Ecological Indicators最新文献

{"title":"Developing an early warning land degradation indicator based on geostatistical analysis of Ecosystem Functional Types dynamics","authors":"Cristina Domingo-Marimon ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Jenerowicz-Sanikowska ,&nbsp;Lluís Pesquer ,&nbsp;Marek Ruciński ,&nbsp;Michał Krupiński ,&nbsp;Edyta Woźniak ,&nbsp;Anna Foks-Ryznar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Abdul Quader","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying and quantifying ecosystem degradation and recovery is of critical importance for ecosystem health, biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of local communities. Remote sensing datasets and techniques, particularly land cover maps, provide crucial data for capturing spatial and temporal changes, supporting informed decision-making and targeted interventions. However, these maps often emphasize structural rather than functional attributes and, also due to their thematic and temporal resolution, may not detect early degradation signs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Ecosystem Functional Attributes (EFAs) and Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) as early warning indicators of ecosystem degradation. Using Sentinel-2 derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 2016 to 2022, we conducted qualitative and quantitative EFA/EFT analysis on two fragile protected areas, Moyowosi Game Reserve (Kigoma region, Tanzania) and the Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park (Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh). Firstly, EFA analysis characterized vegetation productivity and seasonality, revealing temporal trends and spatial patterns of change. Secondly, EFTs served as indicators of change levels. Our findings showed significant insights into productivity shifts due to human activities and climate anomalies, identifying specific temporal events and turning points. Variogram-based geostatistical analysis highlighted changes in vegetation diversity’s spatial distribution. Integrating EFA/EFT analysis with geostatistical methods proved effective for early detection of land degradation, surpassing traditional land cover change analysis. Hence, the presented approach forms a robust framework for an early warning system, aimed at monitoring and evaluating environmentally fragile areas and aiding decision-makers in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable land management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112815"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics of vegetation restoration after historical earthquake landslides from 1985 to 2020: A case study of Tianshui City, China","authors":"Xing Su ,&nbsp;Jing Jia ,&nbsp;Jun Zhang ,&nbsp;Xia Li ,&nbsp;Manyin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Earthquakes occurring in mountainous regions have the potential to trigger a significant proliferation of landslides, greatly change the landforms, and exert a long-term impact on vegetation. Since the resurrection of ancient landslides has shown an upward trend in recent years, exploring the vegetation restoration and landslide activity of historical seismic landslides can prevent the occurrence of disasters in the future. In this study, we offer a novel calculation method for the evaluation of vegetation restoration of historical seismic landslides. There were 469 landslides in our study area that encompassed a total area of 87.70 km². Based on the 30-m resolution normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data of the Tianshui City area from 1985 to 2020, which was used to quantify the vegetation restoration and landslide activity in the landslide area, we adopted the indicators of vegetation cover and vegetation restoration rate. In our analysis, the NDVI and FVC of the landslide area showed a fluctuating increase, the vegetation recovery rate of the landslide area using both VRR_M and VRR_N calculations demonstrated an increasing trend, and the number of active landslides decreased. However, the results of the VRR_N calculation more accurately assessed the vegetation recovery of the landslide area in the long term, and proved that recovery was superior in 1990. The restoration of vegetation was affected by regional precipitation, altitude, human activities, and disaster activities; and landslides in the study area recovered least in 1990–1995 and most in 2005–2020. The present study of vegetation restoration for a disaster area provides a reference for the restoration, utilization, planning, and related research of landslide disasters in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112798"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduced sampling intensity through key sampling site selection for optimal characterization of riverine fish communities by eDNA metabarcoding","authors":"Charlotte Van Driessche ,&nbsp;Teun Everts ,&nbsp;Sabrina Neyrinck ,&nbsp;Io Deflem ,&nbsp;Dries Bonte ,&nbsp;Rein Brys","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective conservation management of river systems requires a comprehensive understanding of local and regional biodiversity, necessitating accurate characterization of species communities. