HR: 0830h
AN: B11D-0716    [PDF]
TI: Health Assessment of the White Pine Community in the Lincoln National Forest of New Mexico through Spectral Reflectivity Variance
AU: * Perez, A E
EM: perez@geo.utep.edu
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Geological Sciences 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 United States
AU: Pingitore, N E
EM: nick@geo.utep.edu
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Geological Sciences 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 United States
AU: Keller, R
EM: keller@geo.utep.edu
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Geological Sciences 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 United States
AU: Conklin, D A
EM: daconklin@fs.fed.us
AF: Forest Health Protection, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 United States
AB: The health of forests worldwide has become of greater interest to the scientific community in the last decades. Catastrophic events such as wild fires, insect infestations, and diseases all point to a less than ideal state in these areas. In the last fifteen years the Forest Health Protection office of the Forest Service identified and has been monitoring the distribution and effects of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) in the white pine community in the stands of the Lincoln National Forest. The Lincoln National Forest covers an area of approximately 1,196,419 acres in parts of four counties in southeastern New Mexico. It consists of three ranger districts: Sacramento, Smokey Bear and Guadalupe. The Lincoln National Forest attracts visitors because of its natural beauty and recreational areas. It is also home to several endangered and threatened species such as the Mexican Spotted Owl., the Sacramento Prickly Poppy, and the Sacramento Mountain Thistle. Loss of white pine stands is detrimental not only from a human perspective but would also result in loss of natural habitats for already rare species. According to Conklin (1994) there are nearly 500,000 acres of forests in the Sacramento Mountains, the adjoining White Mountains and the nearby Capitan Mountains that contain southwestern white pine. Starting in 1990 Conklin established several infected plots within this area and monitors them on a 3-year rotation period. In an attempt to further analyze the effects of the disease, samples from the different localities were obtained and their spectral responses studied by using a GER spectroradiometer with data acquisition capabilities in the 350 to 2500 nm range. The interaction of an object with electromagnetic energy is unique for each target and is based on its physical characteristics. We are able to note spectral differences in areas other than the visible range which are not accessible to the human eye. Plants stressed by such factors as drought, infestation, differences in soil composition, and alkalinity show a distinct difference in spectral response to that of healthy vegetation. By studying the samples from the Conklin plots we hope to be able to classify the condition of the infected trees. Preliminary results show that there is indeed a significant difference in the spectral response of the different plots. The stands in consideration have been identified as low, moderated, and high infestation based on the number of cankers visible in the spring months. We hope to be able to establish a connection between the differences in spectral signature and the severity of the infestation as more data is analyzed.
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1694 Instruments and techniques
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting