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. 2024 Jan 9;13(2):182.
doi: 10.3390/plants13020182.

Analysis of Dieback in a Coastal Pinewood in Campania, Southern Italy, through High-Resolution Remote Sensing

Rosario Nicoletti  1   2 , Luigi De Masi  3 , Antonello Migliozzi  2 , Marina Maura Calandrelli  4
Affiliations

Analysis of Dieback in a Coastal Pinewood in Campania, Southern Italy, through High-Resolution Remote Sensing

Rosario Nicoletti et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

For some years, the stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) forests of the Domitian coast in Campania, Southern Italy, have been at risk of conservation due to biological adversities. Among these, the pine tortoise scale Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) has assumed a primary role since its spread in Campania began. Observation of pine forests using remote sensing techniques was useful for acquiring information on the health state of the vegetation. In this way, it was possible to monitor the functioning of the forest ecosystem and identify the existence of critical states. To study the variation in spectral behavior and identify conditions of plant stress due to the action of pests, the analysis of the multispectral data of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, acquired over seven years between 2016 and 2022, was conducted on the Domitian pine forest. This method was used to plot the values of individual pixels over time by processing spectral indices using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The use of vegetation indices has made it possible to highlight the degradation suffered by the vegetation due to infestation by T. parvicornis. The results showed the utility of monitoring the state of the vegetation through high-resolution remote sensing to protect and preserve the pine forest ecosystem peculiar to the Domitian coast.

Keywords: GIS; Pinus pinea; Toumeyella parvicornis; remote sensing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study area (green-colored) and spread of Toumeyella parvicornis (red-colored) in pine forests of Campania.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sampling areas, signs of pest infestation, and tree condition in pine forests. (A) Traces of redness on the trunk of the pine tree; (B) formation of sooty crust on branches; (C) Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell). Adult female specimens on a pine twig [8]; (D) current status of the pine forest.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trends of the NDVI, NDMI, and NDRE indices in the 2016–2022 period.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The figure shows SVI raster images for the years 2016 and 2022 with the relative histograms. (A) NDVI. (B) NDMI. (C) NDRE.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The figure shows SVI raster images for the years 2016 and 2022 with the relative histograms. (A) NDVI. (B) NDMI. (C) NDRE.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Map of the damage severity caused by the attack of parasites based on dNBR. The figure highlights the sectors most damaged by parasitic activity. In the box, the sector of the study area is shown in the panchromatic image of Figure 6.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Satellite images of a sector of the study area. The images taken in 2016 (A) and 2022 (B) are compared; they allow us to make a quick visual comparison on the state of decline of the pine forest.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Current status of the pine forest and first reforestation interventions with P. pinea and Q. ilex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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