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a pivotal tool for assessing aquatic organisms, especially fish communities. However, optimal sampling resolution and site positioning to obtain robust fish diversity indices across heterogeneous river systems remain inadequately understood. This study empirically evaluates the optimal number of eDNA samples needed to accurately capture diversity both locally and stream-wide across three distinct river systems, comparing eDNA metabarcoding results to traditional electrofishing data. Habitat and landscape factors were characterized to interpret the localisation of key sampling sites contributing most to the overall species richness. We detected 30 fish species via eDNA metabarcoding, compared to 28 species by electrofishing, with eDNA requiring fewer sampling sites per river system. To reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness, eDNA analyses required between one and nine sites across three river systems spanning ten kilometres each. In the most diverse river, a single eDNA sampling site even achieved a higher species richness (n = 20 species) compared to the nine required sites to reach ≥ 95 % of the estimated species richness via electrofishing (n = 9 species). To account for eDNA particle dilution and degradation over larger distances (&gt;1 km), sampling at both upstream and downstream sites may be crucial, with strategic site selection further refined by factors like adjacent stream inflows, substrate type, and river discharge rate, all of which influence species-specific habitat occupancy. On a smaller scale, the location of key sampling sites only moderately differs within 100-meter transects therewith informing on the precise placement of those sampling sites. Our work highlights the robustness and cost-effectiveness of eDNA analyses for riverine biodiversity assessment, demonstrating strong potential for enhancing various conservation practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112807"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban expansion, economic development, and carbon emissions: Trends, patterns, and decoupling in mainland China’s provincial capitals (1985–2020)","authors":"Jiahui Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Zixuan Liu ,&nbsp;Wei Liu ,&nbsp;Keyan Li ,&nbsp;Bei Zhang ,&nbsp;Yonggen Zhang ,&nbsp;Le Yu ,&nbsp;Tetsuro Sakai","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112777","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 2020, the Chinese government set the objective of achieving carbon neutrality, making it essential to understand the urbanization process in order to effectively implement future sustainable development strategies. Here, we demonstrate the urbanization development of 31 provincial capitals in mainland China from 1985 to 2020, including changes in impervious surfaces, socio-economic development, carbon emissions, and population. Using elasticity coefficients and the carbon emissions causal equation for quantitative analysis, we explore the relationships among these factors. We found that the national urban expansion rate experienced rapid growth, followed by a slowdown, with the peak occurring between 2000 and 2005. In just 40 years, total urban area expanded from 11,280 km² to 40,429 km², with eastern cities growing faster than those in the west. Despite similar trends, different cities displayed four distinct spatial characteristics, shaped by factors such as topography, transportation, and policies. Moreover, urban economic development is gradually decoupling from carbon emissions, accompanied by a declining reliance on urban area expansion and a reduced growth rate of carbon emissions. A strong decoupling trend between economic growth and carbon emissions has already emerged in the South &amp; Central and Northwest regions, offering a preliminary explanation for the observed slowdown in carbon emissions. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the urbanization process in mainland China, highlighting low-carbon urban transformations and revealing how government policies have significantly shaped the development patterns of Chinese cities. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to further promote sustainable development goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112777"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Connectivity patterns between floodplain lakes and neighboring streams in the historical floodplain of the Lower Mississippi River","authors":"Hafez Ahmad ,&nbsp;Leandro E. Miranda ,&nbsp;Corey G. Dunn ,&nbsp;Melanie R. Boudreau ,&nbsp;Michael E. Colvin","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrologic connectivity, the network of water pathways linking aquatic habitats, is vital for the exchange of organisms and abiotic materials between rivers and adjacent waterbodies. This study quantified hydrologic connectivity for 1,283 lakes in the Lower Mississippi River floodplain using satellite imagery, streamgauge data, and geospatial information. We aimed to assess connection frequency patterns between lakes and streams. Eight metrics describing temporal aspects of hydrologic connectivity were estimated, identifying trends by lake features and by stream size. Each lake exhibited a distinct pattern of connection, with specific months of connectivity followed by disconnection, likely influenced by lake characteristics and seasonal precipitation. Larger lakes showed increased connectivity, likely due to their surface area and volume, while smaller lakes were more prone to isolation, especially during dry periods. Lakes connected to large streams exhibited more prolonged and recurring connections, with less seasonal variation. In contrast, lakes near agricultural areas experienced reduced connectivity. However, local factors such as levees and artificial channels often disrupted these general trends. This hydrologic connectivity analysis can provide insight to support floodplain management, facilitate development of frameworks that restore connectivity, promote preservation of ecological integrity, and support management of invasive species spread in agricultural floodplains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112808"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal changes in atmospheric aridity over the arid region of Central Asia during 1979–2019","authors":"Moyan Li ,&nbsp;Junqiang Yao ,&nbsp;Jianghua Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The arid region of Central Asia (CA) is the largest non-zonal arid region in the world. It has experienced significant changes in climate and hydrological cycle systems owing to global warming, which has posed serious impacts on the water resources and ecological environment in this region. Although the atmospheric water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) can directly reflect the atmospheric moisture condition, studies on the change of atmospheric moisture deficit in CA are scarce. Thus, we investigated the changes in VPD in the arid region of CA from the perspective of atmospheric aridity based on the CRU TS4.04 and ERA5 data. Our results showed that the VPD in more than 95 % of grids in the arid region had a significantly increasing trend during 1979–2019. Seasonally, VPD trends were increasing in spring, summer, and autumn but decreasing in winter. The changes in saturated water vapor pressure and actual water vapor pressure determined the VPD changes. The saturated water vapor pressure showed a clearly upward trend, whereas the actual water vapor pressure did not increase at the same rate, resulting in the increase of VPD. The first four leading modes revealed by empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis represented the patterns by explaining 81.4 % of the total variance. The positive phase of EOF1 was characterized by a monopole pattern, and this mode continued to increase. Contrastingly, EOF2 (and EOF3) showed dipole patterns over east–west CA (and north–south CA), with a mainly interannual variability. Due to the combined effect of increasing temperatures and decreasing relative humidity, the VPD has been intensifying since the mid-to-late 1990 s in CA, and the atmosphere has become significantly drier. These research results can deepen the scientific understanding of global warming impacts on atmospheric moisture and provides a reference for revealing the VPD changes and their impacts on the climate system and ecosystem in arid regions. Our results highlight that the impacts of VPD change should be adequately considered in environmental management and policy-making processes in Central Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112814"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of different forest fire management policies and fuel treatment models on forest fire risk in boreal forest of China","authors":"Tongxin Hu,&nbsp;Zibo Xu,&nbsp;Cheng Yu,&nbsp;Xu Dou,&nbsp;Yujing Zhang,&nbsp;Long Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forest fuels are the material basis of forest fires and the main factor in the spread of fires. The current global warming has led to an increase in the effective fuel load in the global boreal forests, and the long-term implementation of the fire suppression policy will lead to a continuous accumulation of fuels in the forests, which will further increase the likelihood of the occurrence of mega-forest fires and the risk of such fires. This challenge has prompted different countries and regions to shift away from monolithic fire suppression policies to practising effective fuel regulation measures in order to strike a balance between reducing the risk of wildfires and protecting ecosystems. This study utilises the LANDIS PRO model to investigate the effects of fire management policies and fuel regulation measures on fire risk in high-latitude boreal forest region of China over 100 years using a 10-year time step. The results show that (1) Fire suppression policies accelerate the accumulation of coarse and fine fuels (by 19.05 % and 9.28 %, respectively) and increase the potential average fire intensity of the area (by 58.81 %) compared to no fire suppression policies; (2) Implementation of mechanical removal, prescribed burning and mechanical removal plus prescribed burning under the fire suppression policy reduces the area of high-intensity fires in the region and thus significantly reduces the forest fire risk (by 17.37 %, 13.37 %, and 21.18 %, respectively); (3) Implementing a fire suppression policy and mechanical removal plus prescribed burning on 3.0 % of the area every 15 years are supposed to be the optimal fuel treatment program for the region, which resulted in significant reductions in total area burned, and low, medium, and high-intensity area burned by 23.34, 26.23, 23.73, and 22.87 %, respectively, when compared to no fuel treatment. This study found that fire management policies have a greater impact on fire risk than fuel regulation measures and that reasonable fuel control can help reduce the area of high-intensity fires in the region. This study aids to provide a scientific basis and data support for formulating forest fire management policies and selecting fuel control methods in high-latitude boreal forests of China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112806"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Robust hyperspectral estimation of eight leaf functional traits across different species and canopy layers in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forest","authors":"Fangyuan Yu ,&nbsp;Yongru Wu ,&nbsp;Junjie Wang ,&nbsp;Juyu Lian ,&nbsp;Zhuo Wu ,&nbsp;Wanhui Ye ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112818","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112818","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurately estimating leaf functional traits across different species and canopy layers in subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forests remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of canopy structures and spectral noise. Although hyperspectral remote sensing holds substantial promise, existing methods struggle to deliver robust models capable of generalizing across diverse species and environmental