Julie Zinnert, PhD
US Army Corps of Engineers
Engineer Research and Development Center
Alexandria, VA 22315
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Biology
Richmond, VA 23284
Plants as sentinels for environmental change
There are many predicted effects of climate change: warmer temperatures, increased frequency and duration of droughts, and increased carbon dioxide to name a few. In coastal systems, the outlook is grimmer with the addition of sea-level rise and increases in severe storms, all of which have significant impacts on geomorphology and ecological processes. Considering the myriad effects and interaction complexity of these physical drivers, woody vegetation can inform us about the environment, serving as sentinels of global climate change. Using airborne and satellite imagery, we are able to detect optical signals from plants that relate to plant physiological status as a result of different environmental pressures. By understanding baseline relationships between vegetation optical signals and the environment, plants can be used as an early warning indicator for vulnerable areas prior to visible signs of stress. Long-term monitoring may reveal tipping points for ecological processes, especially shifts in species distributions that can be used to inform for conservation and land management decisions.
US Army Corps of Engineers
Engineer Research and Development Center
Alexandria, VA 22315
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Biology
Richmond, VA 23284
Plants as sentinels for environmental change
There are many predicted effects of climate change: warmer temperatures, increased frequency and duration of droughts, and increased carbon dioxide to name a few. In coastal systems, the outlook is grimmer with the addition of sea-level rise and increases in severe storms, all of which have significant impacts on geomorphology and ecological processes. Considering the myriad effects and interaction complexity of these physical drivers, woody vegetation can inform us about the environment, serving as sentinels of global climate change. Using airborne and satellite imagery, we are able to detect optical signals from plants that relate to plant physiological status as a result of different environmental pressures. By understanding baseline relationships between vegetation optical signals and the environment, plants can be used as an early warning indicator for vulnerable areas prior to visible signs of stress. Long-term monitoring may reveal tipping points for ecological processes, especially shifts in species distributions that can be used to inform for conservation and land management decisions.
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