A spatial analysis of land cover patterns and its implications for urban avifauna persistence under climate change

• Published in: Landscape ecology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 455 - 474
• Main Authors: Rastandeh, Amin, Pedersen Zari, Maibritt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Avifauna; Biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; Biodiversity loss; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosecurity; cities; climate; Climate change; Conservation; Decision making; Ecological monitoring; Ecology; ecosystems; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; experts; geographic information systems; humans; interviews; Land cover; Landscape; Landscape Ecology; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; landscapes; Life Sciences; Nature Conservation; New Zealand; Niches; Research Article; Southern Hemisphere; Spatial analysis; Studies; Sustainable Development; uncertainty; urban areas; Urban environments; Wildlife conservation; New Zealand; New Zealand; Climate change; Southern Hemisphere; Spatial design; Urban avifauna; Landscape patterns
• ISSN: 0921-2973; 1572-9761
• DOI: 10.1007/s10980-018-0613-4

Context Although biodiversity in cities is essential to ensure the healthy functioning of ecosystems and biosecurity over time, biodiversity loss resulting from human interventions in land cover patterns is widespread in urban landscapes. In the Southern Hemisphere, climate change is likely to accelerate the process of landscape upheavals, and consequently biodiversity loss. Objectives & Methods The aim of this research is to test the potentials of landscape pattern composition and configuration in safeguarding indigenous avifauna against the local impacts of climate change in urban landscapes, with reference to New Zealand. To build up a platform for landscape pattern interpretation, the literature was reviewed and semi-structured interviews with six subject-matter experts were conducted to provide information about the most important avifauna in the study area, key information on their ecological traits and niches, possible impacts of climate change on their primary habitats, and spatial requirements for ongoing species survival as the climate continues to change. A spatial analysis of land cover patterns was undertaken in Wellington, New Zealand using GIS and FRAGSTATS. Results Although there are still opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the study area, the current land cover patterns are unlikely to safeguard the selected species against climate change impacts. Conclusions Eight implications for avifauna persistence under climate change are discussed for the first time in relation to a New Zealand context. These implications can give rise to a higher level of informed decision-making on a wide range of practices for biodiversity conservation related to uncertainties associated with climate change.