The law of diminishing returns: woodland birds respond to native vegetation cover at multiple spatial scales and over time

In many fields of fundamental and applied ecology, the transition or edge between two distinct biological communities is known as ‘ecotone’. The ecotone concept was first introduced in the early 20th century, describing the edge between two ecological systems which disappear in a transition zone but in opposite directions. This paper examines the evolution of the concept and its different applications over time. It explores the characteristics of ecotones as biodiverse enriched ecological niches occurring at multiple spatial scales. The paper goes further by proposing the concept of sociotone or social systems in tension, first by postulating a series of principles through which many possible interpretations may arise and secondly, by describing the societal interface where diverse worldviews, intentions and experiences meet. The concept is tested against a territory of social tensions between newcomers and stakeholders in Sicily providing evidence of a field of dynamic socio-economic transformations and prospects. The paper concludes by positioning sociotone as a possible framework to realise the systemic potential of multicultural globalised societies.

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A coupled remote sensing and the Surface Energy Balance with Topography Algorithm (SEBTA) to estimate actual evapotranspiration under complex terrain

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/hessd-7-4875-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 4875-4924 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Z. Q. Gao ◽

C. S. Liu ◽

W. Gao ◽

N. B. Chang

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Surface Energy ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Complex Terrain ◽

Surface Energy Balance ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Ecological Indicator ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Over Time

Abstract. Evapotranspiration (ET) may be used as an ecological indicator to address the ecosystem complexity. The accurate measurement of ET is of great significance for studying environmental sustainability, global climate changes, and biodiversity. Remote sensing technologies are capable of monitoring both energy and water fluxes on the surface of the Earth. With this advancement, existing models, such as SEBAL, S_SEBI and SEBS, enable us to estimate the regional ET with limited temporal and spatial scales. This paper extends the existing modeling efforts with the inclusion of new components for ET estimation at varying temporal and spatial scales under complex terrain. Following a coupled remote sensing and surface energy balance approach, this study emphasizes the structure and function of the Surface Energy Balance with Topography Algorithm (SEBTA). With the aid of the elevation and landscape information, such as slope and aspect parameters derived from the digital elevation model (DEM), and the vegetation cover derived from satellite images, the SEBTA can fully account for the dynamic impacts of complex terrain and changing land cover in concert with some varying kinetic parameters (i.e., roughness and zero-plane displacement) over time. Besides, the dry and wet pixels can be recognized automatically and dynamically in image processing thereby making the SEBTA more sensitive to derive the sensible heat flux for ET estimation. To prove the application potential, the SEBTA was carried out to present the robust estimates of 24 h solar radiation over time, which leads to the smooth simulation of the ET over seasons in northern China where the regional climate and vegetation cover in different seasons compound the ET calculations. The SEBTA was validated by the measured data at the ground level. During validation, it shows that the consistency index reached 0.92 and the correlation coefficient was 0.87.

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Cross-sectional and temporal relationships between bird occupancy and vegetation cover at multiple spatial scales

Ecological Applications ◽

10.1890/13-0872.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 1275-1288 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Ross Cunningham ◽

David Lindenmayer ◽

Philip Barton ◽

Karen Ikin ◽

Mason Crane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Cover ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Multiple Spatial Scales ◽

Temporal Relationships

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Inhibition of coral settlement at multiple spatial scales by a pervasive algal competitor

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps12879 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 612 ◽

pp. 29-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

NR Evensen ◽

C Doropoulos ◽

KM Morrow ◽

CA Motti ◽

PJ Mumby

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scales ◽

Coral Settlement ◽

Multiple Spatial Scales

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Without the Power to Drink or Contract

Edinburgh Law Review ◽

10.3366/elr.2020.0598 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 26-48

Author(s):

Warren Swain

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Social Activity ◽

Individual Responsibility ◽

Roman Law ◽

Current Position ◽

Modern Times ◽

The Will ◽

The Subject ◽

The Law ◽

Over Time

Intoxication as a ground to set aside a contract is not something that has proved to be easy for the law to regulate. This is perhaps not very surprising. Intoxication is a temporary condition of varying degrees of magnitude. Its presence does however raise questions of contractual autonomy and individual responsibility. Alcohol consumption is a common social activity and perceptions of intoxication and especially alcoholism have changed over time. Roman law is surprisingly quiet on the subject. In modern times the rules about intoxicated contracting in Scottish and English law is very similar. Rather more interestingly the law in these two jurisdictions has reached the current position in slightly different ways. This history can be traced through English Equity, the works of the Scottish Institutional writers, the rise of the Will Theory, and all leavened with a dose of judicial pragmatism.

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Analysis of 220 Years of Floodplain Population Dynamics in the US at Different Spatial Scales

Water ◽

10.3390/w13020141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 141

Author(s):

Firoza Akhter ◽

Maurizio Mazzoleni ◽

Luigia Brandimarte

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Large Scale ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

National Level ◽

State Level ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Management Planning ◽

The Us ◽

Over Time

In this study, we explore the long-term trends of floodplain population dynamics at different spatial scales in the contiguous United States (U.S.). We exploit different types of datasets from 1790–2010—i.e., decadal spatial distribution for the population density in the US, global floodplains dataset, large-scale data of flood occurrence and damage, and structural and nonstructural flood protection measures for the US. At the national level, we found that the population initially settled down within the floodplains and then spread across its territory over time. At the state level, we observed that flood damages and national protection measures might have contributed to a learning effect, which in turn, shaped the floodplain population dynamics over time. Finally, at the county level, other socio-economic factors such as local flood insurances, economic activities, and socio-political context may predominantly influence the dynamics. Our study shows that different influencing factors affect floodplain population dynamics at different spatial scales. These facts are crucial for a reliable development and implementation of flood risk management planning.

