141
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
R. Díaz-Delgado et al. (eds.), The Roles of Remote Sensing in Nature Conservation,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-64332-8_8
Sub-pixel Mapping of Doñana Shrubland
Species
Marcos Jiménez and Ricardo Díaz-Delgado
Abstract Periodically mapping and monitoring the spatial distribution of vegetation at species level increases knowledge about the relationship between ecological
processes and ecosystem functioning. In protected natural areas, long-term monitoring of key or invasive species can be applied in a more effective, coherent and consistent way by incorporating regular mapping. To guarantee more reliable monitoring
data, these programs should be underpinned by periodic and repeatable measurements. In addition, using standard methodologies will help to ensure that we can
make comparisons with other natural areas. In this chapter, we introduce a protocol
for mapping the distribution of plant species using airborne imaging spectroscopy.
We apply robust and widely used methodologies for acquiring hyperspectral airborne
imagery and field spectroscopy, and for processing and analyzing these to generate
spatial-explicit distribution maps of plant species. The main aim was to facilitate
monitoring programs by supplying periodic maps of plant species that can be used
identify major shifts in distribution. The study case focuses on the shrub communities on the stabilized sand dunes of Doñana National Park in south west Spain.
Keywords Plant species mapping protocol • Monitoring shrubland communities •
Imaging spectroscopy • Field spectroscopy • INTA-AHS system • Doñana National Park
Introduction
The rate of change in the structure and species composition of ecological communities
sometimes occurs in a very dramatic way (Hooper et al. 2005). In order to slow
down negative biodiversity trends, conservation decision-makers need knowledge
M. Jiménez (*)
Remote Sensing Area, National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA),
Ctra. Ajalvir s/n, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain
e-mail: jimenezmm@inta.es
R. Díaz-Delgado
Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: rdiaz@ebd.csic.es
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
R. Díaz-Delgado et al. (eds.), The Roles of Remote Sensing in Nature Conservation,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-64332-8_8
Sub-pixel Mapping of Doñana Shrubland
Species
Marcos Jiménez and Ricardo Díaz-Delgado
Abstract Periodically mapping and monitoring the spatial distribution of vegetation at species level increases knowledge about the relationship between ecological
processes and ecosystem functioning. In protected natural areas, long-term monitoring of key or invasive species can be applied in a more effective, coherent and consistent way by incorporating regular mapping. To guarantee more reliable monitoring
data, these programs should be underpinned by periodic and repeatable measurements. In addition, using standard methodologies will help to ensure that we can
make comparisons with other natural areas. In this chapter, we introduce a protocol
for mapping the distribution of plant species using airborne imaging spectroscopy.
We apply robust and widely used methodologies for acquiring hyperspectral airborne
imagery and field spectroscopy, and for processing and analyzing these to generate
spatial-explicit distribution maps of plant species. The main aim was to facilitate
monitoring programs by supplying periodic maps of plant species that can be used
identify major shifts in distribution. The study case focuses on the shrub communities on the stabilized sand dunes of Doñana National Park in south west Spain.
Keywords Plant species mapping protocol • Monitoring shrubland communities •
Imaging spectroscopy • Field spectroscopy • INTA-AHS system • Doñana National Park
Introduction
The rate of change in the structure and species composition of ecological communities
sometimes occurs in a very dramatic way (Hooper et al. 2005). In order to slow
down negative biodiversity trends, conservation decision-makers need knowledge
M. Jiménez (*)
Remote Sensing Area, National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA),
Ctra. Ajalvir s/n, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain
e-mail: jimenezmm@inta.es
R. Díaz-Delgado
Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: rdiaz@ebd.csic.es