Ecological connectivity in the three-dimensional urban green volume using waveform airborne lidar.

ABSTRACT: The movements of organisms and the resultant flows of ecosystem services are strongly shaped by landscape connectivity. Studies of urban ecosystems have relied on two-dimensional (2D) measures of greenspace structure to calculate connectivity. It is now possible to explore three-dimensional (3D) connectivity in urban vegetation using waveform lidar technology that measures the full 3D structure of the canopy. Making use of this technology, here we evaluate urban greenspace 3D connectivity, taking into account the full vertical stratification of the vegetation. Using three towns in southern England, UK, all with varying greenspace structures, we describe and compare the structural and functional connectivity using both traditional 2D greenspace models and waveform lidar-generated vegetation

SUBMITTER: Casalegno S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5382541 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature