Crossing the Great Divide: Bridging the Researcher–Practitioner Gap to Maximize the Utility of Remote Sensing for Invasive Species Monitoring and Management

Abstract

Invasive species are increasingly present in our ecosystems and pose a threat to the health of forest ecosystems. Practitioners are tasked with locating these invasive species and finding ways to mitigate their spread and impacts, often through costly field surveys. Meanwhile, researchers are developing remote sensing products to detect the changes in vegetation health and structure that are caused by invasive species, which could aid in early detection and monitoring efforts. Although both groups are working towards similar goals and field data are essential for validating RS products, these groups often work independently. In this paper, we, a group of researchers and practitioners, discuss the challenges to bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners and summarize the literature on this topic. We also draw from our experiences collaborating with each other to advance detection, monitoring, and management of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA), an invasive forest pest in the eastern U.S. We conclude by (1) highlighting the synergies and symbiotic mutualism of researcher–practitioner collaborations and (2) providing a framework for facilitating researcher–practitioner collaborations that advance fundamental science while maximizing the capacity of RS technologies in monitoring and management of complex drivers of forest health decline such as invasive species.

A rapid and accurate method of mapping invasive Tamarix genotypes using Sentinel-2 images

“…The utility of Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery to distinguish Tamarix genotypes from other land cover types and determine the spatial distribution of the invasive species along riparian ecosystems in the Western Cape Province of South Africa was tested. Although ground surveys are still commonly used to determine the extent and distribution of alien invasive plants and other vegetation, mapping with remote sensing has increasingly become important for researchers and natural resource managers ( Parker et al, 2021 ). Alien invasive species are widely recognized as the second largest threat to biodiversity after direct habitat destruction.…”

“…They outcompete native biota for natural resources, thus reducing indigenous species abundance and richness, which subsequently impairs ecosystem functioning ( Pyšek et al, 2012 ; Hejda, Pyšek & Jarošík, 2009 ). Remote sensing can accurately determine the present and past distribution of invaders to better assess their environmental impacts, forecast potential spreads, and develop effective control strategies ( Medlin et al, 2000 ; Adam, Mutanga & Rugege, 2010 ; Parker et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Biological control management programmes in South Africa, will target Tamarix infested areas ( Byrne et al, 2021 ) should the current trial for Tamarix biocontrol agents in the country proves effective and safe, which will require accurate estimate of the extent and distribution of the invasive Tamarix species to identify hotspots for release. Over the years, remote sensing has earned enormous popularity as a suitable tool for mapping and monitoring invasive species providing information about plant invasion dynamism ( Parker et al, 2021 ). Although the data was collected in 2017 which could be regarded as the limitation of this study, we recommend an updated analysis of the recent spatial distribution of the invasive Tamarix genotypes.…”

“…The management of invasive plant species cost South Africa an estimated ZAR 6.5 billion annually ( van Wilgen & Wilson, 2018 ). Estimating the extent, distribution and abundance of invasive species is a prerequisite for an effective management programme, which requires identifying the hotspots to prioritize resource allocation for management ( Parker et al, 2021 ). The continuous improvement in the spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions of remote sensing technology, has revolutionized the art of field data collection and continues to dominate the expensive and tedious practice of the traditional field survey methods.…”

Identification of Dominant Species and Their Distributions on an Uninhabited Island Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Machine Learning Models

“…van der Merwe et al [12] set up 476 sample plots on Marion Island to investigate the species composition and distribution. Nonetheless, these surveys are time-consuming and labor-intensive, while the identification accuracy of species depends strongly on the knowledge of researchers [13]. Therefore, it is challenging to map the spatial distribution of dominant species only with plot surveys.…”