Does NDVI reflect variation in the structural attributes associated with increasing shrub dominance in arctic tundra
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15548422 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Natalie T Boelman (0000-0003-3716-2372, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, corresponding author), Laura Gough (0000-0002-9312-7910, The University of Texas at Arlington), Jennie R McLaren (0000-0003-2004-4783, The University of Texas at Arlington), Heather E Greaves (0000-0002-8800-019X, Oregon State University), Heather Greaves |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 035501-035501 |
| Publication date | 2011-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environmental Research Letters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326 |
| Publisher | IOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1088/1748-9326/6/3/035501 |
| OpenAlex | W2008416314 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 58 |
This study explores relationships between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and structural characteristics associated with deciduous shrub dominance in arctic tundra. Our structural measures of shrub dominance are stature, branch abundance, aerial per cent woody stem cover (deciduous and evergreen species), and per cent deciduous shrub canopy cover. All measurements were taken across a suite of transects that together represent a gradient of deciduous shrub height. The transects include tussock tundra shrub and riparian shrub tundra communities located in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, in northern Alaska. Plot-level NDVI measurements were made in 2010 during the snow-free period prior to deciduous shrub leaf-out (early June, NDVIpre − leaf), at the point in the growing season when canopy NDVI has reached half of its maximum growing season value (mid-June, NDVIdemi − leaf) and during the period of maximum leaf-out (late July, NDVIpeak − leaf). We found that: (1) NDVIpre − leaf is best suited to capturing variation in the per cent woody stem cover, maximum shrub height, and branch abundance, particularly between 10 and 50 cm height in the canopy; (2) NDVIpeak − leaf is best suited to capturing variation in deciduous canopy cover; and (3) NDVIdemi − leaf does not capture variability in any of our measures of shrub dominance. These findings suggest that in situ NDVI measurements made prior to deciduous canopy leaf-out could be used to identify small differences in maximum shrub height, woody stem cover, and branch abundance (particularly between 10 and 50 cm height in the canopy). Because shrubs are increasing in size and regional extent in several regions of the Arctic, investigation into spectrally based tools for monitoring these changes are worthwhile as they provide a first step towards development of remotely sensed techniques for quantifying associated changes in regional carbon cycling, albedo, radiative energy balance, and wildlife habitat
Arctic · Biology · Canopy · Deciduous · Dominance (genetics · Evergreen · Leaf area index · Normalized Difference Vegetation Index · Shrub · Transect · Tundra · Climate change and permafrost · Cryospheric studies and observations · Environmental Science · Rangeland and Wildlife Management · Ecology
Recent dynamics of arctic and sub-arctic vegetation
Using structure to model function
Climate change is enforcing physiological changes in Arctic Ecosystems
Tundra plant above-ground biomass and shrub dominance mapped across the North Slope of Alaska
Modeling dynamics of tundra plant communities on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, in response to climate change and grazing pressure
Capability of the Canapi algorithm to derive shrub structural parameters from satellite imagery in the Alaskan Arctic
Postglacial Vegetation and Climate Change in the Northern Bristol Bay Region, Southwestern Alaska
Increased plant growth in the northern high latitudes from 1981 to 1991
Satellite-observed photosynthetic trends across boreal North America associated with climate and fire disturbance
Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome
Russian Arctic warming and ‘greening’ are closely tracked by tundra shrub willows
Increasing shrub abundance in the Arctic
The evidence for shrub expansion in Northern Alaska and the Pan‐Arctic
Tundra vegetation effects on pan-Arctic albedo
Biomass and leaf-area index maps derived from SPOT images for Toolik Lake and Imnavait Creek areas, Alaska
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,4 |
| Citation span | 2011 - 2023 (13) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |