Coastal cliffs are important in plant ecology as a unique frontier between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This study piloted close-range photogrammetry with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to clarify floristic patterns using 26 inaccessible coastal cliffs in a warm-temperate, preserved island (area: 6.5 km2). UAV-based flora data were analyzed in terms of cliff aspect (Type-N: northwestern aspect of the island, Type-S: other island aspects) and elevation. The studied coastal cliffs contained 94 flora taxa, of which 13 and 12 taxa were found from either Type-N or Type-S cliffs only. Type-S cliffs retained a larger number of epiphyte and evergreen species but a smaller number of deciduous species than Type-N cliffs (p < 0.05), and 4 out of 8 detected epiphyte species dwelled in Type-S cliffs only. Additionally, the elevation of coastal cliffs was positively related to the proportion of tree and epiphyte species (r = 0.608, p < 0.001) but negatively related to the proportion of herbs (r = −0.649, p < 0.001). These patterns corresponded to differing microclimates such as the severity of cold and dry conditions during winter. We expect that UAV-based approaches will help understand plant ecology under harsh, challenging environments beyond the speculation with traditionally accessible sites only.
Piloting an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to Explore the Floristic Variations of Inaccessible Cliffs along Island Coasts
2023
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
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