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a river delta in South Africa's Capr Floristic region
data points over cape floristic region
satellite view of South Africa

BioSCape

Biodiversity Survey of the Cape

The Biodiversity Survey of the Cape (BioSCape) project is an international collaboration between South Africa and the United States to study biodiversity in South Africa's Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR). The GCFR, which is listed among the World's 200 Significant Ecoregions, was selected because it hosts two exceptional hotspots of both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. 

BioSCape is an integrated field and airborne campaign that aimed to understand the structure, function, and composition of the region's ecosystems, and to learn about how and why they are changing in time and space. The campaign collected UV/visible to short wavelength infrared (UVSWIR) and thermal imaging spectroscopy as well as laser altimetry light detection and ranging (lidar) data over terrestrial and aquatic targets.

This airborne dataset is unique in its size and scope and unprecedented in its instrument combination and level of detail. These airborne data are accompanied by a range of biodiversity-related field observations.

Principal Investigator

Adam Wilson, Erin Hestir

Partners

DSI
NRF
UNESCO

Data Centers

ORNL DAAC

Funding Programs

Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation
Biodiversity Survey of the Cape (BioSCape) graphic identifier.
Study DatesOctober 16, 2023 - November 26, 2023
Season of StudyAustral spring
RegionSouth Africa’s Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR)
Spatial Bounds

N: 30°S

S: 40°S

W: 15°E

E: 30°E

Focus AreasCarbon Cycle and Ecosystems
Geophysical Concepts

Biodiversity

Ecosystems/Biogeochemical Interactions

Scientific Topics
Biodiversity
Biodiversity Distribution 
Biodiversity Abundance
Biodiversity Change
Ecosystem Structure
Ecosystem Composition
Global Change Feedbacks
Ecosystem Functions
Ecological Change Drivers
PlatformInstrument(s)
Gulfstream III

Portable Remote Imaging Spectrometer (PRISM)

Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer - Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG)

Gulfstream V

Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS)

Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES)

The following resources provide additional information about the BioScape campaign.