Is what you see what you get? Visual vs. measured assessments of vegetation condition

摘要: An important step in the conservation of biodiversity is to identify what exists, its quantity and quality (i.e. condition). This can be a daunting task at landscape-scale, so vegetation communities are often used as surrogates for biodiversity. Satellite imagery has improved our ability rapidly measure parameters but need calibration still requires rapid cost-effective on-ground condition assessment. Some management agencies address this by using visual assessments, with unknown consequences different purposes data. It therefore vital examine comparability systematic assessment methods guide their use decision making. We compared assessments more higher resolution method where both were made same quadrats. determined observers respond when making condition, any differences application these found that broadly represented measured vegetation, simplify responding only some parameters. No consistent trends responded across types sampled.. Synthesis applications. conclude estimates sufficient replace expensive, high-resolution results combined over multiple areas types. Visual potentially provide an efficient overall practitioners make course daily activities - forward. At smaller scales, idiosyncratic effects render highly variable assessments. variability, especially among types, suggests necessary decisions require higher-resolution changes individual parameters, such measuring success actions. These findings valuable selecting most appropriate approach objectives conservation. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation