scholarly journals Forest Site and Type Variability in ALS-Based Forest Resource Inventory Attribute Predictions over Three Ontario Forest Sites

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin van Ewijk ◽  
Paul Treitz ◽  
Murray Woods ◽  
Trevor Jones ◽  
John Caspersen
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Accuracy ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Forest Resource ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Attributes ◽  
The Impact

Over the last decade, spatially-explicit modeling of landscape-scale forest attributes for forest inventories has greatly benefitted from airborne laser scanning (ALS) and the area-based approach (ABA) to derive wall-to-wall maps of these forest attributes. Which ALS-derived metrics to include when modeling forest inventory attributes, and how prediction accuracies vary over forest types depends largely on the structural complexity of the forest(s) being studied. Hence, the purpose of this study was to (i) examine the usefulness of adding texture and intensity metrics to height-based ALS metrics for the prediction of several forest resource inventory (FRI) attributes in one boreal and two Great Lakes, St. Lawrence (GLSL) forest region sites in Ontario and (ii) quantify and compare the site and forest type variability within the context of the FRI prediction accuracies. Basal area (BA), quadratic mean diameter-at-breast height (QMD), and stem density (S) were predicted using the ABA and a nonparametric Random Forests (RF) regression model. At the site level, prediction accuracies (i.e., expressed as RMSE (Root Mean Square Error), bias, and R2) improved at the three sites when texture and intensity metrics were included in the predictor set, even though no significant differences (p > 0.05) could be detected using the nonparametric RMANOVA test. Stem density benefitted the most from the inclusion of texture and intensity, particularly in the GLSL sites (% RMSE improved up to 6%). Combining site and forest type results indicated that improvements in site level predictions, due to the addition of texture and intensity metrics to the ALS predictor set, were the result of changes in prediction accuracy in some but not all forest types present at a site and that these changes in prediction accuracy were site and FRI attribute specific. The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test indicated that prediction errors between the different forest types were significantly different (p ≤ 0.01). In the boreal site, prediction accuracies for conifer forest types were higher than for deciduous and mixedwoods. Such patterns in prediction accuracy among forest types and FRI attributes could not be observed in the GLSL sites. In the Petawawa Research Forest (PRF), we did detect the impact of silvicultural treatments especially on QMD and S predictions.

scholarly journals A comparison of forest resource inventory, provincial land cover maps and field surveys for wildlife habitat analysis in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest

2010 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea J. Maxie ◽  
Karen F. Hussey ◽  
Stacey J. Lowe ◽  
Kevin R. Middel ◽  
Bruce A. Pond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Forest Resource ◽  
Habitat Analysis ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Land Cover Maps ◽  
Forest Cover Types

In a portion of central Ontario, Canada we assessed the classification agreement between field-based estimates of forest stand composition and each of two mapped data sources used in wildlife habitat studies, the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) and satellite-image derived Provincial Land Cover (PLC). At two study areas, Algonquin Provincial Park (APP) and Wildlife Management Unit 49 (WMU49), we surveyed 119 forest stands and 40 water and wetland stands. Correspondence levels between FRI and field classifications were 48% in APP and 44% in WMU49 when assessing six forest cover types. With only four simplified forest cover types, levels improved to 77% in APP and 63% in WMU49. Correspondence between PLC and field classifications for three forested stand types was approximately 63% in APP and 55% in WMU49. Because of the poor to moderate level of correspondence we detected between map and field classifications, we recommend that care be exercised when FRI or PLC maps are used in forest and wildlife research and management planning. Key words: forest resource inventory, FRI, provincial land cover, PLC, Landsat Thematic Mapper, map accuracy, map correspondence, map agreement, Ontario, wildlife habitat

scholarly journals The influence of the recreational load in the winter on the forest ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
А.В. Грязькин ◽  
А.А. Кочкин ◽  
А.Н. Прокофьев ◽  
М.М. Гуталь ◽  
Ч.Т. Чан ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Sanitary Condition ◽  
Winter Recreation ◽  
Structure Height ◽  
The Impact

