Effects of land-use patterns and land ownership on biodiversity in the natural areas of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve (Ontario).

摘要

Existing under the protection of provincial legislation, the natural areas and biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve have been particularly well-studied. I mapped land ownership and land-use patterns in the land matrix surrounding each of the 98 designated natural areas of the Reserve area, and then analysed their effects on estimates of biodiversity. Increasing percentages of recreational land-use surrounding a natural area were associated with degradative effects on rare plant species, as well as species with endangered or threatened status. Numbers of provincially rare plant species and endangered or threatened species were positively related to increasing amounts of Urban Area land-use, possibly reflecting the affinity of local small towns for natural heritage features and dependence on ecotourism. Thus multi-use conservation areas that allow recreational usage may not encourage biodiversity conservation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)