中国东北温带样带区域和景观尺度生态模型的研究

样带是沿全球变化某一驱动因素的主要梯度而设置的由一系列研究站点构成的区域，被认为是研究全球变化与陆地生态系统关系的最有效的途径。而模型研究是全球变化研究中不可或缺的手段。本文即采用模型研究方法研究中国东北温带样带(NECT)区域，试图揭示温带生态系统对于全球变化（尤其是降水）的反应机制。 中国东北温带样带（NECT)位于42°N - 46°N，108°E - 132°E，长约二千多公里，是最早被列入GCTE的四条样带之一，从东到西有明显的湿度梯度，被认为是温带区域研究水分梯度的代表性样带。本文研究主要集中在： 1．NECT中环境数据库的建立,本文采用EIS作为数据管理系统。由于EIS管理空间数据的特点是根据确定的地理坐标来提供空间定位，因而每一环境因子的属性值分布都有确定的地理坐标与其对应，特别适合于样带这种研究区域较大，同时又要求有精确空间定位的区域。NECT环境数据库包括地形、气候、植被、土壤、土地利用、水文、孢粉数据及社会经济等分库、本数据库力图提供各环境因子的各种属性值而代替仅仅提供类型值。 2．NECT中PFTs的划分PFTs的划分被认为是建立DGVM的前提。本文认为PFTs的划分是模型研究中一个尺度上升过程的结果，不同的尺度，不同的研究目标导致不同的PFTs的划分。在NECT区域中，考虑植被对全球变化中降水因子的不同反映机制，采用生活型、高度、耐旱特性、叶子大小、叶子季相、主根深度和木质化程度等指标根据- TWINSPAN和FCLUS进行划分，得到以下9种NECT区域中植被功能类型：常绿针叶树种、落叶针叶树种、落叶阔叶树种、落叶小叶灌木、落叶小叶半灌木、落叶强旱生半灌木、多年生中旱生草本、适应旱生环境的多年生草本和多年生强旱生草本。对NECT区域中PFTs的DCA分析表明降水是控制PFTs在NECT区域中分布的主要环境因子。在代表景观层次的长白山PFTs的划分中，则采用树种有记载的最大寿命、最大胸径、最大树高、各树种生长参数、树种自然分布区内>5℃的有效积温的最小值和最大值、耐阴、耐旱、喜肥特性、树种的扩散更新，就地下种更新和萌条更新能力参数及叶子大小和类型等指标采用上述软件得到的以下PFTs:即不耐荫阔叶树种、耐荫阔叶树种、耐荫针叶树种和不耐荫的阳生针叶树种。 3.NECT中BCM模型的建立和预测 本文认为土壤水是决定SPC系统水分状况的直接指标。而均衡土壤水分剖面代表了土壤水的多年平均状态，因而本文以Watershed模型为基础，模拟NECT区域中任意一点的均衡土壤水分剖面（精度为每经纬网格32×48个点）;然后根据这个均衡水分剖面用计算LAI子模型确定该水分剖面所能支持的LAI;进而根据这个LAI由Biome等模型划分出Biome在NECT中的分布。全球变化的结果将改变区域中任意一点的土壤水分状况，从而影响植被的LAI，进而导致Biome的改变。本模型成功的模拟了LAI和Biome在NECT区域中的分布，利用85-90生长季每月平均的NDVI作相关检验表明除5月份以外，相关系数都>0.7，而5月份也达到0,6457，都达到了极显著的程度。尤为重要的是，模型对于不同植被类型的NDVI与LAI的对应关系有良好的模拟，如针叶林的LAI在相同的NDVI值下明显比阔叶林小，因而模型模拟的LAI在NECT东部针叶林分布区LAI值比针阔混交林明显偏小，而与Spanmen等(1990)所提出的针叶林叶面积指数与NDVI关系非常一致。模型的预测显示：(1) T+20C (PET+15%)，Precipitation+20%，LAI总体上变化不大，且空间变化呈现复杂性，总体上表现出草原植被LAI减少，而森林的LAI增加;Biome层次表现出针阔混交林和矮草原面积扩大，针叶林和森林草原面积减少，其中对于该情形下变化最为明显的是针叶林和森林草原。NECT东部区域发育在沙性土上的植被的LAI明显增加，而科尔沁沙地植被的LAI则维持不变。(2)T+40C (PET+30%)，Precipitation+20%，LAI总体上将减小0.14，但空间分布不均。东部森林区域LA1将维持不变或增加（主要为针叶林），草原植被LAI仍表现出减少趋势;在Biome层次上则表现出草原面积的扩大。对于第一种情形下LAI有增有减的森林革原地区则表现出减小的一致性，总体来说，第二种情形比第一种情形表现出相当的干旱性。从对两种全球变化情形的反应来看，针叶林和森林草原是NECT中对全球变化驱动因子温度和降水的敏感植被类型;丽科尔沁沙地植被表现出相当的稳定性，表明该沙地的敏感性主要是由于人类活动这个因子造成的。 4.NECT中景观层次NPP模型的建立和预测 景观层次之所以成为模型研究中一个独特的层次，是由于地形效应的存在。地形效应对于水、热。营养物质的进行重新分配，从而进一步控制了生态系统的分布。本文选择NECT区域中森林生态系统的代表性分布小流域一二道白河小流域为研究区域。首先，应用Sunlight模型来模拟小流域任意一点所截取的能用于光合作用的太阳辐射能。Sunlight模型充分考虑了由于栅格的坡度、坡向和遮蔽度对可照时间和太阳直射辐射的影响以及坡度和可祝度对太阳散射辐射的影响，并提供了消除大气状况从站点观察数据推测的方法，即太阳直射辐射转换系数Rb和太阳散射辐射转换系数R，结合植被的分布特性，得到IPR在小流域中的分布。结果表明，IPR在小流域中相差不大，与高程呈正相关。进而利用温度修正模型得到温度修正系数，平均为0.446，表明温度对NPP的限制效应比较大;而水分修正系数则通过Topmodel模拟每一栅格的地下水位，由这个地下水位通过前述Waterbalance模型模拟均衡土壤水分剖面，进而求出水分修正系数，平均为0.86，表明该流域水分状况良好，水分状况对NPP的限制性不强。模拟结果显示：海拔1700m的岳桦林平均NPP为7.31t.ha-l年“两实测的NPP值分别为20.19 t.ha-l年 13.45 t.ha-l年‘1和5.15 t.ha-1年”。可见模型模拟的整个NPP的分布趋势与现实NPP分布一致。模型的预测表明：(1)．T+2℃( PET+15%)，P+20%时整个小流域的平均NPP将从14.60 t.ha-1年-1增加到16.65 t.ha_l年，且不同生态系统的增加幅度大致类似。以岳桦林生态系统稍高，增加幅度为15.3%，引起该小流域NPP增加的主要原因是温度状况的改善，而水分状况与变化前一致。(2)T+4℃( PET+30%)，P+20%的变化前景下NPP的增加幅度更大，整个小流域的平均NPP将达到18.63 t.ha-1年，且不同生态系统变化幅度不同．阔叶红松林、暗针叶林和岳桦林生态系统NPP增加幅度将分别达到25.8%，28.3%和32.8%.引起整个小流域NPP增加的主要原因仍旧是温度状况的大幅度提高，平均从变化前的0.477提高到0.610，而水分状况则仍保持相当的稳定性。

