Abstract

Vegetation diversity is multidimensional and tremendously complex in space and time. To understand the status, stress, disturbances, and resource limitations of vegetation diversity and consequently vegetation health and its resilience in ecosystems, there are two principal methodologies: (i) the in situ approach adopted by taxonomists and (ii) the remote sensing approach. Here, we describe both approaches and focus on the applicability, the advantages, the unique features, and limitations of hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) technology for monitoring the status, stress, and shifts in four diversity characteristics: phylogenetic, taxonomic, structural, and functional diversity.