Ecological Inventory Research Articles

Low-Tech and Low-Cost System for High-Resolution Underwater RTK Photogrammetry in Coastal Shallow Waters

Monitoring coastal seabed in very shallow waters (0–5 m) is a challenging methodological issue, even though such data is of major importance to many scientific and technical communities. Over the years, Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry has emerged as a flexible and inexpensive method able to provide both a 3D model and high-resolution imagery of the seabed (~cm level). In this study, we propose a low-cost (about USD 1500), adaptable, lightweight and easily dismantled system called POSEIDON (for Platform Operating in Shallow-water Environment for Imaging and 3D reconstructiON). This prototype combines a floating support (typically a bodyboard), two imagery sensors (here, GoPro® cameras) and an accurate positioning system using Real Time Kinematic GNSS. Validation of this method was deployed in a macrotidal zone, comparing on the foreshore the point cloud provided by POSEIDON “SfM bathymetry” and by classical terrestrial SfM survey. Mean deviation was 5.2 cm and standard deviation was 4.6 cm. Such high-resolution SfM bathymetric surveys have a great potential for a wide range of applications: micro-bathymetry, hydrodynamics (bottom roughness), benthic habitats, ecological inventories, archaeology, etc.

SPARSE 1.0: a template for databases of species inventories, with an open example of Czech birds.

Here, we introduce SPARSE (acronym for "SPecies AcRoss ScalEs"), a simple and portable template for databases that can store data on species composition derived from ecological inventories, surveys and checklists, with emphasis on metadata describing sampling effort and methods. SPARSE can accommodate resurveys and time series and data from different spatial scales, as well as complex sampling designs. SPARSE focuses on inventories that report multiple species for a given site, together with sampling methods and effort, which can be used in statistical models of true probability of occurrence of species. SPARSE is spatially explicit and can accommodate nested spatial structures from multiple spatial scales, including sampling designs where multiple sites within a larger area have been surveyed and the larger area can again be nested in an even larger region. Each site in SPARSE is represented either by a point, line (for transects) or polygon, stored in an ESRI shapefile. SPARSE implements a new combination of our own field definitions with Darwin Core biodiversity data standard and its Humboldt core extension. The use of Humboldt core also makes SPARSE suitable for biodiversity data with temporal replication. We provide an example use of the SPARSE framework by digitising data on birds from the Czech Republic, from 348 sites and 524 sampling events, with 15,969 unique species-per-event observations of presence, abundance or population density. To facilitate use without the need for a high-level database expertise, the Czech bird example is implemented as MS Access .accdb file, but can be ported to other database engines. The example of Czech birds complements other bird datasets from the Czech Republic, specifically the four gridded national atlases and the breeding bird survey which cover a similar temporal extent, but different locations and spatial scales.

Экологические особенности формирования флористического состава в зоне влияния карьеров Южного Урала

The data research carried out on the territory of the mining complexes in the Southern Urals, in particular in the Chelyabinsk region, the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Orenburg region, is presented. The influence of the mining complex opencasts on the process of vegetation colonization of the territory adjacent to them are considered. The total number of plant species has been determined, and the process of renaturalization of the technogenic landscape near the opencasts of mining complexes has been characterized. An ecological inventory of vegetation in the zone influenced by opencasts was carried out.