Semantic distributed database management with applications to the Internet dissemination of environmental data

The research presented in this dissertation is comprised of several parts which jointly attain the goal of Semantic Distributed Database Management with Applications to Internet Dissemination of Environmental Data. ^ Part of the research into more effective and efficient data management has been pursued through enhancements to the Semantic Binary Object-Oriented database (Sem-ODB) such as more effective load balancing techniques for the database engine, and the use of Sem-ODB as a tool for integrating structured and unstructured heterogeneous data sources. Another part of the research in data management has pursued methods for optimizing queries in distributed databases through the intelligent use of network bandwidth; this has applications in networks that provide varying levels of Quality of Service or throughput. ^ The application of the Semantic Binary database model as a tool for relational database modeling has also been pursued. This has resulted in database applications that are used by researchers at the Everglades National Park to store environmental data and to remotely-sensed imagery. ^ The areas of research described above have contributed to the creation TerraFly, which provides for the dissemination of geospatial data via the Internet. TerraFly research presented herein ranges from the development of TerraFly's back-end database and interfaces, through the features that are presented to the public (such as the ability to provide autopilot scripts and on-demand data about a point), to applications of TerraFly in the areas of hazard mitigation, recreation, and aviation. ^

A new database compilation of whole-rock chemical and geochronological data of igneous rocks in Queensland : a new resource for HDR geothermal resource exploration

The Geothermal industry in Australia and Queensland is in its infancy and for hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy, it is very much in the target identification and resource definition stages. As a key effort to assist the geothermal industry and exploration for HDR in Queensland, we are developing a comprehensive and new integrated geochemical and geochronological database on igneous rocks. To date, around 18,000 igneous rocks have been analysed across Queensland for chemical and/or age information. However, these data currently reside in a number of disparate datasets (e.g., Ozchron, Champion et al., 2007, Geological Survey of Queensland, journal publications, and unpublished university theses). The goal of this project is to collate and integrate these data on Queensland igneous rocks to improve our understanding of high heat producing granites in Queensland, in terms of their distribution (particularly in the subsurface), dimensions, ages, and controlling factors in their genesis.

