Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Valerio, Francesco
Data de Publicação: 2020
Outros Autores: Ferreira, Eduardo, Godinho, Sérgio, Pita, Ricardo, Mira, António, Fernandes, Nelson, Santos, Sara M.
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12030562
Resumo: Accurate mapping is a main challenge for endangered small-sized terrestrial species. Freely available spatio-temporal data at high resolution from multispectral satellite offer excellent opportunities for improving predictive distribution models of such species based on fine-scale habitat features, thus making it easier to achieve comprehensive biodiversity conservation goals. However, there are still few examples showing the utility of remote-sensing-based products in mapping microhabitat suitability for small species of conservation concern. Here, we address this issue using Sentinel-2 sensor-derived habitat variables, used in combination with more commonly used explanatory variables (e.g., topography), to predict the distribution of the endangered Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) in agrosilvopastorial systems. Based on vole surveys conducted in two different seasons over a ~176,000 ha landscape in Southern Portugal, we assessed the significance of each predictor in explaining Cabrera vole occurrence using the Boruta algorithm, a novel Random forest variant for dealing with high dimensionality of explanatory variables. Overall, results showed a strong contribution of Sentinel-2-derived variables for predicting microhabitat suitability of Cabrera voles. In particular, we found that photosynthetic activity (NDI45), specific spectral signal (SWIR1), and landscape heterogeneity (Rao’s Q) were good proxies of Cabrera voles’ microhabitat, mostly during temporally greener and wetter conditions. In addition to remote-sensing-based variables, the presence of road verges was also an important driver of voles’ distribution, highlighting their potential role as refuges and/or corridors. Overall, our study supports the use of remote-sensing data to predict microhabitat suitability for endangered small-sized species in marginal areas that potentially hold most of the biodiversity found in human-dominated landscapes. We believe our approach can be widely applied to other species, for which detailed habitat mapping over large spatial extents is difficult to obtain using traditional descriptors. This would certainly contribute to improving conservation planning, thereby contributing to global conservation efforts in landscapes that are managed for multiple purposes.
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spelling Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Dataremote sensingspecies distribution modelswildlife conservationCabrera voleAccurate mapping is a main challenge for endangered small-sized terrestrial species. Freely available spatio-temporal data at high resolution from multispectral satellite offer excellent opportunities for improving predictive distribution models of such species based on fine-scale habitat features, thus making it easier to achieve comprehensive biodiversity conservation goals. However, there are still few examples showing the utility of remote-sensing-based products in mapping microhabitat suitability for small species of conservation concern. Here, we address this issue using Sentinel-2 sensor-derived habitat variables, used in combination with more commonly used explanatory variables (e.g., topography), to predict the distribution of the endangered Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) in agrosilvopastorial systems. Based on vole surveys conducted in two different seasons over a ~176,000 ha landscape in Southern Portugal, we assessed the significance of each predictor in explaining Cabrera vole occurrence using the Boruta algorithm, a novel Random forest variant for dealing with high dimensionality of explanatory variables. Overall, results showed a strong contribution of Sentinel-2-derived variables for predicting microhabitat suitability of Cabrera voles. In particular, we found that photosynthetic activity (NDI45), specific spectral signal (SWIR1), and landscape heterogeneity (Rao’s Q) were good proxies of Cabrera voles’ microhabitat, mostly during temporally greener and wetter conditions. In addition to remote-sensing-based variables, the presence of road verges was also an important driver of voles’ distribution, highlighting their potential role as refuges and/or corridors. Overall, our study supports the use of remote-sensing data to predict microhabitat suitability for endangered small-sized species in marginal areas that potentially hold most of the biodiversity found in human-dominated landscapes. We believe our approach can be widely applied to other species, for which detailed habitat mapping over large spatial extents is difficult to obtain using traditional descriptors. This would certainly contribute to improving conservation planning, thereby contributing to global conservation efforts in landscapes that are managed for multiple purposes.mdpi2020-03-03T16:29:33Z2020-03-032020-02-01T00:00:00Zinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677http://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12030562engValerio, F., Ferreira, E., Godinho, S., Pita, R., Mira, A., Fernandes, N., Santos, S.M. Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal using Sentinel-2 Data. Remote Sensing (2020). doi:10.3390/rs12030562fvalerio@uevora.ptndndndamira@uevora.ptndsmsantos@uevora.pt221Valerio, FrancescoFerreira, EduardoGodinho, SérgioPita, RicardoMira, AntónioFernandes, NelsonSantos, Sara M.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAP2024-01-03T19:23:16Zoai:dspace.uevora.pt:10174/27677Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-20T01:17:40.547174Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
title Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
spellingShingle Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
Valerio, Francesco
remote sensing
species distribution models
wildlife conservation
Cabrera vole
title_short Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
title_full Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
title_fullStr Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
title_full_unstemmed Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
title_sort Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
author Valerio, Francesco
author_facet Valerio, Francesco
Ferreira, Eduardo
Godinho, Sérgio
Pita, Ricardo
Mira, António
Fernandes, Nelson
Santos, Sara M.