New insights on glass industry wasteland ecosystems

Glass manufacturing operations lead to an increasing number of abandoned slag heaps contaminated with metallic trace elements (MTE). However, the relative influence of edaphic factors on the biodiversity of glasswork wastelands is still poorly understood although closely related to sustainable land management practices. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to provide new insights into glasswork wastelands through the investigation of (i) Orthoptera, diurnal Lepidoptera, plant communities, and (ii) abiotic parameters in the topsoils.To that end, biodiversity indices were computed from ecological inventories performed on the herbaceous layer. In addition, soil samples were taken from the topsoil layer (0–10 cm) to assess agronomic properties, actually (CEC-exchangeable) and potentially bioavailable MTE fractions (DTPA-extractable) and pseudo-total MTE contents. On the one hand, the studied site was able to support a substantially higher than excepted biodiversity with orthopteran assemblages similar to grasslands and a diurnal Lepidoptera diversity comparable to urban parks. We also noted a positive influence of plant richness on the diurnal Lepidoptera community structure. On the other hand, topsoil analysis revealed a severe Pb contamination (1800–3100 mg kg−1) and a high potentially bioavailable Pb fraction (800–1300 mg kg−1). However, CEC-exchangeable MTE concentrations were all below the analytical quantification limits. Moreover, the site was characterized by a medium soil fertility.From these results, Pb contamination does not appear to be a primary limiting factor for the establishment of these communities. We assume that glasswork wasteland ecosytems are more affected by soil fertility or land management practices. To conclude, these sites are able to provide biodiversity ecosystem services, acting as wildlife sanctuaries for Orthoptera and diurnal Lepidoptera, and strategic metals by phytoextraction in a circular economy model. Thus, wasteland management practices should consider the local-scale drivers of biodiversity in order to reach at least the zero net loss of biodiversity.

Taxonomic estimates of climbing plants in India: how many species are out there?

ABSTRACT We present the first-ever attempt to estimate the taxonomic diversity of climbing plants in India, following the recent APG IV classification. We used more than 100 published and unpublished sources spanning more than a century to compile the extensive list of climbers. Our study revealed that the climbing plants in India are phylogenetically diverse, representing 2624 species radiated across 585 genera and 104 spermatophyte plant families. About two-thirds of the total climbers enumerated from the present study are lianas. Scramblers, in particular, are exclusively woody, unlike twiners and tendril climbers. The diversity of climbing mechanisms varied significantly across the 104 climber families. We also present the revised list of global climbing plant families, adding significantly to the existing dataset. We found that the climber diversity data collected exclusively from the ecological inventories or the taxonomic records underestimated the actual climber diversity by a significant margin. We discuss some of the key constraints in developing a climber database and recommend a replicable model, integrating ecology and taxonomy-based enumerations for the most precise estimate of climber diversity within a defined geographical area. The baseline data generated through our research will find applications in many ecological, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies on climbers.

Livestock Management Within a Traditional Agrosilvopastoral System in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil: A Model for Reconciling Livelihoods and Conservation at a Time of Environmental Change

We examine the ongoing transformation of the livestock raising component of a complex agrosilvopastoral management system associated with the Geraizeiro of northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Increasing droughts and regional climate change, associated with large-scale corporate enclosures of upland rangelands and conversion to eucalyptus plantations for industrial charcoal production have undermined solta, a customary form of extensive cattle raising and centerpiece of Geraizeiro lifeways. In response, farmers are adapting and transforming another, more intense form of livestock raising associated with managed agroforestry in lower-lying areas, manga. Using a social-ecological systems approach and drawing on extensive interviews and ecological inventories, we consider such changes within the overall integrity of the system, suggesting the need to reconsider the role of the Geraizeiros and their use of cattle and fire as a potentially useful tool in reconciling livelihoods and conservation, particularly amidst accelerating social and environmental change and the concomitant threats to the savanna biocultural biome.

Using i-tree canopy vegetation cover subtype classification to predict peri-domestic tick presence

While extant literature has generally indicated significant associations between vegetation cover and tick activity, no study has demonstrated the relative association between peri-domestic area vegetation cover subtypes and tick presence. In this study, we seek to determine whether neighborhood wood index and residential tick control practices confound or modify the effect of peri-domestic vegetation cover subtypes on tick presence. We conducted an ecological inventory of vegetation cover distribution using i-Tree Canopy on 210 private residential/peri-domestic properties in Indiana, USA. Results were paired with field obtained tick presence/absence data for each property together with online survey data provided by primary occupant of the property. Amblyomma americanum was the predominant tick species in peri-domestic areas. Higher proportion of vegetation cover in the peri-domestic area was significantly associated with tick presence. Of the four vegetation cover subtypes, (grass, shrubs, understory, and canopy), canopy was the most prevalent vegetation in peri-domestic areas of Indiana, USA. It was also the most significant predictor of tick presence. Among residential tick control processes, frequent leaf litter removal was significantly associated with reduced likelihood of peri-domestic tick presence. Neighborhood Wood Index (NWI) confounded the relationship between canopy and peri-domestic tick presence, while leaf-litter removal confounded the effect of understory vegetation subtype on peri-domestic tick presence. Compared to peri-domestic areas in neighborhoods with sparse NWI, those in neighborhoods with heavy/dense NWI had a 3.5x odd of peri-domestic tick presence (AOR = 3.46; 95 % CI: 1.23–9.65). Compared to peri-domestic areas in the central region, those in the southern region of Indiana were 8.7x more likely to have peri-domestic tick presence. Canopy as a vegetation cover subtype and frequent leaf litter removal represent particularly key peri-domestic variables that have significant implications for peri-domestic tick presence. Beyond parcel-scale landscape features, neighborhood wood index also plays an important role in peri-domestic tick presence. Additionally, i-Tree Canopy represents a promising methodological tool for identifying landscape features that predict tick presence.

