Marine Information Managers Role in Historical Ecology and Marine Data Mining

1. Marine Information Managers Role in Historical Ecology and Marine Data Mining An Example of MIM and DM Partnership Opportunity Presented by Linda Pikula NOAA Central Library Miami Region IOC, ODINECET Marine Information Management Workshop Capacity Building for European Communities in Economic Transition November 19-23, 2007 Oostende, Belgium

2. Historical Ecology Historical ecology From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Historical ecology is a fairly new field of study that takes a human/nature dialectical approach to the history of landscapes, cultures, and regions. It is similar in some ways to environmental history, cultural ecology, and evolutionary ecology though different enough that many scholars identify instead with this field. In a forthcoming volume entitled "Time, Complexity, and Historical Ecology" by William Balée and Clark Erickson, special emphasis is placed on landscape, "a multidimensional physical entity that has both spatial and temporal characteristics and has been modified by human actiivty..." Where historical ecology differs from landscape ecology is the recognition and predominance of anthropocentric forces upon the landscape. One of the first pioneers of historical ecology, Carole Crumley, notes that "historical ecology traces the ongoing dialectical relations between human acts and acts of nature, made manifest in landscape." Her belief is that the physical evidence of these activities provide the scholar a totality for study and analysis that is multiscalar, diachronic, and holisitic. References Balée, W., ed. (1998). Advances in Historical Ecology. Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN 0-231-10632-7. Crumley, Carole L. ed. (1993). Historical Ecology: Cultural Knowledge and Changing Landscapes. Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research Press; [Seattle]: Distributed by the University of Washington Press. Egan, D. and E.A. Howell, ed. (2001). "The Historical Ecology Handbook: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems." Island Press, Washington, D.C.

3. Applied Historical Ecology • Historical Ecology & Climate ChangeHistorical ecology uses historical data such as photographs, oral histories and amateur and scientific natural history observations to ask scientific questions. I have been interested in the use of historical ecology in studying the effects of climate change on natural systems.One example is resurveys conducted by myself, Sarah Gilman, Jim Barry, and Chuck Baxter of the ecological transect first surveyed by W.G. Hewatt at Hopkins Marine Station in 1930. Hewatt was a graduate student at Hopkins, and as part of his thesis he counted and recorded the abundance of every invertebrate he could see in each square yard of his 105 yard-long transect. In 1993 we relocated brass bolts that marked the transect and resurveyed invertebrate populations in the exact locations where Hewatt counted. The graph below shows that compared to the same places in 1930, we have greater populations of southern species today and lower numbers of northern species. • These changes occurred while ocean temperatures at Hopkins rose significantly by nearly 1 degree C. • But data and numbers don't tell the whole story. You can also see dramatic changes in comparative photos of intertidal landscapes, or even individual rocks. Although the granite rocks are extremely resistant to erosion and have stayed very similar, the things growing on the rocks, especially the algae, have changed dramatically. Put your cursor on any photo on this page to see before (c. 1930) and after (c. 1995) photos. • Above is Hopkins Marine Station in 1930 and (when you put your cursor on the photo) in 1995. The main difference is that the dark algal band that used to be a rich layer of the rock weed Silvetia compressa is now mostly algal turf like Endocladia muricata with almost no rockweed. This change can also be seen in the close-up of the same intertidal rock (right). • Other examples of historical ecology in studying climate change appear in the field of phenology, which looks at long-term trends in the timing of natural events such as migrations, mating and ice melting. For more reading check out some of my publications. • Rafe Sagarin

4. Historical Ecology – studying how humans changed ecosystems and landscapes • EcosystemsLand useLandscapesIt is quite obvious that planet earth would not the same without human beings. But how can we actually specify or even quantify the anthropogenic impact on ecosystems and landscapes? This is the core task of historical ecology. The methods and approaches used depend on the specific research questions, and these can come from social science as well as from ecology or geography. The following overview on some projects conducted at the WSL illustrates the diversity of methods applied in historical ecology: Studying soils and plants goes along with analyzing different policies, conducting experiments and making oral history interviews.

