Remotely Sensed Data for Ecosystem Analyses: Combining Hierarchy Theory and Scene Models

Remotely sensed data have been used extensively for environmental monitoring and modeling at a number of spatial scales; however, a limited range of satellite imaging systems often constrained the scales of these analyses. A wider variety of data sets is now available, allowing image data to be selected to match the scale of environmental structure(s) or process(es) being examined. A framework is presented for use by environmental scientists and managers, enabling their spatial data collection needs to be linked to a suitable form of remotely sensed data. A six-step approach is used, combining image spatial analysis and scaling tools, within the context of hierarchy theory. The main steps involved are: (1) identification of information requirements for the monitoring or management problem; (2) development of ideal image dimensions (scene model), (3) exploratory analysis of existing remotely sensed data using scaling techniques, (4) selection and evaluation of suitable remotely sensed data based on the scene model, (5) selection of suitable spatial analytic techniques to meet information requirements, and (6) cost–benefit analysis. Results from a case study show that the framework provided an objective mechanism to identify relevant aspects of the monitoring problem and environmental characteristics for selecting remotely sensed data and analysis techniques.     

On the move around the clock: correlates and determinants of cathemeral activity in wild redfronted lemurs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eulemur fulvus rufus</Emphasis>)

Whether animals are active at night or during the day has profound consequences for many aspects of their behavioral ecology. Because of ecological and physiological trade-offs, most animals, including primates, are either strictly nocturnal or diurnal. However, a few primate species exhibit cathemeral activity, i.e., their activity is irregularly distributed throughout the 24-h cycle. Details and determinants of this unusual activity pattern are poorly understood because long-term 24-h observations are not feasible in the field. We therefore used small data loggers to record the activity of cathemeral redfronted lemurs (Eulemur fulvus rufus) from several neighboring groups quantitatively and continuously over a complete annual cycle in order to evaluate various proposed proximate and ultimate determinants of cathemeral activity. Activity data were examined for variation as a function of ambient temperature, time of day, lunar phase, and season. We found that cathemeral activity occurred year-round and that, on average, 3.5 times more activity occurred during the day. Total and diurnal activity increased during the long days of the austral summer. Nocturnal activity increased during the longer nights of the cool dry season. Irrespective of season, lunar phase had a significant effect on the distribution of activity across the 24-h cycle, with most nocturnal activity recorded during parts of the night with greatest brightness. These data indicate that light availability is the primary proximate determinant for the patterning of cathemeral activity. Several lines of evidence suggest that cathemerality in lemurs has evolved from nocturnal ancestors and that it represents a transitory state on the way to the diurnal niche.Communicated by F. Trillmich     

典型草地生态监测敏感因子筛选研究

选择甘肃省有代表性的草地生态环境———天祝县草地生态环境,进行生态环境监测指标体系敏感因子的筛选研究。通过实验、调查,收集大量数据资料,初步筛选、确定草地生态环境监测敏感因子,对所选敏感因子进行计算机处理与分析,确定敏感因子相关因素,从而建立数学模型;验证、修改和完善模型,最终建立草原生态环境监测系统简洁、高效的敏感因子指标体系,为建立和完善生态环境监测系统,准确、客观地评价生态环境奠定基础。     

浅析景观格局分析方法在生态恢复当中的应用

退化生态系统的恢复是一项艰巨任务，它需要考虑到所要恢复的退化生态系统的结构，多样性和其动态的整体性和长期性。退化生态系统恢复所面临的挑战是理解和利用生态演替理论来完成并加速恢复进程。恢复的主要目标是建立一个自维持的，由不同的群落或生态系统组成的能够满足不同需要如生物保护和粮食生产需要的景观。景观生态学关注于大的空间尺度的生态学问题。景观生态学研究方法可以为退化生态系统恢复实践提供指导。在解决退化生态系统的恢复问题时，景观生态学的方法在理论和实践上是有效的。景观生态学中的核心概念和其一般原理斑块形状、生态系统间相互作用、镶嵌系列等都同退化生态系统的恢复有着密切的关系。如恢复地点的选择和适当的恢复要素的空间配置。在评价退化生态系统的恢复是否取得成功，利用景观生态学也具有重要的意义。景观生态学理论如景观格局与景观异质性理论，干扰理论和尺度理论都能够指导退化生态系统的恢复实践。同样地，景观生态学的许多研究方法对于生态恢复的方案确立、方法实施等都具有明确的指导意义。景观生态学思想与方法应用于退化生态系统恢复过程是一种新的有效途径。     

