scholarly journals Investigating the utility of ecoacoustic metrics in marine soundscapes

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl ◽  
R. Patrick Lyon ◽  
Olivia N. Caretti ◽  
Shannon W. Ricci ◽  
David B. Eggleston
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Resolution ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Acoustic Complexity Index ◽  
Range Of Variation

Soundscape analysis is a potentially powerful tool in ecosystem monitoring. Ecoacoustic metrics, including the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) and Acoustic Entropy (H), were originally developed for terrestrial ecosystems and are now increasingly being applied to investigate the biodiversity, habitat complexity and health of marine systems, with mixed results. To elucidate the efficacy of applying these metrics to marine soundscapes, their sensitivity to variations in call rate and call type were evaluated using a combination of field data and synthetic recordings. In soundscapes dominated by impulsive broadband snapping shrimp sounds, ACI increased non-linearly with increased snapping rate (∼100–3500 snaps/min), with a percent range of variation (∼40–50%) that exceeds that reported in most studies. H, however, decreased only slightly (∼0.04 units) in response to these same snap rate changes. The response of these metrics to changes in the rate of broadband snapping was not strongly influenced by the spectral resolution of the analysis. For soundscapes dominated by harmonic fish calls, increased rates of calling (∼5–120 calls/min) led to decreased ACI (∼20–40% range of variation) when coarse spectral resolutions (Δf = 94 or 47 Hz) were used in the analysis, but ACI increased (∼20% range of variation) when a finer resolution (Δf = 23 Hz) was employed. Regardless of spectral resolution used in the analysis, H decreased (∼0.20 units) in response to increased rates of harmonic calling. These results show that ACI and H can be modulated strongly by variations in the activity of a single sound-producing species, with additional sensitivity to call type and the resolution of the analysis. Variations in ACI and H, therefore, cannot be assumed to track call diversity, and the utility of these metrics as ecological indicators in marine environments may be limited.

scholarly journals A new terrestrial biosphere model with coupled carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles (QUINCY v1.0; revision 1772)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tea Thum ◽  
Silvia Caldararu ◽  
Jan Engel ◽  
Melanie Kern ◽  
Marleen Pallandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Element Cycling ◽  
Terrestrial Biosphere ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem Model

Abstract. The dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems are shaped by the coupled cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and strongly depend on the availability of water and energy. These interactions shape future terrestrial biosphere responses to global change. Many process-based models of the terrestrial biosphere have been gradually extended from considering carbon-water interactions to also including nitrogen, and later, phosphorus dynamics. This evolutionary model development has hindered full integration of these biogeochemical cycles and the feedbacks amongst them. Here we present a new terrestrial ecosystem model QUINCY (QUantifying Interactions between terrestrial Nutrient CYcles and the climate system), which is formulated around a consistent representation of element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. This new model includes i) a representation of plant growth which separates source (e.g. photosynthesis) and sink (growth rate of individual tissues, constrained by nutrients, temperature, and water availability) processes; ii) the acclimation of many ecophysiological processes to meteorological conditions and/or nutrient availabilities; iii) an explicit representation of vertical soil processes to separate litter and soil organic matter dynamics; iv) a range of new diagnostics (leaf chlorophyll content; 13C, 14C, and 15N isotope tracers) to allow for a more in-depth model evaluation. We present the model structure and provide an assessment of its performance against a range of observations from global-scale ecosystem monitoring networks. We demonstrate that the framework is capable of consistently simulating ecosystem dynamics across a large gradient in climate and soil conditions, as well as across different plant functional types. To aid this understanding we provide an assessment of the model's sensitivity to its parameterisation and the associated uncertainty.

scholarly journals Small Things Matter: The Value of Rapid Biodiversity Surveys to Understanding Local Bird Diversity Patterns in Southcentral Mindanao, Philippines

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291986948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krizler Cejuela Tanalgo ◽  
Marion John Michael M. Achondo ◽  
Alice C. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Small Things ◽  
Regional Conservation

Rapid assessment biodiversity surveys are usually employed when resources or time is limited. In terrestrial ecosystems, birds are important ecological indicators of ecosystem health. Our study used rapid inventories to show that species differ across habitat types; species richness and rarity were higher in pristine habitats (native and restored areas) while nonprotected habitats (e.g., plantations and orchards) mainly had common and nonendemic species. Our findings demonstrate the importance of collective local biodiversity studies in elucidating species diversity patterns, though is equally important to bolster regional conservation prioritization. We hope that our findings will benefit future decision-making for sustainable development and conservation planning.

