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Scientific Projects
2016 (August)- 2019 (September)
2022 (August)- Present times
The PhD research project:
The initial title (2016): Restoration and Conservation of Rainforest and Cerrado Biomes within Environmental Corridors: Spatial and Temporal Analyses Applying the Hyperspectral and Multispectral Remote Sensing Technologies.
The current title due to the correction focus of the project: The change in fragmentation and health ecosystem in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil from 2000 to 2019: estimation by states and in the whole biome. Estimation the current level of Protection of the Atlantic Rainforests Biome in Brazil.
Campinas, Brazil
Organization:
Supervisor:
Prof. Dr. Wesley Rodrigues Silva - the chief of the LIVEP laboratory, Institute of Biology, UNICAMP
1.1 Proposal of the project with the initial focus research and title (2017)
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation is one of the most acute challenge of present time, leading to the loss of biodiversity and degradation of natural ecosystems. At the end of the 20th century arose the comprehension of necessity to organize the natural protected areas as a network creating a continuity of natural cover, as a countermeasure for the consequence of fragmentation. This concept was called the Ecological Network strategy. However, the current lack of knowledge on the changes in the health of ecosystems in protected areas does not provide a clear confirmation that ecological networks are a more effectively solution for conservation purposes than isolated protected areas, interfering in the transition of the ecological network principle of protected areas organization and causing a number of other sequels that reduce the effectiveness of conservation work. The reason for this lack of knowledge is the complexity and the high cost of studying the state of ecosystems over large areas using only field methods. However, the modern remote sensing technologies can be used to solving this problem. In our project we intend to develop a pilot methodology of a complex assessment of ecosystem health based on the hyperspectral and multispectral remote sensing imagery. By means of elaborated methodology we will assess the current health of ecosystems and their changes over 20-30 year period for rainforest and cerrado biomes inside some environmental corridors. The outcome of the project will be the pilot version of the methodology estimating the ecosystem health and the results of the evaluation of habitat condition within the selected environmental corridors.
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1.2 The frame objectives of the project after the title correction:
1.To elaborate the methodological approaches of complex estimation of tropical forest health (i.e. level of degradation) basing on combination of remote sensing data, GIS and field measurements.
2. To implement the elaborated methods directly for a complex assessment of tropical forest health and their long-term changes.
Both purposes are related with each other, because the methodology of estimation of tropical forest health can be elaborated only in a process of study the quality of real territory with essential task of this study.
1.3 The intermediate working report on project development (2018) :
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Correction of the focus research (the fragment of the report)
The obtained results and immersion into the problem (review of literature, communication with experts) allowed to focus the project on the important issues and to narrow its scope. As a result, the original title of the project was changed. Despite the modification of the project title, almost all initial ideas are planned to be implemented and distributed according to the proposed papers. Now I am exploring only Atlantic forests (Cerrado biome and Amazon forests were excluded from plans). The “Environmental Corridors” were also removed from the title of the project, but this notion is reflected in the focus of all papers in the concepts of Intact Forest landscapes (IFL), High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) and Ecological Networks (“ECONETS)” (or the concept of connectivity of protected natural areas). I excluded this term for the reason that in Brazil there is no valid protected environmental category “Environmental or Biodiversity Corridors”. I found that the category entitled as the “Corredores de Biodiversidade” is rather geographical zoning, because it includes of huge urban territories (like the metropolis of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro). Also, they don’t have any special protection by legislation of Brazil. Instead of them, the important environmental working concepts which were mention above (HCVF, IFL, ECONETS) were introduced into the project, around them the study is being built.
1.4 The main proposed papers:
I consider these papers as the most important for the project implementation. Therefore, they were identified as those 4 papers that are necessary to publish for the defence of PhD thesis. (According to the Unicamp rules, the papers after their publication or application to journals can be folded into a PhD thesis, another document is not necessary). All these papers are devoted to the development of a data and methodology framework that will allow the development of the areas raised in the project: the connection of rainforest fragments for the restoration of their degraded ecosystems, the preservation of intact large forest fragments, the use of this method of organizing protected natural areas in the form of ecological networks (environmental corridors). The approach developed in my project for the Atlantic rainforests can be used for the Amazon forests and Cerrado (which corresponds to the original broad formulation of my project, which was considered in the abstract above). In the future, I would like to continue this direction in these natural biome
Paper #1. Fragmentation change of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil from 2000 to 2019: estimation by states and in the whole biome. Paper #2. Health ecosystem change of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil from 2000 to 2022: estimation by forest types, states and in the whole biome. Paper #3. Comparison of two regimes of protected natural areas in Brazil (UCPI и UCUS) on their effectiveness for the conservation and restoration of the Atlantic forest biome. Paper #4. The preserved large fragments of the Atlantic forests of Brazil: the dynamics of the state and the degree of protection.
