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Rapid Assessment of Restoration Performance Measures at Multiple Scales in the Greater Everglades Using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Research Team
PI:
Matt
Cohen, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida
Co-PIs:
K. Ramesh
Reddy, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida
Sabine Grunwald, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida
Mark
W.
Clark, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida
Time: 2005
to 2006
Funding Source: Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative
(CESI)
Summary
Large-scale
restoration requires ecosystem performance measures that can function as
rapid quantitative benchmarks of recovery or degradation over time.Soil
provides a useful indicator of ecosystem condition because it is sensitive
to change, ubiquitous and responds in relatively well-understood ways to
anthropogenic impairment gradients.This project presents a method
for rapid assessment of a wide array of soil performance measures based
on Visible Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (VNIRS), a technique that relates
high resolution light reflectance characteristics to physical, chemical
and biological attributes of soil and plant sample attributes. Here we explore applications
at three nested spatial scales of analysis. First, we use a soil archive
that covers the entire Greater Everglades region to develop chemometric
models that relate spectra and numerous ecosystem performance measures. Second,
we explore specific nutrient enrichment gradients in the northern Everglades
to determine if spectral reflectance can provide low cost indication and
early detection of enrichment processes. Finally, we link spectral
reflectance models to a variety of process and state indicators of landscape
dynamics in the ridge-slough mosaic, including mineralization rates, carbon
quality and marl/peat development. At each scale, we provide chemometric
models that have multiple advantages:
- rapid to implement
- low cost
(sample pre-processing is minimal and the instrument and operating costs
are relatively inexpensive) and
- offer a unique view of the soil ecosystem
that integrates across biota, mineralogy and exogenous forcing functions.While
we link the results to water quality and quantity parameters at multiple
scales, we foresee this tool providing assessment and monitoring support
across a much wider range of restoration applications.
Objectives
(1)
Develop calibrations between routine soil performance measures
and spectral reflectance signatures using a spatially comprehensive soil
archive (n ~ 5000) collected throughout the Everglades by the Wetland Biogeochemistry
Laboratory (WBL) at the Univ. of Florida (UF) during 2003.
(2)
Explore
spectroscopic methods (using calibration and calibration-free methods) to
predict integrated soil performance measures (nutrient enrichment, changes
in carbon quality, changes in microbial indicators, carbon and nitrogen
mineralization rates) along known environmental and anthropogenic disturbance
gradients.
(3) Develop
and disseminate a suite of analytical tools that apply to performance assessment
across scales in support of several Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP) objectives (e.g. fine scale spatial analysis for hydrologic,
contaminant and ecological model boundary conditions; baseline condition
development for simulation model support; changes in landscape patterns
- e.g. ridge and slough soil accretion models; detailed studies of biogeochemical
kinetics) for decision support and improved system assessment.
Results
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