Metrics analysis of tactile perceptual space based on improved NMDS for leather textures

To solve the fuzzy and unstable tactile similarity relationship between some sample points in the perception experiment,an improved non-metric multidimensional scaling(INMDS)is proposed in this paper.In view of the inconsistency of each sample s contribution,the maximum marginal decision when constructing the perception space to describe the tactile perception characteristics is also proposed.The corresponding constraints are set according to the degree of similarity,and controlling the relaxation variable factor is proposed to optimize the perception dimension and coordinate measurement.The effectiveness of the INMDS algorithm is verified by two perception experiments.The results show that compared with the metric multidimensional scaling(MDS)and non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)algorithms,the perceptual space constructed by INMDS can more accurately reflect the difference relationship between different leather sample points perceived by people.Moreover,the relative position of sample points in the perceptual space is more consistent with subjective perception results.

Mapping species assemblages of tropical forests at different hierarchical levels based on multivariate regression trees

Background: Vegetation distribution maps are of great significance for nature protection and management. In diverse tropical forests, accurate spatial mapping of vegetation types is challenging;the high species diversity and abundance of rare species challenge classification concepts, while remote sensing signals may not vary systematically with species composition, complicating the technical capability for delineating vegetation types in the landscape.Methods: We used a combination of field-based compositional data and their relations to environmental variables to predict the distribution of forest types in the Wuzhishan National Natural Reserve(WNNR), Hainan Island,China, using multivariate regression trees(MRT). The MRT was based on arboreal vegetation composition in 132plots of 20 m×20 m with a regular spacing of 1 km. Apart from the MRT, non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS) was used to evaluate vegetation-environment relationships.Results: The MRT model worked best when using 14 key environmental variables including topography, climate,latitude and soil, although the difference with the simpler model including only topographical variables was small. The full model classified the 132 plots into 3 vegetation types, 6 formation groups, 20 formations and 65associations at different hierarchical syntaxonomic levels. This model was the basis for forest vegetation maps for the WNNR. MRT and NMDS showed that elevation was the main driving force for the distribution of vegetation types and formation groups. Climate, latitude, and soil(especially available P), together with topographic variables, all influenced the distribution of formations and associations.Conclusions: While elevation determines forest-type distributions, lower-level syntaxonomic forest classes respond to the topographic diversity typical for mountains. Apart from providing the first detailed forest vegetation map for any part of WNNR, we show how, in spite of limitations, MRT with existing environmental data can be a useful method for mapping diverse and remote tropical forests.

海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林生理生态功能群特征

在海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林,野外测定获得3个与植物-大气相互作用直接相关的生理生态特性指标(最大净光合速率、最大气孔导度和比叶面积),应用等级聚类分析和NMS排序方法对热带山地雨林的主要植物进行功能群划分,分析热带山地雨林4个演替阶段(初期、早期、中期和后期)生理生态功能群组成及其动态规律。结果表明:海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林的87个主要植物种类可划分为8个功能群,检验结果显示功能群间存在显著差异,而功能群内同质性较高;功能群的丰富度及相对多度在不同演替阶段差异显著;功能群的丰富度在演替初期最低,演替早、中期最高,演替后期略有降低;演替初期的优势功能群光合能力强,水分利用效率低,演替早、中期的优势功能群光合能力、水分利用效率均为中等;演替后期的优势功能群光合能力偏低,水分利用效率高。

Alpine Ecosystems of Northwest Yunnan,China:an Initial Assessment for Conservation

Implementing conservation actions on-the-ground is not a straightforward process,especially when faced with high scientific uncertainty due to limited available information. This is especially acute in regions of the world that harbor many unique species that have not been well studied,such as the alpine zone of the Hengduan Mountains of Northwest Yunnan (NWY),a global biodiversity hotspot and site of The Nature Conservancy’s Yunnan Great Rivers Project. We conducted a quantitative,but rapid regional-level assessment of the alpine flora across NWY to provide a broad-based understanding of local and regional patterns of the alpine flora,the first large-scale analysis of alpine biodiversity patterns in this region. Multivariate analyses were used to classify the major plant community types and link community patterns to habitat variables. Our analysis indicated that most species had small distributions and/or small population sizes. Strong patterns emerged with higher diversity in the more northern mountains,but beta diversity was high,averaging only 10% among sites. The ordinations indicated that elevation and geographic location were the dominant environ-mental gradients underlying the differences in the species composition among communities. The high beta diversity across the alpine of these mountains implies that conservation strategies ultimately will require the protection of large numbers of species over a large geographical area. However,prioritiza-tion should be given to areas where potential payoffs are greatest. Sites with high species richness also have a greater number of endemic species,and,by focusing efforts on these sites,conservation investments would be maximized by protecting the greatest number of unique species.

The Characteristic Patterns of Macrofaunal Fouling Assemblages in Nearshore Waters of the South China Sea

The spatio-temporal patterns of macrofaunal fouling assemblages were quantitatively investigated in the nearshore waters of the South China Sea.The work was undertaken by deploying seasonal panels at two sites(H-site,L-site) for one year,and the fouling communities on the panels were examined and analyzed.The results indicated that species composition of assemblages was obviously different between the two sites.At both sites the assemblages were characteristic with solitary dominant species throughout the year,with Amphibalanus reticulates dominating at H-site and Hydroides elegans at L-site.Shannon index and biomass of the assemblages varied with depth and season at both sites.At H-site the total biomass in summer and autumn were significantly higher than those in spring and winter,while at L-site the assemblage biomass also differed significantly among the four seasons,and the greatest biomass occurred at the depth of 2.0 m in winter.The abundance of all seasonal samples in non-metric multidimensional scaling was clustered as one group at L-site and three groups at H-site.The environmental factors were more likely to be related to the variation of fouling assemblages.Furthermore,it also suggests that in tropical seas the integrated adaptability would qualify a species for dominating a fouling assemblage despite its short life cycle,rather than the usually assumed only species with long life span.This study reveals the complexity and characteristic dynamics of macrofaunal fouling assemblages in the tropical habitats,and the results would provide valuable knowledge for biodiversity and antifouling research.

Effects of Whole-Tree Harvesting on Species Composition of Tree and Understory Communities in a Northern Hardwood Forest

In the northeastern United States, whole-tree harvesting is widely used to supply fuel to biomass energy facilities, but questions remain regarding its long-term sustainability. We have previously reported findings indicating no short-term decrease in forest productivity in whole-tree harvested sites when compared with similar conventionally (stem-only) harvested sites. Here we present additional results of the same study, but focus on the effect harvest treatment has on the species composition of the regenerating forest. Within northern hardwood forests in central New Hampshire and western Maine, regeneration surveys were conducted on four (4) small clearcuts in 2010 and twenty-nine (29) small clearcuts in 2011. The species and diameter of trees > 2 m in height were recorded within 1 m or 2 m-radius plots and used to calculate the biomass fraction of each species. The 2010 study additionally measured the density of trees 2 m in height and the diversity of understory non-tree species. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and multi-response permutation procedures were used to determine the effect of harvest treatment had on community-wide tree species composition. Potential differences were also examined on a species-by-species basis. Both analytic methods indicated no significant differences in species composition of tree species or understory communities. Within the limits of our data, we conclude that no significant effects of residue removal on species composition are observed within our sample of northern hardwood sites at this early stage of stand development.