A Bayesian hurdle model for analysis of an insect resistance monitoring database

Motivated by the analysis of the Australian Grain Insect Resistance Database (AGIRD), we develop a Bayesian hurdle modelling approach to assess trends in strong resistance of stored grain insects to phosphine over time. The binary response variable from AGIRD indicating presence or absence of strong resistance is characterized by a majority of absence observations and the hurdle model is a two step approach that is useful when analyzing such a binary response dataset. The proposed hurdle model utilizes Bayesian classification trees to firstly identify covariates and covariate levels pertaining to possible presence or absence of strong resistance. Secondly, generalized additive models (GAMs) with spike and slab priors for variable selection are fitted to the subset of the dataset identified from the Bayesian classification tree indicating possibility of presence of strong resistance. From the GAM we assess trends, biosecurity issues and site specific variables influencing the presence of strong resistance using a variable selection approach. The proposed Bayesian hurdle model is compared to its frequentist counterpart, and also to a naive Bayesian approach which fits a GAM to the entire dataset. The Bayesian hurdle model has the benefit of providing a set of good trees for use in the first step and appears to provide enough flexibility to represent the influence of variables on strong resistance compared to the frequentist model, but also captures the subtle changes in the trend that are missed by the frequentist and naive Bayesian models.

Assessment on the effect of pollution abatement on environmental efficiency with Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation

Both environmental economists and policy makers have shown a great deal of interest in the effect of pollution abatement on environmental efficiency. In line with the modern resources available, however, no contribution is brought to the environmental economics field with the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) application, which enables simulation from a distribution of a Markov chain and simulating from the chain until it approaches equilibrium. The probability density functions gained prominence with the advantages over classical statistical methods in its simultaneous inference and incorporation of any prior information on all model parameters. This paper concentrated on this point with the application of MCMC to the database of China, the largest developing country with rapid economic growth and serious environmental pollution in recent years. The variables cover the economic output and pollution abatement cost from the year 1992 to 2003. We test the causal direction between pollution abatement cost and environmental efficiency with MCMC simulation. We found that the pollution abatement cost causes an increase in environmental efficiency through the algorithm application, which makes it conceivable that the environmental policy makers should make more substantial measures to reduce pollution in the near future.

Global environmental emissions estimate: Application of multiple imputation

A new database called the World Resource Table is constructed in this study. Missing values are known to produce complications when constructing global databases. This study provides a solution for applying multiple imputation techniques and estimates the global environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for CO2, SO2, PM10, and BOD. Policy implications for each type of emission are derived based on the results of the EKC using WRI. Finally, we predicted the future emissions trend and regional share of CO2 emissions. We found that East Asia and South Asia will be increasing their emissions share while other major CO2 emitters will still produce large shares of the total global emissions.

Cross database training of audio-visual hidden Markov models for phone recognition

Speech recognition can be improved by using visual information in the form of lip movements of the speaker in addition to audio information. To date, state-of-the-art techniques for audio-visual speech recognition continue to use audio and visual data of the same database for training their models. In this paper, we present a new approach to make use of one modality of an external dataset in addition to a given audio-visual dataset. By so doing, it is possible to create more powerful models from other extensive audio-only databases and adapt them on our comparatively smaller multi-stream databases. Results show that the presented approach outperforms the widely adopted synchronous hidden Markov models (HMM) trained jointly on audio and visual data of a given audio-visual database for phone recognition by 29% relative. It also outperforms the external audio models trained on extensive external audio datasets and also internal audio models by 5.5% and 46% relative respectively. We also show that the proposed approach is beneficial in noisy environments where the audio source is affected by the environmental noise.