Achieving Marine Conservation Through Biosphere Reserve Planning and Management

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Kenchington ◽  
Mary T. Agardy
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Variable Degree ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Sustainable Capacity

Most marine ecosystems present priorities for conservation which are different from, but no less urgent than, those of terrestrial systems. These priorities relate to understanding and regulating human use and impact within the large scale, and the high but variable degree of connectivity of marine systems. The identification and preservation of remnant examples of marine ecosystems, otherwise destroyed by human activity, is generally less of an issue than it is for terrestrial conservation. As a consequence, the needs of marine conservation are not readily addressed by models developed for terrestrial ecosystems, which are based on excluding or severely limiting human access in managed areas. An exception is the philosophy of the Biosphere Reserve, developed as part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. This appears particularly appropriate to marine environments, as it focuses on managing human activities and impacts within the sustainable capacity of the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Vegetation structure as the main source of variability in scorpion assemblages at small spatial scales and further considerations for the conservation of Caatinga landscapes

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-550
Author(s):  
Stênio Ítalo Araújo Foerster ◽  
André Felipe de Araújo Lira ◽  
Cauê Guion de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Environmental Complexity

Even at the local scale, environmental changes due of anthropogenic actions represent a source of disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems, forcing species to respond according to their ecological plasticity. Thus, stenotopic species and those with low-dispersal ability will likely be negatively affected by landscape modifications that reduce environmental complexity. In this study, we identify and quantify the effects of biotic and abiotic factors related to habitat complexity on the variation in scorpion assemblages in terms of both species’ richness, abundance and composition across 18 transects covering Caatinga landscapes with different levels of degradation. Using ultraviolet flashlights, we sampled 269 scorpions, belonging to six species and two families. The results showed contrasting patterns of species richness and abundance that depend on the level of habitat complexity. More specifically, we reported that scorpion species richness could be predicted by the number of trees, while the coefficient of variation of the diameter at breast height of trees (cvDBH) is a predictor of scorpion abundance. These findings suggest that vegetation structure is deterministic for the maintenance of scorpion assemblages in Caatinga landscapes. In addition, the cvDBH and tree number may explain 39% and 40% of the variability observed amongst scorpion assemblages in terms of richness difference and species composition, respectively. This study provides insights concerning the development of conservation strategies, clarifying the role of habitat complexity for the preservation of low-dispersal animals in neglected environments, such as those within the Caatinga domain.

scholarly journals Nematodes as evolutionary commuters between marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 756-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn Holterman ◽  
Michaela Schratzberger ◽  
Johannes Helder
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
Ecological Flexibility ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Nematode Cuticle ◽  
Small Subunit Ribosomal Dna

Abstract Nematodes are the only major metazoan group which is persistently abundant and diverse across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. This could be the result of a few major habitat transitions followed by extensive diversification, or numerous habitat transitions followed by moderate diversification. To pinpoint habitat transitions, we superposed nematode habitat associations on an available phylum-wide phylogenetic tree based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences (≈2730 SSU rDNA sequences covering ≈1750 nematode taxa). Our analysis revealed at least 30 major habitat transitions within the phylum Nematoda. These transitions as well as their directionality were unevenly spread over the 12 major clades. Most transitions reside in Clades 1–6, and these transitions are bidirectional. Members of Clades 8–12 showed five full transitions, and these took place exclusively from terrestrial to marine systems. We relate our results to the distinct secretory–excretory systems in Clades 1–6 and Clades 8–12, as well as to differences in water permeability of the nematode cuticle. Hence, the phylum Nematoda is characterized by a relatively large number of habitat transitions followed by moderate diversification. The identification of multiple habitat transitions at a low taxonomic level will facilitate future investigations into the mechanisms underlying this unusual ecological flexibility.

scholarly journals Recent advances in space-borne optical remote sensing systems for monitoring global terrestrial ecosystems

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jadunandan Dash ◽  
Booker O. Ogutu
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Optical Remote Sensing ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Sensing Data

