widespread lack of spatial independence in ecological data
also _significantly_
affects
'
ecological census and statistical hypothesis testing techniques
With
implications for
%
assessment procedures. Exemplified by the 'meta—population‘ framework, quantitative
.
approaches for the provision of management advice currently applied in_ areas
such as
%
conservation ecology and fisheries are increasingly based on spatially exphat models that
%
require spatially stratified data as inputs. Finally, issues
of scale pose a fundamental
challenge to our understanding of ecosystem function. Spatial patterns and temporal
s%
dynamics in marine populations are known to result from the coupling of processes over
%
a range of space and time scales. Furthermore, our perception of variability in ecological
%
systemsand the methods available for identifying possible causative mechanisms may be
%
sensitive to the scale of observation. The problem of scale is thus in part one of
%
contingent ecological understanding. Additionally, however,
mismatches
are
often
present between the scales over which ecological studies are conducted and the scales to
which resultant theory or recommendations are applied for management purposes. Scale
%
effects thus complicate the extrapolation of scientific management advice from better—
%
described components to the system as a whole. Conclusions
from applied ecological
studies are thus now increasingly based on formal multi-scale analyses conducted on
data collected with a variety of sampling platforms over a range of spatio—temporal
%
scales, (Chuenpagdee, and Pauly, 2004).
—
%
Many of these important insights are the direct outcome of empirical work
employing geographic information systems (GIS). GIS are software tools that facilitate
the
integration of geographically referenced multivariate datasets, and permit the
visualization and analysis of data in a spatial context over multiple scales.
Given the
importance
of
spatial
and
scaling
issues,
they are increasingly
being
used
in
environmental assessment work to ensure the provision of robust scientific management
advice.
They are particularly useful for coastal area management initiatives because
they provide a tool for mapping water quality parameters and for tracking the distribution
and dynamics of associated resources. Remotely sensed data is increasingly being used
%
as input into GIS databases and analyses.
_
_
Coupled with in situ surface measurements, multi-temporal earth observation (EO)
imagery from several sensor sources addresses the above data requirements, potentially
facilitating routine, operational monitoring of ecosystems and the human activity that is
now increasingly shaping them.
In the context of coastal area management problems,
validated
EO
imagery provides accurate, spatially synoptic and frequent qualitative
information on the distribution and nature of coastal area usage and quantitative data on
key coastal water quality parameters that in part are indicators of anthropogenic inputs.
This isparticularly important given the dynamic nature of coastal environments and the
range and complexity of bio—physical processes and human interactions that occur there.
Color—scanners (e.g. SeaWIFS, CZCS) provide information on bio—optical properties of
water.
QUantitative data on the concentration of chlorophyll a in phytoplankton are used ’
_
to estimate and map marine primary production and monitor the development and
i
distribution of plankt0n blooms and red tides.
Such features may reflect pollutant
discharge within coastal waters, and time series of color imagery can provide a record of
Ï
changes in turbidity and nutrient loading associated with eutrophication.
-_
Ocean
Thermal Imagery (AVHRR) provides data on sea surface temperature, a tool
for monitoring vertical mixing at the sea surface and gross features of coastal circulation. Ÿ
Such
information helps one
estimate the transport and rates of dilution of nutrients and
‘ g
discharged materials, facilitating assessments of natural area biotic productivity and the f
susceptibility of particular locations to pollution events.
High resolution Synthetic
!
Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery provides data “on the distribution of capillary wave
rOU9hness useful for monitoring organic pollution- It also provides complementary ’ _
_
48
also _significantly_
affects
'
ecological census and statistical hypothesis testing techniques
With
implications for
%
assessment procedures. Exemplified by the 'meta—population‘ framework, quantitative
.
approaches for the provision of management advice currently applied in_ areas
such as
%
conservation ecology and fisheries are increasingly based on spatially exphat models that
%
require spatially stratified data as inputs. Finally, issues
of scale pose a fundamental
challenge to our understanding of ecosystem function. Spatial patterns and temporal
s%
dynamics in marine populations are known to result from the coupling of processes over
%
a range of space and time scales. Furthermore, our perception of variability in ecological
%
systemsand the methods available for identifying possible causative mechanisms may be
%
sensitive to the scale of observation. The problem of scale is thus in part one of
%
contingent ecological understanding. Additionally, however,
mismatches
are
often
present between the scales over which ecological studies are conducted and the scales to
which resultant theory or recommendations are applied for management purposes. Scale
%
effects thus complicate the extrapolation of scientific management advice from better—
%
described components to the system as a whole. Conclusions
from applied ecological
studies are thus now increasingly based on formal multi-scale analyses conducted on
data collected with a variety of sampling platforms over a range of spatio—temporal
%
scales, (Chuenpagdee, and Pauly, 2004).
—
%
Many of these important insights are the direct outcome of empirical work
employing geographic information systems (GIS). GIS are software tools that facilitate
the
integration of geographically referenced multivariate datasets, and permit the
visualization and analysis of data in a spatial context over multiple scales.
Given the
importance
of
spatial
and
scaling
issues,
they are increasingly
being
used
in
environmental assessment work to ensure the provision of robust scientific management
advice.
They are particularly useful for coastal area management initiatives because
they provide a tool for mapping water quality parameters and for tracking the distribution
and dynamics of associated resources. Remotely sensed data is increasingly being used
%
as input into GIS databases and analyses.
_
_
Coupled with in situ surface measurements, multi-temporal earth observation (EO)
imagery from several sensor sources addresses the above data requirements, potentially
facilitating routine, operational monitoring of ecosystems and the human activity that is
now increasingly shaping them.
In the context of coastal area management problems,
validated
EO
imagery provides accurate, spatially synoptic and frequent qualitative
information on the distribution and nature of coastal area usage and quantitative data on
key coastal water quality parameters that in part are indicators of anthropogenic inputs.
This isparticularly important given the dynamic nature of coastal environments and the
range and complexity of bio—physical processes and human interactions that occur there.
Color—scanners (e.g. SeaWIFS, CZCS) provide information on bio—optical properties of
water.
QUantitative data on the concentration of chlorophyll a in phytoplankton are used ’
_
to estimate and map marine primary production and monitor the development and
i
distribution of plankt0n blooms and red tides.
Such features may reflect pollutant
discharge within coastal waters, and time series of color imagery can provide a record of
Ï
changes in turbidity and nutrient loading associated with eutrophication.
-_
Ocean
Thermal Imagery (AVHRR) provides data on sea surface temperature, a tool
for monitoring vertical mixing at the sea surface and gross features of coastal circulation. Ÿ
Such
information helps one
estimate the transport and rates of dilution of nutrients and
‘ g
discharged materials, facilitating assessments of natural area biotic productivity and the f
susceptibility of particular locations to pollution events.
High resolution Synthetic
!
Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery provides data “on the distribution of capillary wave
rOU9hness useful for monitoring organic pollution- It also provides complementary ’ _
_
48