Title of Submission
Fine-Scale Vegetation Monitoring in Shrublands with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Degree Program
Biology, MS
Major Advisor Name
Nancy Glenn
Type of Submission
Scholarly Poster
Abstract
Dryland ecosystems, which offer critical services like carbon storage and rangeland forage, are threatened by invasive species. In North America, drylands are rapidly changing due to a positive feedback loop of invasive annual grasses and frequent wildfire cycles. As a result of altered species compositions, rangeland pasture and wildlife habitat are degraded. I hypothesize that combining spectral and structural data from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will improve estimates of species distribution and improve estimates of community resilience.To test this, I will compare measurements of biodiversity between UAS and field collected data in sagebrush communities in Idaho.
Funding Information
USDA Agricultural Research Service