Assessing the effects of large herbivores on the three-dimensional structure of temperate forests using terrestrial laser scanning
Assessing the effects of large herbivores on the three-dimensional structure of temperate forests using terrestrial laser scanning
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DOI：
10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119985
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发表时间：
2022-03
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Shun Li;Z. Hou;J. Ge;Tianming Wang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Shun Li;Z. Hou;J. Ge;Tianming Wang
三维植被结构对维持森林生态系统功能和物种多样性至关重要。东北亚的温带森林支持各种动物群，但也受到大型食草动物干扰或管理实践的影响（例如，放牧），导致许多地区不同程度的生境退化和破碎化。然而，传统方法缺乏对植被三维结构精细尺度的量化，难以获得完整、准确的冠层下多层次结构的详细数据，限制了我们对干扰对生境质量和物种多样性影响的理解。利用地面激光扫描（TLS）数据，对东北地区不同林分类型（鹿食林、牧食林、次生林和混交林）的三维生境结构特征进行了定量分析。结果表明：放牧林的冠层高度、株数和树干蓄积量明显低于其它林分类型;（2）牧鹿林低冠层（0-5m）植被面积指数（VAI）;放牧林的林隙和可见度显著低于干扰较少的次生林和混交林; 3）大型食草动物活动强度大，导致牧鹿林林下林隙和可见度较大。本研究中的TLS衍生参数涉及野生动物栖息地选择和适合度，有助于揭示细尺度栖息地结构-物种多样性关系。在森林管理中，建议使用TLS从一个新的角度来量化栖息地的结构和功能属性，从而指导当地规模的保护实践，以平衡植物和动物之间的关系。
Three-dimensional (3D) vegetation structure is vital in maintaining the functions of forest ecosystems and species diversity. Temperate forests of Northeast Asia support a variety of fauna but is also affected by large herbivore disturbances or management practice (e.g., livestock grazing), resulting in varying degrees of habitat degradation and fragmentation in many areas. However, traditional methods lack the quantification of 3D vegetation structure at a fine scale, which makes it difficult to obtain complete and accurate detailed data on the multi-level structure below the canopy and limits our understanding of the impact of disturbance on habitat quality and species diversity. In this study, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data were used to quantify the 3D habitat structural characteristics of different stand types affected by forest management or large herbivore activities (deer-browsed forest, livestock-grazed forest, secondary forest, and mixed forest) in Northeast China. TLS-derived parameters in this study revealed the subtle changes of habitat structures below the canopy: 1) livestock-grazed forest had a much lower canopy height, tree number, and stem volume than that of the other stand types; 2) the vegetation area index (VAI) of low canopy height (0–5 m) in livestock-grazed forest and deer-browsed forest were significantly lower than those in secondary and mixed forest with less disturbance; 3) intensive large herbivores activities led to the larger understory gaps and visibility in livestock-grazed and deer-browsed forest. TLS-derived parameters in this study are implicated in wildlife habitat selection and fitness, which contribute to revealing fine scale habitat structure-species diversity relationships. In forest management, it is proposed to use TLS to quantify the structural and functional attributes of habitats from a new perspective, thus guiding conservation practices at local scale to balance the relationship between plants and animals.