Abstract

This research utilises the capabilities of Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based computing platform, to conduct a comprehensive spatiotemporal assessment of the Coringa mangrove. Situated within the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India, this mangrove – the country's second largest – is evaluated across various timeframes: 1999, 2002, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022. ML algorithms – Random Forest and Support Vector Machine with an RBF kernel – are employed. These algorithms analyze band composites derived from Landsat-7 ETM+ (1999, 2002, 2007), Landsat-8 (2013, 2017), and Sentinel-2 MSI (2022) satellite images. This analysis incorporates key spectral indices and utilises two spectral index thresholds for mangrove classification: one derived from established literature that identifies common thresholds at which mangroves typically occur (standard threshold), and the other is a customised threshold obtained from individual spectral index maps, tailored specifically to delineate mangrove areas in the study area (customized threshold). The results show that RF, particularly with the CT, outperforms all other methods, including RF with the ST and SVM with both thresholds, in terms of training and testing accuracy. These findings affirm the effectiveness of RF with the CT approach in accurately differentiating mangrove areas, emphasizing the critical role of threshold selection in enhancing the accuracy and competence of classification methods for mapping mangrove ecosystems.

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A number of anthropogenic and natural disasters that have impacted the fragile ecosystems of the Baratang group of islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, resulting in the degradation and depletion of their natural environment and biodiversity, have been identified. It is found that, in the early 20th century, the resources of the archipelago, especially Baratang Island, were exploited for infrastructure and plantations, resulting in a decrease in forest cover and an increase in anthropogenically transformed landscapes. However, the most recent available information on land use (LU) and land cover is only from 2013. This study aims to understand the dynamics of LU and land cover change in the Baratang Island group using multitemporal satellite data for 1976, 1993, 2004, 2014, and 2023. Using visual interpretation techniques, spatial and temporal change maps were created to represent the different LU and land cover features in the study area. An analysis of these maps revealed an interesting trend: there is an increase in forest area with a simultaneous decrease in settlements and agricultural land, which contradicts the findings of previous studies. This work has identified several factors contributing to this trend, namely natural regeneration, a reduction in logging and human activities, government policies and laws, and the implementation of conservation measures by the forest department. However, the evidence on mangrove decline attributed to both human activities and natural disasters is consistent with the results of other studies. This study emphasizes the importance of regularly monitoring the island’s landscape dynamics to understand changes in LU and land cover and to take appropriate conservation measures.

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Aim We test the hypothesis that wind dispersal is more common among emergent tree species given that being tall increases the likelihood of effective seed dispersal. Location Americas, Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Time period 1970–2020. Major taxa studied Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Methods We used a dataset consisting of tree inventories from 2821 plots across three biogeographic regions (Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific), including dry and wet forests, to determine the maximum height and dispersal strategy of 5314 tree species. A web search was used to determine whether species were wind-dispersed. We compared differences in tree species maximum height between biogeographic regions and examined the relationship between species maximum height and wind dispersal using logistic regression. We also tested whether emergent tree species, that is species with at least one individual taller than the 95% height percentile in one or more plots, were disproportionally wind dispersed in dry and wet forests within each biogeographic region. Results Our dataset provides maximum height values for 5314 tree species, of which more than half (2914) had no record of this trait in existing global databases. We found that, on average, tree species in the Americas have lower maximum heights compared to those in Africa and the Asia Pacific. The probability of wind dispersal increased significantly with tree species maximum height and was significantly higher among emergent than non-emergent tree species in both dry and wet forests in all three biogeographic regions. Main conclusion Wind dispersal is more prevalent in tall, emergent tree species than in non-emergent species and may thus be an important factor in the evolution of tree species maximum height. By providing the most comprehensive dataset so far of tree species maximum height and wind dispersal strategies, this study paves the way for advancing our understanding of the eco-evolutionary drivers of tree size.

