SPECTRAL DISCRIMINATION OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA AND OTHER DOMINANT VEGETATION TYPES AT THE DIFFERENT SEASONS IN THE KENTING NATIONAL PARK OF TAIWAN

摘要

Leucaena leucocephala (L. leucocephala) was invasive plant that has occupied large area in the Kenting National Park (KNP) of Taiwan. The purpose of this paper was conducted to evaluate the potential of multispectral reflectance and 5 vegetation indices in the visible to near infrared spectral range, for discriminating L. leucocephala and other dominant vegetation types, including Vitex negundo (V. negundo), Acacia confusa (A. confusa) and Pandanus odoratissimus (P. odoratissimus) at the different seasons. This was a preliminary step for mapping the distribution of L. leucocephala using remote sensing technique for management decisions in the KNP. The ground spectral reflectance data was collected during the dry and rainy seasons (from November 2006 to May 2007) using a handheld field spectroradiometer. Statistically significant differences in the vegetation indices analysis showed that L. leucocephala was possible to distinguish with A. confusa and P. odoratissimus at dry seasons (February, March and April). However, not any vegetation index showed statistical significant differences between L. leucocephala and V. negundo at all seasons. Our results suggest that it is reachable mapping the distribution of L. leucocephala using multi-temporal satellite imagery data of dry season in the KNP. Moreover, L. leucocephala and V. negundo should be combined if vegetation mapping base on multispectral and vegetation indices analysis.