Abstract

Recent declines in invertebrates are linked to anthropogenic global change drivers thus land use planning that considers invertebrate conservation is necessary. Although most animals are invertebrates, conservation initiatives largely ignore these groups in part because of a paucity of studies addressing their diversity patterns. Biosphere Reserves provide an holistic approach to conservation planning. Here we explore the covariates that underlie beetle and spider diversity across the largest Biosphere Reserve in South Africa and use this model to predict compositional turnover across the reserve using Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM). We then use these patterns to assess the proportion of the ecological environments, scaled using beetle and spider assemblages, that is included in either core or buffer zones. The GDM model explained 53% of the variation in observed compositional turnover. Important local-scale drivers of turnover were leaf litter and organic content of the soil, while broad-scale co-variables were isothermality and mean diurnal range. Buffer zones increased conservation coverage by between 50 and 100%, depending on the planning scenario involved and complimented regional conservation plans. However, local conservation practices rarely reflect that of regional planning exercises, and initiatives should focus on monitoring compliance that considers both landscape and local processes.

Implications for insect conservation

Conservation efforts should not only focus on core areas in Biosphere Reserves. Managing buffer zones must receive similar if not more attention due to the larger anthropogenic footprint.

中文翻译：

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缓冲区最大限度地保护了生物圈保护区的无脊椎动物

摘要

最近无脊椎动物的减少与人为全球变化的驱动因素有关，因此考虑到无脊椎动物保护的土地利用规划是必要的。尽管大多数动物是无脊椎动物，但保护计划在很大程度上忽略了这些群体，部分原因是缺乏针对其多样性模式的研究。生物圈保护区为保护规划提供了一种整体方法。在这里，我们探索了南非最大的生物圈保护区内甲虫和蜘蛛多样性背后的协变量，并使用该模型使用广义差异建模 (GDM) 预测整个保护区的成分转换。然后，我们使用这些模式来评估生态环境的比例，使用甲虫和蜘蛛组合进行缩放，包括在核心或缓冲区中。GDM 模型解释了观察到的成分转换中 53% 的变化。重要的局部周转驱动因素是落叶和土壤有机物含量，而广泛的协变量是等温度和平均昼夜变化。缓冲区将保护覆盖率提高了 50% 到 100%，具体取决于所涉及的规划方案和区域保护计划。然而，当地保护实践很少反映区域规划活动，举措应侧重于监测兼顾景观和当地过程的合规性。缓冲区将保护覆盖率提高了 50% 到 100%，具体取决于所涉及的规划方案和区域保护计划。然而，当地保护实践很少反映区域规划活动，举措应侧重于监测兼顾景观和当地过程的合规性。缓冲区将保护覆盖率提高了 50% 到 100%，具体取决于所涉及的规划方案和区域保护计划。然而，当地保护实践很少反映区域规划活动，举措应侧重于监测兼顾景观和当地过程的合规性。

对昆虫保护的影响

保护工作不应只集中在生物圈保护区的核心区域。由于更大的人为足迹，管理缓冲区必须得到类似的关注，如果不是更多的话。