1.5 The additional proposed papers:
I also began to collect material and work on these papers, but their publication is not included in the list of papers required for the defence of my PhD thesis. These papers may be written in the future by me or other researchers who will work in the direction started by the project.
Paper #5 (add). The first mapping of the high conservation value forests (HCVFs) of the remnant Atlantic forest in Brazil. The level of protection of the most valuable woodlands. Paper #6 (add). Testing the hypothesis of the existence of a special buffer zone along the edge of a forest fragment, within which rapid degradation of the ecosystem occurs, and outside of which (inside the fragment) the state of the ecosystem is stable. Paper #7 (add). Assessment of the Atlantic rainforest health by remote sensing data of high resolution and field indicators. Paper #8 (add). Dependence of activity of several frugivorous species on tropical forest health in a small fragment of Atlantic forest (case study: Mata Santa Genebra, SP, Brazil). Paper #9 (add). Soil as indicator of Atlantic rainforest disturbance.
2012 (March)- 2016 (July)
The MSc research project: Analysis of the effect of meteorological, superficial and anthropogenic conditions on the soaring activity of the Black vulture (Coragyps atratus, Cathartidae) by means of GIS and remote sensing and its implication for the reduction of bird strike risks.
Campinas, Brazil
Organization:
Supervisor:
Prof. Dr. Wesley Rodrigues Silva - the chief of the LIVEP laboratory, Institute of Biology, UNICAMP
Abstract:
Read in Portuguese
The increasing numbers of aircraft collisions with birds near airports, caused mainly by growth of aircraft traffic and increase of bird populations are a big problem for many countries all over the world. The national research programs have been launched in several countries in order to solve the Bird Strike Problem. Most of bird-strike events occur during takeoff and landing operations within zone of 10-20 km around airports, where airplanes fly at low altitude. In Brazil this problem is serious and urgent as well. The Black vulture (Coragyps atratus, Cathartidae) is the most abundant species in airports surroundings and, at the same time, the species that causes most of collisions with aviation in Brazil. These birds usually soar in flocks on thermals (the upward air flows) during daily hours, ascend highly at sky and cause the hazard of strikes for aviation. Due to its large size and behavioral features, the most common control approaches (falconry, ground deterrents) do not work against it. These conflicts cause the necessity of elaboration the effective measures, which can decrease the risk of strikes with Black vultures without harming these birds.
Our investigation was devoted to moving forward in elaboration of the methods allowing to reduce the risk of collision with Black vultures. It had two separate parts considered in two chapters. In the first one we studied the relationship between soaring activity of vultures and meteorological characteristics (Chapter II); in the second one we explored the dependence of soaring activity of vultures on superficial and anthropogenic factors (Chapter III). The both parts were implemented within surroundings of two airports of southeast of Brazil taken as case studies.
We developed the methodological approaches combining application of GIS and remote sensing technologies for data processing, which were used as the main research instrument. By dint of them we joined in the georeferenced databases (shape files) the data of bird's observation and three types of environmental factors: (i) meteorological characteristics collected together with the bird’s observation, (ii) superficial parameters (relief and surface temperature) obtained from the products of ASTER imagery; (iii) parameters of surface covering and anthropogenic pressure obtained from the satellite images of high resolution. Basing on the analyses of the prepared georeferenced databases, the relationship between soaring activity of vultures and environmental factors was studied; the behavioral patterns of vultures in soaring flight were revealed; the landscape types highly attractive for this species and forming the increased concentration of birds over them were detected; the maps giving a numerical estimation of hazard of bird strike events over the airport vicinities were constructed; the practical recommendations devoted to decrease the risk of collisions with vultures were formulated.
Our results showed that the altitude of soaring flights of Black vultures ranges from 13 to 550 meters. There were two types of schedule of daily soaring activity: plateau-like plot and plot with two peaks at morning and afternoon with a notable drop between them. At both types, about 1- 1.5 hours after local sunrise the soaring activity starts and about 1 - 1.5 hours before local sunset the soaring activity finishes. The strong anthropogenic stress in combination with large area of uninterrupted urbanized lands is a negative factor for Black vultures, which decrease the number of soaring birds. In contrast, small islands of urban zones, surrounded by natural and rural territories, are highly attractive to these birds. Water bodies and automobile roads are the most attractive objects for soaring Black vultures. The hypothesis, stating that Black vultures tend to soar over the strongest thermals in their surroundings was confirmed.
We believe, that the results of our investigation and elaborated methodologies will help to develop the effective set of measures allowing to decrease the number of aircraft collisions with Black vultures and other bird species.
