Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Set Details

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GCE-LTER Data Set Summary

Accession:

PLT-GCET-1801

Research Theme:

Plant Ecology (Directed Study)

Contributors:

John O'Donnell, John Schalles

Title:

Spartina alterniflora aboveground biomass patterns from Landsat 5 TM imagery (1984-2011) and external driver data used in multivariate analysis.

Abstract:

We used Landsat 5 TM satellite imagery to derive aboveground biomass estimates for the three height classes (tall, medium, short) of Spartina alterniflora on the Centeral Georgia Coast. We used geospatial techniques to scale up in situ measurements of aboveground S. alterniflora aboveground biomass to landscape level estimates using 294 Landsat images acquired between 1984 to 2011. For each scene we extracted data from the same 63 sampling polygons, containing 1,222 pixels covering 1.1 million m^2. Using univariate and linear multiple regression tests, we compared Landsat derived biomass estimates for three S. alterniflora size classes against a suite of abiotic drivers. Drivers included monthly mean values for Altamaha River Discharge, Palmer Drought Severity Index, Standardized Precipitation Index, Mean Sea Level, Precipitation, and Temperature.

DOI:

10.6073/pasta/68320d728b883bca949ca41ee3675500

Key Words:

biomass, climate drivers, discharge, landsat, plant ecology, plant growth, productivity, sea level, Spartina, stress response

LTER Core Area:

Disturbance Patterns, Primary Production

Research Themes:

Plant Ecology, Geospatial Analysis, Multi-Disciplinary Study, Population Ecology

Study Period:

12-Mar-1984 to 31-Dec-2011

Study Sites:

GCE_Domain -- GCE Domain, Sapelo Island, Georgia

» Download Geographic Coverage: Google Earth

Species References:

Spartina alterniflora

Data References:

MLT-GCED-0811 (Ground truth data for matching hyperspectral imagery), GIS-GCES-1401f (2006 AISA hyperspectral imagery of the GCE domain for vegetation)

Research Protocols:

Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LDEPAS) Calibration, Reflectance, Atmospheric Correction Preprocessing Code, Version 2 (NASA/USGS)

Publications:

Schalles, J.F. Presentation: Using satellite, airborne, and drone remote sensing to study spatial-temporal patterns and responses to stressors in coastal wetlands. Lamar University Biology Department Invited Speakers Program, March 11, 2020, Beaumont, Texas.

Schalles, J.F., Hladik, C.M., Nealy, N., Miklesh, D.M., Meile, C., Lynn, T. and O'Donnell, J. Presentation: A 35 year spatial-temporal analysis of serious Spartina alterniflora biomass declines in coastal Georgia. Impact of multiple disturbances on coastal ecosystem structure and function. Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Meeting, November 4, 2019, Mobile, Alabama.

O'Donnell, J. and Schalles, J.F. 2016. Examination of Abiotic Drivers and Their Influence on Spartina alterniflora Biomass over a Twenty-Eight Year Period Using Landsat 5 TM Satellite Imagery of the Central Georgia Coast. Special Issue: Remote Sensing in Coastal Environments. Remote Sensing. 8(6):22. (DOI: 10.3390/rs8060477)

O'Donnell, J., Schalles, J.F. and Hladik, C.M. 2017. Presentation: Serious declines in a large area of Georgia Salt marsh plant biomass are linked to climate variables. Collaborating across geographic scales: integrating estuarine and coastal ocean information. Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Biennial Meeting, November 9, 2017, Providence, Rhode Island.

Schalles, J.F., O'Donnell, J., Nealy, N., Mizoguchi, T. and Hladik, C.M. 2018. Presentation: Multidecadal biomass declines and controlling variables for the keystone salt marsh species, Spartina alterniflora, in coastal Georgia . SS86: Connecting the Dots – Signals of Global Change Effects in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems. ASLO 2018 Summer Meeting, June 15, 2018, Victoria, British Columbia, BC.

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