Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: Data Management and Analysis
EPA Grant Number: R829458C004Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829458
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions
Center Director: Robinson, Allen
Title: Data Management and Analysis
Investigators: Noble, Peter
Institution: University of Washington , University of Southern Mississippi
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to May 20, 2007)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2002
RFA: Environmental Indicators in the Estuarine Environment Research Program (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
The main objectives of this research project are to develop a secure Web site for the deposition of metadata and the Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM) investigators data, and to conduct statistical analysis of ecological data. The CEER-GOM Web Sites have not been linked together, and the uploading tools have not been hooked up (although they are developed). It is anticipated that the final product will be completed by March 2003. Neural network software has been developed for nonlinear statistical analysis. A more sophisticated neural network software package also has been developed and currently is being beta tested. A manuscript describing the neural network software and providing an example of how this software can be used for ecological assessment is being prepared. A manuscript dealing with eutrophication of salt marsh estuaries based on phytoplankton community pigment analysis also is in review. Two manuscripts dealing with the application of DNA microarrays and neural network analysis have been accepted for publication in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. This project is collaborating with two groups at CEER-Atlantic Coast Environmental Indicators Consortium (ACE) (Dr. Jim Morris, University of South Carolina; Drs. Lexia Valdes and Hans Pearl, University of North Carolina). This collaborators will be using the new neural network software to analyze their ecological data.
Progress Summary:
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment data were collected from two Southeastern salt marsh estuaries, in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Coastal Intensive Sites Network [CISNET] project. The results are relevant to the CEER-GOM project because we intend to use the same approach. Establishing the link between environmental measurements to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment profiles provides a new approach for assessing the effects of nutrient loading and riverine inputs on phytoplankton community composition (Noble, et al., 2003).
An analytical approach for assessing the relationship between abiotic and biotic factors in ecological data has been determined. More specifically, a custom-designed neural network software has been developed (which will be downloadable to users from the Web site) and how it can be applied to data collected from a previous EPA-CISNET project has been demonstrated. An analytical approach to link environmental measurements to HPLC pigment profiles was determined. Such approaches are being used to assess the effects of nutrient loading on phytoplankton community composition. We have prepared a manuscript that provides information on how to use a neural network to analyze complex data. An example of the neural network software is available at: http://noble.ce.washington.edu Exit , under "Tools for data analysis." The downloadable software currently is not available for download because it is being beta tested A Beta version of the neural network software is being tested by Dr. Jim Morris (University of South Carolina). The software is named "Neuroet" and runs on any PC or Macintosh computer. In addition to releasing the software for free distribution with publication of the Tribou, et al. paper (see Publications/Presentations below), we intend on providing a Web-based tutorial on Dr. Noble's Web site so that researchers can easily learn how to use the software for their EPA research.
EPA-CEER-GOM funding has been acknowledged because Dr. Noble participated in performing statistical analysis of the data and in writing of manuscripts. They address the development of a new molecular technology (i.e., oligonucleotide DNA microarrays) for detecting microbes in environmental samples. The methods developed will be used in CEER-GOM projects as well as in future EPA coastal indicator projects (El Fantroussi et al., 2003; Urakawa et al., 2003).
Collaborations with CEER-ACE Projects. A beta version of the neural network software is being tested by Dr. Morris. The software is entitled "Neuroet" and runs on any PC or Macintosh computer. In addition to releasing the software for free distribution with publication of the Tribou et al. paper, we intend on providing a Web-based tutorial on my Web Site so that researchers can easily learn how to use the software for their EPA research.
Dr. Noble also is collaborating with Drs. Valdes and Pearl. His software will be used to analyze their extensive data set of the Neuse River Estuary. Dr. Noble plans to release his software to Dr. Valdes for beta testing and for checking that his Web-based tutorial is user friendly.
Web Site Development. Progress has been made on the Web site (http://noble.ce.washington.edu Exit ) and we have begun to integrate this site with the CEER-GOM Web Site (http://www.cms.usm.edu/ceer/ Exit ). Dr. Noble has developed a secure area for depositing metadata and ecological data on the site. The button (Internal Use) on the Web page allows users to retrieve and look at data from other CEER-GOM scientists. The username and password are: "test" and "test," respectively. An "internal use" button soon will be on the CEER-GOM Web Site so that users can seamlessly retrieve and look at data of other CEER-GOM scientists. Users will be unaware that the secure site is actually not on the CEER-GOM Web Site.
Future Activities:
We will complete the linkage of the CEER-GOM Web sites and the uploading of the tools for data analysis. It is anticipated that the final product will be completed by March 2003.
Dr. Noble plans to release his software to Dr. Valdes for beta testing and for checking that his Web-based tutorial is user friendly. In addition, an “internal use” button soon will be added on the CEER-GOM Web Site so that users can seamlessly retrieve and look at data of other CEER-GOM scientists. Users will be unaware that the secure site is actually not on the CEER-GOM Web Site. There also are plans to complete several manuscripts for publication.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 18 publications for this subprojectSupplemental Keywords:
population, community, ecosystem, watersheds, estuary, Gulf of Mexico, nutrients, hypoxia, innovative technology, ecoindicators, biomarkers, water quality, remote sensing, geographic information system, GIS, integrated assessment, risk assessment, fisheries, conservation, restoration., RFA, Scientific Discipline, ECOSYSTEMS, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Aquatic Ecosystem, Aquatic Ecosystems, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Monitoring, Ecology and Ecosystems, Biology, Ecological Indicators, Gulf of Mexico, monitoring, ecoindicator, ecological exposure, neural network software, estuaries, estuarine integrity, CEER-GOM, estuarine ecoindicator, data management, environmental indicators, environmental stress, water qualityRelevant Websites:
http://noble.ce.Washington.edu Exit
http://www.cms.usm.edu/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R829458 Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829458C001 Remote Sensing of Water Quality
R829458C002 Microbial Biofilms as Indicators of Estuarine Ecosystem Condition
R829458C003 Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans
R829458C004 Data Management and Analysis
R829458C005 Individual Level Indicators: Reproductive Function in Estuarine Fishes
R829458C006 Collaborative Efforts Between CEER-GOM and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Gulf Ecology Division (GED)
R829458C007 GIS and Terrestrial Remote Sensing
R829458C008 Macrobenthic Process Indicators of Estuarine Condition for the Northern Gulf of Mexico
R829458C009 Modeling and Integration
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
10 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: R829458
175 publications for this center
52 journal articles for this center