Urban Forests and Landscape Ecology

Urbanization has become a dominant driver of landscape transformation across the world, with cities representing centers of economic and socio-cultural development [...]

The interplay of spatial scale and landscape transformation modulates the abundance and intraspecific variation in the ecomorphological traits of a phyllostomid bat

Land use intensification imposes selective pressures that systematically change the frequency of wild population phenotypes. Growing evidence is biased towards the comparison of populations from discrete categories of land uses, ignoring the role of landscape emerging properties on the phenotype selection of wild fauna. Across the largest urban–rural gradient of the Colombian Orinoquia, we measured ecomorphological traits of 216 individuals of the flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris. We did this to evaluate the scale of effect at which landscape transformation better predicts changes in phenotype and abundance of an urban-tolerant species. Forest percentage at 1.25 km was the main predictor affecting negatively bat abundance and positively its wing aspect ratio and body mass. Landscape variables affected forearm length at all spatial scales, this effect appeared to be sex-dependent, and the most important predictor, forest percentage at 0.5 km, had a negative effect on this trait. Our results indicate that landscape elements and spatial scale interact to shape ecomorphological traits and the abundance of A. planirostris. Interestingly, the scale of effect coincided at 1.25 km among all biological responses, suggesting that species’ abundance can be linked to the variation on phenotype under different environmental filters across landscape scenarios.

Landscape transformation and wildlife: road mortality in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

The development of high way that crosses wildlife habitat will inevitably cause wildlife casualties. The purpose of this study was to identify wildlife road mortality in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park, Southeast Sulawesi (mostly consisted of savanna). Road kill data was collected by driving along the 22.4 km highway in February and March 2020 (n=28). Traffic volumes were recorded by taking traffic samples in 5 different times of the day, an hour duration each (totaling 70 h). There were 37 species being killed (totaling 529 individuals, of which 49.3% happened along km 0-10), consisted of 19 bird species, 3 small mammal species, 10 reptile species, and 5 amphibian species. Based on taxa, the highest number of road mortality was amphibians (dominated by Ingerophrynus biporcatus), followed by birds (mostly Lonchura malacca), mammals (dominated by Rattus argentiventer), and reptiles (dominated by Varanus salvator). Among mammals, no big mammal (booted macaque Macaca ochreata, wild boar Sus scrofa) was killed. Landscape transformation clearly has impacted wildlife in the study area. To reduce the occurrence of road kills, it is recommended to create corridors for wildlife crossings, limiting vehicle speed in the hot spots locations, create speed bumps, as well as adding more signage and road signs along the highway.

Response of bird community to gradual landscape transformation in Darmaga campus, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

When a landscape gradually transforms, the bird community that inhabits the landscape will also adapt and change accordingly. Long-term data on the bird-habitat relationship, however, is still lacking in the sub-urban tropical areas. The objective of this paper was to analyze the response of bird community along with the gradual transformation of the landscape. Darmaga Campus of IPB University (± 2.67 km2) was selected as the study area due to its landscape transformation for campus development/construction, and the availability of bird monitoring data. Data on landscape transformation were gathered from the IPB building construction book published in 2017, and bird community (1982-2020) were gathered from published reports and papers. During the observed period, Darmaga Campus that initially consisted mostly of old rubber plantation has been gradually transformed into various academic-related uses, such as some areas for buildings dan field laboratories. From 1982 to 2020, the cumulative bird species in the study area at least was 124 species. During the observed years, the bird community was highly dynamics (bird species number in 1982 = 41 species, 1985 = 39 species, 1986 = 68 species, 1991 = 68 species, 2001 = 39 species, 2003 = 72 species, 2013 = 52 species, 2020 = 99 species). New incoming species were Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Tiger Shrike, and babblers (e.g., Black-capped Babbler); Brown Shrike, White-rumped Shama, Oriental Magpie-Robin and Green Junglefowl have not been observed or have become increasingly rare in the last ten years. Meanwhile, Red-breasted Parakeet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Black Drongo, and Sooty-headed Bulbul are always present species. Bird species such as Orange-headed Thrush, White-rumped Shama, White-browed Shortwing, and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch are species that entered to rarely found species. Gradual landscape transformation, from an old rubber plantation into a mosaic of small patches of human-made ornamental plants, shrub, and tree plantation, turns out to be beneficial for some bird species, but could also disadvantageous for others, causing a dynamic bird community composition.

Waterbirds roosting on gas drilling platforms in Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan: the Unexpected Impact of Landscape Transformation

Since 2014 some offshore gas platforms operated by Pertamina Hulu Mahakam near Mahakam Delta has been used by hundreds of egrets as roosting sites, causing nuisance to the platform and hampering the duty of workers/operator. The objective of this paper was to analyse the situation of the waterbirds’ nuisance, analyse the possible causes, and provide some recommendations. Field visits were conducted in August 2019 and February 2020 to three unmanned platforms (Ax, D, C) that suffered the most from the bird roost. Birds that infested the platforms were identified as great egret and intermediate egret, both are very similar in appearance and ecological requirements. The maximum number of egrets visiting C-Platform (the worst platforms) was 671 birds. These birds roost at night in the platform and leave the platform in the morning to forage for fish, eel, and shrimps in the wetlands of Mahakam Delta, about 2-4 km from the platform. The root cause of the infestation was believed to be the landscape transformation in the Mahakam Delta. Mangrove forest has been diminished and heavily converted into shrimp-ponds. The egrets’ foraging areas became ubiquitous, while the roosting/nesting site greatly decreased, forcing the egrets to roost on gas platforms. In the short-medium term, platforms need to be managed as bird tolerated-zone and bird-free zone (using deterrent), while in the long term, land-use in Delta Mahakam need to be restored.

Preface

The 5th International Symposium of Sustainable Landscape Development (The 5th ISSLD) is a continuation of the previous symposium, The 4th ISSLD, which was conducted in 2019 in Bogor city. The main theme of the 5th ISSLD is “Landscape Transformation,” which aims to address the various aspects of landscape transformation considering sustainable landscape development. The landscape is a dynamic system that evolves. Landscape transformation can occur as a result of natural phenomena and human-made processes as well. The pandemic of Covid-19 is one example of how a catastrophic transform the lives of humans and the landscape. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, humans are known as rulers on earth with all their habits, having such limited movements that other landscape elements are also affected. The new normal habits make humans more disciplined in maintaining sanitation, thus impacting the cleanliness of the landscape. Restrictions on human movement have reduced human intervention in animal life, vegetation, and landscapes, thus providing opportunities for nature to heal. These things are happening around us, where the landscape is transforming during the COVID-19 pandemic. List of Invited Spakers, Editorial Committees, Scientific Committees, Steering Committees, Organizing Committees, Assistant Editors, Host are available in the pdf.