The Functional Significance of Plant Optical Diversity: A Multi-scale Analysis

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This project applies new optical sampling methods to study biodiversity, gas exchange (the breathing of the planet), and ecosystem feedbacks to the atmosphere and climate. The central theme is "optical diversity" - variation in vegetation optical patterns in time and space - because optical variation reveals useful information about underlying species richness, functional diversity, and ecosystem processes. This works because the display of plant leaves and canopies reflects underlying resource and environmental restrictions, allowing us to detect these constraints with optical sampling methods, several of which have been developed in my research group. This research will improve our understanding of basic physical and biological processes, including controls on the carbon cycle through photosynthetic downregulation under periods of stress, and the feedback effects of ecosystems on atmosphere and climate. This approach can also be used to develop the concept of "optical types," a new kind of vegetation classification based on foptical behavior, including features invisible to our eyes. These methods can monitor ecosystem function and health, improve our understanding of biological carbon exchange, and provide new ways to look at biodiversity according to basic ecosystem processes. These applications have practical benefits for resource managers, policymakers and the public at large. For example, our studies of carbon exchange are being developed to improve estimates of biospheric carbon sequestration in Alberta's rangelands. Our studies of ecosystem-atmospheric feedbacks can help predict future conditions in rapidly changing Arctic environments. Our studies of optical diversity are leading to new methods to detect biodiversity from remote sensing, which could help resource managers in land management and conservation. ******In developing new technologies for optical sampling, we collaborate with industry and international partners. We also develop data systems for analyzing and sharing the large volumes of data emerging from our research. Student training is a key focus of the research, with many students proceeding to further graduate study, industry or agency employment. **