New research using high-resolution terrestrial laser scanning is shedding light on how forest structure, carbon storage, and deadwood dynamics are evolving over time. The work shows how subtle changes in canopy structure, tree mortality, and the dominance of large trees can have a disproportionate influence on long-term carbon stocks and ecosystem dynamics.
The findings come from studies led by Dr Shilin Chen of Ghent University’s Q-Forest Lab, based on research at Wytham Woods, a long-term ecological research site owned and managed by the University of Oxford and one of the most intensively studied woodlands in the world. Using detailed three-dimensional laser data, the research demonstrates how advanced monitoring techniques can improve understanding of forest change, carbon cycling, and ecosystem resilience.
Dr Chen is currently visiting the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute as a visiting researcher in the Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme, where he is sharing insights from his work and exploring new collaborations on forest dynamics and carbon cycling.
Read the full blog on Oxford Ecosystem’s website to learn more about the research and Dr Chen’s visit to Oxford.
