Methods for mapping the tundra vegetation of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island ...

• Main Author: Bricher, PK
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Macquarie Island; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23207078; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Methods_for_mapping_the_tundra_vegetation_of_sub-Antarctic_Macquarie_Island/23207078

Vegetation mapping is increasingly used for detecting changes in plant distributions at landscape scales. This is aided by the development of sophisticated machine learning tools and very high resolution satellite imagery, which together allow for the detection of changes at finer spatial and attribute resolutions. Even with these new tools, the sub-Antarctic poses particular challenges for mapping. The remoteness demands particular efficiency in field sampling and regular cloud-cover hampers satellite image acquisition and the tundra vegetation is small-statured and dominated by ecologically generalist species. Additionally, High accuracy mapping is of particular interest on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, where the vegetation is changing rapidly. Reliable maps of current species distributions would provide valuable baselines for monitoring future change. This thesis develops and tests methods for all steps of the mapping process, including field methods, sampling design, examining whether plant communities ...