O ecossistema urbano da ocupação Santa Luzia

A ocupação informal Santa Luzia, nas proximidades do Parque Nacional de Brasília, está inserida na microbacia hidrográfica da cabeceira do Córrego Cabeceira do Acampamento, a qual define seu Ecossistema Urbano. O Governo do Distrito Federal busca realocar a população ocupante da região com proposta de projeto de habitação social linear com 3,2 km de extensão como medida mitigatória, pressionado pelo Ministério Público do DF e Territórios que acusa o aumento de impactos ambientais na região. A fim de defender a manutenção da população no local foi realizado um inventário ecológico simplificado com dados espaciais acerca de aspectos sócio-econômico-ambientais da microbacia hidrográfica e foram indicadas melhorias segundo as Soluções Baseadas na Natureza. O mapeamento incluiu análises tipo NDVI; Tipo de Solos; Relevo; Declividade; Risco de perda do solo por erosão, Risco de contaminação; Tipos de vegetação; e Grau de impermeabilização do solo. O resultado do inventário demonstrou que o impacto ambiental gerado pela ocupação é menor que as áreas adjacentes, sendo um cenário positivo incluir a população no processo de regeneração com pequenas adequações e alterações, principalmente sensíveis à água baseadas na visão dos serviços ecossistêmicos ao tratamento de efluentes em nível paisagístico de tratamento; de fonte de recurso, adequação vegetação.

Using social–ecological inventory and group model building for resilience assessment to climate change in a network governance setting: a case study from Ikel watershed in Moldova

Climate change risks threaten social–ecological systems (SESs) across the globe. Efforts are increasingly focusing on reducing vulnerabilities of SES to climate change. Scientists and practitioners of resilience assessment have been developing frameworks to conduct integrated analyses of social–ecological systems. Such frameworks would ideally lead to a stronger commitment of various groups of stakeholders to act toward building the resilience of the system in focus. In this context, we explore and present in this paper how two sequential processes: social–ecological inventory (SEI) and group model building (GMB) have been employed to assess the resilience to climate change of Ikel watershed in the Republic of Moldova. The two processes come from two related fields: resilience and system dynamics. They have many things in common, but have not been combined much in the literature thus far. The methodology is being applied in two stages: for identifying vulnerabilities and for building the conceptual model. We find that SEI and GMB can be used together smoothly, adding value to both system dynamicists and resilience practitioners. We conclude that SEI is a valuable addition to GMB by enhancing stakeholder engagement for resilience building in a network governance setting. Similarly, employment of the GMB practice and vocabulary added value to resilience assessment by providing a conceptual dynamic feedback model. This conceptual model can be further built upon to develop a computer simulation model for testing of various policy options. The paper offers resilience practitioners an approach for participatory resilience assessment and the system dynamicists an approach for GMB practice in network governance settings.

Value of information in multiple criteria decision making: an application to forest conservation

Developing environmental conservation plans involves assessing trade-offs between the benefits and costs of conservation. The benefits of conservation can be established with ecological inventories or estimated based on previously collected information. Conducting ecological inventories can be costly, and the additional information may not justify these costs. To clarify the value of these inventories, we investigate the multiple criteria value of information associated with the acquisition of improved ecological data. This information can be useful when informing the decision maker to acquire better information. We extend the concept of the value of information to a multiple criteria perspective. We consider value of information for both monetary and biodiversity criteria and do not assume any fixed budget limits. Two illustrative cases are used describe this method of evaluating the multiple criteria value of information. In the first case, we numerically evaluate the multiple criteria value of information for a single forest stand. In the second case, we present a forest planning case with four stands that describes the complex interactions between the decision maker’s preference information and the potential inventory options available. These example cases highlight the importance of examining the trade-offs when making conservation decisions. We provide a definition for the multiple criteria value of information and demonstrate the potential application when conservation issues conflict with monetary issues.

