Article
Ecology
Christian John, Jeffrey T. Kerby, Thomas R. Stephenson, Eric Post
Summary: Climate change can modify plant phenology, which in turn affects herbivore population dynamics. Understanding spatial variation in plant growth is important for management decisions. This study used time-lapse cameras to examine the timing of spring plant growth in the range of endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in California. The results showed variation in green-up timing across elevation and between years, indicating a potential link between bighorn migration and snowmelt and plant growth.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lucie Lemiere, Alexandra Thiel, Boris Fuchs, Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont, Anne G. Hertel, Andrea Friebe, Jonas Kindberg, Ole-Gunnar Stoen, Jon M. Arnemo, Alina L. Evans
Summary: Climate change can affect the timing of gestation in ursids, and this study aimed to understand the factors that influence the termination of embryonic diapause and parturition in brown bears. The study found that the termination of embryonic diapause was later in the northern area compared to the southern area and occurred earlier with higher ambient temperatures. The availability of bilberry also affected parturition timing and reproductive success, particularly in young adults.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Peng Guan, Yili Zheng, Guannan Lei
Summary: The study found that there are slight differences in the days of growth and peak value corresponding days for the same color index in different regions of interest, as well as for different color indexes in the same region of interest, showing different phenological phases. The LSTM model achieved good forecasting results with low errors. The study also highlighted the importance of considering micro-environmental differences in forest canopies and selecting optimal color indexes based on species-specific phenological responses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuai Zhang, Tamlin M. Pavelsky, Christopher D. Arp, Xiao Yang
Summary: A remote sensing-derived lake ice phenology database covering all lakes in Alaska from 2000 to 2019 was constructed to analyze the trends of earlier breakup and later freezeup of lake ice in the region. The dataset showed significant trends towards earlier or later ice breakup and freezeup for various lakes, with most significant trends observed in lakes north of the Brooks Range. This dataset contributes to the understanding of interactions between lake processes and climate change, supporting research on biogeochemical, limnological, and ecological regimes in Alaska and pan-Arctic regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shangharsha Thapa, Virginia E. Garcia Millan, Lars Eklundh
Summary: This research explores the potential of near-surface sensors to track forest phenology and validate satellite-derived phenology against observations from UAVs, PhenoCams, and Spectral Reflectance Sensors. The study shows significant differences in phenology between different sensors, with PhenoCams and UAVs demonstrating potential for satellite data validation and upscaling. The combination of these near-surface vegetation metrics provides a promising foundation for analyzing the interoperability of different sensors for vegetation dynamics and change analysis.
Article
Ecology
Carlos Bautista, Julian Oeser, Tobias Kuemmerle, Nuria Selva, Nathalie Pettorelli, Abdulhakim Abdi
Summary: This study investigates the impact of tree masting on human-wildlife conflicts. The findings suggest that years of low tree masting can lead to an increased use of anthropogenic foods by wildlife, resulting in conflicts between humans and animals in human-dominated landscapes.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Iryna Dronova, Sophie Taddeo
Summary: Remote sensing has great potential in elucidating mechanistic drivers of phenology and underlying plant community processes, but there are still challenges to overcome. Remote sensing can meet emerging needs for indicators of plant diversity, vegetation structure, and ecosystem change. It can also provide clues on ecological resilience. However, barriers exist in choosing phenological estimation methods and interpreting phenological patterns.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Stefan Weichert, Benjamin K. Smeltzer, Simen A. Ellingsen
