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result(s) for
"Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Management"
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Coupling Remote Sensing With a Process Model for the Simulation of Rangeland Carbon Dynamics
by
Brookshire, E. N. Jack
,
Cook, David R.
,
Endsley, Arthur
in
Algorithms
,
Bayesian theory
,
Biomass
2025
Rangelands provide significant environmental benefits through many ecosystem services, which may include soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, quantifying SOC stocks and monitoring carbon (C) fluxes in rangelands are challenging due to the considerable spatial and temporal variability tied to rangeland C dynamics as well as limited data availability. We developed the Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Management (RCTM) system to track long‐term changes in SOC and ecosystem C fluxes by leveraging remote sensing inputs and environmental variable data sets with algorithms representing terrestrial C‐cycle processes. Bayesian calibration was conducted using quality‐controlled C flux data sets obtained from 61 Ameriflux and NEON flux tower sites from Western and Midwestern US rangelands to parameterize the model according to dominant vegetation classes (perennial and/or annual grass, grass‐shrub mixture, and grass‐tree mixture). The resulting RCTM system produced higher model accuracy for estimating annual cumulative gross primary productivity (GPP) (R2 > 0.6, RMSE <390 g C m−2) relative to net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) (R2 > 0.4, RMSE <180 g C m−2). Model performance in estimating rangeland C fluxes varied by season and vegetation type. The RCTM captured the spatial variability of SOC stocks with R2 = 0.6 when validated against SOC measurements across 13 NEON sites. Model simulations indicated slightly enhanced SOC stocks for the flux tower sites during the past decade, which is mainly driven by an increase in precipitation. Future efforts to refine the RCTM system will benefit from long‐term network‐based monitoring of vegetation biomass, C fluxes, and SOC stocks. Plain Language Summary Rangelands play a crucial role in providing various ecosystem services, including potential climate change mitigation through increased soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Accurate estimates of changes in carbon (C) storage are challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of rangelands and the limited availability of field observations. In this work, we leveraged remote sensing observations, tower‐based C flux measurements from over 60 rangeland sites in the Western and Midwestern US, and other environmental data sets to build the process‐based Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Management (RCTM) modeling system. The RCTM system is designed to simulate the past 20 years of rangeland C dynamics and is regionally calibrated. The RCTM system performs well in estimating spatial and temporal rangeland C fluxes as well as spatial SOC storage. Model simulation results revealed increased SOC storage and rangeland productivity driven by annual precipitation patterns. The RCTM system developed by this work can be used to generate accurate spatial and temporal estimates of SOC storage and C fluxes at fine spatial (30 m) and temporal (every 5 days) resolutions, and is well‐suited for informing rangeland C management strategies and improving broad‐scale policy making. Key Points The Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Monitoring System was calibrated to simulate vegetation type‐specific rangeland C dynamics Regional variability in carbon fluxes and soil organic carbon is well represented by a remote sensing‐driven process modeling approach Soil organic carbon stocks in Western and Midwestern US rangelands increased over the past 20 years due to increased precipitation
Journal Article
Bellowing for habitat on private land: distribution of koalas in a complex landscape
2025
Context
Anthropogenic modification of landscapes through clearing, degradation and fragmentation of habitat for human land-use can cause biodiversity loss, population declines and shifts in species distributions. The koala (
Phascolarctos cinereus
) is a forest-dependent specialist-folivore with a distribution overlapping areas of high anthropogenic use.
Objectives
Our study aimed to identify environmental and habitat factors influencing koala distribution across a modified landscape consisting of grazing land, plantation forestry and native vegetation, and identify areas for conservation action.
Methods
We used Passive Acoustic Monitoring to determine koala presence at 232 sites across South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. We examined the influence of habitat, soil, climate, topography and disturbance variables on koala occurrence.
Results
Koalas were present at 49% of sites. Probability of site occupancy increased with cover of preferred koala food trees at a site and total tree cover in the landscape (within 500 m), and trended towards a decline with increasing organic carbon in the soil. Over 40% of the region was predicted to have a 50% or greater probability of occupancy by koalas and 11% of the region had 75% or greater probability. Of the 11%, half was located within parks, reserves and state forest, suggesting these protected forests represent core habitat; and one third was located within plantation estate, highlighting the importance of effectively managing this tenure for koalas.
Conclusions
To improve outcomes for koalas in this region, we recommend promoting and facilitating revegetation on private land, which currently provides limited habitat extent. Conservation action is needed to mitigate anthropogenic land-use impacts on species distributions.
Journal Article