Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia
Structural features of the overstorey in managed and unmanaged forests can significantly influence plant community composition. Native <i>Acacia</i> species are common in temperate eucalypt forests in southeastern Australia. In these forests, intense disturbances, such as logging and wil...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/3/155 |
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| author | Anu Singh Benjamin Wagner Sabine Kasel Patrick J. Baker Craig R. Nitschke |
| author_facet | Anu Singh Benjamin Wagner Sabine Kasel Patrick J. Baker Craig R. Nitschke |
| author_sort | Anu Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Structural features of the overstorey in managed and unmanaged forests can significantly influence plant community composition. Native <i>Acacia</i> species are common in temperate eucalypt forests in southeastern Australia. In these forests, intense disturbances, such as logging and wildfire, lead to high densities of regenerating trees, shrubs, and herbs. The tree layer is dominated by <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i>, that compete intensely for resources in the first decades after stand establishment. The relative abundance and size of <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i> varies widely due to stochastic factors such as dispersal, microsite variability, and weather and climatic conditions. This variability may influence the structure and composition of the herbaceous and shrub species. In the temperate forests of southeastern Australia, understorey plant diversity is assumed to be influenced by <i>Acacia</i> species density, rather than <i>Eucalyptus</i> density. To quantify the influence of <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i> density on plant community composition, we used remote sensing and machine learning methods to map canopy composition and then compare it to understorey composition. We combined unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) imagery, supervised image classifications, and ground survey data of plant composition from post-logging regrowth forests in the Central Highlands of southeastern Australia. We found that aggregation and patch metrics of <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Acacia</i> were strongly associated with understorey plant beta diversity. Increasing aggregation of <i>Acacia</i> and the number of <i>Acacia</i> patches had a significant negative effect on plant beta diversity, while the number of <i>Eucalyptus</i> patches had a positive influence. Our research demonstrates how accessible UAV remote sensing can be used to quantify variability in plant biodiversity in regrowth forests. This can help forest managers map patterns of plant diversity at the stand-scale and beyond to guide management activities across forested landscapes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:11Z |
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| id | doaj.art-c429526e39c048bc830d9a7b56ad34c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c429526e39c048bc830d9a7b56ad34c22023-11-17T10:39:13ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2023-02-017315510.3390/drones7030155Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern AustraliaAnu Singh0Benjamin Wagner1Sabine Kasel2Patrick J. Baker3Craig R. Nitschke4Bush Heritage Australia, Level 1, 395 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC 3121, AustraliaSchool of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC 3121, AustraliaSchool of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC 3121, AustraliaSchool of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC 3121, AustraliaStructural features of the overstorey in managed and unmanaged forests can significantly influence plant community composition. Native <i>Acacia</i> species are common in temperate eucalypt forests in southeastern Australia. In these forests, intense disturbances, such as logging and wildfire, lead to high densities of regenerating trees, shrubs, and herbs. The tree layer is dominated by <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i>, that compete intensely for resources in the first decades after stand establishment. The relative abundance and size of <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i> varies widely due to stochastic factors such as dispersal, microsite variability, and weather and climatic conditions. This variability may influence the structure and composition of the herbaceous and shrub species. In the temperate forests of southeastern Australia, understorey plant diversity is assumed to be influenced by <i>Acacia</i> species density, rather than <i>Eucalyptus</i> density. To quantify the influence of <i>Acacia</i> and <i>Eucalyptus</i> density on plant community composition, we used remote sensing and machine learning methods to map canopy composition and then compare it to understorey composition. We combined unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) imagery, supervised image classifications, and ground survey data of plant composition from post-logging regrowth forests in the Central Highlands of southeastern Australia. We found that aggregation and patch metrics of <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Acacia</i> were strongly associated with understorey plant beta diversity. Increasing aggregation of <i>Acacia</i> and the number of <i>Acacia</i> patches had a significant negative effect on plant beta diversity, while the number of <i>Eucalyptus</i> patches had a positive influence. Our research demonstrates how accessible UAV remote sensing can be used to quantify variability in plant biodiversity in regrowth forests. This can help forest managers map patterns of plant diversity at the stand-scale and beyond to guide management activities across forested landscapes.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/3/155plant diversity<i>Eucalyptus</i><i>Acacia</i>regrowthdisturbanceforest management |
| spellingShingle | Anu Singh Benjamin Wagner Sabine Kasel Patrick J. Baker Craig R. Nitschke Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia Drones plant diversity <i>Eucalyptus</i> <i>Acacia</i> regrowth disturbance forest management |
| title | Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia |
| title_full | Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia |
| title_fullStr | Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia |
| title_short | Canopy Composition and Spatial Configuration Influences Beta Diversity in Temperate Regrowth Forests of Southeastern Australia |
| title_sort | canopy composition and spatial configuration influences beta diversity in temperate regrowth forests of southeastern australia |
| topic | plant diversity <i>Eucalyptus</i> <i>Acacia</i> regrowth disturbance forest management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/3/155 |
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