Recent developments in high‐resolution ecosystem mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) open up promising perspectives for the monitoring of fine‐scale vegetation patterns and ecological functioning. In this study, we examine the potential of UAV imagery to track the structural composition and related phenological traits of the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris on a former military training area. On a European Natura 2000 heathland site, habitat management is shown to be evaluated on the basis of flowering dynamics and reproductive recovery as a proxy of functional changes that are generated after fire destruction. In particular, we utilize true color camera information and digital surface models to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of Calluna life‐cycle phases and flowering phenology 2 years after controlled burning. A stepwise methodological framework is presented that extracts Calluna pixels, spatially separates juvenile and mature life‐cycle phases, differentiates between generative and vegetative shoot extension and finally quantifies proportions of flowers, fruits and vegetative growth in two consecutive peak flowering periods. We show that Calluna life‐cycle phases can be spatially differentiated in pioneer, building and mature phases in UAV imagery. In the juvenile phase, regeneration from germination is low (<10%) and sprouting from the stem base dominates recovery patterns after fire management. The study further reveals that the distribution of flowering and fruiting during peak flowering time is spatially heterogeneous with high variations between years. In the fire unaffected mature phase, proportions of flowers and fruits are reduced indicating a decrease in reproductive capacity of unmanaged Calluna stands. A phenological phase shift is detected from flowering to fruiting that is related to an increase of Calluna growth height. The study shows that the functional patterns of growth and reproduction can be mapped for heathland ecosystems using simple true color drone cameras.

中文翻译：

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荒地开花的颜色–使用高分辨率无人机图像量化卡卢纳生命周期各个阶段物候的空间格局

使用无人飞行器（UAV）进行高分辨率生态系统制图的最新进展为监测精细尺度的植被格局和生态功能开辟了广阔的前景。在这项研究中，我们研究了无人机图像在一个前军事训练区上跟踪矮灌木愈伤组织寻常型的结构组成和相关物候特征的潜力。在欧洲Natura 2000欧石南丛生的荒地上，栖息地管理被证明以开花动态和生殖恢复为基础，作为火灾破坏后产生的功能变化的代表。特别是，我们利用真彩色相机信息和数字表面模型来确定Calluna的时空演变受控燃烧后2年的生命周期阶段和开花物候。提出了一种逐步的方法学框架，该方法可提取愈伤组织像素，在空间上分隔幼年和成熟生命周期的各个阶段，区分有性和无性的枝条延伸，最后量化两个连续的高峰开花期中花朵，果实和营养生长的比例。我们证明了卡鲁纳无人机图像的先驱阶段，建造阶段和成熟阶段可以在生命周期阶段进行空间区分。在幼年期，发芽后的萌芽再生率较低（<10％），而从茎基部发芽的芽占主导地位。该研究进一步揭示了在开花高峰期开花和结果的分布在空间上是异质的，年间变化很大。在火灾未受影响的成熟阶段，花朵和水果的比例减少，这表明未管理的卡勒纳松林分的繁殖能力下降。检测到从开花到结实的物候相移，其与愈伤组织的增加有关生长高度。研究表明，可以使用简单的真彩色无人机摄像机绘制欧石南地生态系统的生长和繁殖功能模式。