Relating a Spectral Index from MODIS and Tower-based Measurements to Ecosystem Light Use Efficiency for a Fluxnet-Canada Coniferous Forest

As part of the North American Carbon Program effort to quantify the terrestrial carbon budget of North America, we have been examining the possibility of retrieving ecosystem light use efficiency (LUE, the carbon sequestered per unit photosynthetically active radiation) directly from satellite observations. Our novel approach has been to compare LUE derived from tower fluxes with LUE estimated using spectral indices computed from MODIS satellite observations over forests in the Fluxnet-Canada Research Network, using the MODIS narrow ocean bands acquired over land. We matched carbon flux data collected around the time of the MODIS mid-day overpass for over one hundred relatively clear days in five years (2001-2006) from a mature Douglas fir forest in British Columbia. We also examined hyperspectral reflectance data collected diurnally from the tower in conjunction with the eddy correlation fluxes and meteorological measurements made throughout the 2006 growing season at this site. The tower-based flux data provided an opportunity to examine diurnal and seasonal LUE processes and their relationship to spectral indices at the scale of the forest stand. We evaluated LUE in conjunction with the Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI), a normalized difference spectral index that uses 531 nm and a reference band to capture responses to high light induced stress afforded by the xanthophyll cycle. Canopy structure information, retrieved from airborne laser scanning radar (LiDAR) observations, was used to partition the forest canopy into sunlit and shaded fractions throughout the day, on numerous days during 2006. At each observation period throughout a day, the PRI was examined for the sunlit, shaded, and intermediate canopy segments defined by their instantaneous position relative to the solar principal plane (SPP). The sunlit sector was associated with the illumination "hotspot" (the reflectance backscatter maximum), the shaded sector with the "cold or dark spot" (the reflectance forward scatter minimum), while the intermediate, mixed sunlit/shade sector was located in the cross-plane to the SPP. The PRI indices clearly captured the differences in leaf groups, with sunlit foliage exhibiting the lowest values on sunny days throughout the 2006 season. When tower-based canopy-level LUE was recalculated to estimate foliage-based values (LUE(sub foilage) for the three foliage groups under their incident light environments, a strong linear relationship for PRI:LUE(sub foilage) was demonstrated (0.6 less than or equal to r(sup 2) less than or equal to 0.8, n=822, P<0.0001). The MODIS data represent relatively large areas when acquired at nadir (approx.1 sq km) or at variable off-nadir view angles (greater than or equal to 1 sq km) looking forward or aft. Nevertheless, a similar relationship between MODIS PRI and tower-based LUE was obtained from satellite observations (r(sup 2) = 0.76, n=105, P= 0.026) when the azimuth offsets from the SPP for off-nadir observations were considered. At this relatively high latitude of 50 degrees, the MODIS directional observations were offset from the SPP by approximately 50 degrees, but still represented backscatter or forward scatter sectors of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). The backscatter observations sampled the sunlit forest and provided lower PRI values, in general, than the forward scatter observations from the shaded forest. Since the hotspot and darkspot were not typically directly observed, the dynamic range for MODIS PRI was less than that observed in the SPP at the canopy level; therefore, MODIS PRI values were more similar to those observed in sifu in the BRDF cross-plane. While not ideal in terms of spatial resolution or optimal viewing configuration, the MODIS observations nevertheless provide a means to monitor forest under stress using narrow spectral band indices and off-nadir observations. This research has stimulated several spin-off studies for remote sensinf LUE, and demonstrates the importance of the connection between ecosystem structure and physiological function

Comparing Evapotranspiration from Eddy Covariance Measurements, Water Budgets, Remote Sensing, and Land Surface Models over Canada

This study compares six evapotranspiration ET products for Canada’s landmass, namely, eddy covariance EC measurements; surface water budget ET; remote sensing ET from MODIS; and land surface model (LSM) ET from the Community Land Model (CLM), the Ecological Assimilation of Land and Climate Observations (EALCO) model, and the Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC). The ET climatology over the Canadian landmass is characterized and the advantages and limitations of the datasets are discussed. The EC measurements have limited spatial coverage, making it difficult for model validations at the national scale. Water budget ET has the largest uncertainty because of data quality issues with precipitation in mountainous regions and in the north. MODIS ET shows relatively large uncertainty in cold seasons and sparsely vegetated regions. The LSM products cover the entire landmass and exhibit small differences in ET among them. Annual ET from the LSMs ranges from small negative values to over 600 mm across the landmass, with a countrywide average of 256 ± 15 mm. Seasonally, the countrywide average monthly ET varies from a low of about 3 mm in four winter months (November–February) to 67 ± 7 mm in July. The ET uncertainty is scale dependent. Larger regions tend to have smaller uncertainties because of the offset of positive and negative biases within the region. More observation networks and better quality controls are critical to improving ET estimates. Future techniques should also consider a hybrid approach that integrates strengths of the various ET products to help reduce uncertainties in ET estimation

Editorial for the Special Issue “Understanding Biosphere–Atmosphere Interactions with Remote Sensing”

The terrestrial biosphere interacts with the free atmosphere through the exchange of momentum, energy and mass [...

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Not AvailableOf late, shrimp farming has emerged as one of the most important segments in commercial fishing. This calls for more cautious and informed intervention in handling the threats faced by the industry. Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), the causative agent of Hepatopancreatic Microsporidiosis (HPM) is one such major threat for the shrimp farming industry. It is an emerging microsporidian parasite for penaeid shrimp, which has been associated with growth retardation and significant losses in several shrimp farming countries in Asia.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBetanodaviruses are the causative agents of the disease known as viral nervous necrosis (VNN) or viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) in a variety of marine and freshwater fish species. The aim of this study was to demonstrate experimental infection of an isolate of betanodavirus (RGNNV genotype) in freshwater fish,Gambusia affinis,for elucidation of transmission mechanism and potential use as a laboratory model. Morbidity and mortality rate was significantly higher by injection route of infection as compared to immersion by bath and resembled the natural infection of juvenile marine fish.The fish in disease affected group showed severe neurological disorders accompanied by extensive vacuolar degeneration and mild to moderate neuronal necrosis of the brain in comparison to control. Amplification of ~427 bp product in the variable region of the coat protein gene of betanodavirus was achieved by RT-PCR with 100% sequence homology to RGNNV genotype.Not Availabl

Interannual variability of the carbon balance of three different-aged Douglas-fir stands in the Pacific Northwest

The seasonal and interannual variability of gross ecosystem photosynthesis (Pg) and ecosystem respiration (Re), and their relationships to environmental variables and stand characteristics were used to explain the variation of eddy-covariance-measured net ecosystem productivity (FNEP) of three different-aged Douglas-fir stands located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. During the 9-year period, 1998–2006, which included a strong El Niño/La Niña event, the near-end-of-rotation stand (DF49, 57 years old in 2006) was a moderate carbon (C) sink for CO2 with annual FNEP ranging from 267 to 410 g C m−2 yr−1 (mean ± SD, 357 ± 51 g C m−2 yr−1). The pole/sapling stand (HDF88, 18 years old in 2006) was a weak C source (FNEP = −64 ± 75 g C m−2 yr−1), and the recently harvested stand (HDF00, 6 years old in 2006) was a large C source (FNEP = −515 ± 88 g C m−2 yr−1) during 2002–2006. Irrespective of stand age, all sites responded quite similarly to changes in environmental variables during each year. Daily total values of Pg and Re were highest in July–August in all three stands, while daily FNEP peaked during April–June at DF49, May–June at HDF88, and June–July at HDF00. Reductions in root-zone soil water content decreased both Pg and Re especially during the dry period from May to September, and this effect was more pronounced in the younger stands. Evapotranspiration and dry-foliage surface conductance also decreased with decreasing root-zone soil water content whereas water use efficiency appeared to be conservative, especially at DF49. Increasing spring temperature had a positive effect on annual Pg and Re but caused a slight decrease in annual FNEP. During the summer to autumn transition period, increases in soil water content resulted in a greater increase in Re than Pg causing a reduction in FNEP. The interannual variation in the C balance was determined mainly by the interannual variation in Re for the near-end-of-rotation stand and Pg for the two younger stands. The results indicate that regardless of the stand age, interannual variability in the C balance was mainly determined by year-to-year variability in spring temperature and water availability in late summer. An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2009 American Geophysical Union.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofReviewedFacult

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Not AvailableThis study was undertaken to investigate the cause of mortality in the captive stock of silver moony Monodactylus argenteus. The fishes showed severe infection of dinoflagellate protozoan Amyloodinium sp. (Blastodinida, Oodiniaceae) on gills and skin with complete mortality of the stock within a week. Histopathological changes were evident in the gill tissues with severe lamellar epithelial cell hyperplasia and amellar fusions with the presence of trophonts of Amyloodinium sp. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also revealed trophonts of Amyloodinium sp. of varying sizes in groups consisting of 3 to 5 trophonts tightly attached to gill lamellae. Source water contaminated with the tiny infectious form of the parasite (dinospores) favoured by higher salinity and low water temperature in the rearing tank could be the triggering factor for the spurt of infections. Proper quarantine and biosecurity protocols to prevent the potential sources of water-borne infection sources are likely to be far more effective than treatment.Not Availabl

Innovative Changes to Study Abroad: Virtual Intercultural Learning during the Pandemic

Intercultural competence (ICC) is increasingly important for healthcare professionals, and study abroad (SA) programs have been one mechanism to increase students’ ICC. With SA programs being cancelled due to the pandemic, and qualitative literature supporting virtual intercultural learning (ICL), the purpose of this paper is to describe a novel approach towards “study abroad” without traveling abroad and evaluate participant gains in ICC with a virtual international ICL experience embedded into a graduate level pediatric audiology course. Nine U.S students and ten students at a partner institution in India were enrolled in the course. Comparison of pre- and post-IDI® scores showed a significant increase in ICC in both groups of participants. The increase in the group mean score for the U.S. students was substantially higher than the group mean score increases in SA students from the same institution. Qualitative reflections support the quantitative data. Overall, results indicate that embedding virtual international ICL activities in a course can be an effective mechanism to enhance ICC, both for U.S. students without traveling abroad, and for the overseas partner students, indicating that the program was mutually beneficial