DOCSLIB.ORG

Threats and Stressors to Sar and Ecosystems in Colorado and the Western U.S

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Threats and Stressors to Sar and Ecosystems in Colorado and the Western U.S Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program PROJECT NUMBER 14-770 Threats and Stressors to Species at Risk and Ecological Systems, Practical Implications, and Management Strategies for Installations in Colorado and the Western U.S. Colorado State University 2017 THREATS AND STRESSORS TO SAR AND ECOSYSTEMS IN COLORADO AND THE WESTERN U.S. Acknowledgements This study was a joint effort by Colorado State University’s Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) and the Center for Ecological Management of Military Lands (CEMML). Funding was provided by the Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program. We are grateful to the DoD personnel who offered data, direction, and other support for this work. From the U.S. Air Force Academy: Brian Mihlbachler. From Fort Carson: Michelle Blake, Rick Clawges, Bryan Kleuver, Brian Goss, James Kulbeth, Jeff Linn, James McDermott, Roger Peyton, Richard Riddle, Dawn Rodriguez, Stephanie Smith-Froese, and Jason Zayatz from DPW, Conservation Branch; and Rick Doom, Joe Dekleva, and Maureen Polisky from the Integrated Training Area Management Program (Range Division). Suggested Citation: Grunau1, L., K. Decker1, M. Fink1, B. Kuhn1, R. Schorr1, J. Sovell1, R. Cook2, and D. Jones2. 2017. Threats and Stressors to Species at Risk and Ecological Systems, Practical Implications, and Management Strategies for Installations in Colorado and the Western U.S. Prepared by Colorado State University for the DoD Legacy Program. 1Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2Center for Environmnetal Management - Military Lands, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2 THREATS AND STRESSORS TO SAR AND ECOSYSTEMS IN COLORADO AND THE WESTERN U.S. Executive Summary This document describes work funded by the Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program, Project Number 14-770 (Purchase Request Number W81EWF-4125-0556) by Colorado State University, by and through its Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Center for Ecological Management of Military Lands. Background and Approach Species and ecological systems face continued pressure from a variety of inter-related threats, including expanding urbanization, habitat degradation, climate change, and others. As threats to biodiversity continue, the Department of Defense (DoD) could find its installations shouldering more conservation responsibility in the future. To better understand evolving natural resource management challenges, we conducted an analysis of current and potential future threats to three ecological systems and five species-at-risk (SAR) on Fort Carson, Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS), and the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA or the Academy). The objectives of this study were to: 1. Analyze vulnerability of species and ecosystems to stressors at local and regional scales; 2. Identify potential species declines that could adversely affect future training operations; 3. Incorporate spatial data to evaluate possible distribution shifts and other species/ecosystems responses in relation to destabilizing events; 4. Develop recommendations to scale down the ecosystem management concept and help halt species declines both on and off installations; and 5. Document our process and lessons learned to facilitate similar analyses by other installations for their species and ecological systems. In consultation with installation personnel, we identified the following ecological systems and species as the focus of the study: • Pinyon-juniper woodlands o pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) o gray vireo (Vireo vicinor) • Shortgrass prairie o burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) • Cliffs and canyons (including outcrops and pine barrens) o golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) • Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) For each of these target species and ecosystems, we synthesized the most current information on distribution, status, ecological processes and life history. For ecological systems, we calculated potential impact from incompatible land uses, using existing GIS layers. We also evaluated existing 3 THREATS AND STRESSORS TO SAR AND ECOSYSTEMS IN COLORADO AND THE WESTERN U.S. models of potential distribution shift in response to climate change for both ecological systems and species, as well as potential impacts from military training. Overview of Results All three ecological systems evaluated have significant potential for adverse impacts from incompatible land uses, based on geographic proximity to mappable infrastructure. Across the distribution of pinyon-juniper, only 11% of this system is further than one mile from at least one mappable incompatible land use. That number is 7% for shortgrass prairie, and 8% for cliffs and canyons. Not surprisingly, the land use with the greatest acreage of potential impact is roads. This is an indication of potential for impact only. Not all vulnerable acres of these systems will be impacted equally, and some will not be impacted at all. However, at least two significant influences over the health of these systems were not included in our analysis due to lack of spatial data: invasive species and livestock grazing. Future vulnerability to climate change can only be projected at this point. Available information suggests that future climate conditions are likely to be very challenging for pinyon pine, but potentially beneficial for juniper species. If extent and health of pinyon pine deteriorate, impacts to pinyon jays could be significant. A variety of vulnerability assessment methods have been applied to shortgrass prairie, all with the same result: highly vulnerable. Cliffs and canyons are expected to experience climate effects similar to shortgrass prairie, though potentially with fewer impacts where they are sparsely vegetated. However, altered hydrology could affect rare canyon ferns. Assessments of vulnerability to climate change produced variable results for all of the species included in this report, with the exception of Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, which was ranked as extremely vulnerable. Pinyon-Juniper We focused on the distribution of two-needle pinyon (Pinus edulis) and used the term “pinyon- juniper” to refer to both pinyon-juniper woodlands and pinyon-juniper savannas. The primary processes that influence the formation and persistence of pinyon-juniper include climate, grazing, fires, tree harvest, and insect-pathogen outbreaks (West 1999a; Eager 1999). The manifestations of this ecological system are highly variable across its range. Romme et al. (2009) distinguish three types of pinyon-juniper vegetation: persistent woodlands (trees with sparse understory), pinyon- juniper savannas (on gentle topography with well-developed grass/forb cover, trees in low to moderate densities, minor shrub component), and wooded shrublands (well-developed shrub component, variable grass/forb and tree density). All types are found at Fort Carson and PCMS. In Colorado, pinyon-juniper supports 41 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) (CPW 2015). Of Colorado SGCN inhabiting pinyon-juniper, this habitat type is the primary, or a primary habitat for 28 species. Of these, five have been named by DoD Partners in Flight (PIF) as Mission- Sensitive Priority Bird Species: pinyon jay, gray vireo, Lewis’s woodpecker, northern goshawk, and olive-sided flycatcher. 4 THREATS AND STRESSORS TO SAR AND ECOSYSTEMS IN COLORADO AND THE WESTERN U.S. Land uses that may be incompatible with this system and the wildlife who rely on it are pervasive across the landscape, though many of these uses are comparatively low-density and dispersed. Only 11% of the land cover mapped as pinyon-juniper forests and woodlands occur further than one mile away from at least one mappable threat. That number is a conservative (worst-case) scenario since it represents land uses within a mile of pinyon-juniper, and not all impacts may extend over that distance. However, it does not reflect stresses from other activities for which we did not have spatial data, including invasive species, livestock grazing, recreation, and solar energy development. With regard to climate change, future precipitation and temperature patterns are projected to be less favorable for pinyon, enabling juniper to become more dominant. Pinyon-juniper woodlands are projected to experience summer temperatures warmer than the current temperature range in more than one third of its current distribution in Colorado. Projected winter precipitation levels are generally within the current range, but spring and summer precipitation for 9-16% of the current distribution are projected to be lower than the driest end of the current range. The