Since the launch of the first Landsat satellite in the early 1970s, the field of space-borne optical remote sensing has made significant progress. Advances have been made in all aspects of optical remote sensing data, including improved spatial, temporal, spectral and radiometric resolutions, which have increased the uptake of these data by wider scientific communities. Flagship satellite missions such as NASA’s Terra and Aqua and ESA’s Envisat with their high temporal (<3days) and spectral (15–36 bands) resolutions opened new opportunities for routine monitoring of various aspects of terrestrial ecosystems at the global scale and have provided greater understanding of critical biophysical processes in the terrestrial ecosystem. The launch of new satellite sensors such as Landsat 8 and the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel missions (e.g. Sentinel 2 with improved spatial resolution (10–60 m) and potential revisit time of five days) is set to revolutionise the availability and use of remote sensing data in global terrestrial ecosystem monitoring. Furthermore, the recent move towards use of constellations of nanosatellites (e.g. the Flock missions by Planet Labs) to collect on-demand high spatial and temporal resolution optical remote sensing data would enable uptake of these data for operational monitoring. As a result of increase in data availability, optical remote sensing data are now increasingly used to support a number of operational services (e.g. land monitoring, atmosphere monitoring and climate change studies). However, many challenges still remain in exploiting the growing volume of optical remote sensing data to monitor global terrestrial ecosystems. These challenges include ensuring the highest data quality both in terms of the sensitivity of sensors and the derived biophysical products, affordability and availability of the data and continuity of data acquisition. This review provides an overview of the developments in space-borne optical remote sensing in the past decade and discusses a selection of aspects of global terrestrial ecosystems where the data are currently used. It concludes by highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities of using optical remote sensing data in monitoring global terrestrial ecosystems.

scholarly journals Standardisation of chamber technique for CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes measurements from terrestrial ecosystems

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Pavelka ◽  
Manuel Acosta ◽  
Ralf Kiese ◽  
Núria Altimir ◽  
Christian Brümmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Ecosystem Monitoring ◽  
Gas Fluxes ◽  
Trace Gas Fluxes ◽  
Quality Checks ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Chamber Measurements

Abstract Chamber measurements of trace gas fluxes between the land surface and the atmosphere have been conducted for almost a century. Different chamber techniques, including static and dynamic, have been used with varying degrees of success in estimating greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) fluxes. However, all of these have certain disadvantages which have either prevented them from providing an adequate estimate of greenhouse gas exchange or restricted them to be used under limited conditions. Generally, chamber methods are relatively low in cost and simple to operate. In combination with the appropriate sample allocations, chamber methods are adaptable for a wide variety of studies from local to global spatial scales, and they are particularly well suited for in situ and laboratory-based studies. Consequently, chamber measurements will play an important role in the portfolio of the Pan-European long-term research infrastructure Integrated Carbon Observation System. The respective working group of the Integrated Carbon Observation System Ecosystem Monitoring Station Assembly has decided to ascertain standards and quality checks for automated and manual chamber systems instead of defining one or several standard systems provided by commercial manufacturers in order to define minimum requirements for chamber measurements. The defined requirements and recommendations related to chamber measurements are described here.

scholarly journals A review about fish walking on land

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 17276-17286
Author(s):  
Arumugam Kumaraguru ◽  
Rosette Celsiya Mary ◽  
Vijayaraghavalu Saisaraswathi
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Safety Monitoring ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Biological Indicator ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Behavioural Pattern ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Occurrence Of Species

Mudskippers are amphibious species inhabiting semi-terrestrial ecosystems like mudflats, mangroves, marshy swamps, intertidal regions, and estuaries.  Around 34 diversified species are found across the globe.  Mudskipper belongs to the Oxudercidae family and the subfamily is Oxudercinae.  The occurrence of species is vastly found across the Indo-West Pacific region, the tropical western coast of Africa and in the Indian Ocean.  Mudskippers are known for being the biological indicator and also an indicator of estuarine safety monitoring.  They are used by people for prey-catching baits.  This review paper explains the ecological indicators, taxonomy, species diversity, habitat, behavioural pattern, respiration & kinematics, feeding ecology, reproduction, nutrition content & its medicinal value, and threats to mudskippers.

scholarly journals Mountain law and climate change

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Viorica Jelev
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The World ◽  
Snow And Ice

       This paper presents 22 indicators used to put into evidence the actual global warming trends. The indicators are the outputs of a detailed research activities performed by scientists from all over the world. These 22 indicators were divided into eight separate categories: atmosphere and climate; glaciers, snow and ice; marine systems; terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity; water; agriculture; economy; human health. Some specific mountain area aspects are relieved with Mountai Low in Romania. 

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