548
others, and the realized niche (post- interactive), the hypervolume in which it
actually lives.
Niche conservatism The tendency of a species to remain in the same ecological
niche as its ancestors and hence to share similar ecological niches with its close
relatives.
Niche model A predictive model of species potential distribution along multiple
environmental dimensions (or niche axes) based on current occurrence information of a species in relation to its current environment. See environmental
niche model.
Near-infrared shoulder The sharp rise in a vegetation reflectance spectrum
beyond 700 nm. Also called the red edge. Spectral position (e.g., inflection
point) of the red edge can indicate the relative health or phenological status of
vegetation, with red edges farther into the near infrared indicating more vigorous growth.
Near-surface remote sensing See close-range remote sensing and proximal
remote sensing.
Nitrogen An element whose molecular form (N 2 ) makes up most of the troposphere. In this book, it most commonly refers to nitrogen concentration (measured
by unit mass) or content (measured by unit area) of soil or plant tissues, which
reflects nitrogen incorporated in proteins (including enzymes like RuBisCO),
chlorophyll, and nucleic acids in DNA and RNA. Nitrogen comprises 0.5–4% of
the dry biomass of a leaf.
Noise (in spectra) Random variation of a signal, e.g., often an inherent product of
an electronic instrument and source of error.
Normalization of band centers See spectral correction.
Nutrient cycling The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of matter. Microorganisms degrade organic matter,
which allows the release of nutrients, which can in turn be incorporated into the
bodies of living organisms.
Ontogenetic related to the development of an organism or its organs. For example,
in vascular plants it refers to developmental shifts from the embryo to the seedling stage to the mature adult form. For plant leaves it refers to the developmental
shifts that can occur seasonally from various stages of bud growth and budbreak
to the early, heterotrophic leaf stage, to a fully autotrophic leaf, and finally to a
senescing leaf. Ontogeny in a community of plants refers the processes affecting
the origin, structure, and composition of plants interacting in an ecosystem.
Open source Software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Contrast with proprietary or closed
source code.
OpenStreetMap A voluntary, collaborative effort to generate an editable
world map.
Optical detection Detection of phenomena (such as chemical properties, physiological functions, structural characteristics, or taxonomic identities of plants)
based on spectral patterns, spectral indices, or other optical metrics. In remote
sensing, “optical” refers to wavelengths from the near-UV to the SWIR region
(including the visible).
Glossary
others, and the realized niche (post- interactive), the hypervolume in which it
actually lives.
Niche conservatism The tendency of a species to remain in the same ecological
niche as its ancestors and hence to share similar ecological niches with its close
relatives.
Niche model A predictive model of species potential distribution along multiple
environmental dimensions (or niche axes) based on current occurrence information of a species in relation to its current environment. See environmental
niche model.
Near-infrared shoulder The sharp rise in a vegetation reflectance spectrum
beyond 700 nm. Also called the red edge. Spectral position (e.g., inflection
point) of the red edge can indicate the relative health or phenological status of
vegetation, with red edges farther into the near infrared indicating more vigorous growth.
Near-surface remote sensing See close-range remote sensing and proximal
remote sensing.
Nitrogen An element whose molecular form (N 2 ) makes up most of the troposphere. In this book, it most commonly refers to nitrogen concentration (measured
by unit mass) or content (measured by unit area) of soil or plant tissues, which
reflects nitrogen incorporated in proteins (including enzymes like RuBisCO),
chlorophyll, and nucleic acids in DNA and RNA. Nitrogen comprises 0.5–4% of
the dry biomass of a leaf.
Noise (in spectra) Random variation of a signal, e.g., often an inherent product of
an electronic instrument and source of error.
Normalization of band centers See spectral correction.
Nutrient cycling The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of matter. Microorganisms degrade organic matter,
which allows the release of nutrients, which can in turn be incorporated into the
bodies of living organisms.
Ontogenetic related to the development of an organism or its organs. For example,
in vascular plants it refers to developmental shifts from the embryo to the seedling stage to the mature adult form. For plant leaves it refers to the developmental
shifts that can occur seasonally from various stages of bud growth and budbreak
to the early, heterotrophic leaf stage, to a fully autotrophic leaf, and finally to a
senescing leaf. Ontogeny in a community of plants refers the processes affecting
the origin, structure, and composition of plants interacting in an ecosystem.
Open source Software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Contrast with proprietary or closed
source code.
OpenStreetMap A voluntary, collaborative effort to generate an editable
world map.
Optical detection Detection of phenomena (such as chemical properties, physiological functions, structural characteristics, or taxonomic identities of plants)
based on spectral patterns, spectral indices, or other optical metrics. In remote
sensing, “optical” refers to wavelengths from the near-UV to the SWIR region
(including the visible).
Glossary