pinyon-juniper system has large ecological amplitude so warmer conditions may allow expansion, as long as there are periodic cooler, wetter years for recruitment. The availability of canopy microsites to promote establishment and survival of seedlings may become increasingly important as conditions become drier (Redmond and Barger 2013). Increased drought may drive increased fires and insect outbreaks, from which these woodlands would be slow to recover. Under hotter and drier conditions, the ability of landscapes at Fort Carson and PCMS to support pinyon pine is predicted to decrease. Much of Fort Carson is predicted to become more suitable for one-seed juniper, while to the southeast, much of the area that currently supports juniper would no longer be suitable for that species. This agrees with other regional projections that suggest that some areas of southeast Colorado may eventually
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Life History and Ecology of the Pinacate Beetle, Eleodes Armatus
    The Coleopterists Bulletin, 38(2):150-159. 1984. THE LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY OF THE PINACATE BEETLE, ELEODES ARMA TUS LECONTE (TENEBRIONIDAE) DONALD B. THOMAS U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory, P.O. Box 232, Kerrville, TX 78028 ABSTRACT Eleodes armatus LeConte, the pinacate beetle, occurs throughout the warm deserts and intermontane valleys of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is a scavenger, feeding mainly on plant and animal detritus, and it hides in rodent burrows during times of temperature extremes. Adult activity peaks in the fall but it may occur at any time of the year. Females produce several hundred eggs per season and adults may live for more than 1 year. Larvae are fossorial and require 9 months to develop. The broad ecological, geographical, temporal and dietary range of this beetle may be in part attributable to its defense mechanisms (repugnatorial secretions and allied be- havior) against vertebrate predators. On the black earth on which the ice plants bloomed, hundreds of black stink bugs crawled. And many of them stuck their tails up in the air. "Look at all them stink bugs," Hazel remarked, grateful to the bugs for being there. "They're interesting," said Doc. "Well, what they got their asses up in the air for?" Doc rolled up his wool socks and put them in the rubber boots and from his pocket he brought out dry socks and a pair of thin moccasins. "I don't know why," he said, "I looked them up recently-they're very common animals and one of the commonest things they do is put their tails up in the air.
    [Show full text]
  • A Diploids-First Approach to Species Delimitation and Interpreting Polyploid Evolution in the Fern Genus Astrolepis (Pteridaceae)
    Systematic Botany (2010), 35(2): pp. 223–234 © Copyright 2010 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists A Diploids-First Approach to Species Delimitation and Interpreting Polyploid Evolution in the Fern Genus Astrolepis (Pteridaceae) James B. Beck , 1 , 3 Michael D. Windham , 1 George Yatskievych , 2 and Kathleen M. Pryer 1 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 U. S. A. 2 Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri 63166 U. S. A. 3 Author for correspondence ( [email protected] ) Communicating Editor: Javier Francisco-Ortega Abstract— Polyploidy presents a challenge to those wishing to delimit the species within a group and reconstruct the phylogenetic relation- ships among these taxa. A clear understanding of the tree-like relationships among the diploid species can provide a framework upon which to reconstruct the reticulate events that gave rise to the polyploid lineages. In this study we apply this “diploids-first” strategy to the fern genus Astrolepis (Pteridaceae). Diploids are identified using the number of spores per sporangium and spore size. Analyses of plastid and low-copy nuclear sequence data provide well-supported estimates of phylogenetic relationships, including strong evidence for two morphologically distinctive diploid lineages not recognized in recent treatments. One of these corresponds to the type of Notholaena deltoidea , a species that has not been recognized in any modern treatment of Astrolepis . This species is resurrected here as the new combination Astrolepis deltoidea . The second novel lineage is that of a diploid initially hypothesized to exist by molecular and morphological characteristics of several established Astrolepis allopolyploids.
