Relationships between thematic mapper radiance and tree community characteristics in the mayan biosphere reserve, Guatemala

This paper describes the relationships between topography, tree community composition and richness, foliage height and density measured in the field, and Thematic Mapper radiance values for a 750-m transect located in the seasonal tropical forests of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. Four forest units differed according to their characteristics as measured in the field and TM3, TM4, TMS, and TM7 radiances. Topographic position was negatively correlated with TM3, TM5, and TM7 radiance. The community composition was negatively correlated with TM3, TM5, and TM7 radiance, and positively correlated with TM4 radiance. Tree richness and foliage height were negatively correlated with TM3 radiance. Most of the observed relationships are consistent with a larger, landscape remote sensing study in the area.