems, drainage systems and agricultural water supply facilities, as well as group water pipelines for water supply of rural settlements and irrigation of agricultural land.

Precipitation trends and ruptures effect on catchment hydrology and water resources availability for agricultural lands under climate change

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youness Hrour ◽  
Zahra Thomas ◽  
Ophélie Fovet ◽  
Pauline Rousseau-Gueutin ◽  
Pascal Pichelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Catchment Hydrology ◽  
Agricultural Adaptation ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Precipitation Indices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Precipitation Trends

<p>Water resources depletion under climate change is a major concern over the world. Mediterranean countries are deeply affected by changes in precipitation intensity, duration and frequency. Such changes lead to decrease in the averaged stream discharge and groundwater recharge consequently decreasing water resources availability. Our research focused on a case study performed in the Loukkos catchment, draining an area of 3730 km², located in the north of Morocco. Trend analysis of 8 to 62 years of precipitations was conducted based on statistical tests at about ten stations over the catchment. 20 to 70 years of temperature and discharge data were also analyzed. The time series were investigated using several non-parametric tests in order to characterize trends, to track down changes and their effect on agricultural land changes at the catchment scale. The present study highlights the impact of climate and catchment hydrology on agricultural practices and water resources used for irrigation. Analysis of precipitation indices showed that the temporal distribution of precipitation in the study area has changed since the 1970s. This change results from a reduction in precipitation, a shift in the hydrological year and a reduction in the number of wet days per year. Severe drought periods appear after the climatic rupture, which occurred around 1971. An increase in the intensity and frequency of droughts, in addition to an increase in the annual and seasonal average temperature (more than 1°C) were observed. Such changes contributed to agricultural practice modifications, with development of irrigated agriculture and later sowing period to adapt to the delay in the onset of the rains. For the future, the use of IPCC/CMIP5 climate projections for the Mediterranean region will help to evaluate how the precipitation indices will evolve. The impact of irrigation on stream discharge and groundwater recharge needs to be considered through agro-hydrological modeling including agricultural trajectory. Such tools will help to strengthen agricultural adaptation strategies and promote resilient farming practices.</p><p>Keywords: Precipitation trends, agricultural land use, water use for irrigation, agricultural adaptation strategies.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Impact of urbanization on climate change and geographical analysis of physical land use land cover variation using RS-GIS.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Impact Of Urbanization ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City ◽  
Climatic Pattern

<p>This study focuses on the impact of climate change on rainfall-runoff pattern, and to assess the surface runoff and groundwater recharge potential from the intensified rainfall for the effective management of surface and groundwater resources in Tirunelveli city. The rainfall contribution is consistent, dependent, maximum and intensified during the month of November followed by October and December. The intensified rainfall in these months causes a temperature decrease and the climate becomes more and more colder than ever. The indices SPI and DI clear show that there is a change in climatic pattern. Landuse Landcover (LULC) analysis shows that the residential area and mining area is on the increasing trend, Village area is slightly increasing, agricultural area and dense scrub area is on the decreasing trend. The present capacity of the storage tanks available in Tirunelveli city is less than the maximum runoff generated during the month of November. The increase in residential area in LULC reflects the direct linear relation with the population increase of the city. The impact of urbanization leads to LULC change with the loss of agricultural land and water bodies.</p>

scholarly journals Impacts of climate change on groundwater flooding and ecohydrology in lowland karst

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1923-1941
Author(s):  
Patrick Morrissey ◽  
Paul Nolan ◽  
Ted McCormack ◽  
Paul Johnston ◽  
Owen Naughton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Karst Aquifer ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Extreme Flooding ◽  
Karst Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract. Lowland karst aquifers can generate unique wetland ecosystems which are caused by groundwater fluctuations that result in extensive groundwater–surface water interactions (i.e. flooding). However, the complex hydrogeological attributes of these systems, linked to extremely fast aquifer recharge processes and flow through well-connected conduit networks, often present difficulty in predicting how they will respond to changing climatological conditions. This study investigates the predicted impacts of climate change on a lowland karst catchment by using a semi-distributed pipe network model of the karst aquifer populated with output from the high spatial resolution (4 km) Consortium for Small-scale Modelling Climate Lokalmodell (COSMO-CLM) regional climate model simulations for Ireland. An ensemble of projections for the future Irish climate were generated by downscaling from five different global climate models (GCMs), each based on four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs; RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5) to account for the uncertainty in the estimation of future global emissions of greenhouse gases. The one-dimensional hydraulic/hydrologic karst model incorporates urban drainage software to simulate open channel and pressurised flow within the conduits, with flooding on the land surface represented by storage nodes with the same stage volume properties of the physical turlough basins. The lowland karst limestone catchment is located on the west coast of Ireland and is characterised by a well-developed conduit-dominated karst aquifer which discharges to the sea via intertidal and submarine springs. Annual above ground flooding associated with this complex karst system has led to the development of unique wetland ecosystems in the form of ephemeral lakes known as turloughs; however, extreme flooding of these features causes widespread damage and disruption in the catchment. This analysis has shown that mean, 95th and 99th percentile flood levels are expected to increase by significant proportions for all future emission scenarios. The frequency of events currently considered to be extreme is predicted to increase, indicating that more significant groundwater flooding events seem likely to become far more common. The depth and duration of flooding is of extreme importance, both from an ecological perspective in terms of wetland species distribution and for extreme flooding in terms of the disruption to homes, transport links and agricultural land inundated by flood waters. The seasonality of annual flooding is also predicted to shift later in the flooding season, which could have consequences in terms of ecology and land use in the catchment. The investigation of increasing mean sea levels, however, showed that anticipated rises would have very little impact on groundwater flooding due to the marginal impact on ebb tide outflow volumes. Overall, this study highlights the relative vulnerability of lowland karst systems to future changing climate conditions, mainly due to the extremely fast recharge which can occur in such systems. The study presents a novel and highly effective methodology for studying the impact of climate change in lowland karst systems by coupling karst hydrogeological models with the output from high-resolution climate simulations.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of saltwater intrusion on agricultural land in Nghe An’s coastal areas in the context of climate change

