<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The goal of the paper is a presentation of field remote sensing methods for the analysis of the trampled plants of a highly protected mountain meadow ecosystem (M&amp;B UNESCO Reserve and one of the most important Polish National Parks). The research area covers a core part of the Western Tatras - the Gąsienicowa Valley and Kasprowy Wierch summit, which are among the most visited destinations of the Polish Tatras. The research method is based on field hyperspectral measurements, using the ASD FieldSpec 3 spectrometer, on the dominant plant species of alpine swards. Sampling sites were located on trampled areas (next to trails) and reference plots, with the same species, but located more than 10 m from the trail (where the probability of trampling was very low, but the same composition of analysed plants). In each case, homogenous plots with a domination of one plant species were investigated. Based on the hyperspectral measurements, spectral characteristics as well as vegetation indices were analysed with the ANOVA statistical test. This indicated a varied resistance to trampling of the studied plant species. The analysis of vegetation indices enabled the selection of those groups which are the most useful for research into mountain vegetation condition: the broadband greenness group; the narrowband greenness group, measuring chlorophyll content and cell structure; and the canopy water content group. The results of the analyses show that vegetation of the High Tatras is characterised by optimal ranges of remote sensing indices. Only plants located nearest to the trails were in a worse condition (chlorophyll and water content was lower for the reference targets). These differences are statistically significant, but the measured values indicate a good condition of vegetation along trampled trails, within the range of optimum plant characteristics.</p></abstract>

The goal of the paper is a presentation of field remote sensing methods for the analysis of the trampled plants of a highly protected mountain meadow ecosystem (M&B UNESCO Reserve and one of the most important Polish National Parks). The research area covers a core part of the Western Tatras - the Gąsienicowa Valley and Kasprowy Wierch summit, which are among the most visited destinations of the Polish Tatras. The research method is based on field hyperspectral measurements, using the ASD FieldSpec 3 spectrometer, on the dominant plant species of alpine swards. Sampling sites were located on trampled areas (next to trails) and reference plots, with the same species, but located more than 10 m from the trail (where the probability of trampling was very low, but the same composition of analysed plants). In each case, homogenous plots with a domination of one plant species were investigated. Based on the hyperspectral measurements, spectral characteristics as well as vegetation indices were analysed with the ANOVA statistical test. This indicated a varied resistance to trampling of the studied plant species. The analysis of vegetation indices enabled the selection of those groups which are the most useful for research into mountain vegetation condition: the broadband greenness group; the narrowband greenness group, measuring chlorophyll content and cell structure; and the canopy water content group. The results of the analyses show that vegetation of the High Tatras is characterised by optimal ranges of remote sensing indices. Only plants located nearest to the trails were in a worse condition (chlorophyll and water content was lower for the reference targets). These differences are statistically significant, but the measured values indicate a good condition of vegetation along trampled trails, within the range of optimum plant characteristics.

Variability in spectral characteristics of trampled high-mountain grasslands

Department of Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Department of Geoecology and Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences

Miscellanea Geographica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Variability in spectral characteristics of trampled high-mountain grasslands"}

The goal of the paper is a presentation of field remote sensing methods for the analysis of the trampled plants of a highly protected mountain meadow ecosystem...

Variability in spectral characteristics of trampled high-mountain grasslands

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 10 - 14

Received: Sep 03, 2013

Accepted: Dec 21, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2014-0003

Keywords
Trampling, Tatra National Park, vegetation, hyperspectral measurements, ASD FieldSpec 3, mountain grasslands

© by Marlena Kycko

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Variability in spectral characteristics of trampled high-mountain grasslands

Published Online: Jun 17, 2014

Page range: 10 - 14

Received: Sep 03, 2013

Accepted: Dec 21, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2014-0003

KeywordsTrampling, Tatra National Park, vegetation, hyperspectral measurements, ASD FieldSpec 3, mountain grasslands

© by Marlena Kycko

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Trampling, Tatra National Park, vegetation, hyperspectral measurements, ASD FieldSpec 3, mountain grasslands