Methods for mapping the tundra vegetation of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

A novel mapping technique for sub-Antarctic tundra vegetation, particularly the critically-endangered cushion plant Azorella macquariensis, has been developed and validated with high accuracy. This approach combines very high-resolution satellite imagery, terrain modeling, and random forest classification to overcome challenges posed by Macquarie Island's remote location, cloud cover, and small-statured vegetation. The study demonstrates that traditional community-based mapping is ineffective due to the island's ecological disturbance, necessitating single-species mapping. Additionally, a new photographic field sampling method reduces field time while maintaining data quality compared to conventional quadrat methods. Geographically-stratified random sampling effectively captures terrain-driven plant distribution variations, providing a robust framework for monitoring rapid vegetation changes on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bricher, P. K. (2012). Methods for mapping the tundra vegetation of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island [University of Tasmania]. https://doi.org/10.25959/23207078