Using Bi-Temporal Lidar to Evaluate Canopy Structure and Ecotone Influence on Landsat Vegetation Index Trends Within a Boreal Wetland Complex
Source abstract
Abstract
Wetland ecosystems are sensitive to climate variation, yet tracking vegetation type and structure changes through time remains a challenge. This study examines how Landsat-derived vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) correspond with lidar-derived canopy height model (CHM) changes from 2000 to 2018 across the wetland landscape of the Peace–Athabasca Delta (PAD), Canada. By comparing CHM change and NDVI and EVI trends across woody and herbaceous land covers, this study fills a gap in understanding long-term vegetation responses in northern wetlands. Findings show that ~35% of the study area experienced canopy growth, while 2% saw a reduction in height. CHM change revealed 11% ecotonal expansion, where shrub and treed swamps encroached on meadow and marsh areas. NDVI and EVI correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with CHM, particularly in shrub swamps (r2 = 0.40, 0.35) and upland forests (NDVI r2 = 0.37). However, EVI trends aligned more strongly with canopy expansion, while NDVI captured mature tree height growth and wetland drying, indicated by rising land surface temperatures (LST). These results highlight the contrasting responses of NDVI and EVI—NDVI being more sensitive to moisture-related changes such as wetland drying, and EVI aligning more closely with canopy structural changes—emphasizing the value of combining lidar and satellite indices to monitor wetland ecosystems in a warming climate.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications · Remote Sensing in Agriculture · Land Use and Ecosystem Services
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Government of Alberta, Environment and Parks, 9888 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 5C6, Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada, University of Victoria, Queenswood Campus, Victoria, BC V8N 1V8, Canada
Funding
NSERC-Discovery Grant (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) · Western Economic Diversification Canada · ground survey equipment from Canada Foundation for Innovation · Environment Canada · Canada Centre for Remote Sensing · Parks Canada · Alberta Innovates graduate student scholarship
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