Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats

Abstract

Remote sensing has been established as a valuable support to field mapping and monitoring of vegetation compositions, habitats, and single species. However, the time-span of data acquisition, especially of advanced very high spatial and temporal resolution sensors, is not long enough for the monitoring of climate-induced impacts on habitats. Within this study we introduce different methods for three biogeographic regions showing the possibilities of providing indicators of potential climate change impacts. For the Vessertal, a forested area in Germany, the immigration of beech into a spruce dominated region – a potential climate change effect – is investigated. Within the Rieserferner Ahrn, an Alpine region in Italy, the potential of detecting shrub encroachment – an indicator for climate-related change in the treeline – is explored. For Lake Neusiedl in Austria, the potential of detecting climate-induced changes in Pannonic inland marshes is evaluated. These case studies show the strengths and limitations of identifying relevant indicators of climate change. Although the maps of the areas provided supply indicators about habitat occurrence and conservation status, the results overlap with the general anthropogenic-induced change of land-use in the area. Hence, a clear relation of the outcomes to climate change effects is not established within this study.