Micro-topography driven vegetation patterns in open mosaic landscapes

Elevation models based on remotely sensed data, especially high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) generated using airborne laser scanner (ALS) data, are increasingly being used for the analysis of plant diversity patterns in open landscapes. The vegetation pattern of alkali landscapes shows a high correlation with the position of water table and salt accumulation, which are strongly correlated with topographic variations occurring at a small spatial scale of a few decimetres (micro-topography). In this study we classified eight grassland associations in an alkali landscape based on a DTM generated from ALS data at a pixel size of 0.25 m, and 30 variables derived from the DTM, using an ensemble learning method (Random Forest). Our aim was to identify the micro-topographic variables which could be indicators of vegetation pattern in alkali landscapes. The associations range from Cynodon pastures (short dry grasslands on soil with low salt content) occupying the highest elevations to Beckmannia meadows (wet grasslands on soils with moderate salt content composed of tall grass species) at the lowest elevations, with an elevation difference of approximately 1.2 m between the two. Apart from slope, aspect and curvature, we used Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and Topographic Position Indices (TPI) at various kernel sizes ranging from 50 cm to 500 m for the classification. The eight associations were also grouped into four aggregated categories — loess grasslands, alkali steppes, open alkali swards and alkali meadows — for further analysis. Vegetation of the studied alkali landscape could be classified into the eight associations with an accuracy of κ: 0.56, and into the four aggregated categories with an accuracy of κ: 0.77 using all the variables. Sequential backward and forward selections of variables were implemented to reduce the number of variables while maximising the accuracies, resulting in increased accuracies of κ: 0.72 and κ: 0.83 for the associations and aggregated categories using six and three variables respectively. TPI at different kernel sizes, previously used to explain vegetation distribution in mountainous areas, was found to be a better indicator of vegetation types than absolute elevations in lowlands where the elevation differences are more subtle. Two characteristic features of the study area — erosional channels and alkali steps — could also be delineated using micro-topographic variables. The results point to the possibility of large-area mapping and monitoring of grasslands where micro-topography is an indicator of vegetation, using only the elevation data from ALS.     

Relationship between water regime and hummock-building by Melaleuca ericifolia and Phragmites australis in a brackish wetland

We investigated the relationship between hummock height and depth of inundation in a permanently inundated wetland in south-eastern Australia. Our survey of 318 hummocks, in water ranging from 0 to 70 cm depth, revealed a significant positive linear relationship and strong correlation between hummock height and water depth (r² = 0.53 and 0.79 for Melaleuca ericifolia and Phragmites australis hummocks respectively). We also investigated whether water regime affects the decomposition rate of litter on hummocks; specifically, whether constant inundation slows decomposition to an extent that would promote accumulation of litter and hummock-building. On the contrary, we found that constantly submerged M. ericifolia litter decomposed faster than dry litter, but at a similar rate to litter that experienced intermittent inundation (decay rates (k) 0.0015 d⁻¹, 0.0010 d⁻¹ and 0.0008 d⁻¹ for submerged, intermittent and dry treatments respectively). Submerged P. australis litter also decomposed faster (k = 0.0024 d⁻¹) than dry litter (k = 0.0011 d⁻¹). We discuss the interaction of water regime and decomposition of organic material and implications for the maintenance of hummock and hollow topography.     

Effect of error in the DEM on environmental variables for predictive vegetation modelling

Question: Predictive vegetation modelling relies on the use of environmental variables, which are usually derived from abase data set with some level of error, and this error is propagated to any subsequently derived environmental variables. The question for this study is: What is the level of error and uncertainty in environmental variables based on the error propagated from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and how does it vary for both direct and indirect variables? Location: Kioloa region, New South Wales, Australia Methods: The level of error in a DEM is assessed and used to develop an error model for analysing error propagation to derived environmental variables. We tested both indirect (elevation, slope, aspect, topographic position) and direct (average air temperature, net solar radiation, and topographic wetness index) variables for their robustness to propagated error from the DEM. Results: It is shown that the direct environmental variable net solar radiation is less affected by error in the DEM than the indirect variables aspect and slope, but that regional conditions such as slope steepness and cloudiness can influence this outcome. However, the indirect environmental variable topographic position was less affected by error in the DEM than topographic wetness index. Interestingly, the results disagreed with the current assumption that indirect variables are necessarily less sensitive to propagated error because they are less derived. Conclusions: The results indicate that variables exhibit both systematic bias and instability under uncertainty. There is a clear need to consider the sensitivity of variables to error in their base data sets in addition to the question of whether to use direct or indirect variables.     

