Monitoring the Extraordinary Ephemeral Emergence of Myriophyllum spicatum L. in the Coastal Lagoon Albufera of Valencia (Spain) and Assessing the Impact of Environmental Variables Using a Remote Sensing Approach

Abstract

The Albufera of Valencia, a Mediterranean coastal lagoon, has been in a turbid state since 1974, with only four episodes of temporary water transparency in spring. Despite its average depth of 1 m and oligohaline waters, excessive turbidity, fish grazing, and toxic compounds have inhibited submerged macrophyte growth. In spring 2018, a significant area of Myriophyllum spicatum emerged and exhibited significant density until its complete disappearance in August 2018. Using Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 imagery, we monitored water quality variables and vegetation density during these months. Our study revealed the first unique occurrence of M. spicatum in more than 40 years. A period of increased transparency from summer 2017 compared to previous years seems to be the cause of this appearance, while high summer temperatures caused its disappearance. While improving water quality may help restore submerged macrophyte meadows, our results suggest that summer maximum temperatures may inhibit recovery. Remote sensing, particularly the NDVI index, proved successful in monitoring aquatic vegetation and understanding species-environment relationships. This methodology can enhance future monitoring efforts for macrophyte colonization and expand knowledge of their occurrence and causes of disappearance in this and other similar areas.

Vegetation trends and dynamics in Shada Mountain, Saudi Arabia, (1984–2023): insights from Google Earth Engine and R analysis

“…The relevance of understanding the interplay between climatic factors, such as coastal fog, and plant life cannot be overstated, as evidenced by Valjarević et al (2023), who shed light on the ecological balance maintained in the Jizan region's vegetation. Furthermore, the innovative use of satellite tracking in environmental studies, as demonstrated by Al-Mansi et al (2021), Soria et al (2024) underscores the potential of remote sensing technologies, like those employed in our study through Google Earth Engine, in capturing and analyzing long-term ecological trends.…”