A MULTIOBJECTIVE,DISCRETE SYSTEM REPRESENTATION OF RANGELAND WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Resource utilization as practiced by humans is identified as the main cause of the degradation of rangeland watersheds, a process referred to as desertification. This paper introduces a multi-objective decision making methodology for the selection of a plan which if implemented should limit the desertification process. The evaluation objectives are measured by quantitative and qualitative criteria. The quantitative criteria provide the performance level for production and sediment yield, while the qualitative criteria give such information as public acceptance of a particular alternative or worth of an appropriate wildlife habitat. A system model is applied to describe the dynamics of a range site in response to climatic and human inputs. As such it provides the information required by the quantitative criteria as well as a range condition index that identifies the productivity of a given range site. A multiobjective selection procedure is presented that will lead to the appropriate technique from an available set, in this case ESAP, Environmental Sensitivity Analysis Package. Four individuals with diverse backgrounds in natural resource management participated as decision makers and decided on their preferred alternatives. Finally, ranked alternatives in agreement with all of the decision makers were obtained.     

Using SWAT to Model Streamflow in Two River Basins With Ground and Satellite Precipitation Data1

Abstract: Both ground rain gauge and remotely sensed precipitation (Next Generation Weather Radar – NEXRAD Stage III) data have been used to support spatially distributed hydrological modeling. This study is unique in that it utilizes and compares the performance of National Weather Service (NWS) rain gauge, NEXRAD Stage III, and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) 3B42 (Version 6) data for the hydrological modeling of the Middle Nueces River Watershed in South Texas and Middle Rio Grande Watershed in South Texas and northern Mexico. The hydrologic model chosen for this study is the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which is a comprehensive, physical‐based tool that models watershed hydrology and water quality within stream reaches. Minor adjustments to selected model parameters were applied to make parameter values more realistic based on results from previous studies. In both watersheds, NEXRAD Stage III data yields results with low mass balance error between simulated and actual streamflow (±13%) and high monthly Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients (NS > 0.60) for both calibration (July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006) and validation (2007) periods. In the Middle Rio Grande Watershed NEXRAD Stage III data also yield robust daily results (time averaged over a three‐day period) with NS values of (0.60‐0.88). TRMM 3B42 data generate simulations for the Middle Rio Grande Watershed of variable qualtiy (MBE = +13 to ?16%; NS = 0.38‐0.94; RMSE = 0.07‐0.65), but greatly overestimates streamflow during the calibration period in the Middle Nueces Watershed. During the calibration period use of NWS rain gauge data does not generate acceptable simulations in both watersheds. Significantly, our study is the first to successfully demonstrate the utility of satellite‐estimated precipitation (TRMM 3B42) in supporting hydrologic modeling with SWAT; thereby, potentially extending the realm (between 50°N and 50°S) where remotely sensed precipitation data can support hydrologic modeling outside of regions that have modern, ground‐based radar networks (i.e., much of the third world).     

Application of Ecological Classification and Predictive Vegetation Modeling to Broad-Level Assessments of Ecosystem Health

The Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) of western North Dakota support the largest permitted cattle grazing use within all lands administered by the USDA, Forest Service, as well as critical habitat for many wildlife species. This fact, coupled with the need to revise current planning direction for range allotments of the LMNG, necessitated that a broad-level characterization of ecosystem integrity and resource conditions be conducted across all lands within the study area (approximately 800,000 hectares) in a rapid and cost-effective manner. The approach taken in this study was based on ecological classifications, which effectively utilized existing field plot data collected for a variety of previous inventory objectives, and their continuous spatial projection across the LMNG by maps of both existing and potential vegetation. These two map themes represent current and reference conditions (existing vs. potential vegetation); their intersection allowed us to assign various ecological status ratings (i.e., ecosystem integrity and resource condition) based on the degree of departure between current and reference conditions. In this paper, we present a brief review of methodologies used in the development of ecological classifications, and also illustrate their application to assessments of rangeland health through selected maps of ecological status ratings for the LMNG.     

草地生态补偿标准的空间尺度效应研究——以草原生态保护补助奖励机制为例

生态补偿标准是建立有效草地生态补偿机制的核心问题。以草原生态保护补助奖励机制为例,从禁牧补偿额度、草畜均衡补偿额度、生态补偿的均衡性等方面分析了草地生态补偿标准的空间尺度差异。结果表明,虽然当前草地生态补偿的标准空间差异明显,但并没有反映出不同空间尺度草地生态系统服务功能的分异。     

Effect of aspect on the structure of some natural stands of Abies pindrow in Himalayan moist temperate forest

The effects of aspect, altitude, and slope have been observed on the moist temperate forests of Abies pindrow Spach in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. Four aspects, namely, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west, have been studied to understand the growth behaviour of A. pindrow at varying altitudes. The total basal cover was found to be highest (5099.6 cm²/100 m²) on the north-east facing slopes, and lowest (3092.7 cm²/100 m²) on the south-east facing slopes. The A. pindrow was found to be associated with Quercus semecarpifolia as a main companion species on all the faces, whereas, Lyonia ovalifolia, was associated only on the west facing slopes.     

