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Bolton DK, Coops NC, Hermosilla T, Wulder MA, White JC, Ferster CJ. Uncovering regional variability in disturbance trends between parks and greater park ecosystems across Canada (1985-2015). Sci Rep 2019; 9:1323. [PMID: 30718619 PMCID: PMC6362123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37265-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We assess the protective function of Canada's parks and protected areas (PPAs) by analyzing three decades of stand-replacing disturbance derived from Landsat time series data (1985-2015). Specifically, we compared rates of wildfire and harvest within 1,415 PPAs against rates of disturbance in surrounding greater park ecosystems (GPEs). We found that disturbance rates in GPEs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in corresponding PPAs in southern managed forests (six of Canada's 12 forested ecozones). Higher disturbance rates in GPEs were attributed to harvesting activities, as the area impacted by wildfire was not significantly different between GPEs and PPAs in any ecozone. The area burned within PPAs and corresponding GPEs was highly correlated (r = 0.90), whereas the area harvested was weakly correlated (r = 0.19). The average area burned in PPAs/GPEs below 55° N was low (0.05% yr-1) largely due to fire suppression aimed at protecting communities, timber, and recreational values, while the average burn rate was higher in northern PPAs/GPEs where fire suppression is uncommon (0.40% yr-1 in PPAs/GPEs above 55° N). Assessing regional variability in disturbance patterns and the pressures faced by PPAs can better inform policy and protection goals across Canada and the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas K Bolton
- Integrated Remote Sensing Studio, Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Nicholas C Coops
- Integrated Remote Sensing Studio, Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Txomin Hermosilla
- Integrated Remote Sensing Studio, Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Michael A Wulder
- Canadian Forest Service (Pacific Forestry Centre), Natural Resources Canada, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5, Canada
| | - Joanne C White
- Canadian Forest Service (Pacific Forestry Centre), Natural Resources Canada, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5, Canada
| | - Colin J Ferster
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, PO BOX 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
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Comparison of Office and Field Techniques for Validating Landscape Change Classification in Pacific Northwest National Parks. REMOTE SENSING 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/rs11010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the feasibility of using aerial photo-based office methods rather than field-collected data to validate Landsat-based change detection products in national parks in Washington State. Landscape change was performed using LandTrendr algorithm. The resulting change patches were labeled in the office using aerial imagery and a random sample of patches was visited in the field by experienced analysts. Comparison of the two labels and associated confidence shows that the magnitude or severity of the change is a strong indicator of whether field assessment is warranted, and that confusion about patches with lower magnitude changes is not always resolved with a field visit. Our work demonstrates that validation of Landsat-derived landscape change patches can be done using office based tools such as aerial imagery, and that such methods provide an adequate validation for most change types, thus reducing the need for expensive field visits.
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Rodhouse TJ, Sergeant CJ, Schweiger EW. Ecological monitoring and evidence‐based decision‐making in America's National Parks: highlights of the Special Feature. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Rodhouse
- National Park Service Upper Columbia Basin Network 650 SW Columbia Street, Suite 7250 Bend Oregon 97702 USA
| | - Christopher J. Sergeant
- National Park Service Southeast Alaska Network 3100 National Park Road Juneau Alaska 99801 USA
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Paulson AK, Sanders S, Kirschbaum J, Waller DM. Post‐settlement ecological changes in the forests of the Great Lakes National Parks. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alison K. Paulson
- Department of Botany University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | - Suzanne Sanders
- National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Ashland Wisconsin 54806 USA
| | - Jessica Kirschbaum
- National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Ashland Wisconsin 54806 USA
| | - Donald M. Waller
- Department of Botany University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
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