The beginning of a solar collector simulation site has been established near Phoenix, Arizona. This site is in a natural desert ecosystem and the simulation collector panels are more like photovoltaic panels than heliostats or parabolic solar collectors. The panels can be manipulated to represent a variety of solar collector systems. A limited amount of data has been obtained from this simulator site and these data are presented in the Appendix of this report. Monitoring Ecosystem Parameters: Alternative Methods Once the significance of the responses of ecosystem parameters have been established, or at least set in some form of priority, alternative methods for monitoring these parameters under varying circumstances should be designed. The variabilities that dictate what alternative forms of monitoring should be established include: (a) different types of solar collectors and construction and operation methods, (b) different sizes of the collector area and (c) different desert or semi-arid ecosystems in which the solar conversion systems are constructed. For example, a large solar thermal power system using heliostats will have different effects on the ecosystem due to the method of construction and the amounts of shading and wind deflection than a small concentrating system or photovoltaic system. The level of detail in the monitoring data is also another factor for choosing between alternative monitoring methods. Monitoring ecosystem parameters can be accomplished in a very simple fashion or extremely refined techniques can be used. Some examples on variation in sampling biotic changes include from the simplest to most detailed: (a) qualitative observation of changes in animals and plants, (b) simple counts of animal occurrence through signs such as pellets or tracks and widely spaced measurement of vegetational standing crop, (c) trapping of each trophic level of animal (trap, mark and release the larger animals down to lizard size) and regularly sample and harvest permanently marked plant stands counting species density, diversity, and productivity. Abiotic ecosystem parameters can also be measured in a general or detailed fashion. General sampling of temperatures, soil moisture and air movement can be accomplished with a limited amount of inexpensive equipment but the data obtained will give only trends in changes of abiotic characteristics of the ecosystem. In order to determine flows or fluxes in the water
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