The role of satellite remote sensing in structured ecosystem risk assessments

Nicholas J Murray; David A Keith; Lucie M Bland; Renata Ferrari; Mitchell B Lyons; Richard Lucas; Nathalie Pettorelli; Emily Nicholson

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.034

The role of satellite remote sensing in structured ecosystem risk assessments

Sci Total Environ. 2018 Apr 1:619-620:249-257. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.034. Epub 2017 Nov 14.

Authors

Nicholas J Murray¹, David A Keith², Lucie M Bland³, Renata Ferrari⁴, Mitchell B Lyons⁵, Richard Lucas⁶, Nathalie Pettorelli⁷, Emily Nicholson⁸

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address: n.murray@unsw.edu.au.
² Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia; New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: david.keith@unsw.edu.au.
³ Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Electronic address: l.bland@deakin.edu.au.
⁴ Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, 4810, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: mitchell.lyons@unsw.edu.au.
⁶ Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: richard.lucas@unsw.edu.au.
⁷ Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY London, UK. Electronic address: Nathalie.Pettorelli@ioz.ac.uk.
⁸ Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology (Burwood Campus), 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Electronic address: e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.

PMID: 29149749
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.034

Abstract

The current set of global conservation targets requires methods for monitoring the changing status of ecosystems. Protocols for ecosystem risk assessment are uniquely suited to this task, providing objective syntheses of a wide range of data to estimate the likelihood of ecosystem collapse. Satellite remote sensing can deliver ecologically relevant, long-term datasets suitable for analysing changes in ecosystem area, structure and function at temporal and spatial scales relevant to risk assessment protocols. However, there is considerable uncertainty about how to select and effectively utilise remotely sensed variables for risk assessment. Here, we review the use of satellite remote sensing for assessing spatial and functional changes of ecosystems, with the aim of providing guidance on the use of these data in ecosystem risk assessment. We suggest that decisions on the use of satellite remote sensing should be made a priori and deductively with the assistance of conceptual ecosystem models that identify the primary indicators representing the dynamics of a focal ecosystem.

Keywords: Biodiversity monitoring; Earth observation; Ecological indicators; Ecosystem status; Risk assessment; Satellite remote sensing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources*
Ecosystem*
Remote Sensing Technology*
Risk Assessment