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Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis and Ecological Modelling to Predict Potential Distributions of Invasive Species

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Dr. Luciano Bosso

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Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055 Portici (Naples), Italy
Interests: ecology; biogeography; macroecology; global change ecology; conservation biology; biological invasion; landscape ecology; ecological modelling; remote sensing; spatial ecology
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Dear Colleagues,

Over the past century, the number of species that have been transported to areas outside their native range has increased steadily. For this reason, understanding the causes and effects of species invasions is a priority in ecology and conservation biology. New invasive species place biological and ecological pressure on valuable local species, threaten human health, and lower agricultural production. As a result, scientific and management institutions are facing technological challenges in order to detect new approaches that are useful to counteract biological invasions.
One of the crucial steps in evaluating the impact of invasive species is to map changes in their actual and potential distribution and relative abundance across a wide region over an appropriate time span. Remote sensing, spatial analysis, and ecological modelling are tools that are frequently used to carry out studies useful for making strategic and policy decisions for the management of invasive alien species. This Special Issue calls for research papers on patterns and processes of biological invasions in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems using recent and advanced approaches based on tools such as remote sensing, spatial analysis, and ecological modelling.

Publications selected for this Special Issue benefit from high visibility and wide dissemination.

Dr. Luciano Bosso
Guest Editor

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Research

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13 pages, 1605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Effect of Prosopis juliflora, an Alien Invasive Species, on Land Cover Change Using Remote Sensing Approach

by Maher J. Tadros, Amani Al-Assaf, Yahia A. Othman, Zeyad Makhamreh and Hatem Taifour

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5887; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155887 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4549

Abstract

Invasive plant species (IPS) affect people’s livelihoods and well-being by providing both benefits and costs in different contexts. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Prosopis juliflora invasion on land cover change using ground survey and satellite sensor data derived from Landsat ETM+. The study was conducted at Sweimeh, Jordan Valley, between 1999 and 2017. The overall classification accuracy of remotely sensed data was 86% for 1999 and 80% for 2017. Accordingly, a remote sensing approach has the potential to assess land change/cover and aid in monitoring the IPS, specifically Prosopis invasion. Change detection analysis of Landsat classes (i.e., 1999 and 2017) showed that bare soil, urban, and water surface areas decreased by 6%, 11%, and 3%, respectively. Conversely, the vegetation class (i.e., IPS and native plants) increased by 20%. Ground surveys in 1999 and 2017 showed that the average vegetation area in Sweimeh invaded by Prosopis was approximately 60% in 1999 and 70% in 2017. Accordingly, the total estimated area invaded by P. juliflora at Sweimeh (2106 ha) in 1999 was approximately 92 ha, while Prosopis coverage in the same region was approximately 413 ha in 2017. The high emergence rate, the adaptation to high temperatures and low precipitation as well as governmental regulations which restrict the removal of trees, including IPS, were the main factors that prompted the extreme P. juliflora invasion in the Jordan Valley. The high invasion rate has led to a reduction in native species, including Tamarix spp., and dried up five natural water springs in the area. Overall, a monitoring plan should be applied to control the invasion problem by Prosopis in the valley. In addition, the conservation regulations that deal with IPS should be revised to mitigate the IPS risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis and Ecological Modelling to Predict Potential Distributions of Invasive Species)

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38 pages, 2135 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

From Nucleotides to Satellite Imagery: Approaches to Identify and Manage the Invasive Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa and Its Insect Vectors in Europe

by Francesca Raffini, Giorgio Bertorelle, Roberto Biello, Guido D’Urso, Danilo Russo and Luciano Bosso

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4508; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114508 - 2 Jun 2020

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 8418

Abstract

Biological invasions represent some of the most severe threats to local communities and ecosystems. Among invasive species, the vector-borne pathogen Xylella fastidiosa is responsible for a wide variety of plant diseases and has profound environmental, social and economic impacts. Once restricted to the Americas, it has recently invaded Europe, where multiple dramatic outbreaks have highlighted critical challenges for its management. Here, we review the most recent advances on the identification, distribution and management of X. fastidiosa and its insect vectors in Europe through genetic and spatial ecology methodologies. We underline the most important theoretical and technological gaps that remain to be bridged. Challenges and future research directions are discussed in the light of improving our understanding of this invasive species, its vectors and host–pathogen interactions. We highlight the need of including different, complimentary outlooks in integrated frameworks to substantially improve our knowledge on invasive processes and optimize resources allocation. We provide an overview of genetic, spatial ecology and integrated approaches that will aid successful and sustainable management of one of the most dangerous threats to European agriculture and ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis and Ecological Modelling to Predict Potential Distributions of Invasive Species)

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