    [Show full text]
  • Pima County Plant List (2020) Common Name Exotic? Source
    Pima County Plant List (2020) Common Name Exotic? Source McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Abies concolor var. concolor White fir Devender, T. R. (2005) McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica Corkbark fir Devender, T. R. (2005) Abronia villosa Hariy sand verbena McLaughlin, S. (1992) McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Abutilon abutiloides Shrubby Indian mallow Devender, T. R. (2005) Abutilon berlandieri Berlandier Indian mallow McLaughlin, S. (1992) Abutilon incanum Indian mallow McLaughlin, S. (1992) McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Abutilon malacum Yellow Indian mallow Devender, T. R. (2005) Abutilon mollicomum Sonoran Indian mallow McLaughlin, S. (1992) Abutilon palmeri Palmer Indian mallow McLaughlin, S. (1992) Abutilon parishii Pima Indian mallow McLaughlin, S. (1992) McLaughlin, S. (1992); UA Abutilon parvulum Dwarf Indian mallow Herbarium; ASU Vascular Plant Herbarium Abutilon pringlei McLaughlin, S. (1992) McLaughlin, S. (1992); UA Abutilon reventum Yellow flower Indian mallow Herbarium; ASU Vascular Plant Herbarium McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Acacia angustissima Whiteball acacia Devender, T. R. (2005); DBGH McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Acacia constricta Whitethorn acacia Devender, T. R. (2005) McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Acacia greggii Catclaw acacia Devender, T. R. (2005) Acacia millefolia Santa Rita acacia McLaughlin, S. (1992) McLaughlin, S. (1992); Van Acacia neovernicosa Chihuahuan whitethorn acacia Devender, T. R. (2005) McLaughlin, S. (1992); UA Acalypha lindheimeri Shrubby copperleaf Herbarium Acalypha neomexicana New Mexico copperleaf McLaughlin, S. (1992); DBGH Acalypha ostryaefolia McLaughlin, S. (1992) Acalypha pringlei McLaughlin, S. (1992) Acamptopappus McLaughlin, S. (1992); UA Rayless goldenhead sphaerocephalus Herbarium Acer glabrum Douglas maple McLaughlin, S. (1992); DBGH Acer grandidentatum Sugar maple McLaughlin, S. (1992); DBGH Acer negundo Ashleaf maple McLaughlin, S.
    [Show full text]
  • Native and Adapted Plants for Central Texas
    9/13/2016 Native and Adapted Plants for Central Texas Meredith O’Reilly 4-H CAPITAL Youth Gardening Specialist [email protected] Standing Cypress, Black-eyed Susan, Horsemint Class Topics Part I: The Basics A. Why Native and Adapted? Native plants (why important) Adapted plants (benefits, considerations) Other terms (cultivars, invasives) B. Eco-regions, Adaptations, and Wildlife Value of Native Texas Plants Part II: Getting to Know the Guide Part III: Plant Selections for Specific Garden Needs 1 9/13/2016 Why Native and Adapted? For the benefit of our Austin and Texas wildlife and landscape, it is helpful to select plants that: Are water-wise Are drought-tolerant Have wildlife value (esp. natives) Are naturally resistant to pests and diseases (esp. natives) Need less maintenance and fertilizing Also, higher survivability saves money! Bumblebee on Shrubby Boneset, or White Mistflower What is native? A native species is one that exists naturally in an eco-region without human introduction, direct or indirect. Native flora and fauna in an ecological community, having evolved together, are often interdependent. Autumn Sage (Cherry Sage), Datura, Blackfoot Daisy 2 9/13/2016 Why Are Native Plants Important? They protect Texas’ biodiversity They gain back natural ecosystems for our native flora and fauna wildlife interdependence They are specially adapted to handle Texas soil and weather They use less water and require less maintenance, fertilizing, and pest control They protect our watersheds They keep Texas beautiful! Adapted Plants Adapted plants are non-invasive, non-native plants that are able to thrive in the local climate and soil conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Philmont Butterflies
