Development of selected invasive species and meadow vegetation classification algorithm in the Krkonoše Mountains using hyperspectral data Abstract The thesis deals with utilization of airbone APEX hyperspectral image data for selected invasive species and meadow vegetation classification in the study area of the Krkonoše Mountains National Park. The mian goal of the thesis was to develop of classification algorithm based on proposed vegetation indices. The approach was based on the utilization of in-situ LAI, fAPAR, chlorophyll content data and analysis of their relation with vegetation spectral properties. The work also deals with several problems regarding LAI - vegetation indices relationship, namely saturation of LAI and mutual correlation of LAI and chlorophyll content. Tha classification was focued on invasive species Rumex alpinus and Lupinus polyphyllus, meadow vegetation with dominant Nardus stricta and dominant Trisetum flavescens and cutted lawns. Besides the proposed approach, the presented work resulted in several classification maps of study area and in spectral libraries, containing ground level spectra of studied invasive species, meadow vegetation types and several other meadow species. Keywords: hyperspectral image data, APEX, LAI, fAPAR, vegetation indices, invasive species, meadow...

Yaks sind sehr gut an die Umweltbedingungen des kirgisischen Hochgebirges angepasst und sind seit Jahrhunderten ein Bestandteil dieses Ökosystems. Politische und wirtschaftliche Veränderungen haben in den letzten 60 Jahren dazu geführt, dass die Yakbestände in Kirgistan zurückgegangen sind. Seit einigen Jahren gibt es Bestrebungen diese wiederaufzubauen. Dabei müssen die ökologischen Ansprüche der alpinen Landschaft berücksichtigt werden. Das Ziel der Arbeit bestand darin, in einem engen zeitlichen Raster, das Verhalten der Yaks im Herdenverband zu analysieren, die Lebendmasseentwicklung von Yakfärsen im Zusammenhang mit dem saisonalen Einfluss zu untersuchen und den Weideertrag zu schätzen. Dazu wurden im Osten Kirgistans Verhaltensuntersuchungen an 12 Yakkühen durchgeführt sowie die Lebendmasseentwicklung von 20 Yakfärsen analysiert. Für die Analyse der Vegetation wurden 10 Plots genutzt. Das Habitatsverhalten der Yaks ist von verschiedenen Faktoren abhängig, die vor allem im Zusammenhang mit dem großen Weidegebiet stehen: die Variation im Futterangebot, die geografischen Gegebenheiten sowie die Witterungsverhältnisse. Die Untersuchungen zeigten, dass das Verhalten der Yaks stark durch die Jahreszeiten beeinflusst wird. Das bezieht sich auf die Nutzung von Flächen und Höhenlagen sowie auf das Bewegungsverhalten. Es zeigte sich, dass bestimmte Weideareale permanent stärker frequentiert werden. Die Lokomotion der Yaks ist im Winter stärker ausgeprägt als im Sommer. Die Vegetationsanalyse weist darauf hin, dass Ertrag und Futterwert der Weidepflanzen, eindeutig durch die Höhenlage beeinflusst werden. Die Untersuchungen zur Lebendmasseentwicklung zeigten den gravierenden Einfluss der Jahreszeiten und damit des Futterangebotes auf die Lebendmasseentwicklung der Yakfärsen. Ein detailliertes Wissen über das Verhalten von Yaks kann dazu beitragen, die Bewirtschaftung von Hochgebirgsweideflächen zu verbessern und vorhandene Ressourcen schonend und nachhaltig zu nutzen. / Yaks are very well adapted to the environmental conditions of the Kyrgyz high mountains and have been part of this ecosystem for centuries. Political and economic changes over the past 60 years have led to a decline in yak stocks in Kyrgyzstan. For some years, there have been efforts to rebuild them, to this end the ecological demands of the alpine landscape must be taken into account. Within this context, the objectives of the PhD – thesis were to analyse the behaviour of the yaks in the herd, to investigate the development of the body weight of yak heifers in connection with the seasonal influence and to estimate the grazing yield in a tight time grid. In the eastern part of Kyrgyzstan, 12 yak cows were selected for the behavioural studies and 20 yaks heifers for the development of the body weight. For the analysis of the vegetation, 10 plots were used. The habitat behaviour of the yaks depends on various factors, which are mainly related to the large grazing area: the variation in the forage supply, the different geographical conditions as well as the weather conditions. The investigations showed that the behaviour of the animals is strongly influenced by the seasons, specifically regarding use of areas and altitudes; as well as to exercise behaviour. It was found that certain pastures are permanently more frequented than others. The locomotion of the yaks is more pronounced in winter than in summer. The research on the development of the body weight showed the serious influence of the seasons and thus of the food supply on the development of the yak heifers. Results showed that body growth takes place despite the losses in winter. The vegetation analysis indicates that the yield and feed value of the pasture plants are clearly influenced by the altitude. A detailed knowledge of the behaviour of yaks can help to improve the management of high mountain pastures and thus to use the available resources sparingly and sustainably.