My contribution: In the project I developed the techniques of combined application of GIS and remote sensing technologies for data processing, including methodology of risk assessment map construction; carried out data processing, performed the statistical analyzes, built the resultant plots, tables and risk assessment maps for studied area, participated in elaboration of practical recommendations for airports and researchers.
Results:
The research results were presented in the Master's Degree Thesis (the defence was conducted in July 2016 at the Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil) and two papers published in the peer-reviewed journals of open access. The resulting publications are available below.
Resulting papers and Master Thesis:
Novoselova, N.S. Analysis of the effect of meteorological, superficial and anthropogenic conditions on the soaring activity of the black vulture (Coragyps atratus, Cathartidae) my means of GIS and remote sensing and its implication for the reduction of bird strike risks Portuguese: Análise do efeito das condições meteorológicas, superficiais e antropogênicas sobre atividade de voo do urubu-de-cabeça-preta (Coragyps atratus, Cathartidae) por meio de SIG e sensoriamento remoto e suas imlicações para a redução do risco de colisões com aeronaves // Master Thesis, University of Campinas, Brazil, 2016. Texto completo em Repositório da Unicamp
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Novoselova, N.S. , Novoselov, A.A., Macarrão, A., Gallo-Ortiz, G. & Silva, W.R. 2020. Remote sensing applications for abating aircraft-bird strike risks in Southeast Brazil. // Human-Wildlife Interactions Journal, 14(1), p.25–42. DOI: 10.26077/3z5d-eb31 Open access (Full text)
Novoselova, N.S. , Novoselov, A.A., Macarrão, A., Gallo-Ortiz, G. & Silva, W.R. 2022. Thermal circulation affects Black Vulture Coragyps atratus soaring behaviour in the vicinity of two airports in south-east Brazil. //Vulture News Journal, Vol. 82 No. 1 (2022) Open access (Full text)
The author's unpublished previous versions of two resulting papers:
Novoselova N.S., Novoselov, A.A., Macarrão, A., Gallo-Ortiz, G. & Silva, W.R. Meteorological conditions affecting black vulture Coragyps atratus soaring behavior in the southeast of Brazil: Implications for bird strike abatement // Unpublished author version, prepared for the Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology at August, 2020. Read abstract Download as ZIP archive of full Submission
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Novoselova N.S., Novoselov, A.A., Macarrão, A., Gallo-Ortiz, G. & Silva, W.R. Superficial Conditions Affecting Black Vulture Soaring Behavior in Brazil: Implications for Bird Strike Abatement//Unpublished author version, prepared for the Journal of Wildlife Management at April, 2018. Read abstract Download as ZIP archive of full Submission
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Novoselova N.S., Silva W. R. The elaborated methods of combined application of GIS and remote sensing technologies for reveal relationship between distribution of flying birds and environmental factors (was not written) Read introduction
You can look some figures from the thesis and papers by clicking the icons:
2006 (December – October)
The present-day south boundary of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) range in European part of Russia and factors determining the brown bear’s survival and distribution.
Moscow, Russia
Organizations:
University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) -
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences FGU “Centrohotcontrol” (Russia)
Scientific leaders:
Leonid M. Baskin (Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS),
Volker Radeloff (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Mihail A. Vaisfeld (Institute of Geography RAS)
Resulting papers:
Vaisfeld M. A., Baskin L. M., Gubar Yu. P., Radeloff V., Sitnikova E. F., Novoselova N.S. ,2008. Dynamics of the southern borders of brown bears range in European Russia // Reports of Russian Academy of Science, series Geographical, 2008, V.3, ¹3, Moscow, “Nauka” Press, pp. 81 - 91 Read summary Novoselova N. S. , Vaisfeld M. A., Baskin L. M., Gubar Yu.P., Forest fragmentation as a limiting factor in brown bear survival and distribution in European Russia, 2006 // The materials of IV International Symposium “Dynamics of Games Animals Populations in Northern Europe”, Russia, Petrozavodsk, pp. 127 - 133 Read summary
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I was one of the principal investigator of the project. I processed data for the recent number of brown bears in all administrative districts of 19 administrative regions and republic of Russian Federation (from Smolensk Region on the west to Orenburg Region on the east). The data source was the official forms of the Regional Hunting Control Services that had been received from the Federal Governmental Hunting Control Services (FGU “Centrohotcontrol”).
Basing on those data, I created GIS maps demonstrating the number of bears and the density of bear’s population in the forest areas for each administrative district. Those maps allowed to determine the present-day location of the south boundary of brown bear’s range in European Russia. Comparison of the south border location in 1910-1920’s and 1960’s (which were revealed from the literature) allowed to conclude, that the modern location of the south edge of bears range have moved considerably to the southward from its location at 1960’s. In some places it approximately reached to its location in 1910-1920’s.
Results:
One of the project results was the general recommendation for protection of brown bears and for restoration of their local populations within the southern part of European Russia
The results and methodology of the researches are considered in two papers listed above.
You can see two GIS maps by clicking the icons:
January 2002 – December 2004 Landscape-creative of European beaver (Castor Fiber) activity in North-East European Russia (grant of INTAS Ref. ¹01-0168, 2002–2005)
“Kologrivskiy Les” nature reserve and biological station of Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (Unzha river basin of Kostroma Region, Russia)
Organizations:
Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory for behavior and behavior ecology of mammals
Scientific leader:
Leonid M. Baskin (Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS)
Resulting papers:
Baskin L.M, Novoselova N.S. A fear of predators as a factor determining the length of beaver’s (Castor Fiber) feeding routes, 2008 // Russian Journal of Zoology, T. 87, ¹2, Moscow, “Nauka” Press, pp. 226 – 230, Read summary Novoselova N.S. Some characteristics of beaver’s (Castor fiber) areal and ecology in the South taiga forest of Kostroma region, 2005 // The Abstract Volume of the Conference “Biotechnology, ecology and nature protection” dedicated to the second centenary celebration of the Moscow Society of Nature Investigators, Moscow, “Grafikon-print” Press, pp. 197 - 209. download PDF (translation in English) Baskin L.M., Novoselova N.S., Barisheva, S.L., Chapter 15. Landscape level habitat selection by beavers and the longlasting effects of beaver settlements // Restoring the European Beaver. 50 Years of Experience, Sjoberg, G. and J. Ball (eds.), Sofia-Moscow, “Pensoft Publishers” Press, 2011, pp. 195-204.), download PDF
The book annotation and content you can find here: Pensoft Publishers
Novoselova N.S.The features of distribution and environment-forming activity of beavers (Castor fiber) in the southern taiga of North-East part of the Russian Plain, 2004 // Thesis submitted for the Geography Faculty of the Lomonosov Moscow State University to obtain the Degree of Specialist of Science in Geography in Biogeography Sciences. Moscow, Geography Faculty of MSU. download PDF of close translation in English
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I was one of the principle investigators in the research group of the Severtsov Institute in the international INTAS project “Landscape-creative beaver activity in Northern Europe: a review of the 50-years species-restoration” (grant of INTAS Ref. ¹01-0168, 2002–2005). At the same time, this research was the project for my Graduation thesis of Lomonosov Moscow State University (2004).
Our research was devoted to study the specifics of beavers settlement, behaviour traits, feed and influence on landscape in the southern taiga of the East European Plain. The field studies were implemented in taiga forest of Kostroma Region of Russia.
During the field research the all signs of beavers activity (lodges, burrows, dams, beaver ponds, cut and gnawed trees, beaver canals, marks on trees) were measured and described by several parameters and georeferenced by GPS; the biotope around was described according to the standard form of geobotanical description.
I participated in the field researches and development of the methodology of field data gathering and data processing. I implemented the data processing and GIS data analysis, prepared maps for publication and wrote some of resulting papers and my thesis
Results:
The results of the project were considered in my graduation thesis ( Lomonosov University,2004), two papers and a book’s chapter listed above. The most complete results of the project was presented in my graduation thesis and in the paper Novoselova, 2005 Initially, I prepared this paper in Russian as precise material of Graduation thesis for published its results. Later I translated this paper in English. You can read both variants: Original version in Russian (download PDF) ; translation in English (download PDF) .
The examples of two types of graphical illustrations made by GIS techniques are presented below. The methodology of the second one (profiles of rivers settled by beavers) I elaborated to reveal and analyze the specifics of operating of beaver’s dams. More details about the methodology and results you can find in the paper [Novoselova, 2005]
Type 1. The GIS maps of beaver settlements in the studied area (click on preview to look maps in a full size):
Type 2. The profiles of the rivers settled by beavers (click on preview to look the profiles in a full size):
2001 (July) –2002 (May)
Study of the habitat distribution and specifics of ecology of rocky lacertian (Lacerta saxicola darevskii) on the Abrau Penensula of the Northwestern Caucasus Mountains
The Abrau Peninsula of the Northwestern Caucasus Mountains (Krasnodar Territory, Russia)
Organizations:
Biogeography Department of the Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Scientific leaders:
Alexey Tsellarius (Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS)
Olga Leontyeva (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography)
Resulting papers:
The project was dedicated to study the specifics of habitat, the distribution of occupied space and some other features of ecology of a single population of rocky lacertian in the Northwestern Caucasus Mountains
The field observations were implemented in the Northwestern Caucasus Mountains during two month (July and August, 2001). During this period I conducted the regular hiking routes through the mountain territories settled by rocky lacerations, calculating the number of met animals, examining of their habitat and observing of features of their behaviour. The gathered data was used for writing my term-paper (2002) where I described the results and methodology of the research.
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