Using Remote Sensing to Delineate Habitats
on Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area
by Jim Everett (USDA, Integrated Farming and
Natural Resource Research Unit)
and Louis A. Harveson
Accurate ecosystem maps are a prerequisite to many ecological
studies, including evaluation of land use patterns; identification
of optimal habitat for endangered, threatened, or game species; and
evaluation of relationships between plants and animal
communities.
The goal of this study is to identify, map and describe native
plant communities on Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
Specific objectives include:
- Delineating vegetation communities both visually and spectrally
using a combination of image processing, photointerpretation, and
ground measurements.
- Assessing the accuracy of unsupervised and supervised
classifications of SPOT (Systeme Pour l'Observation de la Terre)
satellite imagery and black and white aerial photographs.
A SPOT scene was acquired of the study area on Oct. 7, 1998.
Preliminary interpretation suggests that a minimum six vegetation
communities can be delineated. Further analysis is pending.
Cooperative funding by USDA and Sul Ross State University.
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Sul Ross State University