植被叶面积指数遥感反演的尺度效应及空间变异性

遥感作为宏观生态学研究中数据获取的一种便捷手段,有助于把握较大尺度内生态学现象的特征.应用遥感数据反演LAI时,由于像元的异质性,不同尺度遥感数据之间的转换是遥感发展的一个重要问题.以河北省黄骅市为研究区,在利用TM和MODIS遥感数据对芦苇LAI反演误差产生原因进行分析的基础上,利用半变异函数对像元空间异质性进行了定量描述.发现NDVI算法的非线性带给LAI尺度转换的误差很小,而LAI的空间异质性则是引起LAI尺度效应的根本原因.并且当像元内空间异质性很大时半变异函数的基台值比纯像元要大得多,空间自相关的程度是引起LAI尺度转换误差的主要原因;反之,像元内空间异质性不大时,随机误差是引起LAI尺度转换误差的主要原因.当像元为纯像元时,由像元异质性引起的反演误差基本可以忽略.此外,研究区芦苇的空间相关有效尺度约为360m,超过此距离空间相关性则不复存在.     

基于资源异质性的四川省医师资源公平性研究

目的 基于医师资源异质性假设对2008—2014年四川省医师资源配置公平性进行探讨研究,为进一步优化医师资源配置提供参考。方法 在对医师数量调整的基础上,运用基尼系数和密度指数从人口、地理和经济3个维度评价医师资源配置的公平性。结果 基层医疗机构医师占比逐年下降;四川省卫生资源密度指数高于全国;调整后,按人口和按地理分布的基尼系数值均变大,表明医师素质差异会影响医师资源配置的人口和地理公平性;而受经济分布的影响较小。结论 在医师资源配置中需考虑医师的素质差异,同时兼顾地理和经济因素。     

A general framework to describe the alteration of natural tree species composition as an indicator of forest naturalness

The alteration of natural tree species composition is defined as the deviation of the current tree species composition from that of the natural state. It can be used as a measure of human influence on forest vegetation, and thus as an indicator of the naturalness of forest vegetation. The aim of the study was to develop a standard procedure for estimating the alteration of natural tree species composition, to explain factors driving alteration and to examine its significance for susceptibility of forest stands to natural disturbances. The alteration of natural tree species composition was estimated for the Dinaric region (5556 km², Slovenia) by the Robič Index of Dissimilarity (RID), ranging from 0 (completely natural) to 100 (completely altered). The index was calculated on the compartment level (24 ha each on average) with data on current and potential natural forest vegetation. The influence of human activities on tree species alteration was examined by using topographic and accessibility variables. The susceptibility of forest stands to natural disturbances was analysed with data on sanitary felling. In the study area, the natural tree species composition of forest stands is moderately preserved; the average value of RID was 50.05, ranging from 1.76 to 100, and the coefficient of variation was 0.49. The alteration of the natural tree species composition of forest stands is primarily the result of forest management and past land use, conditioned either by topography or accessibility of forests. The degree of alteration of tree species composition decreased along the gradients of rockiness, inclination and elevation. A greater degree of alteration appeared on the slopes of intermediate and south facing aspects than on north facing slopes, and in areas that were closer to the forest edge. A higher level of alteration significantly increases the susceptibility of forest stands to natural disturbances. The procedure represents a novel approach in modelling the alteration (naturalness) of tree species composition of forest vegetation. It is applicable at different spatial scales and fosters an understanding of the patterns of tree species composition under the influence of human activity across forest landscapes.     

Assessment of sustainable livelihoods of different farmers in hilly red soil erosion areas of southern China

Livelihood vulnerability in environmentally fragile areas is emerging as a key issue due to its positive feedback to environmental degradation. Assessment of sustainable livelihoods is a crucial prerequisite for targeting interventions. However, aggregated analysis usually obtained ambiguous conclusions because they ignored the heterogeneity of rural households. Here, we evaluated the livelihood sustainability of different rural households by constructing an improved Livelihood Sustainability Index (LSI) in hilly red soil erosion areas of southern China. Changting County was selected as the study case by virtue of its unique representativeness in soil erosion and poverty. The results showed that livelihood sustainability among rural households was far from equivalent. Different from previous studies, higher nonfarm income share was not always consistent with higher extent of livelihood sustainability. Besides nonfarm employment, agricultural specialization could be another viable pathway to attain sustainable livelihoods. We also found that intergenerational sustainability was one primary cause for long-term livelihood differentiation of rural households. The poor education in rural areas would aggravate livelihood vulnerability of the poor and threaten the sustainable livelihoods of specialized agricultural households. Policy implications include further investment in rural infrastructure, irrigation and drainage, and stimulus for land transfer and concentration to facilitate agrarian specialization; enhancing investment in rural education to improve intergenerational sustainability; as well as targeting of the most vulnerable households, for example, promoting development of social insurance, social relief, and medical services for orphans and widows.     

