Tall Trees Research Articles

Space-Based Mapping of Pre- and Post-Hurricane Mangrove Canopy Heights Using Machine Learning with Multi-Sensor Observations

Coastal mangrove forests provide numerous ecosystem services, which can be disrupted by natural disturbances, mainly hurricanes. Canopy height (CH) is a key parameter for estimating carbon storage. Airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is widely viewed as the most accurate method for estimating CH but data are often limited in spatial coverage and are not readily available for rapid impact assessment after hurricane events. Hence, we evaluated the use of systematically acquired space-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical observations with airborne LiDAR to predict CH across expansive mangrove areas in South Florida that were severely impacted by Category 3 Hurricane Irma in 2017. We used pre- and post-Irma LiDAR-derived canopy height models (CHMs) to train Random Forest regression models that used features of Sentinel-1 SAR time series, Landsat-8 optical, and classified mangrove maps. We evaluated (1) spatial transfer learning to predict regional CH for both time periods and (2) temporal transfer learning coupled with species-specific error correction models to predict post-Irma CH using models trained by pre-Irma data. Model performance of SAR and optical data differed with time period and across height classes. For spatial transfer, SAR data models achieved higher accuracy than optical models for post-Irma, while the opposite was the case for the pre-Irma period. For temporal transfer, SAR models were more accurate for tall trees (>10 m) but optical models were more accurate for short trees. By fusing data of both sensors, spatial and temporal transfer learning achieved the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 1.9 m and 1.7 m, respectively, for absolute CH. Predicted CH losses were comparable with LiDAR-derived reference values across height and species classes. Spatial and temporal transfer learning techniques applied to readily available spaceborne satellite data can enable conservation managers to assess the impacts of disturbances on regional coastal ecosystems efficiently and within a practical timeframe after a disturbance event.

Mangrove freeze resistance and resilience across a tropical‐temperate transitional zone

Abstract Freeze events govern the distribution and structure of mangrove ecosystems, especially in tropical‐temperate transitional zones. Understanding mangrove responses to freezing is crucial for predicting their poleward expansion under climate change. However, there is a need for field‐based measurements of mangrove freeze resistance and resilience. After an extreme winter storm in December 2022, we measured mangrove post‐freeze damage and recovery (January and November 2023), building on a pre‐freeze baseline assessment conducted in July 2022 across 12 sites along the temperature gradient of Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast (USA). Low‐temperature thresholds for leaf damage to Avicennia germinans, Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa were quantified near −6, −4 and − 4°C, respectively. Thresholds for mortality were found to be near −6 to −7°C for A. germinans and −4 to −5°C for R. mangle. A threshold for loss of reproductivity in A. germinans was identified near −6 to −7°C. Resprouting was observed in all three species but limited to just one individual for R. mangle. Surviving A. germinans resprouted vigorously and had the greatest number of resprout branches, which was proportional to leaf damage. Tall A. germinans had a higher resprout percentage than short trees. Strata‐specific differences in freeze damage were most pronounced for R. mangle, with higher damage in tall versus short trees, while no difference was found between A. germinans strata. These results suggest that R. mangle population recovery may depend on the growth of short trees, while A. germinans can recover from all strata. Minimum air temperature was strongly correlated with mangrove height and above‐ground biomass. Projections of future minimum temperature and species‐specific freeze degree days predict warming winters, suggesting further mangrove development and range expansion under climate change. Synthesis: Collectively, our study advances understanding of mangrove responses to freezing and identifies low‐temperature thresholds for each species, aiding predictions of mangrove range expansion.