Using an Ecological Inventory to Identify Purchasing Skills to be Shaped: Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Using an Ecological Inventory to Identify Purchasing Skills to be Shaped: Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Does the use of reference organisms in radiological impact assessments provide adequate protection of all the species within an environment?

Non-human biota in radiological risk assessment is typically evaluated using Reference Organisms (ROs) or Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs), for all exposure situations. However, it still remains open whether the use of an increased number of species would improve the ability to demonstrate protectiveness of the environment. In this paper, the representativeness of a broader list of fauna is tested in terms of the geometrical characteristics and habits for radiological risk assessments in the case of routine discharges from a nuclear installation: the Cadarache centre. A list of terrestrial animal species, compiled from ecological inventories carried out around it was evaluated.A first survey around the centre inventoried >400 terrestrial fauna species, which were then filtered to reduce the number to 28 species for which dose assessments were carried out. Despite the differences between geometries for those site-specific species and the ROs (including RAPs), the absorbed dose rates calculated for both were very close (within a factor of two). Regardless of the studied organism, the absorbed dose rates calculated for the discharge scenario were mainly related to internal exposure, particularly for tritium (3H) and carbon 14 (14C), showing that there would be an acceptable dose rates difference between species from the same organism group. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine if the use of generic, predefined ROs was enough to assure an adequate protection of endangered species. It was observed that for every radionuclide the difference between assessments for site-specific species and ROs are unlikely to exceed a factor of 3. Hence, the result of this evaluation indicates that the use of generic ROs for non-human biota radiological risk assessment covers sufficiently other species, including endangered ones.

Ecosystem Carbon Allocation of a Temperate Mixed Forest and a Subtropical Evergreen Forest in China

Ecosystem carbon allocation can indicate ecosystem carbon cycling visually through its quantification within different carbon pools and carbon exchange. Using the ecological inventory and eddy covariance measurement applied to both a mature temperate mixed forest in Changbai Mountain (CBM) and a mature subtropical evergreen forest in Dinghu Mountain (DHM), we partitioned the ecosystem carbon pool and carbon exchange into different components, determined the allocation and analyzed relationships within those components. Generally, the total carbon stock of CBM was slightly higher than that of DHM due to a higher carbon stock in the arbor layer at CBM. It was interesting that the proportions of carbon stock in vegetation, soil and litter were similar for the two mature forests. The ratio of vegetation carbon pool to soil carbon stock was 1.5 at CBM and 1.3 at DHM. However, more carbon was allocated to the trunk and root from the vegetation carbon pool at CBM, while more carbon was allocated to foliage and branches at DHM. Moreover, 77% of soil carbon storage was limited to the surface soil layer (0-20 cm), while there was still plentiful carbon stored in the deeper soil layers at DHM. The root/shoot ratios were 0.30 and 0.25 for CBM and DHM, respectively. The rates of net ecosystem productivity (NPP) to gross ecosystem productivity (GPP) were 0.76 and 0.58, and the ratios of ecosystem respiration (Re) to GPP were 0.98 and 0.87 for CBM and DHM, respectively. The net ecosystem carbon exchange/productivity (NEP) was 0.24 t C ha–1 yr–1 for CBM and 3.38 t C ha–1 yr–1 for DHM. Due to the common seasonal and inter-annual variations of ecosystem carbon exchange resulting from the influence of environmental factors, it was necessary to use the long record dataset to evaluate the ecosystem sink capacity.

