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In this paper, we demonstrate a physical experiment of optical scanning holography based on random-phase encoding and connected component labeling. Usually, a pinhole is used as one of pupil functions in conventional optical scanning holography experiment. Although such a structure is relatively simple, defocus noise trends to appear as a blur in sectional image reconstruction. In our experiments, a random-phase pupil is used, and it can easily transform defocus noise into speckle-like patterns with the increase in defocus distance. We apply connected component labeling to deal with the speckles, and the focus image can be recovered clearly from reconstructed images.

We propose an optical image encryption scheme based on the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) theory and the double random phase encoding (DRPE) technique. The piecewise linear chaotic map (PWLCM) is used to generate key images and random phase masks, and to determine DNA encoding rules. In order to achieve ultra-fast DNA encryption, we propose using an optical exclusive-OR (XOR) gate to achieve XOR operation in DNA encryption. Different plaintexts use different initial values of PWLCM, which are generated by Message Digest Algorithm 5 (MD5). The plaintext is encrypted by two rounds of DNA and then by DRPE to form a ciphertext. Numerical simulation and the analysis of attacks on encrypted image are implemented to demonstrate the security and validity of the proposed approach.

We propose an optical multiple-image encryption scheme based on compressive sensing and double random phase encoding. The orthogonal encoding method is used for integrating and extracting multiple-image compressed sampling data. In the encryption process, each plain image is sampled by compressive sensing and the sampled data of all the images are integrated into a synthesized ciphertext by orthogonal encoding method. The synthesized ciphertext is re-encrypted through the double random phase encoding technique to form final ciphertext. In order to reduce the data of keys, chaotic matrix, of which only the initial value should be memorized, is employed in the compressive sampling process and double random phase encoding process. Numerical simulation and the analysis of attacks on encrypted image are implemented to demonstrate the security and validity of the proposed approach.

Difficult to study species that inhabit inaccessible terrain, present significant challenges in obtaining accurate ecological, distributional, and conservation information. To address these challenges, we used an effective set of time- and cost-efficient methods including interview-based surveys assisted by Google earth 3D maps to document the distributional range of 32 native animal taxa in the biodiverse but difficult to access Gaoligong Mountains (GLGMS), located on the northern Sino-Myanmar Border. Five threatened flagship species, including the black snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), the Skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing), Shortridge's langur (Trachypithecus shortridgei), Sclater's monal (Lophophorus sclateri) and the Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor) were selected for intensive surveys and used as surrogate taxa to study community biodiversity. Field surveys of each species were conducted to determine their presence/absence and to confirm the reliability of species distribution data obtained from interview-based surveys. Multicriteria Decision Analyses were used along with data on habitat suitability (MAXENT) to prioritize transboundary conservation areas. Our results indicate that approximately 83.4% (10,398.7 km2) of the remaining habitat with high biodiversity conservation value in the GLGMs is unprotected. This includes six large zones located along the northern Sino-Myanmar border, separated by rivers and human settlements. These areas should be designated as a transboundary World Nature Heritage Site, national parks, or wildlife sanctuaries. This study presents a reliable, rapid and integrative method for developing informed policies for conservation prioritization in data poor areas, which can be applied successfully to assess conservation priorities in other mountainous regions where obtaining data on biodiversity is difficult. Key worlds: Flagship species, Local ecological knowledge, MAXENT, Multi-criteria decision analysis, Conservation planning, Transboundary conservation

The ecosystem services (ES) concept is an essential tool to promote interregional conservation and development, especially in landscapes where ecological, economic, and sociocultural resources are connected. Our study capitalizes on the interregional ES flow among the three countries – China, India, and Myanmar – that share the far-eastern Himalayan Landscape. We used participatory GIS mapping to visualize the ES flow from three protected areas (PAs) in the landscape, and participatory scenario analysis to understand the direction PA management could take. The service provisioning hotspots, the service beneficiary areas (SBAs), and the degraded service provisioning hotspots (dSPHs) were mapped for ES that was of high management priority. The trade-offs among the ES were analysed for the three scenarios – Nature-at-Work, Nature-People Harmony, and People-at-Work. The argument for regional cooperation was affirmed with several dSPHs lying along the border, and SBAs reaching beneficiaries beyond the PAs and one country. The performances of ES under different scenarios indicated that future management of PAs must widen conservation constituencies and capitalize on multiple benefits from PAs, essentially to maximize livelihoods benefits to communities who live in and around PAs. We recommend intra, inter-country, and regional cooperation pathways for the future sustenance of ES from PAs in the landscape.

Each image is sampled by compressed sensing, then the sampled data is synthesized into a synthesized cipher image by orthogonal encoding. Finally, the synthetic cipher image is re-encrypted by DRPE to form a cipher image.