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Green View Index Based on Street View Segmentation

Abstract. The calculation of green view index in street view image has become an emerging choice for many researchers. This article proposes a PSAT-Net semantic segmentation model and specifically designs a pyramid pooling attention module. This module cleverly integrates channel and spatial information, implicitly implementing a three-dimensional attention mechanism, and significantly improving performance indicators. By performing detailed semantic segmentation on street view image, this article deeply analyzes the impact of different street view parameter configurations on green view index, and studies in detail how these parameters affect the visual perception of urban greening. The experiment found that: (1) The Green view index(GVI) of most sampling points decreases as the FOV increases. The increase in GVI is mainly affected by the crown width and pitch angle, and the high-value points of GVI are more easily affected. (2) Pitch angle usually causes a slight increase in GVI, which is mainly affected by the distribution of tall trees and low vegetation. Tall trees cause an increase in GVI, while low vegetation causes a decrease in GVI. Similarly, high value points of GVI are more likely to produce larger differences. (3) The Heading parameter has no obvious impact on the overall visual impact of GVI. The difference in independent sampling points comes from the angle between the lens acquisition direction and the road forward direction.These findings not only enrich the theoretical connotation of green view index research, but also provide valuable references for practical applications.

Roost characteristics and fidelity of silver‐haired bat maternity colonies in a floodplain cottonwood forest

AbstractThe maternal roosting behavior of migratory, tree‐dwelling bat species remains poorly understood. From 2016 to 2020 we radio‐tagged 53 adult female silver‐haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) and tracked them to their day roosts to evaluate roosting habits in a cottonwood (Populus) forest in the floodplain of the Bitterroot River in western Montana. We investigated roost tree characteristics of maternity colonies such as canopy closure, tree size, and decay stage, as well as the daily roost fidelity of tagged bats. Additionally, we marked 55 bats with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to assess interannual fidelity to summer habitat. We tracked bats to 94 unique roost trees. Based on previous studies, we expected silver‐haired bat maternity colonies to roost in tall, large diameter trees. We modeled roosting probability as a function of tree height, day of year, and the interaction of these terms. We found bats preferred taller trees earlier in the year, but overall roosting probability decreased throughout the season and tree height had lesser influence on roosting probability later in the year. Bats used tall trees with high canopy closure in early stages of decay during periods of pregnancy and lactation, while the effect of these tree attributes lessened later in the season, perhaps after lactation when energetic constraints were reduced for adult females to prepare for migration by entering torpor during the day. Bats used an average of 5.2 roost trees during the young rearing period and remained in the same roost for an average of 1.5 consecutive days. While daily roost fidelity was low, we documented interannual fidelity to summer habitat from nine individuals. We found silver‐haired bat roosting preferences vary with time, are tree‐specific, and policies targeting conservation of the species should manage flood regimes to promote cottonwood establishment, height growth, and a mosaic of riparian habitats.

The Physicochemical and Nutritional Analysis of Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera) Extracted from the Tall Tree Variety

Aims: Coconut (Cocos nucifera) known as the ‘tree of life’ is an ancient fruit belonging to the palm family Arecaceae family and the only species in the genus Cocos. This study aims to characterize and show the nutritional qualities of coconut oil from the tall tree variety. Methodology: The production methods include natural Fermentation, centrifugation, freeze-thawing, and solvent extraction. In physical and chemical properties, the moisture content, impurity, specific gravity, refractive index, oil yield, flash, fire, smoke point, melting point, thiobarbituric acid number, saponification, peroxide, iodine, and fatty acid value were analyzed and all fall within close ranges. Results: The fat-soluble vitamins ranged from 18.65 ± 5.09 (vitamin A), 4.28 ± 0.68 (vitamin E), 4.11 ± 3.11(vitamin D) and 1.03 ± 0.21 (vitamin K) all in mg/100ml. Mineral analysis shows that coconut oil contains calcium, zinc, and iron with concentrations of 2.53 ± 0.23, 1.21 ± 0.19, and 0.53 ± 0.13 in mg/100ml respectively. Fatty acid analysis shows that coconut oil contains lauric, myristic, palmitic, caprylic, oleic, capric, stearic, linoleic, and caproic acid of which lauric acid was the highest with a range of 48.40 ± 0.23. Conclusion: The result shows that coconut is a good source of nutrients and the fatty acids make it a good moisturizer.

