Leaf optical property changes associated with the occurrence of Spartina alterniflora dieback in Coastal Louisiana related to remote sensing mapping

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
By:  and 

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Abstract

In order to provide a remote sensing solution that would detect both the initial onset and monitor the early, as well as, the later stages of impact progression, changes in live leaf optical properties were compared along transects spanning impacted coastal Louisiana marsh sites. Green and red edge reflectance trends generally represented the early stages and fairly well the later stages of dieback progression, while blue and red reflectance and absorption trends represented the later stages of marsh impact that were most closely related to visible signs of marsh impact. Leaf reflectance in the near infrared (NIR) was not compatible with visual reflectance trends and did not co-vary with derived indicators of leaf water content, and thereby, water stress. Predicted from reflectance ratios, carotene tended to remain constant or increase relative to chlorophyll following noted changes in stressed plants at the two least impacted sites, while the pigments co-varied at the two most impacted sites. As an operational solution most amenable for satellite remote sensing, the NIR/red ratio followed blue and red reflectance trends while the NIR/green ratio mimicked the green and red edge reflectance trends indicating impact onset and progression, as well as, generally portraying blue and red reflectance trends indicating later stages of impact. The NIR/ green ratio magnitude and range generally increased from the most to least impacted site providing a convenient method to detect dieback onset and monitor dieback progression. This research demonstrated that remote sensing mapping at these sites could offer a more accurate perception of dieback severity distribution than offered by determinations relying on visible indicators of marsh changes.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Leaf optical property changes associated with the occurrence of Spartina alterniflora dieback in Coastal Louisiana related to remote sensing mapping
Series title Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
DOI 10.14358/PERS.71.3.299
Volume 71
Issue 3
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher Ingenta
Contributing office(s) National Wetlands Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description 13 p.
First page 299
Last page 311
Country United States
State Louisiana
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