Research on the Construction of Multi-level Ecological Corridor System in Nanling National Park
-
-
Abstract
【Objective】 Influenced by natural environmental changes and human activities, habitat fragmentation is a widespread phenomenon in nature conservation areas. Constructing ecological corridors is an effective measure to mitigate habitat fragmentation. However, current research on ecological corridors often focuses on urban areas and uses historical data for the spatial delineation of corridors at a single level. But there is a significant difference between national parks, which aggregate valuable ecological resources, and urban areas. Moreover, current research on ecological corridors also lacks adaptability to future environmental changes, fails to correspond to the multi-level and multi-scale attributes of ecosystems, and the specific goals and measures for construction and regulation are not clear. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore a national park ecological corridor system that adapts to future environmental changes, corresponds to the multi-level and multi-scale attributes of ecosystems, and implements differentiated construction and regulation.
【Method】 This research proposes a national park ecological corridor system that considers future environmental changes, corresponds to the hierarchy of ecosystems, and implements differentiated construction and regulation. It establishes a framework for ecological corridor construction based on future scenario simulation (Construction of individual levels - Connecting Multiple Levels - Differentiated construction and regulation). Taking Nanling National Park as a case study, we first constructed regional-level (ecosystem level) and park-level (community level) ecological corridors. At the regional level, ecological sources were identified based on the importance of ecosystem functions, and resistance surfaces were created using factors that hinder the flow of ecological materials. Ecological corridors were extracted based on the circuit theory. At the park level, initial identification of ecological sources was based on species habitat suitability. Combining the climate scenarios ssp126 and ssp585 and relevant planning, the MaxEnt model was used for future scenario simulation to identify ecological sources. Factors that hinder biological migration were used to create resistance surfaces, and ecological corridors were extracted based on the circuit theory. Next, we used the GeoDetector for spatial stratified heterogeneity analysis to identify the ecological background characteristics that affect the generation of ecological sources. The width of ecological corridors was determined based on these characteristics, and ecological corridors were integrated and organized. Then, ecological stepping-stones were used to connect the ecological corridors at different levels. Finally, based on the ecological background characteristics, the landscape heterogeneity between ecological sources and ecological corridors is analyzed, and the objectives and content of differentiated construction and management are formulated.
【Result】 In the ecological corridor system of Nanling National Park, 392 regional-level ecological sources and 85 park-level ecological sources were identified. A total of 990 regional-level ecological corridors and 154 park-level ecological corridors were extracted. The system includes 52 ecological corridors at the regional level and 13 stepping-stones for hierarchical nesting. Based on landscape heterogeneity between ecological sources and corridors within the park, the area was divided into three types of construction and regulation zones and 12 specific measures for differentiated construction and regulation. The goals and content of construction and regulation were implemented at the forestry unit level. Ultimately, the natural succession area covers 633 units with an area of 116.35 km2, accounting for 37.45% of the total ecological corridor area; the artificially promoted natural succession area involves 431 units with an area of 70.15 km2, accounting for 22.58% of the total ecological corridor area; and the artificially repaired area covers 1203 units with an area of 124.21 km2, accounting for 39.98% of the total ecological corridor area.
【Conclusion】 The establishment of the multi-tiered ecological corridor system and differentiated construction and regulation zones has improved habitat connectivity in the national park and its surrounding areas. This effectively supports the implementation and construction of ecological corridors and better leverages the ecological radiation role of the national park, enhancing its dominant role in the natural protection area system.
-
-