Implement and Analysis on Current Ecosystem Classification in Western Utah of the United States and Yukon Territory of Canada

The study cases in western Utah of the United States and Yukon Territory of Canada have more natural land and conservative ecosystems in North America. The ecosystem classification of land (ECL) in these two ecoregions had been analyzed and validated through implementation. A full ECL case study was accomplished and examined with eight upper levels of ECOMAP plus ecological site and vegetation stand in Western Utah, the US. Theoretically, applying Köppen climate system classification, Bailey’s Domain and Division were applied to the United States, North America, and world continents. However, Canada’s continental upper level ecoregion framework defined the ecological Mozaic on a sub-continental scale, representing an area of the hierarchical ecological units characterized by interactive and adjusting abiotic and biotic factors. Using Bailey’s Domain as the top level of Canada’s territorial ecoregion was recommended. Eight levels of ELCs were established for Yukon Territory, Canada. Thus, the second study case recommends integrating the ecosystem approaches with Bailey’s upper level ECL, broad ecosystem classification, and objectively defined ecological site in different countries, or ecoregions. Our study cases had exemplified the implementations with a full ELCs in Bailey’s 300 Dry Domain and 100 Polar Domain.

A hierarchical analysis of ecosystem classification with implementing in two continental ecoregions

Background The ecosystem classification of land (ECL) has been studied for a couple of decades, from the beginning of the perfect organism system “top-down” approach to a reversed “bottom-up” approach by defining a micro-ecological unit. After comparing two cases of the ecosystem classification framework implemented in the different continental ecoregions, the processes were carefully examined and justified. Results Theoretically, Bailey’s upper levels of ECL (Description of the ecoregions of the United States, 2nd ed. Rev and expanded (1st ed. 1980). Misc. Publ. No. 1391 (Rev). Washington DC USDA Forest Service; 1995) were applied to the United States and world continents. For the first time, a complete ECL study was accomplished in Western Utah of the United States, with eight upper levels of ECOMAP (National hierarchical framework of ecological units. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237419014_National_hierarchical_framework_of_ecological_units; 1993) plus additional ecological site and vegetation stand. China’s Eco-geographic classification was most likely fitted into Bailey’s Ecosystem Classification upper-level regime. With a binary decision tree analysis, it had been validated that the Domains have an empty entity for 500 Plateau Domain between the US and China ecoregion framework. Implementing lower levels of ECL to Qinghai Province of China, based on the biogeoclimatic condition, vegetation distribution, landform, and plant species feature, it had classified the Section HIIC1 into two Subsections (labeled as i, ii), and delineated iia of QiLian Mountain East Alpine Shrub and Alpine Tundra Ecozone into iia-1 and iia-2 Subzones. Coordinately, an Ecological Site was completed at the bottom level. Conclusions (1) It was more experimental processing by implementing a full ECL in the Western Utah of the United States based on the ECOMAP (1993). (2) The empty entity, named as Plateau Domain 500, should be added into the top-level Bailey’s ecoregion framework. Coordinately, it includes the Divisions of HI and HII and the Provinces of humid, sub-humid, semiarid, and arid for China's Eco-Geographic region. (3) Implementing a full ECL in a different continent and integrating the lower level's models was the process that could handle the execution management, interpreting the relationship of ecosystem, dataset conversion, and error correction.

RUSSIAN, PAN-EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN APPROACHES TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST TYPES