    PHILMONT AREA BUTTERFLIES Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) PAPILIONIDAE – Swallowtails Dainty Sulfur (Nathalis iole) Boisduval’s Blue (Icaricia icarioides) Subfamily Parnassiinae – Parnassians Lupine Blue (Icaricia lupini) Rocky Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius LYCAENIDAE – Gossamer-wings smintheus) Subfamily Lycaeninae – Coppers RIODINIDAE – Metalmarks Tailed Copper (Lycaena arota) Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia morma) Subfamily Papilioninae – Swallowtails American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Nais Metalmark (Apodemia nais) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus) Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) NYMPHALIDAE – Brush-footed Butterflies Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus) Subfamily Libytheinae – Snout Butterflies Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea) American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides) Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudatus) Subfamily Heliconiinae – Long-wings Subfamily Theclinae – Hairstreaks Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) PIERIDAE – Whites & Sulfurs Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus) Subfamily Pierinae – Whites Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) Subfamily Argynninae – Fritillaries Pine White (Neophasia menapia) Southern Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius) Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) Becker’s White (Pontia
    [Show full text]
  • Potted Sale Plant MASTER LIST.Xlsx
    3/29/2021 Texas Discovery Gardens Plant Sale List Page 1 of 9 ALPHABETICAL BY PLANT GROUP** Sun Req. Tx=Tx Common Name Botanic Name Height Plant Group Plant Type Host / Pollinators native Nectar Attracted & X=Not Comments Hot sun X-Mex Truncate Parry's Agave parryi var. 3 ft Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen Agave truncata Hot sun Tx Cholla Cactus Cylindropuntia Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen imbricata Hot sun Tx Red Yucca Hesperaloe 4' Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Hummingbirds parviflora Hot sun Tx Yellow Yucca Hesperaloe 4' X 4' Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Hummingbirds parviflora yellow Hot sun Tx Hesperaloe Pink Hesperaloe 'Perfu' 4' Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Hesperaloe funifera cultivar Parade™ x Hesperaloe parviflora Full to part Tx Devil's Shoestring Nolina 3' X 3' Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N sun lindheimeriana Part sun Tx Texas Beargrass Nolina texana Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N/H Sandia Hairstreak Hot sun X- SE US Variegated Yucca gloriosa 4 ft Heat & Drought Tolerant Spanish Dagger 'Variegata' Hot sun Tx Pale Leaf Yucca Yucca pallida 1-2X1-3' Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Hot sun Tx Twist-leaf Yucca - Yucca rupicola 2 ft Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Green Hot sun Tx Old Shag Yucca treculeana to 20 ft Heat & Drought Tolerant Evergreen N Don Quixote's- Lace Full to part X Dianthus 'Coral Dianthus 'Coral 1 ft high Heat & Drought Tolerant N sun Reef" Reef" (sun) Hot sun X-Mex Golden Barrel Echinocactus 2 ft Heat & Drought Tolerant Tender Cactus grusonii (sun) Hot sun Tx Prairie Flax Linum lewisii 18 in Heat & Drought Tolerant Perennial (sun) Full sun X-So Am.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Thresholds: the Key to Successful Environmental Management Or an Important Concept with No Practical Application?
    Ecosystems (2006) 9: 1–13 DOI: 10.1007/s10021-003-0142-z MINI REVIEW Ecological Thresholds: The Key to Successful Environmental Management or an Important Concept with No Practical Application? Peter M. Groffman,1* Jill S. Baron,2 Tamara Blett,3 Arthur J. Gold,4 Iris Goodman,5 Lance H. Gunderson,6 Barbara M. Levinson,5 Margaret A. Palmer,7 Hans W. Paerl,8 Garry D. Peterson,9 N. LeRoy Poff,10 David W. Rejeski,11 James F. Reynolds,12 Monica G. Turner,13 Kathleen C. Weathers,1 and John Wiens14 1Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA; 2Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, US Geological Survey, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1499, USA; 3Air Resources Division, USDI-National Park Service, Academy Place, Room 450, P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225-0287, USA; 4Department of Natural Resources Science, 105 Coastal Institute in Kingston, University of Rhode Island, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA 5US Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, USA; 6Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, 400 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA; 7University of Maryland, Plant Sciences Building 4112, College Park, Maryland 20742-4415, USA; 8Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, USA; 9Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, 680 N. Park St., Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA; 10Department of
