Completed projects

QUEEN

INSPECTED.NET

DeInvader - Tracing the invasion of an exotic tree species in protected West-Mediterranean dune ecosystems

Project description

Imaging spectroscopy enables to derive a specific spectral signature for individual objects which can be used to identify chemical and structural characteristics of e.g. plant foliages within and across ecosystems. LiDAR data can be used to assess landscape structure and especially to analyse stratified vegetation structure. We want to combine hyperspectral and LiDAR data to detect the spread of the exotic tree Acacia longifolia that is an "invasive engineer" in Portuguese dune ecosystems. It is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, to alter the water cycle and to transform the vegetation structure. This causes various problems in many ecosystems worldwide.
To understand these ecosystem changes on landscape scale, precise data about A. longifolia distribution is necessary as baseline information. The invader occurs exposed to sky in the open dunes as well as in the undergrowth of dune forests. Local studies already show that it is able to facilitate its invasion by altering the ecosystem properties with negative impact on native and endemic species’ and biodiversity.
This innovative approach of combining high resolution LiDAR and hyperspectral data is the appropriate way to track A. longifolia and to generate data of its distribution and impact on landscape scale.
We conducted the flight campaign “DeInVader” in April 2011 along a 5x35km coastal strip 250km south of Lisbon in Southwest Portugal. The flight was arranged by the Airborne Research & Survey Facility of the Natural Environment Research Council (ARSF-NERC) using its Dornier 228 equipped with AISA Eagle and Hawk hyperspectral sensors, a Leica ALS50 LiDAR scanner and a digital camera. Thus, we collected aerial images, airborne LiDAR and hyperspectral data as well as field reference spectral and differential GPS vegetation data. The data of this flight campaign provided the basis for the DFG funded research project QUEEN and also contributes to the EU Marie-Curie-Project “Inspected.Net”.

Finanzierung/Partner

Funding was provided by the European Facility for Airborne Research (EUFAR) , an “Integrating Activity” funded by the European Commission under FP7. Within its “Transnational Access” program, 9 flight hours were allocated which equated to € 46.000 including Travel and Subsistence.


The partners are:

• Universität Bayreuth, Agroökosystemforschung (Prof. Christiane Werner Pinto
• Universität Hamburg, Biozentrum Klein Flottbek (Dr. Jens Oldeland)
• Karoly Robert University College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development (Dr.Péter  Burai), Dr.Csaba Lénárt
• University of Leicester, Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, Department of Geography (Prof. Balzter , Dr. Tate )
• Universidade de Lisboa, Centro da Biologia Ambiental (Prof. Cristina Máguas )

Publikationen

Oral presentations

• Große-Stoltenberg A (2012) Invasão biológica de Acacia longifolia nos ecossistemas dunares de Portugal. Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plants. Viçosa, Brazil.

• Oldeland J, Hüttich C, Große-Stoltenberg A (2012) Plant ecology meets remote sensing: combined strengths for detailed vegetation mapping. ISUP. Bruges, Belgium.Lehmann J, Große-Stoltenberg A, Hellmann T, Oldeland J, Römer M (2012) Classification Model Development: Using Remote Sensing to Monitor the Spread of Invasive Plant Species Acacia longifolia. AK Fernerkundung. Bochum, Germany.
• Große-Stoltenberg A, Oldeland J (2012) Wattle in the Hyperstack: Distinguishing an invasive Acacia  tree from native vegetation using hyperspectral vegetation indices and Self Organising Maps. Launch event for the Centre for Landscape and Climate Research. Leicester, UK.

Poster contributions

• Lehmann J, Große-Stoltenberg A, Hellmann T, Oldeland J, Römer M (2012) Development of a classification model based on field spectral and biochemical leaf properties to analyse Acacia longifolia invasion via remote sensing. Neobiota. Pontevedra, Spain.

• Große-Stoltenberg A, Hellmann C, Thiele J, Lehmann J, Fernandes P, Antunes C, Burai P, Lenart C, Oldeland J, Máguas C, Buttschardt T, Werner C (2011) Detecting and analyzing the spread of exotic Acacia longifolia in West-Mediterranean biodiverse costal dunes with hyperspectral images and LiDAR. IALE-D. Berlin, Germany.
• Große-Stoltenberg A, Hellmann C, Thiele J, Lehmann J, Fernandes P, Antunes C, Burai P, Lenart C, Oldeland J, Máguas C, Buttschardt T, Werner C (2011) Application of high resolution hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing to analyze the invasion of an exotic Acacia tree in Portuguese dune ecosystems. MEDECOS. Los Angeles, USA.

