Identifying Ecosystem States of the Upper Mississippi River Active
Ecosystem states are bundles of biological and physical characteristics that occur regularly in a habitat. They are used to help understand ecosystems and to communicate which state conditions are desirable or unhealthy. Scientists hypothesized that there are several different ecosystem states in the Mississippi river, with one of them being the best for waterfowl, and therefore a desirable goal for restoration projects. To identify the different ecosystem states, scientists used abstract mathematical tools. This project is groundbreaking as it is the first ecological study to use this type of mathematics.
Ecosystem states are bundles of biological and physical characteristics that occur regularly in a habitat. Scientists hypothesized there are three different ecosystem states in the Mississippi river: clear water with an abundance of plants, water that is covered with algae that shades out other vegetation, and a brown state which has turbid (muddy) water. The first state is ideal for fish and waterfowl and is therefore the most desirable state.
Scientists and mathematicians used complex and abstract mathematical tools to conduct a topological data analysis that defined ecosystem states and that showed when states changed throughout a 30-year period. This study is one of the first ecological studies conducted using this type of analysis.
Understanding ecological conditions in the Upper Mississippi River is needed to identify and manage habitat that will sustain river biota. The knowledge developed can be applied to rehabilitation projects and management efforts aimed at improving water quality, aquatic vegetation, and habitat throughout the entire ecosystem.
This project is being conducted in partnership with the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Mathematics and Statistics Department.
Ecosystem states are bundles of biological and physical characteristics that occur regularly in a habitat. They are used to help understand ecosystems and to communicate which state conditions are desirable or unhealthy. Scientists hypothesized that there are several different ecosystem states in the Mississippi river, with one of them being the best for waterfowl, and therefore a desirable goal for restoration projects. To identify the different ecosystem states, scientists used abstract mathematical tools. This project is groundbreaking as it is the first ecological study to use this type of mathematics.
Ecosystem states are bundles of biological and physical characteristics that occur regularly in a habitat. Scientists hypothesized there are three different ecosystem states in the Mississippi river: clear water with an abundance of plants, water that is covered with algae that shades out other vegetation, and a brown state which has turbid (muddy) water. The first state is ideal for fish and waterfowl and is therefore the most desirable state.
Scientists and mathematicians used complex and abstract mathematical tools to conduct a topological data analysis that defined ecosystem states and that showed when states changed throughout a 30-year period. This study is one of the first ecological studies conducted using this type of analysis.
Understanding ecological conditions in the Upper Mississippi River is needed to identify and manage habitat that will sustain river biota. The knowledge developed can be applied to rehabilitation projects and management efforts aimed at improving water quality, aquatic vegetation, and habitat throughout the entire ecosystem.
This project is being conducted in partnership with the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Mathematics and Statistics Department.