Open AccessInnovation in rangeland monitoring: annual, 30 m, plant functional type percent cover maps for U.S. rangelands, 1984–2017
Author(s) -
Jones Matthew O.,
Allred Brady W.,
Naugle David E.,
Maestas Jeremy D.,
Donnelly Patrick,
Metz Loretta J.,
Karl Jason,
Smith Rob,
Bestelmeyer Brandon,
Boyd Chad,
Kerby Jay D.,
McIver James D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecosphere
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.255
H-Index - 57
ISSN - 2150-8925
DOI - 10.1002/ecs2.2430
Subject(s) - rangeland , rangeland management , forb , land cover , ecosystem services , remote sensing , environmental science , biodiversity , geography , ecosystem , environmental resource management , agroforestry , land use , ecology , grassland , biology
Innovations in machine learning and cloud‐based computing were merged with historical remote sensing and field data to provide the first moderate resolution, annual, percent cover maps of plant functional types across rangeland ecosystems to effectively and efficiently respond to pressing challenges facing conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. We utilized the historical Landsat satellite record, gridded meteorology, abiotic land surface data, and over 30,000 field plots within a Random Forests model to predict per‐pixel percent cover of annual forbs and grasses, perennial forbs and grasses, shrubs, and bare ground over the western United States from 1984 to 2017. Results were validated using three independent collections of plot‐level measurements, and resulting maps display land cover variation in response to changes in climate, disturbance, and management. The maps, which will be updated annually at the end of each year, provide exciting opportunities to expand and improve rangeland conservation, monitoring, and management. The data open new doors for scientific investigation at an unprecedented blend of temporal fidelity, spatial resolution, and geographic scale.