Detection of the Invasive Red Brome (Bromus rubens) in a Post-fire Landscape Using Landsat and MODIS Imagery
J.
W.
Skiles, Earth Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, joseph.w.skiles
(Presenting)
Cindy
Schmidt, Earth Science, Division, NASA Ames Research Center, cschmidt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Tracy
Andres, NASA ARC DEVELOP Intership Program, chiatt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Cyrus
Hiatt, NASA ARC DEVELOP Intership Program, chiatt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Mahdi
Ashktorab, NASA ARC DEVELOP Intership Program, chiatt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Zachary
Likens, NASA ARC DEVELOP Intership Program, chiatt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Isaac
Wilson, NASA ARC DEVELOP Intership Program, chiatt@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Bromus rubens (Red brome), native to the arid deserts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, was first identified in the southwestern United States in the mid 1800s. Proliferation after fires has caused this annual to be regarded as a severe ecological threat. This plant suppresses the growth of native species by depleting the soil moisture and potentially degrades the habitat of the threatened Gopherus agassizii (desert tortoise). The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of using satellite imagery to detect B. rubens. During the summer of 2006, students from NASA’s Ames Research Center DEVELOP Program worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS) to map the areal extent of red brome and predict its density within the region. The locations of B. rubens were visually identified and recorded using GPS in two study areas within the 2005 Goodsprings burn scar in southern Nevada. These positions acted as ground points for satellite imagery. MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) was used to identify optimal Landsat and ASTER scenes, which were then used to evaluate the density of B. rubens. Statistical analysis was used to determine the relationship between the percent cover of the plant and predictive variables. This information will be valuable to the BLM, the NPS and other land managers as they make decisions on how to control this invasive plant.