Spectral expressions of plant species: Biochemistry, structure and phenology

Hyperspectral data, whether collected in a lab, in the field, from a plane or from space, give us a new way of looking at plant species on Earth. Spectrometers are sensitive to differences in plant biochemistry and physiology, leaf and canopy structure, and phenology, all of which have a direct relationship to ecosystem function and community dynamics. In this talk, we will examine how these plant characteristics relate to hyperspectral data and vary among species using leaf and canopy measurements from a variety of ecosystems, including Mediterranean shrublands and grasslands, mixed coniferous forests, oak savannas, broadleaf deciduous forest and wetlands.