INVASIVE PLANTS DISTRIBUTION USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS:

Naranjo, A.1, Hernández, L.1, Márquez, M.1, Pejenaute, I.1, Suárez, C.2, Salas, M.3 & Arévalo, J.R.4
1Department of Geography University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Email: anaranjo@dgeo.ulpgc.es
2Gobierno de Canarias, Canary Islands, Spain
3Invasive Species Interinsular Group (EIGI), Canary Islands, Spain
4Island Ecology and Biogeography Research Group, University of La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
Pennisetum setaceum (‘rabo de gato’, ‘plumero’, ‘cola de caballo’) is one of the most invasive plant species in the Canary Islands. In the island of Gran Canaria its documented presence dates back to the 1940’s. Pennisetum setaceum is currently occupying a large area surrounding the insular perimeter and it is found at elevations of up to 600 meters and it is affecting several Protected Natural Areas. The objectives of our study were as follows: (a) to map the distribution of Pennisetum setaceum in the Eastern Protected Natural Areas of Gran Canaria island, (b) to make an inventory of Pennisetum setaceum in these Protected Areas, including population location and density and measurements of the impact to natural and agricultural areas, (c) to build a database connected with the GIS mapping as a control management tool, (d) to analyze the diachronic evolution of the populations and their distributions using data from 1994 as a
baseline, and (e) to measure the spectral signature of the different populations of Pennisetum setaceum and to evaluate the potential for monitoring using remote sensing technology.

http://www.biogeography.org/pdfs/IBS%20Abstracts%202007-2.pdf