author_role author
author2 Ferreira, Eduardo
Godinho, Sérgio
Pita, Ricardo
Mira, António
Fernandes, Nelson
Santos, Sara M.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Valerio, Francesco
Ferreira, Eduardo
Godinho, Sérgio
Pita, Ricardo
Mira, António
Fernandes, Nelson
Santos, Sara M.
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv remote sensing
species distribution models
wildlife conservation
Cabrera vole
topic remote sensing
species distribution models
wildlife conservation
Cabrera vole
description Accurate mapping is a main challenge for endangered small-sized terrestrial species. Freely available spatio-temporal data at high resolution from multispectral satellite offer excellent opportunities for improving predictive distribution models of such species based on fine-scale habitat features, thus making it easier to achieve comprehensive biodiversity conservation goals. However, there are still few examples showing the utility of remote-sensing-based products in mapping microhabitat suitability for small species of conservation concern. Here, we address this issue using Sentinel-2 sensor-derived habitat variables, used in combination with more commonly used explanatory variables (e.g., topography), to predict the distribution of the endangered Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) in agrosilvopastorial systems. Based on vole surveys conducted in two different seasons over a ~176,000 ha landscape in Southern Portugal, we assessed the significance of each predictor in explaining Cabrera vole occurrence using the Boruta algorithm, a novel Random forest variant for dealing with high dimensionality of explanatory variables. Overall, results showed a strong contribution of Sentinel-2-derived variables for predicting microhabitat suitability of Cabrera voles. In particular, we found that photosynthetic activity (NDI45), specific spectral signal (SWIR1), and landscape heterogeneity (Rao’s Q) were good proxies of Cabrera voles’ microhabitat, mostly during temporally greener and wetter conditions. In addition to remote-sensing-based variables, the presence of road verges was also an important driver of voles’ distribution, highlighting their potential role as refuges and/or corridors. Overall, our study supports the use of remote-sensing data to predict microhabitat suitability for endangered small-sized species in marginal areas that potentially hold most of the biodiversity found in human-dominated landscapes. We believe our approach can be widely applied to other species, for which detailed habitat mapping over large spatial extents is difficult to obtain using traditional descriptors. This would certainly contribute to improving conservation planning, thereby contributing to global conservation efforts in landscapes that are managed for multiple purposes.
publishDate 2020
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2020-03-03T16:29:33Z
2020-03-03
2020-02-01T00:00:00Z
dc.type.status.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12030562
url http://hdl.handle.net/10174/27677
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12030562
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Valerio, F., Ferreira, E., Godinho, S., Pita, R., Mira, A., Fernandes, N., Santos, S.M. Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal using Sentinel-2 Data. Remote Sensing (2020). doi:10.3390/rs12030562
fvalerio@uevora.pt
nd
nd
nd
amira@uevora.pt
nd
smsantos@uevora.pt
221
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv mdpi
publisher.none.fl_str_mv mdpi
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
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collection Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
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