Seasonal variation of heterogeneity in tallgrass prairie: a quantitative measure using remote sensing

TitleSeasonal variation of heterogeneity in tallgrass prairie: a quantitative measure using remote sensing
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1991
AuthorsBriggs, JM, Nellis, MD
JournalPhotogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
Volume57
Pagination407 -411
Accession NumberKNZ00308
Keywordstallgrass prairie
Abstract

Remote sensing may be a tool to quantitatively measure the change in heterogeneity that takes place in a landscape over a growing season. Seven different SPOT satellite scenes of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area were analyzed to assess the potential of using textural algorithms as a quantitative measure of seasonal variation in heterogeneity. Unburned watersheds usually have greater heterogeneity than annually burned watersheds. However, the greatest amount of heterogeneity as measured by textural analysis occurs in those area with a mixture of forest and upland tallgrass prairie. Results suggest that remote sensing textural algorithms, in combination with normalized vegetation difference indices, can provide insight regarding both temporal changes that occur seasonally and the influences of periodic spring fires and management practices on the tallgrass prairie ecosystem