Divergent perceptions of the ‘neo-Australian’ forests of lowland eastern Madagascar: Invasions, transitions, and livelihoods

Grevillea banksii (Proteaceae), a non-native shrubby tree, has in the past five decades expanded to cover hundreds of thousands of hectares in lowland eastern Madagascar, accompanied by other Australian and pan-tropical species, including Melaleuca quinquenervia, Acacia mangium, and Eucalyptus spp. We investigate contrasting perceptions of this new landscape with view to facilitate future management. Field research was based on 290 surveys, key informant interviews, and ecological inventories at six sites from Farafangana in the south to Fenerive Est in the north. After documenting the ecology and usage of grevillea, we analyse differing ways in which it can be perceived. Perceptions promoted by scientists and administrators include the contrasting ideas of beneficial landscape greening, rampant biological invasion, novel ecosystems, and forest transition. Perceptions held by local actors are highly determined by practical livelihood concerns. These local views are largely positive due to the major role of grevillea firewood and charcoal sales in livelihoods; however, context plays a major role and a number of disadvantages are perceived as well, including difficulty of removal, competition with crop and pasture land, and the respiratory health impacts of involvement in charcoal production. We conclude that policymakers and managers – in this case and in similar cases around the world – need to be more reflexive on the ways in which environmental problems are framed and to put those frames more in conversation with local people's experiences in order to productively resolve invasive species management dilemmas.

Inventory of cyanobacteria and microalgae cited for the National Park of the Chapada dos Guimarães (MT) and 80 new records from the region

Abstract: Cyanobacteria and microalgae make up a very diverse group and exhibit diverse morphological, biochemical and physiological differences. The knowledge of these organisms that inhabit epicontinental waters in Brazil is extremely heterogeneous in relation to the geographic region and the taxonomic group. Taxonomically there is much more knowledge about the algae of the South and Southeast regions of the country than there is about the algae of the North and Central-West regions. Therefore, this research presents a revised and updated knowledge of the algae that occur in the National Park of the Chapada dos Guimarães (PNCG) and surrounding areas. Our area of study is located in the state of Mato Grosso, in the center-west region of Brazil. The database was obtained from published literature related to taxonomic and ecological inventories, as well as new collections carried out in the area. The collection methods were quite diverse to cover all types of organisms, in plankton, periphyton, filamentous masses, sludge and water accumulated in bromeliads, the new collections are samples collected exclusively in the plankton. They were listed 182 taxa, distributed in 83 genera, 45 families, 11 classes and seven taxonomic divisions. In total, 89 taxa were found in the new samplings, of which nine taxa were already registered in the existing literature, so 80 taxa are new records for the region. A large number of taxa previously mentioned in the literature were not recorded in the sampled environments, most of them composed of Bacillariophyceae, Conjugatophyceae and Euglenophyceae. As well as three species of cyanobacteria of great sanitary importance were registered. Therefore, CGNP has great importance in the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity and to know this community becomes increasingly important to support management measures.

Synergy between traditional knowledge of use and tree population structure for sustainability of Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott. & Endl in Benin (West Africa)

Cola nitida is a West African tree, commonly used for pharmaceutical purposes. In Benin, the species is used for many purposes ranging from traditional rituals to domestic consumption. Nowadays, the species, as well as its offspring, are hardly encountered. So far, research on the species focused on a single domain such as ethnobotany and phytochemistry. The current paper used a holistic approach to explain the species scarcity in the natural habitats using (1) the rural knowledge pattern on C. nitida and (2) the tree population structure. Semi-structured interviews (n = 170 respondents) were conducted and combined with ecological inventory (n = 38 plots) in the phyto-geographical districts of Coast and Pobe in southern Benin. The indices of diversity, equitability, and consensus quantified the range, the evenness, and the relative reliability of rural communities’ knowledge. Moreover, the plant part index gave the most used part of the tree. The knowledge on the species was unevenly distributed according to the gender, while the cofactor age did not have a statistically significant effect (P = 0.902) on the pattern. In addition, seeds represented the most used plant part (PPI = 0.59). C. nitida tree demographic structure showed a low density of seedling and sapling (1.05 ± 0.47 trees ha-1). Diameter size fitted with a two-parameter Weibull distribution indicated a threat of species extinction. The multiple uses of C. nitida seeds do not allow natural regeneration of the species. The domestication of C. nitida tree and the establishment of Cola garden/orchard in the surveyed districts are suggested for sustainable use of the species.