This research aimed to determine whether wood microsites ("nurse logs"), which are regeneration sites in Pacific Northwest (PNW) subalpine forests, supported regeneration at timberline-alpine meadow borders. Upward advance of forests and conifer invasion into alpine meadows, which may be occurring in conjunction with climate warming, have gained worldwide attention. Successful alpine meadow seedling regeneration depends on suitable substrate availability, or microsites, for seedling establishment. To better understand factors associated with wood microsite occurrence, mechanisms of wood input were determined and four specific hypotheses were posed to assess: (1) seedling density and seedling survival; (2) growing season length, summer mean growing temperature, and growing degree hours (GDH); (3) active measures of seedling growth; and (4) global wood microsite climate associations. Of four studies, three were conducted in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state along a west - east precipitation gradient and one study, assessed various microsites globally. For Cascades-related research, wood and adjacent soil substrate temperature, moisture, and associated seedling density, survival, stomatal conductance, water potential, and leaf nitrogen were compared by percent transmitted radiation at 4 to 14 study sites. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, regressions, and classification and regression trees (CARTs) were used to assess significance of comparisons. Wood microsites, common at 13 of 14 random Cascade sites, had greater seedling densities, greater seedling survival, greater volumetric moisture content (VWC), greater temperature, and greater number of GDH, as compared to adjacent soils. Greater seedling densities were positively associated with VWC (> 12%), conditions most commonly associated with wood substrate presence. For sites having > 25% percent transmitted radiation, positive relationships existed between stomatal conductance and VWC. Globally, high-elevation forests with wood microsites had mean annual precipitation from 86 cm to 320 cm and mean annual temperatures from 1.5°C to 4.7°C. In general, wood microsites facilitated alpine meadow regeneration better than adjacent soils. Management implications included enhanced understanding of factors associated with upward forest advance and wood use for restoration. Globally, wood microsites importance is likely underrepresented. Wood microsites role with warming climate will depend on precipitation pattern, timing, magnitude, and frequency.

No description available.

Работа посвящена характеристике и экологической оценке луговых сообществ зо-лоотвалов Верхнетагильской ГРЭС и Среднеуральской ГРЭС в сравнении с зональными сообществами района Верхнетагильского района. Приводится характеристика природных условий района работ, анализ флоры высших сосудистых растений, определение домина-тов в сообществах, характеристика запаса фитомассы, экологическая оценка местообита-ний по экологическим шкалам. В результате проделанной работы было определено, что на лугах золоотвалов Верхнетагильской ГРЭС встречается 67 вида травянистых растений, относящиеся к 17 семействам и 50 родам, на лугах Среднеуральской ГРЭС - 20 видов, от-носящихся к 11 семействам и 18 родам. Большинство из видов относятся к мезофитам. По ценотическому составу преобладают луговые растения. При сравнении продуктивности лугов золоотвалов и фоновой территории выявлено, что степень восстановления продук-тивности травянистых сообществ составляет около 23 %. Оценка неоэкотопов по экологи-чески шкалам показала, что луга золоотвалов относятся к сухолуговому интервалу шкалы увлажнения и довольно богатым почвам по шкале богатства почв, в то время как луга фо-новой территории относятся к влажнолуговому интервалу. / The work is devoted to the characterization and assessment of the ecological scales of meadow communities of ash dumps of the Verkhnetagilskaya SDPP, Sredneuralskaya SDPP and zonal communities of the Verkhnetagilskaya district. The characteristics of the natural conditions of the work area, the analysis of the flora of higher vascular plants, the determination of domi-nants in the communities, the characteristics of the phytomass reserve, the ecological assessment of habitats according to ecological scales are given. As a result of the work done, it was deter-mined that in the meadows of the ash dumps of the Verkhnetagilskaya SDPP there are 67 species of herbaceous plants belonging to 17 families and 50 genera, in the meadows of the Sredneu-ralskaya SDPP - 20 species belonging to 11 families and 18 genera. Most of the species are mes-ophytes. In terms of coenotic composition, meadow plants prevail. When comparing the produc-tivity of meadows of ash dumps and the background area, it was revealed that the degree of re-covery of productivity of herbaceous communities is about 23%. Evaluation of neo-ecotopes ac-cording to ecological scales showed that ash dump meadows belong to the dry meadow interval of the moistening scale and are rather rich in soils of the wealth of soils nitrogen, while the meadows of the background territory belong to the wet meadow interval.