Improving urban flyways for bats: the importance of tree canopy structure

Urbanization can hinder movement and restrict landscape permeability for wildlife. However, there is the potential to improve landscape connectivity by establishing and maintaining movement corridors throughout urban areas. One way to achieve this is through the urban forest; the collection of trees in an urban area. Specifically, it is the characteristics of trees within this forest that can provide the structural and functional connectivity that enables wildlife to move effectively through urban areas. To investigate this, we explored the influence of four tree characteristics, alone and in combination, on bat commuting activity along 30 potential movement corridors in an urban setting in north central Texas. Along 10, 30, and 50 m corridor sections, we calculated percent canopy cover, maximum gap distance between canopies, and canopy rugosity using a 60 cm resolution tree canopy layer, while maximum tree height was determined in situ. We then conducted behavioral observations using thermal cameras and acoustic monitoring along the 10 m section of each site between March and September of 2022 and 2023 to determine the amount of time bats were observed commuting/h and species present. Our analysis revealed that increasing percent canopy cover and rugosity positively influenced commuting activity up to a certain threshold (> 60% and > 1.3, respectively), beyond which they may became detrimental. In contrast, the presence of gaps in the canopy lowered commuting, while tree heights > 11 m increased this activity. When considered together, bats in our study area showed a preference for commuting routes with tall trees and straighter, less cluttered canopies with no gaps. Additionally, sites with these features had a greater species diversity. These findings suggest that we can manage and plan the urban forest by establishing an interconnecting network of tree‐lines and forest edges to enhance landscape permeability for bats and subsequently aid urban bat conservation.

PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) QUADCOPTER SEBAGAI PEMETIK BUAH DURIAN

Farmers certainly want a short and adequate time to collect their crops when the harvest season arrives. Such as durian farmers, most of them still use manual methods to harvest their agricultural products, even though there are already tools that can help make it easier when climbing trees. However, they still have risks because farmers still have to climb trees with tall tree branches, not to mention when the weather is not friendly and the trees are slippery due to rain. Of course, it is very risky to harvest agricultural products. The unmanned aerial vehicle will cut the stalks on the durian fruit with a circular blade-cutting mechanism. The blades are connected via a gear designed as a cutter capable of reaching the durian fruit stalk. The other motor that drives the cutting knife has been modified via the central controller to connect to the remote control so that the auxiliary motor on the cutting knife does not require a manual switch to turn it on. Using Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology as a Durian Fruit Picker is a solution for durian farmers who have plantations with high tree branches. Drones can reach fruit at the tree's end with the added cutter module mechanism. This drone has effectiveness in terms of time which is better than picking durian fruit manually. The design of this cutter can be adjusted at speed to adjust the drone's flight stability.

Scarification under the canopy of Japanese oak: should pre-harvest treatment coincide with the masting year of acorns?

ABSTRACT The regeneration of Japanese oak (Quercus crispula Blume) has turned even more pressing in recent years. The pre-harvest treatment, which accumulates advanced seedlings, is essential for its natural regeneration in stands with a dense dwarf bamboo cover. Such pre-harvest treatment is considered particularly effective when done in conjunction with a mast year of acorns, but it is difficult to adjust the operation to specific timing. If there is no mast year for several years after the pre-harvest treatment, there is concern that the “priority effect” from other plant species may inhibit Japanese oak regeneration. The objective of this study was to determine whether scarification under the canopy of Japanese oaks, treated several years before the masting of acorns, is effective for its regeneration. Seedlings and vegetation were surveyed at sites scarified four years before (PRE) and just before masting (MAST) to compare the effects of treatments, i.e. differences in scarification years on the number and/or size of tall trees and other plant species. PRE could limit the predominance of dwarf bamboos and birches, and sufficient number of seedlings (>10 stems m−2) for future development was observed in the fifth year after masting. Since Japanese oak generally has a masting cycle of less than 5 years at most, we can conclude that the timing of pre-harvest treatment is not constrained by the masting year. Further studies are required to determine the details of priority effects of competitive plants on oak seedlings to establish a natural forest management for Japanese oak.

No Field Evidence of Grass Fuel Structure effects on Postfire Tree Mortality in Juniperus virginiana

Prescribed fires are an important management tool for containing woody plant encroachment in rangeland ecosystems. Grasses are the dominant fuel type in rangelands. Past work has shown that grass canopy architecture, which varies among grass species, can influence flammability. Whether variation in grass fuel structure can influence postfire plant responses has not yet been tested. To bridge this gap, we set up field burning experiments with different fuel treatments and examined postfire mortality of Juniperus virginiana L. in a tallgrass prairie in southwestern Missouri. We sampled 60 trees and measured tree height and diameter at breast height before the fire. Fuels surrounding each tree were manipulated to vary independently in both fuel load and fuel structure. Flame temperatures were measured during the fire, and both stem and canopy injuries were evaluated 1 d after the fire. We surveyed tree mortality 7 mo after the fire. We found no effects of either fuel load or fuel structure on postfire mortality or on canopy injury in J. virginiana. Canopy injury was a critical fire severity measurement determining postfire mortality in J. virginiana, and taller trees are more fire resilient. Despite laboratory-observed fuel structure effects on flammability, this study finds no evidence for the importance of grass fuel load and canopy architecture in influencing postfire tree response. This result might arise from the low crown depth and low canopy water content of J. virginiana, which can promote canopy fire and result in a high mortality rate across fuel treatments. Notwithstanding the negative results, testing laboratory-based findings in field settings is important for further examining laboratory observations and upscaling individual-level processes to ecosystems to help identify the key ecological processes determining population dynamics and community assembly. Our study also suggests that prescribed fire is an effective tool to remove encroaching J. virginiana in tallgrass prairies at an early stage.

Explorations on cooling effect of small urban linear park design in low-rise, high-density district: The case of Gyeongui line forest park in Seoul

Various types of urban parks provide a nature-based solution for mitigating urban heat islands and the cooling effect of urban parks has been extensively studied. However, there is a scarcity of cases involving small linear parks based on quantifiable unit, despite the expectation of their high cooling efficiency due to their unique form and characteristics. This study examined the cooling effect of urban linear park (LP) in low-rise and high-density districts with the longest urban park case in Seoul, South Korea, Gyeongui Line Forest Park, focusing on the influential factors related to park design. Thermal condition simulations and field measurements, including evaluations of thermal comfort, were conducted both inside and outside the LP. Park extensions with increased tree coverage ratio exhibit a consistent decline in thermal variables, with reductions of up to 11.25°C for mean radiant temperature (MRT), and 5.84°C for physiological equivalent temperature (PET). Peak cooling intensities are observed during the hottest time of day at 12 °C for MRT, with parallel wind further enhancing the cooling effect. In addition, LP cooling effect related to adjacent street types was investigated and appeared to be more pronounced in narrower streets. Strategies such as adding tall trees along adjacent streets and connecting cold airflows from the park to a street tree corridor may help to strengthen LP’s cooling effect. While direct comparisons are limited, initial findings suggest that small urban linear parks under specific conditions have significant cooling potential, possibly comparable to or exceeding that of other similar-sized small urban parks, needing further investigation.

Tree-Climbing Behavior of a Forest-Dwelling Ungulate: The Formosan Serow.

Ungulates are terrestrial herbivores, basically adapted to running fast on the ground; tree-climbing behavior has been reported only in seven species, and five of them live in open habitats (Capra hircus, C. aegagrus, C. falconeri, C. cylindricornis, Oreotragus oreotragus). Tree-climbing behavior may also be evolved in ungulates inhabiting dense forests with abundant trees; however, this has rarely been reported in such species (Moschus leucogaster, M. moschiferus), probably due to the difficulty of observing in the wild. The numerous publicly available records in social networks hold potentially valuable information on the atypical behaviors of wild ungulates. Here, we explored the tree-climbing behavior of a forest-dwelling ungulate, the Formosan serow in Taiwan, a subtropical island, by extracting information from online social media platforms. We researched images and videos of Formosan serows through Facebook and YouTube and collected a total of 15 tree-climbing events. In these materials, Formosan serows climbed 10 tree species, including evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved trees, and a variety of parts, ranging in height from 0.6 to 4 m, and from branches of shrubs to trunks of tall trees. Tree-climbing behavior was recorded throughout Taiwan and from lowlands to subalpine zones, suggesting that tree climbing may be a common behavior in this species. Foraging while climbing trees was frequently observed (53.3%), suggesting that the purpose or benefit for climbing is to obtain additional food other than plants growing near the ground surface. In contrast to other tree-climbing ungulates, Formosan serows climbed trees not only in winter, but also in other seasons, when food is relatively abundant. This is the first scientific report of tree-climbing behavior in the Formosan serow that is typically a forest dweller.

