Environmental sensor networks in ecological research

Abstract

Summary Environmental sensor networks offer a powerful combination of distributed sensing capacity, real‐time data visualization and analysis, and integration with adjacent networks and remote sensing data streams. These advances have become a reality as a combined result of the continuing miniaturization of electronics, the availability of large data storage and computational capacity, and the pervasive connectivity of the Internet. Environmental sensor networks have been established and large new networks are planned for monitoring multiple habitats at many different scales. Projects range in spatial scale from continental systems designed to measure global change and environmental stability to those involved with the monitoring of only a few meters of forest edge in fragmented landscapes. Temporal measurements have ranged from the evaluation of sunfleck dynamics at scales of seconds, to daily CO2 fluxes, to decadal shifts in temperatures. Above‐ground sensor systems are partnered with subsurface soil measurement networks for physical and biological activity, together with aquatic and riparian sensor networks to measure groundwater fluxes and nutrient dynamics. More recently, complex sensors, such as networked digital cameras and microphones, as well as newly emerging sensors, are being integrated into sensor networks for hierarchical methods of sensing that promise a further understanding of our ecological systems by revealing previously unobservable phenomena.

Changes in ecosystem resilience detected in automated measures of ecosystem metabolism during a whole-lake manipulation

“…Although automated sensors are promising for meeting intensive data requirements, it is not known whether variables measured by such sensors are suitable for assessing resilience or thresholds in complex ecosystems under field conditions. Sensor data are often used to estimate metabolic rates (e.g., primary production) at the ecosystem scale (21)(22)(23). Primary production and respiration (R) are fundamental ecosystem variables closely related to carbon balance, and they have been…”

Ecoinformatics: supporting ecology as a data-intensive science

“…Ecology is increasingly becoming a data-intensive science (see Glossary) [1,2], relying on massive amounts of data collected by both remote-sensing platforms [3] and sensor networks that are embedded in the environment [4][5][6][7]. New observatory networks, such as the US National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) [8] and Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) [9], provide research platforms that enable scientists to examine phenomena across diverse ecosystem types through access to thousands of sensors collecting diverse environmental observations.…”

Estimating Suspended Sediment Concentration in Streams by Diffuse Light Attenuation

“…Recent advancement in wireless electronic technology offers the potential for inexpensive measurements of environmental parameters in space and time using miniaturized electronic sensors and wireless communication characterized by low cost, low power requirements, and fast installation (Glasgow et al 2004;Hart and Martinez 2006;Wang et al 2006;Yick et al 2008;Rundel et al 2009;Horsburg et al 2010;Larios et al 2012;Sunita et al 2012). Application of the new sensor technology to stream network monitoring is attractive because a sensed system could be used to identify hot spots of high sediment and pollutant flux, could be useful for calibrating numerical models, and generally provides a better understanding of stream network connectivity and geomorphology under different flow regimes.…”