Application of landscape ecology and remote sensing for assessment, monitoring and conservation of biodiversity
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J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (September 2010 : Special issue on Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology) 38 : 365-385
REVIEW ARTICLE
Application of Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing for Assessment, Monitoring and Conservation of Biodiversity J.S. Singh • P.S. Roy • M.S.R. Murthy • C.S. Jha
Received: 23 June 2010 / Accepted: 2 July 2010 Keywords Landscape • Remote Sensing • Geospatial • Disturbance • Conservation • Climate change
Abstract Landscape ecology, inter alia, addresses the question as to how altered landscape patterns affect the distribution, persistence, and abundance of a species. Landscape ecology plays an important role in integrating the different scales of biodiversity from habitat patch to biome level. Satellite remote sensing technology with multi-sensor capabilities offers multi-scale information on landscape composition and configuration. Advances in geospatial analytical tools and spatial statistics have J.S. Singh1 • P.S. Roy2( ) • M.S.R. Murthy3 • C.S. Jha3 1
Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India
2 Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (NRSC), Dehradun-248001, India 3 National Remote Sensing Centre, Balanagar, Hyderabad-500037, India.
email : [email protected]
improved the capability to quantify spatial heterogeneity. Globally, landscape level characterization of biodiversity has become an important discipline of science. Considering the vast extent, heterogeneity, and ecological and economic importance of forest landscapes, significant efforts have been made in India during the past decade to strengthen landscape level biodiversity characterization. The generic frame work of studies comprises preparation of national databases providing information on composition and configuration of different landscapes using multiscale remote sensing techniques, understanding the landscape patterns using geospatial models to elicit disturbance and diversity patterns and application of this information for bioprospecting and conservation purposes. Studies on hierarchical linkage of multi-scale information to study the processes of change, landscape function, dynamics of habitat fragmentation, invasion, development of network of conservation areas based on the understanding of multi-species responses to
366 J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (September 2010 : Special issue on Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology) 38 : 365-385
landscape mosaics, macro-ecological studies to understand environment and species richness, habitat and species transitions and losses, landscape level solutions to adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change are a few of the future challenges. The paper presents the current experiences and, analyses in conjunction with international scenario and identifies future challenges of Indian landscape level biodiversity studies.
Introduction The ecological footprint of humans which has permeated to most regions of the earth is expected to increase several fold in future as a result of dwindling resources and climate change. The loss of forest cover as a res
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