scholarly journals A novel biome concept and classification system based on bioclimate and vegetation – a Neotropical assay

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 159-175
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Navarro ◽  
José Antonio Molina
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hierarchical Classification ◽  
Vegetation Classification ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Tropical Ecosystems ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Ecological Functionality

The knowledge of biomes as large-scale ecosystem units has benefited from advances in the ecological and evolutionary sciences. Despite this, a universal biome classification system that also allows a standardized nomenclature has not yet been achieved. We propose a comprehensive and hierarchical classification method and nomenclature to define biomes based on a set of bioclimatic variables and their corresponding vegetation structure and ecological functionality. This method uses three hierarchical biome levels: Zonal biome (Macrobiome), Biome and Regional biome. Biome nomenclature incorporates both bioclimatic and vegetation characterization (i.e. formation). Bioclimate characterization basically includes precipitation rate and thermicity. The description of plant formations encompasses vegetation structure, physiognomy and foliage phenology. Since the available systems tend to underestimate the complexity and diversity of tropical ecosystems, we have tested our approach in the biogeographical area of the Neotropics. Our proposal includes a bioclimatic characterization of the main 16 Neotropical plant formations identified. This method provides a framework that (1) enables biome distribution and changes to be projected from bioclimatic data; (2) allows all biomes to be named according to a globally standardized scheme; and (3) integrates various ecological biome approaches with the contributions of the European and North American vegetation classification systems. Taxonomic reference: Jørgensen et al. (2014). Dedication: This work is dedicated to the memory of and in homage to Prof. Dr. Salvador Rivas-Martínez.

Vegetation classification of the Voronezhsky Nature Reserve

2009 ◽  
pp. 63-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Starodubtseva ◽  
L. G. Khanina
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Vegetation Classification ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Reserve Area ◽  
Species Groups

Voronezhsky nature reserve is situated in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia, on the border between Lipetsk and Voronezh regions. The reserve was estab­lished in 1923; the total area of the reserve is 31 053 ha. We have created the vegetation classification system for the reserve on basis of 1058 phytocoenotic relevés processing. Phytocoenotic relevés have been collected since 1929 by different generations of researchers. All relevés were included into the data processing. Five forest vegetation formations and one herbaceous formation were described. According to the reserve’s forest inventory from 1991, Pinussylvestris formation occupies 32.3% of the reserve area, broad-leaved forest (oak forest) formation — 29.3, Populus tremula formation — 19.3, birch forest formation — 5.7, and Alnus glutinosa formation — 5.2 correspondingly. Her­baceous formation covers 3 % of the area in dry, moderate moistened and moist soils, and swamps occupy 2.5 % of the reserve area (they are not described here). Within the bounds of the vegetation formations, we have distinguished the vegetation association groups on the basis of ground vegetation functional group composition and ordination (DCA) technique. 8 functional species groups (ecologic-coenotic species groups) were used for the classification. The ecologic-coenotic species groups were as follows: 1) nemoral, 2) boreal, 3) nitrophilous, 4) pine-forest, 5) meadow-forest edge, 6) steppe, 7) oligotrophic, and 8) water-swamp. Totally we have described 23 vegetation asso­ciation groups united into the 9 ecologic-coenotic types of vegetation cover. 4 vegetation association groups were described for the herbaceous formation. We described in detail vegetation association groups inclu­ding species, structural diversity and the ecological position calculated by Tsyganov’s ecological species values. We also discuss the group’s history and the succession status. Finally, we have compared the proposed vegetation classification system for the re­serve with some other classification systems.

Vegetation classification at the association level under the China Vegetation Classification System: an example of six Stipa steppe formations in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009-1024
Author(s):  
Changcheng Liu ◽  
Thomas R Wentworth ◽  
Xianguo Qiao ◽  
Ke Guo ◽  
Dongjie Hou
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Vegetation Classification ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Diagnostic Species ◽  
The Core

Abstract Aims The latest China Vegetation Classification System (China-VCS) for natural/semi-natural vegetation has eight hierarchical levels: Association < Association-group < Subformation < Formation < Formation-group < Vegetation-subtype < Vegetation-type < Vegetation-type-group. The classification is based on dominant species and their growth forms and has been completed at the formation level. The principal challenge today in Chinese vegetation classification is to develop the China-VCS at levels below the formation in a way that is consistent with current international standards. We explored the following question: how can existing vegetation plot data help develop the China-VCS and improve its compatibility with other international classification systems? Methods We compiled 401 plots having plant cover and/or aboveground biomass measurements collected in six Stipa steppe formations and divided them into those with cover data (299 plots) and/or biomass data (283 plots). We applied a combination of hierarchical clustering and ordination to partition the cover and biomass data sets into formations and constituent associations. We then used supervised noise clustering to improve the classification and to identify the core plots representing each association. Diagnostic species were also identified at both association and formation levels. Finally, we compared the classification results based on cover and biomass data sets and combined these results into a comprehensive classification framework for the six formations. Important Findings Our results using cover data were comparable with those using biomass data at both formation and association levels. Three Stipa formations were classified into associations based on cover data, two based on biomass data and one based on both biomass and cover data. Twenty-seven associations were defined and proposed within the six formations, using cover or biomass data as consistent classification sections (CCSs). Both dominant species in the dominant stratum and diagnostic species from multiple strata of the core plots were used to characterize vegetation types at both formation and association levels, improving the compatibility of our classification with the International Vegetation Classification. Temperature and precipitation were found to be important climatic factors determining the distribution pattern and species composition of Stipa-dominated vegetation. We propose a framework for plot-based vegetation classification in the China-VCS, using our work with Stipa-dominated steppe vegetation as an example. We applied the concept of CCS to make optimal use of available data representing both plant cover and biomass. This study offers a model for developing the China-VCS to the association level in a way that is consistent with current international standards.