<h2>BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN GRASSES FROM WETLANDS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>The purpose of this study has been to survey wetlands that are suitable for mowing and to analyze the biogas potential in the harvested grasses. A preformed investigation showed that there are suitable wetlands, which can be harvestable, namely those mowed formerly in traditional haymaking. The practice of traditional haymaking is dying out in Sweden today but there are several good reasons why it should to be reconsidered. Nature- and cultural values are obvious, also the unutilized energy in the grass.</p><p>The suitable types of wetland that were specifically studied were the productive wetlands; meadow marshes and wet meadows. These wetlands are represented in the Swedish meadow- and pasture inventory database; (TUVA) and the Swedish national wetland inventory (VMI). Going through the databases showed that they largely complement each other. A geographical mapping was also carried out of wetlands in relation to areas of interest for the future establishment of biogas plants, so called “hotspots”. The geographical survey shows that there is ample amount of grass from wetlands within a 30-kilometer radius that can supplement the plants main substrate, manure. The map layer Swedish Ground Cover Data (SMD) together with GIS software was used to analyze the extent of overgrowth for the older VMI objects in Uppsala County, with the result that half of the VMI objects are no longer of interest. They have become either woodland and bogs, or reed beds.</p><p>There is very little information on wetland-grasses and methane production. Instead, a theory was evaluated regarding the possibility of transforming nutritional values for grass and sedges into biogas potentials. It was shown that this method does not capture the total biogas potential, but offers a minimum value that can be considered rather reliable. The energy transformation showed that late harvested grasses from wetlands has a biogas potential about 0, 21Nm³methane/ (kg, DM) which is about 60 % of the biogas potential for grass-legume forages. The gas yield after 20 days is also relatively low. It could though be favorable to try grasses from wetlands in methane production, because co-digestion with these grasses and other suitable materials could produce a higher net gas yield for the plant, than using the materials solely by themselves. The derived biogas potential showed that there is at least 4, 4 GWh biogas energy in grasses from wetlands in Uppsala county at a low estimate. Harvesting costs were however shown to be too high in the present to achieve a plus result.</p> / <h2>BIOGASPOTENTIAL HOS VÅTMARKSGRÄS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>Syftet med detta arbete har varit att kartlägga våtmarker i Biogas Östs region lämpliga att skörda samt att undersöka biogaspotentialen i detta våtmarksgräs. Undersökningen visar att det finns lämpliga våtmarker, så kallade slåtterängar, i den undersökta regionen. Traditionell slåtter är en utdöende företeelse i Sverige men det finns flera goda argument till varför den borde återupptas. Natur- och kulturvärden är givna sådana men även den outnyttjade energin i gräset.<em></em></p><p>Våtmarkstyper som specifikt har studerats är de produktiva våta slåtterängarna; fuktängar, strandängar och mader. Dessa våtmarker finns representerade i Ängs- och betesmarksinventeringens databas; TUVA och våtmarksinventeringens VMI. En genomgång av databaserna visade att de i stor utsträckning kompletterar varandra. En geografisk kartläggning har även utförts på slåttermarker i förhållande till intressanta områden för framtida biogasanläggningar, så kallade ”hotspots”. Kartläggningen visar att det finns gott om våtmarksgräs inom en tremilsradie som kan komplettera anläggningarnas huvudsubstrat, gödsel. Kartskiktet Svenska Marktäckedata (SMD) tillsammans med GIS-programvara har använts för att analysera hur mycket de äldre VMI-objekten i Uppsala län har växt igen, med resultatet att hälften av VMI-våtmarkerna är inaktuella i dagsläget. De har antingen växt igen med mossor och träd eller blivit vassbälten.