5. Marine Historical Ecology • Announcement: Mia J. Tegner Memorial Research Grants in Marine Historical Ecology and Environmental History • Application Deadline: The application period for 2007 awards has closed. The application period for 2008 awards will open this winter. • Click here for a PDF version of the application guidelines. • Dr. Mia Tegner in a California kelp forest (Photo: Eric Hanauer) • Marine Environmental History and Historical EcologyMany marine ecosystems experienced drastic changes long before we acquired scientific understanding of the pre-impact state. Environmental history and historical ecology are studies that reveal the baseline conditions crucial for identifying appropriate conservation targets. They link the past to the present and provide a blueprint for restoring ecosystems. • Dr. Mia J. TegnerThe late Dr. Mia J. Tegner, esteemed marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studied the ecology of kelp forest communities, sea urchins and abalone populations. Dr. Tegner was particularly interested in understanding how marine populations and ecosystems have changed as a result of human activities. Her dedication to marine biology and contribution to a seminal paper on historical ecology inspired Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) to create this program to honor her legacy. • Purpose of Historical Ecology Research Grants:To fund high quality studies examining past ecosystem conditions (i.e., historical baselines). This work should be relevant to policy makers and conservationists in their efforts to conserve and restore marine biodiversity. • ScopeThe program will focus on projects from both natural and social scientists that seek to uncover interactions between natural and human history in the marine and estuarine environments worldwide. MCBI is particularly interested in studies that seek to describe systems prior to large-scale human impacts and industrialization. Research may draw on sources ranging from culturally and geographically derived data, to biological and physical data. Examples of possible information resources include fishery data, letters, journals, interviews, oral histories, historical documents, maps, photos, field surveys, etc. • Programmatic FocusMCBI seeks proposals that will study historical marine ecology throughout the world, but we also have specific interests in the following areas: • Studies combining scientific with traditional knowledge, and/or the significance of traditional resource management systems in maintaining biological and cultural diversity, especially in the regions of Northern Australia, South Pacific, Sea of Cortez and Gulf of California. • Ecological connections between diadromousfishes that depend on river habitats and the populations of offshore predators such as tunas, billfish, bluefish, and sharks that relay on diadromous species as primary prey. 

6. Example of Historical EcologyProject • Goal- To fund studies examining past ecosystem conditions (i.e., historical baselines). This work should be relevant to policy makers and conservationists in their efforts to restore and conserve marine biodiversity. Scope- The program will focus on projects from both natural and social scientists that seek to uncover interactions between natural and human history in the marine and estuarine environments anywhere in the world. MCBI is particularly interested in studies that seek to describe systems prior to large-scale human impacts and industrialization. Research may draw on sources ranging from culturally and geographically derived data to biological and physical data. Examples of possible information resources include fishery data, letters, journals, interviews, oral histories, historical documents, maps, photos, field surveys, etc.

7. Definition of Data Mining • What is data mining? • Data mining:is the process of finding new information from existing collections of data • Draws on a variety of tools and techniques • Uses data from many different sources in order to exploit relationships between those data. • Why are we interested in data mining? • Collecting data from polar regions is difficult and expensive. Through data mining, the Data Centre seeks to make the data that we hold more useful to the Antarctic community.

9. What is Data Mining • Old Maps • Old Photographs of Coastal Areas, etc • Old climate data in print format • Old explorations, Spanish and other countries voyages and narrative on these • Old handwritten scientific journals

10. ODIN Projects-Marine Atlas • African Marine Atlas • Caribbean Marine Atlas • Black Sea Marine Atlas?

11. African Marine Atlas

12. African Marine Atlas • What is AMA? • The purpose of the African Marine Atlas (AMA) is to identify, collect and organize available geospatial datasets into an atlas of environmental themes for Africa, under the sponsorship of the ODINAFRICA Projectof the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's (IOC)International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) Programme. The African Marine Atlas will include and involve a number of other geo-spatial data projects on and around the African continent.  • At the present time, the majority of the data layers in the African Marine Atlas are continental-scale, but the structure of this interface already allows for the inclusions of national- and local-scale layers.  All the African Marine Atlas datasets, images and grids use the standard GIS mapping convention of signed decimal degrees, with longitudes ranging from -180 to +180 (i.e. not 0 to 360).  No data are projected, and as far as can be determined all data products are provided in "geographic coordinates" using the WGS84 Datum, in absence of other information.  Seasonal references in the datasets refer to the northern (boreal) seasons (i.e. winter ranges from January to March), unless otherwise stated.

13. Caribbean Marine Atlas • Caribbean Marine Atlas (CMA) A number of Caribbean countries are embarking on an initiative to develop a Caribbean Marine Atlas (CMA). The purpose of the CMA is to identify, collect and organize available geo-spatial datasets into an atlas of environmental themes for the Caribbean region, under the sponsorship of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's (IOC) International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) Programmes. The CMA will include geo-spatial data from national and regional projects and programmes, related to the sustainable development and integrated management of marine and coastal areas in the region. While these areas and their associated living resources are of major importance for the sustainable development of the Caribbean, they are under increasing pressure from a combination of anthropogenic and natural threats. A major constraint to effective integrated management of these areas has been limited availability of data and information as well as of appropriate data and information tools. • The IODE/ICAM WORKSHOP ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN MARINE ATLAS (CMA) was held in Barbados between 8 and 10 October 2007 to discuss the way forward with the CMA pilot project - MORE ABOUT THE WORKSHOP HERE • A prototype version of the Caribbean Marine Atlas will be prepared by nine participating countries (Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos). It is expected the prototype Atlas will be released in October 2008. It is planned to extend the Atlas to include other countries in the region. Environmental datasets from organizations in the contributing countries will be collected for presentation in the Atlas.

