Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), an exotic invasive plant, is native to Southeast Asia. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Japanese stiltgrass as well as soil and landscape characteristics that correlate with invasion of Japanese stiltgrass around Lake Issaqueena in the upper Piedmont of South Carolina. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) were used to determine the spatial pattern of invasion with respect to the aspect, slope, canopy cover, soils, and distance to roads and trails. Japanese stiltgrass was distributed on both sides of Lake Issaqueena in Pacolet and Madison soil map units (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) on the average slopes of 21%, but it was particularly common on the eastern shore of the lake in low-lying wet and shaded areas (mean canopy cover 51%). In addition, invasion by Japanese stiltgrass was correlated with the proximity to roads and trails. Plant tissue analysis revealed many differences in the distribution of macronutrients, macrominerals, and micronutrients in the leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese stiltgrass, although those differences were not always statistically significant. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) were the highest in leaves while zinc (Zn) concentrations were the highest in stems and concentrations of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and sodium (Na) tended to be higher in roots. Carbon (C), sulfur (S), and potassium (K) concentrations were generally higher in above-ground tissues versus roots. Soil chemical analysis revealed no statistical differences between control and invaded plots. Our findings suggest that watershed areas surrounding lakes may be particularly susceptible to the invasion of Japanese stiltgrass due to their microclimates, low-lying wet pathways for seed distribution and recreational uses. 相似文献
Transferring ecological information across scale often involves spatial aggregation, which alters information content and
may bias estimates if the scaling process is nonlinear. Here, a potential solution, the preservation of the information content
of fine-scale measurements, is highlighted using modeled net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of an Arctic tundra landscape as an
example. The variance of aggregated normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), measured from an airborne platform, decreased
linearly with log(scale), resulting in a linear relationship between log(scale) and the scale-wise modeled NEE estimate. Preserving
three units of information, the mean, variance and skewness of fine-scale NDVI observations, resulted in upscaled NEE estimates
that deviated less than 4% from the fine-scale estimate. Preserving only the mean and variance resulted in nearly 23% NEE
bias, and preserving only the mean resulted in larger error and a change in sign from CO2 sink to source. Compressing NDVI maps by 70–75% using wavelet thresholding with the Haar and Coiflet basis functions resulted
in 13% NEE bias across the study domain. Applying unique scale-dependent transfer functions between NDVI and leaf area index
(LAI) decreased, but did not remove, bias in modeled flux in a smaller expanse using handheld NDVI observations. Quantifying
the parameters of statistical distributions to preserve ecological information reduces bias when upscaling and makes possible
spatial data assimilation to further reduce errors in estimates of ecological processes across scale. 相似文献
We demonstrate a method to evaluate the degree to which a meta-model approximates spatial disturbance processes represented
by a more detailed model across a range of landscape conditions, using neutral landscapes and equivalence testing. We illustrate
this approach by comparing burn patterns produced by a relatively simple fire spread algorithm with those generated by a more
detailed fire behavior model from which the simpler algorithm was derived. Equivalence testing allows objective comparisons
of the output of simple and complex models, to determine if the results are significantly similar. Neutral landscape models
represent a range of landscape conditions that the model may encounter, allowing evaluation of the sensitivity and behavior
of the model to different landscape compositions and configurations. We first tested the model for universal applicability,
then narrowed the testing to assess the practical domain of applicability. As a whole, the calibrated simple model passed
the test for significant equivalence using the 25% threshold. When applied to a range of landscape conditions different from
the calibration scenarios, the model failed the tests for equivalence. Although our particular model failed the tests, the
neutral landscape models were helpful in determining an appropriate domain of applicability and in assessing the model sensitivity
to landscape changes. Equivalence testing provides an effective method for model comparison, and coupled with neutral landscapes,
our approach provides an objective way to assess the domain of applicability of a spatial model. 相似文献
Resilience, the ability to recover from disturbance, has risen to the forefront of scientific policy, but is difficult to quantify, particularly in large, forested landscapes subject to disturbances, management, and climate change.
Objectives
Our objective was to determine which spatial drivers will control landscape resilience over the next century, given a range of plausible climate projections across north-central Minnesota.
Methods
Using a simulation modelling approach, we simulated wind disturbance in a 4.3 million ha forested landscape in north-central Minnesota for 100 years under historic climate and five climate change scenarios, combined with four management scenarios: business as usual (BAU), maximizing economic returns (‘EcoGoods’), maximizing carbon storage (‘EcoServices’), and climate change adaption (‘CCAdapt’). To estimate resilience, we examined sites where simulated windstorms removed >70% of the biomass and measured the difference in biomass and species composition after 50 years.
Results
Climate change lowered resilience, though there was wide variation among climate change scenarios. Resilience was explained more by spatial variation in soils than climate. We found that BAU, EcoGoods and EcoServices harvest scenarios were very similar; CCAdapt was the only scenario that demonstrated consistently higher resilience under climate change. Although we expected spatial patterns of resilience to follow ownership patterns, it was contingent upon whether lands were actively managed.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that resilience may be lower under climate change and that the effects of climate change could overwhelm current management practices. Only a substantial shift in simulated forest practices was successful in promoting resilience.
Orange oil is composed largely of terpene hydrocarbons but is a source of flavor and fragrance compounds (oxygenated) that are present in low concentrations. To increase the ratio of oxygenated compounds to terpene hydrocarbons, orange oil was partially fractionated by adsorption of the oxygenated compounds onto porous silica gel, with full utilization of its adsorbent capacity, and then further purified by desorption into supercritical carbon dioxide. The desorption of 24 compounds was monitored by GC and GC-MS. Adsorption alone removed three-fourths of the terpene hydrocarbons, and fractional extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) improved the separation further. Response surface methodology was used in the experimental design, and regression analysis was used to determine the effects of process variables. Extraction at low temperatures and flow rates improved separation by SC-CO(2). Decanal was concentrated to 20 times that of the feed oil by using SC-CO(2) at 13.1 MPa, 35 degrees C, and 2 kg/h. The systems were operating at close to equilibrium conditions because of the fine dispersal of the oils and the excellent mass transfer properties of supercritical carbon dioxide. 相似文献
Grid sampling allows a variable rate of lime to be applied and has been marketed as a cost saver to producers. However, there is little research that shows if this precision application is profitable or not. Previous research on variable-rate lime has considered only a small number of fields. This paper uses soil sampling data from 111 fields provided by producers in Oklahoma and Kansas. The 5-year average net present values are compared between variable-rate and uniform-rate lime for grain-only wheat production, dual-purpose wheat grain and forage production, and a wheat–soybean rotation. Sensitivity analysis was done for varying grain prices as well as grain yield potential. When using historical average yields and recent prices for Oklahoma, variable rate was not profitable on average for these 111 fields for either a grain-only, dual-purpose, or wheat–soybean production. However, when yield or prices were above average, variable rate was profitable. Thus, variable rate liming can be profitable for these fields, but it requires either above average yields, a high value crop, or above average prices.
Precision Agriculture - Golf course superintendent’s knowledge of variability may be an overlooked and underutilized tool for precision turfgrass management (PTM). This case study used a... 相似文献
Landscape Ecology - Thermal traits likely mediate organismal responses to changing thermal environments. As temperatures increase, predicting species responses will depend on understanding how... 相似文献
Schinus terebinthifolia is a dioecious tree native to South America that has become an invasive weed in Florida, southern California, southern Arizona, Texas and Hawaii and has been naturalised in over 20 countries. Biological control is considered a viable long-term control option for S. terebinthifolia because release from natural enemies appears to be at least partly responsible for its success in Florida. We examined leaf phenology of S. terebinthifolia over a period of 15 months at five sites in central and southern Florida to provide information that may help in predicting the impacts of potential biocontrol agents for this weed. We documented leaf lifespan, the seasonality of leaf development and abscission and the survivorship of leaves that emerged during either spring, summer or autumn. Average leaf lifespan was >4.5 months at all sites, and leaf phenology followed the seasons closely. Although S. terebinthifolia possesses leaves throughout the year, leaf production was greatest from April to September, and most leaves were abscised in February and March. Spring- and summer-emerging leaves were also longer-lived than leaves produced during autumn. These results suggest that leaves of S. terebinthifolia would be most vulnerable to herbivory during the spring and summer months when newly growing leaf tissue is most plentiful. Biocontrol agents capable of damaging these tissues during spring/summer might be an effective means of controlling this invasive weed. 相似文献