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Wetlands, which serve as transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic environments, play a crucial role in providing diverse ecosystem services for the sustenance of wildlife and mankind. Unfortunately, these delicate systems have experienced illicit human interventions in recent times, resulting in degradation and deterioration. Despite being designated as protected areas, wetlands are being exploited beyond their ecological capacity, posing a threat to their sustainability and potential existence in the near future. The present study aims to analyse the historical spatial changes in three wetlands located in Kerala, India, both before and after their declaration as Ramsar sites. Ashtamudi Lake, Sasthamkotta Lake, and Vembanad Lake were the focus areas, and the study employed multi-temporal satellite data sets from 1988 to 2023 to generate land use and land cover maps. The objective was to assess the ecological transitions, particularly the expansion of urbanization and subsequent reclamation of wetlands. By analysing the changes in aerial extent of each land cover class within the study area, the study identified spatio-temporal transitions and modifications occurring in and around the Ramsar sites. A comparison of the thematic maps from 1988 to 2023 revealed a significant increase in built-up areas and a noticeable reduction in vegetation, agriculture, and water bodies, both in terms of extent and quality. The study identified various socio-economic drivers that are responsible for these changes and emphasized the urgent need for regular monitoring and management of these wetland ecosystems. It stresses the importance of treating wetland conservation as a priority.

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Sugarcane holds a critical position in global agriculture, serving as a basis for the sugar and bioenergy sectors. The integration of remote sensing technologies and sophisticated machine learning approaches and related models has revolutionized sugarcane research. These tools ofer efcient, noninvasive, and large-scale assessment methods. This review highlights the utilization of satellite imagery and sensor data, encompassing RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in sugarcane agriculture. It addresses crop identifcation, pest and disease management, yield and acreage estimation, modeling, phenotypic measurement, and their impact on empowering farmers with insights for optimal irrigation, fertilizer application, and overall crop management. These advancements signifcantly increase productivity and foster environmental sustainability. The review had dual aims: (1) consolidate RS data applications in India’s sugarcane research and development, and (2) examine the pros and cons of RS and AI methods in sugarcane farming. The review employed prominent bibliographic databases—google scholar, scopus, researchgate, and web of science—along with pertinent research articles on RS and AI applications in sugarcane, and comprehensive data on sensors and UAVs retrieved from these databases. The study concludes that AI-driven crop RS stands as an efective method for monitoring and managing sugarcane, contributing signifcantly to improving yield and quality, while simultaneously ofering substantial benefts in social, economic, and environmental realms. However, challenges in the sugar industry, such as adapting technology, high initial costs, climate impact, communication, policy, and regulation, must be addressed.

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Coastal waters are complex, dynamic, and sensitive, and any change in the system impacts the marine environment and life. Coastal water quality has been decreasing due to the incursion of anthropogenic derived waste and toxins into the ocean. This study investigates water quality along the Kollam coast of Kerala State, India, using Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imager (MSI) data for the period of 2019–2022. Four key water quality parameters, chlorophyll (Chl-a), total suspended matter (TSM), turbidity, and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM), were analysed for seasonal variations and driving factors. The study highlights the potential of web-based platforms like Google Earth Engine for facilitating large-scale water quality assessments. The results reveal a distinct seasonal pattern in all parameters, primarily influenced by monsoonal riverine discharge and anthropogenic activities as contributing factors to water quality degradation. Overall, the study emphasises the need for comprehensive monitoring and management strate- gies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the coastal ecosystem.

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Researchers quantify vegetation characteristics using phytosociology studies. The data collected from vegetation surveys, such as tree girth and height measurements, are used to calculate various phytosociological attributes like frequency, density, basal cover, important value index, etc. In general, they are calculated using an Excel spreadsheet and a lengthy mathematical process. There are a few open-source or free software available to compute some of these parameters. However, they are not user friendly for most researchers. Also, these software primarily doesn’t compute basic phytosociological attributes. In view of these constraints and to ease researchers work, we have developed a simple tool, “PAT” Phytosociology Analysis Tool,” that computes the maximum attributes from the field collected vegetation data. The PAT GUI is simple. PAT computes results using standard formulas after users upload a csv file in the required format. Users can download the table's results and figures in PNG format.