</p><p>Det finns ytterst begränsat med information kring rötdata på våtmarksgräs. Istället utvärderades en teori, om fodervärden för ett par gräs- och starrarter kan omvandlas till biogaspotentialer. Det visade sig att denna metod inte ger den maximala biogaspotentialen men ett minimivärde erhålls som kan betraktas som ganska tillförlitligt. Energiomvandlingen visar att sent slåttat våtmarksgräs har en biogaspotential runt 0,21 Nm³ metan/(kg, TS) vilket är omkring 60 % av den odlade åkervallens biogaspotential. Gasutbytet efter 20 dagars rötning är också relativt lågt. Trots detta kan det vara fördelaktigt att röta våtmarksgräs, eftersom samrötning mellan detta och annat lämpligt material kan ge ett högre nettogasutbyte för anläggningen än rötning av de enskilda materialen var för sig. Den framtagna biogaspotentialen visar att det finns minst 4,4 GWh biogasenergi i våtmarksgräs från till exempel Uppsala län, lågt räknat. Slåtterkostnaderna har dock visat sig vara för höga för att få det att gå ihop ekonomiskt i dagsläget.</p>

BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN GRASSES FROM WETLANDS Marvin Martins The purpose of this study has been to survey wetlands that are suitable for mowing and to analyze the biogas potential in the harvested grasses. A preformed investigation showed that there are suitable wetlands, which can be harvestable, namely those mowed formerly in traditional haymaking. The practice of traditional haymaking is dying out in Sweden today but there are several good reasons why it should to be reconsidered. Nature- and cultural values are obvious, also the unutilized energy in the grass. The suitable types of wetland that were specifically studied were the productive wetlands; meadow marshes and wet meadows. These wetlands are represented in the Swedish meadow- and pasture inventory database; (TUVA) and the Swedish national wetland inventory (VMI). Going through the databases showed that they largely complement each other. A geographical mapping was also carried out of wetlands in relation to areas of interest for the future establishment of biogas plants, so called “hotspots”. The geographical survey shows that there is ample amount of grass from wetlands within a 30-kilometer radius that can supplement the plants main substrate, manure. The map layer Swedish Ground Cover Data (SMD) together with GIS software was used to analyze the extent of overgrowth for the older VMI objects in Uppsala County, with the result that half of the VMI objects are no longer of interest. They have become either woodland and bogs, or reed beds. There is very little information on wetland-grasses and methane production. Instead, a theory was evaluated regarding the possibility of transforming nutritional values for grass and sedges into biogas potentials. It was shown that this method does not capture the total biogas potential, but offers a minimum value that can be considered rather reliable. The energy transformation showed that late harvested grasses from wetlands has a biogas potential about 0, 21Nm3 methane/ (kg, DM) which is about 60 % of the biogas potential for grass-legume forages. The gas yield after 20 days is also relatively low. It could though be favorable to try grasses from wetlands in methane production, because co-digestion with these grasses and other suitable materials could produce a higher net gas yield for the plant, than using the materials solely by themselves. The derived biogas potential showed that there is at least 4, 4 GWh biogas energy in grasses from wetlands in Uppsala county at a low estimate. Harvesting costs were however shown to be too high in the present to achieve a plus result. / BIOGASPOTENTIAL HOS VÅTMARKSGRÄS Marvin Martins Syftet med detta arbete har varit att kartlägga våtmarker i Biogas Östs region lämpliga att skörda samt att