Spatial and temporal variations of vegetation communities in the Shanghai Nanhui tidal flat over 60 years

Abstract

As the main types of tidal flat wetland, the spatial and temporal variations of vegetation must have some influences on the ecosystem service and economic value of wetland. Based on GIS platform, the paper analysis the vegetation communities spatial and temporal variations of Shanghai Nanhui tidal flat, using four aerial satellite remote sensing data from 1995 to 2008, together with air photograph interpretation maps from 1949 to 1982, and field survey data results. The results revealed that the natural vegetation communities outside the shore bank extended to sea area with the tidal flat deposition; during 80-90 years in 20th century, the vegetation communities were in the transition period that from natural stage to man-made stage; After 2000, the vegetation communities were in the new pattern period with the artificial promoting deposition project and reclamation intensity increasing.