Abstract

Estimating biophysical parameters of native grassland enables management changes that affect ecological processes and economic benefits. Although multiple hyperspectral studies were focused on native grasslands, just a few compare data at different scales and among ecoregions. In this study, we compared data collected at different spectral and spatial scales and among Canadian Prairie ecoregions. Field observations indicate that the Fescue Ecoregion grasslands has specific dominant species, while the Moist-Mixed and Mixed Ecoregions share similar dominant species, which is important in determining parameters such as leaf area index (LAI) and canopy height. Hyperspectral measurements showed a specific signature for the Fescue Ecoregion, due to denser canopies, while the Moist-Mixed and Mixed Ecoregions showed similar spectral characteristics to each other. The correlation between biophysical parameters and spectral indices reveals the importance of LAI, since it was significantly correlated with all spectral indices analyzed. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), and the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI) showed significant correlations with biophysical parameters. The comparison results indicated the PSRI being overestimated at all sites (satellite data) and NDVI underestimated at all sites. Finally, the satellite-derived LAI showed a significant positive relationship with the field-measured LAI.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.