Hyperspectral studies of seagrasses

Seagrass meadows are of economic importance and high conservation significance, and offer a sensitive bioindicator for estuarine ecosystems. Successful management depends on appropriate monitoring of the health and extent of seagrass meadows. The research in this book advances the field of remote sensing of seagrasses, and is applicable to plants more generally. Hyperspectral reflectance studies are combined with ecophysiology and biochemistry to generate essential baseline data, facts and tools that optimise the mapping of seagrass meadows and lay the groundwork for monitoring the physiological condition of plants. These include the first spectral library of aquatic plant species to account for the range of spectral variability expected for a species under natural conditions, a comprehensive characterisation of spectral, biochemical and physiological changes in light-stressed eelgrass, and a new plant stress index. This book will be invaluable to researchers and students investigating the remote sensing of vegetation or those examining seagrass health and dynamics, and offers a useful guide to managers developing monitoring programs in shallow aquatic ecosystems.