Dissertation
Satellite remote sensing of plant functional diversity
Biodiversity enables ecosystems to thrive through the synergy of functional differences among organisms. While human well-being strongly depends on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services, human actions are also at the root of current unprecedented biodiversity declines.
- Author
- Hauser, L.T.
- Date
- 22 June 2022
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
![](/binaries/content/gallery/ul2/main-images/science/proefschriften/satelliteremotesensing.png/satelliteremotesensing.png/d300xvar)
Comprehensive methods to assess the dynamics and state of biodiversity are therefore increasingly urgent. This thesis studies the overlooked capabilities of current satellite observations to conduct large-scale monitoring of plant functional diversity, with a focus on the European Space Agency’s flagship Sentinel-2 satellite. Specifically, it addresses the use of spectral diversity metrics, radiative transfer model inversion, the need for adequate in-situ validation, and the role of spatial scale in our perception and estimation of satellite-derived plant functional diversity patterns.