Mapping macrophyte functional groups using multi-temporal satellite data: approach overview and capabilities

Macrophytes, including helophytes, are one of the most important biological components of inland water systems. The macrophyte-dominated habitats play a relevant role in the global carbon and nutrient cycles, as well as in the provision of suitable niches for aquatic fauna and threatened taxa. Despite their relevance, relatively little effort has been performed so far in extensively mapping aquatic vegetation cover and characteristics at regional to global scales, including the elaboration of robust approaches to assess morpho-ecological gradients, structural complexity and functional status of macrophyte dominated habitats. Fore their synoptic characteristics, Earth Observation satellite data are the ideal tool for such a target, especially with the new generation of fine resolution multispectral platforms soon available (2015-2016). In this context, we present an approach for mapping macrophyte communities using multi-temporal vegetation indices specifically optimized for aquatic vegetation derivable for a vast group of satellite sensors. This approach has been tested so far over temperate to sub-tropical shallow lakes and wetlands areas, demonstrating a good degree of flexibility and applicability in the context of macrophytes monitoring applications that aim to go beyond the local scale. Eventually, the capabilities of our approach in mapping macrophytes functional groups are discussed.