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What is the context of this research?

The fundamental question I am trying to answer is, "How does forest canopy structure impact biodiversity?". This is an important forest policy discussion as well, as microclimate and incident solar radiation impact plant habitat suitability.

Biodiversity is a measure of species richness and abundance in an ecological community. My statistical modeling will test spatially explicit sets of related data forest data and suggest patterns of canopy structure that, all things being equal (soils, precipitation, evenness of plant species disperal, etc.) provide the natural ideal for plant biodiversity in a given forest habitat.

What is the significance of this project?

Although most of the Earth’s biodiversity is found in its oceans, the World Wildlife Fund has estimated that over 80% of the terrestrial biodiversity on the planet is derived from its remaining forests. Forest ecosystems are thought by many ecologists to offer greater niche habitats and genetic composition that support overall species richness and abundance through both spatial structure and patch patterns, as well as through temporal changes caused by natural disturbance regimes, than other terrestrial ecosystems. The structure of the forest itself, therefore, with respect to its canopy structure, its 'temporal' or 'sucessional' phases, in addition to its associated landscape patterns, may yield significant insights into where and how biodiversity is most likely to be prevalent.

What are the goals of the project?

This research will hopefuly be useful to aide in informed forest policy decision making, but the near term goals also include providing stand structure data to managers to support stand management in an urban-wild-land interface. What structural characteristics can be identified that maintain microrefugia for flora and fauna undergoing ecosystem-wide stresses, associated with changes in primary productivity, biogeochemical nutrient flux, habitat loss, and other heightened natural disturbance factors such as fire and pathogens? A strong statistical, ecological and biogeographical framework for modeling will be required. I have and hope to continue to collaborate with many research partners to develop research products.