Summary: Remotely measuring subsurface water currents from wave field imagery is a commonly used technique. This study focuses on the biases and errors in such measurements caused by spectral leakage and proposes mitigating procedures. The deviations between peak values in the 3-D wave spectrum and the known dispersion relation are interpreted as current-induced Doppler shifts, from which subsurface currents can be inferred. However, the use of discrete Fourier transforms introduces spectral leakage, which can result in the measurement of spurious currents even when no current is present.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pablo Cisneros-Araujo, Teresa Goicolea, Maria Cruz Mateo-Sanchez, Juan Ignacio Garcia-Vinas, Miguel Marchamalo, Audrey Mercier, Aitor Gaston
Summary: Ecological modeling requires high spatial resolution and careful selection of environmental variables for good predictive performance. Developing models from datasets with different coverage and accessibility can provide powerful information for estimating habitat and connectivity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianfeng Luo, Chunyu Dong, Kairong Lin, Xiaohong Chen, Liqiang Zhao, Lucas Menzel
Summary: This study presents a new algorithm based on machine learning technology to improve the accuracy of binary snow cover mapping in forests. The proposed algorithm shows high performance in forest BSC mapping, retrieving 67% of all real forest snow pixels compared to only 8-14% by the NDSI-based approach. The algorithm's performance is sensitive to changes in solar illumination conditions and forest coverage, suggesting that machine learning with the fusion of optical remote sensing and ground-based observations is an effective approach for improving the accuracy of forest snow cover mapping at regional scales.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nathaniel R. Bowersock, Lana M. Ciarniello, William W. Deacy, Doug C. Heard, Kyle Joly, Clayton T. Lamb, William B. Leacock, Bruce N. McLellan, Garth Mowat, Mathew S. Sorum, Frank T. van Manen, Jerod A. Merkle
Summary: Herbivorous animals tend to seek out plants at intermediate phenological states to improve energy intake while minimizing consumption of fibrous material. In some ecosystems, the timing of green-up is heterogeneous and propagates across space in a wave-like pattern, known as the green wave. Tracking the green wave allows individuals to prolong access to higher-quality forage.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manuela Thienel, Johannes B. Mueller-Reif, Zhe Zhang, Vincent Ehreiser, Judith Huth, Khrystyna Shchurovska, Badr Kilani, Lisa Schweizer, Philipp E. Geyer, Maximilian Zwiebel, Julia Novotny, Enzo Luesebrink, Gemma Little, Martin Orban, Leo Nicolai, Shaza El Nemr, Anna Titova, Michael Spannagl, Jonas Kindberg, Alina L. Evans, Orpheus Mach, Matthias Vogel, Steffen Tiedt, Steffen Ormanns, Barbara Kessler, Anne Dueck, Andrea Friebe, Peter Godsk Jorgensen, Monir Majzoub-Altweck, Andreas Blutke, Amin Polzin, Konstantin Stark, Stefan Kaab, Doris Maier, Jonathan M. Gibbins, Ulrich Limper, Ole Frobert, Matthias Mann, Steffen Massberg, Tobias Petzold
Summary: This study identified a mechanism of thromboprotection in immobilized brown bears and spinal cord injury patients, involving the down-regulation of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) in platelets. This resulted in attenuated immune cell activation and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, providing potential therapeutic targets for antithrombotic treatments.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rongkun Zhao, Yuechen Li, Mingguo Ma
Summary: Paddy rice is a staple food for three billion people worldwide, and there are various mapping methods available for estimating paddy rice planting area and yield. The best methods include multisource data integration, machine learning, and radar mapping.