    [Show full text]
  • Flora Vol 3 FC
    PLANTS+ OF THE BLACK RANGE OF NEW MEXICO Volume Three Arranged by english common name This checklist recognizes the plant collecting efforts of Anna Isabel Mulford in the Black Range during 1895. PLANTS+ OF THE BLACK RANGE OF NEW MEXICO An Annotated Checklist Edition One of Volume three This checklist of the plants (including a few lichen and other Black Range website, a search for specimen sheets was non-plant species) of the Black Range of southwestern New conducted; Mexico draws from a variety of sources. It is a work in progress and undoubtedly contains errors. If you encounter ✦ If a specimen sheet from the Black Range was located errors of substantive omission or commission or for the species, an entry noting this was made in the administrative errors (broken or incorrect links, spelling, notes column. The name of the collector and the etc.) please let me know at [email protected] so that general location where the specimen was collected the errors can be corrected in the second edition. Your help was entered in the notes column as a link to the in this manner will be of benefit to the general community. specimen sheet. Such entries are shown in dark blue. Methodology ✦ Species which are not verified for the Black Range are indicated by a light blue “cell filling” in the first cell in This checklist was put together in the following manner: the species row. ✦ A search of the SEINet data base (Arizona & New Mexico Chapters) was conducted to determine the Disclaimers and possible species in the Black Range; Points of Clarification ✦ A preliminary search of the Consortium of North In some cases, you may note that an entry from the Vascular American Lichen Herbaria data base was conducted to Plants of the Gila Wilderness data base has been entered on determine possible species in the Black Range (this the checklist but the initial cell of the species listing is filled work is incomplete); in light blue indicating that the species was not verified for the Black Range following the process described above.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Limits Page 1
    POST Report 370 January 2011 Living with Environmental Limits Page 1 Summary Human well-being is dependent upon assessment approaches. However, where renewable natural resources. Agricultural there is a risk of thresholds being systems, for example, depend upon plant breached and potentially irreversible productivity, soil, the water cycle, the impacts occurring, additional policy nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus nutrient safeguards to maintain natural resource cycles and a stable climate. Renewable systems within environmental limits are natural resources can be subject to required. biological and physical thresholds beyond which irreversible changes in benefit Managing ecosystems to maximise one provision may occur. These are difficult to particular benefit, such as food provision, define and many are likely to be identified can result in declines in other benefits. only once crossed. An environmental limit The evidence base is not yet sufficient to is usually interpreted as the point or range determine the most effective ways to of conditions beyond which there is a maintain benefit provision within significant risk of thresholds being environmental limits, but a range of policy exceeded and unacceptable changes responses are seeking to optimise multiple occurring.1 benefit provision, including: Biodiversity loss, climate change and a agri-environment schemes range of other pressures are affecting generic measures to enhance renewable natural resources. If biodiversity, which may increase governments do not effectively monitor the the capacity of natural resource use and degradation of natural resource systems to adapt to environmental systems in national account frameworks, change the probability of costs arising from the use of ecological processes to exploiting natural resources beyond increase overall natural system environmental limits is not taken into resilience to address problems account.
    [Show full text]
  • Physico-Chemical Thresholds in the Distribution of Fish Species Among
    Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst. 2017, 418, 41 Knowledge & © V. Roubeix et al., Published by EDP Sciences 2017 Management of Aquatic DOI: 10.1051/kmae/2017032 Ecosystems www.kmae-journal.org Journal fully supported by Onema RESEARCH PAPER Physico-chemical thresholds in the distribution of fish species among French lakes Vincent Roubeix1,*, Martin Daufresne1, Christine Argillier1, Julien Dublon1, Anthony Maire1,a, Delphine Nicolas1,b, Jean-Claude Raymond2,3 and Pierre-Alain Danis2 1 Irstea, UR RECOVER, Pôle AFB-Irstea hydroécologie plans d’eau, Centre d’Aix-en-Provence, 3275 route Cézanne, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France 2 Agence française pour la biodiversité, Pôle AFB-Irstea hydroécologie plans d’eau, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France 3 Agence française pour la biodiversité, Délégation Régionale Rhône-Alpes, Unité Spécialisée Milieux Lacustres, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains, France Abstract – The management of lakes requires the definition of physico-chemical thresholds to be used for ecosystem preservation or restoration. According to the European Water Framework Directive, the limits between physico-chemicalquality classes must be set consistently with biological quality elements. Onewayto do this consists in analyzing the response of aquatic communities to environmental gradients across monitoring sites and in identifying ecological community thresholds, i.e. zones in the gradients where the species turnover is the highest. In this study, fish data from 196 lakes in France were considered to derive ecological thresholds using the multivariate method of gradient forest. The analysis was performed on 25 species and 36 environmental parameters. The results revealed the highest importance of maximal water temperature in the distributionoffishspecies.Otherimportantparametersincludedgeographicalfactors,dissolvedorganiccarbon concentrationandwater transparency,whilenutrients appearedto have lowinfluence.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Havasu City Recommended Landscaping Plant List
    Lake Havasu City Recommended Landscaping Plant List Lake Havasu City Recommended Landscaping Plant List Disclaimer Lake Havasu City has revised the recommended landscaping plant list. This new list consists of plants that can be adapted to desert environments in the Southwestern United States. This list only contains water conscious species classified as having very low, low, and low-medium water use requirements. Species that are classified as having medium or higher water use requirements were not permitted on this list. Such water use classification is determined by the type of plant, its average size, and its water requirements compared to other plants. For example, a large tree may be classified as having low water use requirements if it requires a low amount of water compared to most other large trees. This list is not intended to restrict what plants residents choose to plant in their yards, and this list may include plant species that may not survive or prosper in certain desert microclimates such as those with lower elevations or higher temperatures. In addition, this list is not intended to be a list of the only plants allowed in the region, nor is it intended to be an exhaustive list of all desert-appropriate plants capable of surviving in the region. This list was created with the intention to help residents, businesses, and landscapers make informed decisions on which plants to landscape that are water conscious and appropriate for specific environmental conditions. Lake Havasu City does not require the use of any or all plants found on this list. List Characteristics This list is divided between trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, succulents and perennials.
    [Show full text]
  • Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development
    Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development A Scoping Study Funded by Full Technical Report Project Team: Prof. Roy Haines-Young PD Dr. Marion Potschin Duncan Cheshire Centre for Environmental Management School of Geography, University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD [email protected] March 2006 Project Code NR0102 Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development: Final Report Citation: HAINES-YOUNG, R.; POTSCHIN, M. and D. CHESHIRE (2006): Defining and identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development. A Scoping Study. Final Full Technical Report to Defra, 103 pp + appendix 77 pp, Project Code NR0102. Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development: Final Technical Report Contents Page Acknowledgements ii Executive Summary iv Part I Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Context and Aim 1 Part II: Conceptual Frameworks 4 Chapter 2: Limits and Thresholds: Definitions 4 Chapter 3: Identifying Limits and Thresholds 12 Chapter 4: Values and the Problem of Limits and Thresholds 29 Part III: Exploring the Evidence Base 33 Chapter 5: Biodiversity 33 Chapter 6: Land Use and Landscape 42 Chapter 7: Recreation 52 Chapter 8: Marine Environment 57 Chapter 9: Water - supply and demand 62 Chapter 10: Climate Change 68 Chapter 11: Pollution Loads 75 Part IV: Conclusions and Recommendations 82 Chapter 12: Respecting Environmental Limits 82 References 94 Appendix A: Briefing and Position Papers by external experts 104 i Defining and Identifying Environmental Limits for Sustainable Development: Final Technical Report Acknowledgements Part III of this report “Exploring the Evidence Base” draws heavily upon a set of position papers from invited scientists, which are presented in their original form in the appendix of this full technical report.
    [Show full text]