14. Caribbean Marine Atlas • Data Layers • The data layers for the Atlas will be: • Regional Scale Data Layers - These layers cover the complete Atlas area of interest. • National/Local Scale Data Layers - These layers cover specific countries in the Caribbean. It will be the responsibility of the participating countries to collect and organize data. Some of the data themes that will be included will be provided as "virtual" datasets. • Virtual Data Layers - These layers will be provided as links to online web map servers (WMS) or web feature servers (WFS) that produce dynamic maps that can be integrated into the Atlas.

15. Caribbean Marine Atlas • Features of the Atlas • The CMA will be a digital atlas comprising easily downloadable data on various key themes relevant to the marine and coastal environment of the Caribbean. Among these themes are coastal habitats, fisheries, environmental quality, climate change and sea level rise, oceanography, as well as socio-economic aspects. The Atlas will also contain dataset descriptions (metadata) and links to the source data. It is intended both to provide necessary datasets directly to concerned scientists, coastal zone management practitioners, and natural resource managers, and will set the stage for the development of decision-makers' toolkits that rely on geo-spatial information. • The CMA will play an important role in informing decision-makers on issues relating to the marine and coastal environment and it is envisaged the Atlas will become the main entry point for anyone interested in finding information on the coastal and marine environment of the Caribbean. • The development of the CMA will also provide a tool to assist community building and collaboration in the region. It will draw on national human resources to identify issues of concern, define appropriate indicators and locate datasets that can be used in the atlas. In addition, data gaps that require additional resources will be identified. As part of the Atlas development, the IODE programme will provide the necessary training to the relevant persons from each country. The CMA will be built using open source technologies and will be based on international standards to enable the sharing of technological knowledge and resources. The Atlas will encourage the wide dissemination of key datasets by providing access and visualization of these data.

16. What Can MIM do to assist specifically?

17. Example of Historical Ecology/Data Mining Report

19. Inventory from my library of old weather books from Cuba • TITLE LIST FOR CUBAN METEOROLOGICAL COLLECTION • Series: Observaciones Magneticas y Meteorologicas del Colegio de Belen en Habana (hechas en • el observatorio del Colegio de Belen de la Compania de Jesus en la Habana). • (Continued by Observatorio Meteorologico, Magnetico, y Seismico del Colegio de Belen de la • Compania de Jesus en la Habana). • ano del 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1885, 1890, 1893, 1896, 1902, 1904. • Series: Observatorio Meteorologico, Magnetico, y Seismico del Colegio de Belen de la Compania • de Jesus en la Habana. • (Preceded by Observaciones Magneticas y Meteorologicas del Colegio de Belen en Habana • (hechas en el observatorio del Colegio de Belen de la Compania de Jesus en la Habana)). • ano del 1908, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924. • Series: Estudio climatologico de Cuba, Secretaria de Agricultura, Comercio, y Trabajo, Boletin del • Observatorio Nacional. November 1928. • Series: Estudio climatologico de Cuba, Secretaria de Agricultura, Comercio, y Trabajo, Servicio • Meteorologico, Climatologico, y de Cosechas. Resumen del ano 1905. • Series: Anales de la Academia de Ciencias. Enrique Gomez Planos: Prehistoria de la Isla de Cuba. • August-December 1900. • Las Diferentes Corrientes de la atmosfera en el cielo de la Habana.(1904). P.L. Gangoiti. • Climate of the Island of Cuba. (1898). Enrique del Monte. Manuscript. In English.

20. Examples of Data Mining The Atlantic Hurricane Re-analysis Project: Results for the first 60 years - 1851 to 1910 By Christopher W. Landsea * Craig Anderson ** Noel Charles *** Gilbert Clark *** Jason Dunion * Paul Hungerford *** Charlie Neumann **** Mark Zimmer *** Jose Fernandez-Partagas ***** * NOAA/AOML/Hurricane Research Division, Miami, Florida ** NOAA/Climate Diagnostics Center, Boulder, Colorado *** Florida International University, Miami, Florida **** SAIC, Miami, Florida ***** Deceased