Similarity-based birdcall retrieval from environmental audio

Automated digital recordings are useful for large-scale temporal and spatial environmental monitoring. An important research effort has been the automated classification of calling bird species. In this paper we examine a related task, retrieval of birdcalls from a database of audio recordings, similar to a user supplied query call. Such a retrieval task can sometimes be more useful than an automated classifier. We compare three approaches to similarity-based birdcall retrieval using spectral ridge features and two kinds of gradient features, structure tensor and the histogram of oriented gradients. The retrieval accuracy of our spectral ridge method is 94% compared to 82% for the structure tensor method and 90% for the histogram of gradients method. Additionally, this approach potentially offers a more compact representation and is more computationally efficient.

The fossil calibration database - A new resource for divergence dating

Fossils provide the principal basis for temporal calibrations, which are critical to the accuracy of divergence dating analyses. Translating fossil data into minimum and maximum bounds for calibrations is the most important, and often least appreciated, step of divergence dating. Properly justified calibrations require the synthesis of phylogenetic, paleontological, and geological evidence and can be difficult for non-specialists to formulate. The dynamic nature of the fossil record (e.g., new discoveries, taxonomic revisions, updates of global or local stratigraphy) requires that calibration data be updated continually lest they become obsolete. Here, we announce the Fossil Calibration Database (http://fossilcalibrations.org), a new open-access resource providing vetted fossil calibrations to the scientific community. Calibrations accessioned into this database are based on individual fossil specimens and follow best practices for phylogenetic justification and geochronological constraint. The associated Fossil Calibration Series, a calibration-themed publication series at Palaeontologia Electronica, will serve as one key pipeline for peer-reviewed calibrations to enter the database.

A Bayesian hurdle model for analysis of an insect resistance monitoring database

Motivated by the analysis of the Australian Grain Insect Resistance Database (AGIRD), we develop a Bayesian hurdle modelling approach to assess trends in strong resistance of stored grain insects to phosphine over time. The binary response variable from AGIRD indicating presence or absence of strong resistance is characterized by a majority of absence observations and the hurdle model is a two step approach that is useful when analyzing such a binary response dataset. The proposed hurdle model utilizes Bayesian classification trees to firstly identify covariates and covariate levels pertaining to possible presence or absence of strong resistance. Secondly, generalized additive models (GAMs) with spike and slab priors for variable selection are fitted to the subset of the dataset identified from the Bayesian classification tree indicating possibility of presence of strong resistance. From the GAM we assess trends, biosecurity issues and site specific variables influencing the presence of strong resistance using a variable selection approach. The proposed Bayesian hurdle model is compared to its frequentist counterpart, and also to a naive Bayesian approach which fits a GAM to the entire dataset. The Bayesian hurdle model has the benefit of providing a set of good trees for use in the first step and appears to provide enough flexibility to represent the influence of variables on strong resistance compared to the frequentist model, but also captures the subtle changes in the trend that are missed by the frequentist and naive Bayesian models. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Geospatial environmental data modelling applications using remote sensing, GIS and spatial statistics

This thesis presents novel modelling applications for environmental geospatial data using remote sensing, GIS and statistical modelling techniques. The studied themes can be classified into four main themes: (i) to develop advanced geospatial databases. Paper (I) demonstrates the creation of a geospatial database for the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) in the Åland Islands, south-western Finland; (ii) to analyse species diversity and distribution using GIS techniques. Paper (II) presents a diversity and geographical distribution analysis for Scopulini moths at a world-wide scale; (iii) to study spatiotemporal forest cover change. Paper (III) presents a study of exotic and indigenous tree cover change detection in Taita Hills Kenya using airborne imagery and GIS analysis techniques; (iv) to explore predictive modelling techniques using geospatial data. In Paper (IV) human population occurrence and abundance in the Taita Hills highlands was predicted using the generalized additive modelling (GAM) technique. Paper (V) presents techniques to enhance fire prediction and burned area estimation at a regional scale in East Caprivi Namibia. Paper (VI) compares eight state-of-the-art predictive modelling methods to improve fire prediction, burned area estimation and fire risk mapping in East Caprivi Namibia. The results in Paper (I) showed that geospatial data can be managed effectively using advanced relational database management systems. Metapopulation data for Melitaea cinxia butterfly was successfully combined with GPS-delimited habitat patch information and climatic data. Using the geospatial database, spatial analyses were successfully conducted at habitat patch level or at more coarse analysis scales. Moreover, this study showed it appears evident that at a large-scale spatially correlated weather conditions are one of the primary causes of spatially correlated changes in Melitaea cinxia population sizes. In Paper (II) spatiotemporal characteristics of Socupulini moths description, diversity and distribution were analysed at a world-wide scale and for the first time GIS techniques were used for Scopulini moth geographical distribution analysis. This study revealed that Scopulini moths have a cosmopolitan distribution. The majority of the species have been described from the low latitudes, sub-Saharan Africa being the hot spot of species diversity. However, the taxonomical effort has been uneven among biogeographical regions. Paper III showed that forest cover change can be analysed in great detail using modern airborne imagery techniques and historical aerial photographs. However, when spatiotemporal forest cover change is studied care has to be taken in co-registration and image interpretation when historical black and white aerial photography is used. In Paper (IV) human population distribution and abundance could be modelled with fairly good results using geospatial predictors and non-Gaussian predictive modelling techniques. Moreover, land cover layer is not necessary needed as a predictor because first and second-order image texture measurements derived from satellite imagery had more power to explain the variation in dwelling unit occurrence and abundance. Paper V showed that generalized linear model (GLM) is a suitable technique for fire occurrence prediction and for burned area estimation. GLM based burned area estimations were found to be more superior than the existing MODIS burned area product (MCD45A1). However, spatial autocorrelation of fires has to be taken into account when using the GLM technique for fire occurrence prediction. Paper VI showed that novel statistical predictive modelling techniques can be used to improve fire prediction, burned area estimation and fire risk mapping at a regional scale. However, some noticeable variation between different predictive modelling techniques for fire occurrence prediction and burned area estimation existed.

