Ecological Monitoring Network Research Articles

A GIS-Based Study on the Layout of the Ecological Monitoring System of the Grain for Green Project in China

The Grain for Green Project (GGP) is an essential ecological system protection and restoration measure which can effectively improve the ecological environment. Constructing ecological monitoring system and obtaining ecological parameters can scientifically evaluate the ecological benefits of the GGP, consolidate the existing achievements, take the road of high-quality development, and promote the construction of a national ecological civilization. Firstly, an index system was constructed based on the factors driving forest ecosystem functions, involving climate (thermal and moisture conditions), vegetation types, and typical ecological zones. Then, GIS spatial analysis technology and the merging criteria index method were used to identify GGP ecological function monitoring zones. Finally, according to the scale of the project, the spatial distribution of existing stations, typical ecological zones, and the density of monitoring stations, the eco-efficiency monitoring stations, were arranged in an overall way, which constitutes the GGP ecological monitoring network. The results showed that the ecological function monitoring zones of GGP included 77 divisions, and 99 ecological monitoring stations (20 compatible level-1 stations, 31 compatible level-2 stations, 18 professional level-1 stations, and 30 professional level-2 stations) were arranged. Among them, 83 are located in national major ecosystem protection and restoration engineering areas (NMEPREA), 79 in national ecological fragile areas (NEFA), 41 in national ecological barrier areas (NEBA), and 58 in national key ecological function areas (NKEFA). The proportion of types of NMEPREA, NEFA, NEBA, and NKEFA covered by monitoring is 66.7%, 100%, 100%, and 76%, respectively. The ecological monitoring system of GGP can not only meet the monitoring needs of the GGP but also effectively monitor the effectiveness of protection and restoration of typical ecological zones. In addition, this study can provide a methodological basis for other countries or ecological projects to build a more scientific and reasonable ecological monitoring system.

Design of Moving Coverage Algorithm of Ecological Monitoring Network for Curved Surface

Micro-structured sensors that can perceive and communicate at the same time have emerged as a result of the quick growth of microelectronics technology, wireless communication technology, and sensor technology. This little gadget has the ability to sense many types of environmental data, gather it at the sink node, and then send it to the data centre. In the civic, industrial, agricultural, military, and other domains, wireless sensor networks are frequently employed. A virtual force model of curved surface ecological monitoring network for moving coverage is presented, and a moving coverage algorithm for curved surface ecological monitoring network is given, according to the actual needs of curved surface ecological monitoring, such as grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and coastal beaches. The moving coverage algorithm of curved surface ecology monitoring network pushes the sensor nodes to the uncovered area on the monitored surface and fixes the monitoring blind zone on the monitored surface using a virtual force between sensor nodes in the ecological monitoring network. The moving coverage process of the moving coverage algorithm of the ecological monitoring network is simulated in order to verify the efficiency of the moving coverage algorithm of curved surface ecological monitoring network. The simulation results demonstrate that the moving coverage algorithm suggested in this paper can successfully increase the coverage of the ecological monitoring network on the monitoring surface by precisely locating the monitoring blind zone of the ecological monitoring network and pushing the sensor nodes to the monitoring blind zone for coverage. The final coverage ratio is greater than 95%, and the node deployment phase’s coverage ratio can reach 85% to 90%.

Clay mineralogy of Cryosols formed in an ultra-continental climate of Siberia

The clay mineralogy of Cryosols formed in several regions (the Anabar and the Alazei plateaus and the Central Yakutia plain) of the north-eastern part of Siberia (Yakutia) was studied to assess weathering activity of minerals in soil environment. The studied soils are represented by shallow profiles located in the hard to reach areas that are not well known from previous soil survey and proper “Palevaya (Pale) soil” from the international forest ecological monitoring network. Based on XRD data of the < 1µm fractions, the minor mineralogical change was observed in the shallow soils. The decrease in proportion of the most sensitive to weathering smectitic structures (mixed-layer illite-smectite) was revealed in the profile from the Anabar plateau. Despite the strong difference in pH values, the horizons ranging in depth are rather similar in the deeper and proper Cryosol (“Palevaya (Pale) soil”) from the Central Yakutia plain. The minor difference is related to partial reduction in chlorite proportion occurring in A and B horizons. The present findings revealed that vertical pattern of clay mineral distribution can be affected by the modern stages of weathering activity in Cryosols formed in cold environment of ultra-continental climate.

Air Pollution in Moscow Megacity: Data Fusion of the Chemical Transport Model and Observational Network

Comparisons of observational data obtained at the Moscow Ecological Monitoring network (MEM) with numerical simulations using a chemical transformation and transport model (SILAM—System for Integrated modeLling of Atmospheric coMposition) showed that the errors in determining the gaseous pollutant concentrations in the urban atmosphere have a more complex structure than those assumed under the conventional algorithms of data assimilation. These errors are statistically nonstationary; they show a pronounced diurnal cycle and a significant lifetime. The statistical features of errors in numerical calculations also depend upon the type of pollutants, i.e., the chemical reactions in which they participate. Our analysis showed that the simulation errors are not small: the ratios of calculated and measured concentrations (even for daily averages at all measuring stations) may vary in a wide range. For the chemically active pollutants, the intradiurnal error variations may reach 100%. The diurnal cycle of such errors was found to vary according to seasons (in our case, summer and winter). The analysis of statistical properties of the errors, including their temporal and spatial variability, allows one to correct and adequately forecast the air pollution in the metropolis area at lead times up to three days in advance.

