Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques
Abstract Mangroves are critically important ecosystems that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes. This study assessed the impact of Hurricane Maria on mangrove canopy heights and vegetation at two sites in Puerto Rico—La Parguera (southwest) and the Northeast Ecological Corridor (northeast)—and exami...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70226 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850065869336477696 |
|---|---|
| author | Jahnelle Howe Shakila Merchant William J. Hernández Jeffery Pessutti Peter Groffman |
| author_facet | Jahnelle Howe Shakila Merchant William J. Hernández Jeffery Pessutti Peter Groffman |
| author_sort | Jahnelle Howe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mangroves are critically important ecosystems that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes. This study assessed the impact of Hurricane Maria on mangrove canopy heights and vegetation at two sites in Puerto Rico—La Parguera (southwest) and the Northeast Ecological Corridor (northeast)—and examined factors influencing recovery. Using remote sensing techniques, including light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis, we quantified canopy height loss and vegetation health changes over time. Results show a significant reduction in canopy height immediately after the hurricane, with greater damage in the Northeast Corridor site than in the La Parguera site. NDVI analysis revealed site‐specific variation in post‐hurricane recovery, with some areas exceeding pre‐hurricane vegetation health despite initial losses. Recovery patterns appeared to be linked to pre‐storm canopy height and potential human disturbances, such as land‐use change and hydrologic alteration. The integration of LiDAR and NDVI provided complementary insights, with LiDAR capturing structural damage and NDVI reflecting vegetation health dynamics. This study highlights the value of remote sensing in evaluating mangrove resilience and identifying factors influencing recovery after extreme weather events. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c047456ecf74b9b9926b308f788e303 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c047456ecf74b9b9926b308f788e3032025-08-20T02:48:54ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252025-03-01163n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.70226Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniquesJahnelle Howe0Shakila Merchant1William J. Hernández2Jeffery Pessutti3Peter Groffman4Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences CUNY Graduate Center New York New York USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences CUNY Graduate Center New York New York USAResearch and Development Center, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Puerto Rico USANOAA NMFS, Fisheries Ecology Branch, James J Howard Marine Laboratory Highlands New Jersey USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences CUNY Graduate Center New York New York USAAbstract Mangroves are critically important ecosystems that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes. This study assessed the impact of Hurricane Maria on mangrove canopy heights and vegetation at two sites in Puerto Rico—La Parguera (southwest) and the Northeast Ecological Corridor (northeast)—and examined factors influencing recovery. Using remote sensing techniques, including light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis, we quantified canopy height loss and vegetation health changes over time. Results show a significant reduction in canopy height immediately after the hurricane, with greater damage in the Northeast Corridor site than in the La Parguera site. NDVI analysis revealed site‐specific variation in post‐hurricane recovery, with some areas exceeding pre‐hurricane vegetation health despite initial losses. Recovery patterns appeared to be linked to pre‐storm canopy height and potential human disturbances, such as land‐use change and hydrologic alteration. The integration of LiDAR and NDVI provided complementary insights, with LiDAR capturing structural damage and NDVI reflecting vegetation health dynamics. This study highlights the value of remote sensing in evaluating mangrove resilience and identifying factors influencing recovery after extreme weather events.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70226blue carboncanopy heightcoastal ecosystemsecosystem resilienceHurricane MariaLiDAR |
| spellingShingle | Jahnelle Howe Shakila Merchant William J. Hernández Jeffery Pessutti Peter Groffman Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques Ecosphere blue carbon canopy height coastal ecosystems ecosystem resilience Hurricane Maria LiDAR |
| title | Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques |
| title_full | Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques |
| title_fullStr | Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques |
| title_short | Assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in Puerto Rico post‐Hurricane Maria using remote‐sensing techniques |
| title_sort | assessing mangrove canopy height and health changes in puerto rico post hurricane maria using remote sensing techniques |
| topic | blue carbon canopy height coastal ecosystems ecosystem resilience Hurricane Maria LiDAR |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70226 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jahnellehowe assessingmangrovecanopyheightandhealthchangesinpuertoricoposthurricanemariausingremotesensingtechniques AT shakilamerchant assessingmangrovecanopyheightandhealthchangesinpuertoricoposthurricanemariausingremotesensingtechniques AT williamjhernandez assessingmangrovecanopyheightandhealthchangesinpuertoricoposthurricanemariausingremotesensingtechniques AT jefferypessutti assessingmangrovecanopyheightandhealthchangesinpuertoricoposthurricanemariausingremotesensingtechniques AT petergroffman assessingmangrovecanopyheightandhealthchangesinpuertoricoposthurricanemariausingremotesensingtechniques |