Using historical spy satellite photographs and recent remote sensing data to identify high-conservation-value forests

High-conservation-value forests (HCVFs) are critically important for biodiversity and ecosystem service provisioning, but they face many threats. Where systematic HCVF inventories are missing, such as in parts of Eastern Europe, these forests remain largely unacknowledged and therefore often unprotected. We devised a novel, transferable approach for detecting HCVFs based on integrating historical spy satellite images, contemporary remote sensing data (Landsat), and information on current potential anthropogenic pressures (e.g., road infrastructure, population density, demand for fire wood, terrain). We applied the method to the Romanian Carpathians, for which we mapped forest continuity (1955–2019), canopy structural complexity, and anthropogenic pressures. We identified 738,000 ha of HCVF. More than half of this area was identified as susceptible to current anthropogenic pressures and lacked formal protection. By providing a framework for broad-scale HCVF monitoring, our approach facilitates integration of HCVF into forest conservation and management. This is urgently needed to achieve the goals of the European Union's Biodiversity Strategy to maintain valuable forest ecosystems.     

Variation in vegetation cover and livestock mobility needs in Sahelian West Africa

A new approach was developed to evaluate the implications of the spatiotemporal variability of green vegetation for the dispersion of livestock that is required to access quality forage in semi-arid Africa. Maximum NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) at 1 km² resolution was determined for concentric rings (0–31 km radii) around 227 individual sample locations within the study area for 14 dates (between 1 April to 1 November) annually over the 2000–2010 period. A sigmoidal curve was fitted to points within the maximum NDVI × distance radii space to determine the asymptote distance (AD) – the radius at which further dispersion from the sample location does not lead to significant gains in access to green forage. AD was found to: increase with latitude (or increasing aridity); decline as the rainy season proceeds; and show no trend over the 2000–2010 period. These results introduce much-needed empirical data to current debates surrounding the scales of governance to support livestock mobility.     

温带阔叶红松林表层土壤活性碳、氮库的季节动态

以长白山温带阔叶红松林为观测对象,在植被生长季节对森林表层土壤进行连续性采样分析,以研究森林土壤活性碳、氮库的季节性变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明,不同季节土壤水溶性有机碳和硝态氮含量从高到低依次为春季、夏季和秋季,其变化范围分别为48～80和0.68～2.30μg.g-1。不同季节土壤水浸提溶液的特征吸光系数ASUVA,254和土壤铵态氮含量均表现为夏季高于春季和秋季,其变化范围分别为3.19～3.94 L.mg-1.m-1和6.1～12.0μg.g-1。在小时间尺度上,土壤活性碳、氮库对土壤含水量变化具有敏感性。水分条件和植物根系活动是影响表层土壤活性碳、氮库动态变化的主要因素,土壤微生物活动起调节作用。     

模拟氮沉降对温带森林凋落物分解的影响

森林凋落物的分解是生态系统养分循环的重要过程,以北京西山地带性植被栎树林（辽东栎：Quercus liaotungensis）为对象,主要研究温带森林植物凋落物分解对模拟氮沉降的响应,为更好地了解氮沉降对温带森林地区凋落物的分解过程提供参考.通过模拟氮沉降,研究不同形态氮（硝态氮、铵态氮和混合态氮）和不同水平氮沉降（对照0 kg·hm^-2·a^-1、低氮处理50 kg·hm^-2·a^-1 和高氮处理150 kg·hm^-2·a^-1）对凋落物分解的影响,在2 年的时间内调查分析了凋落物分解过程中质量损失动态和碳（C）、N 含量及w（C）/w（N）比值的变化.研究结果表明,氮沉降均使凋落物分解速率减缓,且随氮沉降剂量增加,凋落物分解速率相比对照分别减慢了9.88%（硝态氮低氮）、15.02%（硝态氮高氮）、11.46%（铵态氮低氮）、14.62%（铵态氮高氮）、13.04%（混合态氮低氮）和16.20%（混合态氮高氮）.且不同氮沉降类型、不同氮沉降水平间差异显著.不同形态、不同水平的氮沉降显著地增加了凋落物N 含量（P=0.061,P=0.087）,其中混合态氮沉降对凋落物中N 素含量增加最显著（P=0.044）.但在分解过程中,各处理均未对凋落物C 含量产生显著影响.不同水平的氮沉降显著降低了凋落物的w（C）/w（N）比值,而且不同类型不同水平氮沉降对凋落物w（C）/w（N）比值具有显著的交互作用（P=0.011）.综上所述,通过对模拟氮沉降后凋落物残留率等的变化分析,得出氮沉降对温带森林凋落物的分解产生了抑制作用.