Comunidades de invertebrados terrestres del archipiélago Diego Ramírez (56°31&amp;#8217;S), el sitio de estudios ecológicos de largo plazo más austral de américa: Diversidad y afinidades con las islas subantárticas del océano austral

The Diego Ramirez and Cape Horn archipelagos are located at the southern end of the Magellanic subantarctic ecoregion. The fauna of insects and other terrestrial invertebrates has been poorly characterized. In this work, we present an updated assessment of invertebrates, with a focus on the terrestrial entomofauna of the Diego Ramirez Archipelago. We reviewed biogeographic affinities of this southern archipelago with the rest of the subantarctic islands. We found that Gonzalo Island in the Diego Ramirez Archipelago is free of insect species and other exotic invertebrates. The island’s terrestrial invertebrate fauna registered during this study includes 32 taxa, mainly from the Class Insecta, which are distributed in different habitats, being the communities of Poa flabellata the most important habitats. The entomofauna of the Diego Ramirez Archipelago shows a low total similarity between the fauna reported and the rest of the islands, except with South Georgia. However, the biota that links them is of Gondwanic origin, which suggests the existence of ancient vicariant biogeographic connections. This work is a contribution to the development, strengthening and inauguration of the Cape Horn Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Network (LTER Cape Horn Network). The particular focus on the Diego Ramirez Islands contributes directly to filling a “blind spot” in our current knowledge of the effects of global environmental change in sub-Antarctic ecosystems, generating information essential to their conservation in the short, medium and long term.

Environmental situation of Dnister regional landscape park

Formulation of the problem. The Dniester Regional Landscape Park (DRLP) is a natural protected area of Ukraine that extends along the right bank. Dniester, within the Tlumatsky and Gorodenkovsky districts of Ivano-Frankivsk region, covers an area of 19 656 ha. It was founded by the decisions of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council on July 15, 1993 and December 3, 2016, when the park was named after Sergiy Didych. The objectives of the park are: conservation of valuable natural and floristic-cultural complexes; creation of conditions for efficient tourism and recreation; adherence to the regime of protection of protected objects; promotion of ecological and educational work; maintaining an overall environmental balance in the region. The research methodology performed by the specialists of the Department of Ecology of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas was based on a component assessment of the ecological state of the geological environment, relief, water resources, atmospheric air, soil and vegetation, sociosphere and technosphere by selection construction of databases and ecological and technological-geochemical maps of the state of the environment. As a result of studies of the geological environment, geomorphosphere and soil cover, their changes under the influence of natural (planar, linear and bright erosion, villages, landslides, landslides, landslides, etc.) and technogenic (quarries, drilling wells, etc.) factors are still negligible - from 0.0015 to 0.04% of the area and volume in the model areas. Surface water pollution in the Dniester River and its tributaries is average, and groundwater – from normal to satisfactory. Only in places where the polluted water is discharged is it difficult and unsatisfactory. Ecological condition of atmospheric air, precipitation of rain and snow, vegetation cover – normal and only about mm. Interpreter and Gorodenko – satisfactory and complex. On the whole, according to the assessment of all environmental components, the environment of the DRLP is still in good condition, but requires the implementation of the measures recommended by the authors. The scientific novelty of the environmental research of the DLRP is that the authors of the article first performed their own field environmental studies on the monitoring system of each component of the landscape, and the results using GIS technologies to build a summary ecological map. The practical significance of the work is to provide the DPRL with a scientific basis for the creation of a permanent ecological monitoring network and the dissemination of the methods of ecological assessment developed by the authors to other nature reserves and sites - nature monuments, reserves, national nature parks, nature reserves, biosphere reserves and reserves.

The perceived impacts of monitoring activities on intergovernmental relationships: some lessons from the Ecological Monitoring Network and Water in Focus.

An increasing stream of monitoring activities is entering the public sector. This article analyzes the perceived impacts of monitoring activities on intergovernmental relationships. Our theoretical framework is based on three approaches to monitoring and intergovernmental relationships, namely, a rational, a political, and a cultural perspective. Our empirical insights are based on two Dutch case studies, namely, the Ecological Monitoring Network and the Water in Focus reports. The conclusion is that monitoring activities have an impact on intergovernmental relationships in terms of standardizing working processes and methods, formalizing information relationships, ritualizing activities, and developing shared concepts ("common grammar"). An important challenge is to deal with the politicization of intergovernmental relationships, because monitoring reports can also stimulate political discussions about funding, the design of the instrument, administrative burdens, and supervisory relationships.