Review
Plant Sciences
Negin Katal, Michael Rzanny, Patrick Maeder, Jana Waeldchen
Summary: Climate change poses one of the most critical threats to biodiversity, affecting species interactions, ecosystem functioning, and biotic community assembly. Plant phenology research has become increasingly important due to the strong impact of seasonal and interannual climate variation on the timing of plant events. The feasibility of phenological monitoring relies on developing tools capable of efficiently analyzing large amounts of data. Deep Neural Networks, known for their impressive accuracy in learning representations from data, have shown significant breakthroughs in fields like image processing. This article presents the first systematic literature review of deep learning approaches in plant phenology research, analyzing 24 peer-reviewed studies published from 2016 to 2021. The methods applied in these studies are categorized based on phenological stages, vegetation types, spatial scales, data acquisition, and deep learning methods. The review identifies research trends and promising future directions, providing a systematic overview for this emerging research field.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Guan, Yili Zheng, Guannan Lei, Yang Liu, Lichen Zhu, Youzheng Guo, Yirui Wang, Benye Xi
Summary: This study used remote sensing images to monitor the canopy phenology of Populus tomentosa B301 in planted forests under different irrigation methods. The results showed that irrigation methods and precipitation in the rainy season had different effects on tree growth and key phenological periods. The collected data provide a basis for studying the relationship between plant phenology and climate change.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Davit Marikyan, Savvas Papagiannidis, Eleftherios Alamanos
Summary: This study addresses the outcomes of technology use when it falls short of expectations and the coping mechanisms users may use in such circumstances. By adopting Cognitive Dissonance Theory, the study explores how negative disconfirmation of expectations can result in positive outcomes and how negative emotions impact the selection of dissonance reduction mechanisms. The study finds that post-disconfirmation dissonance leads to feelings of anger, guilt, and regret, which correlate with dissonance reduction mechanisms, ultimately affecting satisfaction and well-being.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Remote Sensing
Martin Queinnec, Nicholas C. Coops, Joanne C. White, Verena C. Griess, Naomi B. Schwartz, Grant McCartney
Summary: In this study, dominant species groups in a large boreal forest were mapped by combining area-based and individual tree metrics derived from LiDAR data with multispectral information from Sentinel-2 imagery. The study found that variables such as reflectance in the red edge region, tree crown area and volume, and cumulative distribution of LiDAR returns in the canopy were important for discriminating between species groups.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Matthew Robinson, Scott E. Nielsen, Brian Eaton, Cynthia Paszkowski
Summary: Variable retention forest harvesting has minimal long-term effects on wood frog abundance 17 years post-harvest, with interactions between retention level and forest type influencing capture rates during the late summer. Soil moisture and proximity to breeding sites also play a role in wood frog abundance, with higher capture rates in conifer forests and positive correlation with lower depth-to-water.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Laureen F. Echiverri, S. Ellen Macdonald, Scott E. Nielsen
Summary: Mounding, a method used to restore tree establishment on seismic lines in treed peatlands, has set back the recovery of bryophyte communities responsible for microtopographic variation. Unmounded seismic lines showed recovery after 18 years, while mounded lines had lower Sphagnum cover and higher cover of true mosses compared to reference and unmounded treatments.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Morgan A. Crowley, Christopher A. Stockdale, Joshua M. Johnston, Michael A. Wulder, Tianjia Liu, Jessica L. McCarty, Jesse T. Rieb, Jeffrey A. Cardille, Joanne C. White
Summary: Fire seasons have become more extreme and unpredictable due to changing climatic, ecological, and social conditions. Earth observation data is crucial for effective fire monitoring. This study presents a comprehensive framework for identifying and addressing fire monitoring objectives and data requirements throughout the entire fire cycle. Four stages of fire monitoring, including pre-fire vegetation inventories, active-fire monitoring, post-fire assessment, and multi-scale synthesis, are explored. The challenges and opportunities associated with current fire monitoring approaches are discussed, with case studies from North American ecosystems offering insights for global monitoring efforts. The rapid growth of remote sensing technology provides valuable data for fire monitoring, but significant challenges remain in meeting monitoring objectives. Future opportunities lie in data sharing and collaborative development using cloud computing and open-access Earth observation and geospatial data layers.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
R. S. Jackson, J. M. Dennett, S. E. Nielsen
Summary: Deforestation leads to forest fragmentation and associated edge effects. In Alberta, Canada, seismic lines, roads, and wellpads for resource exploration have caused substantial fragmentation, but the edge effects of the latter two have not been fully assessed. This study examines the influence of these disturbances on forest composition and structure in the oil sands region. The findings suggest that anthropogenic disturbances result in changes in tree and shrub density, with deciduous-dominated forests being the most affected.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Remote Sensing