Проведен анализ подходов к классификации типов леса в России, Европейском союзе и странах Се- верной Америки по следующим позициям: содержание понятия основных классификационных единиц лесных типологий: тип условий местопроизрастания и тип леса; особенности выделения их границ; при- знаки (характеристики), используемые для определения типа условий местопроизрастания; характеристи- ки фитоценозов, используемых для определения типа леса; возможности учета сукцессионной динамики лесных насаждений и влияния антропогенных факторов; уровень внедрения в производство и регионы, в которых они используются. В рамках российского подхода представление о типе леса трансформиро- валось от его понимания с точки зрения его однородности в пространстве (сходство участков по внеш- нему облику и набору характеристик) до однородности во времени (при классифицировании приоритет отдан генезису лесных насаждений и процессам развития). Приведены результаты анализа особенностей европейских классификаций местообитаний (EUNIS), растительности (EVS) и типов леса (EFT), а также краткая характеристика основных североамериканских лесных типологий: классификация типов место- обитаний, биоклиматическая классификация экосистем, описание экологических участков. The analysis of approaches to the classifi cation of forest types in Russia, the European Union and the countries of North America is carried out according to the following positions: the content of the concept of the main classifi cation units of forest typologies: the type of growing conditions and the type of forest; features of their boundaries revealing; characteristics used to determine the type of growing conditions; characteristics of phytocoenoses used to determine the type of forest; the possibility of taking into account the successional dynamics of forest stands and the infl uence of anthropogenic factors; the level of introduction into the industry and the regions in which they are used. Within the framework of the Russian approach, the idea of the type of forest was transformed from uniformity in space (similarity of forest sites, stands and understorey vegatation) to uniformity in time (priority is given in genesis and development processes). The results of the analysis of the features of the habitat classifi cations (EUNIS), vegetation (EVS) and forest types (EFT) on the Pan-European level are presented, as well as a brief description of the main North American forest typologies: Habitat Type Classifi cations, Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classifi cation, Ecological Site Description.

Forest Restoration: Do Site Selection and Restoration Practices Follow Ecological Criteria? A Case Study in Sweden

The speed with which restoration will, or can, be accomplished depends on the initial state and location of the sites. However, many factors can undermine the process of choosing sites that are deemed the best ecological choice for restoration. Little attention has been paid to whether site selection follows ecological criteria and how this may affect restoration success. We used habitat inventory data to investigate whether ecological criteria for site selection and restoration have been followed, focusing on restoration for the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos B.) in Sweden. In our study region, which is situated in an intensively managed forest landscape with dense and young stands dominated by two coniferous species, purely ecological criteria would entail that sites that are targeted for restoration would (1) initially be composed of older and more deciduous trees than the surrounding landscape, and (2) be at a scale relevant for the species. Furthermore, restoration should lead to sites becoming less dense and less dominated by coniferous trees after restoration, which we investigated as an assessment of restoration progress. To contextualize the results, we interviewed people involved in the restoration efforts on site. We show that although the first criterion for ecological site selection was largely met, the second was not. More research is needed to assess the motivations of actors taking part in restoration efforts, as well as how they interlink with public efforts. This would allow us to identify possible synergies that can benefit restoration efforts.

‘Never so at home’: Charles Elton and the Woods of Wytham

Focusing on the history of an ecological site northwest of Oxford, UK, this essay explores the people, research and values behind the development of Wytham Woods as a scientific environment. A small patch of woodland, Wytham has long been identified by ecologists as a site of great scientific value. In addition to traditional sources of scientific value, such as species diversity, this article examines the role of emotional connection and aesthetics in how scientific sites are formed and maintained over long periods of time. As such, this history of Wytham Woods sheds light on the multiple factors that nurture the relationships formed when researchers dedicate decades to long-term studies conducted in specific scientific environments.

Integrating Ecological Site Descriptions with Soil Morphology to Optimize Forest Management: Three Missouri Case Studies

Academics and University Extension personnel have experience with soil mapping and providing soil suitability interpretations; however, a more efficient information conveyance to land custodians is desired to support informative land management applications. In the USA each state, in concert with the United States Department of Agriculture, has embarked on developing an online format linking soil survey with ecological site descriptions to provide information for forest and rangeland management to encourage soil protection - health and optimizing ecological services on individual land parcels. In this Missouri-based manuscript, we discuss three cases where soils and their associated ecological site descriptions provide land custodians information concerning their logical reference state vegetation community and detail land management decisions that transform the reference vegetation community to a different vegetation community. With each case, landscapes and their associated vegetations communities are potentially partitioned by soil, physiography, hydrology, and other attributes.

Wind speed persistence at the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil

The use of wind energy has been growing worldwide continuously over the last years due to global efforts to combat climate change. The modern turbines are becoming ever more cost effective, and are gaining features that aim to reduce further the impact on the environment, such as reducing noise or increasing the height. In this context, the current study investigates the persistence of wind in Fernando de Noronha archipelago, an important Brazilian ecological site, using hourly wind speed data at 100m height. To this end, data from Era5 reanalysis were used, as they present high resolution and good performance in estimating meteorological data, and two well-known methods were applied to quantify wind persistence: duration curve and conditional probability. In addition, a novel method is proposed regarding persistence probability of periods of viable energy generation. The results obtained show that Fernando de Noronha archipelago presents rather high wind persistence on a monthly scale, with considerably long intervals of wind speed useful for wind power generation.

Features of landscape design of eco-spaces for the purpose of education and upbringing of eco-culture in modern society

The article discusses the issue of designing the landscape and architectural environment of eco-spaces for the purpose of eco-education and upbringing. Since the main solution to environmental problems is the education of ecological culture, the formation of a new type of ecological consciousness among the younger generation, the design of eco-sites is the most relevant solution in this area. After analyzing the existing eco-sites and eco-trails, we can draw certain conclusions and identify several factors that are necessary when designing landscape eco-spaces. The creation of an eco-platform on the territory of park zones will attract the attention of the population to the problems of environmental pollution, as well as the education of ecological culture and the popularization of ecological and educational activities among young people. Visitors to the site, aimed at eco-education, will plunge not just into the architectural and landscape area, but into a whole educational camp, where everyone can find a convenient way to get information. The modern, designed space will be able to promote the development of creative and research abilities of children during the summer and winter holidays. The complex should include such areas as: entrance, exhibition, administrative and office premises, recreation area, area of cultural events, master classes, lectures. For the perception of a holistic environment, it is necessary to preserve the unity of the composition and create a thematic planning structure of the eco-space. A prerequisite is that the development of the relationship between the premises and the multi-level space provides for the logical movement of visitors around the ecological site. People who are immersed in the process of observing nature will do this in a constant mode, studying the growth of plants, changes in the weather, and so on.

Post-Fire Vegetation Response in a Repeatedly Burned Low-Elevation Sagebrush Steppe Protected Area Provides Insights About Resilience and Invasion Resistance

Sagebrush steppe ecosystems are threatened by human land-use legacies, biological invasions, and altered fire and climate dynamics. Steppe protected areas are therefore of heightened conservation importance but are few and vulnerable to the same impacts broadly affecting sagebrush steppe. To address this problem, sagebrush steppe conservation science is increasingly emphasizing a focus on resilience to fire and resistance to non-native annual grass invasion as a decision framework. It is well-established that the positive feedback loop between fire and annual grass invasion is the driving process of most contemporary steppe degradation. We use a newly developed ordinal zero-augmented beta regression model fit to large-sample vegetation monitoring data from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, USA, spanning 7 years to evaluate fire responses of two native perennial foundation bunchgrasses and two non-native invasive annual grasses in a repeatedly burned, historically grazed, and inherently low-resilient protected area. We structured our model hierarchically to support inferences about variation among ecological site types and over time after also accounting for growing-season water deficit, fine-scale topographic variation, and burn severity. We use a state-and-transition conceptual diagram and abundances of plants listed in ecological site reference conditions to formalize our hypothesis of fire-accelerated transition to ecologically novel annual grassland. Notably, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and other woody species were entirely removed by fire. The two perennial grasses, bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and Thurber's needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum) exhibited fire resiliency, with no apparent trend after fire. The two annual grasses, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), increased in response to burn severity, most notably medusahead. Surprisingly, we found no variation in grass cover among ecological sites, suggesting fire-driven homogenization as shrubs were removed and annual grasses became dominant. We found contrasting responses among all four grass species along gradients of topography and water deficit, informative to protected-area conservation strategies. The fine-grained influence of topography was particularly important to variation in cover among species and provides a foothold for conservation in low-resilient, aridic steppe. Broadly, our study demonstrates how to operationalize resilience and resistance concepts for protected areas by integrating empirical data with conceptual and statistical models.