OOS 48 - GEDI Space-borne Lidar for Global Biodiversity Applications

Organizer(s)

• CH

  Christopher Hakkenberg

  Northern Arizona University, United States

Co-Organizer(s)

• PB

  Patrick Burns

  Northern Arizona University, United States

Large-scale, globally consistent characterizations of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity are a critical component of ecological monitoring initiatives and international conservation. Among the essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) employed towards this effort, spaceborne laser measurements (lidar) from NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) sensor are a a breakthrough for providing open, consistent, multi-temporal data on three-dimensional (3D) forest structure at near-global extents. GEDI lidar has the potential to revolutionize the characterization of 3D ecosystem structure and dynamics, with far-reaching implications for biodiversity applications and conservation decisions. In this session, we focus on how GEDI forest structure is being used for biodiversity science and applications. Talks in this session feature a diversity of speakers, from both academic institutions and government agencies, who have intimate knowledge of their global study areas and the taxa found in those locations. The variety of locations, spatial scales, and taxa represented by these analyses contribute to our growing knowledge of the importance of 3D forest structure measurements for biodiversity applications. Talks will span a range of applications, including modeling animal species distributions (with one example operationalized at the national level), wildlife occupancy, and functional diversity, as well as large-scale habitat integrity models. Importantly, speakers will highlight how their scientific can will be used to inform conservation policy.

Presentations:

• 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM PDT

  Spatially-continuous, annual maps of forest structure metrics derived from GEDI
  

  Presenting Author: Patrick Burns – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Scott Goetz – Northern Arizona University
• 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

  Biodiversity - forest structure relationships: predicting cross-biome plant diversity with aggregated GEDI samples versus continuous airborne lidar censuses
  

  Presenting Author: Christopher Hakkenberg – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Jeff W. Atkins – USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station Savannah River Site

  Co-author: Patrick Burns – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Colin Quinn – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Melissa Rose – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Scott Goetz – Northern Arizona University
• 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM PDT

  Integrating Spaceborne Estimates of Structural Diversity of Habitat into Wildlife Occupancy Models
  

  Presenting Author: Alex Killion – Yale University

  Co-author: Arata K. Honda – Yale University

  Co-author: Neil H. Carter – University of Michigan
• 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM PDT

  Using GEDI metrics to map keystone cavity excavator distributions and associated biodiversity hotspots in western US forests
  

  Presenting Author: Kerri Vierling – University of Idaho

  Co-author: Lisa Elliott – University of Idaho

  Co-author: Brent Barry – University of Idaho

  Co-author: Joe Holbrook – University of Wyoming

  Co-author: Jody Vogeler – Colorado State University
• 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM PDT

  Can information on vertical vegetation structure improve mammalian biodiversity modeling in Southeast Asia?
  

  Presenting Author: Zaneta Kaszta – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Patrick Burns – Northern Arizona University

  Co-author: Samuel Cushman – US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

  Co-author: David Macdonald – University of Oxford

  Co-author: Jedediah Brodie – University of Montana

  Co-author: Scott Goetz – Northern Arizona University