Abstract
Advances in remote sensing technology can help estimate biodiversity at large spatial extents. To assess whether we could use hyperspectral visible near‐infrared (VNIR) spectra to estimate species diversity, we examined the correlations between species diversity and spectral diversity in early‐successional abandoned agricultural fields in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of north‐central Virginia at the Blandy Experimental Farm. We established plant community plots and collected vegetation surveys and ground‐level hyperspectral data from 350 to 1,025 nm wavelengths. We related spectral diversity (standard deviations across spectra) with species diversity (Shannon–Weiner index) and evaluated whether these correlations differed among spectral regions throughout the visible and near‐infrared wavelength regions, and across different spectral transformation techniques. We found positive correlations in the visible regions using band depth data, positive correlations in the near‐infrared region using first derivatives of spectra, and weak to no correlations in the red‐edge region using either of the two spectral transformation techniques. To investigate the role of pigment variability in these correlations, we estimated chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin concentrations of five dominant species in the plots using spectral vegetation indices. Although interspecific variability in pigment levels exceeded intraspecific variability, chlorophyll was more varied within species than carotenoids and anthocyanins, contributing to the lack of correlation between species diversity and spectral diversity in the red‐edge region. Interspecific differences in pigment levels, however, made it possible to differentiate these species remotely, contributing to the species‐spectral diversity correlations. VNIR spectra can be used to estimate species diversity, but the relationships depend on the spectral region examined and the spectral transformation technique used.
Highlights
| INTRODUCTIONBiodiversity can have numerous positive effects on the function of ecosystems. For example, it can affect ecosystem productivity by influencing resource-use and promoting resource-use efficiency (Cardinale et al, 2007; Gustafsson & Bostrom, 2011; Hooper & Vitousek, 1998; Symstad & Jonas, 2011; Wilsey & Potvin, 2000)
We asked (1) whether species diversity was correlated with spectral diversity in secondary successional ecosystems in this region, (2) how these correlations differ by spectral region and spectral transformation technique, and (3) whether intraspecific and interspecific variabilities in pigments influence these correlations
The correlation between species diversity and spectral diversity depends on the spectral region examined and the spectral transformation technique used
Summary
Biodiversity can have numerous positive effects on the function of ecosystems. For example, it can affect ecosystem productivity by influencing resource-use and promoting resource-use efficiency (Cardinale et al, 2007; Gustafsson & Bostrom, 2011; Hooper & Vitousek, 1998; Symstad & Jonas, 2011; Wilsey & Potvin, 2000). Remote sensing can be used to collect information at vastly larger spatial extents more quickly and more cheaply per unit area than field sampling (Lengyel et al, 2008). The Blandy Experimental Farm, our study site in Boyce, Virginia, includes chronosequences of successional fields inhabited by numerous exotic invasive species that control community biodiversity. These species can alter their surroundings, inhibiting the growth of other species and promoting their own growth both physically and chemically. We asked (1) whether species diversity was correlated with spectral diversity in secondary successional ecosystems in this region, (2) how these correlations differ by spectral region and spectral transformation technique, and (3) whether intraspecific and interspecific variabilities in pigments influence these correlations
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