Migratory livestock raising has been one of the most important livelihood options for people residing in high mountain areas and has made a significant contribution to the economy of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, both in terms of supporting households and in export earnings. However, in recent decades, changes in the socioeconomic situation and increasing climate variability have led to a need to enhance adaptation by building the resilience of local socio-ecological systems, including economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources. Based on semi-structured interviews with pastoral communities in six countries within the pastoral HKH region, this paper discusses the situation, trends and driving forces behind the diversification of pastoral livelihood. For internal diversification the study highlights the need for enhancement of pastoral livelihoods through value-adding activities in the pastoral sectors. For external diversification changes on policy changes are needed to support free out-migration, market exploitation, and multiple resource use. Finally the paper highlights the role of education in determining household adaptation strategies in the face of various socio-ecological pressures and recommends integrating innovative and indigenous knowledge to develop appropriate methods for risk management and resource management in the pastoral HKH region.

This paper examines agropastoral transhumance in 12 sampled villages on the southeast Tibetan Plateau. By analysing trends in this indigenous livelihood system and examining causes and potential consequences, we conclude that Tibetan agropastoral transhumance is a fragile system extremely vulnerable to external impacts. Within the context of China's rapid development and globalisation, this agricultural heritage is changing rapidly, as is most saliently reflected in herd size and structure, movement patterns, relative economic importance of pastoral activities and the relations between pastoralism and crop cultivation. Immediate causes of changes are local changes in livestock management objectives, land uses and labour availability, which are driven by more fundamental changes of environmental, political, socioeconomic, technological and cultural profiles, from local to global scales. Changes in local livelihood systems can have multifaceted and profound political, socioeconomic, cultural and ecological ...

Mosses cover most of the forest floor of subalpine forests at the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the origin of many important rivers in China. They play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and conserving large amounts of water thereby regulating the water budget of local ecosystems. This area has a harsh climate due to low temperatures and low air pressure at high elevations. But the temperature varies considerably during the growing season, which does not favor the regeneration of spruce seedlings on clear-cuts after logging. Leaves of mosses have a single layer of cells and are thus sensitive to environmental changes. This attribute may be useful for monitoring environmental conditions and guide artificial regeneration. The growth of mosses has never been studied in this area and the variables indicating their growth in the subalpine forest ecosystems still needs investigation. Growth rates of mosses have been rarely studied worldwide because the methods are time consuming and often inaccurate. A more simple and accurate method for measuring moss growth would help and encourage relevant research. We have found a method that will promote the efficiency in field measurements. Because of the special growth properties of mosses, the apical cell of branches initiates growth and the preceding leaves will stay where they were as the tips grow. Once mosses are marked with red oil at the tip of branches surrounded by young leaves, that portion of the branch above the marked leaves represents growth after labeling. Two plots, one in an old-growth spruce forest and another in a nearby clear-cut, were selected to label mosses in a subalpine area of western Sichuan Province during the growing season in 2001. The labeling was done on May 7 and measurements were made on August 7. Microclimate measurements on both sites were simultaneously carried out. Of the six mosses, five species were present in both the forest and on the clear-cut. One species, Entodon conncinus, was found only on the clear-cut. The growth rates of mosses varied among species and habitats. Hylocomium splendens grew the fastest while Dicranum assamicum had the slowest growth rate. Habitat conditions have a distinct effect on the growth of Hylocomium splendens, Dicranum assamicum and Thuidium lepidoziaceum and their growth rates were higher in forests than on clear-cuts. The growth rates of these mosses increased as their habitat approached the forest. Actinothuidium hookeri and Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus have moderate growth rates and is almost entirely independent of the type of habitat. The mosses can therefore be classified into habitat-sensitive and habitat-insensitive types. Analysis of microclimate characteristics shows that from May to July, the solar radiation level is lower and the environment is drier in the forest than those on the clear-cut. But a vapor pressure deficit (VPD) regime shows that the VPD in the morning is almost always lower in the forest than that on the clear-cut. With lower radiation and VPD, forests are more favorable to moss growth. For habitat-insensitive species, favorable micro-topographic factors might have offset the effect of habitat type. VPD is strongly correlated with the growth of mosses. Eco-physiological characteristics, such as poikilohydry, play an important role in the survival and growth of mosses under harsh climatic conditions. Temperature and humidity are two factors critical for seedling establishment in artificial regeneration processes in the subalpine areas of western Sichuan. Since the growth of mosses is a function of the two factors, moss growth rates can be used to indicate the more favorable habitats. Therefore, the status of moss growth can be used to indicate habitats potentially favorable to the growth of tree seedlings