An annotated checklist of the jumping plant-lice (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psylloidea) from the Mercantour National Park, with seven new records for France and one new synonymy

A total of 68 psyllid species are listed from the Mercantour National Park in Southeast France, where a targeted collecting campaign was conducted between 2009 and 2012, as part of the project "ATBI+M" Mercantour. The insects were collected using Malaise traps, flight intercept traps and sweep nets to sample in the vegetation. Additional information on distribution, biology and host-plants is provided for each species. Seven species are recorded for the first time from France: Craspedolepta artemisiae (Foerster, 1848), Craspedolepta nebulosa (Zetterstedt, 1828), Cacopsylla propinqua (Schaefer, 1949), Cyamophila prohaskai (Priesner, 1927), Eryngiofaga cf. refuga (Loginova, 1966), Bactericera parastriola Conci, Ossiannilsson & Tamanini, 1988 and Trioza flixiana Burckhardt & Lauterer, 2002. Trioza (Trioza) rapisardai Conci & Tamanini, 1984 is a new subjective synonym of Trioza brachyceraea Hodkinson & White, 1979, which was previously known only from the male holotype. The abundance, distribution and introduction status of some species are discussed

Quantifying Vegetation Biophysical Variables from Imaging Spectroscopy Data: A Review on Retrieval Methods

An unprecedented spectroscopic data stream will soon become available with forthcoming Earth-observing satellite missions equipped with imaging spectroradiometers. This data stream will open up a vast array of opportunities to quantify a diversity of biochemical and structural vegetation properties. The processing requirements for such large data streams require reliable retrieval techniques enabling the spatiotemporally explicit quantification of biophysical variables. With the aim of preparing for this new era of Earth observation, this review summarizes the state-of-the-art retrieval methods that have been applied in experimental imaging spectroscopy studies inferring all kinds of vegetation biophysical variables. Identified retrieval methods are categorized into: (1) parametric regression, including vegetation indices, shape indices and spectral transformations; (2) nonparametric regression, including linear and nonlinear machine learning regression algorithms; (3) physically based, including inversion of radiative transfer models (RTMs) using numerical optimization and look-up table approaches; and (4) hybrid regression methods, which combine RTM simulations with machine learning regression methods. For each of these categories, an overview of widely applied methods with application to mapping vegetation properties is given. In view of processing imaging spectroscopy data, a critical aspect involves the challenge of dealing with spectral multicollinearity. The ability to provide robust estimates, retrieval uncertainties and acceptable retrieval processing speed are other important aspects in view of operational processing. Recommendations towards new-generation spectroscopy-based processing chains for operational production of biophysical variables are given

Early Diagnosis of Vegetation Health From High-Resolution Hyperspectral and Thermal Imagery: Lessons Learned From Empirical Relationships and Radiative Transfer Modelling

[Purpose of Review] We provide a comprehensive review of the empirical and modelling approaches used to quantify the radiation–vegetation interactions related to vegetation temperature, leaf optical properties linked to pigment absorption and chlorophyll fluorescence emission, and of their capability to monitor vegetation health. Part 1 provides an overview of the main physiological indicators (PIs) applied in remote sensing to detect alterations in plant functioning linked to vegetation diseases and decline processes. Part 2 reviews the recent advances in the development of quantitative methods to assess PI through hyperspectral and thermal images.[Recent Findings] In recent years, the availability of high-resolution hyperspectral and thermal images has increased due to the extraordinary progress made in sensor technology, including the miniaturization of advanced cameras designed for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and lightweight aircrafts. This technological revolution has contributed to the wider use of hyperspectral imaging sensors by the scientific community and industry; it has led to better modelling and understanding of the sensitivity of different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum to detect biophysical alterations used as early warning indicators of vegetation health.[Summary] The review deals with the capability of PIs such as vegetation temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic energy downregulation and photosynthetic pigments detected through remote sensing to monitor the early responses of plants to different stressors. Various methods for the detection of PI alterations have recently been proposed and validated to monitor vegetation health. The greatest challenges for the remote sensing community today are (i) the availability of high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution image data; (ii) the empirical validation of radiation–vegetation interactions; (iii) the upscaling of physiological alterations from the leaf to the canopy, mainly in complex heterogeneous vegetation landscapes; and (iv) the temporal dynamics of the PIs and the interaction between physiological changes.The authors received funding provided by the FluorFLIGHT (GGR801) Marie Curie Fellowship, the QUERCUSAT and ESPECTRAMED projects (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness), the Academy of Finland (grants 266152, 317387) and the European Research Council Synergy grant ERC-2013-SyG-610028 IMBALANCE-P.Peer reviewe