Ecological exploration of Kuwana forest: A tropical moist deciduous forest of eastern Terai, India

The present study was conducted in the Kuwana forest of Gonda forest division in Uttar Pradesh to explore its ecological inventories. Random stratified sampling was adopted to collect the basic information like frequency, density and abundance for the calculation of importance value index (IVI). On the basis of principal component analysis (PCA) plot, three forest communities were identified and named as, Syzygium Lowland Forest (SLF), Shorea Miscellaneous Forest (SMF) and Mallotus Miscellaneous Forest (MMF). MMF community allowed the maximum 39 while SLF minimum 18 tree species growing in it. Conversely, SMF community showed higher heterogeneous tree diversity validated by lower Dominance index (0.088) and higher Simpson index (0.912). The values of these two indices were found very low in comparison with their range for tropical forests of India. On the otherhand the diversity indices (Shannon & Fisher alpha) was calculated as maximum (2.797 & 11.960 respectively) for MMF community, which indicates the existence of better tree diversity in this forest community. The higher values of Evenness & Equitability indices (0.646 & 0.859 respectively) for SMF community showed the more evenly distribution of tree species in this community.

Knoxville’s urban wilderness: Moving toward sustainable multifunctional management

The Knoxville Urban Wilderness (KUW) in Eastern Tennessee is part of a larger global trend of acquiring vacant lands within urban landscapes for their natural habitat and recreation value. At 688ha, the KUW is one of the largest urban wilderness areas in the United States, consisting of loosely-connected land parcels with multiple stakeholders including state, county, and city governments and private foundations. Here we use the KUW as a case study to address critical questions of management that arise for most urban wilderness projects globally: What should these areas be managed for, and how should they be managed? How can multiple stakeholders be efficiently organized to pool their resources most effectively. The KUW is currently used mainly for recreation and its potential for biodiversity conservation and education and ecosystem services is largely unutilized. As a way to promote and manage this unused potential, we began the first ecological inventory, compiling existing data and conducting biodiversity and invasive plant surveys with citizen scientists. We found that the KUW harbors a significant number of plant (250) and bird (193) species, with many other taxa also identified. We also found widespread infestation of invasive plants for which we provide management suggestions. A preliminary visitor survey shows that most visitors (about two-thirds) are from the immediate vicinity, mainly for walking (74.4%) or biking (19.9%). The vast majority (93.7%) of visitors do not want more vegetation management or removal and 98.3% of visitors would like to see the KUW expanded in area.

The Automated Reference Toolset: A Soil‐Geomorphic Ecological Potential Matching Algorithm

Core Ideas Automated reference toolset (ART) delineates areas of similar ecological potential. ART shows promise for aiding in land management monitoring and assessment. Particle size in the control section (PSCS) is helpful for mapping ecological sites. Neighborhood geomorphic classifications add specificity to ART. Regional PSCS map produced accurately at 30‐m resolution. Ecological inventory and monitoring data need referential context for interpretation. Identification of appropriate reference areas of similar ecological potential for site comparison is demonstrated using a newly developed automated reference toolset (ART). Foundational to identification of reference areas was a soil map of particle size in the control section (PSCS), a theme in US Soil Taxonomy. A 30‐m resolution PSCS map of the Colorado Plateau (366,000 km2) was created by interpolating ∼5000 field soil observations using a random forest model and a suite of raster environmental spatial layers representing topography, climate, general ecological community, and satellite imagery ratios. The PSCS map had overall out of bag accuracy of 61.8% (Kappa of 0.54, p < 0.0001), and an independent validation accuracy of 93.2% at a set of 356 field plots along the southern edge of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. The ART process was also tested at these plots, and matched plots with the same ecological sites (ESs) 67% of the time where sites fell within 2‐km buffers of each other. These results show that the PSCS and ART have strong application for ecological monitoring and sampling design, as well as assessing impacts of disturbance and land management action using an ecological potential framework. Results also demonstrate that PSCS could be a key mapping layer for the USDA‐NRCS provisional ES development initiative.

The Development of Ecological Assessment Inventory for Inclusive Physical Education Class of Students with Developmental Disabilities in Secondary School

The Development of Ecological Assessment Inventory for Inclusive Physical Education Class of Students with Developmental Disabilities in Secondary School