Yizhaq H, Ashkenazy Y, Levin N, Tsoar H.
Spatiotemporal model for the progression of transgressive dunes. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications [Internet]. 2013;392 :4502 - 4515.
Publisher's VersionAbstractTransgressive dune fields, which are active sand areas surrounded by vegetation, exist on many coasts. In some regions like in Fraser Island in Australia, small dunes shrink while large ones grow, although both experience the same climatic conditions. We propose a general mathematical model for the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation cover on sand dunes and focus on the dynamics of transgressive dunes. Among other possibilities, the model predicts growth parallel to the wind with shrinkage perpendicular to the wind, where, depending on geometry and size, a transgressive dune can initially grow although eventually shrink. The larger is the initial area the slower its stabilization process. The model’s predictions are supported by field observations from Fraser Island in Australia.
Levin N.
Survey of Western Palestine 1880, Palestine Exploration Fund 1:63,360 mosaicked map. [Internet]. 2013.
Publisher's VersionAbstractThe Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) Survey of Western Palestine (1871-1877) is highly praised for its accuracy and completeness; the first systematic analysis of its planimetric accuracy was published by Levin (2006). To study the potential of these 1:63,360 maps for a quantitative analysis of land cover changes over a period of time, Levin has compared them to 20th century topographic maps. The map registration error of the PEF maps was 74.4 m using 123 control points of trigonometrical stations and a 1st order polynomial. The median RMSE of all control and test points (n = 1104) was 153.6 m. Following [...]
Micheli F, Levin N, Giakoumi S, Katsanevakis S, ABDULLA A, Coll M, Fraschetti S, Kark S, KOUTSOUBAS D, Mackelworth P, et al. Setting Priorities for Regional Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea. [Internet]. 2013.
Publisher's VersionAbstractSpatial prioritization in conservation is required to direct limited resources to where actions are most urgently needed and most likely to produce effective conservation outcomes. In an effort to advance the protection of a highly threatened hotspot of marine biodiversity, the Mediterranean Sea, multiple spatial conservation plans have been developed in recent years. Here, we review and integrate these different plans with the goal of identifying priority conservation areas that represent the current consensus among the different initiatives. A review of six existing and twelve proposed conservation initiatives highlights gaps in conservation and management planning, particularly within the southern and [...]
MAZOR T, Levin N, Possingham HP, Levy Y, Rocchini D, Richardson AJ, Kark S.
Can satellite-based night lights be used for conservation? The case of nesting sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Biological Conservation [Internet]. 2013;159 :63 - 72.
Publisher's VersionAbstractArtificial night lights pose a major threat to multiple species. However, this threat is often disregarded in conservation management and action because it is difficult to quantify its effect. Increasing availability of high spatial-resolution satellite images may enable us to better incorporate this threat into future work, particularly in highly modified ecosystems such as the coastal zone. In this study we examine the potential of satellite night light imagery to predict the distribution of the endangered loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtle nests in the eastern Mediterranean coastline. Using remote sensing tools and high resolution data derived from the SAC-C satellite and the International Space Station, we examined the relationship between the long term spatial patterns of sea turtle nests and the intensity of night lights along Israel’s entire Mediterranean coastline. We found that sea turtles nests are negatively related to night light intensity a
Janse Van Rensburg B, Levin N, Kark S.
Are environmental transitions more prone to biological invasions? [Internet]. 2013.
Publisher's VersionAbstractAIM To examine whether at a subcontinental-scale ecotonal areas of transition between vegetation communities are at higher risk of plant invasion. LOCATION South Africa and Lesotho. METHODS Using plant data on native and established alien species in South Africa, we examined the relationship between plant richness (native and alien) in each grid cell (quarter-degree resolution) in the study area and the distance of the grid cell to the nearest ecotone between vegetation communities. We used a residual analysis to estimate each grid cell’s relative invasibility (i.e. susceptibility to invasion) relative to its ecotone distance. We further explored the relative importance [...]
Levin N, Watson JEM, Joseph LN, Grantham HS, Hadar L, Apel N, Perevolotsky A, DeMalach N, Possingham HP, Kark S.
A framework for systematic conservation planning and management of Mediterranean landscapes. Biological Conservation [Internet]. 2013;158 :371 - 383.
Publisher's VersionAbstractActive and dynamic management of biodiversity is of utmost importance in the face of increasing human pressures on nature. Current approaches for site selection of protected areas often assume that both conservation features and management actions are fixed in space and time. However, this approach should be revised to allow for spatio-temporal shifts of biodiversity features, threats and management options. Our aim here was to demonstrate a novel approach for systematic conservation planning at a fine scale that incorporates dynamic ecological processes (e.g., succession), biodiversity targets and management costs. We used the new ‘Marxan with Zones’ decision support tool to spatially redistribute the major structural types of vegetation within a privately-owned nature park in Israel and facilitate the achievement of multiple conservation targets for minimum cost. The park is located in the Mediterranean climate region of the eastern Mediterranean Basin, one of Earth’s richest biodiv