Simulating the Range Expansion ofSpartina alterniflorain Ecological Engineering through Constrained Cellular Automata Model and GIS

Abstract

Environmental factors play an important role in the range expansion ofSpartina alterniflorain estuarine salt marshes. CA models focusing on neighbor effect often failed to account for the influence of environmental factors. This paper proposed a CCA model that enhanced CA model by integrating constrain factors of tidal elevation, vegetation density, vegetation classification, and tidal channels in Chongming Dongtan wetland, China. Meanwhile, a positive feedback loop between vegetation and sedimentation was also considered in CCA model through altering the tidal accretion rate in different vegetation communities. After being validated and calibrated, the CCA model is more accurate than the CA model only taking account of neighbor effect. By overlaying remote sensing classification and the simulation results, the average accuracy increases to 80.75% comparing with the previous CA model. Through the scenarios simulation, the future ofSpartina alternifloraexpansion was analyzed. CCA model provides a new technical idea and method for salt marsh species expansion and control strategies research.