Fuzzy set ordination and classification of Serengeti short grasslands,Tanzania

Abstract. Species abundance data from 32 representative stands are used to evaluate the vegetation in the heavily grazed Serengeti short grasslands. The abundant species are: Kyllinga nervosa, Sporobolus ioclados, S. kentro-phyllus and Eustachys paspaloides, all occurring in elevated areas, and Hypoestes forskalei, which is found in the drainage areas. Numerical classification and fuzzy set ordination revealed four main grassland communities associated with a topographic gradient. The communities are considered distinct since their niches, as computed in the community and environmental fuzzy system space are not overlapping. Leaching, erosion and animal disturbance effects correlated with the topographic gradient are found to determine species composition and overall community structure in the grasslands.     

Small scale spatial heterogeneity of Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVIs) and hot spots of photosynthesis in biological soil crusts

Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVIs) are typically determined using satellite or airborne remote sensing, or field portable spectrometers, which give an averaged signal on centimetre to metre scale plots. Biological soil crust (BSC) patches may have smaller sizes, and ecophysiological, hydrological as well as pedological processes may be heterogeneously distributed within this level of resolution. A ground-based NDVI imaging procedure using low-cost equipment (Olympus Camedia 5000z digital camera equipped with a Hoya R72 infrared filter) was developed in this study to fill this gap at the level of field research, where carrying costly and bulky equipment to remote locations is often the limiting factor for data collection. Method principle and field data are presented, and the field experiment was deepened comparing NDVI measurements and CO₂ turnover of soil crust samples in the laboratory, backing the reliability of the approach.     

Wildfire effects on microbial biomass and diversity in pine forests at three topographic positions

The aim of this study was to determine microbial biomass carbon and diversity at three topographic positions (ridge, middle slope and valley bottom) at varying periods after the occurrence of wildfire. The purpose of this study was to enhance knowledge on the microbiological status of post-fire sites for a better estimate of the success of their restoration. Results showed that the biomass carbon and microbial diversity were affected by fire: the averages of the burnt plots were <50% of those of the unburnt plots. In addition, the biomass carbon at the sites studied 3 years after and 25 years after fire, and 5 months after and 9 years after fire, were not significantly different from each other. On the other hand, the site studied 5 months after fire showed the highest microbial diversity, followed by the ones studied 3, 25, 9 and 6 years after fire. In terms of topographic position, the ridge was shown to be the most affected by fire. These results show that fire can adversely affect the microbial biomass carbon and microbial diversity of the soil, the recovery of which may take a long time.     

中国的猴头杜鹃矮林

猴头杜鹃矮林大多分布于中国亚热带东部地区的平缓山脊和山顶。其面积虽小,但分布广泛,猴头杜鹃毛矮林是地形顶极和半地带性的植被类型,它反映着我国亚热带地区海拔１００－２０００ｍ地段的大气状况,但也反映山顶局部气候因素的影响。本文阐述了该林型的一般群落学特点及生态,经济效益。     

以过程为导向的评价教学法在局部解剖学实验教学中的应用

目的探讨以过程为导向的评价教学法在局部解剖学实验教学中的应用效果。方法以2015级临床医学本科生为研究对象,采取课前预习、课上指导、课后交流及问卷调查等方法,评价其教学效果。结果 70.97%的学生课前认真全面预习, 90.32%的学生在实验操作过程中思考如何运用解剖学知识去解决临床问题。74.19%的学生认为实验PPT制作和交流汇报完全能反映自身掌握知识的情况。结论以过程为导向的评价教学法可以激发学生的学习兴趣,培养学生的综合运用能力。     

Generalization of learning by synchronous waves: from perceptual organization to invariant organization

From a few presentations of an object, perceptual systems are able to extract invariant properties such that novel presentations are immediately recognized. This may be enabled by inferring the set of all representations equivalent under certain transformations. We implemented this principle in a neurodynamic model that stores activity patterns representing transformed versions of the same object in a distributed fashion within maps, such that translation across the map corresponds to the relevant transformation. When a pattern on the map is activated, this causes activity to spread out as a wave across the map, activating all the transformed versions represented. Computational studies illustrate the efficacy of the proposed mechanism. The model rapidly learns and successfully recognizes rotated and scaled versions of a visual representation from a few prior presentations. For topographical maps such as primary visual cortex, the mechanism simultaneously represents identity and variation of visual percepts whose features change through time.     

