Remote Sensing, Biogeography, and Conservation of Tropical Dry Forests in Pacific Biodiversity Hotspots

太平洋的热带干旱森林可能是目前世界上最濒危的森林类型，可能是测试与极其分散的系统相关的一些遥感，地理学和保护理论的理想选择。 本研究项目的重点是五个地区的木本植物（树木，灌木，藤本植物）的生物多样性，包括热带干旱森林（菲律宾，密克罗尼西亚，新喀里多尼亚，斐济和夏威夷）。 本研究的主要目的是：1）测试遥感方法的效用，预测模式的林分和斑块物种丰富度在不同的空间尺度; 2）进行植物区系组成，自然历史特征和森林结构的地理比较; 3）确定木本植物的保护状况，在剩余的片段的热带干旱森林的生物多样性热点的太平洋。 木本植物的实地数据将收集在林分一级使用金特里的样带方法，并在斑块一级使用系统的搜索在47个外地网站的最大和最高质量的热带干旱森林在每个地区的剩余补丁。 使用高级星载热发射和反射辐射计（ASTER）图像的遥感将被用来计算景观指标和光谱指数，这些指标和光谱指数被假设为与木本植物物种丰富度有关。 该研究项目将检验预测物种丰富度模式的理论，并检验关于功能性自然历史特征和森林结构的地理模式的若干假设。 特别是，本研究探讨了木本植物物种丰富度，功能性自然历史特征和结构的模式和过程，在当地（林分水平，斑块水平），区域（景观水平在每个地区，太平洋地区），和全球（世界各地的热带干旱森林）的空间尺度。 与太平洋热带干旱森林物种丰富度有关的遥感方法可在其他研究不足的热带干旱森林地区采用，以便对植物物种丰富度的格局作出一级近似。 目前还没有关于这些太平洋区域地点的物种丰富度、植物区系组成或森林结构的比较数据。 因此，研究将大大加强有效养护热带森林所需的知识基础和基础设施。 这项研究将促进国际科学家在热带干旱森林地区长期研究方案中的合作研究，并为菲律宾、密克罗尼西亚、新喀里多尼亚、斐济和夏威夷的自然资源管理人员提供数据和最终产品，用于就热带干旱森林的少数剩余部分的管理作出决定。

Tropical dry forests in the Pacific may currently be the world's most endangered forest type and could be ideal for testing a number of remote sensing, biogeographic, and conservation theories associated with extremely fragmented systems. This research project focuses on the biodiversity of woody plants (trees, shrubs, lianas) in five regions that contain tropical dry forest (Philippines, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Hawaii). The primary objectives of this research are to; 1) test the utility of remote sensing methods for predicting patterns of stand and patch species richness over different spatial scales; 2) undertake biogeographic comparisons of floristic composition, natural history characteristics, and forest structure and; 3) determine the conservation status of woody plants in remaining fragments of tropical dry forest in Biodiversity Hotspots of the Pacific. Field data on woody plants will be collected at the stand level using Gentry's transect method and at the patch level using systematic searches at 47 field sites in the largest and highest quality remaining patches of tropical dry forest in each region. Remote sensing using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery will be used to calculate landscape metrics and spectral indices hypothesized to be associated with woody plant species richness. The research project will test theories for predicting patterns of species richness and test a number of hypotheses concerning biogeographic patterns of functional natural history characteristics and forest structure. In particular, this research examines patterns and processes of woody plant species richness, functional natural history characteristics, and structure at local (stand level, patch level), regional (landscape level in each region, the Pacific region), and global (tropical dry forests around the world) spatial scales. Remote sensing methods associated with species richness in tropical dry forest of the Pacific can be undertaken in other under-researched tropical dry forests regions in order to make a first-order approximation for patterns of plant species richness. There is currently no comparative data on species richness, floristic composition, or forest structure for these Pacific region locations. Therefore, research will greatly enhance the knowledge base and infrastructure necessary for the effective conservation of tropical forests. The research will foster collaborative research among international scientists for long-term research programs in tropical dry forest regions and provide natural resources managers in the Philippines, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Hawaii with data and end-products that can be used to make decisions concerning the management of the few remaining fragments of tropical dry forest.