Some applications of electron beam microanalysis techniques in VLSI process evaluation

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 160-161
Author(s):  
Simon Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Analysis Of Failures ◽  
Characterization Of Materials ◽  
Circuits Vlsi

Trends in the technology development of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI) have been in the direction of higher density of components with smaller dimensions. The scaling down of device dimensions has been not only laterally but also in depth. Such efforts in miniaturization bring with them new developments in materials and processing. Successful implementation of these efforts is, to a large extent, dependent on the proper understanding of the material properties, process technologies and reliability issues, through adequate analytical studies. The analytical instrumentation technology has, fortunately, kept pace with the basic requirements of devices with lateral dimensions in the micron/ submicron range and depths of the order of nonometers. Often, newer analytical techniques have emerged or the more conventional techniques have been adapted to meet the more stringent requirements. As such, a variety of analytical techniques are available today to aid an analyst in the efforts of VLSI process evaluation. Generally such analytical efforts are divided into the characterization of materials, evaluation of processing steps and the analysis of failures.

Classification of woody-shrub vegetation of the forest-steppe complex of Privolzhskaya Upland

2009 ◽  
pp. 27-53
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Kudryavtsev
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Vegetation Mapping ◽  
Vegetation Classification ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Mapping Data

Diversity of plant communities in the nature reserve “Privolzhskaya Forest-Steppe”, Ostrovtsovsky area, is analyzed on the basis of the large-scale vegetation mapping data from 2000. The plant community classi­fication based on the Russian ecologic-phytocoenotic approach is carried out. 12 plant formations and 21 associations are distinguished according to dominant species and a combination of ecologic-phytocoenotic groups of species. A list of vegetation classification units as well as the characteristics of theshrub and woody communities are given in this paper.

Characterization of seawater reverse osmosis fouled membranes from large scale commercial desalination plant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chem Int
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Osmosis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Transmembrane Pressure ◽  
Hydraulic Permeability ◽  
Seawater Reverse Osmosis ◽  
A Chain

The objective of this work is to study the ageing state of a used reverse osmosis (RO) membrane taken in Algeria from the Benisaf Water Company seawater desalination unit. The study consists of an autopsy procedure used to perform a chain of analyses on a membrane sheet. Wear of the membrane is characterized by a degradation of its performance due to a significant increase in hydraulic permeability (25%) and pressure drop as well as a decrease in salt retention (10% to 30%). In most cases the effects of ageing are little or poorly known at the local level and global measurements such as (flux, transmembrane pressure, permeate flow, retention rate, etc.) do not allow characterization. Therefore, a used RO (reverse osmosis) membrane was selected at the site to perform the membrane autopsy tests. These tests make it possible to analyze and identify the cause as well as to understand the links between performance degradation observed at the macroscopic scale and at the scale at which ageing takes place. External and internal visual observations allow seeing the state of degradation. Microscopic analysis of the used membranes surface shows the importance of fouling. In addition, quantification and identification analyses determine a high fouling rate in the used membrane whose foulants is of inorganic and organic nature. Moreover, the analyses proved the presence of a biofilm composed of protein.

Characterization of Interconnect Defects Using Scanning Thermal Conductivity Microscopy

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.W. Ho ◽  
J.C.H. Phang ◽  
A. Altes ◽  
L.J. Balk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Large Scale

Abstract In this paper, scanning thermal conductivity microscopy is used to characterize interconnect defects due to electromigration. Similar features are observed both in the temperature and thermal conductivity micrographs. The key advantage of the thermal conductivity mode is that specimen bias is not required. This is an important advantage for the characterization of defects in large scale integrated circuits. The thermal conductivity micrographs of extrusion, exposed and subsurface voids are presented and compared with the corresponding topography and temperature micrographs.

Implantable neural interfaces

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Vassanelli
Keyword(s):  
Brain Function ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ionic Channels ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
Physical Interfaces ◽  
The Brain

Establishing direct communication with the brain through physical interfaces is a fundamental strategy to investigate brain function. Starting with the patch-clamp technique in the seventies, neuroscience has moved from detailed characterization of ionic channels to the analysis of single neurons and, more recently, microcircuits in brain neuronal networks. Development of new biohybrid probes with electrodes for recording and stimulating neurons in the living animal is a natural consequence of this trend. The recent introduction of optogenetic stimulation and advanced high-resolution large-scale electrical recording approaches demonstrates this need. Brain implants for real-time neurophysiology are also opening new avenues for neuroprosthetics to restore brain function after injury or in neurological disorders. This chapter provides an overview on existing and emergent neurophysiology technologies with particular focus on those intended to interface neuronal microcircuits in vivo. Chemical, electrical, and optogenetic-based interfaces are presented, with an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of the different technical approaches.

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