Habitat translocation and its effect on species preservation

Habitat translocation is a method of saving habitats that are inevitably destroyed during construction projects. To evaluate large-scale turf translocation of wet meadows to the derelict land and to examine the effects of surrounding area on the translocated habitats, we compared three vegetation patches of salved Molinion meadows to three reference meadows near a donor site and to variable plots in a recipient site in terms of vegetation and invertebrates at different motility and food levels. Pollinators (wild bees, butterflies), grasshoppers, ants, and soil mesofauna with a focus on springtails were identified to species. For springtails, the lower soil porosity was a clear disadvantage. Mobile animals with high food specificity responded dynamically to habitat. We observed lower number of springtails, and higher of grasshoppers at the translocated plots than reference ones. Sites maintained their biodiversity, but the influx of cosmopolitan species was noticeable, especially for plants and pollinators, and even springtails. A few sensitive species declined. The habitat translocation to derelict land is bound with lowering the ecological status of the habitat, and if possible, natural habitats should be preserved where they are. However, in case of destruction, the translocation is better than nothing; translocated meadows are a valuable place for local pollinators and for other animals, and in this particular case contribute to the revitalization of the site that was destroyed some time ago.生境移植（Habitat translocation）是拯救工程建设中不可避免遭到破坏的生境的有效手段。为评估湿草甸草皮大规模移植至废弃土地的可行性，并探究周边生境对移植后生境的影响，本研究将3块抢救得到的莫利尼翁草甸（Molinion meadows）植被斑块，分别与供体样地附近的3块参照草甸、以及受体样地内的若干样地进行对比，对比维度涵盖不同运动能力与食物资源丰度层级下的植被与无脊椎动物群落特征。本研究对传粉昆虫（野生蜂类、蝶类）、蝗虫、蚂蚁以及以弹尾虫（springtails）为重点类群的土壤中小型动物群落开展了物种水平鉴定。对于弹尾虫而言，土壤孔隙度偏低是显著的不利因素。食物特异性较高的移动性动物对生境变化的响应更为动态明显。相较于参照样地，移植样地内的弹尾虫数量更少，而蝗虫数量更多。各研究样地均维持了自身的生物多样性，但广布种的迁入现象较为显著，尤其在植物、传粉昆虫乃至弹尾虫类群中均有体现，部分敏感物种出现种群衰退。将生境移植至废弃土地，必然会导致该生境的生态品质下降，因此若条件允许，应优先对原生自然生境进行原位保护。但当生境不可避免遭到破坏时，生境移植仍不失为一种优于放任不管的补救方案；移植获得的草甸可为当地传粉昆虫及其他动物提供宝贵的栖息场所，在本研究案例中，更助力了早前遭到破坏的废弃场地的生态复兴。