1. Jessica Schaefer

2. Introduction - Historically, ecological research was conducted in pristine wilderness areas - It is estimated that between 1/3 and ½ the planet’s land surface has been directly affected by humans - Understanding the effects of human disturbance on ecosystem production is vital, especially in light of current concerns over global climate change and carbon budgets

3. Urbanization http://www.richard-seaman.com/USA/Cities/Chicago/PhotoGalleries/index.html

4. 1. Heat Pollution LANDSAT Map with Red Overlay to Show Hottest Temperatures http://www.rsat.com/apps/uhi_app/dcb_thermal.html

5. 2. Fertile Land Trend In California, 15% of Fertile Agricultural Land is Urbanized (Imhoff Et al. 2004)

6. 3. Land Management Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada www.weitzgolf.com/.../bb-lasvegas.jpg

7. Landscape Mosaics www.cblarsonrealty.com/P061%20aerial%202.jpg

8. 1. Managed Forests http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/forestry/forest2_b.jpg

9. 2. Natural Disturbance Forest fire started by lightning, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA © David Woodfall/WWI/Still Pictures

10. 3. Human Disturbance Legend Light Blue: Deforestation Light Red: Regrowth Dark Red: Forest Tropical Deforestation and Habitat Degradation In the Brazilian Amazon Basin eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/.../images/p24aL.GIF

11. Discussion What about… - Root Biomass? - Edge Effects? How to address land mosaics?

12. Conclusion Where to go from here? - Continued integration of GIS, remote sensing, modeling, and field observation - Further refinement of current models - Application to global climate change