Mapping an alien invasive shrub within conservation corridors using super-resolution satellite imagery.
K Jurie Theron1, James S Pryke1, Nicolas Latte2
1Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
Journal of Environmental Management
|August 25, 2022
Summary
Super-resolution satellite imagery effectively mapped invasive American bramble, revealing that timber harvesting and burning accelerate its spread. Management should focus on riparian areas and rotational harvesting to protect biodiversity.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Remote Sensing
- Biodiversity Conservation
Background:
- Alien invasive plants, like American bramble, are significant threats to global biodiversity.
- Effective monitoring is crucial for managing invasive species and mitigating their impact on local ecosystems.
- Deep learning and image fusion offer advanced tools for mapping and managing invasive plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance understanding of American bramble invasion dynamics in KwaZulu-Natal's timber production landscapes.
- To assess the effectiveness of super-resolved satellite mosaics for mapping invasive species.
- To identify key drivers of bramble spread and its impact on local biodiversity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized super-resolution image reconstruction with deep learning to create high-resolution satellite mosaics.
- Employed landscape analyses to identify factors influencing bramble cover.
- Classified bramble presence using machine learning on satellite imagery.
Main Results:
- Super-resolved mosaics achieved high accuracy (85%) in classifying American bramble.
- Timber harvesting and prescribed burning were identified as major drivers of increased bramble cover.
- Bramble cover peaked one year post-harvesting and was prevalent near streams, negatively impacting grasshoppers and plant species richness.
Conclusions:
- Super-resolved satellite mosaics provide valuable insights into invasive species dynamics.
- Rotational harvesting and prioritizing riparian areas are recommended for bramble control.
- Targeted management post-harvesting is essential to curb invasive spread and protect biodiversity.
Related Concept Videos
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
17.8K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
17.8K
02:16Light Acquisition
8.6K
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
8.6K
02:31In-situ Hybridization
9.6K
In situ hybridization (ISH) is a technique used to detect and localize specific DNA or RNA molecules in cells, tissue, or tissue sections using a labeled probe. The technique was first used in 1969 for the investigation of nucleic acids. It is currently an essential tool in scientific research and clinical settings, especially for diagnostic purposes.
Types of probes and labels
A probe is a complementary strand of DNA or RNA that binds to corresponding nucleotide sequences in a cell. Many...
Types of probes and labels
A probe is a complementary strand of DNA or RNA that binds to corresponding nucleotide sequences in a cell. Many...
9.6K