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Quantifying plant colour and colour difference as perceived by humans using digital images
Citation
Kendal, D and Hauser, CE and Garrard, GE and Jellinek, S and Giljohann, KM and Moore, JL, Quantifying plant colour and colour difference as perceived by humans using digital images, PLoS One, 8, (8) Article 72296. ISSN 1932-6203 (2013) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 Kendal et al. Licenced under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072296
Abstract
Human perception of plant leaf and flower colour can influence species management. Colour and colour contrast may influence the detectability of invasive or rare species during surveys. Quantitative, repeatable measures of plant colour are required for comparison across studies and generalisation across species. We present a standard method for measuring plant leaf and flower colour traits using images taken with digital cameras. We demonstrate the method by quantifying the colour of and colour difference between the flowers of eleven grassland species near Falls Creek, Australia, as part of an invasive species detection experiment. The reliability of the method was tested by measuring the leaf colour of five residential garden shrub species in Ballarat, Australia using five different types of digital camera. Flowers and leaves had overlapping but distinct colour distributions. Calculated colour differences corresponded well with qualitative comparisons. Estimates of proportional cover of yellow flowers identified using colour measurements correlated well with estimates obtained by measuring and counting individual flowers. Digital SLR and mirrorless cameras were superior to phone cameras and point-and-shoot cameras for producing reliable measurements, particularly under variable lighting conditions. The analysis of digital images taken with digital cameras is a practicable method for quantifying plant flower and leaf colour in the field or lab. Quantitative, repeatable measurements allow for comparisons between species and generalisations across species and studies. This allows plant colour to be related to human perception and preferences and, ultimately, species management.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | plant colour, colour perception |
| Research Division: | Built Environment and Design |
| Research Group: | Urban and regional planning |
| Research Field: | Land use and environmental planning |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Terrestrial biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Kendal, D (Dr Dave Kendal) |
| ID Code: | 124653 |
| Year Published: | 2013 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 49 |
| Deposited By: | Geography and Spatial Science |
| Deposited On: | 2018-03-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-04-04 |
| Downloads: | 103 View Download Statistics |
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