Table 1 Examples of using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for different research subjects in wetland ecology.
From: Plant species as ecological engineers of microtopography in a temperate sedge-grass marsh
Research subject | Description of TLS using | References |
|---|---|---|
Vegetation structure | TLS captures highly accurate data about vegetation, such as height, canopy structure, leaf area, and biomass distribution. These characteristics help to better understand how ecosystems are structured and how they change over time | |
Habitat mapping | TLS helps in mapping and monitoring different wetland habitats to assess habitat complexity, differences, and the relationships between different ecological niches | |
Biodiversity assessment | TLS assists in assessing biodiversity. It provides data on the spatial distribution of plant species, allowing to study of species diversity, richness, and evenness within an ecosystem | |
Ecological succession/restoration | TLS is used to track changes in ecosystems over time in ecological succession perspective. Comparing scans taken at different times, vegetation recovering/developing after disturbances can be evaluated. TLS indirectly design restoration strategies that aim to recreate or enhance specific ecological conditions | |
Wildlife monitoring | TLS can be used to track and monitor wildlife habitats and their characteristics, aiding in conservation efforts. It can help identify and monitor the presence of certain species by analyzing habitat structures | |
Carbon sequestration and ecosystem services | TLS helps to estimate biomass and carbon storage in ecosystems, especially in the forests. It is crucial to assess the role of ecosystems in climate change mitigation and the provision of ecosystem services |
