Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests
Given the habitat moisture (air humidity or soil moisture) preferences of many forest bryophytes, we explored whether the depth-to-water (DTW) index, derived from remotely sensed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, was related to fine-scale patterns of spatial variation in bryophyte abundance,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.00858/full |
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| author | Samuel F. Bartels Richard T. Caners Richard T. Caners Jae Ogilvie Barry White S. Ellen Macdonald |
| author_facet | Samuel F. Bartels Richard T. Caners Richard T. Caners Jae Ogilvie Barry White S. Ellen Macdonald |
| author_sort | Samuel F. Bartels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Given the habitat moisture (air humidity or soil moisture) preferences of many forest bryophytes, we explored whether the depth-to-water (DTW) index, derived from remotely sensed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, was related to fine-scale patterns of spatial variation in bryophyte abundance, diversity, and composition. The goal was to assess the utility of the topographic DTW index as a tool to decipher trends in bryophyte assemblages along a site wetness gradient in the boreal mixedwood forest. Discrete Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data were acquired over the entire Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experimental site located in northwestern Alberta, Canada (56° 46′ 13″ N, 118° 22′ 28″ W), based on which we calculated a mathematical index of approximate depth to water at or below the soil surface at 1 m resolution using the Wet-Areas Mapping model. Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) were sampled in permanent sample plots in unmanaged forest stands of varying dominant canopy tree composition. The relationships between DTW and bryophyte cover, richness, diversity, and composition in broadleaf (deciduous)-, mixed, and conifer-dominated boreal forest stands were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models and multivariate analyses. Bryophyte cover was highest in conifer-dominated forest, which occupied the wetter end of the DTW gradient, followed by mixed forest, whereas broadleaf forest, which occupied the drier end of the DTW gradient, had the lowest cover but highest bryophyte diversity. Bryophyte cover in conifer-dominated forests was positively related to site moisture (negatively related to the DTW index). In contrast, bryophyte species richness and diversity were negatively related to site moisture (increased at higher DTW values) in all forest types. DTW explained significant variation in bryophyte species composition in mixed forests, while indicator species analysis identified species with preferences for wet, moist, and dry site conditions in each forest type. Our results corroborate the importance of site moisture as a driver of bryophyte assemblages but, interestingly, there were important differences among forest types, which themselves are distributed across a gradient of site moisture. Our study demonstrates the utility of the topographic DTW index for understanding fine-scale (plot-level) variation in bryophyte assemblages in forested landscapes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:41:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab84cc4f919b4a349aa2dabe7806c10a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:41:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-ab84cc4f919b4a349aa2dabe7806c10a2022-12-22T01:41:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2018-06-01910.3389/fpls.2018.00858335244Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal ForestsSamuel F. Bartels0Richard T. Caners1Richard T. Caners2Jae Ogilvie3Barry White4S. Ellen Macdonald5Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaRoyal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB, CanadaNexfor-Bowater Forest Watershed Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, CanadaForest Management Branch, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Edmonton, AB, CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaGiven the habitat moisture (air humidity or soil moisture) preferences of many forest bryophytes, we explored whether the depth-to-water (DTW) index, derived from remotely sensed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, was related to fine-scale patterns of spatial variation in bryophyte abundance, diversity, and composition. The goal was to assess the utility of the topographic DTW index as a tool to decipher trends in bryophyte assemblages along a site wetness gradient in the boreal mixedwood forest. Discrete Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data were acquired over the entire Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experimental site located in northwestern Alberta, Canada (56° 46′ 13″ N, 118° 22′ 28″ W), based on which we calculated a mathematical index of approximate depth to water at or below the soil surface at 1 m resolution using the Wet-Areas Mapping model. Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) were sampled in permanent sample plots in unmanaged forest stands of varying dominant canopy tree composition. The relationships between DTW and bryophyte cover, richness, diversity, and composition in broadleaf (deciduous)-, mixed, and conifer-dominated boreal forest stands were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models and multivariate analyses. Bryophyte cover was highest in conifer-dominated forest, which occupied the wetter end of the DTW gradient, followed by mixed forest, whereas broadleaf forest, which occupied the drier end of the DTW gradient, had the lowest cover but highest bryophyte diversity. Bryophyte cover in conifer-dominated forests was positively related to site moisture (negatively related to the DTW index). In contrast, bryophyte species richness and diversity were negatively related to site moisture (increased at higher DTW values) in all forest types. DTW explained significant variation in bryophyte species composition in mixed forests, while indicator species analysis identified species with preferences for wet, moist, and dry site conditions in each forest type. Our results corroborate the importance of site moisture as a driver of bryophyte assemblages but, interestingly, there were important differences among forest types, which themselves are distributed across a gradient of site moisture. Our study demonstrates the utility of the topographic DTW index for understanding fine-scale (plot-level) variation in bryophyte assemblages in forested landscapes.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.00858/fullboreal forestdepth-to-water indexmossesliverwortsmoisture gradientsite wetness |
| spellingShingle | Samuel F. Bartels Richard T. Caners Richard T. Caners Jae Ogilvie Barry White S. Ellen Macdonald Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests Frontiers in Plant Science boreal forest depth-to-water index mosses liverworts moisture gradient site wetness |
| title | Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests |
| title_full | Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests |
| title_fullStr | Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests |
| title_short | Relating Bryophyte Assemblages to a Remotely Sensed Depth-to-Water Index in Boreal Forests |
| title_sort | relating bryophyte assemblages to a remotely sensed depth to water index in boreal forests |
| topic | boreal forest depth-to-water index mosses liverworts moisture gradient site wetness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2018.00858/full |
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