A new approach to surveying cliff-dwelling endangered plants using drone-based nap-of-the-object photography: A case study of Clematis acerifolia

Gao, Da-Zhong; Huang, Min; Jia, Kang-Ning; Zhu, Shu-Xin; Cao, Jia-Shuo; Lin, Hai; Cui, Guo-Fa

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02769

Global Ecology and Conservation

2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02769

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A new approach to surveying cliff-dwelling endangered plants using drone-based nap-of-the-object photography: A case study of Clematis acerifolia

Da-Zhong Gao,

Min Huang,

Kang-Ning Jia

et al.

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Cited by 3 publications

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The conservation impact of botanical drones: Documenting and collecting rare plants from vertical cliffs and other hard‐to‐reach areas

Nyberg,

Bairos,

Brimhall

et al. 2024

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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A high percentage of island floras are at risk of extinction and have been reduced to relic populations, often in remote hard‐to‐reach areas. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS aka drones) are now being utilized to assist in the survey and collection of rare plants in inaccessible areas or vertical cliff habitats. Here, we test the application of this technology for conservation of 23 plant taxa in three oceanic island hotspots: Hawaiʻi, Madeira and the Republic of Palau. We collect high‐resolution imagery using a small UAS to document the distribution and abundance of vascular flowering plants. Location information is then used to map and assess plant populations. Depending on the terrain, collections are completed using either traditional rope techniques or newly developed remote drone‐based collection methods. Over the course of 6 years, we have greatly expanded our knowledge of rare and endangered species, while increasing survey efficiency and staff safety. Most importantly, this work has had a large impact on the conservation of critically endangered plants. Although using drones for botanical conservation comes with limits and challenges, we see great potential in the continued employment of these techniques wherever plants are growing on cliffs or in other hard‐to‐reach areas.

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The conservation impact of botanical drones: Documenting and collecting rare plants from vertical cliffs and other hard‐to‐reach areas

Nyberg,

Bairos,

Brimhall

et al. 2024

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Using drone imagery and group field activities for an in-depth investigation of the vascular flora: a case study in the Rocca di Novara Massif (NE Sicily, Italy)

Porrovecchio,

Cambria,

Bacilliere

et al. 2024

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Rocky habitats are suitable refuges for numerous rare and endemic plants. Due to their inaccessibility and the unreliability of traditional survey methods, assessing the survival status of these plants is quite a hard task. In order to address this sampling issue, we employed the drones and carried several field activities to investigate the vascular flora of Rocca di Novara massif located in Northeastern Sicily (NE Sicily hereafter). Located on the southern border of the Peloritani Mountains, Rocca di Novara, also known as Rocca Salvatesta, is a small carbonate massif and it represents one of the highest and most characteristic peaks in NE Sicily. According to our investigation, 300 taxa have been recorded, belonging to 189 genera and 51 different families. The results obtained show the presence of 13 endemic species to Italy (4.3%) and 12 strictly endemic to Sicily (4%). Some taxa of high phytogeographical value have been detected, such as Aubrieta columnae subsp. sicula, Daphne oleoides subsp. oleoides, Edraianthus graminifolius subsp. siculus, Fritillaria messanensis, Odontites bocconei subsp. bocconei, Phelipanche gussoneana, Saxifraga callosa subsp. australis. This latest species was rediscovered after 100 years on the high cliffs of Rocca di Novara thanks to the use of the drone imagery. Our results provide valuable insights into the floristic diversity of Rocca di Novara and offers a solid starting point for further phytogeographical and floristic studies on the vascular plants of the Peloritani district.

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Schiedea waiahuluensis (Caryophyllaceae), an enigmatic new species from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands and the first species discovered by a drone collection system

Wagner,

Weller,

Sakai

et al. 2024

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During a survey by the National Tropical Botanical Garden drone team, an enigmatic Schiedea was observed in December 2021on steep, rocky cliff faces of the Waiahulu Valley in the Waimea Canyon of Kaua'i. Subsequently, another survey was conducted in March 2022 and, by use of a remotely controlled cutting device suspended below the drone, the first herbarium specimen was collected, as well as a seed collection of an undescribed cliff-dwelling species of Schiedea. Detailed study of the collections and plants grown at the University of California, Irvine greenhouse showed that it had enlarged, somewhat whitish sepals similar to those of cliff-dwelling S. attenuata (the sole species in sect. Leucocalyx), yet differed significantly from all other species in the genus. It also shares with S. attenuata a woody habit, hermaphroditic flowers, coloured nectar and styles 5 to 7 or 8. We describe it here as S. waiahuluensis given the only known localities are on the cliffs of this valley and place it in an enlarged sect. Leucocalyx. With the discovery of this new species, there are 36 species in this Hawaiian endemic genus.

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A new approach to surveying cliff-dwelling endangered plants using drone-based nap-of-the-object photography: A case study of Clematis acerifolia

Cited by 3 publications

References 30 publications

The conservation impact of botanical drones: Documenting and collecting rare plants from vertical cliffs and other hard‐to‐reach areas

The conservation impact of botanical drones: Documenting and collecting rare plants from vertical cliffs and other hard‐to‐reach areas

Using drone imagery and group field activities for an in-depth investigation of the vascular flora: a case study in the Rocca di Novara Massif (NE Sicily, Italy)

Schiedea waiahuluensis (Caryophyllaceae), an enigmatic new species from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands and the first species discovered by a drone collection system

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