Remote Sensing vs. Individual-Based Ecology

Goals of the Talk (Paper) Order my thoughts. Order my thoughts. Assemble/summarize/link some relevant 1° and 2° sources. Assemble/summarize/link some relevant 1° and 2° sources.

Goals of the Talk (Paper) Ecology Remote Sensing Complexity

Remote Sensing: “The collection and interpretation of information about an object without physical contact with the object; eg, satellite imaging, aerial photography, and open path measurements.” --

Ecology and Data Experimental Design Challenges in Ecology: Experimentation and Observation Experimentation and Observation ‘Controlling variables’ ‘Controlling variables’ Ecosystem dimensionality and variability. Ecosystem dimensionality and variability.

Ecology and Data Groundies’ and Remote Sensors’ View: Ground SampledRemotely SensedReal World

Remote Sensing and Data Limited in its ability to sample: Limited in its ability to sample: radar, photographic, spectral, laser, etc. But broad in it’s scope: But broad in it’s scope: – measurements from daily to every month – covering areas from square meters to continents, inclusively.

Remote Sensing and Data Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring. Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring.

Remote Sensing and Data Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring. Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring.

Remote Sensing and Data Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring. Traditionally used for mapping and monitoring. As resolution(s) increase, increasingly no reason not to use it in theory development. As resolution(s) increase, increasingly no reason not to use it in theory development.

Remote Sensing and Ecology Pattern and Process in the Plant Community AS Watt, The Journal of Ecology, according to GoogleScholar, cited by 534 (as of today) The Problem of Pattern and Scale in Ecology The Problem of Pattern and Scale in Ecology SA Levin, Ecology, according to GoogleScholar, cited by 1377 (as of today)

Remote Sensing and Ecology Regional and landscape scale is the new black. Regional and landscape scale is the new black. Unprecedented change may be the next black. Unprecedented change may be the next black. So we need So we need good spatial ecology good spatial ecology good large-scale ecology good large-scale ecology mechanistically robust ecology mechanistically robust ecology

Remote Sensing and Ecology Regional and landscape scale is the new black. Regional and landscape scale is the new black. Unprecedented change may be the next black. Unprecedented change may be the next black. So we need So we need good spatial ecology good spatial ecology good large-scale ecology good large-scale ecology mechanistically robust ecology mechanistically robust ecology Ecology Remote Sensing Complexity

Remote Sensing and Ecology Individual-Based Ecology “The study of ecological systems from the perspective that systems arise from unique independent, individuals and the interactions of the individuals with each other and with their environment.” » Grimm and Railsback 2005, Individual-based Modeling and Ecology.

Remote Sensing and Ecology Ecology + remote sensing is good.

Remote Sensing and Ecology Ecology + remote sensing is good. Individual-Based Ecology is good.

Remote Sensing and Ecology Ecology + remote sensing is good. Individual-Based Ecology is good. Remote sensing + Individual-Based Ecology good?

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Unit has to be the ‘Individual’ from fix buffalo today blog,

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Unit has to be the ‘Individual’ from fix buffalo today blog, No good: the decision maker is the lot owners or the government members, not the lots.

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Unit has to be the ‘Individual’ How to get at Individuals with RS? Matching of sensor scale with inidivdual scale spatial scale temporal scale characteristic ‘scale’

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution >1m  1 km

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution Spatial Scope

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution Spatial Scope Time Resolution – MODIS: 1-2 times a day – Landsat ~ every 16 days

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution Spatial Scope Time Resolution ‘Characteristic’ Resolution – spectral resolution (hyper v. multispectral) – elevational accuracy

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution Spatial Scope Time Resolution ‘Characteristic’ Resolution

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Spatial Resolution Spatial Scope Time Resolution ‘Characteristic’ Resolution

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Insert Model HereInsert Data Here

Remote Sensing and IBEcology from High-resolution remote sensing of intertidal ecosystems: A low-cost technique to link scale-dependent patterns and processes. Guichard and Bourget (2000) Limnol. Oceanogr.

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Insert Model Here Insert Data Here

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Insert Model Here Insert Data Here Pattern Statistics

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Insert Model Here Insert Data Here Pattern Statistics Revision of Model

Remote Sensing and IBEcology Insert Model Here Insert Data Here Pattern Statistics Revision of Model a la Grimm&Railsback

Remote Sensing and IBEcology = good spatial ecology good spatial ecology good large-scale ecology good large-scale ecology mechanistically robust ecology mechanistically robust ecology

Remote Sensing and IBEcology = good spatial ecology good spatial ecology good large-scale ecology good large-scale ecology mechanistically robust ecology mechanistically robust ecology via empirical data study