Abstract
In the last few years, the occurrence and abundance of tree-related microhabitats and habitat trees have gained great attention across Europe as indicators of forest biodiversity. Nevertheless, observing microhabitats in the field requires time and well-trained staff. For this reason, new efficient semiautomatic systems for their identification and mapping on a large scale are necessary. This study aims at predicting microhabitats in a mixed and multi-layered Mediterranean forest using Airborne Laser Scanning data through the implementation of a Machine Learning algorithm. The study focuses on the identification of LiDAR metrics useful for detecting microhabitats according to the recent hierarchical classification system for Tree-related Microhabitats, from single microhabitats to the habitat trees. The results demonstrate that Airborne Laser Scanning point clouds support the prediction of microhabitat abundance. Better prediction capabilities were obtained at a higher hierarchical level and for some of the single microhabitats, such as epiphytic bryophytes, root buttress cavities, and branch holes. Metrics concerned with tree height distribution and crown density are the most important predictors of microhabitats in a multi-layered forest.
Highlights
In forestry, the occurrence and abundance of habitat trees—defined as “standing live or dead trees providing ecological niches (Tree-related Microhabitats, hereafter TreMs) such as cavities, bark pockets, large dead branches, epiphytes, cracks, sap runs, or trunk rot” [1]—highly contribute to biodiversity conservation, as they provide nutrition and protection for numerous living organisms, allowing their lifecycles
The frequency of habitat trees differs among European forests [8,9], and several other factors may affect their occurrence in forests [9,10] as well as their ecological heterogeneity, depending on the TreMs abundance and diversity
The results highlight that cavities, such as rot-holes originating from branch breakage, and growth forms, such as root buttresses and water sprouts, are rather frequent, representing 9% and 16%, respectively
Summary
In forestry, the occurrence and abundance of habitat trees—defined as “standing live or dead trees providing ecological niches (Tree-related Microhabitats, hereafter TreMs) such as cavities, bark pockets, large dead branches, epiphytes, cracks, sap runs, or trunk rot” [1]—highly contribute to biodiversity conservation, as they provide nutrition and protection for numerous living organisms, allowing their lifecycles. Promoting the retention of habitat trees from harvesting activities and ensuring a homogeneous spatial distribution of them inside the forests are crucial for fostering biodiversity conservation. For this reason, several studies have focused on investigating the relationships between forest structure characteristics and the occurrence and abundance of habitat trees and TreMs [2,3]. The frequency of habitat trees differs among European forests [8,9], and several other factors may affect their occurrence in forests [9,10] as well as their ecological heterogeneity, depending on the TreMs abundance and diversity. TreMs occurrence, abundance, and diversity are affected by many aspects of forestry and forest management, such as forest stand structure, management systems [7,11], forest ownership [12,13], tree species, and vitality [6,10,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
