Episodic Canopy Structural Transformations and Biological Invasion in a Hawaiian Forest

• Main Authors: Christopher S. Balzotti, Gregory P. Asner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2017-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Plant Science
• Subjects: carnegie airborne observatory; forest change; forest gaps; invasive species; lidar; remote sensing
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2017.01256/full

The remaining native forests on the Hawaiian Islands have been recognized as threatened by changing climate, increasing insect outbreak, new deadly pathogens, and growing populations of canopy structure-altering invasive species. The objective of this study was to assess long-term, net changes to upper canopy structure in sub-montane forests on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea volcano, Hawai‘i, in the context of continuing climate events, insect outbreaks, and biological invasion. We used high-resolution multi-temporal Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to quantify near-decadal net changes in forest canopy height and gap distributions at a critical transition between alien invaded lowland and native sub-montane forest at the end of a recent drought and host-specific insect (Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak. We found that sub-montane forests have experienced a net loss in average canopy height, and therefore structure and aboveground carbon stock. Additionally, where invasive alien tree species co-dominate with native trees, the upper canopy structure became more homogeneous. Tracking the loss of forest canopy height and spatial variation with airborne LiDAR is a cost-effective way to monitor forest canopy health, and to track and quantify ecological impacts of invasive species through space and time.