title: Using lidar data to analyse sinkhole characteristics relevant for understory vegetation under forest cover-case study of a high karst area in the dinaric mountains.
abstract: In this article, we investigate the potential for detection and characterization of sinkholes under dense forest cover by using airborne laser scanning data. Laser pulse returns from the ground provide important data for the estimation of digital elevation model (DEM), which can be used for further processing. The main objectives of this study were to map and determine the geomorphometric characteristics of a large number of sinkholes and to investigate the correlations between geomorphology and vegetation in areas with such characteristics. The selected study area has very low anthropogenic influences and is particularly suitable for studying undisturbed karst sinkholes. The information extracted from this study regarding the shapes and depths of sinkholes show significant directionality for both orientation of sinkholes and their distribution over the area. Furthermore, significant differences in vegetation diversity and composition occur inside and outside the sinkholes, which indicates their presence has important ecological impacts.
authors: Biotechnical Faculty, University in Ljubljana, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Milan
authors: M
authors: Kobal
authors: National Institute of Biology, Department of Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecosystems Research, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Bertoncelj
authors: University of Padova, Interdepartmental Research Center in Geomatics, Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, Padova, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Pirotti
authors: Biotechnical Faculty, University in Ljubljana, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Dakskobler
authors: Biotechnical Faculty, University in Ljubljana, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Lado
authors: L
authors: Kutnar
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D005843:Geography; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010944:Plants; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017524:Slovenia; D013045:Species Specificity