17-11-2012, 04:03 PM
THE USE OF REMOTE SENSING DATA FOR HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND
HERPETOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY STUDIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN
(BIOFRAG)
[attachment=40036]
ABSTRACT:
The aim of the BIOFRAG project is to understand how environmental factors explain herpetological biodiversity in the
Mediterranean Basin, with a focus on to identify management options by anticipating or by maintaining the biodiversity. Knowing
which biotic and/or a-biotic factors influence biodiversity in a certain region monitoring their change (for instance habitat
fragmentation), allows predictions of change in biodiversity of a certain ecosystem and warning on extinction or endangerment of
certain species. The project includes biodiversity aspects of both amphibians and reptiles and its relation with environmental
parameters. The project deals with total biodiversity across a landscape. At this stage, several pilot-study areas are operational (in
Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece). In the coming years other pilot area’s will start in the Mediterranean to cover all relevant ecotopes.
A database is under development covering about all herpetological species (amphibians and reptiles) of the Mediterranean Basin.
Data on species distribution patterns, recorded at different scales and in different formats, i.e. polygons, grid, point data and
coordinates records, and data related to species habitat requirements/preferences (e.g., vegetation, soil characteristics, geology,
drainage, water-bodies, altitude, slope, exposure, temperature, rainfall, radiation, evapo-transpiration, etc.) are all included.Results of
some studies using the above mentioned data base indicate the relative significance of various environmental parameters when
analyzing the distribution of specific herpetofauna species at different scales, e.g. local, regional and continental. They proofed the
usefulness of very specific RS products and of statistical GIS techniques.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the BIOFRAG-project is to understand how
environmental factors relate to biodiversity and carbon
sequestration in the Mediterranean Basin, with a focus on
management options and methods to facilitate biodiversity. The
project is focusing on understanding which biotic and/or abiotic
factors influence biodiversity in a certain region and as
one or more of these factors change (for instance habitat
fragmentation), how do they influence the biodiversity of a
certain area/ecosystem, and specifically: are certain important
species becoming extinct or endangered (Cushman, 2006;
Houlahan et al., 2000). Detecting impacts of vegetation and/or
climate change with the use of advanced remote sensing
techniques such as the use of hyper-temporal images is also
studied with highly encouraging results (Herkt, 2007; Yanez,
2007).
GEOSPATIAL DATA INFORMATION
The advancement in Information Systems/Information
Technology (IS/IT) has made the acquisition of myriad of
information that once was unthinkable to acquire possible.
Numerous geographic data is now available attributed to the
growing in number of public and private institutions in most
parts of the world. The possibilities to query, retrieve, process
and analyze information obtained via Internet have aggrandized
the interest of both data producers and users. The Internet has
made it possible for end users to more readily gather
geographical data fit for their own needs and to develop the
information products they need. Besides IS/IT, innovations and
advances achieved in GIS and the concepts of managing a Geo-
Information Infrastructure (GII) has provided tremendous
advantages to various fields of application (Woldai, 2002). The
need to facilitate and promote the sharing of data once collected
is at the heart of the GDI (Geospatial Data Information)
concepts (Groot and McLauhgin, 2000). One can find on the
Geographical Information is often produced, maintained,
published and safeguarded by National Survey Agencies (Groot
and McLauhgin, 2000; Groot, 1998).
Unidata-IDV (Integrated Data Viewer)
Unidata, funded primarily by the National Science Foundation
of the U.S (Unidata, 2007), is one of the eight programs in the
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
Office of Programs (UOP). UOP units create, conduct and
coordinate projects that strengthen education and research in the
atmospheric, oceanic and earth sciences (Yoksas, 2007).
Unidata is a diverse community of over 160 institutions vested
in the common goal of sharing data and tools to access and
visualize data. For 20 years Unidata has been providing data,
tools and support to enhance Earth-system education and
research. In an area of increasing data complexity, accessibility
and multidisciplinary integration, Unidata provides a rich set of
services and tools and facilitates data discovery and the use of
digital libraries.
DATABASE DEVELOPMENT
The BIOFRAG project includes biodiversity aspects on both
vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles) as well as
floristics. In other words, the project is dealing with total
biodiversity across a landscape at multi scale approach (Grand
and Cushman, 2003, Levin, 1992). The project makes use of the
findings of a team of PhD- and MSc students, undertaking their
research topics in the context of the BIOFRAG project, in one
of the selected pilot-study areas.
CONCLUSIONS
The BIOFRAG project aims to offer users spatial data on
species and environment and to support and accommodate
research. In this context under the BIOFRAG project research is
supported through PhD fellowships and Post-Doc positions or
through MSc research topics and Internships.
HERPETOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY STUDIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN
(BIOFRAG)
[attachment=40036]
ABSTRACT:
The aim of the BIOFRAG project is to understand how environmental factors explain herpetological biodiversity in the
Mediterranean Basin, with a focus on to identify management options by anticipating or by maintaining the biodiversity. Knowing
which biotic and/or a-biotic factors influence biodiversity in a certain region monitoring their change (for instance habitat
fragmentation), allows predictions of change in biodiversity of a certain ecosystem and warning on extinction or endangerment of
certain species. The project includes biodiversity aspects of both amphibians and reptiles and its relation with environmental
parameters. The project deals with total biodiversity across a landscape. At this stage, several pilot-study areas are operational (in
Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece). In the coming years other pilot area’s will start in the Mediterranean to cover all relevant ecotopes.
A database is under development covering about all herpetological species (amphibians and reptiles) of the Mediterranean Basin.
Data on species distribution patterns, recorded at different scales and in different formats, i.e. polygons, grid, point data and
coordinates records, and data related to species habitat requirements/preferences (e.g., vegetation, soil characteristics, geology,
drainage, water-bodies, altitude, slope, exposure, temperature, rainfall, radiation, evapo-transpiration, etc.) are all included.Results of
some studies using the above mentioned data base indicate the relative significance of various environmental parameters when
analyzing the distribution of specific herpetofauna species at different scales, e.g. local, regional and continental. They proofed the
usefulness of very specific RS products and of statistical GIS techniques.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the BIOFRAG-project is to understand how
environmental factors relate to biodiversity and carbon
sequestration in the Mediterranean Basin, with a focus on
management options and methods to facilitate biodiversity. The
project is focusing on understanding which biotic and/or abiotic
factors influence biodiversity in a certain region and as
one or more of these factors change (for instance habitat
fragmentation), how do they influence the biodiversity of a
certain area/ecosystem, and specifically: are certain important
species becoming extinct or endangered (Cushman, 2006;
Houlahan et al., 2000). Detecting impacts of vegetation and/or
climate change with the use of advanced remote sensing
techniques such as the use of hyper-temporal images is also
studied with highly encouraging results (Herkt, 2007; Yanez,
2007).
GEOSPATIAL DATA INFORMATION
The advancement in Information Systems/Information
Technology (IS/IT) has made the acquisition of myriad of
information that once was unthinkable to acquire possible.
Numerous geographic data is now available attributed to the
growing in number of public and private institutions in most
parts of the world. The possibilities to query, retrieve, process
and analyze information obtained via Internet have aggrandized
the interest of both data producers and users. The Internet has
made it possible for end users to more readily gather
geographical data fit for their own needs and to develop the
information products they need. Besides IS/IT, innovations and
advances achieved in GIS and the concepts of managing a Geo-
Information Infrastructure (GII) has provided tremendous
advantages to various fields of application (Woldai, 2002). The
need to facilitate and promote the sharing of data once collected
is at the heart of the GDI (Geospatial Data Information)
concepts (Groot and McLauhgin, 2000). One can find on the
Geographical Information is often produced, maintained,
published and safeguarded by National Survey Agencies (Groot
and McLauhgin, 2000; Groot, 1998).
Unidata-IDV (Integrated Data Viewer)
Unidata, funded primarily by the National Science Foundation
of the U.S (Unidata, 2007), is one of the eight programs in the
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
Office of Programs (UOP). UOP units create, conduct and
coordinate projects that strengthen education and research in the
atmospheric, oceanic and earth sciences (Yoksas, 2007).
Unidata is a diverse community of over 160 institutions vested
in the common goal of sharing data and tools to access and
visualize data. For 20 years Unidata has been providing data,
tools and support to enhance Earth-system education and
research. In an area of increasing data complexity, accessibility
and multidisciplinary integration, Unidata provides a rich set of
services and tools and facilitates data discovery and the use of
digital libraries.
DATABASE DEVELOPMENT
The BIOFRAG project includes biodiversity aspects on both
vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles) as well as
floristics. In other words, the project is dealing with total
biodiversity across a landscape at multi scale approach (Grand
and Cushman, 2003, Levin, 1992). The project makes use of the
findings of a team of PhD- and MSc students, undertaking their
research topics in the context of the BIOFRAG project, in one
of the selected pilot-study areas.
CONCLUSIONS
The BIOFRAG project aims to offer users spatial data on
species and environment and to support and accommodate
research. In this context under the BIOFRAG project research is
supported through PhD fellowships and Post-Doc positions or
through MSc research topics and Internships.