Uncovering spatial and ecological variability in gap size frequency distributions in the Canadian boreal forest

被引:23
|
作者
Goodbody, Tristan R. H. [1 ]
Tompalski, Piotr [1 ]
Coops, Nicholas C. [1 ]
White, Joanne C. [2 ]
Wulder, Michael A. [2 ]
Sanelli, Marco [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ British Columbia, Fac Forestry, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
[2] Nat Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Serv, Pacific Forestry Ctr, 506 West Burnside Rd, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5, Canada
基金
加拿大自然科学与工程研究理事会;
关键词
POWER-LAW DISTRIBUTIONS; LANDSAT TIME-SERIES; LASER-SCANNING DATA; SPRUCE BUDWORM; CANOPY GAPS; TROPICAL FORESTS; DYNAMICS; FIRE; PATTERNS; DISTURBANCE;
D O I
10.1038/s41598-020-62878-z
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Analyses characterizing canopy gaps are required to improve our understanding of spatial and structural variations in forest canopies and provide insight into ecosystem-level successional processes. Gap size frequency distributions (GSFD) are indicative of ecological processes and disturbance patterns. To date, GSFD in boreal forest ecosystems have not been systematically quantified over large areas using a single consistent data source. Herein we characterized GSFDs across the entirety of the Canadian boreal forest using transects of airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. ALS transects were representatively sampled within eight distinct Canadian boreal ecozones. Gaps were detected and delineated from the ALS-derived canopy height model as contiguous canopy openings >= 8 m(2) with canopy heights <= 3m. Gaps were then stratified by ecozone and forest type (i.e. coniferous, broadleaf, mixedwood, wetland-treed), and combinations thereof, and GSFDs were calculated for each stratum. GSFDs were characterized by the scaling parameter of the power-law probability distribution, lambda (lambda) and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests confirmed that GSFDs for each stratum followed a power-law distribution. Pairwise comparisons between ecozones, forest types, and combinations thereof indicated significant differences between estimates of lambda. Scaling parameters were found to be more variable by ecozone (1.96-2.31) than by forest type (2.15-2.21). These results contrast those of similar studies done in tropical forest environments, whereby lambda was found to be relatively consistent across a range of site types, geological substrates, and forest types. The geographic range considered herein is much larger than that of previous studies, and broad-scale patterns in climate, landforms, and soils that are reflected in the definition of unique ecozones, likely also influence gap characteristics.
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页数:12
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