长江三角洲海洋生态建设与区域海洋经济可持续发展

通过分析国家与地方海洋发展战略,总结我国区域海洋经济发展特点,对长江三角洲区域海洋经济发展及其对海洋生态的依赖性进行深刻剖析,并在长江三角洲两省一市共同和不同海洋生态现象的基础上,贯彻流域联动、区域联动和陆海统筹原则和以海洋生态工程解决海洋工程生态问题原则,提出长江三角洲海洋生态建设基本构架。最后,从社会效益、经济效益和生态效益三个方面系统阐述了海洋生态建设对长江三角洲区域海洋生态的积极贡献。     

Applied research of landscape ecology in desertification monitoring and assessment

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＤｅｓｅｒｔｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎｉｓａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｃｏｍｍｏｎｃｏｎｃｅｒｎｉｎｇｉｓｓｕｅｉｎｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｔｙ .Ｃｈｉｎａｈａｓａｌａｒｇｅａｒｅａｏｆｄｅｓｅｒｔｉｆｉｅｄｌａｎｄａｎｄｉｓｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓｓｕｆｆｅｒｅｄｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｄａｍａｇｅｂｙｄｅｓｅｒｔｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎｉｎｔｈｅｗｏｒｌｄ .Ｔｈｅｔｏｔａｌａｒｅａｏｆｄｅｓｅｒｔａｎｄｔｈｅｄｅｓｅｒｔｉｆｉｅｄｌａｎｄｏｆｔｈｅｗｈｏｌｅｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ…     

延安市环境质量和生态环境现状及防治对策

依据延安市1996～2000年监测资料,分析了延安市的"三废"排放、空气环境、水环境、城市噪声环境和生态环境质量现状,结合环境污染物及排放的特点,提出了相应的防治对策和建议。     

A human-ecology approach to environmental design──An integrative human-ecology design derived from Chinese agricultural culture experiences

Ａｈｕｍａｎ－ｅｃｏｌｏｇｙａｐｐｒｏａｃｈｔｏｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌｄｅｓｉｇｎ──Ａｎｉｎｔｅｇｒａｔｉｖｅｈｕｍａｎ－ｅｃｏｌｏｇｙｄｅｓｉｇｎｄｅｒｉｖｅｄｆｒｏｍＣｈｉｎｅｓｅａｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌｃｕｌｔｕｒｅｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅｓ...     

regionalclimate Characteristics of regional climate change and pattern analysis on Ordos Plateau

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＯｒｄｏｓＰｌａｔｅａｕｌｉｅｓｉｎｔｈｅｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔｏｆＩｎｎｅｒＭｏｎｇｏｌｉａａｎｄｂｅｌｏｎｇｓｔｏａｍｕｌｔｉ ｐｌａｙｅｒａｎｄｃｏｍｐｌｉｃａｔｅｄｅｃｏｇｅｏｇｒａｐｈｉｃａｌｔｒａｎｓｉｔｉｏｎｚｏｎｅ ,ｎａｍｅｌｙ ,ｉｔｉｓａｔｒａｎｓｉｔｉｏｎｚｏｎｅｏｆａｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｅｃｉｒｃｌｅ ,ｃｌｉｍａｔｅ ,ｇｅｏｌｏｇｙａｎｄｇｅｏｇｒａｐｈｙ ,ｖｅｇｅｔａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｎａｔｕｒａｌｂｅｌｔ ,ｂｉｏｔａ ,ｉｎｄｕｓｔｒｙａｎｄｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ .Ｉ…     

岫岩农村生态环境现状分析及综合防治对策

根据岫岩的自然环境特点和自然资源状况,分析了岫岩农村生态环境现状和存在的主要问题,提出了加强农村生态环境建设的主要对策:合理使用化肥、农药,促进土壤养分良性循环;提出深化生态示范区建设的环保对策和资金倾斜政策;加强乡镇企业环境管理,用政府宏观调控职能,控制污染负荷增加;对资源开发项目征收环境资源补偿费,对已污染的土地建立土地恢复基金制度,并提出了环保部门在农村生态环境保护中应尽的职责。