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Related Experiment Video

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Advanced Photogrammetry to Assess Lichen Colonization in the Hyper-Arid Namib Desert.

Graham Hinchliffe¹, Barbara Bollard-Breen¹, Don A Cowan²

¹Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

Frontiers in Microbiology

|January 10, 2018

Summary

Advanced photogrammetry non-destructively surveyed Namib Desert lichens. This method quantified lichen cover, identified moisture stress in black lichens, and revealed colonization preferences for west-facing surfaces.

Keywords:

GIS Namib Desert astrobiology computer vision desert lichen microbial ecology photogrammetry

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Remote Sensing
Microbiology

Background:

The hyper-arid Namib Desert features quartz desert pavement with scarce vascular plants, supporting only epilithic lichens on rocks.
Epilithic lichens are sensitive to disturbance, limiting traditional field survey methods.
Non-destructive survey techniques are crucial for studying these fragile desert ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the utility of advanced photogrammetry for non-destructive ecological surveys of epilithic lichens.
To quantify lichen cover and analyze habitat preferences in the Namib Desert.
To explore the potential of computer vision and photogrammetry in microbiology and astrobiology.

Main Methods:

Combined structure from motion analysis, computer vision, and GIS to create 3D point clouds from 2D imagery.
Estimated absolute lichen cover for orange *Stellarangia* spp. and black *Xanthoparmelia* spp. assemblages.
Analyzed hyperspectral signatures and transformed data to determine colonization patterns.

Main Results:

Photogrammetry accurately estimated lichen cover: 22.8% for *Stellarangia* spp. and 0.6% for *Xanthoparmelia* spp.
Hyperspectral data indicated higher moisture stress in *Xanthoparmelia* spp., potentially influenced by albedo effects.
Lichens showed a preference for west-facing quartz surfaces, aligning with prevailing winds carrying marine fog.

Conclusions:

Advanced photogrammetry provides a robust, non-destructive method for ecological assessment of sensitive desert lichens.
The study offers insights into lichen moisture stress, substrate preferences, and the role of microclimatic factors.
Photogrammetry and computer vision hold significant potential for research, education, and astrobiological exploration.