Remote sensing and ecological models: an integrated approach to analysis of wetlands

遥感和生态模型：湿地分析的综合方法

• 批准号: 194608-2008
• 负责人: ChowFraser, Patricia
• 金额: $ 1.15万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=476720
• 关键词: Remote; sensing; ecological; models; integrated

Our research program has developed a series of ecological indicators to help determine quality of coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes basin because these are critical habitats for fish and migratory birds and their quality has been degraded by human activities, especially in southern Ontario. The suite of indicators include the Water Quality Index (WQI), an indicator of water quality impairment and which was found to be directly related to watershed land-use alteration. Since the WQI may be too costly and labour-intensive to be used routinely by environmental agencies, we have also developed two ecological indices, the Wetland Fish Index, and the Wetland Macrophyte Index, which are statistically related to the WQI, and which can be calculated based on presence/absence of fish or macrophyte species. We have also contributed numerous papers on the controlling effect of water level fluctuations on emergent vegetation in coastal wetlands, particularly as it pertains to degraded marshes. In 2005, we used a new approach to predict the effect of water levels, which involved the calculation of a new term called "inundated area". We have since confirmed that the marsh inundation model can be applied to many marshes in other Great Lakes areas, and that this method can also be used to assess the effects of multiple stressors (e.g. water level, human disturbance and exotic invasions) at the landscape level. We now propose to use an integrated approach involving Geographical Information Systems, remote sensing technology and field observations using SCUBA to quantify fish and bird habitat in coastal wetlands. Remote sensing is chosen to develop a cost-effective way to map aquatic vegetation (different habitat classes) at the scale of an entire Great Lake. My long term goal is to advance the use of ecological indicators and remote sensing to meaure how fish and bird habitat change through time. This research is expected to have an impact on the ability of Canadian governments to anticipate major changes in our natural heritage in response to climate change and land-use alterations in the most heavily populated region of Canada.

我们的研究计划已经制定了一系列的生态指标，以帮助确定在五大湖盆地沿海湿地的质量，因为这些是鱼类和候鸟的重要栖息地，其质量已被人类活动，特别是在南部安大略退化。 该套指标包括水质指数（WQI），水质损害的指标，并发现直接关系到流域土地利用的改变。 由于WQI可能过于昂贵和劳动密集型的环境机构经常使用，我们还开发了两个生态指数，湿地鱼类指数和湿地水生植物指数，这是统计相关的WQI，并可以计算的基础上存在/不存在的鱼类或水生植物物种。 我们还撰写了许多关于水位波动对沿海湿地紧急植被的控制作用的论文，特别是涉及退化沼泽的论文。2005年，我们使用了一种新的方法来预测水位的影响，其中涉及到一个新的术语“淹没面积”的计算。 我们已经证实，沼泽淹没模型可以适用于许多沼泽在其他五大湖地区，这种方法也可以用来评估多种压力（如水位，人类干扰和外来入侵）在景观水平的影响。 我们现建议采用地理信息系统、遥感技术和利用水肺潜水进行实地观察的综合方法，以量化沿岸湿地的鱼类和鸟类生境。 选择遥感是为了开发一种具有成本效益的方法，以整个大湖的规模绘制水生植被（不同的生境类别）。 我的长期目标是推进生态指标和遥感的使用，以测量鱼类和鸟类栖息地如何随着时间的推移而变化。 这项研究预计将对加拿大政府预测加拿大人口最稠密地区的气候变化和土地使用变化对我们自然遗产的重大变化的能力产生影响。