Forage quality of savannas - Simultaneously mapping foliar protein and polyphenols for trees and grass using hyperspectral imagery

Andrew K. Skidmore*, Jelle G. Ferwerda, Onisimo Mutanga, Sipke E. Van Wieren, Mike Peel, Rina C. Grant, Herbert H.T. Prins, Filiz Bektas Balcik, Valentijn Venus

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Savanna covers about two-thirds of Africa, with forage quantity and quality being important factors determining the distribution and density of wildlife and domestic stock. Testing hypotheses about the distribution of herbivores is hampered by the absence of reliable methods for measuring the variability of vegetation quality (e.g. biochemical composition) across the landscape. It is demonstrated that hyperspectral remote sensing fills this gap by revealing simultaneously the spatial variation of foliar nitrogen (crude protein) as well as the total amount of polyphenols, in grasses and trees. For the first time, the pattern of resources important for feeding preferences in herbivores (polyphenols and nitrogen) is mapped across an extensive landscape and the modeled foliar concentrations are shown to fit with ecological knowledge of the area. We explain how estimates of nitrogen (crude protein) and polyphenols may be scaled up from point-based observations to reveal their spatial pattern, and how the variation in forage quality can influence the management of savannas, including farms, communal grazing areas, and conservation areas. It provides a glimpse of the choices herbivores must face in selecting food resources of different qualities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)64-72
Number of pages9
JournalRemote Sensing of Environment
Volume114
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Foliar
  • Forage
  • Herbivory
  • Hyperspectral
  • Mopane
  • Nitrogen
  • Polyphenol
  • Protein
  • Quality
  • Remote sensing
  • Savanna

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