@article{fdi:010070354,
  title = {{Q}uantifying micro-environmental variation in tropical rainforest understory at landscape scale by combining airborne {L}i{DAR} scanning and a sensor network},
  author = {{T}ymen, {B}. and {V}incent, {G}r{\'e}goire and {C}ourtois, {E}. {A}. and {H}eurtebize, {J}. and {D}auzat, {J}. and {M}arechaux, {I}. and {C}have, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{K}ey message {W}e combined aerial {L}i{DAR} and ground sensors to map the spatial variation in micro-environmental variables of the tropical forest understory. {W}e show that thesemetrics depend on forest type and proximity to canopy gaps. {O}ur study has implications for the study of natural forest regeneration. {C}ontext {L}ight impacts seedling dynamics and animals, either directly or through their effect on air temperature and relative humidity. {H}owever, the micro-environment of tropical forest understories is heterogeneous. {A}ims {W}e explored whether aerial laser scanning ({L}i{DAR}) can describe short-scale micro-environmental variables. {W}e also studied the determinants of their spatial and intra-annual variation. {M}ethods {W}e used a small-footprint {L}i{DAR} coverage combined with data obtained from 47 environmental sensors monitoring continuously understory light, moisture and temperature during 1 year over the area. {W}e developed and tested twomodels relating micro-environmental conditions to {L}i{DAR} metrics. {R}esults {W}e found that a volume-based model predicts empirical light fluxes better than a model based on the proportion of the {L}i{DAR} signal reaching the ground. {U}nderstory field sensors measured an average daily light flux between 2.9 and 4.7% of full sunlight. {R}elative seasonal variation was comparable in the understory and in clearings. {I}n canopy gaps, light flux was 4.3 times higher, maximal temperature 15% higher and minimal relative humidity 25% lower than in the forest understory. {W}e found consistent micro-environmental differences among forest types. {C}onclusions {L}i{DAR} coverage improves the fine-scale description of micro-environmental variables of tropical forest understories. {T}his opens avenues for modelling the distribution and dynamics of animal and plant populations.},
  keywords = {{F}rench {G}uiana ; {L}ight ; {N}ouragues station ; {P}lant dynamics ; {T}emperature ; {R}elative humidity ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}nnals of {F}orest {S}cience},
  volume = {74},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {art. 32 [13 p.]},
  ISSN = {1286-4560},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1007/s13595-017-0628-z},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070354},
}