Development and use of radiometric indexes for assessing Mediterranean wetland functions and human well being

(Poster)

Safa Bel Fekih Bousemma
High institute of Agronomic Science of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), Departement of Horticultural Sciences and Landscape, Sousse University, B.P 47.4042 Chott Meriem Sousse-Tunisia National Agronomic Institute of Tunis, Laboratory of Horticultural Sciences (INAT), Carthage University, B.P 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle. 1082 Tunis Mahrajène-Tunisia, Tunisia
,
Faiza Khebour Allouche
allouchekhebour@yahoo.fr

High institute of Agronomic Science of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), Departement of Horticultural Sciences and Landscape, Sousse University, B.P 47.4042 Chott Meriem Sousse-Tunisia National Agronomic Institute of Tunis, Lr GREE TEAM (LR17AGR01), Carthage University, B.P 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle. 1082 Tunis Mahrajène-Tunisia, Tunisia
,
Balkiss Chaabane
High institute of Agronomic Science of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), Departement of Horticultural Sciences and Landscape, Sousse University, B.P 47.4042 Chott Meriem Sousse-Tunisia, Tunisia
,
Amira Hamdaoui
High institute of Agronomic Science of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), Departement of Horticultural Sciences and Landscape, Sousse University, B.P 47.4042 Chott Meriem Sousse-Tunisia, Tunisia
,
Taoufik Bettaieb
National Agronomic Institute of Tunis, Laboratory of Horticultural Sciences (INAT), Carthage University, B.P 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle. 1082 Tunis Mahrajène-Tunisia, Tunisia

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/108164

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Wetland ecosystems in Mediterranien regions, especially coastal, are cradles of biological diversity, providing water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants, animals depend for survival. They offer too recreational activities for human well-being. Recently, remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems tools have been used to assess, monitor wetlands biodiversity and to promote awareness providing technical support to decision makers for conservation and sustainable development of these ecosystems. This research is done in Halk al Minjel sebkha, known as Hergla wetland, located in the center of Tunisia, covering an area of 12 km2 characterized by its landscape diversity. However, this ecosystem is threated by different forms of degradation. To monitor changes in this ecosystem, Landsat 5 and Sentinel 2 images have been used from 2007 and 2017 and two radiometric indexes have been calculated for each year: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Differential Salinity Index (NDSI). By analyzing thematic maps, we can deduce that important spatial and temporal variations are detected for each index and a strong correlation is checked. Interpretation of the results according to climate changes and human factors shows negative effects on wetland function and human well being.
Key words: wetland, radiometric indexes, well being

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INTRO:
This abstract deals with assessing and monitoring threatened wetland ecosystems using optical remote sensing.
MERITS:
Mapping changes in wetland ecosystems at regional scale.
CRITIQUE:
1) Research questions should be stated more clearly.

2) "However, this ecosystem is threated by different forms of degradation."

You could list here the main drivers that degrade wetland ecosystems."

3) "By analyzing thematic maps, we can deduce that important spatial and temporal variations are detected for each index and a strong correlation is checked."

You could write more in detail what these variations (vegetation, salinity) and correlations are.

4) "Interpretation of the results according to climate changes and human factors shows negative effects on wetland function and human well being."

Conclusions could provide more information on the observed negative effects in this study.

DISCUSSION:
This study provides valuable information for decision-making related to conservation and sustainable development.

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INTRO:
This study analyses alterations of a wetland ecosystem and their impacts on biodiversity and human well-being. They used a remote-sensing/GIS approach to quantify these alterations by calculating vegetation and salinity indexes.
MERITS:
Due to increasing wetland degradation and the loss of species bound to these ecosystems, this studies intention is of current importance. The approach to combine aspects of biodiversity and human well-being and the remote sensing method are up-to-date and reflect current research main topics.
CRITIQUE:
The abstract misses to explain how impacts of changes in vegetation and salinity on human well-being and biodiversity will be analysed. In the first part of the abstract biodiversity is mentioned, later it says wetland functions. A clearer definition of the variables included in the analyses would be helpful to understand the actual goal and results of this study.
DISCUSSION:
This study seems to address important conservations concerns, but the potential management implications are difficult to assess without a clear understanding of what exactly was analysed apart from the radiometric indexes and without any clear results. The exact research question is not obvious.