Surface elevation change evaluation in mangrove forests using a low‐cost, rapid‐scan terrestrial laser scanner

Kargar, Ali Rouzbeh; MacKenzie, Richard A.; Fafard, Alexander; Krauss, Ken W.; Aardt, Jan van

doi:10.1002/lom3.10401

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 55 publications

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“…Here, we show how impactful harvesting mangroves can be, both in terms of facilitating potential habitat expansion of an herbaceous species and in terms of influencing SEC directly, and in-directly through facilitation by Acanthus. (Karger et al, 2021), could provide high-resolution datasets in support of mangrove forest management at more relevant scales.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest thinning in the seaward fringe speeds up surface elevation increment and carbon accumulation in managed mangrove forests

Chen

Lin

Krauss

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Mangroves are significant carbon (C) sinks and ecological engineers as they accumulate sediments and increase soil surface elevation. Thus, the forest management practice of thinning may not only alter forest structure, but also facilitate new biogeomorphological processes that affect soil development. Thinning may create additional opportunity for understorey species, such as the light-demanding Acanthus ilicifolius, to become a more prominent vegetation component of mangroves, which may further alter soil surface elevation trajectories.2. Forest structure and soil surface elevation change (SEC) were monitored along transects from the landward edge (upper intertidal) to seaward fringe before and after thinning of non-native Sonneratia apetala plantations along the seaward edge of a mangrove site in China. Soil C accumulation was also evaluated.3. Acanthus individuals colonized the forest gaps created by Sonneratia thinning in the seaward forest edge of the intertidal zones. In the absence of other pioneer species or other mangrove propagules/seeds, Acanthus pioneers occupied the areas rapidly (from 33.6 to 72.6 stems/m 2 ), and were successful opportunists. 4. Newly colonizing Acanthus vegetation significantly increased SEC from 25.1 mm/ year before Sonneratia was thinned to 46.5 mm/year after thinning-induced Acanthus occupation. Furthermore, Acanthus occupation enhanced soil C accumulation at the seaward edge to 49.9 MgC ha −1 year −1 ; a rate twofold higher than in the Sonneratia plantation before thinning. 5. Synthesis and applications. Prolific Acanthus growth formed small elevation mounds on the seaward forest edge, which was suspected as a positive effect induced by thinning Sonneratia plantations that further facilitated colonization of Acanthus clones. Thinning non-native Sonneratia disturbed the established zonation, altered SEC, and is facilitating further succession of these mangrove forests into un-occupied aquatic areas. Higher elevations created by Acanthus expansion (vertically and horizontally) may further promote a greater percentage of landward edge mangrove species to colonize at these more favourable intertidal elevations yielding at least short-term gains in soil carbon accumulation by altering ecosystem function. Silvicultural activity should consider unintended influences

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Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest thinning in the seaward fringe speeds up surface elevation increment and carbon accumulation in managed mangrove forests

Chen

Lin

Krauss

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

Self Cite

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Comparing Wetland Elevation Change Using a Surface Elevation Table, Digital Level, and Total Station

Lynch,

Winn,

Kovalenko

et al. 2023

Estuaries and Coasts

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The surface elevation table (SET) approach and two survey instruments, a digital level (DL) and a total station (TS), were used to evaluate elevation change at a 1-ha, micro-tidal, back-barrier salt marsh at Assateague Island National Seashore (Berlin, MD, USA) from 2016 to 2022. SET data were collected at 3 sampling stations along the perimeter of the plot, 36 pins per station, and the DL and TS data were collected adjacent to 36 stakes, four readings per stake, throughout the plot. The average elevation range of the marsh surface measurements at the SET stations was 2 cm, while the range was considerably greater within the larger 1-ha DL and TS sampling area (24 cm). The average elevation of the marsh surface only varied by 2 cm among the three methods. Elevation change trends of the three methods ranged from 2.8 to 3.5 mm year−1 and were not significantly different from each other. Despite differences in sample size and spatial distribution of measurements, these methods provided comparable measures of long-term trends in marsh surface elevation probably because the marsh at this site was structurally homogeneous with low topographic relief.

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Relative Effectiveness of a Radionuclide (210Pb), Surface Elevation Table (SET), and LiDAR At Monitoring Mangrove Forest Surface Elevation Change

MacKenzie,

Krauss,

Cormier

et al. 2023

Estuaries and Coasts

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Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the greatest future threats to mangrove forests. Mangroves have kept up with or paced past SLR by maintaining their forest floor elevation relative to sea level through root growth, sedimentation, and peat development. Monitoring surface elevation change (SEC) or accretion rates allows us to understand mangrove response to SLR and prioritizes resilient ecosystems for conservation or vulnerable ecosystems for restoration. We compared three methods to measure SEC and accretion in mangrove forests: 210Pb, surface elevation tables (SETs), and a terrestrial light detection and ranging system (compact biomass LiDAR—CBL). Lead-210 accretion rates were not significantly different than SET SEC rates and differences between the two methods (− 2 to 2 mm/year) were within the error of our measurements. Lead-210 only measures accretion in the upper meter of sediment and cannot capture deeper subsurface processes (e.g., subsidence, compaction) that SETs can. The lack of differences suggests the following: (1) surface processes in the active root zone are influencing forest floor elevation more than subsurface processes, (2) subsurface processes were not large enough to effect elevation, or (3) the SETs were not installed deep enough to capture subsurface processes. CBL SEC rates did not differ significantly from SET SEC rates. The larger spatial scale of the CBL scans resulted in significantly different SEC rates from some of the plots. This was due to the CBL measuring areas missed by the SET. The greater number of points measured by CBL (~ 30,000 vs 36) increased precision and lowered standard error. The traditional SET/rSET method is currently 3–10 × cheaper than the 210Pb or CBL method, respectively, and can accurately track changes in forest floor elevation. Costs of the use of LiDAR are likely to decrease in the future with the advent of newer and more cost-effective technology.

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Surface elevation change evaluation in mangrove forests using a low‐cost, rapid‐scan terrestrial laser scanner

Cited by 7 publications

References 55 publications

Forest thinning in the seaward fringe speeds up surface elevation increment and carbon accumulation in managed mangrove forests

Forest thinning in the seaward fringe speeds up surface elevation increment and carbon accumulation in managed mangrove forests

Comparing Wetland Elevation Change Using a Surface Elevation Table, Digital Level, and Total Station

Relative Effectiveness of a Radionuclide (210Pb), Surface Elevation Table (SET), and LiDAR At Monitoring Mangrove Forest Surface Elevation Change

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