Remote (sensing) functional biodiversity: exploring drivers of trait variation and spectral variability in the Arctic

Globally and regionally, biodiversity is declining and there are shifts in species’ occurrences and functional traits. In the Arctic, the effect of small differences in environmental factors can cause large differences in biodiversity and the effects of climate change are amplified. In order to evaluate protective measures and identify areas of special concern, monitoring biodiversity is essential. Remote sensing is often seen as the way to overcome the challenges of continuous, long-term monitoring, especially in remote regions such as the Arctic and for labor-intensive measurements such as functional diversity. This thesis examines plant trait variation in Arctic ecosystems and its monitoring using remote sensing. This research highlights the complexity of Arctic biodiversity and the challenges of using remote sensing to capture small-scale variation. <br>