Monitoring plant diversity in mediterranean coastal landscapes: integration of field collected and remotely sensed data
Author(s)
Bazzichetto, Manuele
Date Issued
May 13, 2020
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Coastal dunes are facing an unprecedented loss of biodiversity mainly driven by human-related activities. Indeed, by favoring habitat degradation and fragmentation or by facilitating the introduction of invasive species, anthropogenic pressures such as urbanization and tourism seriously threaten the biodiversity and functioning of dune ecosystems. In order to understand how anthropogenic and natural determinants are altering these environments, and to identify effective strategies in the management of coastal landscapes, new tools and approaches are urgently needed. In this regard, remote sensing allows investigating the relationship between biodiversity and environment on a wide geographic extent, therefore representing a powerful tool for the analysis and monitoring of dune vegetation.
With the aim of analyzing plant diversity in Mediterranean coastal landscapes, in this project I focused on the integration of remotely sensed imagery and field-collected dune vegetation data. In particular, I characterized the morphological profile of coastal EC-habitats (sensu EU Habitats Directive) and analyzed the influence of dune morphology in shaping the distribution of EC-habitats along the coastal zonation. Furthermore, I investigated the effect of shoreline dynamism on dune vegetation by analyzing changes in species richness, vegetation cover and diversity of plant communities undergoing different intensity of coastal erosion and accretion. Then I modelled the occurrence of the highly invasive Carpobrotus sp. along the Lazio dune system accounting for the simultaneous role of multiple drivers of invasion attributable to propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors. Predictions on Carpobrotus sp. occurrence were finally used to assess the invasibility of a group of coastal sites included in the Natura 2000 network of the Lazio region.
In each step of this project, remotely sensed data allowed robust analysis of how anthropogenic and natural processes shape plant diversity patterns in Mediterranean coastal landscapes. Results highlight that combining fine scale remote sensing imagery and field-collected vegetation data can effectively support the management and conservation of threatened ecosystems such as coastal dunes.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze, tecnologie e biotecnologie per la sostenibilità
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