Identifying conifer tree vs. deciduous shrub and tree regeneration trajectories in a space-for-time boreal peatland fire chronosequence using multispectral lidar

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dc.contributor.authorEnayetullah, Humaira
dc.contributor.authorChasmer, Laura
dc.contributor.authorHopkinson, Christopher
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Dan
dc.contributor.authorCobbaert, Danielle
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-24T21:17:38Z
dc.date.available2024-08-24T21:17:38Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionOpen access article. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY .4.0) applies
dc.description.abstractWildland fires and anthropogenic disturbances can cause changes in vegetation species composition and structure in boreal peatlands. These could potentially alter regeneration trajectories following severe fire or through cumulative impacts of climate-mediated drying, fire, and/or anthropogenic disturbance. We used lidar-derived point cloud metrics, and site-specific locational attributes to assess trajectories of post-disturbance vegetation regeneration in boreal peatlands south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada using a space-for-time-chronosequence. The objectives were to (a) develop methods to identify conifer trees vs. deciduous shrubs and trees using multi-spectral lidar data, (b) quantify the proportional coverage of shrubs and trees to determine environmental conditions driving shrub regeneration, and (c) determine the spatial variations in shrub and tree heights as an indicator of cumulative growth since the fire. The results show that the use of lidar-derived structural metrics predicted areas of deciduous shrub establishment (92% accuracy) and classification of deciduous and conifer trees (71% accuracy). Burned bogs and fens were more prone to shrub regeneration up to and including 38 years after the fire. The transition from deciduous to conifer trees occurred approximately 30 years post-fire. These results improve the understanding of environmental conditions that are sensitive to disturbance and impacts of disturbance on northern peatlands within a changing climate.
dc.description.peer-reviewYes
dc.identifier.citationEnayetullah, H., Chasmer, L., Hopkinson, C., Thompson, D., & Cobbaert, D. (2022). Identifying conifer tree vs. deciduous shrub and tree regeneration trajectories in a space-for-time boreal peatland fire chronosequence using multispectral lidar. Atmosphere, 13(1), Article 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010112
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6887
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geography and Environment
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Lethbridge
dc.publisher.institutionGreat Lakes Forestry Centre
dc.publisher.institutionAlberta Environment and Parks
dc.publisher.urlhttps://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010112
dc.subjectRemote sensing
dc.subjectMachine learning
dc.subjectVegetation
dc.subjectClassification
dc.subjectClimate change
dc.subjectWildland fire
dc.subjectVegetation regeneration
dc.subjectBoreal peatlands
dc.subjectShrub regeneration
dc.subjectPost-fire
dc.subjectAnthropogenic disturbances
dc.subjectLidar
dc.subject.lcshPeatlands--Alberta
dc.subject.lcshWildfires--Alberta-Fort McMurray
dc.titleIdentifying conifer tree vs. deciduous shrub and tree regeneration trajectories in a space-for-time boreal peatland fire chronosequence using multispectral lidar
dc.typeArticle
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