accuracy, remote sensing techniques make it possible to increase the speed and
frequency (Arockiaraj et al. 2015). The recent advancement in the fields of remote
sensing and geographic information system has enabled accurate and uniform
documentation of biodiversity helping in identifying the gap in biodiversity
exploration (Roy et al. 2012). Using remote sensing and GIS, vegetation-type
mapping, habitat mapping, ecological niche modeling, spatial disturbance regimes
and biological richness mapping, etc. can be done which are of special importance
in the field of biodiversity research. Researches focusing on remote sensing data
maximize the opportunities for ensuring long-term preservation of endangered
species, better understanding of how fauna make use of maximum space occupied
by vegetation, and to predict the future impacts of climate change and land management on species distributions. Satellite remote sensing has been proved to be the
most cost-effective means of mapping and monitoring environmental changes in
terms of vegetation and other ecological issues (Deka et al. 2013). Biodiversity
monitoring by remote sensing enables us to scale up the understanding and
knowledge on biodiversity. Remote sensing brings tremendous possibilities to
estimate the climatic and anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and moreover, to
predict its temporal change in the future through ecosystem modeling (Suzuki et al.
2010). Remote sensing will provide us plenty of biodiversity-related information as
ecosystem types, their distribution patterns, and information about habitat structure
for organisms. Biodiversity can be assessed and interpreted at each level of ecological organization using various approaches at several spatial and temporal scales
(Noss and Cooperrider 1994). Monitoring the extent and quality of biodiversity is
also required in a more comprehensive fashion across the countryside, ranging from
regional to global scales (Mücher 2011). He suggested that operational remote
sensing enables land cover characterization at various scales but the classification
accuracies are still insufficient at continental and global scales for monitoring
purposes.
Climate is one of the most important factors controlling the growth, abundance,
survival, and distribution of species as well as regulating natural ecosystems (Faisal
2008). Climate change will affect all natural ecosystems, but the impacts will be
more prominent on the already stressed ecosystems of the Northeastern region
(ICIMOD 2010). It poses a major challenge to conservation efforts worldwide from
habitat shifts (Parmesan 2006) to the threat of new invasive species (Hellmann et al.
2008). Changes in climate have potential direct and indirect affects on individuals,
populations, species, ecosystems, and the geographic location of ecological systems
which ultimately cause extinction of wildlife, change in phenology, and hatching
and immigration of species, disrupted plant communities, species, and ecosystems
(Trisurat et al. 2011). Variety of remotely sensed data is being used to monitor and
quantify numerous climate change indicators at different scales (temperature/Land
Surface Temperature, precipitation, water content in atmosphere, vegetation cover,
changing phonology/crop growing patterns, aerosol concentration, etc.). A series of
satellite and airborne sensors have been developed to collect thermal behavior of
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P. Saikia et al.
frequency (Arockiaraj et al. 2015). The recent advancement in the fields of remote
sensing and geographic information system has enabled accurate and uniform
documentation of biodiversity helping in identifying the gap in biodiversity
exploration (Roy et al. 2012). Using remote sensing and GIS, vegetation-type
mapping, habitat mapping, ecological niche modeling, spatial disturbance regimes
and biological richness mapping, etc. can be done which are of special importance
in the field of biodiversity research. Researches focusing on remote sensing data
maximize the opportunities for ensuring long-term preservation of endangered
species, better understanding of how fauna make use of maximum space occupied
by vegetation, and to predict the future impacts of climate change and land management on species distributions. Satellite remote sensing has been proved to be the
most cost-effective means of mapping and monitoring environmental changes in
terms of vegetation and other ecological issues (Deka et al. 2013). Biodiversity
monitoring by remote sensing enables us to scale up the understanding and
knowledge on biodiversity. Remote sensing brings tremendous possibilities to
estimate the climatic and anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and moreover, to
predict its temporal change in the future through ecosystem modeling (Suzuki et al.
2010). Remote sensing will provide us plenty of biodiversity-related information as
ecosystem types, their distribution patterns, and information about habitat structure
for organisms. Biodiversity can be assessed and interpreted at each level of ecological organization using various approaches at several spatial and temporal scales
(Noss and Cooperrider 1994). Monitoring the extent and quality of biodiversity is
also required in a more comprehensive fashion across the countryside, ranging from
regional to global scales (Mücher 2011). He suggested that operational remote
sensing enables land cover characterization at various scales but the classification
accuracies are still insufficient at continental and global scales for monitoring
purposes.
Climate is one of the most important factors controlling the growth, abundance,
survival, and distribution of species as well as regulating natural ecosystems (Faisal
2008). Climate change will affect all natural ecosystems, but the impacts will be
more prominent on the already stressed ecosystems of the Northeastern region
(ICIMOD 2010). It poses a major challenge to conservation efforts worldwide from
habitat shifts (Parmesan 2006) to the threat of new invasive species (Hellmann et al.
2008). Changes in climate have potential direct and indirect affects on individuals,
populations, species, ecosystems, and the geographic location of ecological systems
which ultimately cause extinction of wildlife, change in phenology, and hatching
and immigration of species, disrupted plant communities, species, and ecosystems
(Trisurat et al. 2011). Variety of remotely sensed data is being used to monitor and
quantify numerous climate change indicators at different scales (temperature/Land
Surface Temperature, precipitation, water content in atmosphere, vegetation cover,
changing phonology/crop growing patterns, aerosol concentration, etc.). A series of
satellite and airborne sensors have been developed to collect thermal behavior of
112
P. Saikia et al.