Объект исследования особо охраняемая природная территория Черняевский лес , лесопарк площадью около 700 га, расположенный на территории Дзержинского и Индустриального районов города Перми. Лесопарк расположен на территории древней послеледниковой долины. Рельеф всхолмленный и представлен массивами смешанного соснового леса. В пределах парка имеются древние песчаные дюны и барханы эолового происхождения с высотами от 35 до 13 м. Цель исследования оценить степень воздействия зимнего отдыха населения на древостои сосны в условиях сосняка черничного и сосняка брусничного. Под пологом древостоев в зимний период по постоянному маршруту ежегодно прокладывается лыжная трасса протяженностью 5,8 км. Лыжная трасса пролегает по разным элементам рельефа подножие склона, склон, водораздел. Древостои представлены сосняками естественного происхождения, смешанными по составу. Возраст древостоев достигает 150 лет, относительная полнота 0,50,8, класс бонитета IIIII. По данным с 12-ти пробных площадей в сосняке черничном и сосняке брусничном дана оценка состояния подроста и подлеска, установлены структура по высоте и численность. Численность подроста достигает 1800 экз./га на контроле и экз./га на лыжной трассе. Численность подлеска от 400 до 1200 экз./га. Характеристики подроста и подлеска зависят от типа леса, элементов рельефа, толщины снежного покрова и интенсивности рекреационной нагрузки. На контроле все характеристики подроста и подлеска превышают характеристики указанных компонентов леса на лыжной трассе. Условия произрастания по лыжной трассе представлены двумя типами леса сосняк черничный (склоны и подножия склонов) и сосняк брусничный (вершины холмов). Установлено, что индекс состояния древостоев по лыжной трассе выше, чем на контроле. Доля сухостоя по лыжной трассе выше, распределение стволов по ступеням толщины различается средний диаметр древостоев на контроле больше, чем на лыжной трассе. Различия имеются и по типам леса. В наибольшей степени влияние лыжной трассы на деревья проявляется в условиях сосняка брусничного. Следовательно, зимний отдых оказывает негативное влияние на древостой, санитарное состояние этого компонента парковых сообществ на лыжной трассе ухудшается. The object of research is a specially protected natural area Chernyaevsky forest , a forest Park with an area of about 700 hectares, located on the territory of Dzerzhinsky And industrial districts of the city of Perm. The forest Park is located on the territory of the ancient post-glacial valley. The relief is hilly and represented by massifs of mixed pine forest. Within the Park there are ancient sand dunes of Aeolian origin with altitudes of from 3-5 to 13 m. the purpose of the study is to estimate the impact of winter recreation on the stands of pine in the conditions of the forest type of myrtillus and vaccinium. Under the canopy of forest stands in the winter on a permanent route annually laid ski trail length of 5.8 km. the ski trail runs on different elements of the terrain-the foot of the slope, slope, watershed. Stands are represented by pine forests of natural origin, mixed in composition. The age of stands reaches 150 years, the relative completeness of 0.50.8, the class of quality-II-III. According to data from 12 sample plots in the forest type of myrtillus and vaccinium in the evaluation of the status of undergrowth of a structure height and strength. The number of the undergrowth is 1800 ind./ha in the control and ind./ha on the piste. The number of undergrowth from 400 to 1200 individuals/ha. Characteristics of undergrowth depends on forest type, terrain, snow cover and intensity of recreational activity. On control all characteristics of undergrowth and undergrowth exceed the characteristics of these components of the forest on the ski track. Growing conditions on the piste represented by two forest types myrtillus (slopes and foot slopes) and vaccinium (tops of hills). It is established that the index of the state of stands on the ski track is higher than on the control. The share of dead wood on the ski track is higher, the distribution of trunks on the steps of thickness varies the average diameter of the stands on the control is greater than on the ski track. There are also differences in forest types. To the greatest extent, the influence of the ski track on the trees is manifested in the conditions of cowberry pine. Therefore, winter recreation has a negative impact on the forest stand, the sanitary condition of this component of Park communities on the ski track is deteriorating.

A gap analysis of tree species representation in the protected areas of the Canadian boreal forest: applying a new assemblage of digital Forest Resource Inventory data

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Cumming ◽  
C. Ronnie Drever ◽  
Mélina Houle ◽  
John Cosco ◽  
Pierre Racine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Forest Resource ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Boreal Shield ◽  
Canadian Boreal Forest

We undertook a gap analysis of how protected areas represent the tree-species diversity within the Canadian boreal forest, as measured from Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps. We used a new compilation of Forest Resource Inventory designed to support ecological analyses over large areas and across jurisdictional boundaries. The analysis was stratified into four analytical regions determined by terrestrial ecozones. We calculated the relative abundance of species within regions, developed rarity criteria, and evaluated the relative abundances and prevalence of rare species. We characterized representation gaps when the abundance of a tree species in protected areas within an analytical region differed markedly (by more than a factor of 2) from the expectation, calculated as the product of regional abundance and the proportional area protected. Most species were well represented in the most species-diverse region (n = 33), the Boreal Shield in eastern Canada, due apparently to a large number of relatively small protected areas in the southern part of the region. Some marked gaps existed in the more species-depauperate western zones, notably for montane conifers in the Boreal Plains. As is common for species abundance distributions, as few as five species accounted for 90% of total abundance in each zone. Relatively rare species were more numerous. Mostly associated with southern temperate or hemiboreal forests, these reached their highest prevalence and abundance in the managed forests of the Boreal Shield. Our work identified some gaps in representation in the protected areas network of Canada in western Canada, substantiates the use of species distribution mapping based on FRI data to inform conservation planning — including the identification of high conservation biodiversity elements for forest certification — and demonstrates the need for improved vegetation mapping in National Parks.

