MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

26 pages, 13002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Individual Tree Species Classification Based on a Hierarchical Convolutional Neural Network and Multitemporal Google Earth Images

by Zhonglu Lei, Hui Li, Jie Zhao, Linhai Jing, Yunwei Tang and Hongkun Wang

Remote Sens. 2022, 14(20), 5124; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14205124 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2949

Abstract

Accurate and efficient individual tree species (ITS) classification is the basis of fine forest resource management. It is a challenge to classify individual tree species in dense forests using remote sensing imagery. In order to solve this problem, a new ITS classification method was proposed in this study, in which a hierarchical convolutional neural network (H-CNN) model and multi-temporal high-resolution Google Earth images were employed. In an experiment conducted in a forest park in Beijing, China, GE images of several significant phenological phases of broad-leaved forests, namely, before and after the mushrooming period, the growth period, and the wilting period, were selected, and ITS classifications based on these images along with several typical CNN models and the H-CNN model were conducted. In the experiment, the classification accuracy of the multitemporal images was higher by 7.08–12.09% than those of the single-temporal images, and the H-CNN model offered an OA accuracy 2.66–3.72% higher than individual CNN models, demonstrating that multitemporal images rich in the phenological features of individual tree species, together with a hierarchical CNN model, can effectively improve ITS classification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing and Smart Forestry)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 2478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Influences Basidiome Emergence of Leaf-Cutting Ant Cultivars

by Rodolfo Bizarria, Pepijn W. Kooij and Andre Rodrigues

J. Fungi 2021, 7(11), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110912 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3358

Abstract

Maintaining symbiosis homeostasis is essential for mutualistic partners. Leaf-cutting ants evolved a long-term symbiotic mutualism with fungal cultivars for nourishment while using vertical asexual transmission across generations. Despite the ants’ efforts to suppress fungal sexual reproduction, scattered occurrences of cultivar basidiomes have been reported. Here, we review the literature for basidiome occurrences and associated climate data. We hypothesized that more basidiome events could be expected in scenarios with an increase in temperature and precipitation. Our field observations and climate data analyses indeed suggest that Acromyrmex coronatus colonies are prone to basidiome occurrences in warmer and wetter seasons. Even though our study partly depended on historical records, occurrences have increased, correlating with climate change. A nest architecture with low (or even the lack of) insulation might be the cause of this phenomenon. The nature of basidiome occurrences in the A. coronatus–fungus mutualism can be useful to elucidate how resilient mutualistic symbioses are in light of climate change scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dimensions of Tropical Fungal Diversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Search Results (2)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (2)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI