荒漠生态质量科学框架:概念、指标、监测及评估（英文）

The Scientific Conceptual Framework for Ecological Quality of the Dryland Ecosystem: Concepts, Indicators, Monitoring and Assessment

荒漠生态系统是地球上最大的陆地生态系统,全球四分之一的人口生活在这一区域。清晰地定义荒漠生态系统生态质量,制定反映生态质量优劣的关键监测指标,集成"星–空–地"一体化监测技术、构建综合评价模型可为干旱区生态质量监测、促进区域可持续发展提供技术支撑。荒漠生态质量是指一定时空范围内荒漠生态系统要素、结构和功能的综合特征。该研究通过集成卫星、无人机和地面传感器网络的"星–空–地"一体化监测技术,在区域和站点两个尺度上对荒漠生态系统的生态要素、生物多样性和生态功能进行连续监测,通过标准化生态质量指标数值、厘定其阈值范围,构造判断矩阵建立生态质量综合评价模型,评价荒漠生态系统质量状况。本论文阐明了构建荒漠生态质量动态综合监测技术规范与评价方法的概念框架,为实现我国荒漠生态系统生态质量综合监测、科学诊断和定量评估提供理论基础。

The dryland ecosystem is the dominant component of the global terrestrial ecosystem since arid regions occupy 45% of the earth’s land area and feed 38% of the world’s population. The stability and sustainable development of the dryland ecosystem are critical for achieving the millennium development goal(MDG) in the arid and semiarid areas. However, there is still no scientific guideline for measuring and conserving the health and productivity of dryland ecosystems. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop the scientific conceptual framework of defining, monitoring and evaluating the ecological quality of dryland ecosystems. The ecological quality of dryland ecosystems is represented by a system of comprehensive indicators that are each extracted from the ecological elements, and structural and functional indices of the ecosystem. These indicators can be monitored by integrating satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles with ground-based sensor networks at the scale of either observational sites or regional scales. Finally, the ecological quality can be evaluated by evaluation models based on the normalized index values and their thresholds. This paper presents a conceptual framework for monitoring and evaluating the ecological quality of drylands, which provides a way of advancing the monitoring, diagnosis, and evaluation of the ecological quality of the dryland ecosystems.