Detecting mortality induced structural and functional changes in a piñon-juniper woodland using Landsat and RapidEye time series

摘要: Abstract Pinon–juniper (PJ) woodlands have recently undergone dramatic drought-induced mortality, triggering broad scale structural changes in this extensive Southwestern US biome. Given that climate projections for the region suggest widespread conifer mortality is likely to continue into next century, it critical better understand how climate-induced change vegetation structure alters ecosystem function (e.g., productivity, biogeochemical cycling, energy partitioning) PJ woodlands. Data from satellite remote sensing could potentially help gain some of understanding. However, relatively little known about suitability monitoring induced and functional woodlands, a semi-arid biome characterized by sparse complicates properties. Here we examined potential role take place as they respond recover events. We used time series medium (30 × 30 m) high (≤ 5 × 5 m) spatial resolution data concert with eddy covariance-based gross primary productivity (GPP) collected woodland manipulation near Mountainair, NM. Our results showed both can provide level assessments overall canopy subsequent regrowth these allowed detecting disturbance almost full year earlier enabled us describe spatially heterogeneous patterns recovery typical such complex. The ability be information was conditional on presence sufficient soil moisture; when moisture present strength linear relationship between GPP spectral indices improved at manipulated site (e.g. NDVI R2 = 0.13 during drought conditions, R2 = 0.46 wet, P