PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
There is great potential for the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to quantify aspects of habitat structure in the study of animal ecology and behaviour. Viewsheds-the area visible from a given position-influence an animal\'s perception of risk and ability to respond to potential danger. The management and conservation of large herbivores and their habitats can benefit greatly from understanding how vegetation structure shapes viewsheds and influences animal activity patterns and foraging behaviour. This study aimed to identify how woodland understory structure influenced horizontal viewsheds at deer eye height. Mobile TLS was used in August 2020 to quantify horizontal visibility-in the form of Viewshed Coefficients (VC)-and understory leaf area index (LAI) of 71 circular sample plots (15-m radius) across 10 woodland sites in North Wales (UK) where fallow deer (Dama dama) are present. The plots were also surveyed in summer for woody plant size structure, stem density and bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.). Eight plots were re-scanned twice in winter to compare seasonal VC values and assess scan consistency. Sample plots with higher densities of small stems had significantly reduced VC 1 m from the ground. Other stem size classes, mean percentage bramble cover and understory LAI did not significantly affect VC. There was no difference in VC between summer and winter scans, or between repeated winter scans. The density of small stems influenced viewsheds at deer eye height and may alter behavioural responses to perceived risk. This study demonstrates how TLS technology can be applied to address questions in large herbivore ecology and conservation.
摘要：
在动物生态学和行为研究中，使用地面激光扫描（TLS）来量化栖息地结构的各个方面具有很大的潜力。视图-从给定位置可见的区域-影响动物对风险的感知和对潜在危险的反应能力。大型食草动物及其栖息地的管理和保护可以从了解植被结构如何观察和影响动物活动模式和觅食行为中受益匪浅。这项研究旨在确定林地林下结构如何影响鹿眼高度的水平视野。2020年8月，使用移动TLS来量化水平可见性-以Viewshed系数（VC）和林下叶面积指数（LAI）的形式，在北威尔士（英国）的10个林地上有小鹿（DamaDama）。夏季还对地块进行了木本植物大小结构调查，茎密度和荆棘（Rubusfruticosusagg。).在冬季对八个地块进行了两次重新扫描，以比较季节性VC值并评估扫描一致性。小茎密度较高的样地距地面1m的VC显着减少。其他茎大小类别，平均荆棘覆盖率和林下LAI对VC没有显著影响。夏季和冬季扫描之间的VC没有差异，或重复的冬季扫描之间。小茎的密度影响鹿眼高度的视野，并可能改变对感知风险的行为反应。这项研究展示了如何应用TLS技术来解决大型草食动物生态和保护中的问题。
