Characterization of a highly biodiverse floodplain meadow using hyperspectral remote sensing within a plant functional trait framework

Punalekar, Suvarna; Verhoef, Anne; Tatarenko, Irina V.; van der Tol, Christiaan; Macdonald, David M.J.; Marchant, Benjamin; Gerard, France; White, Kevin; Gowing, David. 2016 Characterization of a highly biodiverse floodplain meadow using hyperspectral remote sensing within a plant functional trait framework. Remote Sensing, 8 (2), 112. 22, pp. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8020112

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Abstract/Summary

We assessed the potential for using optical functional types as effective markers to monitor changes in vegetation in floodplain meadows associated with changes in their local environment. Floodplain meadows are challenging ecosystems for monitoring and conservation because of their highly biodiverse nature. Our aim was to understand and explain spectral differences among key members of floodplain meadows and also characterize differences with respect to functional traits. The study was conducted on a typical floodplain meadow in UK (MG4-type, according to British National Vegetation Classification). We compared two approaches to characterise floodplain communities using field spectroscopy. The first approach was sub-community based, in which we collected spectral signatures for species groupings indicating two distinct eco-hydrological conditions (dry and wet soil indicator species). The other approach was ‘species-specific’, in which we focussed on the spectral reflectance of three key species found on the meadow. One herb species is a typical member of the MG4 floodplain meadow community, while the other two species, sedge and rush, represent wetland vegetation. We also monitored vegetation biophysical and functional properties as well as soil nutrients and ground water levels. We found that the vegetation classes representing meadow sub-communities could not be spectrally distinguished from each other, whereas the individual herb species was found to have a distinctly different spectral signature from the sedge and rush species. The spectral differences between these three species could be explained by their observed differences in plant biophysical parameters, as corroborated through radiative transfer model simulations. These parameters, such as Leaf Area Index, leaf dry matter content, and leaf water content, specific leaf area, along with other functional parameters, such as, maximum carboxylation capacity, and leaf nitrogen content, also helped explain the species’ differences in functional dynamics. Groundwater level and soil nitrogen availability, which are important factors governing plant nutrient status, were also found to be significantly different for the herb/wetland species’ locations. The study concludes that spectrally distinguishable species, typical for a highly biodiverse site such as a floodplain meadow, could potentially be used as target species to monitor vegetation dynamics under changing environmental conditions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8020112
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Reynard
ISSN:	2072-4292
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	hyperspectral, flood meadow, remote sensing, MG4 community, field spectroscopy, optical functional types, radiative transfer model, biophysical parameters, sedge and rush, GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater-surface water interaction
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	04 Feb 2016 10:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511184

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