conditions. This study aimed to develop a robust hyperspectral estimation approach for eight leaf traits across six species and three canopy layers, integrating successive projections algorithm (SPA) and random forest (RF) modeling. Utilizing 267 leaf samples and hyperspectral reflectance data acquired via a tower crane in Dinghushan National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, China, we demonstrated that the SPA-RF model, when applied to first derivative reflectance (FDR) data, significantly enhanced the accuracy and transferability of leaf trait estimations. The integration of SPA for wavelength selection and RF for modeling represented a robust approach, effectively mitigating the complexities introduced by species diversity and canopy heterogeneity. Leaf trait estimations derived from upper canopy layer samples generally yielded greater precision than those from lower and middle layers. Furthermore, species adapted to high-light environments (sun-tolerant) offered more accurate estimations than those adapted to low-light conditions (shade-tolerant). Among the eight leaf traits studied, flavonoid content, nitrogen balance index, and SPAD (relative leaf chlorophyll content) values emerged as more reliably estimated compared to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, equivalent water thickness, and specific leaf area. These findings illuminate the influence of canopy layer and species-specific traits on the precision of leaf trait estimations using hyperspectral remote sensing. The study’s insights emphasize the need for species- and canopy layer-specific approaches in ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112818"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine learning approach for Studying the multifunctionality of soil against global climate changes","authors":"Xiangng Hu ,&nbsp;Yingying Xie ,&nbsp;Qixing Zhou ,&nbsp;Li Mu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) represents the soil biodiversity and the soil capacity for sustainable development. Due to the high heterogeneity of climate and land use changes, mapping the patterns of global soil EMF in the past and future is necessary and challenging. EMF data from 790 sampling points worldwide were analyzed using a random forest algorithm with SHAP analysis, partial dependence analysis and structural equation modeling to elucidate driving mechanisms of soil EMF under global change and to forecast the global distribution of soil EMF. This also unveiled the interplay between climate and land use changes on EMF. This work revealed that EMF hotspots are distributed in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe and are twice as common in these areas than they are in western Asia, North Africa and South Asia. The interplay of multiple dominant factors has antagonistic or synergistic effects and generates tipping points, which are critical for understanding the change processes of EMFs. From 2007 to 2018, land use changes were the dominant factor leading to fluctuations in EMF. However, climate change will become the dominant factor in the future. Land use optimization can mitigate EMF fluctuations in response to climate change. Changes from deserts to grasslands in Africa and from forests to grasslands in Oceania can combat the decline in EMF induced by climate change by 2100. According to the distribution patterns of EMF and optimization, hotspot regions could be protected, and land use planning could be conducted to prevent the degeneration of soil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112772"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping indicator species of segetal flora for result-based payments in arable land using UAV imagery and deep learning","authors":"Caterina Barrasso ,&nbsp;Robert Krüger ,&nbsp;Anette Eltner ,&nbsp;Anna F. Cord","doi":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The decline of segetal flora species across Europe, driven by intensified agricultural practices, is impacting other taxa and ecosystem functions. Result-based payments to farmers offer an effective solution to conserve these species, but the high cost of biodiversity monitoring remains a challenge. In this study, we conducted UAV flights with an RGB camera and used the deep learning model YOLO to detect these species in four winter barley fields under different management intensities in Germany. Field measurements of plant traits were used to evaluate their impact on species detectability. Additionally, we investigated the potential of spatial co-occurrence and canopy height heterogeneity to predict the presence of species difficult to detect by UAVs. We found that half of the species observed could be remotely detected, with a minimum ground sampling distance (GSD) of 1.22 mm required for accurate annotation. The same detection ratio was estimated for key indicator species not present in our study area based on trait information. Plant height was crucial for species detection, with accuracy ranging between 49–100 %. YOLO models effectively predicted species from images taken at 40 m, reducing the monitoring time to eight minutes per hectare. Co-occurrence with UAV-detectable species and canopy height heterogeneity proved promising for identifying areas where undetectable species are likely to occur, although further research is needed for landscape-level applications. Our study highlights the potential for large-scale, cost-effective monitoring of segetal flora species in agricultural landscapes, and provides valuable insights for developing robust ‘smart indicators’ for future biodiversity monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11459,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Indicators","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 112780"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}