ReefBase 2.0: a contribution to environmental conservation on a global scale

The 1997 International Year of the Reef sees the release of ReefBase 2.0: a global database on coral reefs and their resources. It provides the most comprehensive and accessible repository of information to date. Containing information on over 7000 coral reefs in more than 123 countries, ReefBase 2.0 offers an extensive range of time-related data pertaining to coastal tourism, benthic environment ecology, fish population statistics, oceanography, socioeconomics, mariculture, and harvest activities. It also outlines the stresses causing reef degradation as well as management initiatives. Complemented by hundreds of digitized maps provided by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and over 500 high quality photographs, ReefBase 2.0 is not only an essential tool for coral reef management but also an comprehensive guide for tourists, scuba divers and snorkelers alike. ReefBase has contributed substantially to the success of the International Coral Reef Institute (ICRI) and serves as the official database of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), bringing together an increasing volume of data on coral reef health, management and significance to humanity, and making it widely available. Over the next five years, the information contained within ReefBase will be utilized as an instrument for developing coral reef health assessment criteria, sustainable management criteria, and providing continuously updated summaries of threats endangering coral reefs around the globe. This will be a strong basis for focused corrective action in an attempt to conserve coral reefs and properly manage their resources for future generations.

Mersey Estuary baseline survey. Analysis of macroinfaunal samples, literature review and database production

This is the Mersey Estuary baseline survey: Analysis of macroinfaunal samples, literature review and database production report produced by the Environment Agency North West in 2002. This report presents an ecological review of the Mersey estuary along with an extensive bibliography of the available environmental literature for this system. The central objective of this programme has been to provide the information necessary to support the Environment Agency's review of existing and future consents (for discharges, abstractions etc) in the Mersey estuary. This review of consents was required because the Mersey had been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Birds Directive. Therefore under Regulation 50 of the Conservation, the Environment Agency was responsible for reviewing any extant consent, or future applications, which may directly or indirectly, affected this SPA.

International legal instruments relevant to fisheries and fishing communities : a handbook. Theme IV. Environmental pollution

This handbook provides detailed information for a wide range of legal instruments relevant to fisheries and fishworkers. It covers 114 legal instruments, categorized into the following seven themes: Theme I. Human Rights, Food Security, Women and Development. Theme II. Environment and Sustainable Development. Theme III. Oceans and Fisheries Management. Theme IV. Environmental Pollution Theme V. Fishing Vessels and Safety at Sea Theme VI. Labour Theme VII. Trade The handbook also includes the working of the instruments (decision-making bodies, monitoring and implementation agencies, periodicity of meetings, rules for participation in meetings of the decision-making bodies and implementation agencies for States and non-governmental organizations), regional instrument and agencies. Apart from being a ready reckoner to the instruments, it highlights the important sections of relevance to fisheries or small-scale fisheries and fishworkers. The companion CD-ROM provides the full texts of the instruments in a searchable database. The handbook will be useful for fishworker and non-governmental organizations, and also for researchers and others interested in fisheries issues.