title: Modelling plant species distribution in alpine grasslands using airborne imaging spectroscopy.
abstract: Remote sensing using airborne imaging spectroscopy (AIS) is known to retrieve fundamental optical properties of ecosystems. However, the value of these properties for predicting plant species distribution remains unclear. Here, we assess whether such data can add value to topographic variables for predicting plant distributions in French and Swiss alpine grasslands. We fitted statistical models with high spectral and spatial resolution reflectance data and tested four optical indices sensitive to leaf chlorophyll content, leaf water content and leaf area index. We found moderate added-value of AIS data for predicting alpine plant species distribution. Contrary to expectations, differences between species distribution models (SDMs) were not linked to their local abundance or phylogenetic/functional similarity. Moreover, spectral signatures of species were found to be partly site-specific. We discuss current limits of AIS-based SDMs, highlighting issues of scale and informational content of AIS data.
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland UREP, INRA, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France julien.pottier@clermont.inra.fr.
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Pottier
authors: Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Sydney, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors: Zbyněk
authors: Z
authors: Malenovský
authors: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors: Achilleas
authors: A
authors: Psomas
authors: Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Lucie
authors: L
authors: Homolová
authors: Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Michael E
authors: ME
authors: Schaepman
authors: LECA, University Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France LECA, CNRS, 38000 Grenoble, France Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, UMS CNRS-UJF 3370, University Grenoble Alpes, 38041, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Choler
authors: LECA, University Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France LECA, CNRS, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors: Wilfried
authors: W
authors: Thuiller
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Guisan
authors: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors: Niklaus E
authors: NE
authors: Zimmermann
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D005602:France; D065948:Grassland; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: alpine grasslands; hyperspectral data; reflectance; species distribution