General Surveillance of the soil ecosystem: An approach to monitoring unexpected adverse effects of GMO's

The commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union (EU) necessitates, according to EU legislation, the setting up of a General Surveillance (GS) system that should be able to detect unanticipated effects of GM crops on the environment. Although the applicant is responsible for setting up GS as well as for reporting the results, EU Member States may implement additional supporting surveillance programmes. Devising a GS system to detect unanticipated effects is not straightforward and requires clearly defined protection goals, suitable indicators that are linked to measurable parameters and an objective system for assessing the data. This paper describes a number of recommendations for the development of a General Surveillance system of the soil ecosystem specifically focussed on the situation in the Netherlands. The overarching protection goal of General Surveillance is ‘soil quality’, which is translated into more practical terms of ecosystem services that are relevant for soil quality, and that can be used to select measurable parameters and thus make a link with actual measurements. Ultimately, if and when effects on ecosystem services are detected, decision makers will have to decide whether these effects are acceptable or not. As a support for these decision-making processes, this paper discusses the modalities for the development of a stakeholder participation model. The model involves three groups of persons: the land users, the soil scientists and the decision makers. For reasons of cost effectiveness, a GS system of the soil ecosystem will have to make use of existing networks. The Dutch Soil Quality Network (DSQN) offers an existing infrastructure for soil sampling for GS. Finally, the GS system may be extended to contain data from the Dutch Ecological Monitoring Network, earth observation systems as well as other data resources such as farmers questionnaires or reports form organisations involved in nature conservation. Ideally these data are compiled by a Central Reporting Office (CRO) and maintained in a Geographic Information System (GIS) based database.

Картографический подход при проектировании сети экологического мониторинга на объектах нефтегазовой отрасли

Картографический подход при проектировании сети экологического мониторинга на объектах нефтегазовой отрасли

Monitoring long-term ecological changes through the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: science-based and policy relevant.

Ecological monitoring and its associated research programs have often provided answers to various environmental management issues. In the face of changing environmental conditions, ecological monitoring provides decision-makers with reliable information as they grapple with maintaining a sustainable economy and healthy environment. The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) is a national ecological monitoring network consisting of (1) about 100 case study sites across the country characterized by long-term multi-disciplinary environmental work conducted by a multitude of agencies (142 partners and counting); (2) a variety of less comprehensive yet more extensive monitoring sites; (3) a network where core monitoring variables of ecosystem change are measured; and (4) geo-referenced environmental observations. Environment Canada is the co-ordinating partner for the network through the EMAN Co-ordinating Office. EMAN's mission is to focus a scientifically-sound, policy-relevant ecosystem monitoring and research network based on (a) stabilizing a network of case-study sites operated by a variety of partners, and (b) developing a number of cooperative dispersed monitoring initiatives in order to deliver unique and needed goods and services. These goods and services include: (1) an efficient and cost-effective early warning system which detects, describes and reports on changes in Canadian ecosystems at a national or ecozone scale; and (2) cross-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional assessments of ecosystem status, trends and processes. The early warning system and assessments of ecosystem status, trends and processes provide Environment Canada and partner organizations with timely information that facilitates increasingly adaptive policies and priority setting. Canadians are also informed of changes and trends occurring in Canadian ecosystems and, as a result, are better able to make decisions related to conservation and sustainability.

Methods for the evaluation and presentation of bioindication data — Example: Ecological Monitoring Network of Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Zur okologischen Umweltuberwachung stehen eine Vielzahl geeigneter Bioindikationsverfahren zur Verfugung. Ein Mangel besteht aber immer noch in Konzepten zur Ergebnisbewertung und-darstellung. Im Rahmen des Okologischen Wirkungskatasters Baden-Wurttemberg werden bereits seit 1984 landesweite Bioindikations-verfahren durchgefuhrt. Mit Hilfe eines Darstellungs-und Bewertungskonzeptes wurden hier die untersuchten Teilmodelle zu einer integrierenden Bewertung zusammengefast. Ziel ist die Erstellung einer „Okologischen Gutekarte” fur Baden-Wurttemberg, mit deren Hilfe eine raumliche wie auch zeitliche Entwicklung der Belastungssituationen unterschiedlicher Okosysteme dokumentiert werden kann.

LE RESEAU DE SURVEILLANCE D’ECOLOGIE AQUATIQUE DE LA SOCIETE D’ENERGIE DE LA BAIE JAMES

In 1977, SEBJ set up an ecological monitoring network in order to evaluate the changes in the environment resulting from the creation of reservoirs in Northern Quebec. This information may later be used to improve the methods of predicting impact and to assist specialists in choosing appropriate remedial measures. Generally, systematic observations are made at stations located either on the three main reservoirs or nearby. Research is mainly concentrated on various physical chemistry parameters, primary production, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos and fish. Conventional mathematical analysis was used to reveal the relationships existing between these parameters. The authors present the main changes observed during the first four years the network has been in operation.