What Factors Shape Spatial Distribution of Biomass in Riparian Forests? Insights from a LiDAR Survey over a Large Area

Forests

Hugues Claessens¹  Nicolas Latte¹  Leo Huylenbroeck¹  Blandine Georges¹  Philippe Lejeune¹  Adrien Michez² 

[1] TERRA Teaching and Research Centre (Forest Is Life), Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium;University Rennes 2, CNRS UMR LETG, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal, CEDEX, 35043 Rennes, France;

关键词: floodplain;    wetlands;    remote sensing;    volume equation;    productivity;    individual tree crown;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f12030371

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Riparian ecosystems are home to a remarkable biodiversity, but have been degraded in many regions of the world. Vegetation biomass is central to several key functions of riparian systems. It is influenced by multiple factors, such as soil waterlogging, sediment input, flood, and human disturbance. However, knowledge is lacking on how these factors interact to shape spatial distribution of biomass in riparian forests. In this study, LiDAR data were used in an individual tree approach to map the aboveground biomass in riparian forests along 200 km of rivers in the Meuse catchment, in southern Belgium (Western Europe). Two approaches were tested, relying either on a LiDAR Canopy Height Model alone or in conjunction with a LiDAR point cloud. Cross-validated biomass relative mean square error for 0.3 ha plots were, respectively, 27% and 22% for the two approaches. Spatial distribution of biomass patterns were driven by parcel history (and particularly vegetation age), followed by land use and topographical or geomorphological variables. Overall, anthropogenic factors were dominant over natural factors. However, vegetation patches located in the lower parts of the riparian zone exhibited a lower biomass than those in higher locations at the same age, presumably due to a combination of a more intense disturbance regime and more limiting growing conditions in the lower parts of the riparian zone. Similar approaches to ours could be deployed in other regions in order to better understand how biomass distribution patterns vary according to the climatic, geological or cultural contexts.

【 授权许可】

Unknown