Hemiparasite-host plant interactions in a fragmented landscape assessed via imaging spectroscopy and LiDAR

摘要: Species interactions are susceptible to anthropogenic changes in ecosystems, but this has been poorly investigated a spatially explicit manner the case of plant parasitism, such as omnipresent hemiparasitic mistletoe-host interactions. Analyzing at large spatial scale may advance our understanding parasitism patterns over complex landscapes. Combining high-resolution airborne imaging spectroscopy and LiDAR, we studied hemiparasite incidence within among tree host stands examine prevalence distribution load ecosystems. Specifically, aimed assess: (1) detection accuracy mistletoes on their oak hosts; (2) hemiparasitism canopies depending height, (3) variation across fragmented woodlands, low-diversity mediterranean woodland California, USA. We identified mistletoe infestations with 55-96% accuracy, detected significant differences remote-sensed spectra between trees without infestation. also found that canopy height had little influence infestation degree, whereas landscape-level showed consistent; non-random patterns: isolated twice than did located core forest fragments. Overall, exposure (i.e., lower density or proximity edge) is more important for infestation, by changing landscape structure, parasitic increased fragmentation. conclude reducing fragmentation woodlands will minimize impact level. argue advanced remote sensing technology can provide baselines quantitatively analyze monitor parasite-host trajectories light global environmental change, promising approach be further tested other temperate tropical forests.