Contact: Dipl.-Lök. André Große-Stoltenberg

PhD theses

current

Conservation Agriculture Natueco Elisabeth Mavrakis

completed

Detection and Impact of an Invasive Ecosystem Engineer from Leaf to Landscape Scale Merging Field Spectroscopy and Remote Sensing with Ecophysiology André Große-Stoltenberg

Understanding spatial growth and resilience of mega cities based on the DPSIR conceptual model. Study case: Greater Cairo Metropolis, Egypt  Ahmed Hassan

Water-Saving in the Landscapes and Lifeworlds of Khorezmian Farmers, Uzbekistan Lisa Oberkircher

Publications

• Thiele, J.; Buchholz, S.; Schirmel, J. (2017): Using resistance distance from circuit theory to model dispersal through habitat corridors. Journal of Plant Ecology. doi: 10.1093/jpe/rtx004
• Schirmel, J; Thiele, J.; Entling, M.H.; Buchholz, S. (2016): Trait composition and functional diversity of spiders and carabids in linear landscape elements. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 235: 318–328 doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.10.028.
• Große-Stoltenberg A., Hellmann C., Werner C., Oldeland J., Thiele J. (2016): Evaluation of Continuous VNIR-SWIR Spectra versus Narrowband Hyperspectral Indices to Discriminate the Invasive Acacia longifolia within a Mediterranean Dune Ecosystem. Remote Sensing. 2016, 8(4): 334 doi:10.3390/rs8040334
• Lehmann, J.R.K*.; Münchberger*, W.; Knoth, C.; Blodau, C.; Nieberding, F.; Prinz, T.; Pancotto, V.A.; Kleinebecker, T. (2016): High-Resolution Classification of South Patagonian Peat Bog Microforms Reveals Potential Gaps in Up-Scaled CH4 Fluxes by use of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and CIR Imagery. Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 173. doi:10.3390/rs8030173 *(gleichberechtigte Autorenschaft)
• Lehmann, J.R.K., K. Z. Smithson, T. Prinz (2015): Making the Invisible Visible: Using UAS-Based High-Resolution Color-Infrared Imagery toIdentify Buried Medieval Monastery Walls.” Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems. doi:10.1139/juvs-2014-0017 .
• Hellmann C, Große-Stoltenberg A, Lauströer V, Oldeland J and Werner C (2015). Retrieving nitrogen isotopic signatures from fresh leaf reflectance spectra: disentangling δ15N from biochemical and structural leaf properties. Front. Plant Sci. 6:307Front. Plant Sci. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00307 
• Lehmann, J.R.K.; F. Nieberding, T. Prinz, C. Knoth (2015): Analysis of Unmanned Aerial System-Based CIR Images in Forestry - A New Perspective to Monitor Pest Infestation Levels. Forests 2015, 6, 594-612. doi: 10.3390/f6030594
• Lehmann, J.R.K., A.Große-Stoltenberg, M. Römer, J. Oldeland, J. (2015): Field Spectroscopy in the VNIR-SWIR Region to Discriminate between Mediterranean Native Plants and Exotic-Invasive Shrubs Based on Leaf Tannin Content. Remote Sens. 2015, 7, 1225-1241. doi:10.3390/rs70201225
• Oberkircher, L., A. Haubold, C. Martius, T.K. Buttschardt (2012): Patterns in the Landscape of Khorezm, Uzbekistan: A GIS Approach to Socio-Physical Research. In: Martius, C., I. Rudenko, J.P.A. Lamers, C. Martius (eds.)(2011): Cotton, Water, Salts and Soums. Springer, Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New York: 285-308
• Rascher K G, Große-Stoltenberg A, Máguas C, Meira-Neto J A A, Werner C (2011): Acacia longifolia invasion impacts vegetation structure and regeneration dynamics in open dunes and pine forests. Biological Invasions 13: 1099-1113
• Buttschardt, T.K. (2011): Creeping Disasters als Folge schleichender Umweltveränderungen? – ein Konzeptvorschlag. GMit 45(9): 6-17
• Rascher K G, Große-Stoltenberg A, Máguas C, Werner C (2011): Understory invasion by Acacia longifolia alters the water balance and carbon gain of a mediterranean pine forest.In: Ecosystems.

Graduation thesis

Bachelor thesis

Master thesis