Dune Dataset

METADATA

The dataset includes information collected in the Site of Community Importance (SCI) “Valle Vecchia, Zumelle and Valli di Bibione” (IT 3250041, Brussa, VE, Italy) on 5th July 2022 by Dr. Francesco Petruzzellis, Dr. Enrico Tordoni and Prof. Giovanni Bacaro. For further details, please contact francesco.petruzzellis89@gmail.com or gbacaro@units.it.

In particular, the dataset integrates in situ measurements (percentage visual cover estimation of each vascular plant species) and drone data with different spatial resolutions.

In situ measurements

The sampling design adopted to collect data on plant composition is the same as described in Tordoni et al. (2018). 

First, a 500 m linear dimension square grid was overlaid onto the sampling area (Valle Vecchia beach), resulting in a total of 12 square grids. Next, a random transect was selected along a sea-inland gradient, with the variable length determined by dune width and coastal morphology within each square grid. The 12 transects were then divided into a series of contiguous square subunits (plots) measuring 4m × 4m, where the percentage of visual cover for each vascular plant species was assessed. 

However, transects 1 and 2 were excluded from this data collection due to their different orientation compared to the remaining transects, which made the drone images incomparable. Additionally, transects 9, 10, 11, and 12 were not considered.

Data from drone

During the in situ measurements, a drone flew over the area of interest and captured an image for each plot. From each image, data for the BGR (blue, green, red), RE (red-edge), and NIR (near infrared) bands are available for every pixel (3cm x 3cm).

Bibliography

Tordoni, E., Napolitano, R., Maccherini, S., Da Re, D., & Bacaro, G. (2018). Ecological drivers of plant diversity patterns in remnants coastal sand dune ecosystems along the northern Adriatic coastline. Ecological research, 33, 1157-1168.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-018-1629-6.

DATASET