Statistical and spatial modelling for ecological characterisation and cartography of Cedar decay: the case of Azrou forest in Atlas Mountains (Morocco)

摘要

The study aims the development of a methodology for the identification, the characterization and the spatialization of the responsible descriptors of Cedar decay. It aims also the cartography of the Cedar decay in Azrou forest (Atlas, Morocco). A stratified sampling device was established and the plots was spatially localized and characterized on the field by climatic, geological, silvicultural, phytosanitary, and topographic, descriptors. These data were treated by Correspondence Factor Analysis (CFA), which allowed the identification and the characterization of three environments, corresponding to three levels of decay. This result was spatialized on the basis of GIS modelling functions and multicriteria analysis, in order to produce the decay susceptibility map. Moreover, photo-interpretation, maximum-likelihood and standardized vegetation index were implemented in order map the current state of decay from SPOT image. The comparison of the obtained results and the field data shows a relative good satisfaction of IVS.