535
Atriplex tatarica, Torilis arvensis, Lotus tenuis, Verbascum blattaria, Artemisia
annua, and Lactuca tatarica grow on this type of levee. These species provide pastures for animals.
An analysis of the ecological characteristics of the plant species identified on the
polders after their restoration was conducted. Specific biodiversity and remarkable
hydrophilic species diversity were noted.
17.7 Plant Cover Estimation in the Restored Sites
in the Danube Delta: A Remote-Sensing Approach
17.7.1 Remote Sensing and Restoring Wetland Habitats
Wetland habitat is being restored throughout the world (Zedler and Kercher 2005);
however, achieving conservation goals and objectives requires knowledge of vegetation composition, structure, and change over time with respect to attributes such
as percent cover, biomass, and plant diversity (Phinn et al. 1999). Therefore, there
is a need to further develop, refine, and disseminate site- and landscape-level monitoring methods (Simenstad et al. 2006). Having developed criteria for selecting wetland sites to be restored or enhanced, wetland managers must prioritize the sites
based on ecological and economic considerations (Klemas 2013). Remote sensing
techniques can provide a cost-effective means for selecting restoration sites and
observing their progress over time.
Remote sensing involves the acquisition of information about the Earth’s surface
at a remote distance, usually by airplane or satellite (Jensen 2000). It offers tools to
map, measure, model, and evaluate wetland restoration efforts in a cost-effective
manner. The use of this technology in the ecological sciences is rapidly increasing
because ecosystems such as wetlands can be monitored at various spatial and temporal scales (Jensen et al. 1995; Guo and Psuty 1997; Michener and Houhoulis
1997; Apan et al. 2002; Heinl et al. 2006; Papa et al. 2006; Niculescu et al. 2016).
Despite the increasing use of remote sensing for wetland inventory and monitoring, there has been limited use of this technology in the restoration of wetlands
(Phinn et al. 1999; Hinkle and Mitsch 2005). Remote sensing is ideal for monitoring
restored wetlands because it provides a high spatial and temporal intensity of measurements in relatively inaccessible and sensitive sites without the potential invasiveness that traditional field methods present to delicate habitat conditions,
bird-nesting territories, and endangered species habitat (Shuman and Ambrose
2003). In an ideal situation, remotely sensed images are acquired when decisions
can be made about imagery specifications and field data collection that will make
change detection accurate and applicable to the monitoring of a restoring wetland.
Recent advancements in imaging science have provided finer spatial, spectral,
and temporal resolution as well as reduced price. In addition, non-optical data
sources such as radar data (e.g., SAR, RADAR) and laser altimetry (e.g., LiDAR),
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…
Atriplex tatarica, Torilis arvensis, Lotus tenuis, Verbascum blattaria, Artemisia
annua, and Lactuca tatarica grow on this type of levee. These species provide pastures for animals.
An analysis of the ecological characteristics of the plant species identified on the
polders after their restoration was conducted. Specific biodiversity and remarkable
hydrophilic species diversity were noted.
17.7 Plant Cover Estimation in the Restored Sites
in the Danube Delta: A Remote-Sensing Approach
17.7.1 Remote Sensing and Restoring Wetland Habitats
Wetland habitat is being restored throughout the world (Zedler and Kercher 2005);
however, achieving conservation goals and objectives requires knowledge of vegetation composition, structure, and change over time with respect to attributes such
as percent cover, biomass, and plant diversity (Phinn et al. 1999). Therefore, there
is a need to further develop, refine, and disseminate site- and landscape-level monitoring methods (Simenstad et al. 2006). Having developed criteria for selecting wetland sites to be restored or enhanced, wetland managers must prioritize the sites
based on ecological and economic considerations (Klemas 2013). Remote sensing
techniques can provide a cost-effective means for selecting restoration sites and
observing their progress over time.
Remote sensing involves the acquisition of information about the Earth’s surface
at a remote distance, usually by airplane or satellite (Jensen 2000). It offers tools to
map, measure, model, and evaluate wetland restoration efforts in a cost-effective
manner. The use of this technology in the ecological sciences is rapidly increasing
because ecosystems such as wetlands can be monitored at various spatial and temporal scales (Jensen et al. 1995; Guo and Psuty 1997; Michener and Houhoulis
1997; Apan et al. 2002; Heinl et al. 2006; Papa et al. 2006; Niculescu et al. 2016).
Despite the increasing use of remote sensing for wetland inventory and monitoring, there has been limited use of this technology in the restoration of wetlands
(Phinn et al. 1999; Hinkle and Mitsch 2005). Remote sensing is ideal for monitoring
restored wetlands because it provides a high spatial and temporal intensity of measurements in relatively inaccessible and sensitive sites without the potential invasiveness that traditional field methods present to delicate habitat conditions,
bird-nesting territories, and endangered species habitat (Shuman and Ambrose
2003). In an ideal situation, remotely sensed images are acquired when decisions
can be made about imagery specifications and field data collection that will make
change detection accurate and applicable to the monitoring of a restoring wetland.
Recent advancements in imaging science have provided finer spatial, spectral,
and temporal resolution as well as reduced price. In addition, non-optical data
sources such as radar data (e.g., SAR, RADAR) and laser altimetry (e.g., LiDAR),
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…