Spectral characterization of Didymosphenia geminata under laboratory conditions: bases for a monitoring and early warning system in river systems of south central Chile

摘要

The effects of climate change and the severe anthropization of local river systems have contributed to the alteration ofecological processes, affecting the water quality in these systems and thus generating conditions for the emergence of algalspecies. In this context, the object of the present study was to evaluate the potential of remote detection techniques to obtain aspectral characterization of D. geminata under controlled laboratory conditions. This would provide the basic information forthe design and implementation of a monitoring and early warning system. D. geminata cells obtained from two southernChilean river systems were cultivated in the laboratory and analysed using hyperspectral techniques to construct their spectralsignatures. The results showed the feasibility of distinguishing between the presence and absence of D. geminata when itoccurs in association with other diatom present in the environmental. The results could be the first step towards the designand implementation of a monitoring and early warning system to facilitate existing inspection activities.