Scab intensity in pecan trees in relation to hedge-pruning methods.

Pecan is a valuable nut crop cultivated in the southeastern US. Among the major yield-limiting factors in the region is scab, caused by the plant pathogenic fungus Venturia effusa. Managing scab in tall trees (15 to 25+ m) in pecan orchards is challenging due to the limitations of getting sufficient spray coverage throughout the canopy. We explored the effects of hedge-pruning on scab in three orchards: 14 m tall cv. Desirable trees winter hedge-pruned on alternate sides to 11 m (site 1), 18 m tall cv. Stuart trees hedge-pruned on both sides simultaneously to 11 m (site 2), and 15 m tall cv. Caddo trees winter hedge-pruned in winter vs. summer to 11 m (site 3). At site 1 and 2 hedge-pruned trees were compared to non-pruned control trees. All trees received recommended fungicide applications to control scab via air-blast sprayer. Disease incidence and/or severity was assessed at different sample heights on shoots, foliage and fruit during three seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022). At site 1 the hedge pruned trees often had significantly or numerically more severe scab on foliage and fruit compared to the control trees, although the differences were mostly small. The frequency of mature fruit with scab severity <10% was greatest on control trees in 2021 and 2022. At site 2, there were few differences between hedge-pruned and control trees (on fruit, scab severity was either significantly less on hedge-pruned trees, or not different to the control), but the frequency of mature fruit with scab severity <10% was consistently greatest on hedge-pruned trees. At site 3, scab intensity was low, and there were no significant differences in scab severity between winter- and summer-pruning treatments. At sites 1 and 2 there was generally more severe scab at greater sample heights compared to low in the canopy. At site 3 there was little effect of height on disease. The benefit of hedge-pruning likely increases with tree height in scab-susceptible cultivars. If a tree is >~15 m tall, a greater proportion of the fruit will be within reach of efficacious spray coverage from air-blast sprayers.

Hurricanes May Prune Gulf Mangroves

Tropical storms knock down the tallest trees and stunt the growth of others.

Individual tree detection and crown delineation in the Harz National Park from 2009 to 2022 using mask R–CNN and aerial imagery

Forest diebacks pose a major threat to global ecosystems. Identifying and mapping both living and dead trees is crucial for understanding the causes and implementing effective management strategies. This study explores the efficacy of Mask R–CNN for automated forest dieback monitoring. The method detects individual trees, delineates their crowns, and classifies them as alive or dead. We evaluated the approach using aerial imagery and canopy height models in the Harz Mountains, Germany, a region severely affected by forest dieback. To assess the model's ability to track changes over time, we applied it to images from three separate flight campaigns (2009, 2016, and 2022). This evaluation considered variations in acquisition dates, cameras, post-processing techniques, and image tilting. Forest changes were analyzed based on the detected trees' number, spatial distribution, and height. A comprehensive accuracy assessment demonstrated the Mask R–CNN's robust performance, with precision scores ranging from 0.80 to 0.88 and F1-scores from 0.88 to 0.91. These results confirm the model's ability to generalize across diverse image acquisition conditions. While minor changes were observed between 2009 and 2016, the period between 2016 and 2022 witnessed substantial dieback, with a 64.57% loss of living trees. Notably, taller trees appeared to be particularly affected. This study highlights Mask R–CNN's potential as a valuable tool for automated forest dieback monitoring. It enables efficient detection, delineation, and classification of both living and dead trees, providing crucial data for informed forest management practices.

