Publications by authors named "Hsueh-Ching Wang"

An integrated, remotely sensed approach to assess land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) dynamics plays an important role in environmental monitoring, management, and policy development. In this study, we utilized the advantage of land-cover seasonality, canopy height, and spectral characteristics to develop a phenology-based classification model (PCM) for mapping the annual LULCC in our study areas. Monthly analysis of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and near-infrared (NIR) values derived from SPOT images enabled the detection of temporal characteristics of each land type, serving as crucial indices for land type classification.

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Montane cloud forests (MCFs) are ecosystems frequently immersed in fog and are vital for the terrestrial hydrological cycle and biodiversity hotspots. However, the potential impacts of climate change, particularly intensified droughts and typhoons, on the persistence of ecosystems remain unclear. Our study conducted cross-scale assessments using 6-year (2016-2021) ground litterfall and 21-year (2001-2021) satellite greenness data (the Enhanced Vegetation Index [EVI] and the EVI anomaly change [ΔEVI ]), gross primary productivity anomaly change (ΔGPP ), and meteorological variables (the standardized precipitation index [SPI] and wind speed).

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Article Synopsis
  • Tropical and subtropical ecosystems are crucial carbon storage areas but are highly affected by seasonal rainfall variations, often leading to overlooked drought assessments due to assumed humidity levels.
  • Drought indices from remote sensing, particularly 11 MODIS-derived vegetation/drought indices, were evaluated in Taiwan by comparing them to a standardized precipitation index, revealing that the Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII6) performed best in identifying drought patterns.
  • The NDII6 showed a strong correlation with the precipitation index, especially in central and southern Taiwan during the dry season, indicating its effectiveness in high rainfall variability regions and suggesting that these findings could apply to other geographic areas as well.
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Badland soils-which have high silt and clay contents, bulk density, and soil electric conductivity- cover a large area of Southern Taiwan. This study evaluated the amelioration of these poor soils by thorny bamboo, one of the few plant species that grows in badland soils. Soil physiochemical and biological parameters were measured from three thorny bamboo plantations and nearby bare lands.

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Studying the influence of climatic and/or site-specific factors on soil organic matter (SOM) along an elevation gradient is important for understanding the response of SOM to global warming. We evaluated the composition of SOM and structure of humic acids along an altitudinal gradient from 600 to 1400 m in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) plantations in central Taiwan using NMR spectroscopy and photometric analysis. Total organic C and total nitrogen (N) content increased with increasing elevation.

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Bamboo, which has dense culms and root rhizome systems, can alter soil properties when it invades adjacent forests. Therefore, this study investigated whether bamboo invasions can cause changes in soil organic matter (SOM) composition and soil humification. We combined solid-state (13)C NMR spectroscopy and chemical analysis to examine the SOM in a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and adjacent bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) plantation.

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