Measuring Alpha and Beta Diversity by Field and Remote-Sensing Data: A Challenge for Coastal Dunes Biodiversity Monitoring

Combining field collected and remotely sensed (RS) data represents one of the most promising approaches for an extensive up-to-date ecosystem assessment. We investigated potential so called spectral variability hypothesis (SVH) in linking field-collected remote-sensed Mediterranean coastal dunes explored if diversity provides reliable information to monitor floristic diversity, as well consistency such altered ecosystems due plant invasions. analyzed alpha beta integrating Remote-Sensing PlanetScope Tyrrhenian coast (Central Italy). relationship among (species richness, Shannon index, inverse Simpson index) (distance from centroid through linear regressions. For we implemented a distance decay model (DDM) relating pairwise (Jaccard similarities Bray–Curtis (Euclidean distance) measures. observed positive between heterogeneity with richness reporting higher R score. As DDM, found significant similarity Euclidean distance. provided first assessment RS dune habitats (i.e., natural or invaded). SVH evidence about estimating complex dynamic landscapes.