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (T4) ◽  
pp. 274-281
Author(s):  
Ve Ngoc Hoang ◽  
Thai Hong Tran
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Saltwater Intrusion ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Production Forests ◽  
Paddy Land ◽  
The Impact

Climate change is occurring increasingly complex and unpredictable, therefore the phenomenon of saltwater intrusion at coastal areas is also increasingly serious. The saltwater intrusion threatens the production and life of people in Nghe An’s coastal areas. Our study used MIKE11, MIKE 21 and ArcGIS software to assess the effects of saltwaters intrusion on agricultural land. The results indicate that the agricultural lands in Nghe An’s coastal areas are at high hazards of saltwater intrusion. Cua Lo town is the most affected by the saltwater intrusion, typically with land for cultivation of perennial trees (BHK), paddy land (LUC, LUK), land for production forests (RST), and land for aquaculture (TSL) are at high risk from the base (with more than 90 % of the total land area).

scholarly journals Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies for the Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Land in Southern Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Ching Huang ◽  
Chen-Jai Lee ◽  
Shih-Liang Chan ◽  
Cheng-Hsin Tai
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vulnerability Assessment ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Central Plain ◽  
Plain Region ◽  
Southern Taiwan ◽  
The Impact

Maintaining a certain amount of agricultural land and promoting its agricultural land utilization efficiency is essential in a country. Many innovative strategies for adapting to climate change have been implemented in developed countries. To achieve the goal of climate change adaptation for agricultural land, a vulnerability assessment of farmland is indispensable. Based on the research framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this study applied the structure of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation to build criteria and conduct an evaluation of a designated area in Southern Taiwan. We identified the key factors of the vulnerability of farmland, through mapping with spatial analysis, and by using geographic information system tools. The main purpose of the application of a vulnerability assessment is not to explicitly describe the status of agricultural land to climate change, but to help local government and farmers to identify the critical area, and to discuss the appropriated adaptive policies. According to the results of the vulnerability assessment of agricultural land, the entire study region can be divided into three patterns: Pattern 1, located in the western coastal zone, filled with various attributes of high vulnerability; Pattern 2, distributed on the central plain region in the east, with complete blocks of agricultural land and low vulnerability; and Pattern 3, located in the central plain region to the west, a region in which areas with various vulnerability levels. The following three types of adaptation strategies for climate change for farmland were established: (1) the enhancement of agricultural production, (2) the maintenance of agricultural production, and (3) the conservation of the agricultural environment. The current results can serve as valuable guidelines for governments to implement feasible local adaptation strategies in the future.

Flowering of Australia's Rainforests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Williams
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Evolutionary Pathway ◽  
Current State ◽  
New Information ◽  
Major Species ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pollinator Fauna

The Flowering of Australia’s Rainforests provides a comprehensive introduction to the pollination ecology, evolution and conservation of Australian rainforest plants, with particular emphasis on subtropical rainforests and their associated pollinators. This significantly expanded second edition includes new information on the impact of climate change, fire, fragmentation and invasive species. Rainforests continue to be a focus of global conservation concern, not only from threats to biodiversity in general, but to pollinators specifically. Within Australia, this has been emphasised by recent cataclysmic fire impacts, ongoing extreme drought events, and the wider consideration of climate change. This second edition strengthens coverage of these issues beyond that of the first edition. The Flowering of Australia’s Rainforests makes timely contributions to our understanding of the nature and function of the world’s pollinator fauna, plant-reproduction dependencies, and the evolutionary pathway that has brought them to their current state and function. Illustrated with 150 colour plates of major species and rainforest formations, this reference work will be of value to ecologists and field naturalists, botanists, conservation biologists, ecosystem managers and community groups involved in habitat restoration.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of Agricultural Development to Water-Related Drivers: The Case of Andalusia (Spain)

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Martinez ◽  
Maria Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Rebound Effect ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Water Model ◽  
Adaptation Capacity ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
The Impact

Future agricultural development will be challenged by the impacts of climate change on water, which are expected to be particularly strong in southern European regions. Thus, exploring interrelations between agriculture and water under climate change is essential to frame informed policies that ensure sustainable water management while enhancing food production. Nevertheless, studies that address future agriculture development focus on climate-induced changes in crop productivity and often disregard the water dimension. In this research, we have conducted a sensitivity analysis of agricultural development to drivers of water use in Andalusia in 2050 based on outcomes from the CAPRI-Water model. The results from the analysis show that water cost is the most determinant factor in shaping agricultural land, offsetting the impact of the driver of water availability. In contrast, irrigation water use is driven not only by water cost but also by irrigation efficiency. The magnitude of the sensitivity to these drivers differs significantly across crops. Policies aimed at improving resource use efficiency can contribute to strengthening the resilience and adaptation capacity of future agricultural systems to climate change. To achieve this goal, the policies must consider crop sensitivity to irrigation costs and the potential rebound effect.

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