Spectral reflectance and photosynthetic properties of Sphagnum mosses exposed to progressive drought
Spectral reflectance and photosynthetic properties of Sphagnum mosses exposed to progressive drought
This article explores the utility of spectral reflectance signals to assess changes in the photosynthetic efficiency (?PSII) of
Sphagnum mosses exposed to reductions in water availability. Reflectance was measured in parallel to moisture content and
chlorophyll fluorescence in five species of Sphagnum exposed to progressive drought. Decreases in moisture availability
caused a significant reduction in ?PSII for all samples tested. An objective was to ascertain whether Sphagnum ?PSII was
better correlated with (i) spectral indices directly related to photosynthetic processes through association with xanthophyll
cycle pigmentation (the photochemical reflectance index; PRI), or (ii) indices indirectly correlated with photosynthetic activity
but able to detect changes in canopy morphology (the normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI), chlorophyll stability
(the structure insensitive pigment index; SIPI), or canopy moisture content (the floating water band index; fWBI). Strongest
correlations were found between ?PSII and indices which were indirectly related to ?PSII. Both the SIPI and the NDVI exhibited
linear correlations although these relationships were sometimes sample-specific. The fWBI was the index least affected by
sample-specific relationships and showed a strong curvilinear correlation with ?PSII. Photosynthetic efficiency was correlated
with the PRI but relationships were much weaker than for the other indices used, and in some cases negative. The NDVI and
the fWBI show the most potential for monitoring Sphagnum photosynthetic activity at the ecosystem scale. The results from
this study will help to monitor and understand the responses of these key species to hydrological disturbances.
peatlands, remote sensing, photosynthetic efficiency, moisture, chlorophyll fluorescence, Sphagnum
35-42
Harris, A.
13bbc5ce-730a-4918-b751-296ea3d60bb3
20 February 2008
Harris, A.
13bbc5ce-730a-4918-b751-296ea3d60bb3
Harris, A.
(2008)
Spectral reflectance and photosynthetic properties of Sphagnum mosses exposed to progressive drought.
Ecohydrology, 1 (1), .
(doi:10.1002/eco.5).
Abstract
This article explores the utility of spectral reflectance signals to assess changes in the photosynthetic efficiency (?PSII) of
Sphagnum mosses exposed to reductions in water availability. Reflectance was measured in parallel to moisture content and
chlorophyll fluorescence in five species of Sphagnum exposed to progressive drought. Decreases in moisture availability
caused a significant reduction in ?PSII for all samples tested. An objective was to ascertain whether Sphagnum ?PSII was
better correlated with (i) spectral indices directly related to photosynthetic processes through association with xanthophyll
cycle pigmentation (the photochemical reflectance index; PRI), or (ii) indices indirectly correlated with photosynthetic activity
but able to detect changes in canopy morphology (the normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI), chlorophyll stability
(the structure insensitive pigment index; SIPI), or canopy moisture content (the floating water band index; fWBI). Strongest
correlations were found between ?PSII and indices which were indirectly related to ?PSII. Both the SIPI and the NDVI exhibited
linear correlations although these relationships were sometimes sample-specific. The fWBI was the index least affected by
sample-specific relationships and showed a strong curvilinear correlation with ?PSII. Photosynthetic efficiency was correlated
with the PRI but relationships were much weaker than for the other indices used, and in some cases negative. The NDVI and
the fWBI show the most potential for monitoring Sphagnum photosynthetic activity at the ecosystem scale. The results from
this study will help to monitor and understand the responses of these key species to hydrological disturbances.
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Published date: 20 February 2008
Keywords:
peatlands, remote sensing, photosynthetic efficiency, moisture, chlorophyll fluorescence, Sphagnum
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Local EPrints ID: 55597
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/55597
ISSN: 1936-0584
PURE UUID: c8b9c040-5280-4b17-a7c2-6c5cc01552eb
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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:56
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Author:
A. Harris
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