POTOS: a portable topographic system for measuring inaccessible muddy creek areas

Tidal flats and marshes in intertidal environments and estuaries generally cover large areas. The access to these places is usually complicated. The area suffers cycles of flooding and drying under the influence of the tide, which in conjunction with soft and muddy soils makes every movement very difficult. In particular, in tidal channels mud is softer and, many times, it is impossible to move around these areas. Furthermore, muddy tidal flat creeks are often located far away from conventional vehicle access. Then, to perform a topographic study using traditional methodology is not feasible; therefore, an alternative methodology has been developed to deal with these problems. POTOS is a light metallic frame developed to measure creek topography indirectly with good precision. The tensed frame, up to 12 m long, simply supported and weighting only 40 kg allows making relative height measurements of the surface between the supporting posts. The field methodology is described and some results obtained with the instrument developed are presented. Errors were calculated by comparing measurements obtained with the instrument and those gathered by traditional methodologies. Field results are a series of measurements obtained in Bahía Blanca Estuary tidal flats and marshes at different periods of the year.     

Functional organization within a neural network trained to update target representations across 3-D saccades

The goal of this study was to understand how neural networks solve the 3-D aspects of updating in the double-saccade task, where subjects make sequential saccades to the remembered locations of two targets. We trained a 3-layer, feed-forward neural network, using back-propagation, to calculate the 3-D motor error the second saccade. Network inputs were a 2-D topographic map of the direction of the second target in retinal coordinates, and 3-D vector representations of initial eye orientation and motor error of the first saccade in head-fixed coordinates. The network learned to account for all 3-D aspects of updating. Hidden-layer units (HLUs) showed retinal-coordinate visual receptive fields that were remapped across the first saccade. Two classes of HLUs emerged from the training, one class primarily implementing the linear aspects of updating using vector subtraction, the second class implementing the eye-orientation-dependent, non-linear aspects of updating. These mechanisms interacted at the unit level through gain-field-like input summations, and through the parallel "tweaking" of optimally-tuned HLU contributions to the output that shifted the overall population output vector to the correct second-saccade motor error. These observations may provide clues for the biological implementation of updating.     

Spatial and temporal differences in the community structure of endophytic fungi in the carnivorous plant Pinguicula moranensis (Lentibulariaceae)

According to our hypothesis, temporal heterogeneity due to seasonality (summer rosette vs. winter rosette) instead of spatial heterogeneity, showed higher influence on both the community and the infection rate of endophytes present in the carnivorous plant Pinguicula moranensis. In addition, the infection rate of endophytic fungi isolated from roots was higher than that observed in leaves although the endophytic community was similar between both tissues. Overall, we isolated endophytic fungi members of Dothideomycetes, Leotimocyetes, Eurotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes. P. moranensis harbors at least 10 genera, seven of them (Astrocystis sp., Bipolaris sp., Cercospora sp., Coniochaeta sp., Ijuhya sp., Neomollisia sp. and Ochroconis sp.) reported for the first time in carnivorous plants. We advanced some implications about the role that these endophytes could be playing in this carnivorous plant, illustrating a certain level of specificity in the endophytic community of fungi present in leaves and roots.     

Landscapes of human evolution: models and methods of tectonic geomorphology and the reconstruction of hominin landscapes

This paper examines the relationship between complex and tectonically active landscapes and patterns of human evolution. We show how active tectonics can produce dynamic landscapes with geomorphological and topographic features that may be critical to long-term patterns of hominin land use, but which are not typically addressed in landscape reconstructions based on existing geological and paleoenvironmental principles. We describe methods of representing topography at a range of scales using measures of roughness based on digital elevation data, and combine the resulting maps with satellite imagery and ground observations to reconstruct features of the wider landscape as they existed at the time of hominin occupation and activity. We apply these methods to sites in South Africa, where relatively stable topography facilitates reconstruction. We demonstrate the presence of previously unrecognized tectonic effects and their implications for the interpretation of hominin habitats and land use. In parts of the East African Rift, reconstruction is more difficult because of dramatic changes since the time of hominin occupation, while fossils are often found in places where activity has now almost ceased. However, we show that original, dynamic landscape features can be assessed by analogy with parts of the Rift that are currently active and indicate how this approach can complement other sources of information to add new insights and pose new questions for future investigation of hominin land use and habitats.     

