Abstract ID: 588

Characterizing seasonal dynamics of flooded ‘Amazonian campos’ using MODIS

Open savanna-like vegetation, known as Amazonian ‘campos’ or ‘campinas’, occur in patches throughout the Amazon basin and likely contribute to regional scale diversity patterns. They host a unique suite of species, which are adapted to nutrient scarcity and seasonal flooding. In the northern Brazilian Amazon, huge areas of such campos drain into the Rio Negro/ Rio Branco basins. Seasonal flooding dynamics likely drive vegetation structure, and are important to the hydrology of the basin. However, unlike floodplains associated with Amazonian rivers, these areas have received little attention from scientists. Here, we present a remote-sensing based analysis of flood patterns, showing extreme seasonal change over several years in open areas of the Rio Negro/ Rio Branco campos. We used a sub-pixel classification of MODIS imagery (validated using Landsat imagery) to identify seasonal flooding events in open areas. Results of change detection show areas of greatest seasonal and inter-annual variation. Although these campos are still relatively undisturbed, they face future threats from human disturbance and climate change. This work is part of an overall remote-sensing based characterization of these wetland ecosystems, addressing fire and flood regimes, vegetation patterns and conservation status.

Session:  Biogeochemistry - Floodplain ecosystem processes.

Presentation Type:  Oral