undersöka biogaspotentialen i detta våtmarksgräs. Undersökningen visar att det finns lämpliga våtmarker, så kallade slåtterängar, i den undersökta regionen. Traditionell slåtter är en utdöende företeelse i Sverige men det finns flera goda argument till varför den borde återupptas. Natur- och kulturvärden är givna sådana men även den outnyttjade energin i gräset. Våtmarkstyper som specifikt har studerats är de produktiva våta slåtterängarna; fuktängar, strandängar och mader. Dessa våtmarker finns representerade i Ängs- och betesmarksinventeringens databas; TUVA och våtmarksinventeringens VMI. En genomgång av databaserna visade att de i stor utsträckning kompletterar varandra. En geografisk kartläggning har även utförts på slåttermarker i förhållande till intressanta områden för framtida biogasanläggningar, så kallade ”hotspots”. Kartläggningen visar att det finns gott om våtmarksgräs inom en tremilsradie som kan komplettera anläggningarnas huvudsubstrat, gödsel. Kartskiktet Svenska Marktäckedata (SMD) tillsammans med GIS-programvara har använts för att analysera hur mycket de äldre VMI-objekten i Uppsala län har växt igen, med resultatet att hälften av VMI-våtmarkerna är inaktuella i dagsläget. De har antingen växt igen med mossor och träd eller blivit vassbälten. Det finns ytterst begränsat med information kring rötdata på våtmarksgräs. Istället utvärderades en teori, om fodervärden för ett par gräs- och starrarter kan omvandlas till biogaspotentialer. Det visade sig att denna metod inte ger den maximala biogaspotentialen men ett minimivärde erhålls som kan betraktas som ganska tillförlitligt. Energiomvandlingen visar att sent slåttat våtmarksgräs har en biogaspotential runt 0,21 Nm3 metan/(kg, TS) vilket är omkring 60 % av den odlade åkervallens biogaspotential. Gasutbytet efter 20 dagars rötning är också relativt lågt. Trots detta kan det vara fördelaktigt att röta våtmarksgräs, eftersom samrötning mellan detta och annat lämpligt material kan ge ett högre nettogasutbyte för anläggningen än rötning av de enskilda materialen var för sig. Den framtagna biogaspotentialen visar att det finns minst 4,4 GWh biogasenergi i våtmarksgräs från till exempel Uppsala län, lågt räknat. Slåtterkostnaderna har dock visat sig vara för höga för att få det att gå ihop ekonomiskt i dagsläget.

For over one hundred years, the music-going public has reflected on the life and influence of America's “March King,” John Philip Sousa. His popularity as a bandleader was unprecedented, and his reputation as an entertainer captivated the imagination and intrigue of a nation. Sousa's fame was attained through the high standards showcased by his unparalleled concert organization, the Sousa Band. He is interminably linked to the march, and for his seventy-seven years he proved to be its prolific and outspoken champion. Sousa's songs, however, were among his favorite works, and their presence on concert programs reinforced a variety of programming that was the hallmark of his success. The Sousa Band served as a cultural and musical ambassador, and annual transcontinental tours brought music to people where they lived. Sousa's songs were highly anticipated concert features, and were presented by soprano soloists known as the “Ladies in White.” A chamber winds instrumentation, rather than employment of the full-forces of the Sousa Band, allowed for an appropriate musical balance between instruments and voice. The “Forgotten Songs of John Philip Sousa Project” involved the research, editing, and performance of songs housed in the Sousa Archives for Band Research at the University of Illinois. Three songs discussed in this study, “Maid of the Meadow,” “The Snow Baby” from The Bride Elect, and “I've Made My Plans for the Summer” have been edited and performed in their intended setting for chamber winds and soprano. The songs in the Sousa collection resonate with a quintessential essence that recalls an American spirit and artistry that are closely linked with John Philip Sousa and his legendary band.

