Short‐term effects of moderate severity disturbances on forest canopy structure

Moderate severity disturbances, those that do not result in stand replacement, play an essential role ecosystem dynamics. Despite the prevalence of moderate disturbances and significant impacts they impose on forest functioning, little is known about their effects canopy structure how these differ over time across a range disturbance severities types. Using longitudinal data from National Ecological Observatory Network project, we assessed three press (beech bark disease, hemlock woolly adelgid emerald ash borer, which are characterized by continuous sustained mortality) pulse (spring cankerworm moth, spongy moth ground fire, associated with discrete relatively short mortalities) temperate eastern US. We studied (1) light detection ranging (LiDAR)-derived metrics change response to (2) whether initial complexity offsets impact time. used mixed-effects modelling framework included non-linear term for represent changes caused disturbance, interactions between both intensity complexity. discovered high inhibited height growth while low facilitated it. In addition, increases Concerning complexity, found disturbed plots altered indicating potential resilience effects. Synthesis. This study repeated measurements LiDAR examine various dimensions structure, including height, openness, density Our indicates can inhibit However, other could be clearly detected, likely because compensatory growth, was more readily apparent using multi-temporal data. Furthermore, our findings suggest might help mitigate structures Overall, research highlights usefulness assessing structural canopies disturbances.