Ecosystem functioning of protected and altered Mediterranean environments: A remote sensing classification in Donana, Spain

REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT

卷:114

Article

Fernandez, Nestor¹  Paruelo, Jose M.^2,3,4,5  Delibes, Miguel¹ 

[1] CSIC, Spanish Council Sci Res, Donana Biol Stn, Dept Conservat Biol, Seville 41092, Spain

[2] Univ Buenos Aires, Lab Anal Reg & Teledetecc, Fac Agron, RA-1417 Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina

[3] Univ Buenos Aires, IFEVA, RA-1417 Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina

[4] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, RA-1417 Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina

[5] Univ Buenos Aires, Dept Metodos Cuantitativos & Sistemas Informac, Fac Agron, RA-1417 Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina

关键词: Albedo;    Donana;    Ecological classification;    Evapotranspiration;    fPAR;    Land use change;    Landsat;    NDVI;    Primary production;    Protected areas;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.rse.2009.09.001

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem functioning is a key component of ecological variability requiring special attention in the context of global change. A large history of human use has produced high physiognomic heterogeneity in Mediterranean ecosystems. However, the consequences for ecosystem functioning remain insufficiently understood. We analyzed spectral indicators of matter and energy fluxes in the land surface to classify the functional ecosystem heterogeneity in a Mediterranean region covering different management histories and protection types. We specifically analyzed the spatial variability in seasonal and annual patterns in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), surface temperature (T-s) and albedo from five Landsat ETM images. Then we classified numerically this variability into ecosystem functional types (EFTs) and explored their seasonal dynamics in terms of photosynthetic radiation absorption and evapotranspiration. We identified eight main EFTs with ecologically relevant differences including contrasting dynamics in MAR seasonality, great variation in incoming radiation reflection and differing evapotranspiration rates, particularly during the water-limitation period. Functional variability in natural vegetation mostly consisted in dissimilar annual rates of NDVI and albedo, whereas differences in seasonality were more evident in transformed areas. Similarly, the spatial distribution of EFTs was partly associated to protection, with two EFTs exclusive of protected areas and comparatively higher functional diversity in humanized areas. Landform effects on water availability in protected areas and human activities under different ecological settings were seemingly responsible for the large functional diversity of the region. We advocate for the explicit incorporation of multifunctional ecosystem heterogeneity in ecosystem management and monitoring designs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free