Conservation Ecology and Environmental Sciences Group

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Disturbance, regeneration and diversity in tropical rain forests

Context

Tropical rain forests are the most species-rich ecosystems on Earth. Within the tropical rain forest zone many distinct forest types may be recognized, each varying in terms of species composition, structure, physiology and habitat.

Knowledge of the distribution and spatial extent of tropical rain forests is required. Also of importance is knowledge of rain forest removal, disturbance and recovery. This is essential given the significance of rain forest for global climate, biogeochemical cycling and biodiversity.

Peruvian Amazonia as imaged by the Thematic Mapper sensor on board the Landsat 5 satellite

Approach

By the analysis of multi-spectral data recorded sensors on board orbiting satellites it is possible to identify forest types, as well as forest clearance, disturbance or recovery. Furthermore, by the analysis of time-series data acquired over years, or even decades, it is possible to build landscape histories.

Forest regeneration following the abandonment of a farm

Publications

Hill J. L. & Hill R. A. (2001) Why are tropical rain forests so species rich? Classifying, reviewing and evaluating theories. Progress in Physical Geography, 25, 326-354.

Hill R. A. (1999) Image segmentation for humid tropical forest classification in Landsat TM data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 20, 837 & 1039-1044.

Foody G. M. & Hill R. A. (1996) Classification of tropical forest classes from Landsat TM data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 17, 2353-2367.

Hill R. A. & Foody, G. M. (1994) Separability of tropical rain-forest types in the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone, Peru. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 15, 2687-2693.

Contact email address
Dr Ross Hill

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