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Integrating LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and Camera Traps to Assess the Influence of Three-Dimensional Forest Structure on Mammal Habitat Use in Coastal Western Hemlock Forests

Mao, Jinxin

Global forest degradation and habitat loss caused have induced the need for advanced methods to assess forest quality and how would these change impacts on animals. Although extensive research has focused on responses of birds to habitat change, the influence of forest structure on mammals has remained underexplored. In southwestern British Columbia, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest and Golden Ears Provincial Park were selected as representative study areas, characterized by temperate coniferous forests that are subject to both anthropogenic disturbances and natural variability. This study aimed to determine the relationship between mammal presence and abundance to forests structures by using camera traps with airborne laser scanning. Detailed three-dimensional measurements of canopy height, vertical complexity, and terrain ruggedness were derived from laser scanning data, while camera traps provided continuous, non-invasive records of mammalian activity. Results showed that black-tailed deer abundance increased with steeper slopes and rugged terrain. Bobcat abundance was higher in areas with taller, more complex canopies. Snowshoe hare abundance declined where understory density was greater. Shrub connectivity reduced overall mammal and black bear abundance, though larger shrub patches were associated with higher numbers. These results indicated that heterogeneity in forest structure is a key factor in sustaining wildlife populations. The use of remote sensing not only enhanced the spatial coverage and accuracy of habitat assessments compared to traditional field surveys but also provided a scalable approach for ecological monitoring. These findings offer important insights for conservation planning and forest management, emphasizing the need to consider structural habitat features when developing strategies to protect understudied mammalian species.

Maple Ridge; British Columbia

English

University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0448478

https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/UPWOBW

Canada