Toward a rule-based biome model

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Current projections of the response of the biosphere to global climatic change indicate as much as 50 to 90% spatial displacement of extratropical biomes. The mechanism of spatial shift could be dominated either by competitive displacement of northern biomes by southern biomes or by drought-induced dieback of areas susceptible to change. The current suite of global biosphere models cannot distinguish between these two processes, hence the need for a mechanistically based biome model. The first steps have been taken toward development of a rule-based, mechanistic model of regional biomes at a continental scale. ... The model is in an early stage of development and will require several enhancements, including: explicit simulation of potential evapotranspiration, extension to boreal and tropical biomes, a shift from steady-state to transient dynamics, and validation on other continents.

Technology for the community: SEAFDEC-designed artificial reefs

An account is given of the fabrication and deployment of artificial reefs used in the SEAFDEC/AQD's Community Fishery Resource Management project, which focused on Malalison Island located in west Central Philippines. The project aimed to apply community-based techniques of fishery resource management through the collaboration of community organizations, biologists and social scientists. The 3 types of reefs (building blocks, concrete pipe culvert, and modified concrete pipe culvert) were deployed at Gui-ob reef covering an area of less than 1 ha.