Publications

Gotze, C; Gerstmann, H; Glasser, C; Jung, A (2017). An approach for the classification of pioneer vegetation based on species-specific phenological patterns using laboratory spectrometric measurements. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, 38(6), 524-540.

Abstract
This paper aims to develop a flexible decision-tree framework for the classification of nine spectrally highly similar pioneer species for monitoring heterogeneous grassland habitats, which is based on different plant phenological indicators. For typical pioneer species, laboratory spectroscopic measurements were taken. Reflectance spectra were collected to cover a complete phenological cycle. First, a combined spectral similarity measure that consists of two independent methods was applied. Second, phenological metrics were derived from time series of NDVI for each species to describe differences in annual plant development. Further, spectral vegetation indices were applied that are related to plant physiological properties. The investigated species could be grouped into three spectral separability clusters. With increasing spectral similarities, species of the particular groups can be separated into subgroups and individual species that show a similar phenological development. The remaining subgroups with the highest spectral and phenological similarities could be divided to individual species by consideration of plant physiological parameters. The results show that the combination of different spectral methods with phenological metrics enhanced the classification of pioneer vegetation and other spectrally similar species. The approach can be used as basis for a continuous monitoring of fast changing habitats.

DOI:
10.1080/02723646.2017.1306672

ISSN:
0272-3646