Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador
Ecuadorian páramo ecosystems (EPEs) function as water sources, contain large soil carbon stores and high levels of biodiversity, and support human populations. The EPEs are mainly herbaceous páramo (HP). To inform policy and management and help drive ecological science toward a better understanding...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844019363613 |
| _version_ | 1811288338064211968 |
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| author | Víctor J. García Carmen O. Márquez Tom M. Isenhart Marco Rodríguez Santiago D. Crespo Alexis G. Cifuentes |
| author_facet | Víctor J. García Carmen O. Márquez Tom M. Isenhart Marco Rodríguez Santiago D. Crespo Alexis G. Cifuentes |
| author_sort | Víctor J. García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecuadorian páramo ecosystems (EPEs) function as water sources, contain large soil carbon stores and high levels of biodiversity, and support human populations. The EPEs are mainly herbaceous páramo (HP). To inform policy and management and help drive ecological science toward a better understanding of the HP ecosystem, and the relationships among its multiple ecosystem services, we asked: (1) What is the state of the HP regarding its land use/land cover (LULC)?; and (2) Is the HP being pushed away from its natural state or it is regenerating? To answer these questions, we assessed the LULC in central EPEs using Landsat 8 imagery, Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) and a Classification and Regression Trees (CART) algorithm. Results show that two-fifths of the paramo ecosystem remain as native HP (NHP) and two-fifths as anthropogenic HP (AHP). Although the anthropic alteration of the pedogenesis of young paramo soil leads to the establishment of AHP, we found evidence of regeneration and resilience of the NHP. The results of this study will be useful to scientists and decision-makers with interest in páramo ecosystems in central Ecuador. The proposed methodology is simple, fast, and could be implemented in other landscapes to establish comprehensive monitoring systems useful in landscape assessment and planning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:35:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7fab7e3b19cb4d68845af9e01e7c4113 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:35:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fab7e3b19cb4d68845af9e01e7c41132022-12-22T03:04:21ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402019-10-01510e02701Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central EcuadorVíctor J. García0Carmen O. Márquez1Tom M. Isenhart2Marco Rodríguez3Santiago D. Crespo4Alexis G. Cifuentes5Facultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo, 060150, Ecuador; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Estado Mérida, 5101, Venezuela; Corresponding author.Facultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo, 060150, Ecuador; Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Estado Mérida, 5101, VenezuelaDepartment of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USAFacultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo, 060150, EcuadorFacultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo, 060150, EcuadorFacultad de Ingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Provincia de Chimborazo, 060150, EcuadorEcuadorian páramo ecosystems (EPEs) function as water sources, contain large soil carbon stores and high levels of biodiversity, and support human populations. The EPEs are mainly herbaceous páramo (HP). To inform policy and management and help drive ecological science toward a better understanding of the HP ecosystem, and the relationships among its multiple ecosystem services, we asked: (1) What is the state of the HP regarding its land use/land cover (LULC)?; and (2) Is the HP being pushed away from its natural state or it is regenerating? To answer these questions, we assessed the LULC in central EPEs using Landsat 8 imagery, Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) and a Classification and Regression Trees (CART) algorithm. Results show that two-fifths of the paramo ecosystem remain as native HP (NHP) and two-fifths as anthropogenic HP (AHP). Although the anthropic alteration of the pedogenesis of young paramo soil leads to the establishment of AHP, we found evidence of regeneration and resilience of the NHP. The results of this study will be useful to scientists and decision-makers with interest in páramo ecosystems in central Ecuador. The proposed methodology is simple, fast, and could be implemented in other landscapes to establish comprehensive monitoring systems useful in landscape assessment and planning.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844019363613EcologyEcosystem changeEnvironmental analysisEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental impact assessmentEnvironmental science |
| spellingShingle | Víctor J. García Carmen O. Márquez Tom M. Isenhart Marco Rodríguez Santiago D. Crespo Alexis G. Cifuentes Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador Heliyon Ecology Ecosystem change Environmental analysis Environmental assessment Environmental impact assessment Environmental science |
| title | Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador |
| title_full | Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador |
| title_short | Evaluating the conservation state of the páramo ecosystem: An object-based image analysis and CART algorithm approach for central Ecuador |
| title_sort | evaluating the conservation state of the paramo ecosystem an object based image analysis and cart algorithm approach for central ecuador |
| topic | Ecology Ecosystem change Environmental analysis Environmental assessment Environmental impact assessment Environmental science |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844019363613 |
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