Abundance of white lace lerp psyllids on understorey and canopy river red gums and relationships with foliar sugars and tannins

1. Trees present herbivorous insects with the greatest diversity of resources of any plant growth form. Both ontogeny and shading can alter suitability for arboreal insect herbivores. 2. We conducted a longitudinal study of tagged ‘mature’ (>12 months old) Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves to compare the suitability of understorey and canopy trees for the leaf senescence-inducing psyllid, Cardiaspina albitextura. We quantified sugars and tannins as possible predictors of nymphal abundance. 3. Canopy leaves hosted double the number of nymphs as understorey leaves. Variation among individual trees (understorey and canopy) was the most important source of heterogeneity explaining psyllid abundance, although relative leaf age significantly influenced oviposition on canopy leaves. The diversity of foliar sugars was higher among canopy leaves than among understorey leaves. There was significant between-tree diversity in total hydrolysable tannins (HTs) and total condensed tannins (CTs) among understorey trees but not among canopy trees. Heterogeneity among understorey and canopy trees was explained by greater diversity of ellagitannins (HTs) than of CTs. 4. Shading is detrimental to the survival of nymphs on both host types, but sugars are unlikely to explain variation in suitability. Vescalagin (an ellagitannin) was negatively correlated with the abundance of nymphs on both host types.     

Rhizosphere geometry and heterogeneity arising from root-mediated physical and chemical processes

The rhizosphere differs from the bulk soil in a range of biochemical, chemical and physical processes that occur as a consequence of root growth, water and nutrient uptake, respiration and rhizodeposition. These processes also affect microbial ecology and plant physiology to a considerable extent. This review concentrates on two features of this unique environment: rhizosphere geometry and heterogeneity in both space and time. Although it is often depicted as a soil cylinder of a given radius around the root, drawing a boundary between the rhizosphere and bulk soil is an impossible task because rhizosphere processes result in gradients of different sizes. For instance, because of diffusional constraints, root uptake can result in a depletion zone extending <1 mm for phosphate to several centimetres for nitrate, while respiration may affect the bulk of the soil. Rhizosphere processes are responsible for spatial and temporal heterogeneities in the soil, although these are sometimes difficult to distinguish from intrinsic soil heterogeneity. A further complexity is that these processes are regulated by plants, microbial communities and soil constituents, and their many interactions. Novel in situ techniques and modelling will help in providing a holistic view of rhizosphere functioning, which is a prerequisite for its management and manipulation.     

Megavoltage 2D topographic imaging: An attractive alternative to megavoltage CT for the localization of breast cancer patients treated with TomoDirect

PurposeTo show the usefulness of topographic 2D megavoltage images (MV2D) for the localization of breast cancer patients treated with TomoDirect (TD), a radiotherapy treatment technique with fixed-angle beams performed on a TomoTherapy system.MethodsA method was developed to quickly localize breast cancer patients treated with TD by registering the MV2D images produced before a TD treatment with reference images reconstructed from a kilovoltage CT simulation scanner and by using the projection of the beam-eye-view TD treatment field. Dose and image quality measurements were performed to determine the optimal parameters for acquiring MV2D images. A TD treatment was simulated on a chest phantom equipped with a breast attachment. MVCT and MV2D images were performed for 7 different shifted positions of the phantom and registered by 10 different operators with the simulation kilovoltage CT images.ResultsCompared to MVCT, MV2D imaging reduces the dose by a factor of up to 45 and the acquisition time by a factor of up to 49. Comparing the registration shift values obtained for the phantom images obtained with MVCT in the coarse mode to those obtained with MV2D, the mean difference is 1.0 ± 1.1 mm, −1.1 mm ± 1.1, and −0.1 ± 2.2 mm, respectively, in the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions.ConclusionsWith dual advantages (very fast imaging and a potentially reduced dose to the heart and contralateral organs), MV2D topographic images may be an attractive alternative to MVCT for the localization of breast cancer patients treated with TomoDirect.