A revised description of Psyllopsis repens Loginova, 1963 (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae), with first records from Europe

Psyllopsis repens Loginova, 1963 (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae: Diaphorininae) is recorded for the first time from Europe from two localities within the city of Belgrade in Serbia. This jumping plant-louse species is narrowly oligophagous on several ash-tree species (Fraxinus angustifolia, F. excelsior, and F. ornus) and induces galls on leaves and buds. Previously, it was known only from the Caucasus and the Middle East. We provide detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of adults and the fifth instar larva, and summarize available information on the biology, distribution, and economic importance of P. repens

Redescription of the Planthopper Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849), with a new record from Greece (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae)

Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849) is the most widespread species of the planthopper subfamily Orgeriinae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae) in Europe, found from the Iberian Peninsula to the Western Balkans. However, its diagnostically important genitalia and biology have been insufficiently described. We employ state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray microtomography and photomicrography to re-describe B. genei, and to study the morphology of both its sexes in unprecedented detail. By examining specimens from across the distribution of B. genei, we find that they probably belong to a single, broadly distributed morphospecies. Our morphological examination allowed us to make inferences on its jumping mechanism and capacity for vibrational communication. We also record B. genei for the first time from Greece, further extending the range of this elusive species. Detailed information on the habitat of B. genei is also provided

Redescription of the Planthopper Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849), with a new record from Greece (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae)

Bursinia genei (Dufour, 1849) is the most widespread species of the planthopper subfamily Orgeriinae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae) in Europe, found from the Iberian Peninsula to the Western Balkans. However, its diagnostically important genitalia and biology have been insufficiently described. We employ state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray microtomography and photomicrography to re-describe B. genei, and to study the morphology of both its sexes in unprecedented detail. By examining specimens from across the distribution of B. genei, we find that they probably belong to a single, broadly distributed morphospecies. Our morphological examination allowed us to make inferences on its jumping mechanism and capacity for vibrational communication. We also record B. genei for the first time from Greece, further extending the range of this elusive species. Detailed information on the habitat of B. genei is also provided

Comparison of different ground techniques to map leaf area index of Norway spruce forest canopy

The leaf area index (LAI) of three monocultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst), different in age and structure, was measured by means of two indirect optical techniques of LAI field mapping: 1/ plant canopy analyser LAI-2000, and 2/ digital hemispherical photographs (DHP). The supportive measurements with the TRAC instrument were conducted to produce mainly the element clumping index. The aim of the study was to compare the performances of LAI-2000 and DHP and to evaluate effect of three different sampling strategies on field estimation of leaf area index. One of the suggested sampling designs introduced spatial oversampling around one-point measurement. The oversampling was expected to reveal the importance of sampling point position with respect to surrounding trees. In general, the LAI-2000 instrument produced higher estimates of effective leaf area index than DHP in all experimental stands. On the other hand, the higher "true" estimates of LAI were obtained from DHP. All three sampling strategies produced consistent estimates of effective and "true" LAI in all forest sites. The spatial oversampling of LAI measurement point did not significantly improve the LAI estimate of the canopy subplots

Measurement methods and variability assessment of the Norway spruce total leaf area: implications for remote sensing

Estimation of total leaf area (LAT) is important to express biochemical properties in plant ecology and remote sensing studies. A measurement of LAT is easy in broadleaf species, but it remains challenging in coniferous canopies. We proposed a new geometrical model to estimate Norway spruce LAT and compared its accuracy with other five published methods. Further, we assessed variability of the total to projected leaf area conversion factor (CF) within a crown and examined its implications for remotely sensed estimates of leaf chlorophyll content (Cab). We measured morphological and biochemical properties of three most recent needle age classes in three vertical canopy layers of a 30 and 100-year-old spruce stands. Newly introduced geometrical model and the parallelepiped model predicted spruce LAT with an error <5 % of the average needle LAT, whereas two models based on an elliptic approximation of a needle shape underestimated LAT by up to 60 %. The total to projected leaf area conversion factor varied from 2.5 for shaded to 3.9 for sun exposed needles and remained invariant with needle age class and forest stand age. Erroneous estimation of an average crown CF by 0.2 introduced an error of 2–3 μg cm⁻² into the crown averaged Cab content. In our study, this error represents 10–15% of observed crown averaged C range ab (33–53 μg cm⁻²). Our results demonstrate the importance of accurate LAT estimates for validation of remotely sensed estimates of Cab content in Norway spruce canopies