Abstract Landsat data are increasingly used for ecological monitoring and research. These often require preprocessing prior to analysis account sensor, solar, atmospheric, topographic effects. However, ecologists using these faced with a literature containing inconsistent terminology, outdated methods, vast number of approaches contradictory recommendations. issues can, at best, make determining the correct workflow difficult time‐consuming task and, worst, lead erroneous results. We address...

Abstract This paper reports on the plant use of laypeople Oromo in Southern Ethiopia. The Bale had names/uses for 294 species comparison to 230 documented lower reaches area. Only 13 was used veterinary purposes, or as human medicine (46). Plant served mostly treat common everyday ailments such stomach problems and diarrhea, wound treatment toothbrush-sticks, anthelmintic, skin infections sore muscles and. Interestingly, 9 were spiritual expel demons. In most cases medicinal applications...

ABSTRACT Predicting suitable habitat and the potential distribution of invasive species is a high priority for resource managers systems ecologists. Most models are designed to identify characteristics that define ecological niche with little consideration individual species’ traits. We tested five commonly used modelling methods on two plant species, generalist Bromus tectorum specialist Tamarix chinensis , compare model performances, evaluate predictability, relate results traits...

Biomass maps are valuable tools for estimating forest carbon and planning. Individual-tree biomass estimates made using allometric equations the foundation these maps, yet potentially-high uncertainty bias associated with individual-tree is commonly ignored in map error. We developed lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), ponderosa (P. ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) northern Colorado. Plot-level were combined Landsat imagery geomorphometric climate layers to aboveground tree...

In this study, we tested the Maximum Entropy model (Maxent) for its application and performance in remotely sensing invasive Tamarix sp. Six Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite scenes a suite of vegetation indices at different times growing season were selected our study area along Arkansas River Colorado. Satellite April, May, June, August, September, October single-scene time-series analyses. The best was analysis fit with all spectral variables, which had an AUC = 0.96, overall accuracy 0.90, Kappa...

We used correlative models with species occurrence points, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices, and topo-climatic predictors to map the current distribution potential habitat of invasive Prosopis juliflora in Afar, Ethiopia. Time-series MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Indices (EVI) Normalized Difference (NDVI) 250 m2 spatial resolution were selected as remote sensing for mapping distributions, while WorldClim bioclimatic products generated topographic variables...

Maximum flood extent—a key data need for disaster response and mitigation—is rarely quantified due to storm-related cloud cover the low temporal resolution of optical sensors. While change detection approaches can circumvent these issues through identification inundated land soil from post-flood imagery, their accuracy suffer in narrow complex channels increasingly developed heterogeneous floodplains. This study explored utility Operational Land Imager (OLI) Independent Component Analysis...

Most current conservation literature focuses on the preservation of hotspots species diversity and endemism, as if two were geographically synonymous. At landscape scales this may not be case. We collected data from 367 1000‐m 2 plots in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA, to show that: (1) vast majority plant are locally rare; (2) species‐rich areas generally rare, mesic, or high‐elevation habitats such aspen stands riparian zones high soil N P; (3) endemic (to Colorado...

Among the most pressing concerns of land managers in post-wildfire landscapes are establishment and spread invasive species. Land need accurate maps species cover for targeted management post-disturbance that easily transferable across space time. In this study, we sought to develop an iterative, replicable methodology based on limited occurrence data, freely available remotely sensed open source software predict distribution Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) a landscape. We developed four models...

Luizza, M. W., T. Wakie, P. H. Evangelista, and C. S. Jarnevich. 2016. Integrating local pastoral knowledge, participatory mapping, species distribution modeling for risk assessment of invasive rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) in Ethiopia's Afar region. Ecology Society 21(1):22.http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-07988-210122

Habitat suitability models have become a valuable tool for wildlife conservation and management, are frequently used to better understand the range habitat requirements of rare endangered species. In this study, we employed two modeling techniques, namely Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) Maximum Entropy (Maxent) models, identify potential suitable habitats mountain nyala (

Early detection of invasive plant species is vital for the management natural resources and protection ecosystem processes. The use satellite remote sensing mapping distribution plants becoming more common, however conventional imaging software classification methods have been shown to be unreliable. In this study, we test evaluate five model techniques fit with data map tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) along Arkansas River in Southeastern Colorado. models tested included boosted regression trees...

The Bale Mountains of Ethiopia contain the largest contiguous area alpine habitat in Africa. region provides critical water resources and other essential environmental services to highland communities, endemic wildlife, millions downstream people East Increasing land use change has created concern over degradation headwater wetlands potential impacts on hydrologic regimes. Baseline understanding wetland dynamics is lacking, however, little known about their function regional system. We used...