State-space modelling is a powerful tool to study ecological systems. The direct inclusion of uncertainty, unification of models and data, and ability to model unobserved, hidden states increases our knowledge about the environment and provides new ecological insights. I extend the state-space framework to create multi-species models, showing that the ability to model ecosystem interactions is limited only by data availability. State-space models are fit using both Bayesian and Frequentist methods, making them independent of a statistical school of thought. Bayesian approaches can have the advantage in their ability to account for missing data and fit hierarchical structures and models with many parameters to limited data; often the case in ecological studies. I have taken a Bayesian model fitting approach in this thesis. The predator-prey interactions between the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) and red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) are used to demonstrate state-space modelling’s capabilities. The harrier data are believed to be known without error, while missing data make the cyclic dynamics of the grouse harder to model. The grouse-harrier interactions are modelled in a multi-species state-space model, rather than including one species as a covariate in the other’s model. Finally, models are included for the harriers’ alternate prey. The single- and multi-species state-space models for the predator-prey interactions provide insight into the species’ management. The models investigate aspects of the species’ behaviour, from the mechanisms behind grouse cycles to what motivates harrier immigration. The inferences drawn from these models are applicable to management, suggesting actions to halt grouse cycles or mitigate the grouse-harrier conflict. Overall, the multi-species models suggest that two popular ideas for grouse-harrier management, diversionary feeding and habitat manipulation to reduce alternate prey densities, will not have the desired effect, and in the case of reducing prey densities, may even increase the harriers’ impact on grouse chicks.

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.: Apidae) are valuable pollinators of many crop and wildflower species. However, in some situations their potential is limited. Evaluation of, and management to improve bumble bee efficacy should include spatial information which is currently limited. Distance and direction determine the success of gene flow via pollen cross-over within and between plant populations at several scales. Studies of movement by bumble bees at large scales in semi-natural and intensively managed habitats are scarce. Few studies of bumble bee dispersal from the nest exist, particularly in relation to crops. At a small scale, directional rather than random movement between flowers has benefits for pollen flow. Results to date of directionality studies at small scales and their interpretation are inconsistent. The purpose of this thesis was to assess distances and directions moved by foraging bumble bees at a range of scales in two contrasting farm habitats in order to predict their pollination potential. A novel method was developed to mark automatically all the occupants of nests of bumble bees B. terrestris (L.) placed around a Lucerne seed crop Medicago sativa L. in New Zealand. Reobservation data from eight nests showed that of bumble bees which foraged within the crop, 81 % travelled ≤ 50 m and 56% ≤ 20 m from their nest. Results should be interpreted with extreme caution because fewer than 1 % of bumble bees marked at nests were reobserved in the crop. Because it was not established where the other 99% of the bumble bees went, foraging areas for nests could not be calculated as anticipated. Theories to explain the non-specificity of bumble bees to the crop include; resource depletion near nests, competition with honey bees in the crop, or an evolved strategy to disperse in order to minimise nest predation. Lucerne flowers contained a significantly lower concentration of sugar in nectar, and significantly fewer pollen grains than did those of purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria L., a species on which bumble bees appeared to forage in preference Lucerne. The higher rewards offered by L. salicaria may have diverted bumble bees from the less-rewarding Lucerne crop. In a Norwegian meadow system, all foraging bouts by bumble bees B. lucorum (L.) within a patch of wood cranesbill flowers Geranium sylvaticum L. were random with respect to direction. This result is not consistent with predictions, based on optimal foraging theory, that movement should be directional to enable optimal pollen flow, and to avoid revisitation of just-emptied flowers by the pollinator. A medium-scale study of several bumble bee species moving between patches of northern wolfsbane Aconitum septentrionale Koelle in Norway revealed considerable loyalty by bumble bees to patches in which they were marked. In a different landscape-scale study (over 5 ha), several bumble bees exhibited a high degree of loyalty to areas in which they were marked (87% were reobserved ≤ 50 m from marking points). These restricted movement patterns are discussed in terms of potential pollen flow. Of 260 bumble bees marked, only five were recorded crossing between meadows, which could be a result of innate loyalty to small forage areas, an artefact of the sampling technique used, or forest boundaries acting as physical impediments to movement. In the future, spatial data of the type collected in this thesis will aid in the management of bumble bee populations to achieve both commercial and conservation goals. Spatial data can be applied to predict the optimal placement of artificially-reared nests, predict suitable isolation distances for pure seed crops, and aid in the positioning of supplementary forage sources and nest-site refuges.