Shuwen is a postdoc research associate. His research aims to use a trait-based approach to depict plant biodiversity. Although he holds a Ph.D. in plant ecology, most of his time is spent in front of a computer, where he leverages remote sensing data to spy on the foliar traits of plants.
RGB images (left) and EMIT-derived trait maps (right) reveal richer information than greenness alone. (Top) Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content in Georgia’s pine belt highlights productive pine stands. (Middle) Leaf nitrogen maps show within-field variability in agricultural areas, supporting precision nutrient management. (Bottom) Leaf water content (LWC) across California’s Sierra Nevada foothills indicates drier fuels in high fire hazard zones.
