STUDY OF CHEMICAL AND SPECTRAL DIVERSITY OF ATLANTIC FOREST TREE SPECIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR REMOTE SENSING MONITORING

Abstract

Investigations involving floristic composition and biogeochemical cycles of tropical forests are crucial for its conservation and sustainable management. In this context, hyperspectral remote sensing has been used for tree species discrimination and canopy chemistry studies. These studies have just recently become feasible, due to the acquisition of airborne hyperspectral images over tropical forests. The recent acquisition of such data over the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, opened up new research opportunities. However, it is necessary to know in detail the chemical and spectral diversity of tree species of this forest. Thus, the main objective of this PhD project is to study the chemical and spectral diversity of tree species of Santa Genebra Reserve, located in Campinas / SP, through leaf chemical analysis, leaf spectroscopy and hyperspectral images acquired by the airborne sensor ProSpecTIR-VS. Specific objectives include: (i) explore the potential of ProSpecTIR-VS hyperspectral images in remote recognition of tree species, (ii) to study the chemical and spectral dynamics over a year of tree species, (iii) assessment of hyperspectral data capabilities to estimate the concentration of canopy and leaf chemicals of tree species. It is hoped that this research contribute to the development of investigations on Atlantic Forest biodiversity, as well as to tree species discrimination and canopy chemistry studies at space level.