Episodic Canopy Structural Transformations and Biological Invasion in a Hawaiian Forest
| Autor: | Gregory P. Asner, Christopher S. Balzotti |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Canopy 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences forest change Plant Science lcsh:Plant culture 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Invasive species carnegie airborne observatory invasive species remote sensing forest gaps lcsh:SB1-1110 lidar Original Research 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Tree canopy geography geography.geographical_feature_category Ecology Old-growth forest Lidar Threatened species Secondary forest Spatial variability |
| Zdroj: | Frontiers in Plant Science Frontiers in Plant Science, Vol 8 (2017) |
| ISSN: | 1664-462X |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fpls.2017.01256 |
| Popis: | The remaining native forests on the Hawaiian Islands have been recognized as threatened by changing climate, increasing insect outbreak, new deadly pathogens, and growing populations of canopy structure-altering invasive species. The objective of this study was to assess long-term, net changes to upper canopy structure in sub-montane forests on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea volcano, Hawai‘i, in the context of continuing climate events, insect outbreaks, and biological invasion. We used high-resolution multi-temporal Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to quantify near-decadal net changes in forest canopy height and gap distributions at a critical transition between alien invaded lowland and native sub-montane forest at the end of a recent drought and host-specific insect (Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak. We found that sub-montane forests have experienced a net loss in average canopy height, and therefore structure and aboveground carbon stock. Additionally, where invasive alien tree species co-dominate with native trees, the upper canopy structure became more homogeneous. Tracking the loss of forest canopy height and spatial variation with airborne LiDAR is a cost-effective way to monitor forest canopy health, and to track and quantify ecological impacts of invasive species through space and time. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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