Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Preprints
DOI 10.2139/ssrn.4956780
Title (Primary) Grassland management and phenology affect trait retrieval accuracy from remote sensing observations
Author Iakunin, M.; Taubert, F.; Goss, R.; Sasso, S.; Feilhauer, H.; Doktor, D.
Source Titel SSRN
Year 2024
Department OESA; RS
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Abstract Grasslands, the most widespread terrestrial biome, are subject to various management practices that influence their biodiversity and ecological functions. Remote sensing offers a promising tool for monitoring these impacts, but challenges persist in heterogeneous grassland systems. This study combines PROSAIL radiative transfer modeling and machine learning to assess the efficacy of the model inversion in predicting plant functional traits under different grassland management regimes. The model was applied to intensively and extensively managed grasslands using field-collected hyperspectral data. Results show that while PROSAIL inversion effectively predicts traits such as leaf area index (LAI) and pigment concentrations in homogeneous, intensively managed systems, its accuracy diminishes in diverse, extensively managed grasslands, particularly for traits like leaf mass per area (LMA) and pigment content. These limitations stem from the model's assumption of homogeneous canopy scattering, which fails to account for the heterogeneity in mixed green and brown vegetation, especially at senescence. Despite these challenges, the study highlights the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing to capture grassland management based on a solely empirical approach. Future research should focus on refining models to better account for canopy heterogeneity and integrating in-situ data to improve trait prediction in complex ecosystems.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29780
Iakunin, M., Taubert, F., Goss, R., Sasso, S., Feilhauer, H., Doktor, D. (2024):
Grassland management and phenology affect trait retrieval accuracy from remote sensing observations
SSRN 10.2139/ssrn.4956780