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Abstract
Endemic species comprise 16% of the floral species on Guadalupe Island, including three arboreal species. Almost 96% of the forest coverage was lost due to impacts related to feral goats and wildfires. To date, goats have been eradicated and the restoration of the native vegetation communities is underway. The purpose of this study was to develop a 3D Structural Classification Method (3D-SCM) using Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) for mapping the vertical structure of the forest and to automatically characterize its physical attributes. Several TLS scans were performed in July 2016 to assess this recovery, particularly the succession progression. The 3D-SCM used the Forest Condition Classification (FCC) based on radiometric intensity and height values, and the Individual Shape Index (ISI) based on geometry and intensity parameters. It was designed to classify vegetation by stratum using a trial-and-error model to semi-automatically identify impacted areas and succession. The 3D-SCM was able to differentiate the vegetation strata by each forest community at the stand level with a precision of 93% as well as the tree structure parts (stem, branches, and leaves) with a precision of 97%, it also fits the best characteristic shape for the Guadalupe cypress (decagon) and for the pine (droplet). The resulting 3D-SCM provide precise physical specifications, demonstrates a high correlation R2 = 0.949 for (Diameter Breast Height) DBH, R2 = 0.974 for the crown and R2 = 0.97 for heights between maximum laser pulse of tree heights and crowns with respect to field measurements. Mapping 3D vertical forest measurements are important for quantifying the success of management practices and to assist future restoration actions, as it will allow quantification of forest dynamics and carbon sequestration on this island.
Highlights
Guadalupe Island is the fifth largest (24,171 ha) Mexican island located in the Pacific Ocean 260 km from the Baja California Peninsula (Fig. 1A)
Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) was crucial for this study considering that on airbone scanner studies has below 50% detection of the under-story individual trees (Hamraz et al, 2017). 3D Structural Classification Method (3D-SCM) maps canopy layers and tree vertical structure which helps to quantify the success of forest management practices
Before 2016, forest assessments in Guadalupe Island were based on qualitative measurements or 2D coverage estimates
Summary
Guadalupe Island is the fifth largest (24,171 ha) Mexican island located in the Pacific Ocean 260 km from the Baja California Peninsula (Fig. 1A). It has a maximum elevation of 1298 m (García-Gutierrez et al, 2005; Ramírez Serrato, 2014). Massive seed release and sapling recruitment occur post-fire, the most recent example resulting from a fire in the endemic cypress forest (de Gouvenain and Ansary, 2006; Oberbauer et al, 2009; Rodríguez-Bur iticaand Suding, 2013). Post-fire assement describes a robust regeneration due to serotiny of cypress cones in addition to accelerated vegetation recovery of multiple species as a result of the fire (Oberbauer et al, 2009)
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