CERoPath

Environmental patterns of species communities can be characterized using remote sensing tools combined with GIS  [27] [64]. Increases in both spatial and spectral resolution of satellite images offer new relevant possibilities for the remote sensing of biodiversity patterns [32] [64]. Prior to the spatial analysis, field surveys of different rodent species will aim at defining the environmental parameters that allow describing their niche (WP1, WP2). Then recent high spatial resolution images from the satellite SPOT V will be used to analyze the land cover in each study site and extract characteristic indicators for each species niche by partner 3 and 4. As no single factor drives biodiversity patterns, we will integrate these remotely sensed indices  to a GIS to enhance the characterization of each rodent niche, and niche of selected parasite / pathogen (WP4), with other geo-referenced data (WP1, WP2).

We will also acquire aerial pictures available over the last fifty years along the study area to measure the land cover changes. While Thailand has lost a quarter of its forests during this period, Lao and Cambodia have recorded lesser environmental changes. This photo-interpretation at regular intervals will help assessing the environmental dynamics and implications on the biodiversity and health.

The choice of the sites will be made on the basis of pervious experiences of partners 1 and 5 (see 2.2 and 2.3 below), and new sites providing by partners 1a and 1b in Thailand and 1d in Lao PRD.

Specific outputs regarding this WP3

  1/ Building a dedicated GIS

  2/ Characterization of the habitat template

  3/ Characterization of the dynamics of environmental changes