Predicting Microhabitat Suitability for an Endangered Small Mammal Using Sentinel-2 Data
Autor(a) principal: | |
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Data de Publicação: | 2020 |
Outros Autores: | , , , , , |
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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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) instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação instacron:RCAAP |
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Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
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RCAAP |
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RCAAP |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
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