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Remote analysis of biological invasion and biogeochemical change.

Asner GP, Vitousek PM

Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. gpa@stanford.edu

We used airborne imaging spectroscopy and photon transport modeling to determine how biological invasion altered the chemistry of forest canopies across a Hawaiian montane rain forest landscape. The nitrogen-fixing tree Myrica faya doubled canopy nitrogen concentrations and water content as it replaced native forest, whereas the understory herb Hedychium gardnerianum reduced nitrogen concentrations in the forest overstory and substantially increased aboveground water content. This remote sensing approach indicates the geographic extent, intensity, and biogeochemical impacts of two distinct invaders; its wider application could enhance the role of remote sensing in ecosystem analysis and management.

Published 23 March 2005 in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 102(12): 4383-6.
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