HR: 1340h
AN: B33D-1070    [Abstracts]
TI: Salt-Marsh and Mudflat Ecological Patterns From Remote Sensing
AU: * Belluco, E
EM: belluco@idra.unipd.it
AF: Dept. IMAGE and International Center for Hydrology, University of Padova, via Loredan 20, Padova, 35131 Italy
AU: Camuffo, M
EM: camonic@unive.it
AF: Environmental Science Dept., University of Venice, Dorsoduro 2137, Venice, 30123 Italy
AU: Vardy, S
EM: sv7@st-andrews.ac.uk
AF: Sediment Ecology Research Group, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB United Kingdom
AU: Ferrari, S
EM: ferrari@idra.unipd.it
AF: Dept. IMAGE and International Center for Hydrology, University of Padova, via Loredan 20, Padova, 35131 Italy
AU: Feola, A
EM: feola@idra.unipd.it
AF: Dept. IMAGE and International Center for Hydrology, University of Padova, via Loredan 20, Padova, 35131 Italy
AU: Silvestri, S
EM: sonia.silvestri@magisacque.it
AF: SIN - Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia, via Pediano 6, Voltabarozzo, PD 35100 Italy
AU: Paterson, D M
EM: dp1@st-andrews.ac.uk
AF: Sediment Ecology Research Group, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB United Kingdom
AU: Marani, A
EM: marani@unive.it
AF: SIN - Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia, via Pediano 6, Voltabarozzo, PD 35100 Italy
AU: Marani, M
EM: marani@idra.unipd.it
AF: Dept. IMAGE and International Center for Hydrology, University of Padova, via Loredan 20, Padova, 35131 Italy
AB: Coastal wetland areas, such as lagoons and estuaries, are complex and delicate environments subject to rapid morphological and ecological evolution, often in response to strong anthropogenic pressure. The combined ecological and economic importance of these dynamic environments has focused attention on monitoring and forecasting change in these natural coastal deposits. Salt marshes and mudflats in tidal environments are characterised by complex spatial patterns of form, both in their geomorphological and ecological features. Spatial patterns of microbial and vegetation assemblage distribution and composition provide essential information for describing the state of intertidal systems while any alteration in these patterns help to understand and assess system change. The present contribution describes quantitative observations of ecological (vegetation and microphytobenthos) and morphological (topography and channel network geometry) of selected systems using remote sensing and field observations performed during the European research project TIDE (Tidal Inlets Dynamics and Environment, EVK3-CT-2001-00064). The optimal observational configuration was assessed to retrieve accurate quantitative maps of salt marsh plants, macroalgae and microphytobenthos, with specific reference to the salt marshes of the Venice Lagoon (Italy) and to the mudflats of the Eden Estuary (Scotland). Statistical analyses applied on the vegetation maps obtained allowed the derivation of relationships between morphological characteristics and vegetation distribution. Finally vegetation biodiversity was quantified in space and its relationship with various topographic/geomorphic parameters (e.g. proximity to the channel network, soil elevation, etc.) was determined.
DE: 0410 Biodiversity
DE: 0480 Remote sensing
DE: 1851 Plant ecology (0476)
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
DE: 1890 Wetlands (0497)
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005