Assessing the impact of Hurricane Ivan on aboveground forest carbon dynamics in the Florida Panhandle: A case study from Perdido Bay watershed

Hurricanes can physically transform forest ecosystems, leading to immediate and potentially long-lasting impacts on carbon dynamics. Using Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data from the United States Forest Service, we compared the average carbon in trees (saplings, bole, stump, tops) and foliage pre- (2001–2003) and post- (2005–2007) Hurricane Ivan for different tree categories in the Perdido Bay Watershed located in the Florida Panhandle. The log-linear regression model indicates that variables stand type (softwood/mixed/hardwood), diameter, height, physiographic class (deep sands/flatwoods/rolling uplands/small drains/swamps/bottomlands), elevation, field age and plot affected status were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) determinants of carbon loss from the forest stands. Results showed that plots with medium-diameter stands lost more aboveground carbon than large and small-diameter stands, similarly, softwood-dominated stands lost more aboveground carbon than hardwood and mixed wood stands. Aboveground carbon decreased in stands with large (≥ 0.15 m) and medium (≥ 0.12 m) diameter-at-breast height (DBH) by 22.74 and 30.22 metric tons/ha, respectively. We ascertained a decrease of 74.51 and 17.82 metric tons/ha of aboveground carbon in hardwood and mixed plots after Hurricane Ivan, respectively. Aboveground carbon in young (< 25 y) taller trees (> 15 m) decreased by 121.55 metric tons/ha of carbon immediately after the hurricane. These findings underscore the critical necessity of comprehending the interplay between forest structure and hurricane activity to forecast the repercussions of such disturbances on carbon stocks. Our provided framework serves as a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers to assess the vulnerability of coastal forests and facilitate strategic planning to protect forests as carbon sinks.

An Individual Tree Detection and Segmentation Method from TLS and MLS Point Clouds Based on Improved Seed Points

Individual Tree Detection and Segmentation (ITDS) is a key step in accurately extracting forest structural parameters from LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data. However, most ITDS algorithms face challenges with over-segmentation, under-segmentation, and the omission of small trees in high-density forests. In this study, we developed a bottom–up framework for ITDS based on seed points. The proposed method is based on density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) to initially detect the trunks and filter the clusters by a set threshold. Then, the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm is used to reclassify the non-core clustered point cloud after threshold filtering. Furthermore, the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) cylinder fitting algorithm is used to correct the trunk detection results. Finally, we calculate the centroid of the trunk point clouds as seed points to achieve individual tree segmentation (ITS). In this paper, we use terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data from natural forests in Germany and mobile laser scanning (MLS) data from planted forests in China to explore the effects of seed points on the accuracy of ITS methods; we then evaluate the efficiency of the method from three aspects: trunk detection, overall segmentation and small tree segmentation. We show the following: (1) the proposed method addresses the issues of missing segmentation and misrecognition of DBSCAN in trunk detection. Compared to using DBSCAN directly, recall (r), precision (p), and F-score (F) increased by 6.0%, 6.5%, and 0.07, respectively; (2) seed points significantly improved the accuracy of ITS methods; (3) the proposed ITDS framework achieved overall r, p, and F of 95.2%, 97.4%, and 0.96, respectively. This work demonstrates excellent accuracy in high-density forests and is able to accurately segment small trees under tall trees.

Modeling drought mortality and resilience of savannas and forests in tropical Asia

The projected increase of drought occurrence in many tropical and sub-tropical regions globally under future climates will affect terrestrial ecosystems, particularly by increasing drought-induced plant mortality. The capacity to simulate drought mortality in vegetation models is therefore essential to understand future ecosystem dynamics. Using the trait-based vegetation model aDGVM2, we assessed drought mortality and resilience in tropical Asia under climate change. We conducted model simulations for ten sites in tropical Asia, representing a biogeographic gradient. Responses of vegetation attributes and mortality rates were simulated until 2099 for hypothetical drought scenarios and recovery times were calculated. Model simulations showed biomass dieback during drought due to increased plant mortality, primarily among tall and old trees. Drought responses were related to hydraulic traits and associated ecological strategies. Despite severe drought impacts, recovery was possible, but recovery times differed between ecosystem attributes. We conclude that the aDGVM2 enhances our ability to understand drought impacts in tropical ecosystems. The model can simulate increased mortality during drought in a trait- and individual-based modeling framework. It indicated drought resilience of forests and adaptation to drought by changes in community trait composition and the demographic structure. Yet, further model improvements are required to better represent drought impact and recovery.

HABITAT DAN PERILAKU SOSIAL BURUNG KAKATUA TANIMBAR (Cacatua goffiniana) DI DESA LORULUN KECAMATAN WERTAMRIAN KABUPATEN KEPULAUAN TANIMBAR

This research aims to determine the habitat conditions and behavior of the Cacatua goffiniana in Lorulun Village, Tanimbar Islands Regency. The method used for vegetation community data is a combination of the path method and plotted lines at 4 growth levels including seedlings, saplings, poles and trees, there are 15 paths with 75 plots in 3 observation blocks. Determining the location for observing the behavior of the Tanimbar Cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana) was carried out using the concentrated point method and also the All Occurrences method. The research results show that the main habitat of the Tanimbar Cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana) is primary and secondary tropical forests which have the availability of tall trees for nests and food sources. This bird is also found in plantations and forest edge areas, showing adaptability to habitat changes. The social behavior of Tanimbar cockatoos is very complex, showing a high level of intelligence, often seen in activities in small groups of 5-10 individuals. Social interactions between these individuals include various behaviors such as coordinating vocalization behavior, vocalization behavior feeling threatened, aggressive agonistic behavior, submissive agonistic behavior, affiliative behavior of feather probing, affiliative behavior of mutual probing, affiliative behavior of playing, affiliative behavior of perching. This research also notes the existence of a strong territorial behavior pattern, groups of Tanimbar parrots will defend their territory from other groups when food sources are abundant, these territorial boundaries become more flexible.

STRUKTUR DAN KOMPOSISI HUTAN PANTAI KAWASAN WISATA ALAM HATUSUA BEACH NEGERI HATUSUA, KECAMATAN KAIRATU, KABUPATEN SERAM BAGIAN BARAT

Research on the structure and composition of the coastal forest in the Hatusua Beach natural tourist area in Hatusua State has the aim of knowing the vegetation potential, both in terms of structure and composition of the forest contained in the coastal forest specifically in the Hatusua Beach natural tourist area in Hatusua State, West Kairatu Seram District. This research was carried out using a survey method combining strip techniques and vertically plotted lines with the coastline. The research results show that structurally there are 5 growth strata, namely strata A, Strata B, Strata C, Strata D, Strata E with each strata having similarities both vertically and horizontally. Meanwhile, the composition of vegetation types in the Hatusua Beach area in the Hatusua State Coastal Forest based on growth level has a number of types including; 9 types of seedlings, 14 types of weaning, 12 types of poles, 18 types of trees. For tall trees ranging from 20 – 31 meters, the important value index value is dominated by Pongamia pinnata with a value of 58.13, Intsia bijuga 41.31, Cerbera manghas 38.86, Tamarindus indica 27.93, and Pterocarpus indicus with a value of 34.55, with a species richness category. According to Shannon winner species diversity, a value of ≤ 1 is categorized as low.

Short‐stature trees: Need for expanded knowledge on stand dynamics for their ecological and silvicultural management

Abstract Research Highlight discussing: Fajardo, A., Moreno‐Meynard, P. &amp; Soto, D. P. (2024). Forest stand dynamics of a short‐stature tree species: Ecological knowledge for sustainable forest management. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14662. Oliver stand dynamics conceptual model of tree stand succession was designed for tall trees but is not necessarily applicable to short‐stature tree species, which represent a large proportion of forests/woodlands worldwide. The South American short tree/shrub Nothofagus antarctica is a persuasive example of a short tree species that can benefit from an alternative conceptual model on stand dynamics. It also illustrates the high variability in stand dynamics observed in many short‐stature trees. Stand dynamics of short‐stature trees remain generally understudied, hindering their management and silvicultural use. Although generalisations may not be feasible due to the continuum of growth forms and succession dynamics of short trees, there is an urgent need to increase our knowledge for their sustainable management.