Alexandre Morin-Bernard, Alexis Achim, Nicholas C. Coops
Summary: Non-stand-replacing disturbances play a significant role in northern hardwood forest dynamics, but are more difficult to characterize using satellite imagery than stand-replacing events. This study proposes a hurdle approach that attributes disturbance causal agents to specific sample plots, achieving an overall accuracy of 82.9%. Disturbance-specific models were then developed to assess the severity of partial harvests and damage from ice storms, with r-squared values of 0.57 and 0.59, respectively. These models provide important information for future silvicultural planning by capturing within-stand variability in disturbance severity.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Joanne C. White, Txomin Hermosilla, Michael A. Wulder
Summary: Wildfire is a significant factor in driving forest dynamics in boreal forests, with increasing wildfire activity observed in the past 50 years. Post-fire recovery plays a vital role in carbon balance and the provision of ecosystem goods and services in boreal forests. Monitoring recovery is challenging due to the large and inaccessible impacted areas, as well as the variability in post-fire conditions. Remote sensing data can provide assessments of pre- and post-fire conditions and spectral recovery baselines, but the connection between spectral measures and on-ground forest recovery needs to be established.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
A. R. Wotherspoon, A. Achim, N. C. Coops
Summary: This study examines the future climate trends in eight ecozones in Canada that contain managed forests. The projections suggest a warming trend and an overall increase in precipitation. The study highlights the potential impacts on dominant species and wood volume for Canada's forestry industry.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Angelo T. Filicetti, Jesse Tigner, Scott E. Nielsen, Katherine Wolfenden, Murdoch Taylor, Paula Bentham
Summary: Seismic lines, created by the oil and gas industry, have significant impacts on biogeochemical cycles, plant and animal diversity and behavior, and forest successional trajectories. Low-impact seismic (LIS) line construction has shown to mitigate these impacts and promote line recovery. Retained and recruited trees on LIS lines had considerable densities and heights. Ensuring mulcher drums are kept high can further enhance line recovery.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jose Riofrio, Joanne C. White, Piotr Tompalski, Nicholas C. Coops, Michael A. Wulder
Summary: By developing age-independent height growth models, using multi-temporal airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, a comprehensive indicator of site quality for complex and irregular stand structures is provided. This approach leverages the accurate, spatially detailed characterization of canopy heights afforded by ALS data and is independent of stand age, increasing the possible geographic extent of height growth estimates.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aleksandr F. Sabrekov, Irina E. Terentieva, Gregory J. McDermid, Yuriy V. Litti, Anatoly S. Prokushkin, Mikhail V. Glagolev, Alexey V. Petrozhitskiy, Peter N. Kalinkin, Dmitry V. Kuleshov, Ekaterina V. Parkhomchuk
Summary: The expansive plains of West Siberia contain significant carbon stocks, with extensive peatland complex overlying the largest-known hydrocarbon basin. Several methane seeps have been discovered in this area, and three hypotheses were proposed to explain their origin and migration pathways. The study used geochemical tools to test these hypotheses and found that the primary source of seep methane is the organic matter in raised bogs, with varying production pathways. The findings highlight the importance of methane lateral migration in West Siberia's bog-dominated landscapes and its potential occurrence in similar landscapes across the boreal-taiga biome.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Saverio Francini, Txomin Hermosilla, Nicholas C. Coops, Michael A. Wulder, Joanne C. White, Gherardo Chirici
Summary: Remote sensing is a major source of information for monitoring forest dynamics, but accurate surface reflectance data is often difficult to obtain. Pixel-based composites are used to generate complete coverage of the area of interest from multi-temporal images, but a comprehensive methodology for assessing the quality of these composites is currently lacking. In this study, a pixel-based composite assessment methodology based on five criteria was introduced and tested on Landsat images over Europe. The results showed that the assessment approach was effective for evaluating the quality of pixel-based composites and could be applied in various applications.
ISPRS JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Laureen F. I. Echiverri, S. Ellen Macdonald, Scott E. Nielsen
Summary: This study examines the edge effects of narrow linear openings on the performance of cow-wheat, an herbaceous annual and facultative hemi-parasite, in the boreal forest. The results suggest that the creation of openings and associated edge effects positively influence the abundance and seed production of cow-wheat at the population level, but not at the individual level. Additionally, evidence of 'edge sealing' was found, with higher tree and sapling density and short shrub cover at the edges compared to the interior forest.
Article
Ecology
Margaret E. Andrew, Douglas K. Bolton, Gregory J. M. Rickbeil, Nicholas C. Coops
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of niche-based mechanisms, including environmental filtering, niche availability, and niche packing, on biodiversity patterns. The results show that the importance of these mechanisms varies with scale, position on environmental gradients, and taxonomic group.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