scholarly journals Assessment of Rusty Blackbird Habitat Occupancy in the Long Range Mountains of Newfoundland, Canada Using Forest Inventory Data

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 340
Author(s):  
Kathleen K. E. Manson ◽  
Jenna P. B. McDermott ◽  
Luke L. Powell ◽  
Darroch M. Whitaker ◽  
Ian G. Warkentin
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Breeding Ecology ◽  
Forest Resource ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Inventory Data ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Habitat Occupancy ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Rusty Blackbird

Rusty blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus), once common across their boreal breeding distribution, have undergone steep, range-wide population declines. Newfoundland is home to what has been described as one of just two known subspecies (E. c. nigrans) and hosts some of the highest known densities of the species across its extensive breeding range. To contribute to a growing body of literature examining rusty blackbird breeding ecology, we studied habitat occupancy in Western Newfoundland. We conducted 1960 point counts across a systematic survey grid during the 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons, and modeled blackbird occupancy using forest resource inventory data. We also assessed the relationship between the presence of introduced red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), an avian nest predator, and blackbird occupancy. We evaluated 31 a priori models of blackbird probability of occurrence. Consistent with existing literature, the best predictors of blackbird occupancy were lakes and ponds, streams, rivers, and bogs. Red squirrels did not appear to have a strong influence on blackbird habitat occupancy. We are among the first to model rusty blackbird habitat occupancy using remotely-sensed landcover data; given the widespread availability of forest resource inventory data, this approach may be useful in conservation efforts for this and other rare but widespread boreal species. Given that Newfoundland may be a geographic stronghold for rusty blackbirds, future research should focus on this distinct population.

scholarly journals Potential of P-Band SAR Tomography in Forest Type Classification

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 696
Author(s):  
Dinh Ho Tong Minh ◽  
Yen-Nhi Ngo ◽  
Thu Trang Lê
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Forest Classification ◽  
Sar Data ◽  
Type Classification

Forest type classification using spaceborne remote sensing is a challenge. Low-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) signals (i.e., P-band, ∼0.69 m wavelength) are needed to penetrate a thick vegetation layer. However, this measurement alone does not guarantee a good performance in forest classification tasks. SAR tomography, a technique employing multiple acquisitions over the same areas to form a three-dimensional image, has been demonstrated to improve SAR’s capability in many applications. Our study shows the potential value of SAR tomography acquisitions to improve forest classification. By using P-band tomographic SAR data from the German Aerospace Center F-SAR sensor during the AfriSAR campaign in February 2016, the vertical profiles of five different forest types at a tropical forest site in Mondah, Gabon (South Africa) were analyzed and exploited for the classification task. We demonstrated that the high sensitivity of SAR tomography to forest vertical structure enables the improvement of classification performance by up to 33%. Interestingly, by using the standard Random Forest technique, we found that the ground (i.e., at 5–10 m) and volume layers (i.e., 20–40 m) play an important role in identifying the forest type. Together, these results suggested the promise of the TomoSAR technique for mapping forest types with high accuracy in tropical areas and could provide strong support for the next Earth Explorer BIOMASS spaceborne mission which will collect P-band tomographic SAR data.

scholarly journals Effect of stand structure on density of pine and spruce wood in myrtillus forest type

10.12737/8434 ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Данилов ◽  
Dmitriy Danilov ◽  
Смирнов ◽  
A. Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Basic Density ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Leningrad Region ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Stem Wood ◽  
The Impact

Mixed stands of spruce and pine of myrtillus y forest types occupy large areas of the forest fund of the Leningrad region. For the theory and practice of forestry it is important to know the impact of plantations on the density of wood in bunk mixed spruce-pine stands. In mixed stands of pine and spruce disks and cores of wood species were selected from the model tree to determine the basic density by the method of maximum water capacity. The study of basic wood density of pine and spruce in the coniferous bunk stands revealed that its rates are higher for both species in the mixed forest stand than in pure coniferous plantations in the region of the study. With the predominance of pines in the stand composition, its wood density is higher than in stands dominated by spruce. Density of pinewood increases from smaller to larger classes of stand diameters. Variability of wood density by diameter of trunk is higher in spruce than in pine in mixed stands. In stands, after cutting dilutes the density of pinewood is lower than in the plantation, which is not passed with felling. In the bunk spruce-pine the stand, to the age of maturity, larger mass of stem wood of coniferous species is formed than in the pure one-tier stands of pine or spruce. Developed regression equations depending on the density of the wood at a height of 1.3 m to the average density of trunk allow for a more accurate assessment of this parameter in mixed stands than previously published equations for pure stands of myrtillus forest types for the study area.

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