Nº 5
Transversal Studies Section
The Use of Plant Characterisation Modelling Studies to Substantiate National Conservation and Sustainability Policies Abstract: Plant characterisation is key to the study of biodiversity. It is multidisciplinary and includes historical, biogeographical, scientific and mathematic elements. Modelling of plant species has been carried out with qualitative use of the water-energy dynamic. Quantitative measurements of plant characterisation are essential to biodiversity, sustainability and conservation policy formation of local, national and global areas. Characteristics of plants are plant life-history strategies, photosynthetic type and life-forms. In the Species-Area relationship locations of high biodiversity are examined in terms of the number of species in each location and subjected to a regression of values according to the relationship of increasing numbers of species with increasing area. Subsequently an algorithmic breakdown of the climatic and topographic conditions is carried out according to T-S-K fuzzy logic, variables are specified and given definition in the example location of Guyana, South America. A genetic-dispersal of the elements of plant strategies is carried out, elements are plotted on combined objective axis, showing a Pareto distribution which may be extrapolated to alternate scales. The results show the following: individual occurrences of plant species versus locations of high biodiversity, the Species-Area relationship with statistical testing. Data are shown and an algorithm is detailed. A summary table of the ordination of plant species in seven environments is shown. The rule-base for the stress tolerant-ruderal strategy environment of Guyana is given and a 3-dimensional surface area plot of minimized elements is presented. The plant strategy Pareto is plotted and rules structuring the combined objective space are provided. In conclusion the Species-Area relationship does not explain the increase of species numbers and a descriptive form of ordination is required to cater for variable conditions, determining individual species occurrence. T-S-K modelling allocates environments to example locations with a global spread and predicts the occurrence of plant species. The conditions determining plant characteristics may be minimized to contain essential elements (mean temperature and precipitation) of the water-energy dynamic. The structure of T-S-K fuzzy logic enables genetic mathematic technique to be employed, allowing enhanced prediction of climatic variables and additionally of species numbers. Plant characterisation modelling studies strengthen national conservation and sustainability policies key to ecosystems and developing human communities which are dependent upon them. Keywords: Plant characterisation, modelling, Species-Area, algorithmic, genetic dispersal, waterenergy dynamic, conservation and sustainability policies
James Furze
www.globaleducationmagazine.com
Introduction ! Studies and different approaches to quantify species within ecology and in different geographical locations trace back to the beginnings of scientific endeavour and civilisation itself (Humboldt, 1806, Schultes and Reis, 1997). We include classical, historical and modern approaches to the subject. The nature of plant characterisation is multidisciplinary, consists of many different subject areas and generative in producing new areas of study. It would be difficult to provide complete reference of all areas, which benefitting progress within the subject, the author provides background of areas, which provide the current approach and progress within the subject. Humboldt (1845-1858) became the first to predict the Chocó region and Andean forests as one of the mega centres of plant diversity: ‘Die dem Äquator nahe Gebirgsgegend ... von Neugranada [today: Columbia] ... ist der Teil der Oberfläche unseres Planeten, wo im engsten Raum die Mannigfaltigkeit der Natureindrücke [today: biodiversity] ihr Maximum erreicht’ (Humboldt, 1845, p. 12) (English translation by Otté (1860, p. 10): ’... The countries bordering on the equator [meant is the presentday country of Colombia] possess another advantage ... This portion of the surface of the globe affords in the smallest space the greatest possible variety of impressions from the contemplation of nature [today: biodiversity]’ (Barthlott, Mutke, Rafiqpoor, Kier and Kreft, 2005). ! Remarkably Humboldt hypothesized explanations for diversity including complex topography and climatic conditions in the Chocó region (Humboldt, 1808), Humboldt provided the initial statements which substantiate the water-energy dynamic (Wright, 1983), Humboldt speculated that plant richness declines at higher latitudes due to the fact that many species are frost intolerant and may not survive in the comparatively cooler temperatures of temperate zone winters. Wright surmises that plant productivity is limited by energy from the sun and water availability, however the solar energy that transfers through each trophic level is what constrains richness as opposed to the total energy within a geographic area - the productivity hypothesis (Wright, 1983; Hawkins et al., 2003; Jetz, Kreft, Ceballos, and Mutke, 2009).
Quanmin Zhu
Jennifer Hill
University of the West of England, Faculty of Environment and Technology
University of the West of England, Faculty of Environment and Technology
University of the West of England, Faculty of Environment and Technology
James.Furze@uwe.ac.uk
Quan.Zhu@uwe.ac.uk
Jennifer.Hill@uwe.ac.uk
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