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Urban Fire Severity and Vegetation Dynamics in Southern California

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13010019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Lauren E. H. Mathews ◽

Alicia M. Kinoshita

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Cover ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Fire Severity ◽

Satellite Image ◽

Burn Severity ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Riparian Areas ◽

The Impact

A combination of satellite image indices and in-field observations was used to investigate the impact of fuel conditions, fire behavior, and vegetation regrowth patterns, altered by invasive riparian vegetation. Satellite image metrics, differenced normalized burn severity (dNBR) and differenced normalized difference vegetation index (dNDVI), were approximated for non-native, riparian, or upland vegetation for traditional timeframes (0-, 1-, and 3-years) after eleven urban fires across a spectrum of invasive vegetation cover. Larger burn severity and loss of green canopy (NDVI) was detected for riparian areas compared to the uplands. The presence of invasive vegetation affected the distribution of burn severity and canopy loss detected within each fire. Fires with native vegetation cover had a higher severity and resulted in larger immediate loss of canopy than fires with substantial amounts of non-native vegetation. The lower burn severity observed 1–3 years after the fires with non-native vegetation suggests a rapid regrowth of non-native grasses, resulting in a smaller measured canopy loss relative to native vegetation immediately after fire. This observed fire pattern favors the life cycle and perpetuation of many opportunistic grasses within urban riparian areas. This research builds upon our current knowledge of wildfire recovery processes and highlights the unique challenges of remotely assessing vegetation biophysical status within urban Mediterranean riverine systems.

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Comparison of Satellite and Drone-Based Images at Two Spatial Scales to Evaluate Vegetation Regeneration after Post-Fire Treatments in a Mediterranean Forest

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11125423 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 5423

Author(s):

Jose Luis Martinez ◽

Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja ◽

Pedro Antonio Plaza-Alvarez ◽

Pietro Denisi ◽

Miguel Angel Moreno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Cover ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Plant Biodiversity ◽

Mediterranean Forests ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Vegetation Growth ◽

Surface Conditions ◽

Vegetation Regeneration ◽

Forest Managers

The evaluation of vegetation cover after post-fire treatments of burned lands is important for forest managers to restore soil quality and plant biodiversity in burned ecosystems. Unfortunately, this evaluation may be time consuming and expensive, requiring much fieldwork for surveys. The use of remote sensing, which makes these evaluation activities quicker and easier, have rarely been carried out in the Mediterranean forests, subjected to wildfire and post-fire stabilization techniques. To fill this gap, this study evaluates the feasibility of satellite (using LANDSAT8 images) and drone surveys to evaluate changes in vegetation cover and composition after wildfire and two hillslope stabilization treatments (log erosion barriers, LEBs, and contour-felled log debris, CFDs) in a forest of Central Eastern Spain. Surveys by drone were able to detect the variability of vegetation cover among burned and unburned areas through the Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), but gave unrealistic results when the effectiveness of a post-fire treatment must be evaluated. LANDSAT8 images may be instead misleading to evaluate the changes in land cover after wildfire and post-fire treatments, due to the lack of correlation between VARI and vegetation cover. The spatial analysis has shown that: (i) the post-fire restoration strategy of landscape managers that have prioritized steeper slopes for treatments was successful; (ii) vegetation growth, at least in the experimental conditions, played a limited influence on soil surface conditions, since no significant increases in terrain roughness were detected in treated areas.

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Assessment of clogging in constructed wetlands by saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2019.045 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 314-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

F. Licciardello ◽

R. Aiello ◽

V. Alagna ◽

M. Iovino ◽

D. Ventura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Constructed Wetlands ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Laboratory Scale ◽

Test Method ◽

Conductivity Measurements ◽

Multiple Spatial Scales ◽

Ks Values

Abstract This study aims at defining a methodology to evaluate Ks reductions of gravel material constituting constructed wetland (CW) bed matrices. Several schemes and equations for the Lefranc's test were compared by using different gravel sizes and at multiple spatial scales. The falling-head test method was implemented by using two steel permeameters: one impervious (IMP) and one pervious (P) on one side. At laboratory scale, mean K values for a small size gravel (8–15 × 10−2 m) measured by the IMP and the P permeameters were equal to 19,466 m/d and 30,662 m/d, respectively. Mean Ks values for a big size gravel (10–25 × 10−2 m) measured by the IMP and the P permeameters were equal to 12,135 m/d and 20,866 m/d, respectively. Comparison of Ks values obtained by the two permeameters at laboratory scale as well as a sensitivity analysis and a calibration, lead to the modification of the standpipe equation, to evaluate also the temporal variation of the horizontal Ks. In particular, both permeameters allow the evaluation of the Ks decreasing after 4 years-operation and 1–1.5 years' operation of the plants at full scale (filled with the small size gravel) and at pilot scale (filled with the big size gravel), respectively.

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